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.