Pioneer Day

James and Matthew,

Dad and I were just talking about how much we love having two missionary sons!  You both are such a blessing to our family!  I am proud of the message you are sharing/learning.  It is true.  It will bring happiness to your life and others.  Today for pioneer day Jacob, birdie and Eleanor were asked to talk about a family pioneer.  They are talking about Lucrecia Hancock how was from Vermont and was asked to settle Fillmore.  She hated it there.  She said "even if these hills were made of gold, I would not stay here one more minute if the church was not true."

The next person they are talking bout is Nana and the sacrifices she made to join the church.  Lastly Jacob is talking about V.O. Jackson and how when we was living in Montana he wanted to move his family back to Utah.  An apostle, Elder Lyman, came to Montana and said that they were needed in Montana to build up the church there and if they would stay all of their children (10 survived to adulthood) would stay faithful in the church and would marry in the temple.  Interestingly, most married non members (about 7 including grandma Freda) but their spouses joined the church and they were all sealed in the temple and were faithful members.

As I researched and wrote the talk, the quote about how people on the other side of the veil care more about us than we care about ourselves came to mind.  They care, they love us, they help us in times of need.  I think especially about you boys on missions.  You are constantly protected and helped by people from the other side of the veil I have no doubt.

  

We had a great week.  Thursday I went to Mapleton and helped Hart's with flowers for Rebekkah's wedding.

Friday we got to go to a live taping of Studio C. That was really fun!  Tickets are impossible to get!  Our home teacher, who works for the BYU motion picture studio, got them for us.

Yesterday we had all the Harkness' over for dinner because Melissa is in town.  It was fun.  Everyone is doing well!  

I hope you all have a great week!

Love you lots!

Mom     

Oregon

James and Matthew,

Last night we got back from Oregon.  It was a good/crazy trip.  I am exhausted!  

We left Tuesday after piano lessons and drove to Boise to stay at Mark's new house.  It was good to see Mark and Malinda and their kids.  We had Paul and Kyle with us.  Wednesday Malinda, Makayla, Adaline and I went school shopping for the girls.  It was nice to hang out then we went home and the kids swam in their hot tub and played in their back yard.  Paul and Emma stayed up until 2am making and decorating a cake- We were all wiped out from being up so late that night.

Thursday we got up and drove to Pendleton Oregon (It's 30 minutes before Hermiston).  There was supposed to be a cool underground tunnel tour.  We went on the tour and it was ok but the whole town had a bad feeling about it.  We also went to the Pendleton wool blanket tour and then drove to Emily's.  Emily's new house has a swimming pool and the kids loved it.  They swam that night and the next day.  That night we had a bar b q that was really fun.  I love spending time with my family.  

Matthew

Who's email do you want specifically?   I'll get you whoever you need.

I am so relived to hear that you like your companion and am having a great experience at the MTC.  Let me know what kind of treats you or your district want.

James,

I am so happy you are giving it your all!  No regrets!  Finish strong!  

We love hearing from both of you!

Love you lots!

Mom

My first letter to both of you

James and Matthew (my two missionaries!),

What an exciting week we had!  Monday we went to an amazing 4th of July program and colonial re enactment site in Orem.  Then all the Debry's went up to Michael Coleman's property up Spanish Fork canyon.  It was not quite as advertised but there was water and shade so we were able to have a good time.  Then we came back to our house to have dinner and watched Fireworks.  We have the perfect location to watch them.  David, Mark, and Emily's families were all there.  Athena's family stayed home because Teddy and Nayeli both had Hand, Foot, Mouth disease (high fevers, sores around the mouth and on hand and feet).  

Tuesday the epidemic broke out for the rest of the week there were sick kids everywhere.  Luckily we had family pictures and were able to get out of town.  The pictures went well and I will be so happy to have an updated picture above my mantle.  

Thursday and Friday I took it easy because I wasn't feeling well.  It was nice to take it easy and just lay around.

Yesterday we cleaned the church, went to Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and I scrapped paint off of the deck boards for the afternoon (it was really fun Matthew.  You would have loved doing it with me.).  Then dad took us (plus Paul and Kyle and Jasmine) up Battle creek falls (on our way back to the car we ran into Bianca Bardsley- she's planning on serving a mission as soon as she turns 19).  It was a perfect hike for all of us.  Then we got pizza and came back here for the rest of the evening.

Last Sunday I taught about ordinances of the gospel.  My thoughts have centered around the fact that now that I am married in the temple, the only ordinance I will do for the remainder of my days will be to take the sacrament.  The sacrament must be so much more important that we think it is.  The second thought is that other than the sacrament, I am done looking forward to the next ordinance.  I must endure to the end.  Now that I have made all the covenants- I must live up to them.  The weight of that makes me a little nervous.  I just had to renew my temple recommend and answer the questions.  I am obeying all that is required of me but can I do better?  I think I can and so I will try.

James, How are you?  I am so proud of you for you efforts to finish strong.  No regrets!  You have work yet to do.  

Matthew, I am dying to get my first letter from you!  How is everything?  I want to hear about how you are managing the language, about your companion, classes, food, schedules, basically everything!  

I hope you know that you are both missed and loved.  You are both an important part of our family!  But we are so proud to have 2 sons who are working hard to redeem souls!  The work you do will be for eternity.  it is of eternal significance!  Remember discouragement is of the devil.  The fruits of the spirit are peace, hope, long suffering and enduring.  

Lastly, the sad news- Matthew flies out the morning of August 17th and James flies in the evening of the 17th (8:30 pm).  You will not be able to meet like we had originally planned.  I am sorry about that.

I love you both and am so proud of the choice you both have made!

Love you lots!

Mom

Happy 4th of July

James,

We had a great time at Cooke city.  It was a quick trip and I am so glad that Matthew got to go one last time.  The way his mission will work out he'll only miss one summer at Cooke City.  As we were driving away I said, "In two years you'll be back."  It's nice to know he will be back.  He goes into the MTC on Wednesday.  Tomorrow is the 4th of July and then Tuesday are family pictures (we'll have your picture taken when you get back and photoshopped in) and then he leaves Wednesday.  

I am excited for him.  It is time for him to go.  He is nervous about the unknown.  Once it's not unknown he'll do great.  We have got him everything and his suitcases are packed.  

Mark and Emily are in town for the week so that is really fun.

We went to Cooke City Monday- Thursday.  Just Marilyn and her kids were up there.  Eliza and her husband, Logan, were there.  It was nice to get to know Logan a little better.  They will be gone to graduate school in Arizona when you get home.  The kids played and had a great time.  The mosquitos were pretty bad but weren't horrible.  We had a game night and a camp fire night with Scoot and Vicky's family.

Thursday we got home.  Friday I invited all the cousins over for a cousins party.  It was fun.  I have the greatest Neices and Nephews. 

Last night was Stadium of Fire and we had dinner here and then watched the fireworks on the field behind us.  It was great.  My family came and so did the Harkness'.  It was a lot of fun!

Today is fast Sunday and I am fasting for Matthew. It'll be sad to have him go!  I really like him.  He is a really good and kind person.  Once he gets used to everything he's going to make a great missionary.  He has a great testimony.

Today for Young women's I am teaching about ordinances.  Last month was the priesthood so it feels like a great follow up to learning about the priesthood.  I am grateful for the ordinances of the gospel and the priesthood that provides them.  One of the things I have been thinking about lately is how important it is to keep the Sabbath day holy.  I have felt an increase in spiritual strength because of my efforts.  Part of that is realizing the power of the sacrament.  We take the scarament every week but do we really think of it's cleansing power?  It is a significant ordinance but because we do it weekly, I think retake it for granted.

I love you lots!

Mom