61 trips around the Sun

This week has been a long time coming!  Not just my 61st birthday, but Tammy's baptism!  We had our first lesson with her on Sept. 5th.  And then 7 months later she did it!  I love this good lady so much!  This is Tammy with her daughter Cheyenne (still to be converted) and granddaughter Kylie (wants to be baptized NOW!)

My birthday was awesome because we got to work on the bathroom remodel.  Well Elder Quincy does the work and he lets me take the construction garbage out.  Then we picked up the Lees and took them to the temple for the first time in 4 years!  They live in the boonies and have had trouble making it to church, but at the start of the year they committed to come and to be able to go back to the temple!  Annie called me a week ago and said; "We just left the Stake President's office!  We have recommends!  When can you take us to the temple"?  It was a 200 mile round trip to get them, take them to the temple, take them home and go back to our house.  I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday!

I have to share my texting with Tammy on Tuesday;  She said she was meeting with the Elders that night to go over the baptism interview questions and was scared.  I told her that she was soo ready to be baptized!  She said "thanks I needed to hear that".  I told her that I remembered when she said she was scared to read the Book of Mormon because she knew it would change her whole life.  And that it had changed her life, but all for the better.  She said yes it has changed everything and all for the better.  It really made me happy to have her say that!  She of course had no problem with the interview questions.  I felt privileged to be asked to speak at her baptism.  It was really a highlight of my life to meet and teach and love this great family! Here's 3 of the 12 missionaries who've taught Tammy the gospel.

Tammy's sister Sonya has been crying ever since the baptism, she is soo happy!

Family kept arriving, but here's the first picture of them. 

Tammy with Kylie and Ashley's 2 kids.

Luke and Ashley with Tammy.

Last to arrive, Sonya's husband, Lloyd.  He's the only hold out that hasn't been to one of our Monday night meetings at the Allen's. 

Elder Quincy has been working all week on that bathroom remodel, so Saturday I went with the Sisters and helped a member take down some wallpaper. 

The bathroom is now gutted and the new stuff in going in.

Ashley's daughter, Laney turns 3 this week.  She had a huge birthday party at which we met more of this family!  So much more work to do with them! 

 Stake Conference was last night and this morning.  It was great and such a joy to see so many members of our ward there.  This morning they held a special session for new members since the last conference at 9:00.  We were followed there by Tammy, Sonya and Jaycie.  Ashley and Luke met us there with the kids.  Ashley got her Patriarchal Blessing!  So sweet Glenda picked up Sandy and brought her.  Br. Soper and Christine brought her kids, Megan and Zak, The Martinez family from the Cleveland branch were there, too.  Cleveland totally dominated the meeting.  There were only 5 other converts there from the whole stake!  Anyway, the Stake President had them all stand and introduce themselves, tell what ward they are from and tell what their  "aha moment" was when they got  a testimony.  It was really cool to hear and be there.  And then they had reserved the first 2 rows in the chapel for us!  Great seating is a good perk.  Its been a good week!  Firsts would be our longest trip to the temple.  Our first new member conference session, and me talking at a baptism here.