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.