Howards update from the Facebook challenged crew

I set a PR at the Freedom Run 10K yesterday!  (But let's be honest it was 58 minutes and even if I had run it in 2 hours it would have been a PR because I have never done a 10K.)  I was 20th in my age category.  (But there were only 43 women in my age category).  It was so much fun actually running with other people.  (Now if you read just the sentences you would think I had a superb race, if you read the parentheticals you would see that I had a good run.)

 

Kyle is done with early morning band!  Yippee.  I guess the band is in this clip as the first band http://heraldextra.com/.  Now he is studying for the Accuplacer test for his college enrolled math.  He is also packing and planning for Jamboree.  He is trying to figure out an Eagle project--any advice would be great.  Plus get his AP US History summer homework done.  We signed him up for voice lessons with Alyssa's teacher in hopes that his voice would be improved by Fall, it still shifts and squeaks when he doesn't want it to.  But he is working on it since he is in the acapella choir.  He is going to move into the girls' old room once it is painted blue.

 

Alyssa is enjoying summer and moving to her new purple room in the basement.  We got the toilet and sinks today, so as soon as the inspector comes tomorrow, she will be officially in her own room.  She had fun being a YCL at girl's camp.  She had fun at our family camp and enjoyed being one of Stephanie's favorite people.  She is also working on her AP classes' homework.

 

Megan is done with summer violin and is busy moving into her new pink room with Rachel.  It has a walk-in closet that she is excited about.  Girl's camp was fun for her because we have a lot of Beehives in our ward that are friends.  She is excited to play with Erin when she sleeps over next weekend before going back to Texas.

 

Matthew is getting ready for State baseball playoffs.  He is on a really good team with a great coach.  He has improved and wants to do it again  thanks to Grandpa, Julie, and Brandon helping practice with him.  He and Rachel really enjoyed their first day of summer science camp today (put on by Provo and Alpine school districts).  It goes for two weeks.  Swimming lessons are next.

 

Rachel is enjoying seeing most of her girl cousins.  She tells us we need to go to Ohio soon to see her other girl cousins because it just is time to go there.  She tries to butter us up by telling us that Todd will make us pancakes.  She is hoping to see her Waite cousins in August when she is almost five. She also wants us to see the Jonas Brothers and fly in an airplane for her birthday (since she did that last summer).  She also wants to go to Jump On It for her party, have all the girls she knows come, and have Dora and princess decorations.  Big plans for a little girl.

 

Brandon is still busy, too.  He took the scouts to Yellowstone and is hoping to go with Shawn and Dane up Nebo in August.  He is nervous about his "tickets" from Woodbadge, but once the basement is done, maybe he can get them done quickly to meet the deadline.  The Visa purchase is slated for July/August.

 

We love you and miss you.

AnnMarie

Dear Else & Erling & Family

Leonard wrote:

Dear Else & Erling & Family:

I am just sitting here thinking and wondering if you are still being affected by the volcanic ash cloud. I remember when Mount St. Helene, erupted, in the state of Washington. The one side of it was blown out and sent a dust cloud into the sky. We knew it down here. If you left your car outside, it would be covered with dust. What I have been reading is that those who have been covered with the cloud are getting the same thing we had. I do not remember how many people died. There was a campground close by and some of the people were never found. It looked like an atomic blast had occurred.

In the months of April, May and June, we have had more rain and snow than in the previous three months. Our temperatures have been way below normal.The fact is that as I am I sitting here writing this letter, it is cool in the house. I am a cheapskate, I am not going to heat the furnace. I have had a chance to mow my lawns twice. The peas in the garden are growing well, however, the tomatoes are not doing well because it has just been too cold. I did put in one row of katofler.

Did you notice in the church news they are going to build a temple in Payson, Utah. That just 30 miles from here. Our stakes will be assigned to that district.

Myrna and I have mixed emotions about leaving  the Manti Temple. That is where our great grandparents, grandparents, parents, Myrna’s, as late as three years ago, were sealed.We were sealed there along with five of our children. We have been serving in the temple for ten years and four months. It is liked home for us. Payson will have the film. As you well know, ours is what is called a live endowment. It will only take us about twenty minutes to get to Payson and it is 45 minutes to Manti.

Our oldest grandson ileft for his mission on May 26. He will be in the missionary training center for three weeks and then flew out to South America. He is from the east coast. He is our oldest daughter’s son. He just finished his first year at BYU. 

We flew to Chicago, Illinois for our oldest son’s daughter’s high school graduation. That was Sunday, May 23. After the the school graduation they had her seminary graduation. We flew home on Monday, we flew out on Saturday.

So much for what is happening in our lives. How are you all doing? How are the kids and grand kids doing? Do you have much planned for the summer? How is your genealogy going? I have been going to ask you how is the temple attendance going? Our new temple president, President Pinegar (past Seventy) has been bringing bring about many changes that have increased our temple attendance. 

I have run out of questions and news so I will stop for now. We love you all and hope you all will have a great summer.

Especially Yours

L.H. and Myrna Trauntvein

We received your email about Rita. It is sad news. I think back on my association with her and it has always been positive. I think of the many times that I was in your home, while I was on my mission. She was always nice to me, as all of you always were. I know at one time your mom was having trouble with her and sent her over south of Odense, where I had been transferred. She gave me the name of the place, so i told my companion  we were going to go down there. It seemed like a long bike ride. When we got there, they would not let us see or talk to her.  I was very disappointed.When we came over to the Temple Dedication and visited with your mom, she was very cordial to us.

Even though she did not join the church, as I think about her, and, in my way of thinking, one of her greatest missions was to bring Heinrick into the family. He had a grandmother who loved him and an aunt and uncle and their family who love him. I can not say that she did not believe in some of the doctrine of the church. Like many other people I know, their habits get in the way of their being active in the church. I home teach two such brethren.

Heinrick has been a great service to the church and to us. When you came up to us, in between the talks and the program, you asked me if I would like to be in the temple for the the dedication. My remark was “yes” but in my wildest dream I did not think that it could happen.  You then stated, “That is not what I asked you.” I said, “Yes”. When you handed me the two tickets, I could have kissed you, then I thought that might not be appropriate. Then the morning of the dedication we were able to go in early an get a great seat. 

All the work Heinrick did for the open house, the program, and the dedication were admirable. Taking Elder Nielsen and his wife up to Veg and some of the same places you took us was also a great thing.

We want to express our sympathy to all of you and to Heinrick. Would you let him know about our feelings toward him and his mom?

We want you and your family to know how much we love all of you. My family knows the history of our relationship with you and your family. With out you we would never been in the Danish Temple for the dedication. And then to have the opportunity to do work in the temple, with you and Jana has been one of the greatest highlights in our lives. My children have heard all the stories several times and they have the same feelings we do. I believe if we were not the first to do initiatory there, there were not many before us. What a blessing. Also to have a picture of you and me on the front steps of the church and then the front steps of the temple is such a treasure. It does not get much better than that. Your’s and Erling’s hospitality was most gracious and we appreciated it. Thank you!

You will have to read this epistle in two or three settings.

We love you all:

Myrna and Leonard 

P.S. You might notice that it took a few weeks to write this. Sorry about that.

Remember

On Sun, Jun 27, 2010 at 11:07 AM,

Myrna wrote:

I haven't heard back from any of you as to whether or not you are coming to the devotional tonight (Sunday). President Pinegar, our temple president, has arranged for Julie Beck, general church Relief Society President, to speak to the temple workers and their families at a devotional at 7 p.m. at the Manti Stake Center (the red building on Main Street). He is having the devotional at the church rather than at the temple so more family members can attend.

Shawn Trauntvein 6/28/10 

Yes, thanks for the invite.

We had a fireside to launch our Duty to God mission last night. Dane and I are assigned as companions for five weeks, where we have to work on scripture study, prayer, a Duty to God requirement, missionary work, and service together, until we have our close with a Duty to God Encampment in August. Of course, Dane will be at the Jamboree for 15 of those days. We had a similar thing last year, but this year we are looking forward to receiving the new booklets. A neighbor of mine works at the Church Printing Office, and said they are trying to amass a large number of them so that they can send them out all at once (at least that is how I thought I understood his explanation).

I thought it was interesting that even though it was an anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith yesterday, right on Sunday, that nobody mentioned it. But then Kimberly and I are in primary, so maybe they did in one of the other meetings. Of course, we don’t like to remember deaths as much as other events, especially if it could stir negative emotions, so perhaps it is better to recall events such as the restoration of the Priesthood, rather than the sealing of testimonies in death.

Todd Trauntvein
Sunday, June 27, 2010 8:30 PM

We had Stake Priesthood meeting tonight. Michael was speaking, so we went there instead. Thanks for the invite.

Todd Trauntvein

Pray for Braden

Braden didn't give us all the details...in fact we got nothing in the way of what happened...he just said this in his last email:

"Um, so lots of random things have happened to me, but I don't want you to every worry about how I am doing. No matter what trials we have in this life we can overcome them with our faith and determination. My APs have told me that I might quite possibly have had the most difficult first week of any missionary they have ever met, but I know without a doubt that I am being blessed with trials; they strengthen me, humble me and draw me closer to the Saviour."

He then asked if I would ask his grandparents, aunts and uncles to keep him in their prayers for the next little while. He says he is also a little homesick. 

Would you please pray for him? I know that with all our prayers combined in the past, we have done some wonderful things. 

Thanks.
Melanie

Oh, Melanie!

I know you must be stressed out of your gourd!  We'll keep Braden in our prayers (truthfully, let Braden know he has already been the beneficiary of a tender mercy: I had already been prompted to pray for him continually since the Monday he left (more than the usual quick prayer)... I'm sure as you talk to others in the family, many of them have felt that need, too.  How cool is that?!)

We love you!!!!  May Heavenly Father bring you peace and strength as you give your son to him for the next two years.  I can only imagine the difficulty and, hopefully, will be able to call and cry on your shoulder in 16 years as I experience the same faith-building uncertainty that comes with sending our babies to other of our Heavenly Father's children.  Jared says those first 2-6 months in a new, HOT culture are the most difficult.  But Braden will be great!

Love, love, love, 

Kirsten

Melanie,
I too have often found myself impressed to kneel down and pray for Braden at rather random times. I already knew that he was having some trials through the Holy Ghost. But, at the end of my prayers, the Holy Ghost has also borne witness to me that Braden is one tough cookie--he just doesn't know it yet.

We are fasting and praying for him and you and Howard. I know that the Lord is with him. He will guide him and is watching over your son because Braden is His son too.

Love, Julie

Braden's new area and first email from Nicaragua

There is so much to tell you and I seem to be so limited in words at this point, but I will try and explain to you how my first week as been as well as I can.

So on the plane ride I spoke to a woman and bore my testimony about eternal families, as her father had died that morning so she was flying from Miami to Managua to cremate him and scatter his ashes. Weird, but it was a great experience.

I got into the airport and had to go through customs then have my bag hand checked by the Nicaraguan government and then I could go out and meet my Mission President and his wife. It is hot in Managua. Dad, maybe it's a good thing that you guys aren't coming out here, you would die. It gets to be like 95 by like noon or 2 o'clock and only cools down when it rains (basically). So we got picked up at the airport and then went to McDonalds to get dinner. After that we went to one of the 2 mission homes, the South Home, and got ready for bed. It took me forever to fall asleep; I mean it was 85 degrees after all.

Tuesday we had some training and some orientation stuff to do, I had a 5 second interview with my mission president (and I mean literally 5 seconds). Then we went out tracting with one of the Managua Zones--there are 4 Zones in Managua. After that we went back to the mission home and ate dinner and slept.

Wednesday was transfers. I am in the Nicaragua Managua North Mission! My trainer is Elder Velásquez, from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. I'm serving in the highest baptizing area in the church right now, it’s called Puerto Cabezas. Last month they baptized over 100 people and like 12 families! Crazy! It's a lot colder than Managua, by like 5 degrees and it rains a lot more. Oh, and it's a 24-hour bus ride from Managua to Puerto, that was tough. The people here are fantastic. Such hard workers, they make me feel like I was such a lazy member before the mission. They go out every Sunday and make sure that the recent converts are all coming to church and that a lot of the less active families are coming.

I love my mission president. He is so frank and blunt and says everything as it is. It's fantastic.

Um, so lots of random things have happened to me, but I don't want you to every worry about how I am doing. No matter what trials we have in this life we can overcome them with our faith and determination. My APs have told me that I might quite possibly have had the most difficult first week of any missionary they have ever met, but I know without a doubt that I am being blessed with trials; they strengthen me, humble me and draw me closer to the Savior.

One of the coolest things that has happened to me happened just last night. We were driving back to Managua (seriously a 16 hour journey by car) so that we can see the president and say goodbye to him at his departure devotional and there was a strike going on. A hunger strike against the government. They were turning ambulances away! But we got through. We prayed together, we sang hymns in Spanish together and some people went out and talked to the people while others guarded the truck, for in Nicaragua you always need to watch your stuff, everywhere you go whatever you're doing. But I was praying fervently with Heavenly Father when I remembered a line from my Patriarchal Blessing that states basically any righteous desire of your heart shall be granted, so long as it is needful (paraphrase). So I basically said to my Father in Heaven, "I really want to go to Managua and need to see the President one more time. This is not just something I want, but my whole Zone hasn't been to Managua and won't be able to see those in the South Mission if they don't see them now. Please help us to get across." And eventually, after a while the people softened and let us pass, but I was praying and I did not doubt in the power the Lord has given us as missionaries.

Remember this lesson, prayer is the only way we can be close to our Father in Heaven. It is the only way we can keep our relationship strong with him.

Family, I love you so much and I miss you terribly. If you can all pray not just as a family, but personally as well that I might be buoyed up during these trying 2 years I will be eternally grateful. 

Mom, I will try and get more info to you guys about how to get letters to me and stuff. I just need the new address. So if you could like send a little Facebook note to Heather Thomas and ask her to tell other not to send stuff to the old address and tell them that they can still send stuff through pouch to the NORTH mission, that'd be great. Oh and also send a little email to:
anai.villalobos@myldsmail.net
ignacio.montiel@myldsmail.net and
fernando.rios@myldsmail.net  that's be fantastic. just let them know that they need to send mail via pouch to my new mission.

I love you all so much, and I think about you all the time. It brings me such great happiness to know that we are such a beautiful family. Please, do not worry about me, pray for me and the people of Nicaragua.


-- 
Love,
Elder Bolton

P/S

Really, do not worry about me, simply pray that I can be effective and not get too homesick
Also, they have officially extended my mission 3 weeks, so technically I get to serve out my whole mission in Nicaragua. 
-- 
Love,
Elder Bolton

Compliments!

Conversation prior to a trip to the pool. Four-year old Granddaughter: "Grammy, what is that you are wearing?" Grammy: "It is my bathing suit." Christene: "Maybe you better not let anybody see you in it."

Conversation while playing dolls. Grammy: "I always get to play with the grandma doll. Is that because I have white hair or because I am a grandma?" Rachel: "You are silly Grammy. You don't have white hair. You have gray hair. Don't you look in the mirror?"

Kimberly: Too funny, kids are great, Sorina still gets me with some zingers, too, the rest are old enough to sometimes think before they speak, the key word being "sometimes"

 

Sorina asked me during the week if I was teaching Sunday, I told her yes.  She said, "good, then you won't just sit there while dad teaches and tell me and everyone to be quiet."  I told her she needs to be reverent in class (we team teach the 6-7 year olds, about 8-11 kids each week).  She asked me how I expected her to do that when those chairs are soooo uncomfortable.

 

I went in to kiss her good night last night, and she said, "hey, can't you tell I'm trying to go to sleep?"

SV: Greetings from Utah‏

Dear Trauntwein and Myrna

I have been mining to write you for quiet a while, but I really do not get much don on the computer. I sitting in front of one the whole day at work, and then I really do not want to sit in front of it when I get home, but I do that a lot anyway. I do want to keep in touch with our friend, but it sure takes some time too. I had meant to write write you to let you know that Rita, my sister died 3 weeks ago, quite suddenly. I called her and she told me she was not feeling too good, so she had just been drinking a coke, because she had a stomach ache so I asked her, if she had a pain in her left arm, and she said yes a little, so I told her to call a doctor, because then it was not her stomach, but her hart that hurt. She did that and they brought her to the hospital during the night, she had a little blood clod in the hart. They treated her for that but her blood pressure felt and they could not get it up again, she got some more blood clods and to make a long story short. We prayed that what was best for her would happen, and two week later she died, and the doctor told us, what was really wrong was that she had lung cancer. I had suspected that, but did not say anything, but as I sat at the temple after setting her name on the prayer list, I felt that the best thing that could happen to her, was that se died. And it was, she didn’t have to go trough chemotherapy. We miss her, but it was what was best for her. And she is in good hands now. It is getting a little close thou. She was only two years older than I, so I have been thinking a lot about life and death since then.

My cousins that came to the funeral said that they liked how we did it much better, than as it was done in the Lutheranien church. All our cousins were there and Arne, Jan and Ernst all got down from Sweden with their families. I had not seen Arne for three years. His family just came home from Turkey the night before, he had two ours of sleep and then they drove down to Denmark which is 1200km. But it was a good day.

We do not really have sommer yet, we have had about 2 summer days, but it is kind of cold  and windy and it is almost ST. Hans, the longest day of the year. I do hope it will be better.

Janne has been here today, well not really here. The Relief Society in Silkeborg was here, so they could go to the temple,

They came yesterday. Janne brought her daughter, because she is still nursing nursing her. So Line was watching the baby yesterday during one session, so Janne and I could go to a session together, and I went in and watched her so Janne could also take a session today. I was sitting out in the temple garden and Ester slept the whole time, so that was nice. They took the train back to Sønderborg this afternoon.

I hope you are all fine, and healthy and happy

Love Else

Lee Morrison "Stretch"

PRICE - Our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Lee Robert "Stretch" Morrison, age 59, passed away peacefully June 17, 2010 in Price after a long battle with cancer.

He was born Oct. 6, 1950 in Holyoke, Mass., to Clyde Leroy and Yvonne Lillian Payette Morrison. Married Diane Pitts, Oct. 11, 2002 in Wellington.

After graduating from Carbon High School in 1968 Lee joined Helper Search and Rescue and was a volunteer firefighter for Helper City.

Lee worked for Price Auto Parts for years, leaving them for a position with Utah Railway. Afterwards, Lee worked for numerous coal mines in the area including Braztah, Skyline and Dugout Mines. He enjoyed tinkering with cars and was devoted NASCAR fan.

Survived by his loving wife, Diane Pitts Morrison, Price; mother, Yvonne Payette Morrison, Kenilworth; son, Gregory Morrison, Goshen, Utah; daughter, Jennifer Morrison, Ogden; step-sons, Michael Robertson, Price; Thomas Robertson, Helper; three sisters and two brothers, Holly Chovit, North Carolina; Elizabeth (Andrew) Kessans, Ky; John (Peggy) Morrison, New York; Michael (Diane) Morrison, N.Y.; Joan (Jimmy) Young, Kenilworth; seven grandchildren and a community of friends.

Preceded in death by his father, Clyde Leroy Morrison; and sister, Sheila Morrison. Funeral Mass, Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 10 a.m., Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church.

Vigil service, Tuesday evening 7 p.m. Mitchell Funeral Home. Family will be at Mitchell's Tuesday and Wednesday one hour prior to service. Committal, Cliffview Cemetery, Price. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are welcome daily and may share memories of Lee online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.

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Just so you know

Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 10:52 AM

I went to Hayes' shop and picked out a large planter for Jay and family. It was $65, including tax. I did not want to be reimbursed. If you do not think that is enough from all of us, then let me know post-haste. I added all the names of each of you in the following manner: Thanks for the memories!  Leonard and Myrna Trauntvein and family: Shawn and Kimberly T., Melanie and Howard Bolton, Todd and Amy G. T., Eric and Amy J. T., AnnMarie and Brandon Howard; Julie and Jim Jones, Kirsten and Jared Waite, David and Arbree T. (The card was the usual flower card.)

 If you think I need to spend more, since it is from so many, let me know right away. However, they are trying to get together a scholarship fund in Jay's name. I thought we could add to that, if it comes to fruition. If not, then maybe one of you money-bright folk could figure out how to do that and we could announce it in the paper.

Shawn said: That sounds fine to me.