Congratulations to Bo & McKenzie! We are happy to welcome the newest member of our family – their little girl born Sunday, April 26, 2015

Dearest Family! 

    Congratulations to Bo & McKenzie!  We are happy to welcome the newest member of our family – their little girl born Sunday, April 26, 2015  Athena Loraine! Go to Bo’s or Grandpa Ken’s facebook page to see photos.  Also Happy Anniversary to Bill & Kathy – 22 years – Right!?!

   What an amazing day – and – week!  This work is wonderful!  We have had 7 wonderful days.    Monday, busy at the public library with several patrons!  The Sister Missionaries came by & visited with one lady we were working with, they had met her at her home & talked with her about FH, them she had come to the Library to get help. She’s been in the FHC several times a week since then. We enjoyed FHE with the Grant’s minus, Ken & Darece,   We watched the movie – The Mormons & enjoyed it so very much!   Nice to be there with them,   Tuesday – regular four appointments in homes & at the Living Center!   We hear some of the most wonderful stories there!  A very funny one from a gentleman who raised pigs some time ago!  Brother Croft could really relate to this one.  We’ll share it some day!  How perfect it is that he can tell it himself for his posterity! 

    Our evening in the FHC was great with 4 patrons, 2 who were non members!  Three different people scanned photos & stories, then abt 8:30 I was helping one lad-y, we had decided last week that she had an ancestor whose husband had died in the Civil War,  but we had no idea what his name was.   In 1870, Harriett had 2 children, Ida age 5 & Joseph age 4 & was a widow - had to be the Civil War – So we started looking for Civil War Pension Records, none under her name.!!!! then the thought came, use the name of one of her children to search.  We searched for Ida & guess what? That wonderful prompting lead us to Henrietta, Daughter Ida, & son Joseph receiving a pension from their father whose name was also Joseph. The Mother received $8/month plus $2/month for each of the children until they were 16. So very grateful for these promptings!

    Another sister whom I help once a week, saw the new landscape view – it really inspired her to want to do pictures!  She has been really focused on getting names submitted from records she has been gathering for years.  I think she finally saw how wonderful & special it is to add pictures, stories & audio!   We are working on it & our goal is to have her tell some stories & read some of the stories she has written! It is coming!

    Cowley was busy with indexing this week!   The Stake has indexed over 451,000 names in the last four months!   Thursday afternoon, Bro Croft, worked with a young man, age 8, who is home schooled & his Mom  has been doing the Family Histories Mysteries in the Friend  as part of his school!   Bro C helped him set up his LDS Account & then he got out is tablet!   The young man was so excited & told several precious stories.  His favorite one – His great Grandmother woke up to something moving in her straw bed – a snake!

   

    We are so blessed to have a temple near – Friday was our day to enjoy that!  We were also able to visit Michelle after her surgery on Thursday!  She came home on Saturday afternoon & is improving every day!  Saturday was almost an at home day, went to District Music Festival to hear Whitney sing in a group, then I went to a Quilt club activity,  it was a bit rainy, Bro Croft worked outside when he could & I completed the Temple part on Kenny & Rosie’s Quilt, hope to have it finished later this week!

    The beauties of spring are all around us. We saw a hen wild turkey cross the road by our house and Dad’s quail are laying eggs. There are also several cottontail bunnies around this year! We saw a beautiful Spotted Towhee & Cassien’s Finch. All are decked out in their most dress for their courtships, colors are vibriant!  There are also a few more flowers blooming.

    And today, Sunday, it was about as perfect & enjoyable as it could be! Most of the classes were workshops & the brothers & sisters accomplished things & were learning! Consultants were helping & it was great! The FH Center was also busy tonight! 

    Well, we love you all! 

   CTR    Bro & Sis Croft  

It has been a great day!

Dearest Family,    

    It has been a great day!   We love General conference & Stake conference – but it is so nice to get back in our regular routine! We had several Lessons, and helped in workshops today!  Today in one class a brother was downloading the Memories App onto his IPad.  He asked if he could add a picture to which I replyed, Yes, do you have any pictures on your IPad? No – he said & the Sister sitting beside him suggested – “Take a selfy!”  He hesitated & she helped and we added his first picture!  We then went on to discuss the whole story which could be written & would be unique to his family in the coming years!

    Bro Croft had another special experience with an elderly sister, 80ish whom we visited this week.  During the visit we taught her how to add audio.  She read a history about her deceased husband using her smart phone (which she had bought for herself because she wanted one & did know how to use it) She came into a class this morning to have several questions answered & he had her tell the class what she was doing. She talked about how great it was & what she had done & won’t it be special in the coming years to have her voice telling her husband’s story!  In a 4 o’clock class there were two visitors, one being her youngest brother, 65’ish.  She had told him all abo  ut it!  Now he was asking more questions & getting ideas about what they could do at their Family Reunion this summer!

    It was also our Youth Family history consultant Meeting tonight! Brother Croft talked to them -about the Family Search Memories App & Tree App.   They also shared thoughts about the Indexing challenge.  With all the busy-ness of school & conferences It has bogged down a little!   Then where do we go after we reach May 10th when the Youth – Adult Challenge ends!?   We had an enjoyable evening with them & pray they will catch the vision especially of the Memories App! Adding Audio Stories about our own experiences & our Memories of our parents, grandparents etc is a very special opportunity.  Bro Croft had several other special experiences with other people about recording stories.  We can see it in their eyes & feel the spirit as they realize that this is a way they can do FH.  The spirit testifies that sharing their own stories is a part of Family History!

    Thank you, Grants for your help in the yard on Monday evening, it was great to get a couple of messy jobs done!  They go fast with many hands & more muscle that we have!  Then on Wednesday Evening Darece brought a friend of hers to the house to show a book which she had. It had bee published in the early 70’s & was very interesting.  Then on Friday, Ryan called & wanted to come visit! Rhonda & Quinn were gone to a NWC music festival in Colorado & his folks were also out of town!  We loved having him. He & I went to the Prom Grand March & then on Saturday we all went to the Lovell Track Meet to watch Whitney Pole Vault!  In the afternoon, he helped Bro Croft replace an outdoor faucet.  Thanks so much for the help, Ryan!  we so enjoyed the your company!

    A Wyoming weather week too 80 and sunny on Tuesday and a major blizzard with high of 32 on Wednesday! ! ! The same storm was very nasty in the Laramie area.

    Some of our visits at the Care Center were canceled because of a flu bug there, but we were able to go on Thurs & a brother there recorded several  very humorous experiences which he had had!

    Wednesday was our morning in the FHC which is always great!  We are helping Crosby’s.  We enjoy this day!  Felt like a new “women” – got a hair cut on Wed.& it sure feels wonderful!     

    As you can see, our week has been filled with all kinds of activities – a little of everything & we also had home teachers & visiting teachers come! 

   CTR, love you all, 

  Bro & Sis Croft

Another great week! a little slower paced!

Dearest Family, 

   Happy birthday to Rosie on  Tuesday & to Chalin on Wednesday– He’s 18!!!!!!

    Another great week!  a little slower paced! We had a special time at the public library, both of us were able to work with non member walk-ins.  They are getting familiar with the program & their excitement continues!  It is very special to witness their enjoyment & drive to do this,   “Spirit of Elijah” the Holy Ghost bearing witness to the sacred nature of the family. Even when families are dysfunctional – there is still that amazing desire to learn.......

   

    Bro Croft has been busy outside doing spring work, the weather has been nice. It won’t be long before there is water in the canal for irrigation.  It will be different this year – much quieter – since the canal just south of the house has been buried.  We will miss the running water sound that has been such a soothing sound for so many years!  We awoke on Monday to find our vehicles covered with a grey mud after a very light shower at 4 am, looked as if you had sprayed them with a water bentonite mix. Dad called the National Weather Service to see what was in the air that day . . . . no word back yet . . .  but sure a mess  

    We have new directors of the Family History Center, Pat & Sylvia Crosby have been called!  Denny & Linda NeVille have done a great work the past 7 years.   We met together this week & also helped the Crosby’s one morning at their home! Change is always good!  One morning we were getting ready in the bedroom and looked out to see a doe Mule deer watching us thru the window! She wandered around the house then into the orchard to eat. We went to HSBend to shore fish on Friday morning getting 3 Big Carp . . . such a nice sunny windless time for 3 hrs! Made catfish bait from one of the carp and froze it. Oh, Dad shot a Eurasian Collared dove and made jerky from the breast meat  . . . GOOD!

    One evening we were able to go with the Elders to visit a non-lds couple! They are very excited about FH, the wife especially.  Bro Croft also has the husband excited about recording histories & stories on his handheld device!  We are going back next week!  Was a very special evening!  Another day, while I was working with a sister, again I was reminded of the power of the Holy Ghost & that still small voice.  She had many duplicates in a family which she had entered & had commented that she wondered if she was doing something to create the problem? I was beginning to think that also, but didn’t know what it was. She left the room to answer the phone & I continued to delete duplicates. As I did this, I saw in my mind very clearly, exactly what she was doing – so very special.  after finishing that family I shared what I had seen in my mind, she was sure that was the problem.  We are so very thankful for this guidance each day!

    It has been Stake conference this weekend.  So many references were made about Family History. It has such great power to retain converts, activate & spiritually uplift individuals. We are beginning to see this in our stake! 

  

    It was a nice evening in the FH Center, several young people came in to index.  There were 8-10 others there during the course of the evening! All were consultants but were learning about FH, & indexing!

    We are all ready to get back in the routine of regular meetings, with two week of conferences it sure changes our pace.    We send our love to all of you, CTR & have a great week! 

  Love Bro & Sis Croft

It has been a wonderful day & week!

Dearest Family, 

     A very Happy Birthday to Ira on Wednesday, it is his 9th one – and to Kirena on Thursday -  Who knows how many?

    It has been a wonderful day & week! We enjoyed General conference so very much.  It was great to have Allen, Amber & family here this A.M. We had a great time at Ken & Darece’s home for lunch together.  Rob, Michelle, Josh & Krysta, Ken, Darece, Kaitlyn & Talon, Allen, Amber, Melvin, Ira, Leanne, & Camille, Greg Martin, Joshua ?, & Dad & I!   Great to see everyone! & be together.  Enjoyed the afternoon session at our house & went to the FHC tonight! Had some patrons in, & consultants helped each other!  There is always plenty to learn!

    Saturday was a nice day also, Dad helped a neighbor with a new well site, enjoyed the a.m. session of G.Conf then went to Powell for the wedding & reception of Evee & Landon Greer!  Enjoyed the day so very much!  Gaye’s family were all able to be there.  Nice to see Rocky, Tiffany & Brock, Brady, Paige, Harper & Hendrick, Teecee & friend, & of course meet Landon & his family!  Marlene also came, it was nice to see her! Visited & enjoyed the afternoon.  Also helped several people who asked us about FH to download the apps.  We watched General Priesthood meeting here at home.  Dad had invited someone to come over but they must have been busy with farm work

    This week we had a some wonderful experiences with new patrons,  at the public library, the FHC & also in Cowley!  A Lady came to the Public Library on Monday, then came again with another consultant on Tues evening – what excitement!  On Tues evening, one of the people who had come with the Headstart group came in again!   I had received a response from a photo request I had sent to Findagrave for her.   Thursday a.m. was a busy day in Cowley with several people & a new lady who was very excited!   Bro Croft & I helped her in the afternoon to scan & do more in the FHCenter!

    When we had a spare moment we kept working on  our spring outside work and it’s coming along. The nasty wind last Saturday rearranged a lot of limbs and leaves where we had already cleaned up, but that’s how Nature does. Our spring flowers were looking good until Fri morning when the temp was 17’ then 27’ the next morning, a little frosty! They are looking some better now. The flower bed is full of wonderful flowers!

    Amongst all of this were also appts daily, visits etc   & a Family History consultant meeting!  Bro Croft gave a wonderful lesson on using the FS apps especially to add audio to Family Search!   It was a hands on meeting with most of the consultants using the apps on their phones or handheld devices. Miracles happen – we had no internet connections in the Center when the meeting started – but thru prayer – service returned.

 

Love to all of you,    Bro & Sister Croft.