Boy - what a busy, crazy week - a good kind of crazy!

Dearest Family,

Happy Birthday, Uncle Bill on Monday & Aunt Gaye on Thursday!  

Boy - what a busy, crazy week - a good kind of crazy!   Ryan arrived abt 7:30 a.m., fishing in the pond, fishing for one of the big ones!  He &Grandpa had fun!  Then 10:30 Gaye & Frank arrived for the day!  They had come to pick up the sheep, & also to work on Family History!  their internet is slow at their house & their Family Tree apps needed updating!  We had lunch together & a fun time working on FH. One of their devices is too old to take the new FS Tree app update so they will be getting a new one! They took the sheep home today . . . . it's been great to have the sheep clean up all our weed mess this year . . . hard to believe they ate all that dry Tansy mustard and Cheat grass.  

Then is was also Eclipse Day Aug 21  - at 11:30am  Rob, Michelle, & Ryan came out also!  We all enjoyed it together!  So very fascinating & interesting!  We were all amazed had how the temperature changed - several of us put a jacket on!  And the interesting shadows! Photo enclosed!  

Had a special time in Billings on Tuesday with Whitney at the temple! Our family was most of the small session! A nice time to practice what we preach!  And then on Wednesday the quilting began here at the house!   Had lots of special helpers this week! Next will also be a busy week!  Dad will take our RAV to get serviced for it's 42,000 mile one . . . can you believe it. So many wonderful miles in serving the people and the Lord! ! !  We love it!

We have helped several in their homes, using Zoom web trainings on the internet, visited at the Grants one evening & guess how the evening ended, helping Nathan & Bre do FH on their smart phones!  They got two names to do ordinances for next week.   Even spent one morning at the lake, a beautiful calm sunny one, with a couple of catfish to boot!

And had an amazing weekend, in Sundance Wyoming, a small branch, about 50 people in all!  These little branches are so fun!  They are amazed that we will come to them & we love it!   The spirit there was so wonderful.  Quote of the day, a young father abt 35, " I've had many people talk to me & tell be I should do FH, but  this is the first time, they actually taught me how to do it!"

This whole group including some white haired ones did really well today, all of our extra tablets were used as folks tried the apps!

Since we were so close to Devils Tower we went home that way. These Blackhills are some beautiful and unreal. The ponderosa pines and oak trees with grass every where is something else. We thought in a month when the oaks trees chg color it would be spectacular! It was fairly busy at the Park but not packed. We even made a new selfe that seemed to work better. Such an unusual rock formation with all the columns. The north side is much better looking not so much erosion from the sun and other elements. We stopped in Sheridan this evening for supper at Arby's. We saw several animals coming over the mtn, plus more smoke as we dropped in to the valley, and home by 8:30pm.

Love you all Mom and Dad

We drove to Sundance on Saturday,

Dearest Family

Happy Birthday to Micah Vehrs on August 26th!  A belated Birthday to Cheyenne Fike on August 16!  

About those anniversaries I mentioned - Bryan & Vicki celebrated 28 years on July 31 & Ken & Darece celebrated 28 years on August 18th.   Kenny & Rosie celebrated 3 years on August 14th. We enjoyed Grandma Darece & Lucy visiting that day.  She was tending while Kenny & Rosie celebrated in Billings!

We have had a wonderful week!  So great to see Ryan, Rhonda & Quinn, sure enjoyed dinner with them at Rob & Michelle's on Monday evening. Josh & Krysta were also there & it was great!   Rob, Michelle & Quinn stopped by on Thursday Morning, just to visit & play!  Then on Friday Quinn caught his first ever fish - Where?   In Grandpa's pond!  He loved it & caught quite a few of our bluegills, even several of the big guys, the ones that are bigger than Grandpa's hand!  He & Ryan had a wonderful time! Also the proud grandparents (Rob & Michelle)  & proud great grandparents!

Dad & I enjoyed the sun on Big Horn Lake one morning! Just fishing, no catching! Guess we will do our fishing at Grandpa's pond where the catching is better!

Hurray, Nathan & Bri's quilt is finished & Whitney & Choc's is on the frames & the stiching has begun!

We drove to Sundance on Saturday, lots of smoke the whole way! Other than that it was a nice drive and opportunity to do training with Pres Valdon and wife who live in Sundance but he is Pres of the Moorcroft branch. We had done our homework which TFHConsultants are supposed to do now. It makes it so your patron has quick success in getting a name for temple work.  Both were able to print out a white card for temple ordinances. We stayed the night with the Turnbulls in Gillette and will for the next few weekends.

Today was a special day in Moorcroft, Wyoming! As we were checking out the internet in the building this morning we were greated by a brother,  "Oh, you are Joy's parents!"  He was Dak's Uncle Chuck & we also visited with his Uncle Rod. 

 

The spirit was great & the people are excited about the work!  But like many of the other wards & branches just a few people are involved & the Lord wants each member to be involved!  It will come!

We've included one of the video's which we showed at Big Sky!

Love you all!

My Oh My Time does fly! So much has happened in the past weeks!

My Oh My Time  does fly!   So much has happened in the past weeks! 

July 17, 2017    Conner Keith Grant joined our family,  weighing in at 7 lbx 2 ozs, he is a wonderful little guy!

Aniversary's Celebrated!!! Ethan & Bekah's 3rd Anniversary July 19,,  Bryan & Vicki's 28th Anniversary, & this week, Kenny & Rosie's 3rd Anniv & Ken & Darece's 28th!

Birthday's Celebrated!!!!   Vicki's Bd July 21, Talons 16th Bd on July 22; Ethan's Bd August 1 & Bekah's Aug 3.  Uncle Frank on August 5th,  & Joy on August 8.& today is Camille's 5th Birthday!

The most exciting activity of the past month was our Family Reunion at Big Sky Montana!  It was so great to be with all who came! Allen's Family,all 7 of them.  Joy's family, Joy & the three girls,  Darece's Family; Ken, Whitney, Kaitlyn, Talon, Rosie, Lucy & Lexie; Bo, McKenzea, Athena & 3 week old Conner;  Vicki, Bryan, Chris;  Micah, Kirena, Emerson & Cozy!   We so enjoyed having all of your there,  We know the rest of you would have liked to be there too but understand you all have schedules to meet as life moves on. Big Sky next year is Aug 4 - 11  2018

During the past month we have been many places, 2 wards in Cody, a Bozeman YSA ward, the Gardiner & Ennis branches in Montana,  While we were on each of these trips we also did other training!   A special experience from the YSA ward; after viewing the Promised Blessings of Family History video, a young man responded, "I want all of them & to think they are available right here using this" & he held up his smart phone.  Ennis & Gardiner are small branches, Gardiner has a beautiful little chapel up on the hill above town, with only a handful of members, the rest of those attending 20-30 were tourists traveling thru the area!

Then on Saturday, we headed to the eastern side of the area we serve in, to Newcastle, Wyoming, staying with Ron Moody, a Lovell native. Since it was only 60 miles more to Mt Rushmore we decided to visit there also!   So very amazing! We live in the most wonderful country, I'm so very grateful for it! I have included a few pictures, I loved the flags leading up to the viewing area - believe it or not, we did take a selfie.  As you can see it was rainy for 10-15 minutes, but then let up & was sunny!  

A 600 mile plus wkend our longest so far! We had a wonderful time with the, Newcastle ward with a new Bishop. We spoke in Sacrament mtg then presented the Gatherers in the Kingdom ppt trg materials second hr then did hands on trg using the FS Tree app 3rd hr. There were about 50 people including teens these two hrs of trg. A wonderful spirit and excitement was felt in all the meetings!  They have a TFHConsultant that is actually using the apps, she was trained by the HC man we trained last fall.

We have had weekly fishing trips to the lake - and even caught a few fish! The lake is right at full level and more free of trash now. The fishing will get better now the level is stable and the water is clearing.  Each day is filled with new & exciting things.  It is wonderful to serve & help people!

Love to all of you!

July 4 We're thankful for this land of America!

Dearest Family

     Happy 18th Birthday, Ky!!!  Have a great one!  and Happy Birthday last week to the amazing land in which we live!  We celebrated by hearing fireworks around our neighborhood almost every night last week!  Also went to a community picnic on July 4th in Cowley!  Dave & Jenny Rael have a pulled pork & hotdogs for whoever!  Every brings a salad or desert & it is a wonderful evening, ending with fireworks!  This year he invited a special guest, Aaron Tippens, a patriotic, western singer! We surely enjoyed his music!

     We have fished, did Zoom trainings, even one with Chris, went to the mtn, both of us on Tuesday a.m. & Dad on Friday!   There is a beautiful quilt in the living room, & I find moments to quilt on it!  We have been busy, so have not had a time to invite anyone to help yet! 

     Last Saturday we traveled to Livingston again & in the evening met with two TFHConsultants for several hours. Was such a special opportunity to get to know them & share with them the great principle of helping someone have a "one on one" experience where they help some one find a name in 30-40 minutes! Now connected to the Family Tree App is a feature called "Are we Related" We did this with them & all four of us were related!

       We have found some very well organized wards, who have older genealogist in their ward find the names for all in the ward to take to the temple!  Well, it may work, but it just isn't what the Lord wants at this time! He has spoken thru his modern day Apostles, that we are each to find our family members, and go to the temple with them!  It is just the best choice which we are trying to teach! 

 

     The Three Forks Ward was so enjoyable & the members of the ward council were all so excited about it! It was also interesting that 3/4 of this group had been at our Saturday evening  presentation which we did at the Bozeman Stake conference in February,  That is the most which we have had in the wards we have visited so far.

      A thought from one of our many TFH consultants which is so true & applys to all of us in so many aspects of our lives.  "I knew it in my head, but now I know it in my heart"   It applys to any principle of the gospel in our lives!

Love Mom anf Dad

ZOOM training with 3 couples!

July 2, 2017

Dearest Family,

     Happy Birthday, Chris, on Monday!  Happy Birthday, Aunt Marlene on Thursday!   Happy Birthday, Amber, on Saturday!   We hope you each have a wonderful day!

        Each week goes by so quickly!  ZOOM training with 3 couples!  A trip to the lake with the boat - weather was great - lake was calm - started to pull away from the dock & the steering was all locked up - could not turn it any direction - came home!  Dad, the great repairman, went into action & soon had it fixed!  He did learn after doing some research that there are several parts of the steering mechanism which needs to be greased & cleaned every year!  So. . . now we will try on Monday!

     Thursday morning, after a month of them scheduling & canceling, we were finally able to have a conference call with the Development team of the FamilySearch Tree & Memories Apps! There were probably 6 people on the call & it was a choice opportunity to visit with them!  

       Thursday evening was another very spiritual & wonderful evening with the TFH Consultants of our stake.  We were sharing with them one of the "Gatherers of the Kingdom" presentations which is just for consultants!  Their comments were so inspired and they were able to see & understand the vision of this work! They were seeing that 1 on 1 is the way to teach. These new presentations are so inspired & we are excited to share them!

         Saturday we traveled to Livingston, Montana & in the evening did 1 on 1 presentations with the Bishop & his wife, then Mom & Dad did with their two children, who are old enough to attend the temple.  How amazing it is when this is done & each person is able to print out an ordinance card for a special family member. All four of them had a card in hand which for someone they had found!

          Sunday we attended this ward & were welcomed  by the member of the bishopric who was conducting. During SS time we taught the ward council the "Gatherers of the Kingdom" presentation just for them - also in attendance was a member of the Temple Presidency & his wife, Pres & Sis Melin, whom we invited to attend went we saw them in the ward. In these presentations we talk about the spiritual & doctrinal side of T&FH & the many blessing which we each receive when we each prepare and take our own name to the temple.

           During the second hour, RS/Priesthood time we did hands on, like we usually do.  Pres. Melin offered inspired council about the Stake boxes which are at the Billings Temple & how they are actually a spirit prison for the names in them, some have been there as long as 9 years!  Comments were shared by all which continued to add to the spiritual atmosphere of the meeting. Bishop ended with an emotional testimony of his experience Saturday evening when he was looking at the draft registration cards for a great grandfather who had filled out cards for both WW1 & WW2. On one of them it told his occupation & that he was missing one of his hands! He testified of how important it was to get to know each of the individual that we do the ordinances for.

        As Dad was getting things picked up a young man with his wife & baby, came up to him & introduced himself as Ryan, a member of the Development team of the FamilySearch Tree & Memories Apps. (They were visiting friends in Livingston). He had been on the conference call with us on Thursday!!!!!!  We an amazing visit with him  & so enjoyed meeting him!  As we have looked back over the events of this day, we can see the Lord's hand in accomplishing this work!  

       We feel so blessed to be a part of this great work - his sacred Plan of Happiness!

We love you all   Have a great week! Mom & Dad

These past past two weeks have been great!

Dearest Family,

     Happy 3rd Birthday today to Emerson!!!     Then next Saturday, July 1, is Ryan's Birthday & on Tues, July 3 it is Chris's Birthday! Hope each one of you have a very special day!   Love you all!

      Well, it is time to get back in the grove.   I was just reviewing my past letters & am not sure when the last one was but I thought it saw 2 weeks ago!  

     These past past two weeks have been great!  Each Saturday we leave at abt 1 p.m. for Bozeman!  On Sunday Morning we have traveled to Belgrade & done training there for their Ward Councils. We love meeting the people!  Saturday nites have been spent at a kind Bishop's home. We so appreciate their hospitality! We have also met with his HPriest Group leader & several consultants. In these two wards there have been less connections to the BHBasin!  One brother was raised in Fromberg tho, left 39 years ago & moves to Bozeman.  They found the gospel there!  Today we also met a couple, she is from the Philipines & he from Sicily! Not to many records from those two countries are available for doing Family History.

    The weeks are flying by!  We have been doing lots of training  using a program called Zoom - it is amazing & works much better than Skype!  It has a lot more ability to share screens & show videos than others.Last week Dad was experimenting & had 4 people on, all taking an active part. Thanks to those of you who have helped   We really appreciate it!

      Dad's latest Chromebook arrived last Wednesday & it seems to be working correctly!  He is really impressed with the speed that it works at!  

     One afternoon we helped in our Lovell FHC - Reviewing with Temple & Family History Consultants how to climb around in someone's tree, using the App & then help them find a name in 30-40 minutes!  this can be an amazing spiritual experience for people but is most successful is done "one on one"

      We have enjoyed having some of you stop in,   Allen & family last Saturday a.m, (Amber was at an Auxriliary Training Mtg, we missed you)  Darece has been by with Athena & Lucy! And Rob has stopped by!

     Here is the latest from Vicki about Cozy & also a picture:   "Hello dear family. Cozy has been home for several days. She is doing well. Kirena managed to catch her smile Kirena tries not to think about the brain collapse too much, but it is worrisome for her.  It sounds awful, and it could be...but so far cozy seems fine. Her ventricles are like big water balloons in her head with brain matter on the outside. When they drained it allowed space for a part of the brain to fold over on itself. We are hopeful as her ventricles fill up to normal her brain will also go to it's correct spot. There is a chance the fluid will fill up around the fold, or hemorage, or brain bleed...but it's a 'wait and see how cozy acts' type of a thing. They won't do anything to prevent it. Just fix it if necessary."

     I am also attaching a picture taken today of Lexie! She was blessed today!

Love Dad and Mom

Hope all is going great for each of you!

June 4 & 11th, 2017

Dearest Family,

      Happy 83rd Birthday, Uncle Bruce on Friday, June 9th!  Happy 18th Birthday Kaitlyn on Tuesday, June 13, Happy Birthday Allen on June 15, Thursday!  Joy & Dak will be celebrating their 23rd Anniversary on Saturday, June 17th. Have a great day! 

     We have an announcement - Nathan &  Bri will be getting married in the Oakland Temple, Saturday, September 2 at 11:00 a.m.  He wanted all of you to know!

      Hope all is going great for each of you!  It has been a wonderful week here! Dad enjoyed visiting with all of you on his birthday! Thanks so much for the Chromebook computer!

     It has been a beautiful summer week!  We have worked in the yard some, weeded some, & even planted garden & a few flowers!  The temps are beginning to feel like summer also with warmer nights also!

  

     The past two week was centered around getting ready for our Sundays in Bozeman Montana!  Left Saturday afternoon - it was a beautiful drive!  Stayed in the home of the Stake President, then visited 3 wards.  Presented "The Gatherers or the Kingdom during S School time to members of each ward council & Temple & Family History Consultants.  Enjoyed our time with each group! Then on the 10th we stayed with  Bishop Madsen of the Bozeman 3rd ward. Taught his mother & father-in-law who were visiting, the Bishop & his wife & 12 year old daughter.  It was so wonderful when each of them found names to take to the temple.  Today in the three Bozeman wards we did hands on training or tryed.  In the morning the FamilySearch programs work just great but come late afternoon the saints all over the church are being so diligent, They are keeping the Sabbath Day holy by doing Family History & the system just gets bogged down!  FS keeps expanding their Cloud data base each Sunday but still can't keep up with the use.... It has been an amazing two weeks - most are so excited with just a few who find the smaller devices hard to use!  There are such special people every where we go!  It is great to be out among the saints!

     We have had wonderful days during the week also!   I went to Billings with Darece, McKenzea & Athena on Tuesday. Nice day! Dad did a service project at HSBend then two FH trg in the afternoon. On Wednesday Dad went to Horseshoe Bend then again on Friday , we both went!  Found a spot by the dock, a trash pile on the water where the catfish were feeding. We casted to the edge of this and caught several fish both days! We kept two 24"er both days It has been ages since we have been able to go fishing!  We had fresh catfish the next day!  The sheep are doing extra duty this year eating all the 3 ft tall mustard . . . its amazing Thanks Barretts for these harvesters. One of these day they will start on the grass.

        Cozy has been at home the past two weeks, the whole family together!   She will be having surgery again this week because she is still retaining fluid in her head, we have no details as to when.  

Also Michelle is recovering from some surgery last week - as reported on facebook!   Love & prayers for all of them.

Love you all!

Mom & Dad