SPRING HAS SPRUNG

Cameron getting ready to compete at UNLV

 April came in with Tiffani’s 43^rd birthday.  She has given us many years of joy.  She always has a positive attitude and determination to get things done.  She has finished this semester with all A’s.  She has 3 more semesters and she will graduate, a long time goal of hers.  We are so proud.  We just can’t figure out how she does it with being the bishop’s wife, gospel doctrine teacher and mother of those precious 3. 

She is on the go constantly taking them to lessons, practices and games. 

She loves BYU football
We love the way she and Dave continue to teach their children by example and family prayer.  Granny told me Tiffani never cried as a baby because she was so happy to finally be on earth.

It was also Aunt Bev’s birthday.  She is the only Aunt on my side left.  We sent her flowers and she called to say how happy they made her.

April 3^rd we ordered The Jennings BYU football tickets.  We will order ours on the 6^th.  Dave and Cameron came last night and they took in 18 holes today.  Cameron got this trip for his 12^th birthday.  Dave took us to Pizza Factory for dinner and then to see the movie Home.  It was cute.

That evening Dianne and her girls had the blessing of singing in the women’s session of conference.  What a great opportunity for them.  I recorded that session so I could pause it when they sang and enjoy watching them.

Saturday morning the guys went golfing again (we recorded it so they could watch it later.)  They met up with Erik, Parker, Kolton, Clark and Riley for dinner and then the Men’s session of conference.  It was the first time for Cameron and Kolton to go.  What a gift to have those men worthy to go to such a special priesthood meeting.  I was so filled with thanksgiving. 

 Erik and boys

the men

Scott was in Vegas with his family at Tiffani and the twins.  Hope next conference they can all watch it together at a stake center.  They had a fun vacation in Vegas.

Every year we say it was the best conference ever but it always is.  This one was no exception.  We love that the Erik Bayles’ come to watch the Sunday morning session.  Those boys are so quiet and listen to what is going on. 

Honest, he watched when there were speakers

After the session we always have waffles, whipped cream, sausage and fresh berries.  It is always fun to be with family.

We love the rejuvenation conference gives us.  The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is so true and these speakers give us such a boost to try to be better and follow the Doctrine of Christ.  We must continue to have faith, live the covenants we made at baptism, live so we can always have the Holy Ghost as a companion and learn and grow to the end, keeping the covenants we made with our Father in the temple.  I love this truth and pattern to follow so our families can continue to grow.  We are so grateful to have our children sealed to us in His holy house.

Monday Erik and his family came to watch the NCAA championship game.  It was a great game.  We were all cheering for Duke and at the end they pulled it out.  Parker had an in grown toe nail repaired, Asher has a bad sinus problem and Kolton bought a new suit for his ordination to the priesthood.  Always something going on in that home.

We have purchased a new front door to be built.  It is beautiful, knotty alder.  I hyperventilated all the way home. 

It snowed all day.  Looking from the front porch

Wednesday I spent the day in Eureka with Milt while Dad spent the day serving in the temple.  He loves that.  We go do a session on Tuesdays, he goes and serves on Wednesdays and Fridays.  It’s a great plan.

Thursday we got up early and headed to LaVerkin for Aunt Marilyn’s funeral.  She is Uncle Platt’s wife and had been ill for several years.  Uncle Platt parachuted out of a plane a few weeks ago for his 89^th birthday.  He said it was the most fun of his life.  The funeral was wonderful.  Uncle Platt’s family filled the entire middle section of the stake center and some of the side. 

What a family.  Hal and his son Hunter brought Uncle Mark.  It is always good to be with him.  Uncle Platt told us a new story about Dad and Uncle Eric.  I don’t know how Granny made it with those two.

April 14^th was Kolton’s birthday.  It was a special one for a special boy.  He turned 12.  He is becoming such a good young man.  He loves his family and loves to do so many things.  We love his ability with art and is a natural athlete.  He can eat everything, rest a few minutes and eat some more.  I don’t think he has a bottom.  He smile brightens the world.  We love him so much.

Friday Nixon spent the afternoon and we made chocolate chip cookies.  He's such a good helper.

April 17^th we got to go to a premier open house for the Payson Temple.  We got to go so early because Shanelle helped in the making of the drapes in the rooms.  They are absolutely breath taking.  I have never been in such a beautiful temple.  It is much larger than it looks.  The temple was built on an apple orchard so they did all the wood furniture and framing with apple wood.  I thought it was mahogany it is so beautiful.  The rooms are very spacious and give such a peaceful feeling.  The stained glass windows have apple blossoms and leaves in them.  The upholstery is so beautiful with a touch of apples.  The staircase is huge and so well done.  The Spirit is so evident and the entire temple is magnificent.  I’m so glad Erik and Shanelle invited us to go with them.  It was not crowed and all the more that a million tickets are gone.

We went out to dinner in Provo to La Dolca Vida.  It was a great time.

We found that Michelle Williams had surgery for breast cancer.  They are going to do all the testing again in a month because they are not certain of the results.  We are praying for her.

Relief Society was so filled with the Spirit.  A young member told of her conversion in China.  Her parents were not happy with her decision and when she told them she was going on a mission instead of continuing her education they were extremely upset.  She knew the gospel was true.  The best part of her story was that  her parents are now baptized members.  The room was silent and so filled.  Many tears were shed.

We stayed for just the sacrament and then headed to PG for Kolton receiving the Aaronic Priesthood and being ordained as a deacon.

 Kolton and Erik

 The men

He was so handsome in his new suit and Erik gave him a beautiful blessing.  Scott, Bethany and kids were there with us.  It was a wonderful time.  He will pass the sacrament this Sunday.  It is nice to know that the 4 grandsons who are of age are deacons.  The gospel is so true.  We left the ordination to have dinner at Erik’s home.  Of course we had Shanelle’s potato salad. 

I love it when the grands get together.  Scott’s had to leave for a baby blessing  and we played dominoes.  They learned Chicken Foot and we learned Mexican Train.  It was really fun and loud. 

We love being with our eternal family.  How beautiful the Plan of Salvation is.  We are so trying to live so we can be worthy to have everyone for eternity.
Monday we took the boat to Spanish Fork so Matt could put the new motor in and then on to Payson to watch Kolton play soccer.
Wednesday we went to Blake Piggott's reception  She was a beautiful bride. We remember when one day she would come out of the house in cleats and shin guards and the next day in a tutu.
Friday we picked up Ashley and went to Draper to watch Riley in a soccer game.  We love that we go to so many activities the grands are involved in.  We took Lily and Jonny back with us to spend the night with Ashley.  They were so excited.  We got home in time to watch BYU baseball and Andy Isom make the winning run.  What a fun day.

April 27th Kristin turned 47.  She is such a wonderful daughter. She has done so many fun things in her short life.  She has shared the world with us in her travels and we have enjoyed every minute.  She loves the Lord with all her heart and lives her life in full faith.  She is always helping others with anything she can and without asking for anything in return.  She loves being a wife and mother and makes sure she makes every day count.  She is gifted with her writing abilities and always excelled in her studies.  We don't like that they live so far away but she loves the friends she has met in Columbia.  We surely do love her.
We did a "Days for Girls" evening RS activity.  We made sanitary kits for girls in Africa who don't have any idea what is going on with their bodies and are considered dirty in that culture.  The sisters said it was their favorite time in that they spent the entire evening helping girls who cannot help themselves.  It was an amazing evening and was so well attended.  They didn't leave until 9:30.

Thursday we went to Thanksgiving Point to see the tulip gardens.  They were beautiful and we thoroughly pleased.  They had beautiful gardens and a place with a huge sculpture of Jesus walking on water.  It was as large as our living room.  There were other sculpts that were much smaller that are going to be made into larger ones.

 Dad at the water fall

 Christ walking on water

 First vision

Woman touching Christ's robe

This has been a great month full of many blessings with Easter Sunday and conference.  We love all that is involved with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  It's so true and we must attend our meetings to increase our faith and keep our families on the right path.  It is imperative that we lead our families to our Savior and eternal exaltation.