Week of January 20, 2013

Sunday

We have been teaching a class on Family Trees and it has been so fun.  It is good to see how fast it can be picked up.  I have the handouts that explain step by step, or all you have to do is click around.  When you think we are trying to connect the whole world into one big pedigree that is quite an undertaking.  It still has problems, but it is good.

Monday

It was Martin Luther King day and we decided to have a holiday.  It's hard to have a holiday when you are both retired.  We took Ellen and Mike out to lunch at Chuck-a-Rama.  It was fun to spend some time with both Mike and Ellen. Usually one of them is at work, so it was good.

 After we dropped them off, we went to see the movie, 'Lincoln'.  We have both wanted to see it, but just haven't taken the time.  Mike & Ellen saw it in Colorado with Tom & Mel, so we didn't feel guilty seeing it without them.  We both really loved it.  

Tuesday - Happy Birthday Paul
 We called the day before so as not to interfere with the day, and I didn't like not talking to him the day before and not on his birthday.  But I spend time thinking about you and your life.  I honestly don't know where time goes.  I love all my children and grandchildren very much.

We went to Salt Lake City and spent the day.  Our zone leader had passed away at the end of December just before we went to Colorado, so we missed his funeral.  We went to visit with Sister Pay and see everyone from our mission.  It was so good to go back.  There sure have been a lot of changes in both missionaries and staff.  We sure miss is, but have many great memories, experiences, and so many people that will be life-long friends.  I can't wait to go on a mission again. We spent the afternoon at the Family History Library.  I have started researching on Ellen Rigby's line.  The city of Wigan, Lancashire, England is made up of Rigby and Ellison families I'm sure.  There is no way to tell how they are related.  The thought came to me that I should look to see who Ellen Rigby Capener did temple work for because she was doing it for her parents and their siblings that were born in the late 1700's.  It has really opened up the door for research and putting the families together and knowing they are the right ones.  

Wednesday-Thursday

Good days filled with extra study time, visiting teaching, extra cleaning (I'm to the dinning room cupboards now), and I even go and quilt on Thursday mornings with the 'quilting ladies' in our ward.  I love being with them and feeling of their greatness.  I also went and listened to children read at Fielding.  It was so good to get back to working with kids.  Part of me misses it a lot, but not everything else that goes with it.  

Friday

We were at the Family History library today.  We decided to go to the temple as soon as we were done.  We even scheduled to do baptisms.  I have only done baptisms one time as a youth, one time when we went to England, and now on Friday.  So it was the first time to be baptized by my husband.  It really was a wonderful experience because I had just done the research and still felt such a part of the people.  I loved the feeling of being baptized, and it was neat to have Robin do it.  I might have to join the grandkids and be baptized next time we go.  To make it even better, we had a lady come into the library that morning and needed some help.  It was 30 minutes before I had to teach a class at the library, but I helped her clear her step-sister's name to do temple work.  She is a convert and her sister died a year ago. She was the sweetest person.  She was going to go to the temple that morning and felt prompted to go to the library instead.  She had been in an accident several years ago and is still suffering some problems from it.  She couldn't do the baptism but could do everything else.  I offered to do the baptism and told her we had an appointment at 1:30.  She started to cry and said I was an answer to her prayers.  She followed us down to the temple and was there to witness the baptism and then she went after to do the next stage of work.  Dad was baptized for the sister's husband and then completed the rest of his work. We spent the whole afternoon in the temple with the rest of the work and did an endowment session at 3:30.  I love the temple so much.  I love to see how much the Lord is a part of our daily life.

We got home just in time to eat and go back to the high school for Josh's Foundation Choir concert.  I have always loved the Foundation Concert because it gave everyone the chance to rub shoulders with great musicians.  Mr. Peterson teaches choir at the middle school, so this was the first year the middle school got to join in with the high school for the concert.  The guest was from UVU and seemed very professional and fun.  

Here is Josh:

Saturday

After I got back from exercising, dad went to Logan to the library to do more research for his book on his dad.  I read the War Chapter this past week, and I think it is one of my favorite chapters.  There are so many letters written to his mother from his father and it tells so much about their relationship and what it was like and what they were like.  History should only be written from the 'normal' people's journals and letters.  I had the day to myself and I think I went on a family history binge.  I can't believe how much I am finding and clearing up because of what we found at the library on Tuesday.  I feel so close to my great-grandma.  I feel like I am picking right up where she left off.  She knew the people but couldn't do the work for so many because they were still alive (or not born yet), and now I can complete more work.  That is why genealogy is never done.

I love this gospel that offers joy and happiness to all of God's children, no matter when they lived.  

  

January 13, 2013

This Week

It has actually been another 'quiet' but busy week.  Remember back when you were all children and we could house clean the kitchen in 1 day?  Everyone would have different cupboards, drawers, pantry, fridge and we would all get it done quickly?  I bet you remember those days with such fondness.  Well, I don't like to houseclean, and I can't do it all day, so I just take a little each day while I'm listening to something worthwhile on my MP3 player.  I did that every day for a little while and I'm about done. I will spare you any pictures, I'm sure you remember what the kitchen looks like.

 Dad has been going through the hall cupboards and magazines, so that is how desperate we are for something to do. I also made a little area at the end of the hall and put all the Kids Discover, National Geographic Kids and World, and the old 3-2-1- Contact.  So, grandkids, here is the new place to browse through lots of cool things or if you need information for reports. (Yes, I realize there is the internet, but it doesn't come with warmth, love, and food like at Grandma and Grandpa's.)

We went to the temple with A. Margaret and did some sealings afterward.  It was a neat experience because Dad was proxy for Daniel Capener.  In the past it has always been his descendants.  This was the first for him.  I also spent a lot of time at different peoples homes doing Family History; showing them Family Trees and doing research.
I have so enjoyed going to the gym everyday.  I am feeling better for it, and we've added more fruits and veggies to our meals and even less meat.  We've had some really good, different meals.  My favorite is anything with sauteed mushroom, onions and spinach. 

I have also loved the extra study time I have been doing.  I learned how to use the 'Notes and Journal' on LDS.org.  I  can read a talk, mark it, and put the marked passages in a folder along with my comments.  I have done a lot of reading and pondering this week.  It is hard to come up with a favorite quote, but the two talks I have studied this week are Elder Bednar's from last October conference on conversion and Dallin H. Oaks, "The Challenge to Become", Ensign, November 2000 p. 32-34.  Here is a quote from each of them.

"Testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter-day storm of darkness and evil in which we are living. Testimony is important and necessary but not sufficient to provide the spiritual strength and protection we need."  Elder David A. Bednar

Elder Oaks: In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something. 

And again: :  To testify is to know and to declare. The gospel challenges us to be “converted,” which requires us to do and to become. -- Now is the time for each of us to work toward our personal conversion, toward becoming what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.

More and more I can see how confusing the world is becoming and how important it is to become more converted.   I am working on it.

Saturday

Mike had his family from Malaysia come.  The 2 children that were coming were sick, so the dad stayed home with them.  It was Sister Lee and her two daughters. The branch president, Brother Lee, has already gone back to Malaysia.  We had so much fun with the mom and 2 daughters.  The 18 year old, Esther, wanted to ride a horse, so I called Lola and Kent and McKenzie showed us all a wonderful time.  Kenzie was such a good teacher.  Here are some pictures:

Mike watching Esther, who could not get on the horse, try getting on from sitting position on the fence.

She made it!

McKenzie Baker with Esther Lee.  It was so nice of them to take us to the indoor arena at the fair grounds to ride so we weren't in the cold and snow.

Mike with Sister Lee.

I had been showing Sis. Lee and her other daughter Family Trees.  They were excited to get connected up to ancestors, even though it was only to grandparents.  They just don't know beyond that.

While we were doing that, Mike and Esther went sledding.  It was not very good conditions, though, but they went down a few times and then came in for hot chocolate.

We had fun playing games.  Here's Rumicube:

And, of course, Mike taught them 'Mormon Rook'.  Thanks, Tesha, that has been a fun game.

Picture with Esther, Mike and Sister Lee

All four of them

Have a wonderful week.  Do great and good things this week.  

Week of January 6

Sunday

It is Zander's special day.  He was blessed today.  Because of sickness, the numbers were few, but it was still a beautiful day.  I haven't heard a baby cry like Zander did since his father, Chris, did at his blessing.  Although I'm sure Chris screamed louder.  He gave him a beautiful blessing and we had a lovely dinner afterward.  Here are some pictures of little Zander:

Sunday night came and it was time to take Ellen and Mike over to USU.  They had moved most of their things over, but still had the last minute things.

Tuesday through Friday

The rest of the week was our first true week of spending it alone.  I didn't take pictures because I didn't have specific things, but we had a wonderful week.  It was good to do more service in the ward, go to the temple with A. Margaret, got oatmeal and wheat, went to several houses doing family history, and had some good reading time.  Dad and I have been reading a good book on Zion and have really enjoyed reading it together. (If this sounds like we are not missing you too much, you may be a little bit right!)

Saturday

Mike remembered the Lee family, who was here from Malaysia, were going to come to our house on Saturday.  He had failed to mention this to me, so we planned a big lunch to feed them, checked with Lola to see if she could take them on a horse ride, go sledding, and then have chili for dinner before they returned to Provo.  Because of the weather, it was all cancelled.  They are planning to come next week.  We didn't get near the snow they got down south, only wind.  

Joe, Tesha, and boys came late in the afternoon, so we celebrated Zack's birthday!  He is one year old.  Now Matthew and Zack have had their 1st birthday.  Last year's babies are growing so fast.  Gabe is next.  Here are some pictures of the birthday celebration:

Have a wonderful week everyone.  Know that I love you very much. 

Week of December 30

To Start off this Week's Blog: Caleb and Zander

After that, everything else will be calm

Sunday
We had a great day at Tom & Mel's.  It is always fun to visit all of you in your home ward. Mel had a very good Indian Chicken dish for us after dinner.  I don't think they, or anyone else, were prepared to feed Ellen and Mike.  As you can see, they (Mike) licked it clean.  I barely got enough out for a lunch for Tom.  Mike names the dish: "Mel's Yummy Chicken".  Yes, it has curry in it.

Monday

Taylor had lost a tooth and the tooth fairy forgot to come.  I told her when that happened to her daddy, he would leave a note on the table and that usually worked.  Here is her note to the tooth fairy and the two dollar coins left for her:

  

In the afternoon Mel took us shopping at Old Navy.  Ellen got several new outfits that will keep her warm in Logan.  Even Mike got a new shirt and pants.  It was the best shopping trip I have ever been on.  Ellen really looks cute in her new outfits. The four of them went to see Lincoln at the movies for New Year's Eve.  Then we stayed up late and played 'The Farming Game' and, as daughter of a farmer, I won. 

Here is Grandpa playing games with Taylor and Max

Tuesday
It's the long trip home, but the roads were better.  We stopped at David and Amanda's and it was good to see them, even though it was a quick stop.

When we got home, Joe and Tesha came and, of course, we played more games.  After all, it was Joe's 25th birthday!  I like Mike's new game from Ryan and Val.  I can understand it enough to play it.  

Wednesday
The next morning we had fun playing the Jensen Family Tree game.  I was amazed at how many cards Ben could put on.  He wasn't always sure of who the uncle was, but he new the cousins he belonged to.

Thursday-Saturday

It's a new year and with it comes New Year's resolutions.  After visiting with Mel and being inspired to better health habits, I joined the Groll Fitness Gym in Tremonton.  It feels good to get back into exercising again.  I wish I didn't need the help, but I do.  It makes me do it.  I've started to eat better, and can tell a difference when I don't.  I know Dad and I need to do this.  There are a lot of ways to prepare for a mission, and right now, this is one of the most important ones-be healthy to go and do what the Lord wants us to do.

We have a beautiful year ahead of us.  May we all be a source of strength to each other, and like Scrooge, learn from the lessons of the past, present and the future, and go forward with faith in this new year.