Seminary Graduation

Abby completed her four years of seminary and received her certificate of completion at her seminary graduation on Sunday evening.  Neal and I were invited to the festivities.  We were proud grandparents of Abby's achievement of doing the work and attending the classes to qualify her for graduation.  So proud of you Abby!

 Abby also received a scholarship for 40% of her tuition paid and a $500.00 check from the counselors and Principal for being the outstanding student.  So dang proud of you Abby!

Planting Time

Every year right after Mother's Day or May 12th which ever comes first, Neal can be found at Millcreek Gardens spending (you don't want to know how much) money on flowers for his patio pots.  He took the Jeep and made two trips to Millcreek to get all the flowers he would need.  He literally spent two full days - from morning to dark, buying and planting flowers.

Happy Neal and happy flowers!

Mallory's last letter

I'm not going to print the whole letter but I do want to copy a couple excerpts from her letter.  What an incredible missionary she has been.  She has worked hard, struggled and conquered challenges, taught hundreds the gospel, walked miles, rode her bike miles and gained a testimony of the gospel and her Savior, Jesus Christ.

"The most beautiful thing in the world is the Gospel.  Every single day without fail I feel and know it more.  I'm grateful for my growth in the Church . . . A knowledge of the Gospel is a beautiful thing to have and all you have to do to get it is ask . . . I am so happy and love the gospel so much.  I'm so grateful for this mission and the little bit I've been able to do to fulfill my obligations, in some part, for the building of the Church.  I love the people I've been able to teach and testify to and watch them embrace the Gospel.  Love, happiness and the gospel of Jesus Christ are all the same thing.  None can be separated from the other.  I'm so grateful I'm here and can do my part, no matter how small it may be."  Annette

"Annette say it pretty perfectly!  The gospel is the most beautiful thing.  It has forever changed my life.  the past 18 months and 3 weeks have ben so amazing and very dear to my heart.  I have no way to adequately describe all of it, so I thought I'd share 5 of my mission "greatest hits"."

I will interject here and say that I am not typing her 5 greatest hits.  You can read them on her blog.  But I will type the one that touched my heart the most.

"When I became truly converted.  There's not one specific day that I could pinpoint saying, "That's it!  That's when I was converted!"  It was more gradual over the whole 18 months.  Before my mission I knew the gospel and I believed it, but did I really know it?  Did I truly believe it?  I can now, without a doubt say yes!  I KNOW it's true, I BELIEVE it with all my heart!  The knowledge of the simple truths of the restored gospel have forever changed my life!  I've come to see how vital it is to have your life always centered on Jesus Christ.  He is my Savior!  I know that He suffered and died for me.  I know that He knows me perfectly, and in spite of that, loves me infinitely!  I know that He feels this way about every single person who has ever lived or will ever live!  I know, that my Savior lives and that He and my Father in Heaven love me.  I know that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God.  He was a simple farm boy from New York who had a question.  I know that he did in reality see and speak to God the Father and Jesus Christ.  I know that because of Joseph Smith the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth, never to be taken again.  I know that if Heavenly Father was aware of a little farm boy, and knew him by name, that he is aware of each of us and knows us by name.  I know that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.  The Book of Mormon is true!  If you read and pray about the truthfulness of it I know you will get an answer.  I know because I read it and prayed about it.  Gaining a solid testimony of the Book of Mormon is something I hold close to my heart.  It has become the foundation of my testimony.  It is the keystone of our religion.  Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth and that a man would get closer to God by abiding by its precepts.  I have seen this in my life and the lives of others.  I am continually grateful for the Book of Mormon!  After Joseph Smith had the first vision and experienced great persecution he said, "I knew it and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it."  That is the best way I can describe how I feel about all aspects of this gospel.  I know it's true.  I know God knows that.  I could not and would not ever deny it!  My mission has given me that.  I feel more deeply converted than ever before.  God is good always!

There is so much more I could say, and that will always be the case.  It's impossible for me to sum up the most incredible, impactful 18 months of my life.  But, to wrap up the love rant of my Tennessee Mission, I have another quote from Annette.  She said it perfectly,

"I've learned to love the gospel so much and it's an active love, and I want it always to be active . . . I love life and I love living it, and I can't wait for every tomorrow.  Two years ago I could never have imagined the happiness I feel now - even a year ago I never would have believed it and I hope I can look back on every year and say that."

For those of you reading this, Annette is my sister who served a mission in Brazil.  I was so touched by Mallory's words and by Annette's words that she quoted.

Looking forward to tomorrow night and greeting Mallory at the airport!!

More Mother's Day Suprises

Tucker, Jamie and the girls had this absolutely gorgeous arrangement of my favorite color flowers deliver to the house.  They were supposed to get here on Saturday before Mother's Day but didn't arrive until Tuesday evening.  I didn't care.  I was thrilled to get them and they are still beautiful and fresh!  Thanks Maxfields for the gift of love!

More Mother's Day gifts

Mallory was able to call home on Mother's Day and she told Annie that she was to make sure that her Gam was there.  So Neal and I drove out to Annie's so that we could hear Mallory and talk with her.  While we were out there, Annie, Jeff and the kids gave me my Mother's Day gifts.  I had watch the movie, Turner & Hooch and laughed and laughed.  I made such a fuss about how funny it was that they found the movie and gave it to me.  I was very excited.

 They also gave me a gift card for Supersonic to get my car washed.  The gift card was $30.00 worth of car washes.

 Annie remember that I had my sewing scissors taken away from me at the airport so she ordered me a pair of sharp scissors.  I love them and have used them a lot already.

 This is a picture of the group gathered around the TV talking to Mallory.  She looks so incredibly happy and also sad that her time in the mission field is coming quickly to a close.  We are so proud of you Mallory and we love you!

Maren plans an outing for Mother's Day

Maren decided to have the girls get together for Mother's Day.  Mindy, Lynda Ann, Maren and I met at Ruth's Diner up Emigration Canyon for breakfast.  Lyndsy was invited but ended up not coming because she had a massage appointment in Park City.  We all met at 10:30 and had a fabulous time.  Our breakfast was delicious, the atmosphere perfect and the time spent visiting so valuable and memorable.  I absolutely loved every moment we were together.  Thank you Maren for planning this outing.  What an amazing time!  I shall treasure the memory for years.

We had someone take a picture of us and you will notice the wind did not cooperate.  They all got a kick out of my hair!  I'm always happy to provide entertainment for my girls and my family.  Thus, the wind blown hair picture!

What an fun morning!!  Thank you Maren.

Tucker and Sifkes

Sifkes referred Tucker to a couple in their ward who wanted to put in solar panels.  It was successful for Tucker.  He was able to sell the solar package and spend a couple days with the Sifkes.  He sent these cute pictures.
Rick, Deanna and Tucker

 Deanna and Tucker

 Tucker and Rick

Random Post

I'm behind on my blogging and so I'm afraid things are going to be posted in a rather random order.  I found a couple more pictures that I wanted to post.  This is a picture of Lila Mae's bread.  She gave me a loaf and Lynda Ann a loaf as part of our Mother's Day present.  Love the gift.

 This is a picture of the Brown's after the concert.  Neal just happened to run into them as he was leaving and they quickly snapped a picture.  Deondra, the one in our ward that we know so well, is the second from the right as you are looking at the picture.

Mother's Day with Lila and Susan

Mother's Day with Susan and Lila is always a fun day.  Not because of the presents, but just because it is fun to be with them.  We shop, have lunch and talk, laugh and reminisce.  I love my time with them.  Lila Mae will be 88 this October.  I sure hope I stay as healthy and active as she is when I'm that age.  These are some of the fun things that I was given for Mother's Day.

 This is a cutting tool for cutting through bread dough and other soft foods.

 Susan found this and it is a classic!  Anyone who remembers the readers from the 40's and 50's will relate to this book.

 Susan always remembers my favorite place to shop!

Golfing

The four of us went golfing yesterday and had a grand time.  We golfed 18 holes.  Usually by the time Judy and I get to the 14 hole we are pretty much done and will decide to play best ball which is always fun.  Judy and I are not competitive and usually end with about the same score on every hole.  We always have a good time as we play.  .We ran into lots of geese with their babies.  This mother had a batch of about 8.  A lot of babies to keep track of!  She was not happy about me getting close enough to take a picture of them.  This was the best I could do.  Didn't want to get into a battle with a mother and her babies.

Spening time in St George

Ron and Judy invited us to spend time with them in St. George.  We came down Sunday after our meetings.  Ron and Judy had been to California and were on there way back.  Neal and I arrived in St. George first so we had dinner ready for them when the arrived.  The were about 40 minutes behind us.  We decided to do a little sight seeing while down here so visited the Historic Johnson Farm to see the dinosaur tracks.  Very interesting.

 And the four of us.  Neal, me, Judy and Ron.

Of course there has been some golfing in the mix.  We love spending time with the Stanfields.

Styling Hayley Anne

I guess Hayley has wanted her hair cut for a long time and most everyone tried to talk her out of it, but she was determined.  So Annie took her to Dave to get her hair all chopped off.  It looks absolutely darling!  A whole new look.

It looks darling!

The 5 Browns

The 5 Browns were invited to speak and perform at the UVU graduation exercises.  I wanted to go just to hear them.  Deondra, the one in our ward, was the designated speaker and then the five of them played the five grand pianos.  It was incredible.  Their music selection was a journey of their life of music, sexual abuse from their father and going on to achieve their life's dream of  playing concerts.  Here are some fun pictures.  The Browns all got honorary degrees from UVU.

 The 5 Browns at the pianos.

Pretty Bird

Ron Lund took me to lunch at the Pretty Bird for Secretaries Day.  The place was right downtown and the food was amazing.  You have to get there early because there is always a line an sometimes they actually run out of food.  You can order a chicken sandwich or a half chicken.  Those are your two choices.  I had a chicken sandwich and I have to tell you, it was to die for.  So worth the wait in line!

Absolutely delicious!!!

Rainbows

One of God's greatest blessing.  Rainbows are always beautiful and always make me feel happy insides.  Remember the song from the Primary.  I always look for rainbows whenever there is rain.  That song always comes to my mind when I see rainbows.  Annie sent me these pictures from Tooele.  She was on her way to work when she saw them.  She said she always thinks of me when she sees them.

 A double rainbow is a special blessing.  Great pictures, Annie.  Thanks for sharing.