Our Thanksgiving holiday was filled with fun and loud squeals of grand kids having a grand time playing together! So grateful they all got along well. And grateful for a sweet family and that all are healthy.
We were able to get together with the Jensen clan at Pam's house in Highland, UT. It was so nice to see them all!
Sorry that Heather and her family couldn't be with us! And Dusty is probably on a bike trip somewhere.

Great Old Homes / Falls Colors

Some great older home along Main Street in Midway.







We have some great mountains just out our back window. Quite different from Vermont. each with there own beauty. We enjoy living in Midway and it's still has that small town feeling. Ruby has been taking picture and here is some of the latest she has added to here collection.

Cascade Springs / Vorwaller's

The Vorwaller's from Urda, Ut near Tooele and who were missionaries in Sharon, Vt with us, stopped over and we were able to take them to Cascade Springs which is only 10 miles from our home and is also part of the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. What a beautiful place and so close. We drove up and enjoyed the great fall colors.

We are very grateful to have had the blessing of serving a mission. Thankful to give a small portion of our lives back to the Lord for the many blessings we have received. Our testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith grew as we learned more of his early life and the wonderful spirit that we felt at his birthplace. We have gained eternal friends in many of the people of Vermont and the missionaries we served with.
We so love our family and good friends and thank them for their their support and love while we were away!
A few days after arriving home, we were released from our mission by our Stake President Nelson. So we lay our name tags aside for the last time. It feels a bit sad to know we are released from the service of the Lord. Our live has already become more busy and complicated then it was in the mission field. We know we can still be missionaries and serve our fellow man, we hope we can keep this spirit in our lives!

Home, Sweet Home! ~ Monday Sept. 14, 2009

We finally made it~and it is so nice to be home and out of the car after more than 2 weeks on the road!
The house looks good (the tress and bushes have grown so much you can hardly see the house. I see pruning trees in our future!).
Fawn and Fara are here to welcome us home with stocked fridge and cupboard! When the boys get home from school and Paul from work they all posed in front of a welcome home sign they made for us. Hadn't seen them since we left on our mission, and again, the kids had grown so much! And Fara is talking so much!
Feels good to sleep in our own bed and remember how beautiful our home is!

We are getting closer and closer to home and we are getting so tired of being in the car! Arrived at our daughter, Cassie's home in Wyoming, evening of Sept. 13th. We hadn't seen any of these grandchildren for over 18 months. They had all grow so much! Kayson and Chynna are almost as tall as me. And Hudson looked like a little boy instead of a baby boy. Chynna played the guitar and sang for us, Kayson and Huddie told us about all the sports they are in. Such fun to see and hear all about what is going on in their lives!

Got to hug more grandchildren in Colorado! Nephi and Kevin built shelves and Kristie, Leah and I went shopping while Grant was at school. Went to their primary program, where Grant had a part. Then off to Wyoming to visit daughter, Cassie.

Back up to Tennessee to visit the King, at Graceland, in Memphis. Then a couple of nights in Branson, Missouri to see 2 shows. We had never been either place before so enjoyed ourselves very much.
A long days travel thru Kansas and into Colorado where we visited 2 old forts and took a hike up to see the Garden of the Gods before we arrived at daughter, Kristie's.

Heather took me horseback riding for an early birthday gift. I had mentioned I really loved horses. It was great fun, she rode Copper and I got Gunsmoke, then we ate lunch at a little tea house. No one else wanted to go with us?

Had a nice visit with our daughter, Heather and her husband Jon. Of course, we enjoyed our grandchildren, Melissa and Jared,who have grownup so much while we have been gone!
Nephi and Jon worked on a french drain to try to keep their family room from flooding when the rains are heavy...sure hope it works!
We also celebrated our 39th anniversary while there.

We drove lots of beautiful country roads instead of staying on the highway.

Continuing south through Kentucky and Tennessee, we visited Cumberland Falls and Ruby caves and falls.

Our second stop was Palmyra

Driving Southwest to Palmyra, for a fast tour of the church sites. Then down to Kirkland, Ohio to see the temple and what is left of the old village when the saints settled there.

Our trip home from Vermont! Sept. 2, 2009

Our first stop on on our way home from our mission was Acadia National Park in Northern Maine. It was not really on our way home, but we had heard about how beautiful it is, so wanted to spend a couple of nights. While there, we traveled to Alexander, MA to visited the Sanfords, missionaries we had served with. Ellie enjoys cooking on an old fashioned wood cook stove!

Family Home Evening~August 2009

Our last Family Home Evening while on our mission. Pictured are some of the regulars who would come each week to the site directors home for FHE. Of course, we had to give a speech and testimony, always hard to say good-bye! The Mitchell's, the Clapson's, the Peach's, the Anderson's, the Petersen's (all missionary couples). Sis. McShinsky, Dickie Perry, the Olado's, the Caswell's, the Oparowski's, the Hoyt's.

We are down to our Last Two Weeks in Vermont!

It has been over a month since we have blogged. Two weeks ago we moved from our apt. into a travel trailer. Our lease on the apt. ran out last day of July. So we are camping out for our last month of mission service. It is interesting, especially since the mice seem to think it is their home to. We are trying to use up as much food as possible before we leave on Aug. 31, but I don't really want to share with the little furry creatures! So I had to put everything in zip lock bags and Nephi bought mouse traps and has gone to trapping the little rascals. Yaakkk!!!
I usually write on this blog when I can't sleep at night, but since we didn't have room in the trailer, we have moved our computer across the road to the workshop.
We are enjoying our last few weekends here visiting some of the places we haven't seen as yet. This weekend we are going on the White River Flier, a 2 hour train ride to the north. We are going with 2 other sets of FM Missionaries, the Andersen's and the Peach's.

Sister Jensen on the porch of "The Mansion Home" where the Camp Joseph Missionaries or camp directors stay during the summer months. Camp is closed during the winter months due to the cold weather. Bother and Sister Cochran are the fulltime missionaries currently serving and there calling is for two years.

The...fulltime missionaries have been teaching a 9 year old girl from a part member family and as it turned out she was in our primary class. I think she took a liking to Sister Jensen but when it came time to be baptized last week-end she asked if I would do it. Since our Chapel is under constrution the baptism was held in the Camp Joseph Pond. Commonly called the Waters of Mormon. So this was a first for me to baptism someone in such a wonderful setting. Even though the water was cold everything turned out great and on Sunday I had the privledge of confriming her a member of the church and giving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Thanks Kaitlyn Densmore for asking me to perform these sacred ordaninces.




This is Kaitlyn's family right after the baptism

I asked my children to write somethings they remembered from their childhood for a Mother's Day gift this year. I got some wonderful and funny stories. I wanted to write something to each of them in return.

The Importance of Your Name
Your father and I put a lot of thought into each of your names.
Heather is a plant native to the British Isles. When your father was on a church mission to England, he heard and really liked the name. So after we had been married a year and I was expecting our first baby , we choose Heather as the girl ’s name. Lynn would be her middle name after your father’s middle name. Shawn Nephi would be the boy’s name. Your father was hoping for a baby girl first . He got his wish and it was decided, Heather Lynn, we loved the name. A beautiful and content baby born April 4, 1972 in Provo, Utah, while your dad was attending B.Y.U.

Our second child would be Shawn Nephi, if a boy . I really loved the name Fawn for a daughter.. After joining the church, I had become friends with Sherry Stewart. She had a sister named Fawn. I asked her if she liked her name ? She said she did like it and didn’t get teased much (little deer). So it was decided, Fawn Mary . Mary after your dad’s mom, Mary Helen, and my mom , Rosemary . The name fit her perfectly and she was born just 15 ½ months after Heather , July 28,1973 in Castro Valley , California. Another beautiful and loving baby girl ! Your father was in Missile Launch School at Vandenberg Air Force Base for 6 weeks, so we were living with Grandma Rose and Grandpa Herb. Your dad’s mom , Mary Helen, past away just a few days before you were born. We were so sorry she didn’t get to see you before she passed on.
Our third child would be Shawn Nephi. We had just moved from Minot,
North Dakota, after serving in the Air Force for two years. Your father was able to get an early out because of too many officers after the Vietnam war . So , to the farm we went and I was very pregnant . If a girl , our baby’s name would be , Kristie Rose. Your father was very specific about how it was to be spelled. A daughter of one of our Home Teaching families was named Kristie. Rose was chosen after my mom’s name and Dad’s sister. Kerstin was almost chosen, but we thought it might be too unusual. We were living in a tiny house we lovingly call “little house on the prairie”, on the Idaho farm . It was decided, Kristie Rose, a beautiful name for a beautiful baby , born June 6, 1975 in Caldwell, Idaho.

As we were expecting our fourth child, Shawn Nephi, would be his name. If a baby girl, her name would be Cassandra Marie. Cassandra, because I had taught a girl in Young Women named Cassie, and really liked her name. And Marie for her middle name because Marie Osmond was popular and we thought it was pretty . We almost used Ann, after Grandma Teresa Ann, your dad’s step mother. But Cassandra seems to already have an ann sound in it and we thought Marie sounded better . We also loved the shortened version , Cassie. So it was decided and Cassandra Marie was born , March 5, 1978, Caldwell, Idaho. She was a little bit blue after a difficult birth, but a dimpled beauty !
We finally tired of the name Shawn Nephi, so if a boy , it would be Dustin Nephi . Dustin Hoffman was popular and we liked how it sounded with the name Nephi. Of course by then, we were expecting a girl, who we may have named Autumn. When a boy was born, we where all
very surprised and excited! So it was decided, Dusty was the perfect name for a boy who loved to play in the dirt as a child. Our fifth and last child, born Sept.13, 1979 in Caldwell, Idaho , just two days before my birthday , a beautiful birthday gift.
We love all our children very much and are proud of the great people they have become. Thank you so much for the memories you have all given to us. And the meaning you have given to our life. We give gratitude to Heavenly Father every day for the blessing you all are to us. Thank you for your love and support for the things we do. And for the wonderful grand children you have blessed us with!

Hope of America

The new director at the Visitors Center, the Mitchell's, had a vision to organize a Memorial day celebration to honor veterans. They had seen this program in Provo and obtained permission to use the songs and theme and to put on a smaller version of the same here. There were about 500 plus people in attendance and the program was great with 120 children singing. Sister Mitchell prepared a book with certificates & info about many of the veterans from the area, with many of them in attendance. I think it will be even better next year. Lots of flags, fun patriotic songs, flag ceremony and t-shirts for all the kids....sorry to say the wind blew and it was very cold. But it did not rain as the weatherman had predicated!

New FM Missionaries

The Sanford's and the Vorwaller's came back into town for the baptism of Brother Ken Sypher. It was to be a surprise to his wife, Nancy,for her birthday. They also were able to attend the Memorial Day Celebration, another post. We went to dinner together at a small restaurant in South Royalton. Also in the pictures are the new visitor center missionaries, the Clapson's from Meridian, Id and the Peterson's from Reno, NV and the Cockran's who are Camp Joseph directors. We had a good meal and it was nice to catch up!



We spent a day with the new FM missionaries, the Peach's from Grand Junction, Co. We drove up to Silver Lake where this picture was taken then made our way to Woodstock, just to show them around some of our favorite sites. We have enjoyed getting to know them and to find our that Elder Peach also likes Hot Rods. He has a 36 Ford Sedan. We have already been to the local diner for a small town cruise night. About 10 cars.

It is so great to be outside working again! I have missed the exercise, fresh air and beauty of the Vermont spring. Next we need to take our bikes out for a ride. Just wish the hills were not so high, especially on the way up!
We are enjoying the new missionary couple (The Peach's). They are very easy to work with and are so sweet. Sister Peach loves to tell jokes and you know I can't remember a joke for more than a day or so. So she could tell the same one over & over. We are going to take them sight seeing Saturday and to a community yard sale. Like the rest of us when we first got here, they need bowls, etc.
Couldn't sleep, so thought I would update the Blog, but now I can't think of anything interesting to write. We lead a very boring life!
The next couple of weeks we are going to be very busy. We will be planting spring flowers, serving a luncheon to the construction crew who are working on the chapel, and getting everything ready for the big Memorial Program. Hopefully I will be able to get some good pictures to share.
The Mitchell's have very high expectations for everything, it puts pressure on us all to have everything looking nice. Which we want, as well, but don't have the time to do! They are not as layed back as the McKinnon's, so Tim & Gene are rebelling abit. The Vorwaller's & Sanford's are suppose to be coming back up around the 30th of May for the baptism of Ken Sypher. He has committed to baptism and is surprising his wife on her birthday. The Ward is excited!
We planted the allysum up the stairs to Monument today and then after lunch, had to go to Lebanon Chapel to work on ground there. So had a big day & are pooped! We will get the rest of the flowers next week. We (the ladies) have been going to Dawn's office to help out (3 times now). I really think we are going to be too busy to continue thru the summer. I told her we would be really busy this next 2 weeks because of planting & Memorial Day program. The pansies are doing very well and the hosta, fern and astillbe we planted last year seems to all be coming up. The spring bulbs are beautiful right now.

Another farm tour...this time we took the new missionary couple, the Peach's (from Colorado) to visit the Pease's dairy farm. Grace is in our Primary class, so took a few pictures of her with one of her favorite cows "Rosie".
It has been very warm here already and the 90 degree weather is scaring me to think what this summer might be like. The black flies are already out and swarming around our faces, dive bombing into our eyes and mouth. They are pesky and biting flies that arrive in New England in May. Hello bug spray!!

We live just off Dairy Hill, which used to have lots of dairy farms, now there are just a few left. This is one of them. Our Ward has quite a number of families who still milk cows, have chickens and do the whole farm thing. They are great people and work very hard.

Last Sunday the Kill's from our ward, invited us to dinner. We enjoyed being there during milking time. It is so much work and right now, they are loosing money doing it! Some of the cows are truly beautiful animals, especially the babies! They also have goats and chicken and love working with the critters. The family are true Vermonter's, and are really good people!

Elder & Sister Sanford head for home in Maine after 18 months. They bought a new (2004) Subaru, so will have 2 cars to take their belongings home in. It is a 7 hour drive, and plan to come back for the dedication of the remodeled South Royalton Chapel in August. We will miss them and look forward to getting to know the Peach's from Grand Junction, CO.

The couple across the table from us are the new Visitor Center Directors, Elder & Sister Mitchell from Orem, Ut. They own a scapbooking company called American Crafts.

We have lost another missionary couple. The Vorwaller's from Urda, Ut. headed home March 30. after a year of serving as JSM Visitor Center tour guides. We will miss them a lot! We got together often to play games and eat dinner. Learned lots of new games which we usually lost. They live about an hour from our home in Utah so we plan to visit them when we get home in August. Sister Vorwaller (Shellie) helped me learn some new crochet stitches during the long winter. It is great to meet and make lifelong friends while we are here!