Mini-Mission Reunion

The Crossley's, The Pearson's, and the Harris's

Sam and Shawnee Crossley

We are so grateful to the Jacob's who let Bruce and I stay with them in their home in Provo while we attended Education Week. One of the things I was really looking forward to when we were in Utah was seeing some of the wonderful people we met on our mission. We loved being in the Jacob's home and they were so kind and made us feel so welcome. We were so happy to run into President Anderson and his wife while we were on campus at Education Week. We love them so much and are so grateful to have served with such amazing people.

I had been trying to arrange a get together with some of the missionaries who lived in the Provo area and Sam Crossley suggested the RED MANGO for yogurt. So we got the word out on facebook and had a little mini-mision reunion. I just have to say, I love these young people. I really do. How blessed we were to have them in our lives while we were in Ukraine. They were like family to us. We will always have a very special place in our hearts for them.I could hardly wait for them to get out of the cars so that I could hug them again. I didn't think to take pictures until Greg Livingston and Justin Permenter had left. It was so good of them all to come out to see us. I did have phone calls or messages from several others who couldn't make it that night and hopefully we'll see them in October.

Brad and Michelle Pearson (and baby Will)

Clark and Autumn Harris

UTAH TRIP

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some of the beautiful things we saw in Utah

Salt Lake City

Last week my mom and I left Sacramento for Utah. We took this journey last year and enjoyed a few days at Temple Square, the Humanitarian Center, and the Church History Museum. My moms not a member of the Church but she loved it. So when Bruce and I were planning another trip to Education Week this year we decided that I would come a week early and bring my mom.  We left Sacramento on Friday and spent the night in Elko and arrived in Salt Lake on Saturday. We've had a great time visiting Temple Square again. We love to sit and watch the new brides and grooms having their picture taken in front of the Temple. It's such a joyous time for the families.

My mom loves to visit with the Sister Missionaries on Temple Square. We toured Brigham Young's home again. My mom loves to learn about the pioneers. We watched several movies about their journey to Salt Lake. This year we watched a movie on Joseph Smith that was incredible. My mom said she learned so much about him. We went to the "This Is The Place" park and learned more about the great Exodus to Salt Lake. Then we headed for St George Utah for a few days. We saw a play at the Tuachan one night that was fantastic. Then we headed for Zion Park.  So mom and I returned to Salt Lake Thurday and had another day of sight seeing then I put her on the plane Saturday morning. It was a busy busy week but I am so glad that I could share it with my mom.

The time we spent here has reminded me how blessed I am to have the knowledge of the Restoration on the Gospel in my life. It was amazing to watch the movie about Joseph Smith and to think about how the Chruch has grown in such a short time. The message of the restoration has traveled all over the world and even reached people in a little coal mining town of Ukraine. Our sweet Ukrainian adopted daughter Olga and her husband are in Kieve right now visiting the new Kieve Temple. Sister Fry our mission President's wife writes and says, that baptisms are up, they have 36 on date for baptisms and several families are traveling to Kieve to be sealed. How blessed we were to be able to travel to Ukraine and see the windows of Heaven open to pour blessings upon the people of Ukraine. This Church is true. I know that with all my heart. I am so blessed to be a member. I love my family. I am so grateful for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me and my family.

In a few days we will reunite with some of the sweet young missionaries we shared our time in Ukraine with. I can hardly wait.

another sleepless night

This has been one of those nights when I found myself falling asleep on the couch rather early. I thought,

"oh good, I'm tired, I'll sleep well tonight". So I found my way into my quiet bedroom, pulled back the curtains, opened all the windows and crawled into my big bed. Ahhhhh! and then it began, the tossing, the turning, the thoughts racing through my mind. I tried clearing my mind, a little meditation, relaxing my body, but NOTHING WORKED! So now I'm here, tapping at the keys on my computer wishing I was snoozing in bed.

HOME MADE ICE CREAM

Sunday after church Papa Mark and the Bailey Family came over and we made HomeMade Ice Cream

Yummy!

MY BLOG BOOK ARRIVED

I AM SO EXCITED MY BLOG BOOK ARRIVED

While we were on our mission I kept a blog in which I recorded my impressions and our experiences of serving a mission in Ukriane. I decided to have it printed into a book so that I could have a record of the mission. I absolutely love it!

Home Cooking

There's nothing like a HOME COOKED meal.

And I especially love it when someone else cooks it.

Last Saturday Bruce and I got up very early to go work in the Temple. When we got home he asked me "what should we have for dinner tonight?"

he suggested Tuna Casserole

which means I COOK

I suggested Pasty Pie

which means HE COOKS

I went upstairs to take a nap and when I woke up I found Bruce in the kitchen creating this

beautiful Pasty Pie

IT IS A FAMILY TRADITION HE LEARNED TO MAKE FROM HIS MOTHER,

A WONDERFUL MEAT AND POTATO PIE INSIDE THIS FANTASTIC PIE CRUST

NOW THAT'S MY IDEA OF A ROMANTIC DINNER FOR TWO

THANKS, BABE IT WAS AWESOME

Rascal Flatts

YES, I YELLED, AND SCREAMED, AND STUCK MY FINGERS IN MY MOUTH AND Whistled ALL NIGHT LONG. I DIDN'T EXACTLY DANCE IN THE AISLES BUT I DIDN'T SPEND MUCH TIME IN MY SEAT EITHER. KARRISSA AND I HAD SO MUCH FUN. I THINK WE BOTH FELT LIKE TEENAGERS AGAIN.

CHRIS YOUNG was the opening act. He was AWESOME, then came Kellie PICKLER. Karrissa watched Kellie on American Idol so she was excited to see her. I MADE KARRISSA GET UP AND GO RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STAGE to take her picture AND Karrissa  KIND OF STOOD OUT A BIT WITH A BRIGHT YELLOW SHIRT ON AND HER WHITE HAIR AND KELLIE WALKED RIGHT OVER to the edge of the stage AND SMILED AND WAVED AT HER. She waved at my daughter. It was so fun. She came back to her seat just grinning from ear to ear.  Then came RASCAL FLATTS and we were right there in front of the stage. OH MY GOODNESS were we excited. THEY ARE SUCH GOOD ENTERTAINERS. THEY ALSO WALKED BACK AND FORTH ON THE STAGE AND WAVED AT THE AUDIENCE. WE HOLLERED AND WAVED AND WENT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STAGE TO TAKE PICTURES. ONE GUY GOT REALLY MAD AND STARTED YELLING AT EVERYONE TO "BACK THE blank up"  There was security people nearby who only allowed the people with tickets in our section to go up to the stage but only to take pictures so we couldn't stay there long. They sang all the songs we listened to on the car ride up to Tahoe, and we sang along. Did I say, fun? It was amazingly fun. Can't wait to do it again.