It has been a wonderful Christmas Day!!

Dearest Family!

     It has been a wonderful Christmas Day!!! Dad & i opened a our presents here at home before church, then off to our own ward today! We did have a surprise when we got there.  Another ward was just getting out & we saw a return missionary, Kelvin. At abt 25, (a big 6'6" man) he had gone on a mission to the FHC in SLC.  Prior to his mission he had come into the Lovell FHC  a lot when we were working there & we had got to know him.  He also helped us teach FH in the Ht Mtn YSA ward in Powell. We had encouraged him to serve a FH mission and shared our feelings with his student ward Bishop. When he saw us today, he rushed right over & gave us the biggest hugs & we gave them right back!  It was so special to see him & feel his special spirit & see the growth he had made.  He then came into our Sacrament meeting & sat with us! Words cannot describe our love and feeling for this RM . . . . what a miracle in his life!  We want to hear him speak in a ward soon.

     We feel so blessed  to have such a wonderful family - it has been so special to talk with, skype with, or see all of you either last night or today!  Rob & Michelle came over for dinner last evening- so nice.  Then today we visited with Allen & family & Vicki, & then skyped with the Fike's.  Even got to talk a little with Chalin!  We happened to call them, just as they were finishing their skype visit with him. It was great!  Then we skyped with them also.   In the evening we went down to the Grants.  It was great to be with them also!  We love you all so much!    Thank you also for all the special gifts!

      This week has been a normal one with several Skype sessions with people & also visits with some.  Dad's was busy the first of the week with a foot of snow to  remove!  He has all our ice fishing stuff ready too. I have done a little bread baking & delivery to people!  I helped Dad install a new blower fan in the hot air duct to our family room, the old one lasted 16 yrs. We have watched a little football & basket ball!  We have watched wt deer in the field, the birds outside the kitchen window!  We have a new wind chime, which Dad gave me for Christmas to hang out there & he has a new weather station to set up! We've had some nice comments on our laser light setup on the house and trees too. It's quite a way to added 100's of lights with out stringing the lights. Uncle Frank's mom passed this week . . . what a blessing. We will attend her funeral this coming Thursday in Powell.

Love you all CTR! Mom & Dad

New great grand daughter a bit early!

Dearest Family,

     Happy Birthday to Kenny & Melvin on Thursday!   It is Melvin's 12th birthday & he is going to the temple to do baptisms for the first time.  He even found all the names he is going to do!  

     On December 16, Micah & Kirena had a baby girl, Cosette Royale.  She was born early, 25 weeks 4 days & weighed in at 2 pounds & was 13 inches long. The best way to find about about her is on Kirena's facebook page under Kirena Allen.  Saturday was a difficult day, but on Sunday she had a wonderful day!  Our prayers are with them. 

     Saturday we drove to Allen & Amber's & spent the night with them,  Thanks for your hospitality, Allen, Amber & family & to  Leanne & Camille for sharing your beds with us!   Sunday Dad & I were in Thermopolis, visiting a ward & a branch there!  It was a great day,  speaking in both wards & teaching their ward councils about family history. 

    This week was a cold, blizzardy one,  much like the year when we were married, 50 years ago. Early in the week it was very cold, then warmed up enough to snow about 12' on Friday!   Thanks Ken & Darece for coming & doing the sidewalks!  It helped so much!  By evening the temps were dropping down to below 0, then frigit at -22 below.   It is warming up some today!

    We had I visited two ladies on Wednesday, then we were busy with others on Thursday most of the day! Also had a nice Skype training with the Peter's in Sheridan!

     Also enjoyed being with our ward family on Wednesday evening for the Ward Christmas Party!  It is great to see all of them, since we seldom attend our own ward. Also enjoyed the Stake Christmas Choir Concert last night!   Beautiful music!!!!

     Hope all of you have had a great week!  Love Mom & Dad

Dearest Family!

    Happy 3rd Anniversary to Ryan & Rhonda on Wednesday, December 14  & Guess What?   To us on Friday, December 16!   It has been 50 wonderful years!  Doesn't seem possible, but it has been an amazing trip & will continue to be......for eternity!   Thank you all for the wonderful party this summer!  We are so relieved that you are not traveling now, in the winter!

    Well, another amazing week!  The Sunday's are the best! Last Sunday in Byron was & so was today in Worland! While in Byron last week, I was helping a sister looking at her family in on the Computer. I said, "Have you ever used the app on your phone?"  No, she hadn't thought about it.  She changed to it & did Descendents with Tasks.  On the first list, there were people who needed their temple ordinances done. She reserved one, paused & looked at me & said, "That's amazing, we just found a name in less than two minutes!" She was so excited - was going home to show this to her 15 year old son, who was the one usually helping her. We feel so blessed to see brothers & sisters, one at a time, beginning to do Family History.  The blessing are so great!

    We spoke in two different wards, Allen's & another one & are beginning to see growth in each of them.  We always appreciate it when some time during the day we are able to have contact with the Stake President & with the Bishops.  We also had a young couple find us in the kitchen, eating our lunch.  They are moving to Worland & he wants help finding his family!  Found an obit tonight after I got home on his grandmother which included the names of her parents (he didn't know that). Now Dad is working more on that to get the info all organized so we can get back to him!

     We have had lots going on this week!  Several Skype trainings,  Wednesday I had visits with two ladies, & Thursday was great in Cowley, at the Living Center & with another sister who is adding pictures & stories. We also enjoyed watching JV BBall games which Talon played in on Friday & Saturday. This week was our first taste of winter with minus 10 a couple of nights and only mid teens during the day. We missed the snow except for about an inch one morning. Too cold outside to do much there.  A young man from our area passed away suddenly this  week so we spent time with his Dad and Mom as well as the grandparents. His funeral is tomorrow in Lovell! 

    We have spent time viewing some amazing FH training videos!  They are the best so far which have been developed. So great at directing us to the Spirit, to seek help, so that we can better help others!

     It was great to visit with several of you this week - we love it!   Our love & prayers go out to Kirena, Micah & little gal!   She is having to be very careful. Lindsay, also, has finished working, & is beginning to develop toxemia.  Hopefully her two little gals will wait until after the first of the year to arrive!

    Our love to all of you! Mom and Dad

What a wonderful time of the year!

Dearest Family,

     What a wonderful time of the year!  So grateful for all of you!  We have a wonderful family & we love every one of you!  Special children & their special companions!  Wonderful grandchildren & wonderful companions for those who are married, & wonderful great grandchildren!  How blessed we are!  

Attended the baptism of Jim Woody, some of you older ones may remember him! When we see the enthusiasm of a new convert it reminds me of how much I appreciate the gospel of Jesus Christ!  

Another great blessing this week - a trip to Billings to the temple.  So special to perform the work for others & be reminded of the covenants we make there.  then there are the blessing of renewing friendships.   We had met & had lunch many times with a couple from Jordan, Montana, who were ordinance workers. They would finish their shift on Friday when we were there then go to Wendy's for lunch before they returned home.  They were released about a year ago & we had not seen them for some time.  They were there on Wednesday & it was so great to see them!  Then we also saw Karen Robertson & her husband there, she is Joy's age.  Made a couple of shopping stops then came home, what a nice day!

We were able to cut up out last deer, enjoyed having Darece stop by that morning, we even put her to work, then fed her & Whitney deer steak for lunch!

Thursday was our busy day for Family History!  Helping people & a Training meeting in the afternoon also!  These are uplifting!

Friday & Saturday were nice days at work at home. Dad was busy outside, there was laundry & baking to do & I sewed a little also.  Some of you will remember Larry Slater from High School or his kids!   Attended his funeral at the High School.  He has had cancer.

Hope you are all enjoying the "Light the World" initiative!   We are!!!!! 

Love to all Mom & Dad

We were in Burlington to speak

Dearest Family,

     Happy 17th Birthday, Isaac!  Have a great day!!!!

     Wow! What a special day!  We were in Burlington to speak in sacrament meeting to a ward there, then left immediately for the Basin/Greybull Chapel.  There we taught to RS/Priesthood lessons in each ward.  We felt that there were some in each group who will work on it & find that it will help them!  There were also so some ward & stake leaders in each group who have caught the vision, & will begin to share it as leaders.  That is the key to success! 

     On our way back thru Greybull we stopped to see Aunt Leona & Lavon.  They had had a busy week with company for Thanksgiving. Aunt Leona was resting & we were able to visit with Aunt Lavon.  Was a nice visit!

      It has been a nice week!  Each Monday I have been helping a friend sort thru so much stuff. She moved into a very small apartment, bringing with her the belongings of her deceased parents & her things. We have been having a good time & are making progress! there are always three boxes available: keep - donate - throw away!  I am glad that I can help!

       Dad was able to Skype in the afternoon & we also did a Family Home Evening on Monday reviewing every thing with a couple.  Was a nice day! 

      On Tuesday Darece & I went to Billings, worked in the temple laundry, shopped, & had a great lunch at "Touch of Asia" restaurant.  Yumm Yumm!   enjoyed it very much!  Dad did some checking of the internet in Byron, we are going to be up there just visiting next week.  A youth consultant will be giving a lesson in Family History & will need to have good service.  He also had some special playtime with Athena!  Invited she & her Mom over for a while in the afternoon.

  

     Wednesday he was able to get the second deer on the hill across the road! He even brought his camo blind home & put it away!   I worked on preparations for Thanksgiving, making a pie & stuffing for dinner.  We had a wonderful time with every one at Ken & Darece's.  We enjoyed Rob, Michelle, Krysta & Josh, Kenny, Rosie & Lucy, Whitney, Kaitlyn, Nate & Talon, & the sister missionaries! Nice day, great food & the best company!  It was also great to visit with Marlene & Allen this week!  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

      Friday was a nice day at home!  Dad did outside stuff, put the boat to bed for the winter  then in the afternoon went bike riding with Rob.  I worked on the laundry & Dad and I's Hero Quilt.   I enjoy spending a day at home sewing! Saturday Dad and I went shore fishing at Crooked Creek bay beautiful sunny morning in low 40's but no bites even today. He also started rebuilding the corral fence by the tree we cut . Did some FS prep and watched some football.

We love you all, Mom and Dad

Dearest Family,

        What a wonderful Sunday!   Today we spent the day in Burlington, Wyoming.  What a wonderful little community!  We spoke in two different wards, then attended RS/Priesthood in one of them.  We always enjoy going there.  How great it is to visit all the wards & stakes around us. Your Dad always does a great job when he speaks! (Grdma does an awesome job too we're a great team! - Gdpa)  We have been out of the habit after several weeks of conferences.  Nice to get back in the routine!

     This week has been a busy one.  Dad had got a wt buck deer on the 3rd & it had been hanging in the cold in our meat room – Monday was the cut-up day.  We feel blessed to have the meat for the winter in our freezer!   On Tuesday, Art Camerena came over & we had him cut down another tree for us.  It was out by the garden & much of it was affected by the hard winter we had several years ago.  He cuts them down then is able to sell the wood.  We appreciated his hard work which was really a help.  There is still a little clean up to do, hauling the small stuff to the burn pile, etc. but there is time to do that later on a nice day! We saw the white house finch several times this week!  Had some snow 1" plus very cold mid teens temps for 2 days, west of here the snow was much deeper with wind. The tomatoes in the greenhouse are doing great with some getting ripe before long! The beet and bean harvest is finally over what a relief for the farmers. 

    We have had several Skype appointments this week which have been great!  On Friday it was fun to attend Friday Forum  at the Institute in Powell.   It is fun to be with the young people & teach them about finding names to take to the temple.  There was probably 20 + there. Sure enjoyed it!  We had some special experiences again. One YW from Cody was very discouraged when we started to help her,  she had never been able to find her own name because all her work had been done. Dad assured her that there were plenty of new cousins in her tree that needed her help & thru the hint process she could find them. With reluctance she began to process hints after about the 3rd one she found a family on a census who had 3 more children than was in her tree. She got very excited to see the + sign by these names and she added them to her tree 2 girls and a boy. Then even more excitement when she went back to her Descendants with tasks list there were more new hints on these three children. They now had families of their own in vital records for her to add more new names . . . our time was up but she was thrilled and anxious to finish adding these new ones after her next college class.  She couldn't wait to share her findings with her parents!  We are grateful for the Lord’s hand & that she was prompted to go to a place where she was able to find those cousins who needed her help.

    We send out love to all of you    Mom & Dad 

It has been an amazing & wonderful week, full of many activities.

Dearest Family!   

    It has been an amazing & wonderful week, full of many activities.   I love Visiting Teaching & it was great to go this week & also have visiting teachers come!  Also prepared for the coming week by baking bread & rolls, some of it for our lunch on election day.  I am so glad I was able to work during the elections – it is a privilege which I really enjoy, even tho it is a long day!  This was one of the busiest elections I think I have ever worked at! There were constant people coming during the entire day – great to see people so involved!  While I was there, Dad went fishing at Crooked Creek and told a bunch of new stories in his FS memories acct! I also appreciated several angels who did some house cleaning that day!

    Joy, Dak & the girls arrived that evening also,  So - so good to see them!  On Wednesday morning we attended the funeral for Greg Bennett in Powell & in the afternoon more service projects outside.     Raked some leaves, removed the wind break fence on the corral – another Elm tree is going to go! Art Camarena will cut it next week for the wood to sell. Just enjoyed being outside! All week has been no wind and 60's plus lots of sun!  It was a beautiful day!  Thursday we enjoyed getting back into some family history things first in the morning with the Fike’s & then in the afternoon with our regular appointments!  We finished the day at a 2nd yr Bday party for Quinn at Jamie & Sandi Warnock's home just east of our place! Great Day!

    Friday all of us girls were in Powell for a Bridal Shower for Krystina, and decorating for the wedding  on Saturday.  Dak & Dad had a nice afternoon here. Tchae & Ky also arrived tonight. Also enjoyed visiting with Ryan, Quinn, Ethan & Rob on Saturday morning while some of the Fikes were at Darece's visiting and 4 wheeling!

    And Saturday afternoon was the big event for Josh & Krystina!   It was a great wedding at the Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church & reception at the Elks Club in Powell!  Darece, Joy, & I enjoyed helping with the food during the reception.

    But we were also all ready for the Sabbath Day!  Attended the Lovell 3rd ward, they met at 8:00 a.m. Had a nice dinner, then the Fikes all left for home! Dad & I attended tithing settlement this evening. What a blessing to tithe and give other offerings, then have opportunity to declare a full tithing to the common judge of Israel, our Bishop! We have a very busy week ahead as we get back into normal meeting schedules plus cut up our deer. 

    We testify of the Lord’s hand in all things! We are all so blessed to live in this land & to have the freedoms we have. We feel so blessed to have His protection & guidance each day & see that in each of your lives also!                    Love you all Mom & Dad!