The Mitchells were here for the traditonal Freedom Festival Fireside.
Elder D. Todd Christopherson was the speaker.
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
WATER FIGHT AT THE HOMESTEAD
Luke and SJ. It started as just fun in the pool.
Next it was watering the flowers.
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
