If you're gonna get older, you can be comforted by sweet children who come home to celebrate "you!" This happened to me.

They arranged a scavenger hunt and took me (literally...we drove around)   down memory lane!

Clue # 1: "The place where you and your sister drove spud trucks in a race."  Oh yah! I  know that place.... Dunrentin Dairy. 



This is where I grew up. So many wonderful memories of working here as a family. I was blessed with the best parents in the world and tho 'the place' has lost alot of the TLC it received, I can know that it served it purpose in helping us girdas be what we are.

My kids remember coming here every Sunday night when they were growing up...singing the articles of faith on the way, getting two gallons of fresh "real" milk, pushing the hay up to the cows with Grandpa, the mean rooster, Lucy the horse, frogs croaking in Hillis pond, Grandpa's dog  and having a Schwans pushup. 

Clue # 2:  "Tin roof, underground"  Oh...that's the basement house where  Steve and I  first lived when we moved to Rupert.


Yes, Redge was born when we were living "down under".  I remember Dad let us fix it up so we wouldn't  have to pay rent.   The new carpet was bright red and yellow. I painted my runaway stagecoach painting in here.

The night I delivered Redge we caught 5  mice!  The ruts were so bad up the little lane that our yellow station wagon could hardly make it.  We newly weds were darn  thankful for a place to call home! We lived here 2 years.

Steve remembers when Jack had him drill grain in a field right close.  Steve was excited to "play farmer".  He worked all day at it.  When night came, he got off the tractor.  Dad asked him how much seed he used.  They opened the bin and it was still full.  apparently, it was plugged.  Oops!  

A call from our North Carolina boy:  Mom!  knowing all of you out there....I think I'm homesick.  Go to the well and take a picture and send it to me.


Remember getting a drink of cold water from the tin cup?








Clue #3:  "Trees galore".  Hello, Brown House. 


The kids have alot of growing up memories here.  Shay said she wanted to go in there and  see if her name was still written in the cupboard.  I would look at the "post" in the food room where we marked the kids heights, as they grew. 
    You would think the kids would have been glad to move to a bigger better house, but in reality, they loved this place! Memories of having friends over, playing football, mowing the lawn, and "tied up doors" on their downstairs bedroom  on Christmas eve, faking sick on Sunday so they could play Ninetendo, jumping on the tramp, being robbed  and our neighbors nick-names: "Cottom cheese" and  "Jolley ranchers," all make this house the "real one."

       Of course, we had to talk about the time when Chad, using a propane torch, accidently started bushes (close to the house) on fire and found out (for sure) that Heavenly Father answers a little boys prayers.

Clue #4: Old hay derik, a place where G pa Jack's life was saved with a banana creamie, ( BB took him one one while he was on on a tractor on HOT day!), two little boys first experience changing wheel lines using a volkswagon.

  :)  I Got it! it's the Funny Farm!

    Jon  asked:  why that name?  Well, because when G pa Jack bought a farm in the sand..trying to figure how to fertilize and irrigate it was so different than what he was used to...he'd often say..."Gee, this is FUN!" thus...the Funny Farm.

  
How could work be considered "fun"? If you know Jack Hilterbrand, you know that's what it became...fun.  Fun to see "rob roy" dry roots get a drink...in sandy or clay soil.

We went to Ruby Drive House too...where we lived when we built our current home.  Our first General Authority came to stay there.  I was scared to death.  We planned Shay and Jons wedding.  Chad, only one home then, experienced a Grinchy kind of Christmas. 

Here's some other snaps of a very fun week end.


 Hyrum "cuteness" Bodily.



Pink "torpedo" baby...coming in 6 weeks.  (She's lucky, huh?)


 Ty giving Marissa permission to announce to everybody their... "new baby's coming news".  This little doll can keep a secret!


Jack got so excited to sing his favorite FHE song:  "Baptism"   he jumped up and down the whole time!

 

Sam (in the posture of impatience) but did a genius job on his poem recitation of "Two Dead Men."

Chandler sang, "I am a child of God!"  and hopped on one foot! 

 





chAnnie rode with Shon in their new van...deal being... Chad entertained the boys!

      Thank you my children for a wonderful 56th birthday!

 

 
 

Comments

[shay]

Fun pictures mom. We loved celebrating with you. I think you did more serving of us that weekend than we did to you! You're the best.

Love ya

[Ty]

You're awesome mom. We loved being with you.

[dsbodily@juno.com]

Barb- I loved going down memory lane with you. I remember all of those places and have good memories of your parents. Sounds like you had the best birthday!

[sam]

I know a lot of us have great memories in almost all of those pictures too. I had forgot about the tin cup. The most important thing about all those memories are the people that made them...specifically you playing hostess every time we come to visit.