Busy but wonderful Sabbath

After our morning meetings, Dad and I headed up to Cindy and DJ's ward to attend their Primary Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation. We stopped to drop off dinner for them at the house and Jordy's favorite wedding dress-up for Halloween and then headed to the church to get good seats. Grandma J met us there. After the Sacrament as all the Primary children headed up to the choir seats, little Kaleb started to cry as he wanted to go up there as well! It was so sad...but then I realized that next year, Kaleb WOULD be old enough and Cindy and DJ would have 4 kids participating! Dad and I got a little teary last night realizing how fast our family is growing AND growing up! But mostly because we feel so blessed to see where your wise day-to-day choices have led you and what a grand job you are doing in raising your little ones. Anyway, the presentation was wonderful and all three girls had their parts and the music learned perfectly! When parents have taken the time to help their kids memorize their parts, it seems the children understand what they are saying and truly believe and testify as they speak. Dad and I got to hold the babies all through the meeting. Porter was an angel and Dad was in heaven! Kamryn, not feeling well, was a bit fussy, but not bad at all. You could just tell she wasn't her normal self! Oh, how we love these precious grandkids all of you have given us! A great big THANK YOU! Anyway, after Sacrament Meeting, we headed to Primary to listen to Jordyn give her talk for opening exercises. She again had it memorized in her own words and gave it with conviction! She spoke on service, quoting King Benjamin in Mosiah 2 and then went on to tell of service that has been given to their family. She then spoke of what she can do to give service to others. It was precious and we knew that she meant and believed every word! I think we take for granted the opportunity Primary gives children to speak in front of others from such an early age. Most become quite seasoned at it by the time they are older and much of the anxiety disappears! And in the process, growing little testimonies are fortified! (Oh, I started this post this morning and had to leave for work. When I got home, Cindy had posted Jordy's talk as a video so you get it first hand! Hope you will all do more video posting!)
After returning home I finished dinner for the Loveland family. Lori, I made your Cafe Rio Sweet Pork and took it to Cindy's, to Lovelands, and Dad and I still had some for dinner! It is fabulous! We had rave reviews. Thanks for sharing and I really want to know where you got that recipe! Anyway, Dad had some interviews, so I headed to Lovelands and had a great visit with Mark and Susan. Mark got bucked off his horse (sound familiar?) and has some muscle and soft tissue damage that will take awhile to heal. He has a great attitude though, and is just grateful it wasn't any worse.
After making a few more visits and taking some goodies around, Dad came home and we headed to make our Home Teaching visits. It was a late night, but just wonderful. Dad and I really love visiting the bishops' and Dad's counselors' families. It is so fun to do together and gives us an idea of how much fun it will be to serve a mission together!

Our Little Cannon's Blessing Day

We left for Logan on Saturday evening, October 11th, after a full day of other activities. Greg attended a Coordinating Council Meeting that morning with Elder Hammond and Elder Costa and I went to give blood for the Red Cross Drive. Later that afternoon we attended the baptism of our little Tanisha Coffey from across the street. Rafa came home from the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls to baptize and then confirm her on Sunday. Mooney, Teresa, Colby and KC all attended and Tanisha was so happy! I still can't believe she is 8! It makes me happy that she really wanted to take this important step...enough that she overcame her great fear of having to go completely under the water!

Anyway, we arrived at Julie and Stanton's at about 7:00 p.m. and thought our little Chloe, Lily, and Brigham would be in bed. But to our happy surprise, they weren't! So after loves and hugs and a little story time, they were off to bed. It was such fun to spend some time holding little Cannon and helping Julie get ready for the meal before church on Sunday. Cannon is the sweetest baby! I'm not sure he ever cries except when he needs to be changed or fed. Grandpa and I had fun snuggling with Chloe and Lily (our little early birds) on Sunday morning. And my morning was not complete without a little "pizza party" with the kids before getting ready for the big day. Cindy came down with her 6 little ones and brought Grandma J with her (See what I mean about my mom?!!). What a monumental effort for Cindy to get her six kids ready in time to get to Logan by 10:30 a.m...a great trial run for 9:00 a.m. church next year! It was also great to see Christie, Nate, Mitch, Chrystal, Whitney, Lisa and Brian, Amy, and Natalie and Tyler as well as Stanton's Mom and Dad and two grandmas, Emily and Nate and kids, Ann and her kids and others of his family! I wonder if little Cannon realized we were all getting together to celebrate his birth and the occasion of his blessing? He seemed unscathed by all the commotion...just a sweet little guy and just as handsome as can be! Stanton gave little Cannon Gregory a beautiful blessing. What a special little guy you are, Cannon, with a wonderful life ahead of you.

After saying goodbye to extended family, we enjoyed all of their meetings before coming back to the house for awhile. We enjoyed the weekend so much. Some of these pics might be repeats of Julie's but they show that a wonderful time was had by all! Nothing beats FAMILY time!

Attending General Conference in the Conference Center- What a Perk!

I pinch myself everytime we sit in the Conference Center for General Conference! What an amazing blessing, one we hope to take advantage of until Greg is released! What an inspirational two days of vertical learning whether you enjoyed from TV, via the internet, satellite broadcast, or in person! We had tickets for the Saturday morning and Sunday morning sessions and watched the Saturday afternoon session in our room at the Crystal Inn. We listened to the Sunday pm session on our way home from Salt Lake. Greg also had a ticket to the Priesthood Session which he attended with Ron Mumford, Scott Jefferies and Scott's brother.

Some of my favorite moments:

1. Elder Joseph Wirthlin's mother's counsel to him as a young man: "Come What May and Love It! ..... How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can't--at least not in the moment. I don't think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don't think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life."


2. Elder Neil L. Anderson: "You Don't Know Everything...but You Know Enough!"


3. Pres Dieter Uchtdorf: "And to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely, I say with love and deep concern for you, Never give in, Never surrender! Never allow despair to overcome your spirit. Embrace and rely upon 'The Hope of Israel'!"


4. Pres. Thomas S. Monson: "Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord's work, and when we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help. Remember the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it."


5. Pres. Boyd K. Packer: "We will stay on course. We will anchor ourselves as families and as a church to these principles and ordinances. Whatever tests be ahead, and they will be many, we must remain faithful and true!"


6. Sister Elaine Dalton: "In the strength of the Lord, I can do ALL things."


7. Elder Todd Christopherson: "The Lord calls upon us to be beacons of righteousness to guide those who seek the safety and blessings of Zion."


8. Pres. Thomas S. Monson: "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each or us will run out of tomorrows!"


9. Last, but by no means least, was the announcement of a temple to be built in Rome! What a thrill for all those who have worked so hard to build the church there all these years, both missionaries and members alike. But it is especially moving for those first called to proselyte there 40 years ago. I know Greg was not the only one of those original missionaries to shed a tear that day. I now know how my dad felt when the first temple was built in Brazil! What a marvelous blessing! We were so glad to be in the session when it was announced. There are 22,000 saints in Italy now and as I looked around, I realized that is how many people the Conference Center seats!
   

I have enjoyed reading some of the talks on the internet while waiting for our November issue of the Ensign. We certainly have plenty to ponder on and put into practice in the coming months, that is for sure! Anyway, Dad and I had a wonderful time together and look forward to taking Regan with us next April and Todd next November!

General Conference Weekend

The Whole Group

Greg, Scott and Ron singing

"Though in the Outward Church Below"

Ron, Melissa and Carol Mumford

Bill and Kris Hecker

Ramon and Julie BeckJo and Jim Brookbank
Scott and Denise Jefferies

Friday afternoon, October 3rd, we headed to Salt Lake for General Conference. Earlier in the week Ron Mumford, one of Dad's dearest friends and a missionary companion of some 40 years ago, called us and asked us to meet him and his wife, Carol, and some other old Italian missionaries for dinner Friday night. Of course, we were delighted to have the opportunity, so at 7:00 pm we met at the Garden Room in the Joseph Smith Building. Although Ron was the only one of the group Greg actually served with, he had met all of the others who came out more toward the end of his mission. (Yes, yes, once again we were the "oldies" of the group! That seems to be happening a great deal these days!) It always amazes me how "at home" I feel with these missionaries and their wives when we get together even though I have not previously met many of them. And this evening was no exception! The gospel of Jesus Christ has a way of "knitting" people together in the most wonderful way! While enjoying a delicious dinner, it was such fun to listen to our guys reminisce about their missionary days! As wives, we never tire of hearing their experiences, both the spiritual and humorous! It was wonderful to meet Sister Julie Beck whose husband, Ramon, came to Italy just a few months before Greg came home. She is the daughter of Elder Grant Bangerter who was one of my Dad's missionary companions in Brazil when that country was just opened to proselyting. Wonderful people each with a great sense of humor. Oh, I just about forgot to mention that one of my favorite moments of the evening was just as we were about to leave. Scott Jefferies grabbed Ron and Dad as he began singing "Though in the Outward Church Below" there in the foyer outside the Garden Room. It was just one of those extemporaneous moments that I will never forget. Dad LOVED to sing this old hymn in the mission field and Scott remembered that! This hymn written by Mozart is not in the newest addition of the Hymnal but it is a great one! The three guys sounded so amazing together and just held us all spellbound for a minute! I know it loses something in the translation but for a moment it was a step back in time and I could just see them at a Zone Conference in beautiful Italy!

I am truly thankful for the great friendships my husband formed in the mission field and the continued desire many of them have had to stay close in spite of busy lives. It is very uplifting to get together! We cheer each other on and delight in the knowledge that we are all human...that our challenges are similar in many ways though our lives have taken many different paths. It is so heart-warming to see how the gospel has blessed our families as we have just tried our best! What a wonderful evening and prelude to a great General Conference experience!

Mom and Me!

October 2nd was my wonderful mom's 84th birthday! I took the afternoon off work and drove to Idaho Falls to spend the balance of the day with her. Can I say how amazing she is? Her health is such a blessing and allows her to do just about anything and everything she enjoys doing. We had a wonderful time laughing and talking over lunch at the Olive Garden. It was delicious, but the company was the best! We ran a couple of errands including stopping at Desert Book to do a little shopping and then spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening looking at her picture life history. It would be more appropriate to call it a life history in pictures of her and Dad and all of their posterity! It encompasses volumes of binders full of pictures, programs, notes, etc. I only had time to get through a couple of them but what a wonderful time we had reminiscing. She is such a wonderful person. She has taught me everything that has brought me happiness in my life and primarily through her shining example! I love her for her unwillingness to give into loneliness though I know she wishes she could be with Dad every day. She is willing to leave that particular timetable to Heavenly Father and so continues to take care of herself by eating right, exercising, reading the scriptures every day, and serving those around her with such unselfishness. She is so active in her ward and attends everything she possibly can although I am sure it would be easy to just stay at home on many evenings. In conversations with Mom, I realize that much of the reason for her "on the go" attitude is that the loneliness could overcome her easily if she spent too much time by herself in the home where she and Dad spent so many happy years together. I know she sits in her chair and looks at Dad's picture on the end table and draws strength from him. She knows he is telling her to forge on and stay faithful and they will be together again soon enough. This and her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ propel her on each day. I am so thankful for her desire to be a part of our children's and grandchildren's lives. Although I know she is tired, she will rarely miss an opportunity to go with us to a family event. She is so supportive and proud of all of us and handles the "pandemonium" of such gatherings with such patience! She is a great example of everything a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and daughter of God should be. I am looking forward to many, many more happy times with you! I love you very, very much, Mom!