Ogden Temple

 We had a wonderful day with the Swenson's going up to Ogden to see the Temple before it was dedicated.  We rode the front funner from Provo to Ogden.  It was so much fun!

Elder and Sister Blunck

Elder and Sister Blunck are ready to serve.  Can't wait to get our name tags!

Why a Mission?

We are excited to serve our Heavenly Father and to follow as we have been prompted to do.  We know that it is Heavenly Father's will that we serve a mission at this time to Manchester England. This beautiful family of ours is the reason we have chosen to serve a mission also.  We know that Heavenly Father will bless all of them because of our choice to serve.  We pray that their testimonies will be strengthened by our sacrifice.  We are so blessed to have this wonderful family!  We love you all so much!

Look what we received in the mail today!  Our mission call!  Guess where we are going?  To the England Manchester Mission!  Hooray!  We are so happy to be going to a foreign country that speaks English.  We have a lot of family members who are from England and we know that this is where our Heavenly Father wants us to go.  We are so blessed! We know that there is a special work for us to do in England and that our mission will bless our family.  Karl told me that he prayed that I would be excited the minute I opened our call and saw where we were called to serve.  I was so happy!  Of course Karl is excited too and can't wait to go.  We are very happy that we can serve a mission together and know that this experience will strengthen and unite us in our love and commitment to each other.  We get to be mission companions as well as eternal companions.  Heavenly Father loves us so much!  The gospel of Jesus Christ is true and we are grateful for the covenants we have made in the Temple so that our family can be together forever.

 

Our church service mission is coming to a close. We will complete our mission on September 27, 2014.  We are so grateful for these wonderful volunteers who have become our dear friends.  We will miss them all!  It has been a spiritual experience working in the TRC.  On Tuesday we work with the international missionaries who are here learning English before they head out to their individual missions, and on Thursdays we work with the senior missionaries.  Each mission couple meets with one of the volunteers to practice teaching them the gospel.  It has been a learning time for us.  It has truly helped us to prepare to be missionaries ourselves. 

Anna and Lisa from Austria

Anna and Lisa came to stay with us for a week while they performed at the Springville Folk Fest.  We are so glad we got to know them!

Temple Square

 Kristen and I took Anna and Lisa to Salt Lake City to see Temple Square.  We listened to a organ performance in the Tabernacle and had a tour of Temple Square by a sister missionary from Germany.  The girls thought this was the highlight of their trip to Utah.  They said it really helped to have a sister who spoke German explain what our church believes.  Dad and I gave them a Book of Mormon in German and wrote our testimonies in the front. Kristen did well explaining things too.  I was so glad she was able to take the day off work and come with me.

Folk Fest

 We recently had two girls from Austria stay with us because they were performing in the Springville Folk Fest.  Here we are waiting for the show to start.

 Savanna and Hallie loved it and danced to the music most of the ngiht.

 Anna and Lisa performed traditional Austrian dances in dresses worn by their mother when she was young.

 Savanna loved the girls and wanted to be with them all the time.  She thought they were princesses.

Here are Savanna and Hallie dancing on the stage after the performances. It was a fun evening.

Go Carts!

Kacey, Korbin and Kristen are ready for the race.  Look out everyone! Here they come!

Thanks Grandma Brinkerhoff

Thank you Grandma Brinkerhoff for all the fun times we had at your house.  We love you!

Pictures on the Beach

 The guys decided to move a log so we could have the perfect place to take some family pictures.

 Waiting for pictures to be taken.

Proud grandma and grandpa!  We love our family!  Thank you all for coming to Washington and having fun together with us as a family!

Games on a Log at the Beach

 We went down to the beach to see the sunset and ended up playing a game on a log.  The rules are that you cannot talk but the leader has to get everyone to organize themselves in a certain order according to the directions given.  Brad is the leader and the rest of us are trying to figure out what he is trying to tell us to do.

 It was very difficult to stay on the log while others pass by you.

Kim and Brad took some time out to dance while the Kristen and I try to change places.  Kendal and Alissa wait calmly for their turn.

Lion's Paw

 The kids loved played video games and watching movies.

 Kim checks out what the kids are doing.  We all needed some down time after the busy days and long nights.

 If you look closely Kacey and Emma are at the bottom of the stairs playing a game. 

 Here is Joel going up the stairs to look for mom.

 Brad, Emma and Joel watch a movie.

Kacey helps Joshua find a game on his phone.

Pool, pool and more pool

Cute Grandkids!

Grandpa was so excited to ride the bumper cars with Emma.  Joshua and Kacey were in another car and were determined to get Grandpa!  Fun times!

The Love Chair

What does this chair know anyway? 

Joel and Hallie at Marsh's Museum

 Joel tries on a pirate hat.  RRRRRRR! Matey!

Hallie loved the shopping.  I don't think those red neck shirts are quite her style.

Marsh's Museum

 Joshua checks out the skeleton at the museum.  Look at all those cool toys!

 Kimberly and Kristen take a look at Jake the Alligator man.  He's the man we all like to go see when we go to Long Beach.  He is so weird but so cool!

Korbin and Abby enjoy the museum.  What's up with the mermaid?

Amelia loved the puppets.

 Emma, Joshua and Kacey check out the sea shells.  They are all so fun to look at.

Savanna wants some salt water taffy.  What kind can she have?