Sunday, June 2, 2019
Mother's Day Gift from Maren
I came home from work the other day and found this present on the counter. It is an amazing cutting board along with a book call "Good Days start with Gratitude Journal". She also left me a note that touched my heart. Thank you Cutler family for the gifts and thank you Maren for the written note.
Taylor Judy Cutler's graduation
We had two granddaughters graduating from high school this year. We are invited to attend Taylor's graduation at the Maverick Center. We arrived there about 5:30 and some pictures were taken and then into the center we went where we waited for the graduating class of 2019 to file in. It was a huge class. Over 900!
We were very proud of Taylor and being able to finish out her high school years after her accident. We know you will accomplish good things in your life.
I have to add here, that when we came out of the Maverick Center it was a torrential down pour!! Thunder, lightening and rain. We were not prepared for the rain. Neal and I beelined across the parking lot to our car and by the time we arrived there, we were soaked to the skin. We sat in the parking lot for over an hour just trying to get out. That aside, we had a wonderful evening and were proud to see Taylor graduate. We love you Taylor!
We were very proud of Taylor and being able to finish out her high school years after her accident. We know you will accomplish good things in your life.
I have to add here, that when we came out of the Maverick Center it was a torrential down pour!! Thunder, lightening and rain. We were not prepared for the rain. Neal and I beelined across the parking lot to our car and by the time we arrived there, we were soaked to the skin. We sat in the parking lot for over an hour just trying to get out. That aside, we had a wonderful evening and were proud to see Taylor graduate. We love you Taylor!
Mallory's Mission Report
It was a beautiful Sunday in every way. It was amazing to hear Mallory stand and bear her testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel and of her Savior, Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Maren sent Mallory this text and I thought it summed up the whole day perfectly:
"Hi Mallory. This is Maren. I just wanted to tell you how impressed I am with you. Your mission sounded amazing and I know you made a big difference in a lot of peoples lives. You also strengthened my testimony about the church! Sometimes we forget how the church can change people's lives. We forget how wonderful a blessing it is and we do need to share it. Listening to you talk about how excited people were about the church and to get baptized was amazing! Sometimes I think we take for granted what a blessing it is to have the gospel in our lives. Jaden is such a great good person but sometimes I am hesitant to share my testimony with him (and others). I know that sounds weird but I don't want him to hate the church. Living in Utah I think you get a little 'jaded' about what the church really is. I always tell him the church is great and perfect and not to judge it by the people. I know it has changed my life and I can't ever live without it! It gives me hope that there are people still out there that want to hear about the church. And it can change their lives for the better and they are excited about it. I love your testimony, your spirit, your willingness to serve a mission You are amazing!!!!!"
What a beautiful message to Mallory. I say ditto! Thank you Mallory, for sharing your testimony and your experiences of teaching people in Tennessee. It was evident you loved the people you taught and you loved being a missionary.
What a fun way to celebrate Abby's graduation, Mallory's return and Emmi's send off to the Navy, all in one day. Jeff and Annie have a lot to be proud of and Gam and Pa are busting a few of their own buttons. We aren't taking any credit for how these girls turned out but we are sure proud to be a part of their lives.
WELCOME HOME, MALL SUE!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!
"Hi Mallory. This is Maren. I just wanted to tell you how impressed I am with you. Your mission sounded amazing and I know you made a big difference in a lot of peoples lives. You also strengthened my testimony about the church! Sometimes we forget how the church can change people's lives. We forget how wonderful a blessing it is and we do need to share it. Listening to you talk about how excited people were about the church and to get baptized was amazing! Sometimes I think we take for granted what a blessing it is to have the gospel in our lives. Jaden is such a great good person but sometimes I am hesitant to share my testimony with him (and others). I know that sounds weird but I don't want him to hate the church. Living in Utah I think you get a little 'jaded' about what the church really is. I always tell him the church is great and perfect and not to judge it by the people. I know it has changed my life and I can't ever live without it! It gives me hope that there are people still out there that want to hear about the church. And it can change their lives for the better and they are excited about it. I love your testimony, your spirit, your willingness to serve a mission You are amazing!!!!!"
What a beautiful message to Mallory. I say ditto! Thank you Mallory, for sharing your testimony and your experiences of teaching people in Tennessee. It was evident you loved the people you taught and you loved being a missionary.
Mallory is home from her mission in Tennessee
We were all excited to be at the airport to welcome Mallory home from her mission in Tennessee. It was an emotional happy time. Those at the airport were Lynda Ann, Jeffrey, Emmi, Abby, Hayley, Andrew, Gam and Pa, Gloria and Ray with Russell and two friends of Mallory. (Can't remember their names). By the time all the hugs were given and luggage gathered it was time for Mallory to head for home to meet with the Stake President to be officially released from her mission.
I love this picture of Lynda Ann hugging Mallory. What an emotional moment that was. So happy we were there and could be a part of all the excitement and to welcome our missionary home.
These two sisters really missed each other!
I love this picture of Lynda Ann hugging Mallory. What an emotional moment that was. So happy we were there and could be a part of all the excitement and to welcome our missionary home.
Abby's High School Graduation
I've let myself get a little behind on my posting. I hate playing catch up more than you know. So, I'm determined to get everything posted and up to date. I may get things a little out of order but at least it will all be within a two week period. I think the first event that I'm behind on is Abby's high school graduation. It was at the Huntsman Center. It was fun to watch her walk across the stage of Digby her guide dog in training. They even announced his name after Abby's. Abby said that when all the graduates were in the tunnel lining up, there was a security guard with a bomb sniffing dog. His dog was out of control when he saw Digby. Digby on the other hand was well trained and knew that he was working so paid no attention to the dog that was barking and wanting to get at Digby. Finally the security guy ask Abby to go back out of the tunnel until he finished checking things out and could remove his dog.
The graduation was nice. After we all met outside to take pictures and then headed to Red Robbin for dinner. After dinner they all came to the house and we played a game of What Were You Thinking. It was fun to have Mallory home from her mission and with us. So proud of you Abby! She has a scholarship for Utah State for this fall and will be raising another guide dog while going to school.
The graduation was nice. After we all met outside to take pictures and then headed to Red Robbin for dinner. After dinner they all came to the house and we played a game of What Were You Thinking. It was fun to have Mallory home from her mission and with us. So proud of you Abby! She has a scholarship for Utah State for this fall and will be raising another guide dog while going to school.
We all had a good laugh at this post in Abby's year book. Someone didn't do a very good job of proof reading. The caption says "blind dogs for blind people"!! Really? A blind dog for a blind person? It's to laugh.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
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!!
"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.
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.
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