Beautiful Sabbath Morning

Today is a beautiful Sunday morning.  I’m enjoying the quite moments we have had this weekend before our family start arriving for the big 4th of July week of celebration.  The Burbidge family arriving tonight, The Chaudhry family on Wednesday the 3rd and the Thomas family on Friday the 5th.  We will have a cabin full by next weekend.  Storing up my mental energy to enjoy everyone while they are here.  It feel so nice to have some calm time to myself to gear up before they all start arriving.  I’m emersing myself in my Come follow me lesson this morning as I have the time to study.  We don’t have church until 5pm this afternoon.  Craig asked me to lead the come follow me lesson today- so I’m studying! We are studying chapter 14-16 of Alma- I’m enjoying my study time in the Book of Mormon this year.  I so enjoying listening to various podcast teachers that bring sightfull points of view- that I had not thought of in a more deeper level of teaching.  

Austin’s Mission Call /YSA Weekly Activity June 26th.

Yeah Austin received his mission call today.  He has been waiting weeks for it to arrive.  Shar sent us a text mid morning that his call had arrived.  We all gathered as family at 7pm for him to read where he would be serving.  He was so nervous as he read his letter and announced he will be serving in the Atlanta,Georgia mission.   He leaves October 7th.  I know he would have like to have gone sooner.  It will be hard to wait 3 and 1/2 months.  He has been so anxious.  He had put his available date as June 1st.  So excited for him. 

June 26th Weekly YSA Activiy- We enjoyed a fun evening at the St. Charles ward pavillion and park.  We eat cereal of various kinds for dinner and roasted marshmellows over an open fire to warm us up.  Thank you brother and Sister Daun for the creative dinner.   We had fun playing kickball and basketball.  We didn't have as many attend this week as last week. 

                                          Some of our Local Young men living in the valley

Roasting Marshmellows, Kyler Rasmussen a local young man with a summer sister still learning their names which is a challenge for us! 

                                      Summer Sisters with Kason Lewis a local young man

                                                             Playing Basketball

                                                                        Kickball

                                                  Brother Droesbeke built us an awesome fire

Kaya Wright one of our local sister's

Ashtyn

My new text buddy- Ashtyn just got a new phone for her birthday gift this week. She texted me to let me know and had been texting and calling me for the last three days- she is so adorable.  Fun to exchange text messages back and forth and talk in the phone - we talked for over minutes Saturday night-  I missed her call yesterday with my busy Sunday schedule- we will connect today.  Her birthday is this week in the 27th- she will be 8 years old.  Hard to believe. The years have gone by all to quickly.  I woke up early at 7am this morning- it is a lovely morning- tha farm geese are in the lawn- I had to swoo them off- they poop all over our lawn- now I have to scoop it up.  They make a mess.  Taking the time to finish a podcast that has been so inspiring to me- giving me greater insights into the scripture we have been studying this past week- it is Monday morning- need to get thr get the garbage out, clean up the geese poop, water the lawn- it is going to be another warm summet day- 

Our Sabbath Day

We had a very nice Sabbath day.   We woke up early to dress for a 9:00 am sacrament meeting in our Home Ward.  I haven’t been to our home ward since December- serving in the YSA branch keeps us busy.  With our later schedule now we do have the time to attend.  Jona and I an both were speaking their farewell talk before leaving to serve their missions.  They both did so well.  They both are very fine young men and are full of personality.  They will both serve well on their missions.  It was a huge turn out to support them.  It was fun to see thr members I have not seen in months. I received lots of greeting and that we miss you.  From there I hurried home to fix a big breakfast for Michael and his four friends.  I made pancake, bacon, cheese eggs, and hashbrowns.  It was all yummy and held me over for the rest of day.  By 12:30 I had to lay down and take an afternoon nap- I need a nap daily to keep going.  With our YSA meetings  later in the day-  I was able to listen to a come follow me podcast that gave me great insights into our Book of Mormon chapter this we I have been studying in my come follow lesson material Alma chapters 8-12.  I learned some insights taught by Alma to the people.  I will take the time to share.  From there I hurried to our YSA relief society lesson and 6pm sacrament.  Our new releif society president Cambre Fairbounre taught our lesson and she did a great job- each sign out name and phone number on a small piece of paper and then drew  a name which would be our ministering sister for the next two weekss such a great idea.  I have a young sister named Ruth- I really enjoyed the talks given in sacrament.  We had three YSA members speaking Jack Pratt a local, Nicole who has trained to be. Seminary teacher and starting this fall semester from Idaho Falls. And another sweet sister I forgot her name- they each have a great message for us to ponder on this coming week-  I was busy greeting the YSA members as they came in giving them a name tag to write their names on so we can learn their names and greet them. We had about 86 in attendance this week.  Our linger longer we served sweet breads that sister Smoot made.  They were all so yummy- sister Rassmensen made pumpkin bread- it is fun to visit with them after our meetings and linger.  I was tired when I arrived home at 8pm-  we have had a full day- Craig and I had to take the wave runners out of the water for the night.  Michael and his fiends road them for the afternoon.  They left to go camping for the evening and be back in the morning sometime.  They are staying until Thursday.  We have Karlee and Saydee arriving Friday for an entire week thru the 4th of July.  It will be not stop familyfor the next two weeks - the summer fun begins for us !! 

YSA weekly actviity- June 19th Summer Olympic's- Thursday - cleaned the deck

June 19^th, Olympics game night at the Garden City Church on the lawn.  Come join us for food, fun, and friendly competition.   “Let the Games Begin”- We had an awesome activity this week.  Brother and Sister Daun prepare such a fun activity.  We had a great turn out and enjoyed the exciting energy from all the summer ysa members attending.  Striving to learn all their names!  Brother and Sister Dahl provided dinner, sandwiches with all the trimmings and dessert.  Craig and I drove back from our trip to Draper just in time to attend our weekly activity.  I took lots of pictures and posts on our ysabearlake instagram account. Here is a list of the games played Cracker stacking with chopsticks, Ping pong ball toss, Football throw, Water relay, Hula hoop challenge, Post it note jump, Water bottle flip, Marshmallow drop, Bubblegum game, Human ring toss..

Bubble gum blowing, who can blow the biggest bubble? Kyle Cazier blowing a giant bubble.

Water reley, carrying spoonfuls of water to the cup and who can fill their cup the fastest and fullest first?

Human Ring Toss

Hula Hoop team challenge

                                                                      Post it Relay

                                                              Water bottle toss

                                  Marshmellow drop, this contest was really funny to watch

                                                   Karen Barlow- we all had such a time!!

Thursday is our Pickelball day.  We play in the community in the morning and evening.  I slept in.  I dint even hear Craig leave.  I was able to play for an hour. My rigs that ordered for the deck arrive- which was exciting-  I had been waiting for 6 weeks.  They were not what I thought they would look like but was able to place them on the deck and I think they look good now that I’ve got them placed.  I cleaned the deck and made it look fun for the summer season.  It was a fun working project for the day.  I’m enjoying sitting out on the porch soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the beauty of my surrounding-  sunflower pots looks to pretty this year! 

Temple Attendance

 I wanted to make it goal this summer to attend the temple at least once during the month.  The weeks go by all to quickly in the summer and we are very busy with family visiting us at the lake.  If I don’t plan and put forth the effort my temple attendance goes by the wayside.  We attended an endowment session June 1st- with Jona Negus and Ivan Flores as they prepare for their mission.  In April we attend the temple with our YSA group for baptism for the dead.  I was able to complete 5 sister’s baptism.  I needed to complete their initiatory blessings before I could complete an endowment session.  I had tired making reservations at the Draper temple when we were in town since April and they were all full. The Draper temple is very busy- Well, while in town I wanted to attend the temple and complete the names I have so I could have some endowment names ready.  June 19th was Craig doctor appointment that morning - I had some free time before we headed back to the lake.  I had just a short window of time to make it to the temple.  I checked and they were still booked out- I just got ready and went anyway- they were able to fit me in and allow me to complete 4 names- it felt so good to be in the temple.  I love the blessing pronounced upon my head as I acted as proxy for the ancestors prepared names- I would like to highlight- Eva F Bell, Janice Johneen Wallace, Bessie Bell Goodwin, Meta Veron Walker. They are from different family lines in my family Tree. 

Eva F. Bell is a third cousin twice removed connecting to my Granny Ruhanna Grose family who married James Johnston father of my great mother Sarah Margaret Johnson who married George Washington Bailes the family line of my Mother - I keep finding ancestors living in West Virgina that need their temple work completed. She was born- 8 January 1896 Enon, Nicholas, West Virginia, United States- born 128 years ago - she died in 1980- temple submission for an ancestor that is not a direct line needs to meet the 110 years since birth- I was able to submit.  I have all my direct lines completed and now working on connecting ancestor family line- finding the missing ancestors in family charts that have not been complete- I now need to complete her endowment blessings- she needs to be sealed to her parents and spouse- sealing to parents and spouse have been reserved by other ancestors working on the same family line- it is a group effort to complete the temple ordinance for each ancestor.  

 Janice is step sister by marriage - she is the daughter of John Wallace, who my mother married and my siblings change their surnames to Wallace - She was older than me and I didn’t know her very well- she had a challenging life in many ways and ended her life.  Pray her soul is at rest now - out of Love and respect for John Wallace as our adopted father I wanted to honor him and seal his birth children and first wife to him. So, I’m working on this family line to complete.  Janice middle name is Johneen name after her father.

 Bessie Bell Goodwin is a 1st cousin once removed on my Loveall family line - she is the niece of my grandfather John Wesley Loveall - the daughter of his sisters Christine Loveall who married Thomas Goodwin.  I love the name Bessie Bell - very southern - she was born 1918 raise in Arkansas and died in Hubbard Hill Texas- fun to learn more about her and her family ancestors I never knew growing up- with my Birth father deserting my family at a young age of 3 years old.  I did not learn about my Loveall ancestors until I was in 3o’s.  I started Learning about them in 1999-  

Meta Veron Walker is the wife of Lamen Spicer Bell who is the brother to Eva F bell they are third cousins from West Virginia - on my mother side.  So, I do have a variety of family names I’m working on to complete- it brings me great joy in knowing I’m helping ancestors on the other side of the veil.  I’m being a savior on mount Zion as I compete their ordnances for their eternal progress.  I have had to many experiences to know this is God’s work for this season in my earthly life- I’m blessed to be born on earth in the season of temple building. The season in history when temple will dot the earth and to help complete the eternal sealing of families.  I feel such peace attending the temple this day and thankful I was able to be accommodated by just showing up.  This is such a great work- bigger than me- I’m striving to do my part.  I have been able to make it to the temple twice this month- 

Craig’s Yearly Physical

 Craig has his yearly physical in the morning-he needs to be fasting and have his blood work done before so we are driving down this afternoon to get his lab work done ahead of his doctor appt. in the morning at 9:40 am and then we will be heading back up to the lake.  We have our weekly YSA activity tomorrow night.  We need to be there.  We have had a nice stay at the lake wit out having to drive back and forth. Our last trip down was May 23rd for Austin’s High school graduation.  We were up and down in a 24 hour period.  It has been 25 days since we were last at our Draper home.  We have had lots to do at the lake getting things done.  Our driveway is complete and so nice to have it done.  I have worked hard cleaning and trying to get some things done before our summer family crowd arrives.  We have enjoyed having Buck, Saydee and Boston for a visit they are staying for a week arrived last Tuesday and leaving this Thursday or Friday.  We had a really cold front move in yesterday.  It was below freezing last night so I had to move all my flowers and garden plants in that I could and cover up with sheets for the very cold night and wee morning hours.  It is very unusual to have the temperature drop this cold in the middle of June.  Everything did ok- waiting one more day to move my flowers back outside.  It is only going to be in the low 50’s today but moving back up to the 80’s by the weekend.  Michael is coming up for a few days with friends by the weekend it will be nice weather again.  Alec is wanting to buy our Lexus car- we are trying to decide if we want to sell it or not to him.  We are thinking of selling my Acadia too- so trying to figure that out.  Our Denali truck was finally fixed it took over a month.  Craig was able to pick it up last Thursday.  Nice to have it back.  

Anniversary Highlight

Craig and I just celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary - it has been an amazing adventure together! We met in Florida in 1971 as young teens I was 14 and Craig 16 years old- writing letters for five years- our love was transformed from longing to belonging June 7th, 1977- we are enjoying our golden years- with our five daughters, 5 son-in-laws and 20 grandchildren.

Our first picture as a couple as being married 4 years 1981

Craig and I in Florida Our Dating years. 

From our Teen years to now with white hair and growing older.

Life has been good to us.  We are still madly in Love!

Monday Come Follow Me Study Time / Sister Missionaries

Love, Share, Invite-By Elder Gary E. Stevenson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles- “ As we love, share, and invite, we take part in that great and glorious work that prepares the earth for the return of its Messiah.”  Our Come follow me study this week is Alma Chapters 8-12- Alma the younger is commanded to return the wicked city of Ammonihah- he had just been there and was cast out by their unbelief- he left discouraged yet commanded by the Angel of the lord to return- not to give up.  The opening paragraph of our lesson this week- God’s work will not fail. But our efforts to help with His work sometimes seem to fail—at least, we may not immediately see the outcomes we hope for. We might feel a little like Alma when he preached the gospel in Ammonihah—rejected, spit on, and cast out. Yet when an angel instructed him to go back and try again, Alma courageously “returned speedily” (Alma 8:18), and God prepared the way before him. Not only did He provide Alma with food to eat and a place to stay, but He also prepared Amulek, who became a fellow laborer, a fierce defender of the gospel, and a faithful friend. When we face setbacks and disappointments as we serve in the Lord’s kingdom, we can remember how God supported and led Alma, and we can trust that God will support and lead us too, even in difficult circumstances. Craig and I had the opportunity to have the sister missionaries in our home last night after our church meetings to teach a young sister her first missionary lesson.  She has not been raised in any religion and doesn’t know much about God or Jesus Christ- she has no foundation of the gospel.  The sisters talked about who Gods is and his son Jesus Christ.  They have such a sweet spirit and I so admired their knowledge and how they shared their message of God with this sweet sister.  She met a young man on Facebook and they are dating now and working at the same place here at the lake for the summer.  His name is Christian- he is being a great example to her and inviting her to learn about the gospel message of Jesus Christ- it was a joy to share in the lesson and feel their sweet spirits and get to know them better.  This will be a special missionary journey to share in.  The sister missionaries asked her to read the introduction of the Book of Mormon.  And then meeting back with her in a few days- we have another sister in our branch who is attending on her own.  Karen Barlow- she is a break off from a polygamist church group- she is 24 years old and very sweet.  She sent Craig a thoughtful message for Father’s Day.  I sat by her in church.    I invited her to attend our missionary lesson but she declined.  Just keep loving her and supporting her in her journey.  I know it has to be hard to start over from the life she was raised in and change course. She is very knowledgeable in the Book of Mormon and the gospel plan- it is finding what will turn her around to commit.  Heavenly Father knows- pray for the guidance we need to help her along. It is a joy to share the gospel message. 

 

Happy Fathers Day

We have had a nice low impacted day- Buck, Saydee and Boston have spent the day with us and fixed us a nice Sunday dinner.  I have spent time reading and reviewing our Come Follow Me Lesson.  Highlight studying Alma 5 - Have you been Spiritually born?  This chapter has a list of questions Alma is asking us to review our lives and consider where we are on the spiritual ladder to reaching our Eternal home with God.  Are we on course? What do I need to repent of? No unclean can enter the Celestial kingdom.  I know that I have been born again, over and over.  It has been a life-long process to continue the covenant path as president Nelson has taught us.  Think celestial in my daily life. Keeping on the path toward my eternal heavenly home.  I felt the Holy Spirit touch my heart when I was a young girl of 10 years old and have strived to live worthy since that turning point in my life I will never forget- when I walked down the aisle at Baptist summer camp to give my life to my Savior.  I’ll go where you want me to go dear Lord - my favorite song we sang at camp that year has left a life- long impression on my heart to have this desire to Follow Jesus Christ. Keeping the fire inside is the challenge and I have strived my 67 years of life to come unto Christ!  What can I improve on at my age? What do I still need to work on in purifying my earthly life?  We didn't gather as family this year, but nice to see the pictures our girls posted on Father's Day honoring the special husband in their lives.  I love my dear Husband with all my heart.  He has been the best Father to our daughter's.  They all adore him and have found memories of their father.  I surprised him with a new anchor and bowie for our boat.  We lost ours this winter.  The ice carried it out and not able to recover.  We haven't put the boat in yet this year.  But will soon.  The weather has been lovely this past week.  We have enjoyed our new wave runners on the lake.  I love this man with all my heart! 

Little Coco has the cutest smile, Bridger is a great father

Thomas Family on Father's Day

Towner Family at Lake Powell