Catch up time!

 After our mission, we came home for a week and then took off again.  We flew to Tallahassee Florida to join a two week bus tour of the Heartland of America and we went to sites with about 20 other couples to look at evidences of the Book of Mormon in America.  It was great run and very interesting to see places that support that the Book of Mormon people lived in the United States.  We saw mounds, museums, state parks, hidden gems, Nauvoo, Kirtland and ending up in Palmyra, New York.  HOME - we attended Sacrament meeting at Palmyra and saw some ward members still living there.  Richard and Lynn Green, Lee Spencer (Nancie was visiting grandchildren in Pennsylvania), Pam Mechum, and Judy Ward - it was her last Sunday there.  She was speaking and she would be leaving in few days to live with one of her daughters.  We walked the Sacred Grove and the Hill Cumorah.  A beautiful fall day and later Daisy and Heather drove up from Mechanicsburg to visit with us.

On Monday we drove to Rose and visited our parents graves - then to Williamson.  Lunch was at no other than ORBAKERS!

That place doesn't change much and the burgers are just as good!  Then we drove past the old home and then on to Walworth and located the cemetery where some of Gary's family is buried.

That evening Gary's cousins Seana and Dawn made arrangements to surprise Aunt Pat and have dinner with the Fisher Family.

The next day, we drove the scenic route to Niagara Falls.  Checked in at the hotel and then became tourists!  First to Niagara Falls.

The fall colors were just beautiful!

                                                        We rode the Maid of the Mist.    

We came across this young man twice at Niagara Falls -another Buffalo Bills fan from out of state!

The next day - Gary made arrangements for me to get my nails done in the salon at the hotel.

Two hours later the results were just wonderful!!!

Then we drove out to Old Fort Niagara.  We went through the visitor center and walked on the perimeter of the park and lighthouse.

Then Gary along with Daisy and Heather - we drove to Orchard Park, I thought to just see the stadium, we drove into the parking lot - Gary surprised me to see the game.  He had made arrangements with Jesse Reeves to purchase his season tickets for the four of us to attend the game.  He got me a Bills blanket, new shirts, and new jackets.  

   

        Final score - BILLS WON!!  It was a fun game, loud, everyone stood almost the whole game.  Once in a life time experience - but I would rather watch the games at home on the TV!  One thing more off my bucket list.  Gary it was so fun!!!  Thank you!!

We got back to the hotel in Niagara about 1:30 and got back up at 4:00 so Daisy could drive us to the airport in Buffalo to fly home.  What a wonderful three weeks!!

So that was October 26th when we flew home, on the 27th we meet some of the grandkids at Jake's Pumpkin Patch.  Just missing Jackson - he wasn't feeling good.

In November on my birthday - there was a Relief Society social and Gary had picked up Henry and William and they surprised me with flowers they delivered at the church!

On November 12, we spoke in our sacrament meeting and reported our mission to the ward.

Gared and Jackson came down and the rest of the family hopefully watched it on Zoom.

Thanksgiving Gared, Amanda, Henry, William and Jackson came for dinner and then we went out to get Christmas trees.  This is the tree Henry got for their family room in the basement.

December 4th, we able to attend Sawyer's school Christmas concert in Spanish Fork.

December 12th, we were able to watch Jackson while Gared and Amanda celebrated their anniversary.  Jackson took his bath in Grandma's kitchen sink since we no longer have a tub in the master bath.

Then on the 13th - Gary was able to attend Laniya and Jordan's Applause Christmas concert in Manti.

Gary was called to serve in the Primary Boys Activities and he made arrangements to have boys go caroling to the homebound in the ward.  He divided the boys into two groups and his group was able to visit 4 different homes.  They got back to the chapel and had doughnuts and milk.

We were given gift certificates to Texas Roadhouse and we finally used them.  We went to up South Jordan and had a great meal.  Including fried dill pickles! December 22, 2023

We made arrangements to stay in downtown Salt Lake City so we could go see the Christmas lights at Temple Square, but we went early in the morning when there are no crowds.  It was raining but very quiet and the lights were small due to the construction to the Salt Lake Temple.

New Year's Day - we had Shawn, Karey and their boys plus Henry and William over.  The boys got to go sledding down the driveway even though there was not enough snow to use the Scout Road.

Henry is trying really hard to get taller than Grandma.  He turned 10 in September.

January 20, 2024  Gary went down to Cavalier's to pick up a pizza to have for dinner and he took a little longer than usually to get back.  He was going through the parking lot on the north end of the parking lot and looked down to his lap and then the next thing he knows he has hit something.  That end of the parking doesn't have much lights.    He hit the NEW police chief's truck!!

January 25 Gary, Gared and William went to Fish Lake to go ice fishing.  That is all William wanted to do to celebrate his 8th birthday.  He has planned and talked about it all year.

February 14th - Valentine's Day - Gary found the UTA Front Runner was doing a special ride from Provo to Salt Lake.  So he spent about 3 hours trying to get tickets and getting the "APP" set up on his phone for the trip.  We have never done a train ride except for the Heber Creeper with some of the grandkids.  We started in Provo and ended up at Salt Lake Central.  They had reserved one of the cars and those who wanted could play Bingo to win some Valentine Gift bags or UTA throw blankets.

                                        

We got off at SL Central and picked up the Blue Line for two blocks and walked 1 block to the Gateway area and eat dinner at Hall Pass.  We walked around to see what looked good and we picked Lobster Colossal.  

Enjoyed the Lobster Rueben and fried cheesecake.  While there we came across Zoltar from the movie "BIG".  

Fun ride home and a new adventure for us both!

Saturday, January 17th William Foye Black was baptized by his dad, Gared Donald Black.  Grandma was asked to talk on baptism and he received his new set of scriptures.

Well I think I am caught up for now.  Gary and I need to be planning some more new adventures now that we both are retired!!