Trip to Utah and Star Valley May 2015

Guess this entry is somewhat out of order, but I got a little side tracked with the FHC experience, so now I will add this story. We left for Utah on Thurs. April 30, so we could attend an American Indian Services Donation Dinner on Sat. May 2. The trip home was one of those scenic trips that Elder Olson occasionally takes. He decided to try old 89 just because he could and so we did. I was a little nervous because I did not recognize anything and I am a creature of habit. And mostly because I was afraid we were going to go way out of our way and end up traveling a lot longer than we already had, BUT we came out by Mona, UT AND we had seen a lot of new scenery. Thursday we stayed at Shelaine and Derek’s house. We always have fun and are ALWAYS entertained by the Smurfs who live there. Lily is only two and she knows how to use the cell phone better than I do. Everyone keep us in smiles. Friday we got a running board on the truck. At our age it is a big advantage not to have to use a small stool or ladder to step up into the truck. We love the truck and we love the running board. We did a few other errands and picked up the Power Washer or whatever it is to take back up the RaDawn’s. We then drove over to Lake Point and spent the night with John and Jamie’s family, where we were again entertained. We also got to take the trip around the block with Shandon and Jessica. It turned out to be a mile walk. Shandon and Jessica kept worrying about Grandpa who was “Way Behind” I kept assuring the girls that Grandpa had short legs and he could not walk as fast as we could. They shared a lot of things on our adventure around the block and made me laugh a lot. When we got back to the house Grandpa was not even in sight anymore, but he did show up 20 mins later. While we were waiting, Shandon mentioned that she loved having us stay the night, but if we stayed very long it would suck. I tried to keep a straight face as she simply explained that it would suck because she would not get to sleep in her own bed which was so comfortable and soft. Jamie assured me that she seldom sleeps in her bed or at least she has been known to fall asleep in several places other than her bed. ;o} Saturday we spent most of the day with the kids, but headed over to SLC for the American Indian Service big dinner. It was held at the Grand Hotel. We were suppose to stay there as well as dine there, but when Peter McDonald came we were bumped to another place about 4 blocks away. We meet with President Justice and his son, Jared around 5:15 and then walked over to the Grand. My shoes weren’t the best for walking, but I made it. That place was amazing. I don’t think I have ever been in anything quite that plush. We looked at the items that were up for bidding, but Brother Alan Christensen told us to keep our money in our wallets. The prices were actually affordable on many items, but when the bidding started it didn’t take long to have the prices out of our reach. The dinner was amazing. They had sliced a cucumber formed a ring and the lettuce was inside the ring. There was a baby pear and a flower like pat of cream cheese which was delicious. The main course was chicken, beef, mashed potatoes, a carrot, and asparagus. Dessert was shortbread, strawberries and whipped cream with crushed nuts. I was glad for the experience and loved the setting and entertainment, but I was most grateful to have someone at our table who knew which fork to use first. Brother Christensen thanked me personally for the emails that President Justice forwards to him. I was slightly embarrassed, but that soon passed. His wife was wonderful and he made sure we were all included in the dinner conversation. Brother & Sister Christensen, Brother & Sister Whaley, President Justice and his son, Jared, Elder Olson and I shared one of the 63 tables in the huge room. I would not mind attending another time if the opportunity should arise. Sunday we arose early and headed to Star Valley. We attended our home ward Sacrament meeting and had the chance to bear our testimonies. So many hugs and so many smiles. It was fun to see a lot of people that I include as family in Star Valley. We visited with Bishop Milne and then the Stake Presidency so we were able to renew our Temple recommends which is one of the big reasons for going home for a few days. I have to admit I miss being there and sleeping in our own bed. It was hard to leave again. Monday, we took care of the paperwork that has to be done when you turn 70 and a half. Hopefully everything will continue to move forward. Ronnie took care of several things around the yard, while I did some things in the house with Dallin and Kellan. We had dinner with RaDawn, Kage, and Dallin. Kellan is working at the local grocery store, so he came in a little later. We did not do everything we wanted while we were there, but we did rest a lot and do the most important things, SEE OUR KIDS AND ENJOY THE VALLEY. J'Lene was able to come to Shelaine's, so we saw everyone but Daryl, Liz, Carter and Madelyn on this trip. Hopefully, we will be visiting them in Chandler soon. 'o} Thursday, we headed back to Shelaine’s for more entertainment which Lily supplied in abundance and then Friday we headed back to the Mission Field. We managed to find a snowstorm along the way, just outside Cedar City. Ran into rain when we got to Tuba. I guess I summed up what happen today in the FHC even though I posted that before I posted this, but if that is the worst thing I do, I will be in great shape. Both sacrament meetings were so good. The primary in 1st Ward sang and they were amazing, made everyone cry, even the brethren were wiping tears away. The 1st Ward served cheese cake to the sisters at the end of RS. Sister Moreno gave a wonderful lesson. A few months ago she was terrified to give the lesson, she has certainly gained confidence and her testimony has grown so much. Next Sunday will be the last Sunday for the Simpsons. I don’t dare think about them leaving too much. They have been so wonderful to serve with here in the mission field. We have grown to love and appreciate them so much. I guess that pretty much sums up the last week or so. The picture of the sheep was taken at the junction north of Cokeville where you turn north to go to Star Valley. Grazing sheep here and grazing sheep there cannot be compared. We love the mission we are serving and will have a tough time saying goodbye to all the people here and in the units in the Stake. We speak in Dennehotso next Sunday. Sister Olson

Mother's Day in the FHC with Herbert Yazzie 10 May 2015

It’s Mother’s Day 10 May 2015. It’s 4:00 P.M. I left for church at 8 this morning, got back to the apt about an hour ago. We are holding a Family History class during Sunday School in both Wards now. It is so much fun. During 2nd Ward Brother Terry and Brother Nez came in and we found that Brother Terry’s family has done a tremendous amount of Family History, so he has his four generations, plus several more on family search. He is feeling comfortable helping others. We are now going to focus on helping his wife who was not here today. I found out that his wife is related to Brother Nez, and since he has limited information, they are going to come in later this week and work on “their family” together. It was fun to have Brother Terry answering questions that Brother Nez had about his family. During 1st Ward one of the sisters who had been coming had to go somewhere this weekend, so we asked Sister Polacca if she would like to come in. She had to leave with her daughter, so they could not stay. Her daughter’s newborn has to have special treatment of some sort and it has to be done on a regular time schedule. So, we asked Sister Watson, who has been coming out to church for almost 2 years now. I truly love her, she has a grand daughter who usually comes with her, but did not come today. She is in the YW program and I wanted both to work together, but I will take what I can get. It did not take us long to get 3 generations into the computer and then start adding siblings. I know she was a little hesitant when she first came in, since it is all really new, but when it was time to leave she was dragging her feet. The “Elijah virus” can work pretty darn fast in the FHC. Sister W mentioned that her sister had a lot of the information she needed, but she wasn’t sure she would share it with her, so I suggested she visit the family cemeteries and copy the information from the headstones or plaques. I also invited her to come in this week with what she found. While we were working with Sister Watson and Sister Moreno, Sister Yazzie asked if I was going to be available after the block. She said she needed her husband to get going on his tree. So, after we were treated to cheese cake since it was Mother’s Day, we went into the FHC. Brother Yazzie has only been a member for a few months. They had both come in a few weeks ago and I sent them home with pedigree charts and family group sheets. Well, he had done his assignment and filled out almost every blank on the pedigree chart. He typed while I search on ancestry for some of the names on his chart. We found several birth dates, and death dates for his family members. It was like a chain reaction. When we went to genealogy.az.gov we found death certificates for children that he was unaware of for his grandparents and other relatives that he recognized as siblings to his direct line ancestors. Bishop Allen came in as we were finding all this information, it was so amazing. Since it was Mother’s Day, I told him that his great grandmother was waiting to have her name added and then I would have to head back to the apt. You could actually feel her there patiently waiting for him to type her name in. We will be able to add a lot more names that we found, but he wanted to ask his grandfather about some of the children’s names that we found. He was so intent on reading everything I found on ancestry.com and then the certificates we found on genealogy.az.gov, he had not added the last name on his chart, which was his great grandmother, Mae Gishie . Actually, I am not sure which of us was more excited. Bishop Allen was kinda laughing at us, since we were acting like kids in a candy store for the first time. Brother Yazzie is already planning trips to Page and Cow Springs to talk with family members and visit family cemeteries. You can’t really describe what you feel when all this information starts raining down on you. Sister Yazzie and her sister were sitting there watching and since they have limited information on their family I told them that they have no idea how their help will come, but come it will as they start their tree. I always find it interesting to see how each story unfolds and families are found and united forever. I have a strong testimony that the Lord does provide a way when he asks you to do something. Trusting Him is perhaps difficult at times, since we can’t always see how He will make things happen, but they do indeed happen and thankfully we can play a small part in solving the puzzle that He knows will come together in His time and in His way. Sister Olson