The Smith Family...

And to think, I actually did NOT tell them to do that!

Can you see them???

Emma Smith, since the rest of the family was taking care of Seth...

Primary Activity Days

I have a new calling...after 15 + years...I am no longer in Young Women's....However, I was truly blessed to continue working with the FUTURE Young Women in the church...ONE of my CALLINGS...is Primary Activity Days...I wanted to base my activities around "3" loyalties (as President Benson often referred them as...) Loyalty to GOD; Loyalty to FAMILY; Loyalty to COUNTRY...My first Primary Activity...was on COUNTRY....because...we are soon to be celebrating "Independence Day"....I wanted to bring about "awareness" of WHY we celebrate this holiday...I have become more aware in the SCRIPTURES...of the word...."REMEMBER"...I think about the Jewish holidays...helping the Jewish people... REMEMBER..."God's hand" in their lives...Fourth of July....also...had "God's hand" written all over it....I pray...we all REMEMBER WHY....we are celebrating..."Independence Day"....I wanted you to see most of my new precious girls...I will have the privilege of serving....They are EXCITED to be involved...(smile)

"A Day at Granny's"

Hyrum holding Sammy and Lars Oveson with Nathan...They had such a great time

playing with the "babies"...

Nathan

Sammy

A Day at "Granny's House"...Jenny came down Sunday night and left Monday afternoon...due to Abraham's request...to come and massage Dad and himself...Dad and Abe had been suffering from over-taxed bodies from a week of cooking for 850 + people in the Florida heat...Dad, especially, has a body...that needs "resurrecting"...On the PLUS side of this...I got to enjoy...TWO GRANDSONS...

Wildlife

Mr. WISE

I am still facinated by the incredible "wildlife"...this earth life offers...The remarkable thing...is how MUCH we have "literally" in our own backyard...I couldn't understand, at first, why "Mr. Wise" had such a facination to sit on the pool hand bar...till it dawned on me...of the number of "frogs" that are swimming...at the bottom of the pool....(smile)

Camp Mosiah - June 16 - 21, 2008

Abe in another "sassy" tee shirt

"NOT PERFECT "

Then something like - "but nearly perfect which is scaring me"

Wish I could remember the EXACT wording...

Grilling all the "hamburgers" for DINNER

We had "3" cooking grills - Your dad and Kevin Bush got and made

steel grills to put over grated grills - your dad made the handles, etc.

Abe and Bob Shephered in the background..

Mike Ingalls - beginning to cook the "hot dogs" for Friday Night's Dinner

President Kevin Lowe PRESENTING the LAST JAR of peanut butter to Rick Miller

Your dad - President Lowe - President Mike Ingalls

Your dad and President Kevin Lowe

Getting set up to make LUNCH - peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches

Friday - AFTER LUNCH - Your dad stretching his "aching" back

Took all the YM to "move" this bread shelf

Trevor trying to "tilt" HEAVY METAL FRAME to get through the door

Hyrum and Cavannah unloading "gatorade"

Hyrum, Lars Oveson, Trevor Bush

Kevin Bush and your dad with some of the Young Men beginning the process of unloading
on Monday - June 16 - at the Church Ranch...


Your dad took on the BIGGEST event...thus far....involving "The Holy Griddle"....FEEDING ALL at the "Camp Mosiah" REGIONAL Scout encampment.....averaging 850 people PER MEAL....The camp did not officially begin...till Wednesday, June 18th - but, Garvin had to get all the food at the church ranch...on MONDAY...and feed "staff" meals...beginning TUESDAY MORNING...(some of the guys did not get home till 1:30 Tuesday MORNING...loading up the last truck loads) I do not know the FINAL bill...but, the budget began at $16,000....I only went on FRIDAY....Bob Shepherd picked me up after 4:00 in the morning...so we could help with the cooking throughout the day...It was the only day I could go...due to release of my YW President calling...and given TWO other callings....I had to start setting up all my records...for the Primary Activities Day calling...and start working on my FIRST activity...next WEDNESDAY....plus...meetings...and turning over everything to the Sister who replaced me in Young Women's....However...I had a GREAT TIME....and your dad had INCREDIBLY HARD working men...plus Fran Miller...helping him..."feed the masses"....I took some pictures, yesterday, to give you some idea...what it was like...beginning on Monday...SERVING IN THE KINDGOM really is AWESOME!!!!!

Face-Lift

Just thought I'd give our blog a little face-lift! Hope everyone likes it!

Father's Day - 2008

Naseem seems to end up feeding the babies

Nathan doesn't quite know what to think of "Darth"

Nathan is fasinated by the flashlight "cow"

Reading all your "tributes"

Mixed nuts from Angel and Jared

A "cow" flashlight from Angel and Jared - It even "moos"

What can I say....

Garvin opening a present from Hyrum


I began to post this yesterday, but had to leave to help in the CAMP MOSIAH project at the Church ranch...While I was gone, a major lightning storm came up...and Jared had to shut down my computer while I was gone......so...I am going to recreate what I started, yesterday...(smile) I had commented...that Father's Day is NOT quite the same...without "8" of you here....and all the noise - discussions -etc....that are generated by "8" personalities....(smile) It was, however, a VERY nice day...We had Rick and Fran Miller; Darryl Pierce; Naseem; 2 Missionaries; Jared, Angel, and Nathan; and of course....Dad, me, Abe, and Hyrum....Dad received phones calls from all, but one...plus...he had those MARVELOUS.....sentiments...sent from each of you....THANK YOU...for taking time...to write to your dad....He chuckled....on many of the comments....and was touched by some of the other "memories"....(smile)

Caleb

I saw this picture on your facebook, Caleb...I LOVE IT!!! So, I am posting it on our family blog...I have seen that "look" so many times...Perhaps, that is why I really love the picture...(smile)

Granny Smith's Garden and Little Grandchildren

Happy Nathan....

Sammy's first "tractor" ride experience

Mommy Jenny kissing on Sammy

Hyrum and Sammy

Couldn't resist showing off this picture of Sammy

Sammy's first time in "overalls"

Nathan tuggered out.....

Aren't babies "cute" when they are asleep?

Trying to discover...which one needed changing (smile)

Sammy Joslyn and Nathan Day

Sammy Joslyn

For the last couple of days...I got to spend a little bit of time...with TWO out of 10 precious grandchildren...Nathan (Day) and Samuel --"Sammy"(Joslyn)...Jenny came up for a couple of days...to be with Garvin...since she couldn't be here on Sunday...to celebrate "Father's Day"....

I love gardening...I love...the wonder...of how nature takes a seed or two...and somehow manifests itself.....into a creation...that transcends...into a work of art...designed by an "unseen" creator...Each day it presents a gift...that "lifts" my spirit...to different heights...and simple pleasures...and removes me...from the "reality" of this telestial life....to....a place...I no longer remember....

My precious little grandchildren...each created from a divine "seed"...yet, each manifests their own "individual" masterpiece of some of God's finest "designs"....NOT ONE is alike...never providing the same.....exact pattern of activity...Each day...holding a different "glance" of "heaven"....

That's It!

Snow in June! That's it! Its over, I'm moving back to Florida! Make room cause here I come! Did you know, on a good day the wind only blows about 100 mph? 

(sigh) Fine, I'll stay, but only cause I have to.

So, after hearing all this fine talk about Idaho, who wants to move out here with me? 

In the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

Ever been in the RIGHT place at the WRONG time...Yep...I was attacked while blissfully working in my garden...Unknown to me...there was a "new home" being built...near a plant I was cutting down to size....ZAP!!!! on one hand....ZAP!!!! on the other side on my arm....After the second sting...and "others" wanting to get their "hit"...I moved QUICKLY out of their path....of these nasty wasps.....(smile)

Much like life...sometimes...we get "stung" even though we were in the RIGHT place at the WRONG TIME....But, thankfully...."stings" do heal.....(smile)

Morning at the Temple - June 7, 2008

Temple Roses

Garvin, Abe, and Jeff Barth - Jeff is a "security" guard at the temple

Your Dad and I

You couldn't tell whose Abe's Father was, could you? (smile)

Garvin, Abraham, and I went to the temple this morning...We rarely go on a Saturday morning, but, we didn't make the WARD TEMPLE night last night...so we went this morning....Your dad and I are rarely the "witness couple", anymore...because...they like to ask the "younger" couples...but, we had the privilege of being asked....today...It was great...We always have our "moments" as we are kneeling at the alter...when I feel a "slight" nudge...after certain "statements" are made...from Garvin....and of course....there is a line or two...that I very carefully...give him that ever "slight" nudge...in "his" behalf...(smile) I thought of you, REBEKAH, when...we were at the "Distribution Center" after our session...where a few "hearing" impaired were....purchasing things...for their FIRST "endowment" session...I was told...that not only is there...AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE...but, it is different...in other "languages"...There is the MEXICAN SIGN LANGUAGE...PORTUGUESE SIGN LANGUAGE...etc. I, also, thought about...what it is going to be like...in 3 1/2 YEARS...when ALL of us....gather together...when Hyrum receives his "endowment"....What a marvelous "reunion" that will be...when ALL of us...are in the TEMPLE TOGETHER...for that momentous occasion.....We, also, ran into ROBB JOSLYN....It was his STAKE's turn...to have "veil workers" in the temple, today....That was a fun moment to see him....It was a GREAT MORNING....