JULY 15th

It's our 31st Wedding Anniversary today. We were married July 15, 1977. It's been a long ride of many trials and many fun times. I remember the day well. Reed picked me up early in the morning at my Grandparents house in Logan and we rode to Ogden together. The Logan Temple was closed, that was when it was gutted and totally redone. I remember being very nervous and excited all at the same time. I hadn't been through the temple and so it was a big day. After the temple session and marriage we drove back to Logan and had the wedding breakfast. It was strange to ride back to Logan together as husband and wife. Bret joined our little family in January of 1980. We were thrilled to be parents and loved every minute of it. Reed graduated from Utah State in June of 1980 when Bret was 6 months old. We moved to Homedale, Idaho were Reed started as a salesman for a John Deere Equipment Co. After 4 months or so Reed lost his job and we moved into Eagle with my parents for a month or so and then we then moved to Star and lived in my parents single wide trailer. This is where we lived when Brock was born, June 9,1981. Reed was the assistant manager at a Small Loans Office so when Brock was a year old we moved to Pocatello, Idaho were Reed was transferred. In a short two months Reed was promoted and we moved to Twin Falls, Idaho where Kelvin was born on May31, 1983. After Kelvin was born Reed decided he wanted to try his skills at teaching and we moved to Shelley, Idaho and lived for two years. We moved to Shoshone, Idaho in August of 1985 and Kirsti was born a month later on September 3, 1985. We lived in Shoshone for three years and while there Jacob was born on August 31,1987. When Jacob was a year old we moved to Homedale, Idaho again and Reed taught school. I started working the afternoon shift at the local grocery store after we had been there a year. I enjoyed this as it got me out of the house and Reed watched the kids most of the time I was gone. I lost weight and enjoyed meeting the people of the community. After teaching for 7 years Reed decided that he wanted to go back to school and we picked up and moved 5 kids and a few boxes of belongings to Phoenix, Arizona. I look back on it now and I think we were crazy but at the time I just did what my husband wanted to do and so we went. We moved I think on the hottest day of the year and our van didn't have air conditioning. I think we all started to wish home wasn't so far. I know I did. However the Lord blessed us and it turned out to be a good experience for our family. I think the kids all enjoyed it and have fond memories our our 18 months in Arizona. Reed graduated with an associates degree and we moved to Logan, Utah. We have been in the valley ever since. I started to work at Autoliv in Brigham City 15 years ago. With all the moves Reed became my best friend. I use to know how many times we have moved over the years but I have lost count. I know the Lord has blessed us and we have raised a wonderful family. We are enjoying this new experience of empty nester's and being grandparents. To Reed I want to say, I love you sweetheart and am excited to be married many more years. To our 9 children I want to say I love you all and am so glad you all joined our family.