Sunday June 6 2015

June 7th, 2015 Dennis and I were set apart as full time missionaries tonight by stake president Kezerian and bishop James Larsen. Dennis and each of my sons in law, who hold the Melchezideck priesthood, Jared, Darren, Eric, and Ben also stood in the circle to set me apart. It was a definite a display of the use of priesthood authority. Chad and Seth left on Saturday after the baptism to drive back to Kentucky.  Chad has to work and Seth is going to pack up his belongings to bring them back here to Utah so he can live in our basement and work.  He turns 18 on June 20th.  I do hope he decides to go on a mission.  He bought our 4-Runner from us.  Dennis sold it to him for $500.  He has been working at a pizza shop in Kentucky and has saved some money. 
After the setting apart by the Stake President and the Bishop the children and their parents, (our children) all had rehearsed a medley of songs to sing to us including some verses of "called to serve" in Spanish. It was very touching to have the whole family there except Chad, Seth and Rob.  I really appreciated their efforts to made this a special occasion that we will remember. It was very nice.

When the stake president set me apart he told me some special things that were important to me.  For one he told me that I would have an increased capacity to do the things that I had considered hard or difficult in the past.  He blessed me to have courage to do hard things. I hope that is the case for learning the Spanish language, playing the piano and be able to sing the hymns.  

He also blessed me that I could learn the language and that I could influence the missionaries for good. He blessed me that I could love them as their parents do.

 I really appreciate that fact that he said our family would grow not only in size but spiritually also. This is important because Rachel would still like to have more children and we could always use more spirituality. 

He blessed me that I would be able to adventure out and do things I may not have considered but to be safe when I venture out physically.

Rachel and Ely came from Seattle last Friday and Jenny and Eric and family came on Saturday. Chad and Jeana and family also came last Saturday. We have had a whirlwind of family activities. Ely had a birthday party, Sophie was baptized, we took tours of temple square, the beehive house, we went to Tyler's  piano recital, we had our own piano recital at home, some went to Tyler's and Ella's soccer game and dance program at school, some went to the park, some to Wheeler farm and thanksgiving point, some went jet skiing, and some went to Jordan's end of year production. Dennis and Rachel went to the cabin and to visit his mother. Most went to get ice cream. We ate lunch at Candace's  and dinner one night at Amy's. We played games and the kids played in the small pool in the back yard. All in all it was a very busy week before going into the MTC tomorrow. 

All the family at Tyler's and Ella's succor game. I took Linda home after dinner at Amy's and Rob didn't make the trip this time but everyone else is there. It was a trip to Rita's  for custard afterward.