Cousins gather in Utah

The Mitchells were here for the traditonal Freedom Festival Fireside.


Elder D. Todd Christopherson was the speaker. 

BARBECUE IN THE BACK YARD

 Gabe                                           Luke

 Leia and Bethany

 Hayden

 Jessica, Abby, and SJ

                                               Janna and Sam                                Leia                                                                                

 Haylie

 Anna and Ammon

 

Kaleb                     Darrrel

 Grandpa Marvin and Me

 Jessica

 Gabe

 Uncle Kieth

 Laura, Uncle Kent,  and Bethany

 Aunt Brenda with Willie and Lacey's new baby.

TARGET PRACTICE

 Neldon and Kaleb

 Hayden

 Grandpa and Trixie

 Tyler and Luke

 Bishop Jason

 Neldon and SJ

 Caden

 Neldon and Abby

 Amy and Jason

 Kaleb and Hayden

Uncle Ty!

 Sam,Jessica, and Wil

FUN AT PAYSON POOL

 

 Caden                                     Caden and Ethan

                                          Leia and Amy                                Anna and Abby

                                    Bethany                                        Leia, Katie, Wil & Bethany

                               Baby Wil                                                                          Abby

WATER FIGHT AT THE HOMESTEAD

 Luke and SJ.  It started as just fun in the pool.

 Next it was watering the flowers.

                                                                Ethan and full scale war!

 Ethan loaded for bear!

 Gabe and Wil

 Baby Wil

*****************************************************

 One day we went to the megaplex theater to see"FINDING DORY". 

 We enjoyed a daughter day at Payson Temple.

 Bethany, Laura, Me, Janna and Sam.

 Uncle Kieth  took the Mitchells on 

an old fashioned buggy ride

FUN AT YUBA IN GRANDPA'S NEW BOAT

 First load of tubers prepare for launch.

 Jumping of the pier. 

 Gabe and Amy

HIKING IN BEAR CANYON

 Anna and SJ

 Anna, SJ, Jessica and Amy

ART LESSONS FROM AUNT BETH

 Jessica

"GOOD BYE FOR NOW" PICTURES

 The Old farm in West Mt. as it was in June 2016

 A sweet "Hi" from Josh in Mississippi.

HOMESTEAD NEWS: June 2016 edition

We played so much this month that we are exhausted and we loved every minute of it. Probably the first important event of the month was Dallin’s baptism. Neldon was voice to a great blessing and the luncheon afterwards was tasty.  I  had a retirement seminar this month. That was the day Dad went to the Father’s and Son’s outing with Tyler and Luke.  Dad was touched by the invitation and really enjoyed it.  I learned a lot at my seminar and feel a whole lot more comfortable with Dad’s retirement and mine in a couple of years. Dad did all the right things and that will make a difference for us for the rest of our lives.  We hauled hay for one FHE.  The uncles gave dad the hay on the end pieces of one of the pivots if he would get it baled and hauled.  He sold some to Shawn Shepherd so we can get some grass hay later one. Dad and I also helped Bethany with the kids quite a bit early on as she took the required CDL classes and training.  She is super close to being a fully licensed bus driver.

Next was our trip to St. George.  We enjoyed that so much. We loved both Tarzan and Peter Pan at the Tuachan.  Dad particularly enjoyed the back stage tour. We had a great session at the St. George Temple, too.   On the way home we spent a few minutes at the Mountain Meadow Massacre site.  It was sobering, but I sensed a Spirit of peace resides there.  We also got our first look at the new Cedar City Temple.

We took advantage of free fishing day by taking Bethany and SJ and the Wilkins to Mammoth Lake.  It was a lovely spring day, until a big storm rolled it.  Getting the boat out was pretty nip and tuck. Dad and Ty gave the fish they caught to the nice guy and his son who helped get the boat back on the trailer.  It was a good day. Stake conference was that evening and we have never been to a conference that was more designed for our current need.  It was humbling and empowering.  We all felt so grateful because it was so clear that Heaven is aware of us.  We hosted a little birthday party for Bethany the next day and that turned out especially well even though it was a Sunday.  It couldn’t have been a better day.

There is no way to really say how thrilled we were that Ben would come for a graduation visit.  He and grandpa did so many fun things.  They did baptisms at the Provo City Center Temple and we had a buffet lunch at the India Palace.  They went on a long and very beautiful four-wheeler ride over the skyline of the mountain to the east.  They went fishing and we took Ben tubing behind the boat long enough to get him very wet! J  We did some hiking and just hanging out as well. That visit assured us of what a good man Ben has become. We are confident there are great things to come for him and our family because of him.

Of course there are few things in our life that will compare with our trip to Nauvoo.  It was life altering for me in some ways.  I think our visit to Carthage jail had the greatest impact, but the whole experience has caused some reflection in me that resulted in deeper gratitude for those early saints and a deeper testimony of the mission of the Prophet Joseph. I have wondered how all the injustice to the saints could ever be made up to them.  I believe with all my heart that the Atonement has the power to right all wrongs, but I couldn’t help but wonder if any of that happened in mortality.  Then we went to the 70’s building.  I thumbed through pages and pages in the descendant roster of those who served from Nauvoo.  Like us, each had returned to that cradle of sacrifice and faith to connect with the foundation of their own faith.  Dad and I each had family members who lived in Nauvoo. I sensed that part of the compensating blessings for those people is clear evidence that the foundation and heritage of faith forged there has now sustained 5, 6 and even 7 generations of posterity who have followed.  Looking upon that result from an eternal perspective, I am guessing that most consider the price they paid a bargain. J  It caused me to wonder what legacy of faith we will leave behind and how many more generations it will help to sustain.  I loved Adam-ondi-ahman!  Our time in Plattsburg was wonderful.  Laura had made arrangements for two houses that were each like mini-museums from the early 1900’s.  The only disappointment was Jamesport, MO.  It was supposed to be an Amish community. I was expecting a pristine valley, where beautiful farms housed saintly families who live simply and devoutly.  I can tell you it was more like Eureka, Utah than what I had imagined.  The Amish way of life in that area seems to be crumbling from the inside and that was sad for me.  The temple sites dedicated, but vacant in Independence and Far West made me tingle inside as I contemplated the future of that lovely area.  I came home full of memories, thoughts and feelings. Thanks Laura for being our travel planning agent and thanks to all who were able to make arrangements to join us!  We love you!

Mitchells flew home with us, minus Ben, and that made a fun week to follow. We didn’t travel as many miles that week, but we seemed to stay just as busy.  The party grew and intensified when the Smith’s arrived. We had our annual Marvin Barbeque for FHE.  Katie made arrangements for us to see “Finding Dory” all together and then invited us all for dinner.  We went boating, tubing and fishing.  We even found time for a session at the Payson Temple for the adults and teens followed by a few hours in the Payson Pool.  One of the highlights was an art lesson taught by Aunt Bethany and the coolest patriotic nails ever--- compliments of Aunt Katie. Family is what it is all about.  Thank Heaven Families are forever!

Sister Kenison: See andreaapril.blogspot.com