Family Provo Temple Day

James & Jacob have decided to go to the temple this week. We are scheduled to go to the 7:20 pm session, which means that we must be in the Chapel at 7 pm. The boys of course will arrive earlier. I'm very excited for them to go! In the process for obtaining their Visas for Argentina we are still waiting on the FBI clearance. I have been told that can take up to six weeks. I hope not because we still need to get an Apostile (Official documentation that the record is authentic)   from the secretary of state before we can send it on to get the Visa. I'm not sure how long the Visa itself will take.

Other exciting news is that since the announcement made in General Conference about the age changes for missionaries there has been much excitement. It was announced that the Church regularly receives about 700 missionary applications a week. This last week they received over 4000! And its only been 2 weeks! That's an increase of 471%. In the past about 1/5 were Sisters, now over 1/2 are Sisters. A news article on the topic can be found here: Deseret News.    

Tyra is Expecting!

We are excited to learn that Tyra & Caleb will be parents in June! They are such a cute couple and they will be great parents! Of course that means that I will be a grandma! I am so blessed!

I went to the temple yesterday. As I arrived a woman greeted me and said, "I prayed that you would come!". I looked at her, I didn't recognize her. She then continued by saying, "The weather is bad, today". I was grateful that I could be the answer to her prayers that people would come to the temple even though the weather was bad. I really felt good about going to the temple. Again, I am blessed!

Wilma Bernice Akins Youngman Shelton

My grandmother died yesterday afternoon at 4:30pm pacific time. She has suffered from a variety of aliments and about 4 weeks ago signed up for hospice. My father tells me that this time she was ready and wanting to move on. My grandmother has been close to death before, but she was frightened and not wanting to die. After my family planned her funeral several years ago she recovered and enjoyed a few more years of life. My grandmother died at the age of 88 years and 13 days old. Grandmother wanted to be buried by her parents in King City Cemetery, Gentry County, Missouri. There are no longer plots available nearby so she will be cremated and her ashes buried with her parents. The memorial service will probably be a week from Saturday in northern California. I am planning to attend.

Yesterday, I took Andrew to the temple for the first time. He turned 12 years old in May and we have planned to go all summer but never got there. Yesterday was a beautiful day and the two of us took family names and did baptisms. It was very peaceful in the Provo Temple Baptistry, almost too peaceful. We got right in and there were very few participating in baptisms. Andrew received lots of personal attention. What a great experience!

Tyra is Married!

We had a beautiful wedding on Friday! Tyra married Caleb in the Draper Temple. What a great day! We were surrounded by family and friends that made the experience special. Tyra was beautiful! Tyra and Caleb will be gone for about a week. We miss them but know they are having a great time.

Oquirrh Mountian Temple Open House

We attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house today. What an amazing experience! Scott and the 6 kids at home all went. It has been awhile since we have had a family outing all together. We dressed in our Sunday best and drove the 30 minutes to the temple. The temple is situated in the middle of a new neighborhood just west of Jordon. In fact as you stand in front of the Oquirrh Mountain temple you can see the Jordon River Temple just northwest. The tour begin with a short film on the purpose of temples. Missionaries were present to answer questions. We entered the temple through the front doors and began a serpentine path through the baptistry in the basement, the dressing rooms and brides room on the first floor, the chapel and ordinance roomsand celestial room on the second floor and finally the sealing rooms on the third floor. A short presentation about eteranl marriage was given as we sat in the sealing room. The entire temple was gorgous the central chandiler was remarkable in both size and beauty. We conluded the tour and entered a large tent set up outside where refreshments were served and music played softly in the background. I strongly encourage you to visit the Oquirrh Mountian Temple with your family.