Preparing to say Good-bye

City Creek Park, Salt Lake City

The weekend of May 10th, Mother's Day, all our children and grandchildren gathered together for one last party. We took the grandchildren to Salt Lake where we played at City Creek Park. They were having a great time and Paul said "why move them on to something else when they are having such a great time." He was right. Eventually someone had to use the bathroom so we made our way over to the Joseph Smith Memorial, Church office bldg. and then back home. We did get a family picture taken and when we get it we will post it.

Here we have three generations, Paul, Rob, Robbie and Riley

Brigham Young Park

Saturday morning Courtney and I went to the Jordan River Temple to do some baptisms. I am also very proud of her because she finished reading this Book of Mormon for the first time today. I must say Kaylee has finished the Book of Mormon, D & C and is working on the Pearl of Great Price. Way to go!! When we came out of the temple we ran into our dear friends the Amsdens from Palmyra New York who were here for a wedding of a granddaughter. What a wonderful surprise. They were so good to us in Palmyra, Dee taught us in the temple office and this is the family Paul mowed the back 20 for.

Monday morning Paul and I left for California. We went through Blanding, Utah to visit an old friend from Agoura. She was my mentor those many years ago, Glenalee Casper. Oh the good visit we had reminiscing and catching up on what all our children are doing. They have a beautiful new home in Blanding and she is an incredible gardener. She gave us a grand tour of Blanding.

We left Blanding Tuesday morning and drove through Monument Valley, stopped to see the Goose Neck Canyons. It seems pretty desolate but absolutely beautiful rock formations. We had hoped to see our good friends, Jack and Sally Woldberg, in Kingman but they were in Camarillo.

We stayed that night in Upland at my brother Gary and Diane's home and had a good visit with them. From there we drove to Hemet for a visit with Edwina. All of these and those to come have had immense impact on our lives. We love you all dearly.

In Camarillo we were able to visit with many more people who have touched our lives. These are just a few of the ones we were able to spend a little time with. Shirley Porter lived with us for a few years.

We met Bill and Carolyn Skinner when Paul was Bishop. They are an inspiration and joy in our lives. They have taught us so much.

Bishop Roy and Nancy Hales have encouraged us to get going. He always keeps track of us and continually gives us guidance and counsel.

The Laurie and Steve Sullivan family we have known and loved for years. Laurie and I go way back to YW leaders day. What a great family.

There are so many more of you that we had an opportunity to visit with at the LA temple chapel session and Stake Conference. We cannot adequately express our love and appreciation for the influence for good you have had on our family. President Blickenstaff set us apart as missionaries on Thursday May 14th and Paul was able to bear his testimony in Sunday Stake Conference when Elder Maynes invited him to do so. It was an inspiring conference.


Monday morning 10:30 am we checked ourselves into the MTC. We started a whirlwind week of training in "Preach My Gospel". We were one of 19 couples and 1 sister going all over the world. Many were CES, but some were leadership, Military Relations, and PEF. We did a lot of hands on teaching and learning. Everyday we taught a lesson to an investigator. That was an experience of being bold and coming out of our comfort zone, at least for me.

The young returned missionaries who worked with us are incredible.

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Jill Cassinat was our language tutor. We have been working with her for over a month on the language. She served in Croatia and has been home a year. She was such a great help. We also got to meet the young Elders and Sisters who will be going over with us. Volim Te (I love you) Hvala (thank you). We had tutoring Wed, Thur and Fri evenings this last week in the evenings. Friday night we all came together and had a testimony meeting where we were able to share our testimonies in the language of the mission we were going to. We had Poland, Croatia, Mexico, Switzerland, and Russian.

Paul has born his testimony in Croatian at least three times now, at Stake Conference in California, at the MTC and today in our talks in the RiverRidge 9th Ward. I will leave mine with you.


Braco i Sestre, Znam da je crkva istinita. Znam da ye Krist zivi. Znam da je Isus nas Spasitelj. Znam da je Bog nas Otac. Znam da ye Thomas S. Monson prorok danas. Znam da ye Joseph Smith prorok. Znam da ja sam dijete Bezje. Znam da je Mormonova Knjiga istinita. Volim svog Nebeddkog Oca, znam da onzivi te nas voli. U ime Isusa Krista Amen

Pray for us, we will do our best. MTC Missionary group week of May 18, 2009

Elder & Sister Buchanan were in charge of us and did a great job.