General YW Broadcast, St. George and Ancestors

January and February are the months of the year when we wonder why in the world we live in Utah!  So to get out of the snow and inversion we headed for St. George, Utah.  On March 30th, we watched General Young Women's Conference while in St. George.  The girls were happy to be able to see their cousins and we had a good visit with my sister, Tammy and her husband, Randy.

 We got to attend church in the chapel that is just east of the St. George temple.  Jake threw a fit about attending primary in a new and strange place, so we walked around the temple for Sunday School.  The weather was lovely and sunny.

 While we were there, we were able to go visit the grave of one of our ancestors, Byram Lee Bybee.  Just a couple months prior, Joe's Aunt Susan made us aware of this ancestor that both Joe and I share.  We were a little weirded out at first, but have come to love the connection.

 My 4th great grandfather, Byram Lee Bybee entered into plural marriage while in Nauvoo.  The Bybee/Harris family comes through his first wife, Elizabeth (Betsy) Ann Lane and Joe's Weight family line comes from his second wife, Elsie Marie.  

Joe's Uncle Shirl had a page dedicated to this family and there is an interesting account from the life sketch of Elizabeth Jane Bybee, one of their daughters.  They were in Nauvoo at the time of the prophet's death.  Her account is at this bottom of this page: http://weightfamily.net/FamHist/Pioneers/cook/bybee.htm

(Information taken from Life Sketch of Elizabeth Jane Bybee Smith’s biography in "Utah Pioneer Biographies. Vol 26, Utah 31.)

"My parents (Byram Lee Bybee and Betsy Lane) were not in the best of circumstances and since their four oldest children were girls, they had to work very hard to help support the family. There were twelve children in the family, six girls and six boys. Three of them died very young.

My father was a sickly man and his circumstances would not permit him to give his children a good education, as there were very few public schools. We had no conveniences, not even stoves, wash boards, or lamps. For lights we used candles made of tallow or a rag soaked in tallow. We often had to sew and knit by fire-light.

In 1836 . . . my father sold our home and moved from Kentucky into Indiana where we started a new home. There were many sugar-maple trees on the place, so we had plenty of sugar and molasses.

Alma Babbit, a Mormon Elder, came into Indiana preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840. I thought his doctrine was very strange. In 1841 two more Mormon Elders came into the state. After preaching in our settlement about three weeks, fifteen of us, including our family, decided to be baptized. We moved to Nauvoo in 1842.

The Prophet’s enemies were now after his life. He started across in river to go to Iowa, but some of his friends persuaded him to come back, calling him a coward. He turned and went back, telling his friends that he was going like a lamb to the slaughter. He and his brother Hyrum were taken to Carthage jail and a mob was raised that killed them both. They leaned the Prophet’s body against the well curb and were going to behead him when a flash of lightening came from Heaven and paralyzed the man that was going to do the deed. Every one fled from Carthage. The two bodies were brought home and I saw them lying side by side in their coffins."

 It has been interesting to read about these ancestors.  Although plural marriage has been a "thorn in my side" and has caused me some distress just thinking of it, Joe and I like to imagine that Betsy and Elsie we good friends.  Perhaps they had some "scheme" on the other side of the veil to help get Joe and me together.  Perhaps not...but it's fun to think about!

KK is Not so Little Anymore!

 Our sweet Kelsey Kaye turned 14 on January 10th.  She is our only child who has to attend school on her birthday, which is not always her favorite thing to do!

Kelsey has some awesome YW leaders who came over and surprised her with a decorated front door.  We love and appreciate them.  (Thanks Kris Menendez!)

 KK got to choose the restaurant for her birthday dinner.  She chose P.F. Changs since they have a good gluten-free menu and a delicious GF dessert.  Happy Birthday my love!  Our family would not be the same without you.  You bring such joy and happiness everywhere you go.

2012 Holiday Review

Guess what happens when you are a year behind on your life?  Yep....you forget half of it!  Not only that, but you also lose all your pictures that you SWEAR you took.  Alas, that is the case here.

We attended the usual "ugly sweater" parties and holiday festivities.

 As usual, Santa was very good to us.  Each year we feel we are blessed beyond what we deserve.  God has been good to our family and we feel gratitude for our warm home, food, clothes and the many "wants" we enjoy. 

My sister, Debby, was able to fly out the week after Christmas and spend some time with the family.  We had a great time laughing it up and being silly.  I sure do miss living by her.  We were even able to get a day of sledding in.  It was FREEZING cold, so it was short-lived but fun.  At least no broken bones!

 We brought in 2013 with the Darrington family.  We have spent many New Years Eves together and always enjoy their family, food and fun.

40 Day Family History Challenge

The Lehi South Stake Youth Family History Committee came up with an awesome idea last fall.  They called it the 40 day challenge.  The youth were challenged to search out their own ancestor's names and then take them to the temple to complete their work.  My daughters took the challenge on and were able to find names. 

On December 20, 2012, we had all the wards of the stake go to the Draper, Utah, LDS temple and do baptisms and confirmations for the dead.  We started early in the morning at 6:00am and didn't finish until around 5:00pm that evening.  I had the pleasure of attending late in the afternoon and was amazed at the strong spirit that was felt by all.

Some kind sister temple workers came downstairs and were looking into the baptismal font.  They asked me if I was from the Lehi South Stake.  When I said yes, they shared with me the joy they had in the temple that day as word spread about the non-stop flow of youth pouring in to do work for their own ancestors.  They were amazed at the numbers.  It still brings tears to me now!

Our stake youth committee has been amazing at bringing miracles to pass.  To find out more, go to Strengthening Families through Temple and Family History Work

2012 Spooktacular Halloween

We had one busy fall but stopped long enough to have some fun for Halloween.  Mike and Susie hosted one of their awesome parties and we had a great time dressing up!  Joe and I were Jake and Fionna from Adventure Times.

 

Connley and Morgan as Power Rangers , Brooke as Justin Beiber

Lehi South Stake hosted the Halloween multi-stake dance again.  Heather Haney, Danielle Spangler and I had a good time and did our best to act our age.  Sometimes, that's a hard thing to do! 

Fall Break in Utah

October 11-15, 2012, was all three children's fall break.  Since this was a perfect time to get away, we took full advantage!  We started by heading to Goblin Valley

Sweet Sisterly Love

This is how Jake felt every time I took pictures!

We had never been to Goblin Valley before so we were in for a treat.  We loved it!  It was like being on another planet.  We definitely want to return there again soon.

Sneaking a pic from behind

Sure Love this Man

Yes, there was snow on Fall Break!

 We drove through Escalante and hit some snow.  We broke out the Justin Beiber Christmas CD and rocked some Christmas music through the snow.  Poor Joe was white knuckling it through the slick mountain roads.

 We spent a day in Bryce Canyon.  Unfortunately, every time we've visited here, it's been freezing cold.  This trip was no different.  The scenery is unbelievable though.

 To finish off the trip, we visited Zions National Park and spent the night in St. George, UT.  We hiked to the top of Angel's landing and I thought I was going to die!  Jake and I were the only 2 in our family to make it to the very top.  Tammy, Randy and family went with us and they proved to have no fear.

Near the top, there is a chain attached to the mountain and you have to hold on to this chain for safety.  I haven't had many things scare me this much!  It didn't help that there is a sign down below stating how many fatalities occur each year.  Blah!  Once I actually made it to the top, it was easier coming down.  I was proud of Jake and we had a great time.

 Sure do love this crazy family of mine and our adventures.  Can't believe next year will be the last official fall break with all my children in school.  Morgan will be a senior and will graduate the next year.  Talk about scarey!