Dear Family, June 29, 2013
We’re
experiencing a heat wave here as many are in the west. It’s been up to about 95
degrees, which is hot for us. But it sounds cool compared to Meredith’s 117
degrees in Glendale, and 104 degrees in West Jordan for the Johns.
The sister
missionaries were just in our home for dinner. We are grateful for faithful
sisters who are lighting an excitement and energy in our ward. They are working
hard. They reminded us of a few friends were trying to fellowship. Last month
we took Lori & Michael Fryar with us to the Portland Ensign Choir &
Orchestra, patriotic concert. Although in a Bishopric years ago, he hasn’t been
involved in the church for sometime. She is not a member. They live just down
the hill from us and we have become good friends over the years. She became
especially endeared to Crismon Jr. because on his own went and helped her haul
bark dust one day after school when he could see she needed help. It was a fun
evening for Michael to see many friends from the Damascus Ward that he hadn’t
seen in about 30 years.
My visiting
teaching partner, Paula Noel, went through the temple for the first time a
couple of months ago. It has been wonderful to see her love for the Gospel grow
and her desire to receive her Endowment become a high priority in her life. I
think Larry Linton might have been her HT years ago. Each influence for good
plays a part in helping one to move forward in the truth. On June 3rd
we invited the Noel family for dinner and FHE. He is not a member, and their 10-year-old
daughter and 13-year-old son are less active. We were pleased to see how much
fun the children had in the FHE activity playing Charades.
Crismon put
together a letter to be sent out to all the churches in this area, inviting
them to participate with us and the other churches for a Day of Service, the
same day for service as a stake. The blessing this week, all the pastors that
Crismon has been working with to be on his board, all agreed to have their name
on the invitation. This was huge. It is not the other churches joining with the
LDS, but a community of pastors uniting in a day of service. The members of the
congregations will be asked to invite their neighbors to participate in
gathering food for the needy in September, the same day as the Church’s
worldwide day of service. It has become quite a project, but many doors have
been opened for Crismon to see some pastors who wouldn’t let him come visit
them before. Truly, the hand of the Lord has gone before him and blessed him
with many tender mercies in this endeavor.
A few updates on
our ward. Martha & Chuck Allen have been called to serve a mission to Oslo,
Norway as office missionaries, leaving Nov. 18th, for 18 months.
They will return just before Connor returns from his mission. This means
Crismon will need to replace him as his counselor at that time.
Dad and I tried
to beat the heat this morning by working in our yard and garden early in the
morning. Our garden plot is way to big for us now to keep up without kids at
home to help. It’s a major battle to fight the weeds and the grass. We’re
hoping to get things cleared out and bring in some rock to help elevate the
problem.
It’s now Sunday,
6/30. Happy Birthday wishes to our lovely daughter-in-law, Janelle. We love you!
Today will be my last “Special Time with Grandma – I Can’t Wait Until I’m
Eight” with Kenna Johns, Julia Vance and Preston Lewis. Kenna will be the first
of that group to get baptized, starting in Aug. It’s been so fun for me to meet
with them once a month and discuss about baptism and help prepare them for this
important step. I’ll have to have another “Google Chat” with my other
grandchildren. It has been delightful!
Seth had
meetings in London for a week and Tiffany was able to join him. Seth received
an outstanding award at the conference. I’ll copy what he posted on his
Facebook page: “A bit belated, but I have some surprise news to
share from earlier this week at #ica13: One of my
2012 articles was named Outstanding Journal Article of the Year in Journalism
Studies.”
“The journal (Information, Communication &
Society) has made the article open access: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2012.674150 ... It's been such a wonderful conference week in London,
especially because Tiffany Gee Lewis has been here to share it
with me!” Congratulations, Seth!
We’re so proud of you!
 |
| Their "hotel" for a few days while in London. Seth finds interesting places to stay. |
Meredith & Norm and Julie & Joe Jensen were
in England at the same time and Tiffany was able to spend a day with them
sightseeing. It’s pretty amazing to go to Europe to see your relatives from
Utah. Nice you could be together.
 |
| Tiffany & Aunt Meredith while in Bath, England. |
Yesterday we enjoyed being at the sealing of
Caitlin Caudle & Ryan Jones, and to do Initiatory. I’m grateful for unexpected
opportunities to serve. Today I was asked to substitute in Primary, just
minutes before it was to start. I loved being with those cute 4-year-olds.
Last Sunday, the Church worldwide broadcast “The
Work of Salvation” was tremendous! So very inspiring! It was especially
touching for me having a daughter serving as a full-time missionary in
Argentina. I do feel motivated to go forth and try harder and be more involved
in this great missionary work. It’s interesting how the missionaries will spend
more time on the computers, even on Facebook, interacting with members and
contacting people, through texting, etc.
 |
| This photo was taken by Crismon Jr. while he and Danielle were attending the broadcast as the Marriott Center. |
I look forward to Monday's when we hear from our dedicated missionary, Emily!
Love to all our family near and far.
Mom & Dad
Vivienne & Crismon
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