Busy March brings busy April

These past few weeks have brought many activities with family, missionaries and friends from Germany.

Taking grandsons to the Rock Show

Friday - March 20, 2015

Every March, Spanish Fork has a gem and rock show.  The kids love to go and see all the displays of rocks, gems and  even a few dinosaurs.  They can buy a bag of rocks (some have been polished) for $1.00.  Hal and I took Alex, Sam and Preston to this even and then to Carl's Jr. for lunch.

Looking for treasures

Checking out the bags of rocks

The big and not so scary dinosaur

Preston's Baptism

Saturday - March 28, 2015

With three grandchildren turning eight this year, we have the privilege of attending three baptisms.  Preston celebrated his 8th birthday on March 23rd and his baptism was on Saturday, March 28th.  His Thomas grandparents, aunt and some of his Thomas cousins came along with Evan and Kelly's family, Jon and Allison and family, (big) Preston and of course Hal and I.

Tricia and James with the girls and our newest member of the church.  We are so very proud of Preston and happy to celebrate this special event in his life.  He looks so grown up in his new suit!!

After the baptism, we all gathered at Tricia and James' to enjoy lunch together.

Cutting the giant sandwich

We enjoyed sub sandwiches, chips, fresh fruit, brownies and cookies plus an Italian soda bar for drinks.

Cousins enjoying the food

Grandpa and Ruby having fun together

Breakfast with some of our missionaries and a Mission Reunion

The week of General Conference four of our missionaries (that served with us in Russia) came over for an early breakfast.  It was a great time to be together and catch up on each other's lives.  We love the young men and women that served with us and we enjoy spending time with them. 

President Mickelsen with four of his elders.

The Friday before General Conference, we held a missionary reunion along with President and Sister Smith (our predecessors) and enjoyed a wonderful evening with our missionaries and some of those that we served with on our first mission to Russia. 

Visitors from Germany

We made many wonderful friends in Berlin and Belle and Cornelius are among our favorites.  Belle actually comes from Cambodia and she and Cornelius met while they were both visiting Bangkok, Thailand.  After their marriage, they moved to Cornelius' homeland.  They came to the USA on a six week trip and saw several other states before coming to Utah which was their last stop before returning home to Berlin.  

They had sampled several different hamburgers from restaurants and fast food places across America and the In-N-Out burger came in  with a ranking of second on their taste test.

We took them to Temple Square which was beautiful with spring color in preparation for General Conference.

They saw the old Tabernacle and of course the Salt Lake Temple.

We also took them to Cabelas which is an awesome  outdoors man's store/wildlife museum.  We also visited "This is the place" monument,ate at The Lion House, rode the elevator to the top of the Church Office Building to enjoy the view and took them to see BYU campus.

 They were so happy to attend a session of conference.

A sister missionary  that served with us came to visit and we enjoyed a sandwich supper together.

Easter Sunday - April 5, 2015

Easter Sunday we hosted a dinner for family and friends.  Preston, Allison, Jon and family came as well as Taylor Morris and another sister missionary that served with us in Berlin - Sister Dallas Stringham.  

We enjoyed a ham dinner with German creamy potatoes, corn, salad Allison's yummy homemade rolls and pie for dessert.

Evie, Lillian and Ella

Ella, Sam and Alex

Taylor, Dallas, Belle and Cornelius

Dallas, Belle and Cornelius with us

More visitors from Germany

Our second couple from Berlin arrived one day after Belle and Cornelius flew back to Germany.  Susie and Mark Mathias were members of the Tiergarten ward and during our time there, we came to know and love them.  They originally came from England but have lived in Berlin for several years.  Their oldest daughter was finishing her mission on Temple Square and they had come to pick her up.

We took them to see the red rock canyon a short distance up Spanish Fork canyon.  It almost looks like St. George terrain.

On another day we prepared a picnic lunch and drove up Payson canyon and hiked the trail to see the grotto.

The grotto had a little waterfall.

We enjoyed being with Mark and Susie and catching up on their lives since we left Germany in January.

In the grotto

Enjoying our picnic lunch together

After lunch, we went to BYU campus and Deseret Bookstore and then we found a shop that sold custard ice cream - it was yummy!!

Aleeya's Baptism

Saturday - April 18, 2015

Aleeya was our third grandchild to be baptized this year.  It is always a wonderful and special day in the life of all who take this important step.

Family group picture

Treygan, Evan,Kelly, Kyra,Sareya and Aleeya

Grandma and Grandpa with Aleeya

We are so proud of her!

 After the baptism, we went to Evan and Kelly's home for lunch.

 The chocolate fountain for dessert was a hit!

Violet and Ruby and Sam all loved it!

Our oldest grandson, Treygan has grown much taller than his mother and is nearly as tall as Evan!

 Evan reminds Treygan that he is still just a little taller!  Our grandkids are growing up!

Mike and Karma Report Their Mission

Sunday - April 19, 2015

The next day, we drove to Rupert to attend Mike and Karma's mission report.  They served in Tanzania, Africa.  They both gave inspiring reports of their love for the Tanzanian people and their gratitude to serve.

After church, we gathered at their home for lunch and a chance to visit with our Mickelsen relatives.

They lived and served in Dar es Salaam (on the coast)and we are so happy that they are safely home and that they had such a wonderful experience.

Mike and his oldest son Eric

Hal, Ann and Wayne

We enjoyed being with family and were glad we had come!

Called to Serve

Hal and I have been called and set apart to be temple workers in the new Payson Temple.  The temple will open in June after the open house which begins this month.  We are excited for this opportunity to serve in this beautiful temple!

We have also been called to serve from May thru August of this year as the Co-ordinating Couple for the Spanish Fork Stake of Young Single Adults.  We are still learning our responsibilities with this calling.