Mission Call Received

Yesterday we received our mission call. We are so excited and very surprised. We were called to the Slovenia/Croatia Mission. Now you ask where is that? That is what we said. It is surrounded by Austria, Hungary, Bosnia and the Adriatic Sea. We have spoken with a few people who have been there and we understand it is a beautiful place.

We enter the MTC on August 10th. If anyone has been there let us know. We know the Lord is in charge and we are happy to serve. We will be working with Church Education and so that means we will get to be with lots of young people. Let us hear from you.

Where does the time go? It's been a whole month. We need to get back on a mission where we have more structure.

Paul went in for prostrate surgery on the 28th of January. He had it removed by robotics here at Intermountain Medical Center by Dr. Bishoff. He was out the next day and has been doing really well every since.

South Jordan has an ice pond next to the Library so we all went ice skating one Saturday. Kory and Katie joined us but couldn't get the boys to put on skates. Robbie had the most fun.

Kimberly and Gary went snowmobiling for five days and we went to babysit the kids. We had a great time with them. We also got a little snow and Mallorie was my great helper in cleaning off the driveway. We decided they have way too much driveway. Paul was laid up from his surgery so he missed out on the fun of snow removal.

We all (Katie, Tyler, Josh, Kelly, Rob, Robbie, Riley and me) went to the circus in South Jordan. We had such fun. I can't remember when I was last at a circus. It was really good. They had three motorcycles in one of those round balls all going at the same time. Incredible.

Kelly and Courtney celebrated their birthdays on February 4th. Kelly got to go bowling and a movie.

We had a mini Mission 2008 reunion in Provo at the home of Marge and Ray Pestanas. It was so fun to catch up with everyone on what they were doing. We were fortunate enough to have Pres. & Sister Jones with us. They were home on a short visit.

We were back to Kimberly's this last weekend. They went to Stanley snowmobiling this time. We got to Idaho just in time to go with Kimberly to her quilting class where we learned to make pillowcases.

Grandpa and I took the kids to the movies, Courtney was at Pomerelle skiing with the school ski club.

After the movies we drove over to Shoshone Falls to see if the water was running. It's really beautiful. By the time we got back into town it was snowing.

Bishop Hales called to see if we were doing our part in reaching the Ward goal of 2009 ordinances this year so I have been going to the temple quite often. Paul was able to go with me this morning and we did some initiatories. It's great to be back there together.

We had a fun week but not many pictures so bear with me. Kelly, the boys and I went on a tour of the Sweet Candy factory in Salt Lake. We put on our hair nets, took off all our jewelry and were told we would be walking very close to lots of candy and we could not touch it. They gave us samples along the way so we were able to keep our hands to ourselves. Katie and boys were suppose to go with us but they have been sick. We bought $28 worth of candy to can in jars for our emergency stash. They say in an emergency we will want chocolate. Of course we got cinnamon bears and taffy too.

Wednesday we met Sis. Payne for lunch. She was a sister missionary in Palmyra and was such a great missionary. She lives in Sandy and just got a job in St. George with a radio station there. We were happy to met up with her before she left. After lunch we went to the FH Center and visited with the Rikers who are serving a Family History Mission and served in the Palmyra Temple with us. We met the greatest people in Palmyra.

Sis. Payne is in the Red sweater and shite shirt in the middle.

Thursday morning, 7:30 am, we met the Crookstons and took a tour of the new Draper Temple. Beautiful, beautiful. We kept saying how much room they have compared to the Palmyra Temple. Friday we attended the Jordan River Temple for Ward Temple day.

Friday night is pizza and movie or game night with Kelly & Rob and Saturday morning I drove to Lehi to baby sit for Kory and Katie while they went to the temple.

Paul has come down with a cold and we hope he gets better before Wednesday when we leave to go to Idaho where we will baby sit for Kimberly and Gary while they snowmobile for a few days. Tonight, Sunday, we went to the Conference Center for a Devotional for the Jordan River Temple. The new presidency spoke and it was a great meeting. We are so blessed and count our blessings every day.

Ring out the Old, Ring in the New

On FHE night we went to Temple Square with Kelly and boys and Kory and Katie and boys. It was a beautiful night, not too cold. We took hot chocolate and donuts to enjoy. The boys didn't want to leave the visitor's center especially after I told them I would give them a quarter for each mural they could tell me the story of. They made a little money that night.

Kelly and boys at Temple Square. Rob was at work.

Gage, Kory, Tyler, Katie and Josh at Temple Square

On December 19th we celebrated Josh and Paul's birthday. Katie made two cakes, one for each of them. Josh is 5 and Paul is 65. We had a reindeer party and it was fun.

We went to Island Park two days before Christmas and missed the big snowstorm getting there. Kimberly and Gary and family came in Wednesday and Kelly and Rob had to wait til the day after Christmas to get here. Kory and family decided not to come since the roads were so bad and they could only stay the weekend. I personally went on a couple of snowmobile trips with Kimberly, Gary, and Rob. Had a great time. We spent time at the clubhouse swimming, and playing racquetball.

After snowmobiling all day the guys came in and played Guitar Hero all night. The kids had a hard time getting any time on it.

Kaylee, Gary, Mallorie, Brayden, Kimberly and Courtney on Christmas eve in the Christmas pajamas.

South Jordan has a little ice skating rink so Saturday we met Kory and Katie and tried skating. You can see that only Paul, Robbie and Kelly were brave enough to try it. We had a good time anyway.

Paul and I went to the Capital building to see Gov. Huntsman inaugurated. That was interesting and we got to hear David Archiletto sing the Star Spangled Banner. Paul got interviewed by Fox 13 but didn't make it on the evening news. We have been to the temple many times and enjoy our time there. The weather is cold and Paul keeps busy keeping the huge driveway cleared off. That was his major job at the cabin over Christmas. Have a great week. It's good to get back to blogging again. I hope to be more consistent now.

We have finally landed!!!

It has been some time since we last wrote but we are now settling in and have Internet access again. We have had a great month. We left Palmyra on October 31st after finishing our final shift and cleaning assignment. That Friday morning eight couple missionaries and Pres. & Sister Jones looked out the clear window and watched the sun rise over the sacred grove. What a glorious experience. We had also had a wonderful temple session with all the Presidency and missionaries that week on one of the sessions. We served with a great group of people.

Our lasts goodbyes to our beloved Temple President and wife, Ralph and Timmy Siebach. They were so very good to us and we love them dearly.

Our last view of the Palmyra Temple. Even as I write it brings tears to my eyes. We spent much of the last week in Palmyra seeing all the sites one more time and feeling that special prompting of the Holy Ghost that this great work is true and that there are prophets on the earth again and Christ's church has been restored in its fullness. What a blessing in our lives.

A few of us pulling out from the temple Friday morning. The Pestanas, Lewis' and Gehrigs.

Our greeting home from a few of the grandchildren. Kory and Katie and Tyler, Josh and Gage came up to Kelly's for dinner and to welcome us back.

After three days we took off for Camarillo, California. We took Kelly, Robbie and Riley with us.

We arrived at the Los Angeles Temple Apartments and Rose, our dear friend, had a beautiful orchid waiting for us to welcome us back. Paul spent Saturday in the temple helping with the Camarillo Stake Baptism day. He was there from 5:30 am to 8:00 pm. What a great opportunity to see so many of the people from our Stake. While in Camarillo we had the privilege of speaking in the Camarillo 1st and 2nd Wards on the 9th, then in Stake Conference on the next Sunday and on the 23rd in the Oxnard 1st and Camarillo 6th Wards. I think we're done for awhile. We did enjoy bearing testimony of this great work.

Riley ran right up to Minnie with his arms outstretched. He turned 2 on the 6th of December, his party is tomorrow night.

Robbie really did have a good time. Can't remember what the frown was for.

I got to spend a day with my dear friend, Edwina, in Hemet. We were lucky enough to catch her daughter, Lesliann and her son Spencer, who were visiting from Alabama. Alaina is standing next to me, Edwina's daughter who is 12.

We took a quick one day trip to Jerome, Idaho to see Kimberly, Gary and family. Then on our way home from California we went back that way and spent a week and Thanksgiving with them.

Black Friday we were up at 3:30 to go to the Penny's sale where Kimberly, Paul and Sheri had to have leather jackets. We have Kimberly, Debbie, Staci, Alex, and Sheri. We had a fun time and kept the economy going.

On the way back to Utah we had to drive past my growing up home. It brings back such memories.

Only one picture would come in and isn't it wonderful. A view from the "clear window" of the temple looking down at the Sacred Grove.

Last week we shut down our Internet and so I was not able to do a blog. This week we are using the Palmyra Inn's Internet so I hope to give you a quick update on our final weeks in Palmyra.

Last weekend we traveled to Messena, NY which is on the northern border of NY on the St. Lawrence River. It's about 4 hours from here. We truly felt we were in the Mission Field. They had 14 people to church and four of us were missionaries. Nevertheless it was a wonderful experience and what great and faithful members they have there. They also had an investigator. We had a great time with them. We spoke in Sacrament meeting and then gave our "Come to the Palmyra Temple" presentation for Pres. Siebach, the temple president.

There were still a few beautiful colors but most were already gone. On our way home we stopped in 1000 Islands and had another look at that beautiful area.

For FHE last week we had a movie night. We saw "The Ultimate Gift". What a sweet story, we all loved it. We got to watch it on the big screen in the Visitors Center. We had a fairly busy week at the temple and were able to work in all the areas of the temple including the baptistry. What sweet experiences we have had.

Thursday we got to go over to the Waltons for a photo shoot. Brother Walton was doing a photo seminar and needed a few models. That was fun. Saturday evening we had a surprise party for us given by a dear friend, Amy Dalycus, from the Palmyra Ward. We had a great spaghetti dinner and lots of fun visiting with many people we have met here in Palmyra.

Today was our last Sunday in Palmyra. We had the Crookstons, Amsdens, and Harris' over for dinner. A great salmon dinner, which the Crookstons provided. Then we drove out to the Whitmer Farm for a last tour. We were fortunate enough to get Sis. James. She is wonderful and as many times as we have been there we heard new things. These site missionaries are just wonderful. We then made it to the Sacred Grove as it was getting dark and then to the Hill where we went into the Visitor Center. It was raining and lightening so I refused to walk up the Hill. Another time.

This will be our last blog until we get home. We leave on Friday afternoon and are heading to Utah and California. This mission has been a great blessing in our lives. We have loved it and come to love our Savior, Jesus Christ, even more. How blessed we are to have the gospel restored and in our lives. I hope we all appreciate this great blessing we have and share it with others. Love to you all.

This has been a beautiful week, the weather is great and the colors are beautiful. We have to enjoy while we can because we hear it is dropping to the 50's the middle of this week. We have had several tour groups coming through on a fall colors and church history tour. It's been fun to have them. This is the sacred grove as seen from the temple.

This is Jerry and Pamela Tidds from Meadville, PA. We met these wonderful people in June when we visited and spoke in their Ward. Pamela came to the temple in July to receive her endowment and Jerry came Friday to receive his endowment and to be sealed. Paul and I were privileged to be with them in both sessions. They had also been to the temple to do baptisms and we were privileged to help them there.

These are their friends who came with them. Bishop and Sister Welter and the young sister in the green shirt (Sister Johnson) was the missionary who taught Bro. Tidd the gospel. She flew back to be here from Utah for this special day. We met them for dinner Thursday evening and had a wonderful visit.

Monday evening for FHE we met at the Whitmer Farm and had a special visit from "Joseph". Elder Neil Pitts, portraying Joseph, came in while we were singing "Praise To The Man" and retold us the organization of the church on April 6, 1830. What a special evening this turned out to be.

This is President Ralph and Timmy Siebach, our Temple President & Matron. We had our release interview with them this week. These two people have touched our lives in wonderful ways and we love them deeply.

We had our first morning of frost this week. The sun came out and it has been beautiful ever since. Kimberly said they were expecting a frost also so she went out and picked all her tomatoes 7 gallon buckets full.

Saturday, Oct. 11 Tyler Zachery Lewis was baptized by his father, Kory. He had wonderful support from all of his family. Katie's family, parents, brother and sister and families and her grandparents were all there and Kimberly and Kelly and their families were also there. We are so proud of you, Tyler, you have set a great example for your brothers and cousins. Today, Sunday, is Kory's 33rd birthday, Happy Birthday Kory, we love you.

We started today with a walk through the Sacred Grove. What a wonderful thing to do on the day of General Conference. I remember last April we we did it also and we saw our first purple flowers blooming. Today many of the trees are bare of leaves and fall is definitely in the air. We walked out from the back of the log home where Joseph would have come from.

Paul enjoying a moment of contemplation and an opportunity for the spirit to spread over us.

Just a beautiful spot in the grove.

We watched conference at the Stake Center Saturday and Sunday. Paul went over and helped Bro. Fuqua set up for the broadcast and set up the Spanish videos and was basically in charge for all the session. Saturday evening the Brothers had a chili dinner before the Priesthood session. Sister Crookston, Sister Gehrig, and Sister Rotkowski came over and we watched the new Emma movie. We enjoyed it very much but would love to see it on a better screen.

Thursday was a wonderful day. Laura and Kim Bergeson along with their daughter Amy, her husband Matt and their three children, Kylee, Ben and Summer came to Palmyra to see the sites. We met them at the Whitmer Farm and tagged along with them all day. What fun.

Sister Bennet took us on the tour at the farm and got all our pictures. Laura and Kim are from Camarillo and our children grew up together in Camarillo 1st Ward. Amy was one of my YW girls and she is a wonderful mother and wife. She married a nephew of Neil and Sharon Decker who were missionaries with us last summer. What a small world. Amy and Matt live in Eagle Mountain and left two little ones at home.

Here we are at the Apostle tree in the Sacred Grove

We took a walk around the temple and had to tell them all about the stain glass windows, 27 in groups of three. Two special trees, one in the celestial room (the tree of life) and the other in the front door (the tree of knowledge). There are 64,000 cut leaves in the windows.

On Monday afternoon the missionaries took a tour of Brother and Sister Cahoon's apple and cherry processing plant. It it out in Wolcott and took us about 50 minutes to get there. It is on the shores of Lake Ontario, one of the best apple producing areas in the world. It is a family business and Jolene Green, their daughter is standing there with him and Paul. We serve in the office with Jolene.

We are waiting for the Perkins and Duggers to arrive before beginning the tour.

Here we are learning about the operation and we have dawned our hats to keep unwanted things out of the apples.

Paul and Bro. Archibald

They are processing apple for Comstock. It's an amazing business. Bro. & Sister Cahoon are our local temple worker coordinators on Friday night. We love them. They are the best.

We went back to the Visitors Center at the Hill Cumorah for FHE with the site missionaries. Bro. Cal Stevens was out visiting from SL and spoke to us. He wove the stories of several early pioneers showing us that God's hand is in this great work and blessed we are to be a part of it. He also said "I have seen a great deal of this world and so has Elder Weston, (site director) and there isn't anything we have seen out there that we want more than eternal life. I'm with them, lets keep the commandments so we can return to live with Heavenly Father again.

I hope you saw all of conference. We are so blessed to have living prophets among us. Our prayer is that we will listen and follow their direction.