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.