Changing times for Steve, Lesley-Ann & Beth

It's catch up time again!!! Well the last few months have been very exhausting physically and emotionally as we packed up and said goodbye to Blackbrook Farm House (BBFH) after 10 fabulous years.

Our fun evening out with Tony & Debbie

Since obtaining a visa for Beth at the end of June it’s been very busy as we started to go through all our possessions deciding what to pack to go into storage and what to throw away or find a new home for! Steve is a hoarder and we had accumulated a lot over the 10 years! Time to leave and say goodbye was soon upon us; I have to say one of the hardest things we had to do was to find good homes and say goodbye to our beloved animals.

Another fun evening with the Corbins and the Kears

We had many pets during our time in BBFH and we were so blessed to find great homes for all our animals with the exception of Zak who due to failing health we put to sleep. Zeena our other dog, our 2 goats Milred and Lilly and our chickens and ducks went to our dear friend Gilly and Dotty our cat is now Rebecca and Ronan and their 3 children. The biggest upset especially for Beth was taking the horses Cyril and China to their new home the week before we left, but we were comforted in the fact that they went together too a loving family.

Zak (top left going clockwise), Lilly, Milred, Zeena, Beatie, Dotty & our hens

Beth loved these boys and they her, she had an incredible relationship and bond with them and we shed a lot tears in the days that followed.

The boys Cyril & China with Beth

We tried hard to get together with as many of our family and friends before leaving.

A family gathering for Chester's baptism

Our Nephew Chester was baptised the weekend before Beth and I left and so we got to see most of my family with exception of my brother and his family who live in Australia. It was a lovely day and good to spend time together.

Me with my Mum and Sisters - Sarah, me, Julie, Mum & Katie

The day before we left the 3 of us spoke at our church the Loughborough ward and they gave us a great send off after the meetings.

The cake that was presented to us our last Sunday at church with good luck messages (all around the sides too)!

Joyce & Val, Beth with the Young Women, Steve & Teresa & Debs, Dan & Olivia.

Just some of the many that gave us a wonderful send off!

I felt bad leaving as we left Steve with still a lot to do before he left on the 31st, but Beth and I heading to Denver on the Monday the 19th October (5 weeks ago) to spend a few days with Jess, Ben and Jack. Jack was so excited and giddy to see us when he and Jess picked us up at the airport.

Fun in Denver - Jack and our very flexible daughter Jess

Beth and I had a great time with the Carney family other then the fact it wasn’t long enough, but we excited to see them again at Christmas.

Our beautiful daughters Beth & Jess (photo 1 & 2 by our talented Jess)

On Thursday 22nd we flew to Salt Lake where we were met by Aaron, Kimberly, Josh and Rachael. Rachael was only a few weeks old when we saw her last now she was 7 months and just gorgeous! Josh was really excited to see us but was even more excited at the thought that his POP’s (Steve) would be joining us in 2 weeks.

These next 4 photos of Josh & Rachael were taken

by their very talented Mum Kimberly

We spent Friday and Saturday getting Beth’s school uniform as she started at the ‘American Heritage of South Jordan’ on Monday 26th, she did look the biz.

Beth in her school uniform

Beth is loving her new school and the students and teachers love her, probably something to do with the fact she is a pretty English girl with an accent! Beth was also excited to have 2 new additions to our family 2 baby rabbits Twix and Rolo, who live in a wonderful new hutch made by Steve. Beth has been extremely lucky as her new school is right next door to a British Equestrian Centre, where she works a few hours a week in exchange for riding lessons, boy is she happy!

Beth with Rolo and Twix

Rolo and Twix aren't they just gorgeous?

After a manic 12 days of stress and problems Steve closed up at BBFH on Friday 30th October spending some precious time with his Mum and Dad. He then stayed the night with our dear friends John and Vicky who kindly took him to Leicester the next morning at 5.15am to get his coach to Heathrow, where he flew out off to Denver just in time for Halloween!

Jack all dressed up for Halloween

Wow the Americans really do go to town for Halloween, Steve got to experience it with the Carneys and Beth and I with the Presbury Jr. Family; we had a blast.

Josh with Rolo & Twix and on his bike












Steve too enjoyed his time with Jess, Ben and Jack, but Jack was so not happy when his Pops left a couple of days later, telling his Mum not to go to the airport and crying when they said their goodbyes. The grandchildren (Josh and Jack) really love their Pops.

Photo of Jack by Jess - he loves the bath

I was really excited to see Steve the following Tuesday as I had been worried about him on a couple of occasions when I couldn’t get hold of him as I knew how stressed and exhausted he had been. On a couple of occasions he broke down in the 7.5 ton truck he had hired to put all our things into storage and he didn’t have a phone to contact anyone and we couldn’t get hold of him for several hours and so I was thinking the worst. At least it broke down on the way home it could have happened when it was loaded with all our things!

Beautiful Rachael, she is such a happy baby - Photo's by me :-)


















So 3 weeks on we are doing just great. The weather has been fabulous mostly sunshine and a couple of flurries of snow, but even when it’s cold the sun is shining which makes it feel warmer and we often go walking in shirt sleeves.

Some of the scenery we see on walks near where we live

We are living within 20 minutes of 4 temples and plan to go each week (we have done
twice).

Oquirrh Mountain temple - seen for miles because of it's prominent position

The greatest blessing is spending time with our children grandchildren. Obviously we see more Josh and Rachael but will we will also be able to see more of Jess, Ben and Jack with them only living an or so hour flight away or a days drive.

The beautiful weather and scenery we have experienced most days, Steve & Beth










This week is Thanksgiving and although we don’t celebrate it in England we are looking forward to joining in the celebrations with Kimberly’s family this Thursday.

Just click on any of our photos to see them in larger size :-)