What a year!
OUR MISSION CONCLUDES
We started the year busily involved with the work at the Provo LDS Employment Resource Services Center. We had decided to extend our mission for a few months to help the mission with the launching of the new http://www.ldsjobs.org website that had been launched mid-October. The new website, with its technical challenges, caused the missionaries to shift focus away from helping individuals needing help. We were serving as Office Managers / Zone Leaders, spending most of our time helping missionaries with their work. We love and miss our missionary friends. We appreciative of the leadership given by Larry Stevenson, Sam Baugh, and Wayne Goodworth. A feeling that it was time to move on and allow other missionaries to grow prompted the conclusion of our mission about the middle of May. Our mission at the employment center has forever changed our lives, we find ourselves a little more understanding of those in need; we have felt the Savior's love as we tried serving (Mosiah 2:17).
RETURN TO NEW ENGLAND
What a blessing and thrill it was to return to New England and spend our 45th wedding anniversary in the Boston Temple! We flew to Providence, Rhode Island, rented a car and drove 2000 miles over the same roads as Steve had done as a young missionary. We watched the Red Sox play at Fenway Park; we drove to Plymouth Rock where the Pilgrims landed in 1620. We attended church in Bangor, Maine and was recognized by Sister Thomas; found the apartment where Steve and his companions lived. We drove through Vermont, stopping in Barre to watch a building that was on fire; stopped in Sharon/So. Royalton to visit the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith; crossed a 400 ft. covered bridge; and bought some pure Vermont maple syrup. We detoured to up-state New York to go to Palmyra and the Hill Cumorah; then south to Gettysburg and Amish country of Pennsylvania, crossing the Susquehanna River several times. After eating at the Good 'N Plenty, we headed to New York City. We toured NYC on a tour bus, cab, and walking. We were able to attend the Manhattan Temple and see Wicked. We were glad to leave the big city, spending our last night in New England in Meriden, Connecticut (Steve's last area as a young missionary). We visited Sister Puida and Billy. Sister Puida wanted us to tell everyone that her family is still active in the Church - after 45 years.
CEDAR BADGE
Can you believe it? We just can't get Scouting out of our activities! Steve spent another awesome week on the hill at Island Park Scout Camp (helping Leland and Jake Tomlinson, as well as serving as Chaplain) while Patricia was in Orem with Ashley. On our way home from the Family Reunion in Island Park we looked at a couple of houses that were for sale - the feeling that we should return to Rexburg kept getting stronger. While on the hill Steve talked with Shane Williams again (first time was in January) about his home in the Lyman area. With camera in hand he stopped to see the home and take pictures back to Patricia. No pictures were taken because of a feeling that Patricia would love this home.
HOME IN LYMAN
We made the arrangements to purchase the home from Shane and Shay Williams! We packed our belongings, once again, in a Uhaul and returned to our home in Rexburg. Eight out of ten people, whether in Rexburg or Orem would ask, "Why? Why aren't you going south to St. George? Or, why not just stay in Orem?" Our answer, "Because Rexburg is home." We are making the adjustment to a new ward and neighborhood. We love the small home and the large garage/shop. We have a garden spot once again.
The hardest thing we have had to do this past year was to leave our family in Utah and the Timpview 4th Ward. We love the ward members and the neighborhood in Orem. We miss them. Yet, we know we must do as we are prompted, looking for the tender mercies from the Lord. We wish to thank Brian and Michelle and their family for allowing us to spend a few months in their home while we made up our minds what to do with the home in Burton; and, to help us get acclimatized to life in Utah. Especially, we want to express thanks and love to Brad and Amy and family for allowing us to live in the home in Orem for the past 3 1/2 years. Because of them we were able to serve as missionaries and gain new, life-long friends and love for Utah (won't miss the traffic, but will continually miss the mountains). We will miss the sleep-overs with the grandkids sleeping at the foot of our bed - yes, even Ashley!
TEMPLE AND FAMILY HISTORY
We were to able serve as ordinance workers in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple during the same time as our service at the employment center. We love the temple. We testify of the need for temples in our lives. We are thankful that our family members are worthy and that they regularly attend the temple (Draper, San Antonio, Boise, Rexburg, Mt. Timpanogos). We are excited to continue our service in the temple, now the Rexburg Temple.
We attended a week-long family history training at the Orem Family History Training Center during June. We just need to act upon the Spirit of Elijah. During that week we were able to locate a couple of ancestors and have them sealed there to parents in the Provo Temple.
MOM
We feel that one of the reasons we have been so strongly prompted to return to Rexburg was that we needed to help more with the care of Steve's mom. We appreciate all that Paul, Serena, Marilyn, and Ruth (until her passing near the end of July) have done to care for her. We are appreciative of the sacrifice that Joan and Lynn made to travel to visit mom. We are glad to be much closer where we can spend some regular time helping to lighten the load of Paul, Serena, and Marilyn.
FAMILY
Our family has had two major events during this past year, surprisingly in November! Carter entered the MTC on November 17. It was good to go with him to the Draper Temple for his endowment at the end of October. He is on his way to the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission. We are very happy for his choice to serve the Lord. He will be an awesome missionary. Can you believe it? Scott and Jeana and family have returned closer to home! They had a very similarly difficult time leaving their friends and ward in Austin, Texas as we did leaving our friends and ward in Orem. And to top it all off, they have moved into the home where we lived in Orem (we left our fridge)! We kept telling the ward members that we were trading 2 Baldwins for 5 Baldwins and the ward members were getting a better deal! It is most comforting to know that Scott and Jeana and family will be very well cared for while living in the Timpview 4th Ward.
As we reflect over the 45 years that we have been sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple, we have been blessed with a good family and awesome friends. Each of you have touched our lives and we are better because of that. Your lives testify of the Savior, whose birth we celebrate and testify of. He is our Savior, our Redeemer, our Counselor. We know He lives. Our lives together started when we decided to become engaged - it was during a presentation of Handel's Messiah in the Kirkham Auditorium, Ricks College (now BYU-I), Sunday, December 6, 1964. We love this time of year. May the Lord continue to bless each of you - our family and friends.
So far, two wonderfully warm and sunny Fridays and one rather windy Friday found us at the Rexburg Farmers Market showing our hand-made wood 'n things. We have some name scrolled but are ready to work on any name someone would like. I have used pine and left the names unfinished to allow someone to paint, stain, and finish as they see fit. You will also find some hand-turned pens and hand-carved walking sticks. We have some other small projects at our booth: pill holders (can be used for an oil vial), kaleidescopes, dinner bells, salt and pepper shakers, and cake stands. Come see us on Friday, July 22nd and 29th and August 12th and 26th.
