News from Mom

Dear Family,

What is it about May that makes me think it was the best of times; it was the worst of times? It's exhilerating to see school winding down to summer, yet it's stressful making it to the very end. Then when I sit back and remember all the wonderful family visits we enjoyed this month, I can't imagine any better time!

Martha dropped in with her boys, and we played and played. We visited Summer and Chris and played with their kids. We all went up to see Melanie and family, and it was just like a little cousin reunion in Spanish Fork. Those little ones play together just like long lost best friends!

The following week Becca spent the weekend with her little family. We baked rolls and bitlawa. Once again the weather was cool, and we all spent hours outside on the swings and the dirt hill. Those moments are so priceless. I used to wish we could have more blessings in dollars instead of just children, but now I appreciate the wealth of treasure in all those precious little ones you all keep bringing home to us. There could be no greater riches in the whole wide world. Enjoy!

Love & prayers, Mom

Chris & Summer

Melanie and Andy

Martha & Jeremy

Hello Everyone,

It sure was great to visit with so many of you in the west. Thanks for the fun times! Now we're back at home sweltering in the humidity and high temps. The air is so thick and hot if feels like you can take a knife and slice it. Of course, I'm sure it's hotter and more humid for Matt right now!

The highlight of our month was playing in Nevada and Utah. The boys still talk about all the fun cousins and the fun things they did. Out of the blue tonight Lyle said, "Remember when I threw up on Aunt Summer's carpet? We were so sad, weren't we Mom?" That wasn't fun but I guess it was a memory for him. The boys definitely remember the fun times they had swinging on Grandpa's monster swings. I took the boys to the park yesterday and they immediately ran to the swings. So I put them in and began to push them. When they realized they couldn't go as high as they could in Grandpa's swings, they got bored and wanted out. The boys also remember ice skating and will pretend to ice skate on our hardwood floors. Yes, even that little stinker Rummy remembers his little break away from Grandpa and the fun he had on the ice! The entire trip, except for all the throw up, was great. We sure enjoyed our time with everyone and look forward to the fun times ahead at the reunion.

Take care! Love, The Tanners

Becca & Nick

Here is a rough draft of reunion information. You've all known the dates and the tentative place for a while but now come details. The reason why I call this a rough draft is because I signed everyone up for something, some people up for two somethings, and I havn't asked anyones opionions yet. So let me know if what you're signed up for does or doesn't work and then I'll send out a final draft for everyone. Keep me posted. Love, Becca

Reunion Schedule August 10th-12th White Horse Lake, 19 miles southeast of Williams, AZ

Thursday Afternoon: Arrive and Set-up Welcome home party for Elder Whitney (Bring your Bachata) Mosey around Nachos and Eegees for dinner provided by Becca at no specific time. Eat when you're ready. Party Cake later when we're all around. (Becca)

Friday

Breakfast: Martha and Jeremy

Hike: Becca or anyone who knows a good place

Lunch: Melanie and Andy and/or Matt

Activity: McKay and Keresa

Dinner: Mom and Dad

Campfire hang out with smores by Summer

Saturday

Breakfast: McKay and Keresa

Lunch: Chris and Summer

Dinner: In-N-Out. . . . :) Well, at least I know we'll be eating there. :)

Sunday

Breakfast: Captain Cruncheroos or whatever

11:00 Church with Matt at Spanish Branch (tentative)

Dinner: DR Grub by Matt? or whatever else

Additional Information about White Horse Lake Campground:

White Horse Lake is a popular fishing lake stocked with rainbows and brown trout. Some nice channel catfish have been caught here too.

In addition to fishing, the area around this campground offers excellent opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife watching. Scenic Sycamore Canyon and the Mogollon Rim, famous for its red rocks and picturesque bluffs, are also conveniently nearby. Additional information is available at the Visitor Center or Williams Ranger District Office.

Facilities: White Horse I has 50 sites, and White Horse II has 42 sites. All sites have some level of accessibility. Pit toilets, garbage bins, water faucets throughout the area. Campground hosts available to assist you.

Elevation: 6600 feet (2010 meters)

Restrictions: No swimming Pets must always be restrained or on a leash. Motorbikes may be used only to enter and leave the area. Arizona fishing license required for anyone over 14. Only electric boat motors (1 HP or less) allowed. No dump station provided; no waste water drained onto ground.

Location: About 19 miles (30.5 km) southeast of Williams.

Access/Road Conditions: From Williams, turn south on 4th St. (FR 173, Perkinsville Road) and go 9 miles to FR 110; turn left onto FR 110; go about 7 mi. and turn left onto FR 109; follow to campground entrance (about 3 mi.). Paved and all-weather graveled roads are suitable for passenger cars. During winter, snow removal keeps roads open most of the time.

McKay & Keresa

Graduation feels a lot like retirement. I have so much time now. I get to catch up with my girls. It is very relaxing.

LV temple holds early sessions 3x per week. Those are nice because I can go before work, before the girls wake up, and make it through the whole session without getting heavy eyelids. Last week I did an early day. Then Dad called me in the afternoon and asked me to spot him and Mom who had a sealing assignment but were sick with headaches. Keresa asked me if I remembered what happened when pregnant ladies do sealings (they faint). So I went solo and met up with the Logandale stake folks.

Keresa and I are finding out that Sydney understands most of the things we say. She may also be dyslexic. She says diaper as "pye-der" and zebra as "bree-zha." Hopefully we can get her to switch those syllables around.

Sydney has tried to just whine and point to stuff, but we are making her say things instead of whine. One of the things she has picked up is that Keresa asked her, "You want me to help you?" when reaching for a cracker. So she started saying, "Help you?" when she wants help with something.

Keresa is having a great time creating ideas to switch Sydney's room into a suitable boy nursery. She has picked out new colors, paint, bedding, etc. And now, I actually have time to help her do that stuff!

Other than that, things are just warming up around here. Looking forward to those hot Vegas temperatures!

Mk kgw srw

Elder Matt

Querida Familia,

So let me give you a little bit of cool latest on some of our investigators.

Do you remember me talking about a lady we were trying to get to quit smoking without results? Mayra had also been lying to us about something and that was the reason why she hadn't been coming to church either. So anyway, last Sunday, after not coming to church yet again, she broke down and told us that she had smoked several that day and also talked to us about why she hadn't been coming to church. Honestly, I don't fully understand everything she was saying, but it sounded complex and difficult. But she felt horrible. So we had an indepth charla about repentence and how confession and prayer are necessary elements. We talked about all the steps with her and she was starting to feel better. Then we face the smoking problem. We offered her a blessing and she was really excited. So we did in the week we saw amazing results. Mayra put forth tons of faith and was 100 percent after the blessing we gave her and she was truly healed through the priesthood, faith, and repentance. And then yesterday, she came to church. We gave her back her baptismal date for the 17th of this month.

We've got a really neat family that we met just contacting. I think I mentioned Jorge and Rossy last week because they came to church. We were praying alot to know if they were ready to have a baptismal date and then we prayed specifically to know if the 24th of June should be the date we give them. During a quick visit with the mission leader to Jorge's house, I felt a strong impression of peace and intense happiness as a saw in my mind the whole family dressed in white in front of the chapel (or possibly the temple now that I think about it). So this week we went to teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost) and put a baptismal date with them. So before the charla, we were just chatting and Rossy said, "Oh yeah, I got together with my first husband when I was 14, it was nothing, that's just how people are here, they never get married, they just get together as soon as it's convinient." Not exactly the best attitude. I guess she and Jorge got together when she was 21, but she had been together with someother guy(s) before. He also has other children. But the charla went wonderfully and they accepted a baptismal date for the 24th of this month. Then I looked at Rossy and explained what the law of chastity is and told her frankly that in order to comply with the commandments of God and be worthy of baptism, they would have to get married legally and make their family official. She kind of looked embarrassed about the comments she'd make before the charla, looked down, and said, "Well, you'd have to talk to him, because he's the one that doesn't want to." So we asked him, "Jorge, to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptised in His church, will you marry your beautiful wife that you've been with for over 10 years?" And he looked straight ahead and gave an enthusiastic "Yes!" Then we looked at Rossy and she kind of giggled and looked down and said "yes" as well.

Then yesterday, we took them to a special Fire Side that our President of the mission puts on once a month for all the investigators that have baptismal dates. There, President asked them all one by one to share how they came in contact with the missionaries and how it's been since. So when it came around to Jorge, and he talked about how we casually contacted him, he accepted us to come back, and since then, he's felt that his house and family has been a place of peace and that he loves having us teach him about the Gospel of Christ. It was amazing. Then during a recent convert's testimony that was there, Rossy cried a little. It was amazing.

One other cool investigator. Raymond and Lucia were a reference from their member neighbors and have just been enthusiastic from the beginning about everything. Plus Raymond has a limited knowledge of English that he'll throw into the lesson now and again to keep things fresh. For example, we'll get off the subject a little because of a question he asks then he'll realize that we've strayed from the lesson, slap the table with his hand, point to one of us and say, "Ya, bastante! Go!" Or, "Tell me, yes, GO! We decided that he will be our new Elder's Quorum President to replace our inactive one. I can just see him now: "Okay, you have your home teaching assignments, GO!" Yesterday, we were just passing on the street by his house and he was out chatting with his neighbors. He appoligized for not going to church and said it would never happen again. Then he saw my keychain with the concecrated oil and said, "That's pretty cool, where do I get one?" The member neighbor explained to him what it was and explained about the priesthood and how it was the same authority that Christ gave to his apostles in the ancient times to do healings and the like. Then I said it was also by this authority that was can baptise. He kind of got and thoughtful expression and asked, "What else to I need for baptism? Do I have to wait a year or something?" So, we're pretty sure we'll five him and Lucia a baptismal date for the same day as Jorge and Rossy, the 24th.

I'm looking forward to the reunion in all of its camping splendor! The calendar looks great Becca. Thanks for all the articles and pictures!

Con amor, Elder Winni