July 9th Week--Visitors Galore, How Wonderful

The Michael and Suzanne Riach Family from Camarillo 3rd Ward

The Taylor Family from Massachusetts

Aunt Barbara, David & Family

The Anderson Family from Harriman, UT

The Bus Tour

Trying to think back through the week is really hard. I've been writing things on the calendar so I can remember. This is really a fun week because we have been getting visitors from home. How fun it is to see you and get a hug and send you on your way. This week we have seen the Taylors formerly from Camarillo and Oxnard and now living in Massachusetts. The Anderson family from the LA Temple. They came in and did baptisms and we were the baptistry directors. What a fun surprise. They now live in Harriman, UT. We tracked down the bus that carried Corrine Barlow, Renee and Stephanie Fleener, Rachael Barlow, Julie Bell, Holly and Jill Northrup. We followed them to the Hill and let them watch the pageant in the rain without us. We had been three times already so decided we could miss the rain that night. Friday night Aunt Barbara, David and his three kids were in town and we watched the pageant with them.

Sunday in the Palmyra Ward we performed "From Cumorah's Hill". We had 1400 in church and the production was beautiful and brought such a special spirit with it. What a joy to be able to sing in it.

Last week we visited a local dairy to see the workings. Bishop Hill's wife, Kathy, and Katie Amsden took us on a tour. The dairy is owned by Kathy's father. They have 450 dairy cows. Quite an operation. The next day they had four new calves born. We were one day early.

New baby calf The Crookstons, Kathy, Katie & Paul at the Dairy

We have been working double shifts and filling in where needed because several of our missionary couples have family in town and many of the permanent temple workers have assignment with security etc. at the pageant. We have had so many baptism groups and they are so spiritual.

For FHE tonight we had a special treat. Chad Hawkins was here visiting his in-laws, Pres. and Sister Cederlof. If you don't recognize the name, he is the artist who draws and temples and wrote the "First 100 Temples" and several other books. He shared many of his special experiences in visiting and painting the beautiful temples throughout the world. Tonita Crookston, Chad Hawkins, Wendy Cederlof, Neil Decker, Paul, Mar Jean, Pres. Cederlof
Chad Hawkins and father-in-law, President Cederlof, Palmyra Temple.

Pageant is wonderful. Over 700 people in the cast. It shows Tuesday thru Saturday this week. Kimberly, Katie, and Kelly are flying in Wednesday. We are excited to see them. They are busy getting all their children ready to spend some time with Daddy, and Grandma.