Rexburg Temple Ground Breaking

Breaking NEWS

REXBURG, Idaho (AP) - Just so that you don't have to get all your information from the dental hygienist. I held hands with Lindsey tonight. And to answers Suzanne's question: I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious.

Annie had her baby!!!

Last night after a quick ride to SLC Annie and Brett had their 3rd son, Jacob Douglas Clayson. He weighed 5' and 12oz. and is 18 inches long. Annie and Jacob are doing well. Big brothers will probably meet Jacob today with their Grandparents. So Josh is now a real big brother.

Civil Defense Caves

Last night we went out to the civil defense caves. It was pretty cool. They are about 30 minutes past the sand dunes. There is just a dirt road that leads to this big hole in the ground and that is the entrance to the cave. The plan was to watch "The Others" at the back of the cave on my laptop. But when we got to the back of the cave we realized that my speakers weren't loud enough to really hear the movie - and in "The Others" the majority of the speaking is basically whispering which made it even harder to hear. The cave was really wide and open the whole way but it was a little chilly.

Mark

The Rodeo

We went to the Rodeo on Saturday out in Saint Anthony. It was pretty cool. A couple of the horses actually ran right into the fence and I thought that they were going to come right through the fence. No one got hurt so I guess it was a good thing. It was really fun though.

Mark

Police on lookout for naked tickler

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Police are on the lookout for the naked tickler. Investigators said they believe one man could be responsible for a series of bizarre break-ins in which a naked man enters victims' rooms while they are sleeping and tries to tickle their feet. The naked tickler struck again in New Smyrna beach over the weekend. Investigators have been working on five similar, unsolved cases since 2001. Most of the victims are women over age 60, said police Commander Wade Kirby. Kirby said no arrests have yet been made because they don't have a lot to go on. New Smyrna Beach is 44 miles northeast of Orlando.

I got a free newspaper when we were at the 24th of July parade in Saint Anthony today and this was one of the articles that was in it. It really made me chuckle. Oh my goodness it was funny.

Mark

FHE

For FHE this last week we went out to one of the counselors homes and we rode horses. It was great fun and we had really good treats afterwards.

Mark

Poem

In YW today Sis. Romander shared a poem with us. She had her husband write the poem for our lesson. Here it is:
THE FACE OF FORGIVENESS

I cannot look, afraid of what I’ll see
Inside is a monster staring back at me

I've done all I can, I've prayed and repented
But all I see are the faces of those I’ve affected

The darkness and evil I’ve done
Remain in my thoughts, there’s nowhere to run

Despair and guilt fill my heart
How could I ever deserve a new start?

Somehow, I summon the courage and look in the mirror
My body tense, prepared for my worst fear

Then the tears begin to fall
As I see it’s just me, there’s no monster at all

A smile appears and evaporates the gloom
I feel His presence enter the room

Waterfalls of pity change to droplets of joy
As I remember Mary and her Baby Boy

The boy who grew in wisdom and fulfilled His part of the Plan
My Lord and Savior who suffered and died for a Man

His spirit lifts me, His words I recall
“The Son of Man hath descended below them all”

Love and hope replace the hatred I had for me
I know He wants me with Him for eternity

Slowly I rise, squaring my shoulders and standing tall
I may not be perfect, yet, but I am His daughter after all

Turning the handle, I open the door
But before I leave, I look once more

No monster, no beast, no evil creature
A daughter of God looking into her future

My wrongs I have done, but they’re in the past
This time, I’m sure, I will hold fast.

One crazy day

Yesterday I had the chance to go horseback riding. I went with Lindsey and we rode up to the top of R Mountain. It was pretty cool and I am not even sore today - so that is a definite plus. The horses were really laid back so it was just a nice little ride. At one point some dogs did run out of a yard and I thought that they would spook the horses but they didn't so it turned out nice.

Anyways after that I came home and had to read 2 chapters in my Accounting book. Then that night I had a date with Erica at 7:30. We went to the park and tried to make grilled cheese sandwiches on an actual barbecue grill. It really didn't work out well. The sandwiches tasted a little like lighter fluid and some turned out pretty black and smoky. Anyways I ended up eating 2 sandwiches and Ryan ate one but neither of the girls really ate their sandwiches. Oh well. Then we fed the ducks at the pond that is at the park. We even gave the ducks the grilled cheese sandwich that we had made and they seemed to like it. Then we played water uno. It is just like normal uno except each time that you loose you have to drink a glass of water or pop. I ended up loosing like 7 games and only winning once so I drank lots of liquids. After that we just took the girls home. Then 2 of our FHE sisters came over and we watched Sweet Home Alabama. It was a pretty fun filled day.

Mark

Kurt

Graduation

Camping

Grandkids

Bensons

Suzanne

The Benson Family

College Life

Kristin's (my FHE sister) Party 

The Fourth of July 

Family Home Evening

Last fall the Lord announced through his prophet that the Church would hold family home evening on Monday nights. It is interesting that about the same time, the other side announced that there would be professional football games on Monday nights. You might be surprised to know how many families tried to work family home evenings in between half time of the football games. Of course it cannot be done. It appears the prophet’s request required too great a sacrifice.
Hartman Rector Jr., “Sacrifice Still Brings Forth Blessings,” Ensign, Dec. 1971, 64