All Graduated

So I actually walked at the beginning of May, but I figured I couldn't really put the pictures on our blog until I had actually finished my last class and was for sure going to get the diploma! :)

Well I finished my last class a couple of weeks ago and I'm now officially graduated with my bachelors degree in accounting. I'm so grateful that I was able to make this accomplishment in my life. I feel very strongly about getting an education and have worked hard my entire life to make it possible for me to be able to afford and get through school. My own efforts, however, wouldn't have gotten me this far. I owe a lot to many people so I've made a "Thank You List" at the end of this post. I was so glad that both of my parents could come up to my graduation and I was also glad that Rod's parents could be there as well. We went to Maddox afterward and ate. Believe me, it was so good it was worth mentioning!

Thank YOU!!

#1 - Mom & Dad - My parents have always been there pushing and supporting me in everything I've done. They pretty much made it possible and I love them both so much for all the things they've taught me that school could never do.

#2 - Husband & Friend - Rod has been helping me for a long time! :) I'm grateful to him for putting up with the stressed out me and the late nights of studying. He really is my best friend!

#3 - Good Friends - I was lucky to have some of the best friends in high school. We all believed in the same things so we started out on this little journey at the same time and now they are getting their degrees as well.

#4 - Good Teachers - I think every year of grade school I would have a new favorite teacher I

liked them all so much! Mr. Myers, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Stevens, Mr. Keel, Mrs. Mundy, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Aldredge (for teaching me how to lose a game of b-ball) and I could go on forever!

#5 - Other Family - This includes brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and whatever

other family it's possible to have! I could say something personal to each one of these people. Each one of them has had a SIGNIFICANT influence in my life and have shaped me into what I am today.

#6 - All the Unnamed - I realize there are a lot of people who may not fit in these categories, and I feel I owe them a great deal as well. Some of these include church leaders such as Holly Woolsey and SheriKay Beckstrand (and her girls!), as well as other friends such as Rita Tanner, Karen Wardle, and Mary Dobsen who I looked up to so much while my mom worked with them. There are so many others I am thinking of. People from every town, my friends parents, and family of my in-laws. Pretty much a big thank you to anyone who has touched my life in a good way and has helped form who I am today. THANKS!!

An AMAZING Man!

So how hard is it to wake up at 4:30 every morning and go drive bus? I figured it probably wasn't very fun, but I told myself that since this week was Rod's last week of going early EVERY morning of the week, I was going to try and get up and ride with him at least once. I didn't tell him, I just wanted to show up and surprise him.

Well, on Monday I didn't even wake up to his alarm... Tuesday I heard him wake up, was waiting for him to leave so I could hurry and get up, and yep, you guessed it, I fell asleep waiting!! Well I thought I still had Wednesday and Friday since he would be on the ambassador retreat on Thursday.

Wedensday however, he surprised me and didn't have to go to work that morning. So now I was down to today, my last day to try and stay awake enough to go with him. Luckily I woke up just as he was leaving the house so I hurried and got ready and went to the Transit Center. He was pretty surprised to see me and I was SO glad that I got up and went! I was the only passenger for most of the way (he has an hour long route) and it was fun to talk to him and start our morning together which never usually happens.

I am so grateful to Rod for waking up every morning without one day missed to help us earn a living. It is something I could never do and yet I've never once heard him complain about it. He is such a hard worker and all I can say is that I'm so glad that I waited for this amazing man to come back home and marry me!! Thanks for all you do Rod, I love you so much!!

New Baby and a Funeral

On July 31st while Rod and I, Mom and Dad, and my bothers and sister and their families were camping, my Grandpa Bond passed away. He had gone in for throat surgery and although the surgery went fine, that night he must have tried to get out of bed or something, but he fell and the fall is what caused him to lose consciousness. He would have had a lot of problems had they decided to keep him alive, so that night with all of my aunts and uncles there as well as some cousins, they gave him a blessing and then cut off life support. I wasn't able to be there, my bothers and sisters except for Kolby were still on the mountain, but it was a sad day for us.

Grandpa's funeral was held on Saturday August 8th and it was a very good service. My Aunt sharla, Dustan (cousin), my bother Kolby, Jason (cousin), Mika (cousin), and my Dad all spoke. They all did such a wonderful job and the stories reminded me of what my Grandpa used to be like before his throat cancer. We will all miss him very much and I know I can speak for all of my cousins and family when I say we are glad he was a part of our lives. I hope he's having a wonderful reunion with those who have gone on before.

I thought this was a little interesting, but my Grandpa ended up being buried right next to the spot where Rod and I had our first kiss. ha ha Yes, it was at the cemetery. :)

My Dad and brother pulled my grandpa in a horse drawn hearse. My dad does this occasionaly for those older cowboys that would really appreciate it.
This is just as they were getting ready to pass the street where my home is, as well as my Grandpa and Grandma's house and my Grandpa's parents house. Three generations all on one block. :) From left to right is my Aunt Sharla, Grandma Bond, Aunt Jan, Aunt Carma, and my Dad.
Left to Right: My Dad and Mom, Uncle John and Aunt Sharla Starley, Grandma Bond, Aunt Jan and Uncle John Frampton, Aunt Carma, and Uncle Mike Hodges.
Left to Right: Kolby holding Josi, Becca holding Angus (Gus), Rodney, Me, Grandma and in front is Gavyn, Klaudia (her baby boy Cash is at our house in this pic and Cam is at the races), Mom holding Katie (Klaudia's), Dad, Amanda, and Kolton.

It was hard to find out that Grandpa had passed away, and while one life was gone, a new life came on August 5th. Klaudia had her little boy Cash in St. George around 4:15 pm. She makes having babies look like a breeze since she went in around 10:00, they broke her water around 3:00 and the baby came in a little over an hour. She looks dang good too!I think Katie was pretty excited to get a baby brother, we'll see how it pans out now that she's not the one getting all the attention. :)I think Gavyn was pretty stoked to finally have a boy cousin on the Bond side!I think he tried to give me a little smile....This is the youngest I've ever seen Rod hold a baby at 4 days old! Look at his little bitty feet!And me with the little mitten man! Congrats Klaud! He's so cute!