Grandma's first Monster Truck Rally

Attending a monster truck rally was never on my "bucket list",
but that was only because I didn't realize how much fun it would be...
especially with Andy and Karrie's family.

This is the Shirley's pumped for the Monster Truck Rally.  

Nathan was so excited he couldn't stand still. :0)

 Andy purchased seats right above the entrance where the contestants came in the arena.

We all had ear plugs, but Nathan and Eliza had special ear muffs for
the event held in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center.

There were some of the trucks I recognized by name.  Full Boar 

was one of those. But...he wasn't alot of competition that night.

I recognized "Grave Digger" by name.  I've seen match box replicas of him

Grave Digger was the champ of the  Donut spinning competition.

El Toro Loco was all his name implies.
 He stole the show and won all but one of the competitions.

Yep!  He got a little wild, tipped over and amputated one horn. 

The rescue loader had him upright and ready to go in no time.  

The mechanics spiffed him up and he came
 back to take the "Free Style" competition.

There were three heats of Four wheelers races. They began the next one
based on where they placed in the one before. I thought these were kids,
but when the winner removed his helmet, it was clear he was an
adult.  Aging is certain, but growing up is apparently optional.

These two cars are really transformers!  In a specialty act, 

they  battled it out with lights,lasers and BIG booms!

Thinking of this night will always make me smile!
 Thanks Shirley Family!

LEVAN HOMESTEAD NEWS---FEBRUARY 2015

February is the shortest month, but this year it seemed even shorter.  Our weather has been unseasonably warm and dry, while parts of the country have been unseasonably cold and wet.  We got new windows in the basement on February 10^th and the men worked in shirt sleeves. The current snow pack is a but worrisome.

Andrea’s events charted the course of this month.  Her papers went in on February 1^st. Her pre-mission call party was on February 11^th.  J She received her call on Friday the 13^th and Dad and I moved her from her apartment to Katie’s that day.  She was endowed in the Manti Temple on February 20^th.  This was one of the sweetest “lasts” I have experienced. It is hard to describe the feeling of knowing that all ten of your children are endowed and that all were worthy to be there with us, even though most were just there in spirit and thought. My joy was full!  The next day we took Andrea to Provo Temple as she has set the goal to attend as many Utah temples as possible before she leaves for her mission.  Dad took her to Brigham City Temple while I was in Mississippi.

I finally got the ALCAT testing that Janna had done.  The results came while I was in Mississippi, so there’s not much news on the transition yet.  I also had two MRI’s and a full body, bone density scan with contrast.  No results on those yet. (March 19^th)

Uncle Kent’s article for the Payson Temple Book featuring Grandma Marvin is coming along. We’ve felt the Spirit assisting with that effort.  I awoke one morning with the distinct memory of Angel Moroni being placed on the temple on Grandma’s birthday.  A quick check in my journal confirmed it.

On Valentine’s we took Richard and Joyce Johnson to the temple to have Richard’s parent’s sealed together and to have Richard and his baby sister sealed to them.  That was a sweet experience.

Ward news starts with our R.S. Couple’s dinner and dance. Attendance was good and it was super fun. We had live entertainment and a yummy dinner, plus Sarah Hunt was there to take couple and group pictures. We finally got a new Bishopric. (Steven Hone, Bradley Peterson, and John Hanks)  Dad was released and Roger Muller replaced him.)  Our first ward council after that felt a little empty without Dad.

Extended family news included Uncle Sterling Hal Shuler’s passing on February 18^th and his funeral on the 21^st.  (See blogpost soon. J )

From February 23^rd -28^th,   I was in Mississippi with Andy and Karrie’s family. (Dad worked swings that week.)  The bonus was that Bethany and Sarah-Jane were there part of the time, too.  We got to celebrate SJ’s birthday together, although her gift arrived after we dropped them in Mobile to ride the Mega-Bus home because the bag lost in flight contained it. It was great to spend some time with the Shirley’s.  It was good for me to see that they have a nice home, live in a good area, are involved in many important things, and are ALL doing well. I enjoyed the kids immensely. I still smile when I remember Nathan’s enthusiasm for everything and his expressive little face; or Eliza’s sweet nature, beautiful hair and gentle mothering of her perpetual bedhead guinea pigs; or having Daniel play the piano for me or read to me—(fluently and with lots of expression), or Bradley’s awareness of family schedule and his knowledge of where everything is--- as well as his sheer joy at the Monster Truck rally.  The Monster Truck Rally was more fun than I imagined. Thanks Andy and Karrie for the fond memories.  (See blogpost soon.) I also got to experience sheets of rain while there.  Love you all!