Sunday, June 28, 2009

New Era Article July 2009

Spreading Happiness in Alabama
“Spreading Happiness in Alabama,” New Era, July 2009, 39

They came bearing gifts. After collecting donated items such as toys, clothing, and school supplies, about 30 youth and children from the Semmes and Theodore Wards of Mobile, Alabama, made a visit to the St. Mary’s Home for Children. The youth didn’t just drop off the gifts, but they spent the morning at the community shelter singing Primary songs and playing games with the children who live there.

Lauryn McCullough, a Mia Maid from the Semmes Ward, remembers how much fun they had. “The children really broke out of their shells and enjoyed our visit,” she said. Seeing these children in difficult circumstances also made Lauryn grateful for what she has. “It made me really appreciate my family. We often take for granted what we have.”

Plans for a return visit are already under way in response to numerous requests from both the LDS youth who visited the shelter and from the children living at St. Mary’s Home.

Photograph courtesy of Lisa Schloemer

Article Link:

http://lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/Magazines/NewEra/English/2009/NE_2009_07_16___04247_000_016.pdf

Page 2 Upper right hand corner

Monday, June 22, 2009

Visiting the battleship with the boys...uh I mean Elders!

For pday the elders in our ward asked us to take them to tour the USS Alabama at Battleship park here in Mobile.

The temperatures were around 100 degrees with about that much humidity but we survived the visit and enjoyed the sights!

I'm thinking I need a "brig" in the basement of my home...

The air conditioning inside the battleship made this part of the tour very VERY comfortable!!!

Kenny found what he wants for his 12th birthday...

Saturday, June 20, 2009

A trip to beach in Gulf Shores...

Summer fun with friends at the beach!

What better way to spend the day but with friends in Gulf Shores!

Lisa catching some sun...

Lots of sun, good friends, and a whole lot of bottled water!

Kenny and Jessica enjoying the shade!

More pictures from our summer trip to Utah...

Jessica working out in the yard in Alpine with Oma.

The kids enjoying the games on Wii.

Jim introducing the kids to his horse and prized Missouri Mule...

Blowing bubbles with Boston...

Nothing beats a little L&L Hawaiian food in Provo!!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Jessica and some of the fun things she did while in Utah...

Kenny and Jessica posing for a pic in front of the temple doors at the Salt Lake Temple.

Jessica and a very special friend from WX playing in the backyard of one of the best grandmas we know!!!! (You know who you are!!!)

Jessica and one of her favorite friends from WX!

Jessica earned some money helping Oma around the yard while visiting Alpine! I wonder if I can get her to do the same for me in Alabama? Hmmm...the pay probably isn't as good and that's probably why I don't get much help!

At welfare square in Salt Lake we got to sample all different sorts of items produced there by the church. The cheddar cheese was one of our favorites!

More pics from our Utah trip...

Having my sister fly up from Hawaii to be in Utah while we were visiting was a highlight of our trip! Here...Mibi, Lee, and Savannah are enjoying the hospitality suite at the Temple Open House!

Kenny in the background stalking the two girls!!!!

Great family pic after the Temple Open House in South Jordan, Utah! We seriously need to live closer to family! One visit a year just isn't enough!

These have got to be the most beautiful girls ever! Posing for a picture in front of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in South Jordan, Utah!

Jessica and her favorite cousin heading for a fantastic sleep over with Oma in Alpine!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Enjoying Hooper hot springs in Southern Colorado...

Visiting Arnold's parents in southern Colorado was a fun part of the trip! We went out to dinner and visited the local natural hot springs swimming pool in Hooper!

Kenny and Lisa enjoying the pool!

Arnold and I relaxing in the hot springs! What a great way to unwind from a long long road trip!

Jessica on her way to dive off the diving board!

When the fountain is on the temperature of the water cools down a bit. Once it turns off the water gets really really warm!!!

Grandma, Lisa Nicole and Jessica enjoying the Hooper Hot Springs swimming pool in southern Colorado!

Visiting Temple Square in Salt Lake City...

One of our favorite things to do in Utah is to visit Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City. We never grow tired of the displays or scenery! It gets better and better each time we visit!

Kenny, Lisa Nicole, and Jessica in the gardens just inside the entrance to the Salt Lake Temple grounds.

Arnold and I on the steps of the east doors of the Salt Lake Temple.

The kids had a fun time taking pictures of just Arnold and I this trip. Either they're getting old enough to enjoy a bit of photography or they are just tired of me always taking pictures of them!!!

More pictures of people and places we love to visit in Utah...

Arnold is so cute with all the little cousins! He would die if he knew I posted this one but I thought it captured just how amazing he is with all the children! We should've had a hundred of our own!

Appa hanging out with Nikki...or is it the other way around?

Bonfire behind Oma's house in Alpine!

Checking out the Hacking's horse and Missouri Mule in Lindon!

Blowing bubbles with Boston in Pleasant Grove!

Seeing lots of family and great friends along the way...

Visiting with Doris and her beautiful grandsons in Woods Cross was an exciting part of our visit! We couldn't resist playing in the back yard like our children use to years ago when they were the boy's age! What fun memories!

Our trip to Utah wouldn't have been complete without a stop by the old Woods Cross city building! Soooo...when's the next election?

Jim and Diane Hacking invited us for one of the best Saturday morning BREAKFAST feasts we have EVER had!!! What fun it was for us to sit and visit and hear amazing stories about their mission in Independence Missouri and all the latest happening with their beautiful family!!!

Visiting with a friend of ours from Woods Cross was a fun part of our trip! Camille was good to let us have lots and lots of one on one time with new baby Hadley! We couldn't get over how big Boston had gotten in just one year! We all had a fun visit!!!

Running into one of the elders who served in our Ward in Mobile while visiting BYU! What fun to see these young men back home and thriving as return missionaries!!!

Auntie Mibi and Arnold sharing a "moment" during our family BBQ!

Utah Family Summer Trip...

On the mountain behind Oma's house in Alpine with the cousins!

Oma having fun with Kenny and Jessica!

What a great father/son picture!

I LOVE this picture of Arnold and Lisa Nicole!

Thirty plus hours and Nineteen hundred miles on the road...