G&G Wallace and the Keyes Come to Joplin

Mike's parents were able to come for a visit June 29th through July 8th.  Unfortunately this is the only picture I have from the visit.  I was preoccupied with finishing summer school, getting Tucker ready to leave for Tonga (July 3rd), and getting Ilah and I ready to leave for girls camp (July 4th).

When the Keyes arrived on Sunday, everyone came over for dinner (prepared by Fran, Amy, Jim and Syd) and to play some ping pong.  Then on Monday we managed to squeeze in a lake trip thanks to Jim and Amy.  Tucker, Ilah and Henry LOVED the jet skis.  I loved watching cousins have fun together and cooling off in the water.  On Tuesday Tucker left for HEFY and then Ilah, Heather and I left for camp on Wednesday.  From what I understand Henry and Mike had a great time going with family to a rodeo, watching Jimmy and Amy two stepping at the ATA (Anti Thief Association) Dance, and playing in the creek.  On Sunday we drove Jim and Fran to the Springfield airport.  From what I understand it won't be long before they visit again as Jim and Amy are planning on getting sealed some time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Mike with Mom & Dad

Sydney and kids came to stay at our house from July 10 through the 16th.  We went to Schermerhorn Park (in Galena) to cool off in the creek.  This is my new favorite place close to Joplin.  It is free and provides hours of entertainment.

Ilah and Abby

Henry with his buddy Ian

the new slim and still sexy Mike

Henry swinging off the rope swing

Shea getting ready to swing

Hello...Goodbye!

Ilah taking a turn

Syd, Mike and Abby

Henry jumping from the tree

Ilah jumping from the tree

Ian gets enough courage to try it

He loved it!

Shea jumping from the tree in the background

Mike and Nate racing

Love this smile!

Nate trying to rope climb

Really love this smile!!

Henry showing us a big rock

Syd talking with Ilah

One night we went to the county fair in Neosho.

Shea didn't want his photo taken

The boys wanted to shoot the gun

Jim and Amy at their conceal and carry booth.

 

We watched the greased pig competition, walked through all of the animal booths, saw Jim and Amy, and the kids rode a few of the carnival rides.  We were going to watch the tractor pull, but found out it cost $10/person - so we stuck with the free stuff.

On Friday Syd came with us to the Kansas City Temple.  One of the young men in our ward was taking out his endowments prior to leaving on his mission.

Syd and Mike

On Sunday (July 15th), we got to have FHE with Sydney and kids.  Ilah prepared a fun interactive lesson.  She had everyone come into the kitchen and each person had to come up with one ingredient to add to make a delicious cake.  We added cocoa, sugar, flour, milk, shortening, baking powder and eggs.  Then Ilah told us she was going to add the "coolest" ingredient.  All of the cool kids LOVE it... spaghetti sauce.  After she dumped a bunch of that into the mix, she let the kids try the batter.  They seemed to like it.  We put it in the oven and went out to play trampoline dodge ball.  When we came back in the house, it smelled horrible, but when the cake was done, Shea and Nate took a bite.  Nate spit it out, but Shea continued to eat.   We were surprised.  Mike asked him if it was good to which he said no, but that since it was the treat/goodie, he was going to eat it.  Ilah explained her object lesson then pulled out a delicious cake she had make previously.

Monday (July 16th), Syd and kids went back over to Jim and Amy's to get ready for their quick trip to Nauvoo.  They were able to see the Nauvoo pageant and told us- that alone was worth the trip.  So it looks like we'll have to figure out a way to go to Nauvoo next July :)  On Thursday Bob flew back in to Springfield to help with the trip home.  Thursday was also Henry's 12th birthday so everyone came over that night as we attempted to celebrate with homemade cookie dough ice cream and Macadacia cake.  (That is a story for another time.)

Joplin doesn't really have any attractions so to speak, but I remember how much I loved going to visit G&G in Eagar, AZ.  That small town experience was so different from what I was used to.  I loved it!  I think Syd, Shea, Nate, and Abby enjoyed their "country vacation".  From Jim and Amy's cows, to county fairs, rodeos, hanging out at the creek, and going two-stepping it almost feels like you're stepping back in time.

I want you to know...

I was asked to write this for an extra credit assignment in one of my classes.  The more I wrote, the more that I knew that I wanted to share this experience.  It has been a few years since this experience occurred but it still encourages me to do that which is right and good.  I hope it inspires you all as well.  I love you all! and I want you to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that doing that which is right truly does bring happiness. I know that it is also essential to our salvation that we participate in the salvation of others.  I know Heavenly Father loves each and every one of His children personally and that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


Love, 
Taysom

Baptisms for the Dead

            I try to go to the temple to do confirmations and baptisms for the dead at least once a week.  Generally, I would go on Thursdays after my 11:30 to 1 o’clock class because I didn’t have anything going on for a few hours afterwards.  I always love going to the temple, and I admit that sometimes I go for selfish reasons.  For example, sometimes I would go because I had a test coming up and I wanted a few extra blessings, or sometimes I go because it was my goal to attend the temple once a week while I was up here at college.  And if I missed a week, my goal was to make up for it the next week by going twice.  However, I have noticed lately that my reason for going to the temple lately (as well as the fact that it is my goal) is because of the wonderful peace I feel when I attend the temple.  It is amazing to walk in to the temple and know that the Lord has walked those very same steps, and that this is the Lord’s house.  When I go to the temple, I can always feel His spirit unless I make the conscious decision to be selfish and not let the healing power of the atonement make me whole.  I know that when I go the Lord is proud of me, that I come closer unto Him, and that He loves me, of course He always loves us and He is always proud of us as we come closer unto Him, but there is something about being in His house that makes that realization so much more clear.

            I am not the only one who benefits when I attend the temple though.  All of the people I am confirmed for and am baptized for also receive eternal blessings.  My family and I were asked to participate in a pageant for a Relief Society activity one time and it was over temple work.  My family was cast as a family who had not yet had their work done for them.  We were supposed to be called up one by one say our names and see if anyone in the audience had our names.   (Pieces of paper with our names on them as well as many other names had been distributed throughout the audience previously.)  If someone had our name that meant that our work had been done for us and we went to the other side of the room to continue our eternal progression.  We were told that my little sister wouldn’t have her name placed out there and that we would have to leave her in order to show how families actually feel when this happens.  Well, we began the pageant and my mom’s name was called out.  One person stood up announcing that she had her name.  My mom would soon move to the other side of the room, but she waited to hear if our names would be called out too.  As I am the oldest child in my family I went next.  They called my name and I waited for the expected call that someone had my name, but something had gone wrong with the slips of paper and my name was no longer to be found (I often wonder if Heavenly Father allowed this to happen on purpose so that I could see the importance of family history work.)  It was devastating, that grief that I would not be going on with my parents.  I did not think anything could feel worse.  But then after my brother, Tucker, had joined my parents, I watched my little sister, Ilah, as she returned to her place by me.  And then my youngest brother’s, who was probably nine or ten at the time, name was also not found.  This wasn’t part of the program either and Henry, confused returned to our bench.  Finally, my Dad, got up and had his name called out.  As expected someone did have his name, with tears in his eyes, he told all three of us that he would have to leave us.  He said he would be waiting and praying for us until we came to join him, mom, and Tucker.  With that he hugged and kissed the top of our heads and left to the other side of the room.  I was sobbing by this point and I am sure Ilah and Henry were also crying but I think I tried to tickle their back or something.  It’s a little blury now, but I hope I comforted them, and that’s when the pageant ended.  I cannot describe the utter anguish and pain I felt when me, Ilah, and Henry, were not allowed to go to with the rest of our family, but I also remembered thinking thank goodness that my name wasn’t called out so I could remain with Ilah and Henry.  I now realize that that was probably the wrong attitude to have because I also would need to continue my eternal progression and I am sure Ilah and Henry would want me to move one.

            The really sad thing is that this is not just a pageant.  There are families who have not yet had their work done for them and have not been sealed together.  It is our duty to change that, and really why would you not want to help people in that situation?  President Eyring stated in his talk entitled “Hearts Bound Together” the reliance and responsibility we have to do temple work, when he said, “When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down on you with hope. Perhaps after centuries, they rejoiced to see one of their descendants make a covenant to find them and to offer them freedom. In your reunion, you will see in their eyes either gratitude or terrible disappointment. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor on to find them.”  It is our responsibility to help those who have not yet had the opportunity to receive the blessings of the temple.  Take an hour to do indexing, attend the temple regularly, and start writing in your journal your own family history.  Start being the light to others who are struggling and become an instrument in the Lord’s hands.  At least, that’s what I would want others to do for me and my siblings and parents if we had not had the work done for us.