Week of October of October 6, 2013

Sunday

General Conference was amazing. I'm so glad we can listen to them again and read them.

It seemed there were talks for everyone. I know I gained a lot.

Our weekly phone call from Joe and Tesha. It is so good to see them. I love the Google+ video. They were waiting to see conference.

Ben showing us the baby.

We had Chris & family, Ellen and Mike, and A. Margaret here for dinner. We had so any vegetables from the garden and, of course, mashed potatoes and hot rolls. 

Didn't take a picture of the ice cream, but it was good.

More chatting when Nikki called. It was so fun to talk to her and see her. It was so good to see the kids! I can't believe how Levi scoots around, Audrey and Sammi played the piano, I saw Elise's quilt she made for her 10 hours project. See how cute little Chloe is! I think it will be easier to go on a mission.

Paul sent me this picture and I forgot to put it in, so I'm doing it a little late and I will also put it in next week's post. Beautiful, huh, and so is the blanket!

Ellen and Mike ready to go home.

Working on Grandpa Jensen's book, which consumed our whole week.

Monday - Thursday

Other than doing some pears with Shiela while Dad continuing cleaning the Genealogy Room, we really did work on the book ALL week. No pictures. We delivered the book to Square One Thursday at 5:00.

It came with mixed emotions. It has been such a privilege to work on it with Dad, I feel I know his father so much more. What a gift to give - someone's life and legacy. I'm proud of all the work Dad has done. He has done so much research and we have truly been led by the spirit to find things needed for the book.

Friday

We did our shift at the library and then headed to the Logan Temple. We each did a name that allowed 2 other families to be sealed.

Dad in the parking lot at the Logan Temple. I didn't take the picture of the temple. 

Getting the names ready.

Ellen and Mike came with us.

Coming to the Temple. Even though there were a few mix-ups and our group was divided up, we still had a wonderful time.Whenever we do sealings, it is another witness again to me how much Heavenly Father loves all of His children, no matter when they lived on the earth. There is a lot we don't understand about the power of the sealing ordinances, but I can see and feel His love, even if it is in a very small measure. 

Saturday

I had to present at the Brigham City Family History Fair. The speaker was the person in charge of all the Family History Centers in the world. He explained where Family History is headed in the future and it will be amazing. The whole work is directed by the Lord and it is hastening in a tremendous way. It is one of the miracles of our day.

When I got hoe, Marion and the boys were here and they had already started working in the garden.

Digging potatoes - Marion, Steven, and Isaac

Mike and Jared

Steven, Isaac, and Marion - I couldn't believe how fast the garden work went. We got the all of the garden work done before the Dutch Oven potatoes were done cooking. After lunch, the only thing we had left in the garden was to dig the carrots up.

Potato harvest time. We needed the diggers and the gatherers. 

Pulling up the tomato plants. Steven and I were amazed at the length of this tomato plant root. We still didn't get to the end of it.

Steven and Grandpa carrying off the bean trellis. The bean harvest was very strange this year.  It was so hot the blossoms would fall off. We did some, but not enough to can. When they came on later, we just didn't get them picked very well.

The carrots taught me quite a lesson this year. In the beginning it took them so long to come up that we could hardly see any carrots. We all weeded for so long. Me, Ellen, Colleen, Mallory, even Dad came out while recovering from his knee and we weeded. But because we got enough weeds out, the carrots were then able to take over and grow. However, I never got got back to finish the job. I didn't thin them. Because of this, they grew in crazy shapes. Which they are fun to see, but not as nice to do.

In life, we need to cast out the 'weeds' but that is not enough. We need to nurture the good and continue to take care of it so things don't get out of shape.

I am very thankful in real life for my Savior, Jesus Christ, since there are 'weeds' I can't get rid of without Him.

Caleb and Isaac with their treasures. Isaac, we still have the carrots you picked out - you forgot them.  

Chris and Marion digging the carrots. It was too hard for any of the kids to dig them.

Our harvest. We saved all the green tops for Colleen's horse.

All the time we were doing carrots, Mike had the other kids and they moved his two bookcases downstairs and Dad was working on the Genealogy room. We are nearly ready to move Mike's bed into that room so his room can be Suzie's. In case I hadn't told everyone, Ryan and Val will be living in the house while we are gone. At least until they find them a house. This way they don't have to rush into one. We are very glad they sold their home.

Finally, after a big day's work, they played a short game of Avalon before it was time for Chris's family to get ready to see the play.

1828 Webster's Dictionary Word for the Week:

Patient-"Not hasty; not over eager or impetuous; waiting or expecting with calmness or without discontent. With calm and constant diligence."

That  is what we are learning while we are waiting for our Mission Call. It will probably come while we are in California, and then we will have to wait one more week! But time will go by fast then.

I love you all. I had forgotten what it was like when I had a 'work crew' at home. I was hoping to get the potatoes dug today, and because we had so much help, we got the whole garden put away, Mike's bookcases moved, and boxes from the Genealogy Room moved out.

THANK YOU!!!

Week of September 29, 2013

Sunday

I had a good fast Sunday. I felt so much gratitude to my Heavenly Father for all that He has blessed me with. I am so very happy. I have so much to be thankful for.

We had a Family History meeting in the afternoon with our 4 new youth Family History Consultants. It was a very good meeting and we brainstormed some good ideas. They are all excited. Josh is one of them. They know so much about Family Tree and have a love of the 'hunt.' 

We had a great 'trial run' of doing Google+ together. There was Paul, Joe, Tom, and Dad & I. Hopefully we will put it to use this week when our mission call comes. We will let you know when it comes and what time we will open it and then we get together on Google.

This is a leftover picture from last week. It is Jared's school shirt. Everyone in their class drew a 'self-portrait.' Steven and Isaac also have one. They are so cool.  

Monday - Thursday

They were all 'routine days.' I have a good study in the mornings, then we go into town and exercise and go to our 'Silver Sneakers' class, do canning or work on Grandpa Jensen's book.

This week we have canned: peaches, peach-pepper jam, pickled jalapeno peppers, and tomato juice.

Tuesday night Doran and Terri Denney had a fireside and showed slides from their 9 month stay in China teaching English at a university. It was very interesting. Thursday night Brother Craven from the Seminary gave a class on Revelations. I think it is the best class on Revelations I have attended. We have missed two weeks, but I'm sure we won't miss again. It was very good. During all this canning, we have been listening to Elder Neil A. Maxwell talks at a variety of conferences. They have been so good. I love hearing his talks.

On Wednesday Cierra and Josh had a cross-country meet up at Belmont Springs. Josh had sprained his ankle the day before, so he couldn't run, but here are some fun pictures of Cierra. I think this is the first X-country meet since Mike ran.

Before the race 

Remember the hills at Belmont Springs?

Rounding the final turn

Tiered Cierra after a good run

We have had some very beautiful skies lately

A Canning Cupboard

Friday - Happy Birthday Marion (in New York)

We went to the FHL from 9-1. We taught a class on Family Tree and there were about 15 people there. It went well and everyone seemed to really enjoy it.

Later in the afternoon we went to Logan to trade cars with Mike who was going down to Prove to a mission reunion. Dad, I, and Ellen went to the temple.

 After we got home, we had supper and had a movie party with Ellen, Colleen, Sierra, and Colleen & Zander. It was "The Croods" It was good and we all laughed. I liked the end about, never mind, I won't say just in case you haven't seen it yet.

Saturday

A very big canning & General Conference Day. We did applesauce, apple pie filling, and 14 qts. of chicken.

Many hands make light work, or a lot of work. I'm not sure which, but it feels good to have so much done for Chris' family. Fall is the time to get and put away food, whether home canned or bought. We are in shaky times. Besides, I always felt we ate healthier when we did it ourselves without all those preservatives in it.

Chris, Dad, Colleen, me, & Cierra

Making pie filling and Cierra is helping me to keep track of the ingredients. It is a bigger job than you think.

Noelle and Josh doing the applesauce.

How many times has Dad washed the canners this season? I can't even imagine.

Gathering in all the squash.

Caleb was very prepared with Grandpa's work gloves.
"I'm ready for some serious work!"

Good Conference Quotes take the place of the 1828 Dictionary:

"Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." Pres. Uchtdorf  - I think this was my favorite. I'm afraid I have needed to do that more this past summer with health issues and mission preparations.

I also loved Sis. Carol Steven's talk. That was for the women to remind us of what we have and our role as far as the Priesthood goes. I hope we listened with our heart. I liked her ending: "Do we know who we are? and Do we receive it with gratitude?" (That may not be exact.)

And one from the movie: "For now we will stay out here where we can always follow the light." 

I love you all very much. Thank you for your love and support. I feel so blessed.

Week of September 22, 2013

Sunday

We had David and family here and they went to church with us. It was great to have them sit with us. Chris and family came down for dinner with us and it was so nice to have a full table of family. We had Hawaiian haystacks for Robert's birthday dinner.

Here is our weekly call from Joe and Tesha

Noelle came down on their horse, Mickey. The one everyone rode at the reunion. She is teaching it to be more obedient and do what she wants it to do!

 Giving Mallory a ride. Notice they are riding without a saddle.

 Amanda and the kids on the tramp!

Uncle Doug and Aunt Pat were in from Tennessee, so we all met at U. Bill's house to visit with them. It was so good see them and catch up on news. We stopped and got Ellen and Mike and we all had a good time, except my battery died, so that is all the pictures we have. 

Monday
We went to a viewing & funeral of Yvonne Ashby. I went to school with her daughter, Annette. It was such a beautiful funeral and good to see old high school friends. Time to keep in better touch with them. We came home to do the last of the grapes we bought and then later that evening Chris' family came down and we helped them do their grapes.

Noelle, Mallory, Caleb, Zander, and Colleen. 

Josh and Cierra

Tuesday

After exercising, we came home and harvested our grapes and began doing our juice. I am still amazed at the amount of grape juice we got. It made a huge difference to have David come in March and he and Dad worked very hard to prune the grapes. They have looked really good this summer and had good regular watering. We ended up with 72 2qt. jars along with a little concentrate and some grape jelly. He is in charge of pruning next year.

Here's the picture I promised I would take for David.

We picked 5 boxes of grapes like this one

Wednesday - Happy Birthday Robert!

We finished up the grapes, made some grape jelly from concentrate, and worked on things for the Capener family reunion.

Thursday

We then took some juice to Sue, visited for a bit with her and the boys and went to the temple on the way home. I decided to take a picture from the BC temple of the Tabernacle across the street.

We got home in time to see Caleb's last soccer game. He was excited to be goalie.

Friday

We pretty much did grape juice all day. I can't believe we didn't get a picture. The juice is delicious. As we come to visit, we will bring some juice and trade for empty jars.

That night we went to U. Bob's and A. Anne's for a birthday celebration of U. Bob. He had invited some neighbors and family. Mike came with us, but Ellen was on a date.

He has three candles on his cake. They represent past, present, and future.

Cousin Mark His wife, Suzie, who put on the whole dinner!

Cousin Mark and his wife.

We got home in time to go to Josh's marching band performance after the football game. Mike was with us. Look at how big the marching band is, and their color guard is amazing. 

Wade Walton has done an amazing job with building the band program. I don't think it has ever been bigger.

Look how sharp Josh looks in that uniform. We were band booster presidents and we went to American Fork and bought all their old jackets. It was a really good deal, and then BR only had to put the bear claw patch over the AF logo and buy new pants. The band now had new uniforms at a very low price. I always wondered what they looked like and was very excited to see how good they looked! Especially now with my grandson in them. Mike never got to wear them since he graduated.

Saturday - Happy Birthday Suzie and Uncle Mike!
We started the day off with Suzie calling us and they sang to Mike and we sang to Suzie. It was a great way to start the day!
We then finished up green grape concentrate and got ready for the Capener Reunion.
We made concentrate from the green table grapes. Unfortunately they had seeds in them, but they were good to eat as long as you had a place to spit the seeds!
Box 6 of grapes, but 1 of green

 7 of grapes and 2 of green. These boxes were really full.

We gave Mike his present at breakfast time. I gave him enough hints that he was very curious. I told him 3 months ago he wouldn't have wanted it or even known what it was.

He's very happy with it. He has really gotten in to doing Family  History, and he needed a program on his lap top for the records, so we gave him 'Roots Magic' for his birthday.
After all, Family History is one big logic puzzle. That's it Mike. You could do Family History in your class when you are a teacher.


Capener Reunion - can you identify anyone in the picture

Descendants of Joseph Aaron Rigby Capener - Yes, that is the one you come through.

All Mike wanted to do for his birthday was have a birthday with his nieces and nephews. He asks for that every year, so make sure next year when we are on our mission he gets a party!
Marion had a campover with Steven so he couldn't bring the boys up. So Emily was good enough to host the B-day party at their new home. It is such a wonderful place for a gathering. Chris & family, us and then Ellen all came. We had a wonderful time. Here are the pictures:

Getting ready for dinner. Colleen and I brought soup, Emily did breadsticks and a salad, and Dad made goof balls for the birthday cake. That was so much easier because there were no crumbs!

Eating outside

Watching Women's conference

This was just too cute of Zander scooting.

Cierra

Mike tossing Jetta to Emily. We missed not having Rob there. He was in Iowa to a conference.

Almost walking to Aunt Ellen

 Zander is looking back, "No, I want my mommy!"

 Didn't want Mike either.

Time to blow out the candles

 The kids didn't sing to Mike, they yelled Happy Birthday song to him. Dad wasn't the only one plugging his ears. Mike loved it.

 Thanks Emily for the cool candy bar card.

Time to play Avalon. The first time since Joe and Tesha moved. We have been in mourning.

 Ellen is trying her best at lying.

 Now lets play with the younger kids.

 Cute Jetta

1828 Webster's Dictionary Word for the Week:

Intent- “Literally, having the mind strained or bent on an object; hence, fixed closely; eager in pursuit of an object; anxiously diligent; a purpose; intention” Locke said: “Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness and of choice, fixes its view on any idea, considers it on every side, and will not be called off by the ordinary solicitation of other ideas.”

 (Moroni 7:9 talking about praying: “real intent of heart”)

Sometimes I forget just how important prayer is. May we all really pray with more "real intent of heart"

I love you all. Maybe this week our call will come.