Oh my, the time has flown by, a busy week – a trip to Jackson

Dearest Family,   

    First it is time for a few belated wish -  Happy 2nd Anniversary to Bo & McKinzea!  On  March 1, we wish a Happy Birthday to Connor Hellberg!  I’ll bet Lindsay is helping him celebrate!

    Oh my, the time has flown by,   a busy week – a trip to Jackson – and another busy week!  I think by now I am finally in the grove again! Last Sunday I arrived home before Bob,  but it just didn’t seem like Sunday Evening.  Monday morning I realized that I hadn’t written our weekly letter & then we were busy with every thing so it just never got done.   Now I will try to recap all the activities of two weeks!

    We have had training with our supervisor in SLC – over Web-Ex with many others who also have this calling.  We appreciate this help & there are many new things coming to help everyone do this work. It was also great to follow up with a High Councilman that had planned a recent meeting where we trained people.  These help so much because we are able to make decisions as to where to go now.

    Thanks to Ken’s Scouts, they came over one evening last week & hauled pine tree branches for us.  We so appreciate all their hard work. 

    On Friday, Allen, Melvin & I went to Jackson.  It was a beautiful day to travel! I always love that first view of the Tetons & enjoy my time there, seeing them each day!  That evening we spent with Cheryl & Dale, hearing stories & visiting.  Vicki & Bryan were also there with us. I also took pictures of lots of pictures that were used for a display.  I’ll be adding them to Family Search this week so you can see them there.  I also did some recording of stories & hope to get them added this week. The funeral was very special, a very large crowd.  It was so special to visit with all the family.  Charlie’s family were all there except Cheryl’s children & grandchildren who all live in New York.  It was good to see Bruce, only Eugene & his wife, Debbie were there from his family, Lori, Roxanne, & Sheila were out of town, but we did get to visit with Armondo, & Lori’s son, Coey & wife, & Sheila’s daughters: Courtney, Kirsten, & their families!  That was great!  Saturday evening we enjoying being with Bryan & Vicki – roaming around the square!  Allen & Melvin did take a drive into the Elk Refuge & see some Bighorn Sheep!  We came home on Sunday & I enjoyed dinner at Allen’s before finishing the trip home.

    Dad was busy here at home over the weekend. He did more outside yard work and prep for Sunday. On Sunday he was in Powell wards again training Bishops, HP lders and youth consultants. The FH effort in Powell is really going strong and with all the excitement it will keep going!  He has great success teaching leaders in the foyers & the foyer class!  Miracles happen every weekwith the Saints.

    Dad has been working at trapping some California Quail!    On Monday morning he was successful!!! He was able to catch 2 males and 3 females and will try to get some more males in the coming days. They a such awesome looking quail and aren't that wild even. 

    On Monday evening we were back to Powell training a new HP lder in FS and he is so excited! We spent 3 hrs with him and it went by like 30 minutes! After a few days for him to practice we will help him some more.

    Tuesday I went to Billings with Darece.  It was her work day in the laundry!  We had wonderful day in the temple, it is amazing how enjoyable folding laundry is when you are there.   Had a great visit & did a little shopping.  We have enjoyed so much our mornings in Cowley helping people, each week when we go the the Living Center we hear more stories.   This week I shared with 98 year old Brownie Brown  & his wife all the wonderful things you can do on Family Search, on the tablet, I also did the same thing with a 88 yr old sister in Burlington.  When they see the pictures & their own names on census, etc.  they are so amazed.  Both saw pictures they had forgotten about or hadn’t ever seen of their families.

    We were in Meeteetse this a.m. This is just a small ward, their bishop is actually from Cody. During SS we were able to meet with the counselors in the bishopric & ward mission leader.  One of the counselors also serves as the High Priest Group Leader.  They so want to have their members involved in this great work, but just don’t know where to start!  It is a beginning & they are learning. We then went on to Burlington & visited the Otto Ward for SS.  Also met with a Family History Consultant from Burlington 2nd who has not used any kind of device, but is computer literate.  By the time Bro Croft finished showing him,  he was very excited.  He could see some real benefits to the new programs for FS.

   

    Just a quick cycle of our Sunday. On the road at 7:30am for Meeteetse, did wifi testing on their building and met with them for 2 hrs, lunch then, on the road to Burlington enjoying alot of pretty country. In Burlington from 1:30 to 4:30pm helping folks there then off for home. Enjoyed our supper then to our monthly youth FH consultants meeting  7-8pm  – what a great group of young people – they worked together & we all learned! Answered some youth consultant questions then on home.  WOW -WOW what an awesome spiritual adventure we had today!!! We love it.......

 

    Love to all!!!!!! Mom &Dad

Another wonderful week!

Dearest Family,

 

    Happy 37th Anniversary to Frank & Gaye on Monday!  Happy Birthday, Ken, on Tuesday!  Enjoy your special days!

    We have been reporting on Uncle Charlie each week!  He was able to return home to Jackson on the 10th from Salt Lake, but passed away in Jackson on February 13, 2016.  We will all miss him, but are grateful that he didn’t have to suffer any longer.  No funeral details yet.      

       Another wonderful week!  We have had some special times this week & some learning experiences!  Enjoyed going to one of Talon’s BB games!  Enjoyed visiting  with Ryan & Quinn Saturday evening! We love seeing each one of you – whenever!  And also visiting on the phone!  Dad and I ice fished at Deaver Reservoir for 2 hrs on Fri morning having some  bites, lost some good fish and caught two big rainbow trout to smoke. It was a warm sunny time on the ice! With the warmer days and nights the ice fishing won't last much longer.

    Our morning in Cowley was especially busy this week with more to help and our other Missionary couple was out of town!  Tuesdayevening in the FHC was also busy with three couples!  The Zeller’s are lots of help for us – they have been called as Family History Missionaries.  We appreciate them.    We had an enjoyable evening in Cowley on Wednesday with a group of Laurels & Beehives, finding temple names!  I spent the evening helping a Beehive young lady get her account set up!  Sometimes that can really be a test!  She was so excited when we finally got it completed – it had been a frustration for her for some time. 

    Saturday we were in Billings Stake (Covers from Red Lodge to Harlowton and west half of Billings), doing training with the High Priest Group Leaders & Family History consultants from 9:30 to 11 am. It is a big stake, 15 units, We were missing only 4 units, the close ones sad to say!  Some traveled quite a ways to be there!  We had a special day  & now have many who would like to do more training via SKYPE.  It did have it’s challenges, Plan A. B. C didn’t work........ It was assumed that every building has a flat screen TV with HDMI hookup ..... & there wasn’t .....Another computer & old analog projector was acquired...but the computer hadn’t been used for awhile so spent 15 minutes updating programs..... Some stayed until 12:30 after the 1 1/2 meeting – & we were able to do more one–on-one with them!  We just find that all are so excited to learn!   Each one we teach is excited to find that they can learn to do this work!

    It has been a special week with several  HP group leaders that we have trained in the past getting back to us with success stories, lots of enthusiasm, & a few questions.     Today we spent the day in Powell 7th St chapel again.   We wanted to spend more time with the Ht Mtn YSA ward.    We had several young people who had attended the Friday Forum FH trg last week tell us of finding names & taking them to the temple – two young ladies found some after the ward had gone to the temple Friday evening.  They were so excited to go that on Wednesday several of them went on their own to Billings Temple to do the work!   How special to have them go on their own!

    When we arrived in one ward today, an eleven yr old young man, came hurrying up to Dad, all excited! He had found 5 more names after Dad had taught he and his dad last week after a funeral here in Lovell.  We teach anyone and everyone about the new apps where ever we can! WE love to teach the "Foyer crowd" during Sunday school time! We also helped in their FHC & Dad was able to work with several HP group leaders, a Bishop & other priesthood leaders! We learned this evening that John and Diane Paxton have been called as full time FH missionaries and want to come out tomorrow for a visit plus some training!

    We love you all,  it has been wonderful to talk to many of you the past few day!    CTR  

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

Dearest Family, 

     Happy Valentines Day!!!! To all our wonderful family! May we find ways to love those who are most difficult to love!

    We love Sunday’s!!!!     What a privilege it is  to make and renew our covenants with our Heavenly Father each week!

     Today we were able to attend a Cowley ward – how nice it was to be in our own stake.  We had spent a lot of time in the Cowley wards before our area calling.  Today we taught a fifth Sunday lesson on the 1st Sunday.  We were blessed that they were willing to switch weeks around since our schedule was full last week!  We exposed a big group to Family History using the Descendants with Tasks and the process of FINDING a name, TAKING it to the temple, & TEACHING someone else to do the same. Now we pray that they will pray about it, try it & find some one to help them if they desire!

    Monday, Lovell Library, & a Basketball game for Talon! Tuesday, Indexing with my friend – she has now indexed 5000+, just doing a few each week!  Each one of us can make a difference!  That is 5000 names of our brothers & sisters,  on records to help us find our family & link them together!  We were also able to attend the funeral of Greg Martin with a large group there to hear the Gospel preached and testified of.  Also had an enjoyable evening in the FHC working with several who wanted to learn the apps & just begin exploring Family Search & learn to do some indexing!

    The rest of the week, Thur, Friday and Sat from 8:30am to supper time we focused on Roots Tech 2016 being held in SLC.  Over 25,000 attended plus all of us across the world on the web. We so enjoyed all the different topics which were covered and the testimonies of the blessedness of FH in ones life!  We would suggest you goto lds.org and watch the replay of the Sat afternoon presentations for Family Discovery Day with Elder Dale Renlund and others. You will be uplifted and taught what the Lord wants us to be doing now. With 3 days of TV time our eyes are ready for a break and our hearts are overflowing with excitement for the work! ! !

     Friday at noon we did the Friday Forum in Powell at the Institute!  It is great to be with over 30 of the young people and teach them how to use the FS Tree app process "Descendants with Tasks"! They were headed to the Temple that afternoon as well. Following this meeting we went to the Powell FH Center to work with 3 adults there for a couple of hours. We have known these folk for many years too. At 4pm we met with the Nazer family (they lived in the Whistle Creek area near Penrose for years) at the Powell Crown Hill Cemetery for a grave side service for Jack Nazer. We have known his sister for several years for she is one of the FH consultants in Lovell. She has become like family and we enjoy her friendship. She loves FH and has been a big supporter of FH in the LW Stake for several years! 

    Also a report on  Charlie.  He is in the Huntsman Center in SLC, his family is taking turns being there with him.  They have found more cancer & his kidneys are not functioning well.  No decisions have been made as to whether he is going to do more treatments.

    We send our love to all of you!  You are a blessing in our lives!     CTR Mom & Dad

Our week has been a busy one!

Dearest Family,

    Happy Birthday!   Bryan  on Monday, February 1st!      Kenya is 12  & Daeja is 10 on February 4th!  Hope you each have a very special day!

    Well, another week has flown by so very quickly, filled with joy & some sadness & concern.   Greg Martin passed away on Monday, we’ll miss him but are grateful that he didn’t have to suffer any longer!   Uncle Charlie is in the Huntsman Clinic in SLC. He began cancer treatments for lymphona in the fall, & was doing quite good.  Just after Christmas he got pneumonia & has not been able to rally again.  White blood count has been outrageous! Also has several blood clots. He is in ICU. Karen & Carol are there with him.  Remember him & his family in your prayer! Will keep you posted on this?

    Our week has been a busy one!   Did skype with a High councilman & a Family History Director. They are both feeling the spirit & excited about the work. We helped several brothers in the care center record stories this week – that is always fun!  The public library was really a busy place teaching 5 patrons the new mobile app process and some regular FS too.

    Darece & I had an enjoyable day in Billings, a little shopping, & several hours in the temple, helping in the laundry!  It is a wonderful place to fold clothes & feel the spirit! Dad had a successful fishing trip to Deaver Res caught 6 big trout and kept 3 to smoke and fry.  The smoked ones are yummy! !! We also went again to Pond 5, beautiful sunny 40' morning, but only one fish! It has been the spring thaw this week with days in the 40's plus one in high 50's. Dad was able to do more yard work on these sunny warmer days.

     On Thursday evening we taught 25+ FH Consultants the new Descendants with Tasks process and answered several questions on doing FS.  Most of the LWS consultants are learning how to use mobile devices for FS. Sunday was a large day serving in the Worland and Cody stakes the same day. We spent the main part of the day at the Basin/Greybull building teaching (5th Sunday) on how to doDescendants with Tasks process. Left home at 7:30am and got back home at 4pm. After supper we headed to Powell to meet with Pres Greg Clark and HCman David Fales about how FH is going  in the CWS. We had a great 1 1/2 hrs with them and also taught them the new Hints process. We had given them the old process in Nov but the new one is much nicer and more useful!

Love you all so much, keep up the good work!           CTR Mom and Dad

We hope each of you have had a wonderful week!

Dearest Family,

    How are all of you?  We hope each of you have had a wonderful week! Time flies so fast – we hope & pray that each of you have done something fun this week, that you have enjoyed one of Heavenly Father’s creations, & feel you are more like Him this week than you were last!

    Our week has been a special one, busy with our regular schedule, but often that is the best!

Today we spent our Sunday in Powell visiting two town wards & the Young Single Adult ward! We met with High Priest Group Leaders, Consultants & the FHCenter Director.  As with all the wards they are ready & excited to move forward & are feeling that prompting & drive that it is what the Lord wants them to do!  All day today, we were helping & wishing for the “Descendant with Tasks” to be available on the i0S devices!  Then at 7:30 tonight in a group of youth FH Consultants, one of the Young Men said, “Look it is right here!”   We are doing some more checking & are praying it will continue to work! (the new version is 1.7.1) You can check out yours! It is so exciting & amazing how the Lord’s work is moving forward!

    Had a nice FHE with the Grants,   Kenny & Rosie came out one noontime & he took aerial pictures of our place with his drone!  Wow – it is so amazing all we can do!  We have also done training with several HP group Leaders over Skype! Dad kept setting up the new desktop computer getting all the program on it we need, plus we did some Skype training with a HP Grp leader in Worland to try it out. It works better than the older slow one. On Wednesday evening we had a wonderful visit with our Stake President about our mission and how our new Area call was coming along!

    The Rky Mtn Tree service cut 20' off the top of the big 65' Blue Spruce tree behind the house so it didn't break off in the wind and hit our roof. They did a great job and the tree looks nice, just shorter. We enjoyed going ice fishing for the first time this winter at pond 5. There was 4" of snow on the foot thick ice so it was nice walking out to our spot. At the bite time 10 am we had some bites but then nothing more, could see lots of fish below us on the sonar. Thats why its called fishing. Nice to be out and get some sun even though it was 30' temp. We headed back home at 11am with no fish to clean.

 One of our special experiances

   For several years we had been working with 80+ year old Brother Bob in a local Assisted Living Facility where he & his wife are living.  His first goal was to review his family history & find ordinances. While still working on this, the Memory App came out with the ability to add photos and audio stories.  Now Brother Bob, was a great story teller & he had boxes of photos still in his possession.  For the next several months, a lot of photos were scanned into his tree.and each week he recorded stories.  We then added them to his tree & linked them to his deceased ancestors & to himself.

     Just last week when we arrived, we found him waiting for us in the foyer. His first words were, "I've got some more stories to tell!  Did you bring your device?"  He went on to tell us that one of his sons, who is not active, had been surfing the web.  He had googled his grandfathers name & up had popped one of the stories his father had recorded.  He called his Dad & they visited & he suggested some other stories which he wanted his father to record. He now has over 60 audio stories in his FS Tree.

 

Our love to all of you!  How great you are & CTR      Mom & Dad

We are back in the normal routine & it is wonderful!

Dearest Family!

    Happy Birthday wishes to Michelle on Thursday,  & on Friday to Mica,  Happy 18th Birthday, to you!

    We are back in the normal routine & it is wonderful!    It was great to get back to the public library! We had fun there, When we are there, one of us sits more up in the front at a table & the other towards the back.  I have been sitting in the front & him towards the back.  Well, we decided to trade – he was very busy up front – and I just worked with my one lady.  We both had a great time! Our evenings this week were mostly free, but that is sometimes nice – we are able to do things here – I worked several evening on  Connor & Lindsay’s quilt & there is review and prep time to stay on top of the FS process.

    We enjoyed indexing with our older sister, then Tuesday afternoon, the Rave needed it’s 10,000 mile checkup so we headed for Powell.  While Dad did that, I helped Aunt Gaye.  It was nice to spend time with her & Frank.  Dad joined me later in the afternoon!  We also did Phone support with FH consultants & a FH Center director!  Taught our mobile app class on Tuesday evening and were in Cowley building on Thursday morning helping walk-in patrons. We got a new PC for the house, a Dell all-in-one-unit, our old one was giving us problems after 6 years.

    Today was a wonderful day in Worland.  We attended Sacrament meeting there at 9:00 then were able to do training in their FHC the rest of the day!  At 4:30, we had been invited to teach in a FHConsultant Monthly Meeting. It was Great.  The group included a HC man, 3 High Priest Group leaders and 15 consultants.  We were teaching them all to do the apps which are on the tablets – lots of fun!

    Thank you Allen & Amber & family for a wonderful dinner!

 

Our love to all of you!  CTR   Love Mom & Dad

Had a great Family dinner on Monday evening

Dearest Family! 

   Love you all!     Happy Birthday, McKinzea!   Hope you have a great day on Tuesday!   

    It was wonderful to have the Fikes come on Sunday Evening!  We enjoyed so very much our time with them!  Had a great Family dinner on Monday evening at the Grant home – Allen, Amber & family came too!  I think there were 25 of us together!  We missed those who were unable to be here!   We canceled several appointments so we were able to be home! The kids went skating one afternoon at the Moncur rink! No sledding this year, we just don’t have enough snow! We love to have every one here.   Then on Wednesday evening, Allen’s family stopped by, they were returning from the temple & had dinner with us.  I finally felt like my cold was gone enough so I could play with Neil!  What a sweetheart he is!  So happy, he just cooed & smiled!  We so appreciated phone calls from those of  you who were unable to be here over the Holidays!

    Thursday & Friday were just quiet days here at home! The Christmas decorations have been taken down, we are ready to start the New Year!!!!! I even got the binding machine stitched on Connor & Lindsay’s quilt & now just have to finish sewing around it by hand!   It will be wonderful to have it done! 

    Several days we were able to do phone support with people who called.  Today we are back into the routine, visited L3 ward in our stake for the 3 hr block.  We ate lunch, then were off to Burlington to train a High Priest Group Leader and his wife for 3 hrs. We had a FHE with Cody Stake President & his family for a couple of hrs, all had great success at using the new FS process!  What a great day! This week we will be in 3 stakes helping and training leaders, FHCenter directors and families. People are so anxious to learn the new process. Check this pdf file to learn of the new way to print temple cards at home coming to temples soon. Dad helped our stake IT person resolve some internet and printer issues at the FH Center this week as  well.

    Attended a funeral in Cowley on Saturday for a 63 yr old grandfather of one of our youth consultants (he & his wife raised this boy and his sister)    Dad got to try out his new snow pusher on 1/2” of snow on the upper driveway this week – worked great! The Lord’s work continues to move forward at a rapid pace and we’re so grateful to be able to help ! ! 

Love you all, CTR!  Mom and Dad