JANUARY 2015 Visitors/Sealings/Missionaries

 We started off the month right...with a sealing of one of our former Assistants, Brayden Henrie to Morgan Freestone up in Logan.

We have not been able to see Brayden very many times since he finished his mission, so this was extra sweet!


It also was even more sweet because Logan is the temple where Scott and I were sealed 33 years ago...and even in the SAME ROOM as Brayden...and by the Temple President just like he was!  Brought back some very great memories!

We loved meeting Brayden's family and getting to celebrate with them what a great young man he is.

And as usual, the blessings and advice that were given, were so choice!

We were so glad we were there!

We snagged our traditional shot with the bride and groom...

...and begged for an APM shot as well with several other APM RM's including Taylor Manning, our own Travis Mendenhall and ? Kennington in the back. (We did not serve with Manning or Kennington)

Traditionally, we try to walk with our MTC branch missionaries from the MTC up to the Provo Temple each fast Sunday to take photos.

Today we had visitors which made it even more fun!
Believe me, our little grandkids were a sight for sore eyes for missionaries, they were so excited to see children!  Brooklyn was pretty excited to see them too!

   Elders Napoleon, Oaks, Roland, Moe, Pres and Sis Taylor, Sisters Johnson, Deneke, Vela and Cluff.

Sisters LeBaron, Iglesias, Mellor, Sis and Pres Taylor, Elders Spencer, Payne, Hull, Morrison and Sirrine.

  Branch 23 of the Missionary Training Center!!  January 4, 2014

 

Our granddaughter Brooklyn with G'pa...me, our son Austin and his wife Laura and baby Evan.

We got to see a newly returned missionary, Conner Albrecht this week!  He is doing so great!  Starting school soon and so happy as usual!  That is how we remember him from the mission!

(Yes, a selfie by Pres. T)

Best thing after our visit was to kneel in prayer with him for family prayer!  He is one good RM!!!

 The following Sunday we had our JANUARY APM DINNER CALENDAR DINNER!!!
Front:  Crystal Turner, us, Dani Robinson.  BAck:  Jacob Holmes Andy Marble, Jacob Parry, Tyman Weiler, Eddie Gerritsen, Clark Livingston, Ethan Bruegger and his fiance Kassi, Emily Walker, Sarah Jenson.
We did not plan to have such a large group...but I kept running into people and inviting...it is what we are supposed to do, right?

 After dinner we visited for a while and then played an all-time favorite from departures:

DON'T EAT PETE!!!

 For some, this was the second time they had played this with us, and for others who came home after us, it was the first time they had played it!

 

It was a blast!

 That morning I snuck away from the MTC for several hours to listen to a couple returned missionaries report in their wards!





Conner Albrecht

And it was so good to see Jacob Holmes there too!

and then to listen to Lindsey Brewer and sit with Crystal Turner!

On my way home, I stopped at Kurtis Nokes house to say hello since I was not able to be at his meeting at the same time as Sis. Brewers.

Look who I ran into there!  Michael Kellett and Landon Bangerter with me and Kurtis Nokes.

 Jan 17 we went to the Salt Lake Temple to see the sealing of Michael Morton to Bobbi Weber.

It was so good to meet his folks and tell them what a great missionary he was, and to see him on the day he made the most important promises to God!

Dear friends,  the counsel that the sealer gave is for all of us:
Pray daily
Read our scriptures daily
Have family/date time weekly
Attend our Sunday meetings
Attend the Temple
Serve and be OBEDIENT
In a nutshell, that is how we endure faithfully to the end of this mortal life!

 Last weekend was glorious!  I got to see two more Returned Missionaries report on their missions...and I was so proud!

Camilla Clark taught the Doctrine of Christ like a pro!  She was radiating the light of Christ as she spoke!

And it was sweet to get to sit with Crystal Turner and Amanda Vallejo during the meeting...we were like proud parents!

I also got to listen to Alex Cordero report in his second ward (his ward was split while he was gone) and got to meet his Utah family.  What a humbling and sweet experience!  He did a wonderful job of teaching the gospel and sharing his mission experiences in a way that all could relate.

And we are so delighted that he is here in the area to go to school!


We look forward to more experiences like we had this past week when some of our RM's invited us to the Provo Temple for an early Friday morning session...made our YEAR!
This is where we want to be with YOU!  Please invite us and we will do the same!  Love you all so much!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR APM FRIENDS!

QUICK PHOTO REVIEW OF 2014 for Cheryl- Check it out!

Check out this little 40 second review that Google put together with some of my photos from this year...it has been a GREAT YEAR full of missionaries, family and preschoolers!  What a great combination!
CLICK ON THIS LINE TO SEE VIDEO 
NOT ON THE PHOTO BELOW!!!

You click on the line...then click on the little thumbnail on my picassa web page.  The CORRECT version has music playing and shows a bunch of photo collages.  Let me know if it works for you!
LOVE YOU!  Cheryl

DECEMBER VISITS/SEALINGS 2014

We started off this month by going to watch one of our RM in his band.

We went to Velour here in Provo, and it was like a blast to the past...disco ball included!

Our son played with friends in a band here in Provo years ago, so this was familiar and fun!

Here is Blake Northrup in his band TRI-POLAR BEAR.  He is the one with the halo around him!  (Of course!)


They play a mix of rock and blues type music, really great!  They have just released a CD that you can find out about by checking them out on Facebook!!

We did not want to embarrass Blake TOO MUCH by taking tons of photos, but we got this one selfie to prove to our kids we were really there!
And yes...we were totally the oldest people in the place!  But it was really fun!

Let us know if you are involved in something that we may want to come support! 






I am SO SLOW getting caught up on my blog.  We had company the entire second half of December and til Jan 5, so I am just now getting caught up.

We were delighted to have a visit from Katie Alvarez, one of our dear RM Sister Missionaries.

We got to meet her cute fiance Jeremy.

We had dinner together and a really great visit. Oh the memories of serving in the APM!!!

We are very excited for them...once again, another great match!!

ANYWAYS...  we have our monthly APM DINNER CALENDAR DINNER at our home and this month was an especially large group, but we just packed in and had a good time!

We had a traditional CHRISTMAS ZONE CONFERENCE dinner...ham, funeral potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, grapes and dessert.

We then enjoyed just sitting for a while and visiting and catching up.

We had a good variety of newly home and those who have been home longer.  It does not matter who comes, they all have something in common.

Front:Alex Whipple, Jenny Greenwood, Jacob Baldree, Michael Kellett, Connor Dickson.  Back:  Andrew Pehrson, Pres and Sis Taylor, Jordan Hastings, Dax Gerber and Joseph Cotton.

I just had to climb up into the BEAST of a truck that  Connor drives...it is pretty huge, but decked out with all the essentials  you would expect from an inventor with more on the way!

If you live in the area and have not signed up for a Sunday dinner, message me on FB or text me!

OK...on to a couple of December sealings I got to go to.

First was Melissa Lechner up in Bountiful.  She married Cortland Dickey on December 17.  

I love to get a picture as the couple steps outside the temple and sees everyone!

And I especially love it when I am not the only RM at the sealing!

Today I was joined by Tisha Santana, Sarah Jenson and Kadee Esplin.

My girls!!!

And me and my girls with Melissa and Cort

Later that week, we made a fun trip to SLC for yet another sealing.

We picked up this Indian woman at one reception...Natalie Dayton was bridesmaid for a roommate in Provo...

...complete with Indian markings.

Then we met Autumn Hansen and made our way to FRONTRUNNER to take the train up to another sealing for Lexie Pickett.  Good thing those trains have restrooms you can change clothes in!

It was so much fun talking and riding together!

We all went to be at the sealing of Lexie to Shae Morgan in the Salt Lake Temple.  

It is really a blessing to get to witness these great sealings and listen to the advice of the sealers.  It was a special  day!

Once again, fun to be at the temple with mission children!

Snagging a photo with the newlyweds for the APM record!

We love these dear Returned Missionaries!  This is truly one of the blessings of their service!  

We have been so impressed with the spouses we have met for our RM's...they are choosing very well!

 And getting someone to take our photo when the lights came on at Temple Square.  It was so beautiful!

After Christmas, we were able to have a couple RM visitors.  Andre Gaspar stopped by on his way up to BYU Idaho from Virginia.  Since he finished in Tempe mission, it was fun to show him the mission quilt and let him find himself on it...so many good memories! 

He is doing fabulous, and it was also great to meet his wonderful parents!  They are people of great faith...that is why he is such a great person!

Another Celebration for a sealing!

We were getting in line to see Michelle Summerhays, when who attacks us but...Desirrae  Barnett and Sarah Wade!  It was SO GOOD to see them again!  They both look wonderful!

 

And there is nothing like celebrating these special occasions with people you love!

Here again, Michelle, married a great man!  It was delightful to meet him and talk for a few minutes!  And get our traditional APM photo!

CONGRATULATIONS APM NEWLYWEDS!