DECEMBER 2015- EARLY JANUARY APM RELATED EVENTS

Do these statues look familiar to any of you?  They are behind the main building of the Missionary Training Center.  President Taylor was entertained by the "SNOW PACKS" worn by these cycling Elders.

I have always commented how funny it is that they do not have them wearing HELMETS...you know...SAFETY FIRST!



So, our friend Lane Steinagle, who works in the MTC, took this photo for me after hearing my concern!









We spent Christmas afternoon in the MTC helping our branch make their Christmas calls home.

It was a fun afternoon!  They are really great kids!  They had only been in the MTC about 9 days!

I think I already blogged this meeting, but when I went to pick up my Santa Run suit, this character helped me!  And now Kyle Bradfield is a NEW DADDY!  Congratulations!









We had our December APM Dinner group with these great RM's:
Collin Christensen, Landon Bangerter, Scott Moore (who now honks and waves at me when he drives the bus by while I am running or walking), Nathan Wainwright, Matt Bryson, Whitney Welch, and Jordan and Sonya Hastings.

One Sunday morning I was getting ready to go to the MTC and the doorbell rang.  Look who I found outside!
Rebecca and Daniel Handley!  We had a brief visit before I had to go.  They were on a Sunday drive and recognized the house!  Very fun!!

We made it to the reception for Nathan Judkins and had the best time meeting his family and also got to see Michael Kellett and Matt Mason who are his good friends.  We met Matt's family as well and that was really fun too.  We wish we got a photo with all of them!

Scott and Braden went to Las Vegas to meet up with our son Austin to watch the BYU/Utah game.
While he was there he was able to meet up with David Yoxtheimer...

...and Andrew Hall.  So fun for President T to get to see them.  It meant a lot to him that they would meet up!

Braden and Scott eating arepas...YUM!






And his panoramic view of the stadium.

Meanwhile, I had my priorities in line :)

I was blessed to be able to attend not one but TWO sealings in the Bountiful Temple on Dec 19.


First was Tyman Weiler and Aubree.  They had a beautiful sealing ceremony.

And what was even more fun was who was there at the temple with me.

Alex Ure and his wife and Nathan Elliott and his wife!

It was REALLY COLD outside!

But the cold makes it a great time to SNUGGLE!

I hung around for Annakiah Messick and Kaleb Christensen's sealing that afternoon.

They are an adorable couple, childhood sweethearts who both supported each other on their missions!

















My next sealing was during a workday for Scott and he had to be at the Provo City Center Temple Open House so he could not miss any more meetings at work.

I however, was able to take the train up to Ogden on a very snowy day for Joseph and Rachel Cotton's sealing.

It was such a special day!

We sorta kinda LOVE IT when our RM's find their eternal companions!

Now our latest mission is serving as Public Affairs for the Provo City Center Temple Open House.  we have been meeting for about 6 months planning our special guest tours etc.  And each week, even each day there are new things being added to our responsibilities.

 We ended up providing hosts for the Missionary Week, a new thing they had not done, and may not do again, before the Special Guest days.  Here you see we are also training Sister missionaries how to use the AV system so they can host our tours.

Does this look familiar?

Speaking of familiar...we were surprised and excited to see some of our dear friends on these tours.

Brady Jones was bringing someone during missionary week and we got to meet his folks!







We saw Sarah Jenson at the grocery store after our tours that day with her fiance.  Awesome!







And we saw Amelia Johnson with her folks when we hosted Elder Gavarette's tour.










Then we ran into Connor Cardwell and his family during the missionary tours as well.  Special interactions with special people!


We look forward to the rest of January and our dinners and other meetings!
HAPPY NEW YEAR APM!!!

NOVEMBER 2015 APM Related Activities

November went by in a flash!  But it was full of great APM related activities here and there and pretty much ANYWHERE!

We love living close to students, so we get to run into or have visits from some of you!

Joseph Cotton introduced us to his finance Rachel this month!  We will attend their sealing in December!








We hosted our monthly APM DINNER GROUP with:
Nolan Blackhurst and his friend Faith, Spencer Brame, Dani Robinson, Christina Muhlestein, Bobbie(Pilcher) and Sean Fluckiger and baby Aria, Jarod Maynes and Jesus Castro.

One of our very first missionaries we met in the MTC before going to Phoenix was Scott Larsen.
He married Marissa this month in the Payson temple.

 We got to see Nathan Judkins and his wife Kaylani at their reception...it was so good to get to visit with both their parents!

Saw Matt Mason and Michael Kellett there too...I don't know why we did not get a photo!!

Most of the missionaries from our Branch at the MTC this month:
Elders Buckles, Allen and Bowers.
Sisters Marshall, Drake, Anderson, Peterson, Arbon and Strader.
(Missing Sisters Lau and Johnson in this photo)

When I went to pick up my race packet for the "Santa Run" guess who was there to help me!

Kyle Bradfield!!

He and his wife are expecting their first baby in January!  Oh Yeah!











And my daughter and I in the infamous SANTA RUN!
It took President Taylor a while to figure out that yes, all race participants were really wearing Santa Suits.  He thought we just made it up when we were dressing for the race...


...could be because we like to dress up to run sometimes.  Y'know, cat pants, witch costumes etc.










December Dinner Group:  Collin Christensen, Landon Bangerter, Scott Moore, Nathan Wainwright, Matt Bryson, Whitney Welch, Sonya and Jordan Hastings.  A good time was had by all!  We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional after dinner.

And Sunday morning when I was getting ready to head up to the MTC, look who stopped by the house on their Sunday drive...
Rebecca and Daniel Handley!  They look so happy!  Marriage is the best!!

Happy Holidays!  We look forward to several more sealing this month that I will post the end of December!

Message me!  We are always happy to plan something or go see YOU in your special event!

OCTOBER 2015 APM ACTIVITIES/VISITORS

 Since Reunion we have had some great interactions with APMer's or Mission related.

Of course, one of our favorite activities are TEMPLE SEALINGS!

We were grateful to attend Andrew and Alex Pehrson's sealing in Salt Lake this month!  They are so down to earth and happy!!

It was a beautiful day with them!

Another thing we look forward to is getting together with our own Mission President Group...just like a RM may love getting back together with a District or Zone; this group went out with us from the MTC and we trained together our entire missions twice a year.

We met at Crawford's cabin up Millcreek Canyon and it was beautiful up there!

Some of our dearest friends!

 Augustins, Bourne's, Pingree's, Crawford's, Killpack's, Durrants, Mike Neider and us.

 Here are the districts we had for October at the MTC in our branch.

Heading to Italy Rome or Milan:

Elders Carnahan, Cleveland, Young, Olsen, Freckleton and Allred, Sisters Workman and Tolosa.

 Heading to Italy Rome or Milan:

Elders Rizzo, Battaglia, Marriucci, Juhasz, Brooks, Griffiths and Dohms.

Heading to Romania:

Sisters Torres, Savoie,Falkenberg, Elders Hubbard, Seegmiller and Brownell.

One of our monthly joys are our APM DINNER GROUPS!!

 Front:  Sean Catlett and Greg McCuch.  Back: Jason Barrus, Alex Beck, Johhny Cook, Lance Cabral, Cody Silcock, Brady Nelson, us, Amanda Vallejo and Sarah Neary.





This month at the MTC we have had some great Arizona or APM related connections!

First was Elder Carnahan from Phoenix who showed up in our branch!  Shout out to all the APM Elders who took him our on splits and helped shape him into who he is as a missionary today!  He is so excited to be serving in Italy-Milan!







Next connection was Sister Lau, who we realized was daughter of a Stake Presidency member we knew from Prescott Valley stake on our mission.  They have since moved to the Salt Lake area, and she is also headed to Italy-Milan!

And we also met up with Elder Christ Stott's brother who was in the MTC in October as well!  That family has 3 missionaries out serving right now!!  It was great to meet one more great Stott!

And last, but surely not least, is our own Elder Allen...as in brother to Zach Allen who served with us in the great APM.
And he is headed to Italy-Rome!

We love how small the world is within the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

And this past week we loved having Dan and Alexis Jensen stop by one evening!  They are so great!

Forgot to get a pic with Andy Marble who also stopped by...sorry Andy!
WE LOVE SEEING ALL OF YOU!  Thank you for being a part of our lives!