Happenings in the Gregersen Household

Okay so I decided that it has been a while since I posted anything so I am going to change that. The last couple of weeks have been an interesting time. Rumel and I have been to Blackfoot again (Rumel twice). I’ve been spending more time than I ever wanted at work, and we were able to spend time with people that we love.
While up in Blackfoot again, we were able to attend the baptism of our niece Harlee. It was a wonderful day to see her make the choice to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was awesome to see Travis baptism his little girl. I always love being present when worthy priesthood holders exercise that power they have been given. I’m so grateful that my hubby is a worthy priesthood holder and we have that in our home and he was able to stand in the circle when Harlee was confirmed. It made me excited for the day when he will be able to baptize and confirm our children, but that is a long way down the road (no I’m not making any announcements). I love the gospel!
Also, while up there, we took family pictures since Troy was home and the last one that we had taken was outdated. I’m excited to see the rest of the pictures. We’ve seen a few on the photographer’s blog and they are adorable. It should be interesting since some of the kids didn’t want to cooperate, but it was still fun.
This past weekend we had some our good friend come over for lunch since we hadn’t seen them in quite some time. It’s always a good time when we get together with Sam and Amy. For lunch I made a cheese fondue with various dippers. It was a new recipe that I’d never tried before, but it turned out really well and we stuffed ourselves. Then we played a round of Taboo. Then we made a yummy chocolate fondue. It was a great day of spending time with good friends and eating delicious food. I also got my official diploma from USU! It is an awesome feeling to be done and have that little piece of paper to saying I did it! That is the past happenings in the Gregersen household. We are kind of boring, but I’m trying to be better about posting things. Hope all is well!

Eventful Weekend

This past weekend we had a very eventful schedule. On Saturday, Rumel’s brother Troy flew into SLC after being in Iraq for a year. The whole family was very excited to see him. Rumel and I picked him up from the airport here in Salt Lake and then drove up to Blackfoot. We were able to have a great conversation on the drive up about what Troy had been doing for the past year and what he plans to do once he is done with the army in May 2011.
On the way up to Blackfoot, Troy tried dropping hints that he was hungry (which we didn’t catch at all) so he finally came out and said he was hungry. So we started arranging to meet the family in town to grab a bit to eat. What Troy didn’t know was that a few weeks again Roxie (Rumel’s Mom) started planning a get together. She had decided to have the family meet at a restaurant in town called Melina’s and surprise him since he flew into Salt Lake and they weren’t able to be at the airport. So we had him thinking we were going to a place called Rupe’s to meet the family. Then at the very last second (like you either turn right to go to Rupe’s or left to go to Melina’s ) Rumel says he isn’t feeling Rupe’s and wants to go to Melina’s. Troy is frantically calling all of the siblings to let them know of the change. The three of us walk into Melina’s and there is the family with banners on the walls welcoming him home. He was pretty surprised.
We are so proud of Troy’s service for our country! We are grateful he was protected during his time overseas serving. And are happy he is home for a month of leave.
On Sunday, we had an amazing opportunity. Elder Richard G. Scott was speaking at Rumel’s parents’ stake conference. He had been in Pocatello Friday and Saturday attending other meetings. Then on Sunday he came to their stake conference. It was an awesome meeting! All of the speakers did a fantastic job. The Spirit was very, very strong and it was great to sit at the feet of an apostle for a time and soak in of his testimony. He was very relaxed in his talk. He called a few young women out of the audience and asked them about their homes and then asked them to bare their testimonies. He then shared stories about his life and experiences he has had. He is definitely an apostle of The Lord and has a special witness of Him. I’m very grateful we were able to attend such a special meeting.Monday, we both had the day off of work. We took it easy and just spent more time with Troy. Overall it was a great weekend!

P.S. Maybe one of these days these blogs will actually get pics to go along with them. For now, you get to use your imagination. =)

Update - Warning now: Its a novel

Okay I know that I’ve been a huge slacker as of late. Life has been a little crazy the past couple of months. In the past 2 months many things have happened. We’ve been to Idaho 3 times, Hyde Park 4 times, celebrated 2 holidays, rang in 2010 and Rumel went to Denver and back. In one of our trips to Hyde Park we went to the Boise State vs USU game. It was really funny because we had gone up earlier that day so I could go and get my graduation gown up on campus. Well, Rumel was decked out in his BSU gear and was walking around the TSC (student center at USU) with me asking where I get my gown at. We needless to say got several odd looks. But it was all good. Boise State obviously won and Rumel was ecstatic to be able to see BSU play in person. It completed his list of favorite sports teams to see in person. It was a great game! USU did well the first quarter and a half and then BSU got in their groove and that was the end of that.
On another trip to Hyde Park, I finally graduated from USU. I know some of you probably just fainted from reading that, but yes Hell froze over and the Devil had to start issuing snow shovels. My dad and husband had told me that I was required to do the actual walk. So on December 12th I marched across the stage in the spectrum and got my Diploma cover (since you don’t get your actual diploma until 6-8 weeks later). I felt really bad because my dad had a family engagement to attend to that morning and because of the snow and some people being late, he missed me walking. But I really wouldn’t have had him be in any other place than he was. Overall though, it was a great day. After the ceremony, we went back to my parents’ house and had soup and bread. It was a great day.
During the last 2 months we have celebrated both Thanksgiving and Christmas. We went to Idaho and Hyde Park for both. Thanksgiving was fun. My sister from California and her family came for the first time since they moved to California. It was great to see them twice in a 4 week period. Christmas was good. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day up in Blackfoot with Rumel’s family. It was great to see all of them and spend a relaxing few days together. Then Christmas night we drove down to Utah with a stop in Banida (just outside of Preston) to visit Grandma Gregersen. The rest of the weekend was spent partying with my family.
The weekend before Christmas Rumel and some of his buddies drove out to Denver for the Raiders vs Broncos game. Which the Raiders won! Rumel came back a very happy individual.
We were kind of boring this year for New Year’s. On Thursday night we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner and then just came back to our place and watch the 3rd Harry Potter (we’ve be watching the whole series in order which we finished today). We watch a little bit of the New Year’s Eve shows and then went to bed. On Friday, we went to Sherlock Holmes (which is awesome! I highly recommend!) and lunch with some friends. Then Saturday and today we just kind of bummed around and cleaned a little and got stuff put away. It’s been a nice change to just relax at home with my hubby since we’ve been gone so much. I’ll try and get pictures posted soon of our adventures and I’m still working on pics of the new place. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s!!!!

The Move

I just wanted to update everyone that the move went off without a hitch. Rumel went and got the truck at 7am on Saturday and everyone showed up around 9ish and we had everything packed and ready to go by 11:15. The un-loading of the truck went super fast and we were all done by 1 or so. Thanks to everyone who helped! We would have never been able to do it all without everyone's help! I'll try and get some pics of our new apartment posted as soon as we get everything organized (Its a little chaotic at the moment). We are excited to be in our new apartment and have lots more room! Once we get settled we'll be glad to host people since there will actually be space now. Hope all is well! Love you all! And THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH for all the help moving!

Great Weekend!!

Okay look at this! Another post before 8 months have past! Man I rock!!!

So this past weekend I was able to go up to Logan for a great (very much needed) Time Out for Women (TOFW). If you don't know what a TOFW let me tell you. It is a program that Deseret Book created where they have singers and speakers come and talk to women to help them recharge their batteries. My Grandma Spuhler is wonderful and about 3 years ago started getting tickets for the girls in our family. This year my mom and grandma weren't sure if they were going to go but then they decided that they wanted to. I'm soooooooo glad that they did. I wasn't able to make it up for the Friday session but the Saturday session was absolutely AMAZING! It was just what I needed. The theme this year is Sweet Assurance. What a wonderful topic. The speakers did a fabulous job on all of their topics. Mary Ellen Edmunds talked about her new "Life Assurance Policy." As always she was funny but was able to bring the spirit in and the sweet assurances that Christ gives us in our lives. It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday! Thanks again Grandma for giving us the chance to attend! I highly recommend anyone that has the opportunity to go. They are always just the thing you need.

Update

Okay we have been getting a lot of slack for not updating our blog in so long. So a quick update of what has been going on in our lives since our last post. I will try to do better about keeping it updated but we'll see how that goes.

First off, we made it to our 1 year anniversary in May!! I also received my endowments in May in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a great day! My parents helped to get all of my siblings and their spouses there so we could all be in the temple together as a family. My dad had decided during a session that he wanted all 10 of his kids to be in the temple when his baby received her endowment and I am very grateful for that. Both of my grandmas were there as well. My mom was saying that she couldn't remember the last time my Grandma Seamons had done a session but she made the journey down to SLC and went through the session with us. She is an amazing lady! I definitely have wonderful Grandmothers and an amazing Mom to look up to. Rumel's parents and brother, Travis and his wife Heather also made the journey and went through the session with us. It was such a wonderful day.

Then, the last few days in June and first days of July we were able to head up to Bear Lake with my mom's side of the family. It was great to spend time with all of my cousins and siblings. We spent our time playing games on the lawn, ridding the wave runners, mini golfing and telling stories from when we were younger. And as always, we had tons and tons of yummy food. It is always a good time up at Bear Lake! Thanks Grandma Spuhler for all you do to make that happen!!!

Another major happening was on the 3rd of July. Rumel and I were able to be Sealed in the Logan Temple. It was another great day!! All of my siblings were there, as well as aunts and uncles and friends and Grandmas. Rumel's parents, grandmas, his sister Tiff and her husband Kyle, his Sister-in-law Heather, and his sister Rachelle were all able to be there as well. It was wonderful to finally have those blessings in our life and to know that we will be together forever (much to Rumel's dismay. Poor Chap :P). It great that we have so much family support! I love our families and all that they do for us!

The last couple of updates that have gone on in our lives in the past few months are that I am finally graduating college! Yay!! I finished my last class over the summer and I will be graduating in December!!!! Wahoo!! And the other is that we are moving to a different apartment. The new apartment is in Holladay. It is quite a bit bigger and has a second bathroom which is nice. It is also a more social complex so hopefully we'll be able to meet some other young couples. So that is the update in our lives of all that I can remember at the moment. I'll try to post some pics (if we have any......) in the next couple of days. But that is the run down of the happenings in the Gregersen house hold for now.

Here are a few pics from the day we got sealed. The baby Rumel is hold is our niece Tayah.

Grandpa Hunsaker

It has been quite the past week. As many of you may know my Grandpa passed away on Wednesday last week. I think most of the family knew that he was getting close to the end of his life so it wasn't a complete shock. I also think that even though we will miss him, the family was glad to see his suffering end. His health had been failing for the past few years and it was harder and harder for him to get around. I know that was frustrating to him. I'm sure he was ready to go home also. I am sure there was much rejoicing last week on the other side when Grandpa was able to reunite with his his family and friends that had gone before him.

Troy was able to come home a few days early so he could be at the funeral. We went and picked him up at the airport on Wednesday night. It had been almost a year since he had been home so it was really good to see him. We talked for quite a while about his experience so far in the Army.

Friday we headed up to Idaho for the viewing and funeral. I was able to see a lot of the family that we don't see a lot anymore which was good. The funeral was really good, I thought everyone who was involved did an excellent job. It was amazing to hear the stories and experiences that had made Grandpa who he was. A few things that stood out to me and a few of my own observations from my memories of Grandpa. His mother died when he was young and his father was an alcoholic. His father was a very mean drunk and was not sober very often. The story was told about how as a young boy Grandpa at least once had to run and hide in the orchard because his father had been shooting at him. At the age of 10 Grandpa left home and spent the rest of his growing up years living with various relatives. As a young man he was drafted by the Army and spent much of WWII in Italy. I don't really remember him ever talking much about the Army. He was always willing to help anyone and everyone with anything. He was very good at building things. I remember when we were kids we really wanted one of those adjustable basketball hoops. Grandpa decided that he could make one without to much trouble and the next thing we knew there was a hoop at our house. He also made countless toys for his kids, grand kids and great-grand kids. Grandma & Grandpa had a pool and ping pong table in their basement. Like my cousin mentioned I don't ever remember seeing them play on either table but we were always encouraged to bring our friends over as much as we wanted and play. My friends and I spent many nights in the basement playing pool. I don't ever remember Grandpa being angry. One of his motto's was not to cry over spilled milk. Getting angry when bad things happen doesn't really help anything at all. I will always remember the many camping, fishing and hunting trips I was able to take with Grandpa and the many other great memories I have of him. He truly was a light on a hill for all who knew him and I hope I can strive to follow the example he set for me. I look forward to the day that I will see him again.

Because Grandpa was a WWII vet the American Legion was at the cemetery to give the military rights. Troy was able to assist is the present of the flag to my Grandma. It was a very neat thing to watch and made me even more proud of my brother and his service in the Army. Here are a couple photos from the cemetery.