Week of April 21, 2013

Sunday

Mike had come home to go to Kathy Hawkes homecoming and also spoke in East Garland.  We went to hear him after our meetings. He is writing letters to missionaries.  

It was good to have him home.

Monday

There a missionary couple, Elder and Sister Erickson, from Afton, Wyoming, and our Zone Leader's wife, Sister Pay, whose last day was on Wednesday.  We just decided to go and see them on Monday.  We went to the Salt Lake Temple in the morning and then went to the Family History Library.  It was so good to see those we still knew.  We will always have love for the FHL and the time we spent there.  It made us homesick for mission life.  We had a lovely lunch together at the Church Office Building.  We stopped on the way home and had a nice visit with Marion.

Flowers on Temple Square

It was so good to go to 'our' temple again.

My old front desk.

Sister Erickson and me. 

Sister Ehart who never wants her picture taken.

Tuesday - Wednesday

We had a little block of time on Tuesday morning, so we cleaned the family room really good and got it ready for Thursday.  We moved the table to the middle and set a smaller table on the south wall for serving.  I wanted us to all be in one room, because we would have to eat and visit at the same time. At noon Michelle Brown came again and we did family history with her until 3:00.  

On Wednesday I spent some time getting the food ready and the rest of the house cleaned.  Dad and I work well together.  We may not do it as fast as when you were all home and everyone had a room, but it still works. We are ready for the big day tomorrow!

Thursday

It was a beautiful day.  U. John & A. Annette came early and we had a good visit.  A. Margaret had come the night before, so she was here also.  They are having such a wonderful mission. I guess it wouldn't be interesting to get a play by play report. I had 2 goals. One was to have a family prayer with all my brothers and sisters.  When I was young, I wanted so much to have kneeling family prayer because we didn't have it, but I was to afraid to ask mother.  It sounds silly now, but I never dared ask. The other one was to visit around the table with everyone there and receive counsel and advice from my brothers and sisters. We had such a wonderful visit.  I cried, felt the spirit, received the counsel I sought, and felt Daddy and Mother there.  After we visited, we had prayers and then took pictures.  After that it was good-byes and a final visiting.  It was wonderful.  My oldest brother David turned 80 this year.  Cousin Mike bought plane tickets for him, Jorgan, his dad and mom to come in to BYU graduation.  It was his Christmas present to them.  It was a present to more than just him.

Cousin Jorgen and Michael visiting with U. Ralph

A. Anne, Ellen, Janet, Paul, and Annette - We all had so many good small visits along with the big visiting.

Anne, Annette, Paul, and Margaret

Ellen, Paul, and me

Me and Aunt Ellen

David and Paul - as soon as David came in they began speaking in German to each other.  They both served their mission in Germany.  My father also went to Germany on his mission.

Eating around the table

Kayleen came and took pictures.  Does anyone know how to photo shop someone in a picture? I want to  photo shop daddy and mother in to the picture.

Back - Ralph, David, Paul, & John

Front - Anne, Janet, Margaret, me

Starting with Anne and going left & around - Bob, Melanie, Ralph, David, Paul, John, Annette, Dad, Mom, Janet, Ellen behind her, Ralph, Annly, & Margaret

After everyone left, there was still enough time that we could go to see Jeffrey and Dusty in the school play at McKinley, Wizard of Oz.  

Dusty

Dusty and Jeffrey - They did a great job!

They were so cute and did such a good job.

That night we went to Ogden to teach a Family History class. Kari Ann Riplinger had asked us.

Me and Kari Ann 

 

Somehow when we were leaving Ogden we ended up on the road that goes past Farr Ice Cream, so we had to stop for an ice cream.  It was a good way to end such a beautiful day.

I'm still trying to get the hang of taking a picture of ourselves.

Friday

Dad dropped me off to help Colleen. She had her gall bladder out on Thursday. She is doing so well. 

We went for a walk to our house. Caleb, Zander and Colleen.

Caleb and Zander

Caleb on his birthday bike

That evening we went to see the boys in their choir concert. Josh and Mallory came with us.  It was a wonderful concert. It was so good to see them and they sang so beautifully!

Steven and ?? girl at the front of the stage.

John sang a beautiful solo in Les Miserables 

Steven is the first on the front row with Spencer just over his shoulder. John is the 4th one on the back.

Spencer's solo

Steven's solo

Issac in the green shirt. They sang a medley of songs from Annie. It was so good!

Jared is the first one on the left, and Isaac is the furthest on the right. I think I need a better camera, or sit closer.

Saturday

Dad roto tilled the melon patch and we planted the Ever baring raspberries we got from Amanda's Grandpa. That part of the garden behind the swings is beginning to grow.
I went to get Mike to bring him home so he could roto till the garden.

We had so much fun planting the garden.  All Mar's boys helped, Peter's girls, Chris's kids, and Joe & Tesha came also. (And the Dad's helped also.) We got cabbage, lettuce, beets, and onions planted.
I was so involved, I didn't get any pictures.  When Dad went out to take care of the chickens for the night, I had him stand so I could get a picture. He worked very hard also.
We couldn't have done it without the help of everyone. We will plant more on Monday.

Of course, after the work came dinner and time to play.  Here is Isaac and Caleb doing a skit.

Craft time for Jared and Mallory

Steven really banged his nose and had quite a sore nose bleed.
Noelle is keeping him company while he recuperates.

There was a rousing game of 'Avalon'.  They really got in to it and had a ball.

Tesha, Joe (can't see him), Josh, Marion, Mike, John, Spencer

It was a great day, and thank you everyone for your help.  I'm not sure why they say retired people garden, because we can't do it without help.

1828 Dictionary word for the week:

Come- “Webster talking after explaining roots-“When we invite another to begin some act, or to move;” then the definition: To move towards; to advance nearer, in any manner, and from any distance; to draw nigh; to approach; to arrive; to advance and arrive at some state or condition; to become;” He then gives many examples of come with another word – this came the closest: “to come to – to consent or yield.” 

This comes from my reading in Alma 5:34 “Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life;” We always heart this invitation from Christ to come unto Him.  It gave me better understanding with the definition of 'come'.  It is to 'advance nearer, in any manner' not necessarily the whole way to Him at once.  As we come to Him, we 'consent or yield' to Him.

I love you all very much.  I want you to know that He is my rock and foundation.

Week of April 14, 2013

Sunday - Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpa!

It has been a wonderful day.  Yes, I fixed breakfast in bed for Dad, he just didn't eat it in bed.  We had church and then I hurried over to Logan to get Mike and Ellen while Dad went to choir practice.  After all, how can we have a party without Ellen and Mike?  We came home and had Chris and family over also for a birthday dinner. It was a fun Sunday afternoon.

I don't know what you think, but I don't think he looks 65!

No candles, so we used matches.  He blew fast.

B-day presents are always wrapped in Christmas paper.  I remember going to birthday parties when I was little and I never gave a birthday present.  It was always a card and money.  So be glad you at least get to wrap presents.

Gardening, because that's what retired people do - New gloves

Monday

We had Tesha and the kids here. Dad, Tesha, and Ben went to the airport to get him.  He has been in Denver attending/presenting at a science conference and visited Tom & Mel's family.  Since Tesha and the kids were sick, we didn't all go out.  They were all glad to have him back. I made a pumpkin pie to finish celebrating Dad's birthday from our own pumpkin.  It was so much better than canned pumpkin.

Here is a picture Joe sent from Tom & Mel's:

Max, Taylor, Gabe, Joe, and Cambria

Tuesday

It is so easy to slip out of the habit of taking pictures.  I just didn't take any this week. Sorry. 

Originally we had a Dr. appointment for Dad's knee, but ended up moving it to the 7th of May when we found out his insurance doesn't kick in until the 1st.  That was a blessing.  We came home from  Logan and I decided to defrost the freezer down stairs.  I just had everything out when Michelle Brown (Michael Brown's wife) came to do Family History again.  I had it wrong on my calendar.  We had a good Family History time until 3:00 and then I finished the freezer and did the one in the laundry room before going to the YMYW activity. I guess I could include a picture of the freezer.  I sent dad in to take the picture, but now that I see it, it doesn't look as clean as it was on Tuesday.  Oh well, there is room now for ice cream!

It was an amzaing YMYW activity. We did an interactive program where all the YMYW had the temple cards and would bring them up to the 'parents and people who they were getting baptized for' and then those who were actually getting baptized would collect the names they wanted to do and put them in and envelope & will be baptized for them on Thursday. The timing was right, the kids really got into it and the spirit was so strong.  It was far better than I could have hoped for. The Lord guided me so much in writing it and doing it this way. It took a lot of work, time, and listening to the spirit, but it was well worth it. Wish I had pictures, but I don't.

Wednesday - Happy Birthday Caleb!

We had several fun activities with Caleb today.

It was a perfect day today.  I studied, and then baked bread, made homemade potato soup, pancake mix, and then headed out and visited & saw people the rest of the day.  It was wonderful. Nope - no pictures.

Thursday

Quilted, read at Fielding school, visited a neighbor, and went to do the baptisms with the YMYW.  It was a wonderful experience doing the baptisms after having the activity on Tuesday. I'll have to tell you in person. No pictures again.

Friday

Dad went to see U. Michael with U. Bill & A. Cathy.  I went to do our shift at the Family History Center, visited a neighbor, and spent the afternoon at the temple with Ellen and Mike.  Dad met us at the temple and we took Ellen out to dinner with the gift card Emily got us for babysitting.  Don't tell Mike, he had to work.  Here is a picture of the temple, but not with us. It sure seems big compared to Brigham City: 

Saturday

It was a quiet day with study, reading, errands, and Dad and I went to the temple and then babysat while Joe and Tesha went to an awards ceremony. (Joe didn't get an award, but it was an honor to be nominated for the Robin's award.) 

We've spent a lot of time at the temple this week, and it has been good. 

Word for the week from the 1828 Dictionary from my study:

Succor- “Literally, to run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want or distress.” (Alma 4:13 “succoring those who are in need of their succor” This is the heart of the gospel. It is a strong word-can’t procrastinate succoring!)

May we always be ready to succor those in need, both within the family and out.

I love you all - Have a wonderful week.

Week of 7 April 2012

Sunday

It was a beautiful conference day.  I got up early to make egg & sausage muffins for all those going to Salt Lake.  Ellen and Mike were sure excited to go to Salt Lake to hear conference not in Chinese.  It seemed different to eat ice cream before our big dinner, but it all worked out.  It was sure great to see the Bingham family.  We tried to not stay up too late, but we knew it was our last visit with Paul and Lacey since they were leaving at 5:00 a.m. the next morning.  It was so good to have them here. Even though it was short, we had some good time together.

Conference highlights: They were all so good, it is hard to pick.  I loved Pres. Uchtdorf's part where he said, "In life it may seem we are surrounded by darkness. Know that darkness exists and don’t dwell there. Know also that Light exists and choose to dwell there." I also loved President Monson's talk on obedience (John can now connect to President Monson!), and  Elder Holland's talk on Faith.  We all need to listen to them again in the quiet moments of our life. (But don't wait too long for that time.)  And so many more!
 

Matthew making baby Levi happy with a toy.

It's Jenetta!

It's Suzy!

Lots of cousins and Eric's oldest daughter Emma (on the right).

Eric's brand new baby, Jannie

David with a good assortment of children

I was tired, but wanted more pictures, so I asked Ellen to take 5 more pictures. 1st one was her foot.

Playing games - starting with Mike, Shiela, Amber, Eric, Amanda, Emily, Audrey, & Josh

Visiting in the Front Room

Chris and Rob reading, or I should say bonding

More Games

Alaina dressed up as a monkey

Full front room

After cleaning on Monday, I found where little Chloe had been 'building her city' all alone under the hut.  Since Mike is thinking about majoring in Civil Engineering, this is to remind him who can build the buildings he designs.

Monday

5:00 a.m. and the last picture saying good-bye.

At 8:00 Ellen and I got our hair cut and I took her to school.  The rest of the day was not picture worthy, so I don't remember what I did.  Probably got the house put back in order and sheets/towels washed.  That is the usual activity.  And felt joy and sadness.

Tuesday

It was a family history day.  Tricia Brown's daughter-in-law came at noon and we helped her with family history until about 4 that afternoon.  We really had a great time.  She has several lines that nothing has been done.  I worked in the morning and after that getting ready for the Family History YMYW Activity next Tuesday.  I thought I had to be done before we went to Colorado.

Wednesday

We went to the temple.  I also got all the names printed out for the activity. (More on that after it happens next week.)

Tree on the temple grounds.  The hope of spring and new life.

Cierra's track meet.  As we were coming home, I got a text from Cierra telling me about her track meet. It was so fun to go and watch.

Cierra and her friend Angie ready for the shot put.

Cierra throws!

Time for the Javelin

Thursday - Happy Birthday Mel!

The morning was spent getting ready for the YMYW activity and then we were off to see Joseph get an undergraduate research award from the Physics department.

Joe and Dr. Soyka

After the award with his family.  I'm proud of all the work he has done.  He graduates on the 5th of May and then he is taking his family to New Hampshire to graduate school.  Just to let you know, he is currently out of the will, but trying to get back in.

Joe and Tesha decided to not all go to Colorado for Joe's presentation in Denver.  Tesha and the boys are still not feeling well.  So we didn't leave for Tom's.  We are going in May, so it was OK.

We got a phone call from Dusty and he had a soccer game.  It was way fun to see him play.

Dusty on the left

Friday-Happy Birthday, Rob

We are in the Family History library from 9-1.  Later after we got home, Dad drove Joe to the airport and Tesha, boys and I went to quilt at her mom's.

Saturday-Happy Birthday, Scott

We woke up early to go and watch Rob's kids play soccer since we didn't go to Tom's.  It sure reminded me of our soccer days when there were 3 or 4 games on Saturday morning.  Scott played at 8:30 and then we went to Rob's for Scott's 'Star Wars' birthday breakfast.

Staying warm with Jeanetta

 

 Scot is goalie

Two suns (2 eggs cooked in toast) and cinnamon roll

The birthday boys: Grandpa (14th), Scott (13th), and Rob (12th)

I can't believe dad will be 65 tomorrow.  We're planning on another 20 years at least.

Sohpie's game at 10:30

Playing until the game starts with Jeanetta

 More Sophie

Cecily's game at 11:00

 It was so much fun to see everyone play soccer.  I hope to get to at least 1 game of everyone who is in spring sports.  Saturday night dad and I went to the Band Dinner Dance.  I drove by the high school several times today and thought, "It will be so fun to go to the dinner dance and not be in the kitchen or in on any planning."  My batteries were dead in the camera, or I would have taken a picture of Wade Walton leading the Jazz Band.  He has really build up the band program at the high school.  Everyone sure like him and they have a great time.  Josh tried out for jazz band next year and made it in.  It's good to be back at the High School concerts/activities with Cierra and Josh.

Last picture of the week: Zach and Ben brushing their teeth getting ready for bed.  It's been a wonderful week again.

From this week's studying of the Book of Mormon.  I think every week I'll give one of the words I looked up in the 1828 Dictionary that I liked:

Flattery - “False praise; commendation bestowed for the purpose of gaining favor and influence, or to accomplish some purpose”. (Mosiah 26:6 “they did deceive many with their flattering words” How often do we use words to agree with or ‘gain favor’ in the sight of the person we are talking to when we may not know fully what is going on?-especially on facebook.) I just gained a better understanding of the scripture because of the word 'flattery'.  Beware of it; both giving and receiving. 

Everyone have a great week this week. I love you all more than you will ever know.