Following a harrowing night in the Las Vegas airport,
Bethany and Sarah-Jane finally arrived in Utah.
Tory picked them up and they came straight to Levan.
After a good night's sleep, Bethany's first order of business
was to give the only two horses that remained after their
stay in Atlanta, a much needed make-over.
Sarah-Jane was a natural and participated in the
whole make-over process. They began with Cherokee.
Cherokee, SJ and Bethany SJ scrubbing Cherokee
Teaching SJ to clip the mane under the halter.
Teaching SJ the art of trimming a tail.
Do I make this post look good or what?
Cherokee looked great after the make-over.
This is the gang that attended the Freedom Festival Fireside this year.
It featured the 23rd Army Band, Gentri, and Senator Orrin Hatch.
Shadow Man received the next make-over.
His tail literally dragged on the ground when Bethany started.
You can tell he was pretty proud of it when she finished. Like the bangs!
Shadow Man and Bethany
After some TLC for the horses and some re-finishing of furniture, the Andersons
were ready to move into their new house at 95 N 800 E. in Spanish Fork Utah.
Dad untying the load from our house.
This is what the new house looked like the day they moved in. (July 1, 2015)
Later that evening, a crew met at the storage shed on
Geneva Road in Orem and loaded up the moving van.
Tory's family showed up in goodly number. It was a warm day, but we got it done!
The gentleman by Clorinda is her fiancee'. :o) He is Seth Price from
Draper. The box spring was the last item to go into a very full truck!
Draper. The box spring was the last item to go into a very full truck!
The moving crew: Clorinda, Alex, Dad, Cory, Tory and Seth Price.
The crew grew at the house! After some pizza, we unloaded the van. Bethany
had the boxes labeled so well that each one was directed to the room it belonged in.
This is the group when it was all said and done. (Don't forget the photographer!)
LEVAN
HOMESTEAD NEWS (June 2015 Edition)
Dad: I was glad
to be a small part of the Payson Temple Dedication. I got to help Uncle Kent carry food into the
temple the day before the dedication and then gather up supplies and carry
stuff out at the conclusion. I got to
tend Luke, Leia, and Gabriel at Grandma Anna’s while Mom worked inside the
temple and Tyler and Katie attended the final dedicatory session.
While Mom was in Florida, I had
to go in and get new crown put on one of my teeth. I went to all the sessions
of Stake Conference and took good notes for mom. It was our first with our new
Stake Presidency, but they weren’t all there.
One was on a cruise when they were called and one was on a cruise during
this first Stake Conference. We heard from three great missionaries who just
returned. One was Andrea’s childhood flame, Cole Wright. Then I went to the
R.S. dinner and fireside on strengthening marriages. I was the only single guy at that meeting,
but I enjoyed it. It was mostly about
communicating in marriage and the importance of listening with your heart and
your ears. It was really good.
Father’s Day was good. We had the annual Marvin Barbeque. Glen’s family came down early and went on the
ride from Deep Canyon to Chicken Creek.
The flowers were beautiful, but it was a lot drier and dustier than when
Mom and I went. The meal was great, the
trap shoot was good, and it was fun to visit with everyone. Thanks to all those
who went in on my Father’s Day Gift. I
can’t wait to try out my new pressure washer.
It looks like a good one.
Mom and I went to two movies in
June! The first was the Cokeville Miracle and the second was “Inside Out”. I remember when the Cokeville Miracle
happened and this movie is well done. It
was a good reminder that miracles still happen.
Inside Out was interesting and cleverly done. I’ve never seen a movie that took place
inside a person’s mind before and there was some good food for thought.
Near the end of the month, I
tore everything out of our bathroom to get ready for new cabinets. More on that
next month.
Mom: Looking over the month of June I have to say
there has never been a month with more “highlights”!
HIGHLIGHT #1: My first full week of
summer vacation was in June. Best of all Katie and the kids came down for a
visit. Grandpa tended so Katie could go
to our book club. Our selection this
month was “Gifted Hands”. We discussed
the book and then watched the movie. It
is the life story of Ben Carson, who by the way is running for President of the
US next year. You might want to get to
know him. J
HIGHLIGHT #2: The Payson Temple
Dedication experience was a highlight of a lifetime. It was an experience that took FIVE typed
pages to express and included the preparation, the Cultural event, the
dedicatory session inside Grandpa Marvin’s church with Dad, and my time inside
the temple serving the Lord’s servants. When I think of all who were worthy of
that opportunity I find myself feeling very humble and grateful.
HIGHTLIGHT #3: My trip to Florida,
which included a visit to Mississippi, was another wonderful event. I was in Florida for Bethany’s birthday and
Abby’s birthday. Best of all I was there for Abby’s baptism. I was even honored to speak with Aunt Bethany
for her special program. As usual, the
Smiths had non-members there to experience the Spirit of such occasions. These are non-members that they love and I
know hearts were touched. The
mini-strawberry and coconut cream pies Janna made were the perfect conclusion
to that day. So after, we were on the
road to Mississippi. (We---meaning
Janna, Bethany, Abby, Sarah-Jane, Ammon and I.)
It is the most gorgeous stretch of freeway I have ever seen. It consisted of gentle rolling hills, lush
green pastures, and semi-tropical forests and it lasted for 100’s of
miles. We listened to “Stealing the
Preacher” as we drove and that was delightful.
The trip seemed a little long until we arrived at the Shirleys. Seeing them and the Potters and meeting
little Joshua Cordell made every mile worth it.
It seemed like we just got turned around and the Potters had to head
back to Texas. The next day we headed
back to Florida and the next morning I fly out for home. It will always been a miracle to me that I
can have breakfast in Mississippi with Karrie one morning, dinner with Janna
that same night, and lunch with Dad the next day. We live in an amazing time!
HIGHLIGHT #4: I was home just long enough to be ready for
the Andersons to arrive. Of course we
had seen Tory because he had been in Utah for three weeks, but when Bethany and
Sarah-Jane finally arrived in Utah after their harrowing night in Las Vegas
airport, they came to our house to stay for a few days. Just prior to their arrival, our ward family
had helped Fauntella Ogle pack and move.
Upon hearing that Tory and Bethany were coming, she gave them several
items for their new home in Spanish Fork.
Bethany and I cleaned, stained and re-finished four of the pieces during
the few days they were here. It is hard
to describe what it did to my heart for them to come home. Having three children right here in Utah
County feels awfully good.
HIGHLIGHT #5: The last, but certainly not the biggest, we
the Freedom Festival Fireside featuring the 23rd Army Band, Gentri,
and Senator Orrin Hatch. I was excited to learn that the trio called Gentri,
met during the SLC Hale Theater’s production of Les Miserable. Each had a leading role and we got to see
that with Andrea and her roommate. I love the Spirit of Patriotism. To me it is not only akin to, but a part of
the Spirit of God. I felt a swell of emotion as we stood for the Navy and Air
Force Songs, in honor of Jake and Andy.
It was wonderful to have the Wilkins and Andersons with us this year.
The dinner at Wilkins prior to the event was tasty. I was saddened that so few attended this
year. Such gatherings do not seem as
loved by the rising generation.
Sister Andrea Kenison:
See andreaapril.blogspot.com
JUMP! 
