And the show went on....Payson Temple Cultural Celebration

I wish I could describe the feelings of the past few weeks. Our youth have been preparing to perform in the Payson Temple Cultural Celebration.  May 31 was the first time all 13,000 youth were together for a dress rehearsal. It took 6 hours to complete one run through. It was a scorching 90+ degrees which is really amazing since it had rained practically the entire month of May. Our two rehearsals on football fields were soakers,

waiting for our turn at Salem Hills -

raining again ..waiting for our turn under the bleachers

June 5 was the beginning of our bistake youth conference. We heard from Ed Pinegar. He talked to the kids about all kinds of stuff, praising them, counseling them, and making them laugh. Then we took them to Seven Peaks for a night of fun. June 6: performance day. It started out hot. Again 13,000 and their leaders arrived at 10am to practice 2 run throughs, with cameras rolling. It was fun. At 2 the stakes met at Rock Canyon Park to eat lunch catered by Cafe Rio.  it was a time to eat and relax before performance time. We had to be back by 5pm.

across the stadium some of our ward. Cam had his hand on his head, Jer has a crush...

That's when the rain clouds decided to show up. by 530 big rain drops, hail, and lightning and by 6pm the stadium announced that the program was temporarily postponed and everyone needed to seek shelter. The entire stadium cleared with people going under the bleachers or to their cars. Some kids and parents left, thinking the program would be cancelled. 

before show  -- trying to stay dry

After many prayers, the rain stopped and the show went on, only an hour behind schedule.

baseball number

cameron in purple hat, jeremy in blue hat

storms   

after the storms comes the sunshine

2000 stripling warriors

apple blossoms and  maypole dance

finale--rainbow 

I am so proud of my boys for doing the program. I know they really didn't want to at first but I think they learned a lot about themselves, especially Cameron. Tyler ended up dancing with Levan 1 ward, and Jeremy changed partners so he could be with his "crush".  Our neighbor girl talked Cameron into dancing with her, since Jeremy deserted her:)  I thought he'd refuse, or have a breakdown on performance night, but he didn't. They all did amazing. I love my boys and am so excited to have a temple so close. Now I need to go more often.

after show.... tired, wet, and happy!!

Payson Temple festivities

View from East side

WE get the awesome privilege of being in the new Payson Temple district. Our stake is one of 27 that will now attend this temple. It is so beautiful, as all temples are. Since the open house I have been able to see it three different times.

April 22- V.I.P. open house. Our ward needed 120 people to help that day. I took the day off work. Chris did as well and we went. We had so many people that some didn't have a job. So they got a tour and got to wait around until we were all done--we had carpooled and got all split up.  chris was one of the extras.  I was on the top floor where the sealing rooms are. Gorgeous. There were lots of smaller groups and only one  big group that day being guided by Elder Richards? the director of all the temples.  He brought in a lot of leaders of different religions. They were quite curious about the temples and our church. I tried to eves drop on the conversation in the sealing room where they spent about 30 minutes. They asked questions wondering why would we spend so much on a building.  about marriage and sealings and divorce.  And lots of other questions which Elder Richards answered without breaking a sweat. He also explained where the chandeliers come from, about the art, and glass.  It was pretty awesome. They seemed very receptive to what he had to say. I did get to see the entire temple-including places not on the official tour like the bridal room and the nursery.  I learned that there are two entrances which means two recommend desks. the east doors are one floor higher than the west doors--which is also where the baptismal font is.

April 26.  just a few days later the young women, their moms, and leaders were invited to come on a Sunday and tour the bridal room and sealing rooms. the temple matron spoke to all of us about the importance of their choices now.  She said to choose freedom which really means to obey the commandments. She also spoke to them about true happiness, not just pleasure.  The girls that came really enjoyed the experience.

Family at Temple-missing Derek;(
View from West side

April 29. Our family got to go on a tour-so basically the boys got to see it for the first time. Derek couldn't make it, but he did come to visit us the next day.  Anyway we watched the video on temples, we walked through the whole thing, got our picture taken in the tents and took lots of pictures on the grounds. This day was the best weather: blue skies and warm. The flowers are amazing, the temple is beautiful and I'm glad we live so close---only about 20 minutes.

Boys and their dad

spring flowers

The youth got to do one last session of baptisms for the dead at Manti on May 1. Jeremy and Chris went to that. Tyler was at BYU track and I stayed home with Cameron. He is 12 on the 22nd, so just missed it. He'll get to go to the first one at Payson.

The best part of all of the is is the youth Temple Cultural Celebration being held on June 6, the night before the dedication. We just had a stake practice--heres to hoping (and really knowing) that everything will go well and the kids will take the experience in and remember it always.  Cameron isn't wanting to participate, but I'm still making him attend every practice. Jeremy and Tyler are also not excited, but you wouldn't know it by watching them at practice.  I can't wait to see it live at BYU. It is being broadcast in every stake center in the temple district. tickets will be hard to come by, but my family will have at least 6. If I get a choice,  I will share with grandparents first, ward members second. I hope that isn't bad...

job hunting

May I just say that job hunting is not fun. I'm in need of  a new job, I am not being rehired at JHS and I've decided I'm not teaching again...at least not in a formal classroom setting. I feel like a failure sometimes.

I've had to look at every job, every skill, and every activity I have ever done to see if I have any marketable skills. Right now I don't feel like it. I also can't seem to think of any accomplishments to make me stand out.

Yes  I have visited with lds employment services, workforce services, got online at career builder, linked in,  It is such a pain to put all my information out there, on every website. why can't there be one place, one format for all employers to use so I just type it once, or copy/paste it. I even went to a JUAB county job fair Monday. Interesting opportunities, but mostly skilled laborers.

I talked to a professor at byu about what it would take to become a actuary. He says I really have to pass a few exams, no course work necessary... Maybe because of my math background. The first one is the P exam (probability)  the second one is the FM (financial math), then an internship. I might be able to take a class to prep for the P exam during spring summer semester. Interesting information.

I also have an interview tomorrow at the hospital as an admitting clerk. I obviously can't start until summer.... I told them that at the job fair, but they want to try it anyway.  (Not offered job, but it was just not enough $)  I also applied to work at Western Governors University as a student mentor, but I was passed up on that too. That was a work-at-home job.

I'm excited, but really nervous about where I'm headed. I may even go back for more training or get another degree. I love learning....too bad there isn't money in learning, just working.

Spring Sports

After a warm winter, spring sports officially started on Feb 23.
Tyler decided this year to participate in track only, not try to do both soccer and track. It was just too hard and he didn't do well in either one.
He is about 40 pounds bigger this year and the events he participated in last year are not ones he can do well this year. He had to be talked into it by the coaches. He is now throwing the shot-put and discus, as well as running 400m, he is still trying to do long jump, too, even though he really can't jump at a competitive level (only 14' so far)

March 11 @ carbon- discus 88', long jump 14'
March 17 @ salem hills- discus 94', long jump 14', 400m 62 sec
March 20 @ provo invite- shot 30' (first time), disk 93', long jump 14' (scratch 16'?), 400m 61 sec.
March 28 @ copper hills-
April 2 @ Juab invite shot, disk, 400m 61sec
April 10 @ manti invite PR shot33', PR disk 107'2" took 8th., long jump

PR at Manti meet 107'2" placed 8th

April 11@delta invite shot, disk 106' 8th place, 300m hurdles (first time ever-56sec)
April 17 @ woods cross invite 35 shot-put, "not good in Disk"

waiting his turn with his friend

Provo meet shot-30'

April 18 @ Millard invite not going due to PROM.
April 25 @ orem invite  disk 104', shot 36' PR, 300m hurdles
April 29 @ manti JV won Disk
May 1-2@ byu invite Tyler didn't qualify to participate
May 6-7 @ carbon REGION disk 6th place 106' didn't qualify for state, only top 4 go. Qualified in shotput  37'6"  (PR) 3rd place.  Boys took 1st at region. girls took 2nd.
May 15-16 @ BYU STATE Threw at 4pm on Saturday.  36'11.75".  Hailed in the middle of his flight. he was soaked to the skin. boys took 3rd in state, girls 4th
 Tyler did amazing this year, trying new things.  I have a video of the hurdles... so not his thing! but its entertaining. The rains and cold finally showing up in May.


Jeremy and Cameron will also participate in city track. Cameron would like to throw and jump only, Jeremy wants to run and jump. Guess we'll see what they do.
April 30 @ juab
Jeremy 4X100m team 50 seconds -1st fastest team of the day; 400m- 1:06:80 3rd
Cameron discus 51'4"- 1st, long jump 11'8"- 4th; 100m 14:99s -5th

May 9@manti

May 19@juab

May 26@gunnison

June 4@north sanpete

June11 invite@ payson

Where's Winter?

This has been the warmest February on record. On my birthday, the temperature read 62 degrees. Christmas was the last storm of any kind I remember. It hasn't even rained this month in Nephi.

Our area has been asked to fast and pray for moisture next week. This is the second time this "winter."

Yuba is 40% full right now with nothing to drain into it.  The Pinery where we will have girls camp in June has not water in the spring, so no running water. Wildfire fireman have already started training.

If we don't get significant moisture soon (and it may be too late) it will be a miserable summer. Food prices will sky rocket. Gardens won't be able to grow. Animals will dehydrate.

Jim and Heidi are just wishing for a stop to the massive winter storms and cold hitting NY. I'd love to any part of what they have received.

Our True Colors

Family Photo 2014

Derek gave us an awesome Christmas present. He got each of us our favorite school hoodie. AND since we hadn't got a family picture yet in 2014, I made all of us pose for a few. The hoodies are the favorite present, the pictures are my favorite present.

Chris and Jen in our glasses

The boys--together again

Tyler 16

Cameron 11

Jeremy 14

Derek 19

 I was especially glad to get some snow for christmas. We ended up with 4-6 inches.  I love White Christmases.

White Christmas didn't stop snowing all day long

White Christmas

Our Tree

We all had a great holiday.  Most of it was spent at home, relaxing and watching the latest game on TV ((the boys) or all the holiday movies (jen).

Merry Christmas

Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas to our family and friends.

Wish I could say exciting things happened this year but there wasn't much going on besides the usual. (ha, ha) The boys continue playing on various sports teams and moving along in the scouting program. Jennifer and Chris just drive a lot of miles to support the boys.

Tyler, junior at school, turned 16 this year, so now we have another driver.  He became the chauffeur at the beginning of the school year for reasons you’ll hear about later. Tyler also earned his Eagle rank in scouting. He also worked at a scout camp called Tifie in Mt Pleasant all summer. He learned all kinds of cool stuff about geology and nature since he was a merit badge guy in the nature lodge. He developed talents and enjoyed making new friends. He did miss doing stuff with his friends and family though. And the pay isn’t much, But he enjoyed it. He usually came home on Saturday around noon and had to go back Sunday night. He played football this fall and helped Juab get second place in the state for the 2014 season. It's the best the school has done in years. Tyler also played basketball, soccer, and ran track this year; he kept very busy. He's now taller than Derek, wears size 14 shoes, and rules the basement just like Derek did.




Cameron is 11 and in 6th grade. He’s coming out of his shell a little more. He gives book reports and speeches in class, just not anywhere else. He really likes to sing when he thinks no one is listening. I keep hoping he will join choir or band so I can have a musician as well as a sports star. He loves reading, at least for now. He really likes Conspiracy 365 book series and doing word search puzzles. He played tackle football this year for the first time. I wasn’t sure he would actually do it. The first week of practice was hard, but he adjusted and we never let him “Just stay home” to get out of it. He didn’t play a lot in the games, but he got better each week. He also loves to play basketball. His team took 2^nd place. Cameron is growing taller too, he’s nearly as tall as his mom, wears a size 7 shoe.
Derek is in his second year of college at the University of Utah. After many years of wanting to be an architect, he changed his major. He said math is the thing that killed his dream.  He is now studying parks and recreation (the business side of sports, like front office for a team).  He is a huge supporter of the Utah sports teams, going to as many games as possible as part of the MUSS (Mighty Utah Student Section). He worked in Texas this summer selling pest control plans. He enjoyed his time away from Utah. He also bought a truck. Now he's learning just how much he must work to pay for his truck and other living expenses. He lives off campus this year; actually he lives on the same property as Chris and I did when we were first married, on 400 S 600 E. They tore down our building and built new apartments. The dorms weren't as fun as he thought they would be and he had crazy roommates. He also works at Dicks sporting goods. He doesn't come home much though.






















The trip to Oregon was long but fun. We went to visit mark and Stacy, see the Oregon coast and Crater Lake. Jennifer, Cameron, and Jeremy drove. We were gone 9 days over July 4. We stopped at Boise State University for a photo op for Jeremy. We tried to see the blue field but couldn't see through the gates. The Columbia Gorge was gorgeous. The coast was awesome.  The longest part was the drive home:  from the Coast to Crater Lake, then Crater Lake to I-80 in Winnemucca. We camped almost the entire time.
Chris is still at Yuba. He’s in his 16th year. He was unable to go vacationing with the rest of us. Summer is not a great time to vacation when you’re supposed to be chaperoning the rest of the world. He has inherited the back troubles of his dad. He's had to be on light duty twice this year because his back went out. Just recently he had an MRI and that found a bulging disk. He trying an epidural steroid shot to relieve the pain. Hoping it will work and keep him in the workforce until he has 20 years in. He continues to hunt and fish and make our house and yard beautiful.

Jeremy is 14, in 8th grade. He still doesn't like school, especially math. He reads a bit, Michael Vey is a current favorite, along with the Red Pyramid series and the Maze Runner series. Jeremy played football, basketball, and ran track.  He actually got the opportunity to play quarter back a little this year. For the amount of practice he had in that position, he did ok. He also had a career high 16 points in basketball, hitting 3 or 4 3-point shots. He's still the most friendly child we have. He has both girls and boys as friends. We may be in trouble when he turns 16. Jeremy attended his first scout camp at Scofield. He earned a few merit badges. He’s just a few badges away from advancing to a Life Scout. Jeremy is the same height as his mom, wears a size 10 shoe and is known to tease mercilessly.

Jennifer is still teaching math at Juab High, still provisional though. She must pass the evaluation at the end of this school year or find a new job. It doesn't feel as stressful in that sense this year for some reason. She is teaching a great group of kids this year, and that helps a lot. Jennifer had foot surgery at the beginning of the school year and couldn't drive for quite a while. She spent two months in a cast, no weight allowed. She even developed a blood clot. No worries, it's going away. She spent a lot nights watching her boys play sports. Her summer was extremely busy. Working and going to conferences, girls’ camp, and youth conference and vacationing, having all the fun before her surgery.

July brought vacations to Oregon and Family Odyssey at Tifie with the boys. Totally recommend family odyssey if possible. It's a family camp held in conjunction with Wood Badge training for Boy Scouts of America. Jennifer helped keep 10 year old boys busy. Jeremy and Cameron participated with their age groups. Cameron nearly completed all the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. He hadn't even gone to a meeting with his 11 year old group at the time. The only thing keeping him back is swimming. Both boys had fun, even though they thought they wouldn't. It was a bonus to be at the same camp as Tyler worked. We had a little family time with him. Jeremy went rock climbing, shooting, and all kinds of fun things designed for 12-13 year old boys and girls.

We hope all find you well and happy. Enjoy the holiday season. Remember Christ is the reason for the season. Live your lives as He would.

Love Jennifer, Chris, Tyler, Derek, Jeremy, Cameron