A Relief Society night with Amy Sutorius Harmon

Amy Harmon is a USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books are now being published in several countries, truly
 a dream come true for a little country girl from Levan, Utah.  Amy Harmon has written five novels - the USA Today Bestsellers,
Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well  as Slow Dance in the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue. Her  sixth novel, INFINITY + ONE, will be released in June, 2014.
NOTE: (Running Barefoot is the book about Levan.)



Amy came and spoke at our Relief Society Weekday
Activity on May 22, 2014. She spoke about discovering
and developing talents and pursuing dreams the Lord's way.

Amy and Hiedee were friends in High School. 

Hiedee made arrangements for Amy to come.

She and her family now live in Mapleton, Utah.

Lisa and Cindy Hunt sharing some memories with Amy.

Jackie Messersmith tells Amy how  much she enjoyed her book:  "A Different Kind of Blue."

Irene Mangelson was Amy's adopted Grandma.  It was a sweet reunion.

Amy and Irene

A "welcome home" hug from Cheryl Stephenson.

Memories of Grandma Fern

Fern Winter Taylor Wankier, age 87, passed away May 14, 2014 

in Levan, Utah.She was born September 8, 1926 in Levan to Christine Winter and

Schuyler Patterson Taylor. She married Marion Wankier July 1, 1946 in the Manti 

Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Fern was a lifelong resident 

of Levan. Her door was always open to friends and everyone was a friend.
She was fun, funny, and clever and always had a sparkle in her eye and a hug in
 her arms. She loved music, her family, her community, her Savior and Heavenly Father.
She loved life. A friendly smile was her trademark. She was an incredible cook
with her specialties being warm rolls and pies. Her hobbies included
gardening, quilting, croqueting, reading, and following her grandkids
in whatever activities they were involved with at the moment. She is
survived by her husband, Marion Wankier of Levan, UT; children,
Kathleen (Wes) Case of Ashton, ID; Joe (Leighann) Wankier and
Ann (Richard) Stowell all of Levan, UT; 12 grandchildren and 27 great
grandchildren. Preceded in death by her parents  and 4 brothers.

These are a collection of virtues or activities that described Grandma Fern.

No wonder Marion fell in love with her!

Grandma Fern could play almost any instrument she picked up 

and had the best collection of music in the county.

Grandma Fern had a green thumb.

Grandma Fern did beautiful hand work.

Grandma Fern was an amazing cook.  Darrel loved her fruit cake at Christmas time.

Grandma Fern's life was her family.

Kathleen, Joe and Ann.

All of Grandma Fern's grandchildren.

Marion and Fern were married in the Manti Temple 

and they worked at the Manti Temple for 14 years.

Your typical Levan funeral luncheon. No assignments! Like manna it simply appears!

The dessert table is always the kids favorite.

Can you pick our Lee, Leslie, Mike and Trent?

Beth Hone checks on Marion following the luncheon. The Hones bought 

the home where Grandma Fern grew up.  Marion is their home teacher 

and he often shares stories about courting Fern in that little house.

Mother's Day Weekend 2014

            I had a lovely Mother's Day Weekend.  It actually started on Friday,
when Dad and Lionel took Linda and I out to lunch at Golden Corral in Orem.

Just wanted to show off the cute pot I found at the DI that day for a plant 

I got for Joyce Johnson who recently broke her femur and had surgery. 

(It's actually a cookie jar that didn't have a lid.)

On Saturday, Dad and I ran errands and then met Andrea in Provo.

We took some pictures of the progress on the Tabernacle Temple.

This is an artists rendition of what it will look like.

 The following are an amateur photographer's record of what it looked like on 5/10/14.

 The south side is where the underground parking will be.

Moroni oversees the project.  Notice his helpers on the scaffolding below.

The next five photos show progress on the south side of the project.

 Andrea took this favorite shot from the south, from the

 bumper of a pick-up parked at the Post Office.

 THREE SIDES NOW HAVE VERY COMPLEX SCAFFOLDING.

This is the north side of the temple.

 

 It appears that there will be some amazing fountains on the north side.

The following three photos show details of the east side of 

the temple, the one facing University Avenue.

 Main East Entrance.

 Notice the old brick that has been exposed.

That afternoon took Grandma Kenison to Joe Keil's 70th birthday party.

Joe is a Kenison cousin through Captain David's son Fredrick.  

(We come through Captain David's  son, Thomas.)

Grandma Anna and Dad waiting fro the event to happen.

 Grandma Anna, Dad, Joe's oldest brother who is deaf, and Joe.  

Samoans are so attentive and gracious.  We felt like the party was for us.

 Some of the beautiful flowers flown from Samoa for the occasion.  

That is one of Joe's beautiful daughters peaking around the post.

 This is Logan Harris and his wife.  Logan's family lived across the street from 

Grandpa and Grandma Marvin in Payson for a time. Grandpa Marvin interviewed 

Logan prior to his mission. Logan's father was a missionary in Samoa and later 

and mission President there.  Logan married a Samoan girl and speaks fluent Samoan.

 The chef is one of Joe's son-in-laws.  He cooked teriyaki chicken for quite a while.

Celine, Katrina, (a daughter who is married to a Youd that I
discovered is a cousin!),  the son of a previous mission President,
Cousin David Kenison, Joe, Joe's younger brother.

Aunt MaryLynn, who is a full-time (home)
missionary came.  She talked family history to any who had
 a desire.  This is Joe's younger brother. 

Typical of Samoan feasts, they served FIVE kinds of meat.

I knew it was a true Samoan party when the
blessing on the food was offered in Samoan. :) 

The weather got pretty chilly, so we moved inside for dessert.  This 

is their U.S. house where they stay while in the U.S.  Joe and Celine and Nathan 

live in Samoa.  Joe has been a member of the Samoan Parliament for 23+ years. 

 Nathan and Joe!  Their relationship is so sweet.  Nathan has 

pretty much been an appendage to his dad since his birth.

 This is the owner of a major Tourist attraction in Samoa. He and 

his daughter performed an original, fast paced cheer and tribute to Joe.

 We fit in the house like sardines. (Grandma Anna, Dad, Nathan and Joe.

 These are Joe and Celine's children. ( Our Samoan Cousins!)  Each of Joe's
children expressed their feelings for him and shared some memories.  

Nathan is the only son.  He is adored by every family member.  

In fact, this house is  Nathan's and they all claim it is the truth.

Now for some Mother's Day surprises!

 This is my edible arrangement from the Seelys in WV.

 Yes!  It was yummy!

 With much help from Scott, Janna, Sarah Hunt, Dad, and Andrea, I was able to 

give each sister attending church on Mother's Day a necklace featuring the Nauvoo 

Temple windows' inverted star motif. We ended up making 79 necklaces.  This motif

 has become the symbol of our theme in R.S. this year. It represents our need to shine

 in a darkening world by receiving heaven's light, specifically the light of "The Son" by 

staying close to Him, and then reflecting that light to others, even in dark places.

This is---- my "dream come true" ----from the Mitchells, Smiths, Mellors,  

Shirleys, California Kenisons, Andersons, Wilkins, Potters and the 

mastermind----Andrea!  THANK YOU!  Can't wait until August 9th!