Sarah's Significant Day

Hey, Happy birthday, Sarah.  This is one of your significant days, I'd say.  We thank the day you came into our family via 'the Man'.  This increases our team to five with "J" as the coach.  Your eternal smile, amazing cooking, generous nature and multiple talents push us to the top of the Schmidt heap. 

Your burgeoning family of mammals, water and earth bound, keeps us bragging & helps develop those nurturing traits that come naturally to you.  Thank you for being so super and have a great day. 

Have a Happy One House

They say twenty-five years is celebrated with silver.  Happy Birthday house.  It's a jubilee all week long to honor living in ours since mid-February 1988.   Here are some unique facts and figures about the ole homestead:

Originally it was going to be a rambler style; but we decided a two-story worked better on a trip to Leman Caves discussing the pros and cons.

The .42 acre property was a sheep pasture for neighbors who bought some sheep from my parents before we got the land. 

Little accidents:  Ben Edwards broke his two front teeth, both Jory & Emily Allred fell off deck, Brayle broke arm on trampoline, Makayla did too jumping on bed & sundry other hurties. 

Jenn loved to take all her friends on tours of the house for several years.
Mauri got the biggest bedroom, but had to share it the longest with Jory.
Alicia's friend Aubrey, got hooked on watching soap operas here, because her folks wouldn't let her watch at home.
Breann learned piano, cooking, was baptized here and on and on.
Jory found great friends, football, mission and more. 

Our very own kitchen chef.

Mail box whimsical house.

Back Deck with our fowl friends.

Back yard with toys and tikes.

Having fun in front of home.

The Witness Couple

We were the witness couple in the temple session yesterday.  Yeah!  We don't often do a session together, so there is little chase we will be selected.   It has been thirty plus years since our last experience in the Los Angeles Temple.  Definitely hasn't been that long since we did a session together, but we never got picked.  I have been chosen with another single person, when no couples are available.

As temple workers we are encouraged to attend the temple weekly besides our volunteer night. Twice a week is quite the sacrifice. The past six months by setting aside specific days, it has become easier. Early morning is best. Allan even comes if I tell him the day before.

You can imagine our joy to serve.  We were definitely alert and attentive.  May you have the opportunity someday to do it, too.

Alicia, Alot Wiser and A Little Older

When one reaches this age, (we won't say what it is) they are really learning to be wise from all the things they have experienced.   It's not at all like when we are teens and think we know so much.  She really has had the challenge of taking the bull by the horns and doing the best she can.   This was especially accomplished when moving three thousand miles from home and family.  Great for growth, not so great for using grandma as a sitter.  Opportunity knocks when we take it and why not. 

Alicia is an on-the-ball mother spending time reading and teaching her children many skills.  She  tries many creative projects with them, encouraging each to think on their own.  Inviting friends and missionaries over for an evening of food and fun is also common for her. 

At a young age she loved challenges wanting to begin the Science, Art or Writing project the day it was assigned.  Who does that!  High achievers do.  How honored we are to be a part of this great gal's life, then and now.  Happy Birthday and may it be a wonderful year full of joy and great days.

A Debt Discharged

We are free!  The debt is paid!  Hip hip hoorah!  In the late nineties we embarked on a joint venture in Tooele with a real estate agent who had a super idea that sounded like a winner.  It was a condo project by the golf course.  Although the price per acre was a little high, this was a sure thing so we paid it.  It wasn't however; and it didnt work out.  Without questioning or putting together a financial plan, we jumped in head first borrowing $100k each from two brothers at 10% interest.  Next we signed on the dotted line, where another $100k was borrowed.  Long story short it didn't work out.   Bankruptcy isn't possible when it is your home on the line and family that loaned you the money.

So for fifteen long years, with lots and lots of side jobs the last payment was made to the final brother.   Whew!  Does it ever feel good.   Now to move forward never taking for granted the blessings that come our way.   The miles we've come and things learned are monumental.  

Many a person does similar things such as investing in a sure thing, joint venture etc. putting themselves at risk of dangerous financial matters.  Be extra careful before trusting your hard earned money to something that sounds too good to be true.  Signing a contract or just a hand shake can come back to haunt you for many years.   It did us.

It's Your Day Today, Breann

Many notable, happy and sad things have happened on January 17th.  We will never forget at 12:17 a.m.  Breann, was born.   Back then we didn't know which sex the baby would be until birth, we were thrilled because she was so darn cute.   It took awhile to decide on her name.   We thought it was the most beautiful and unique name of all.  So did many other parents.   

Some special things about her:  She slept through the night at four months.  Yeah!  She showed independence by beginning to dress herself  and style her hair much younger than her sisters did.  Probably because she got tired of waiting for me to help her.  She was a good sport when we tirelessly teased her at the dinner table. 

She is very creative.  Expressing herself in sewing, stitching and creating beautiful handiwork items from a young age to date.    Traveling to Israel, Germany, New York, Georgia, Oregon, Hawaii, Florida, Mexico and many points in-between she has experienced and tasted many exciting things.

What a great fisherman and hunter she is by bagging more than one and catching the 'big one'.  She rides the four-wheeler, snowmobile and dirt-bike with skill while decked out in the proper gear. 

Soon she will have a dual license in both nursing and dental hygiene.   Tries many different recipes and makes a famous pecan pie.  What a woman she is. 

A Fridge for Free & More

Thanks to some acquaintances that bought a new refrigerator, we got their old one for free.  It looks pretty new and spacious inside.  White is much better than the old gold one.  Best of all is the water and ice on the door.  We can't complain about one drawer that sticks, because overall we are so much better off than before.   

As you can see, the side wooden panel had to be removed because the bigger, newer guy just wouldn't fit in the old hole.  Jed and Allan took care of that.  They pulled off the panel, cut a short piece, moved the cupboard doors up and wa la!  You wouldn't even know if I hadn't told you.  Yeah, for ) expense changes.   A big thanks to Jed and Dad for cleaning the fridge from top to bottom, too.  That was a great Christmas present as well as the other terrific items our children so generously gave us that start with i & c.  What a great week it has been.   Much Thanks!