Elder Andrus is home!

It was so good to see Berkeley again. He is looking great and had a wonderful experience on his mission. He gave an excellent talk on the subject of the restoration adding stories of people he taught. I'll try to give an outline of it:

1. God loves us and won't abandon us.

Story of Warren, a man they taught who had a 7-year-old daughter he loved dearly . He had had a rough life and wanted to change his life to be a good father to her but wondered if he could change. They patiently taught him and he did change and set his life in order. Berkeley visited him recently and saw an amazing change in him--from darkness to light, from tired to energized, from dirty to clean. He has now baptized his daughter.

2. God has tried over and over with the different dispensations to give His people another chance.

Story of Afton, a very poor woman they met on the street. They helped her move in to her apartment. She was a single parent whose little child had died. She thought God had abandoned her. But they taught her and she found new hope. She thought she was too far gone but the Spirit taught her that she could change.

3. Christ organized a church.

He quoted 3 Ne. 27:16 - "And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world."

4. His church has been restored in our day.

He told Joseph Smith's story in his own words about the first vision and asked us to pay attention to the spirit as we listened. I certainly felt the spirit.

Story of the Sellers family. There was a lot of love in their home. The mom wasn't a member and as she started to study about the gospel her family sent anti-Mormon literature which caused fear. As she was taught by the spirit she overcame her fear and received a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. They asked her to testify of it at the musical fireside they did and she did it with power.

Berkeley testified of the difference the gospel makes in people's lives.

Family Reunion

We really enjoyed the reunion at Alpine. Missed Carl's and Emily's families (and our two missionaries of course). It was unusual having it so late in the year, but the blackberries were at their prime and Jonathan made a bunch of pies. They picked them from the canoe on the pond.

We had a great FHE the first night with reports from our two returned missionaries and reports from the parents of the two current missionaries. Esther and Jason answered questions and I think we got a feel for what missionaries do. Jason learned the power of the Priesthood in giving  blessings and he also felt his prayers were answered. Esther was able to use her leadership and training skills.  We are grateful they had this opportunity and filled honorable missions.

The talent show was super, lots of singing and stories The highlight was Esther and Curtis doing some country western swing dance moves. Grandpa told about the battle of Fort McHenry and we re-enacted it by throwing ping pong balls at the Patriots up on the stage (and singing The Star Spangled Banner and God Save the King).

We also enjoyed the good food, the pond, the confidence courses, and the archery range. I would say a good times was had by all. We especially enjoyed having Gail's cheerful optimism.

The week of Aug. 15th is still open next summer and if it remains so until Jan. 1st, we'll reserve it!

Shucking corn for supper. Rachel, Aunt Gail, and the Goodwin kids

Jonathan, Jessica and Quin in the new kevlar canoe

The best French toast you ever tasted

Sydney at the confidence course

Mike on the zipline

Sam studying the scriptures

Trevor and Ken with Ken's hovercraft

Sam running around the pond

The Brewsters at Alsea Falls

Trevor smiling!

Esther and Curtis country dancing

Neil and Esther singing

Carl and Velvet's Visit

What an exciting week! Carl and Velvet and their girls came Sunday night for a three-day visit. It was SO good to see them again. Carl and Velvet are affectionate with each other and the girls are their bright, lively selves. We really enjoyed their visit.

Day 1: We spent the morning walking clear around Avery Park, stopping at all the interesting play equipment and the rose garden, which is still beautiful.

After lunch we went over to Albany, first to the carousel place where they are making the animals, then to King Kone for ice cream, and finally to Target for the girls to get some new school clothes. That evening Velvet took the girls to her cousin's while we had a nice visit with Carl.

Day 2: Velvet works hard, but she also plays hard! In the morning she met her cousin and her kids at Enchanted Forest. In the afternoon she met another cousin and her kids at Otter Beach! Carl and I watched "Northanger Abbey." What a good sport he is. Then Jessica and Quin came over to visit. Ken's family came for supper. The girls pounded their Zodiac constellations into the bottom of #10 cans. Ann Marie noticed they come out reversed when you shine a flashlight in them.

Day 3: Ann Marie came over to spend the day with her cousins. We went to the Thompson's Mill in Shedd and had an interesting guided tour.

In between all the activities we watched videos and played games and talked. It was a let down after they left and the house became so quiet!

Introducing Evelyn Celeste Goodwin!

They plan to call her "Ava". On June 7th our seventh great grandchild was born here in Corvallis. She was 8 lb. with dark hair and adorable as can be. Mom and Dad are doing just fine!

.

James Blake's wedding

It was a beautiful spring day, dry and sunny with a slight breeze. The walk to the top of Chip Ross Park was delightful.  Eldon was asked to marry them in the sight of all her relatives. Another ceremony will be in Hawaii at the Blake family reunion.

Kristy wrote the service and it was beautiful. She quoted 1 Cor. 13 about charity in modern language and it was perfect for a wedding ceremony. They pledged to each other and exchanged rings. At the end Eldon asked them to kiss as man and wife.

James and his family--Jayden and Joey from his previous marriage, his sweet new wife Kristy, and their daughter Abigail

Mr. and Mrs. James Blake after the ceremony

Mother’s Day in New Hampshire

Jessica and Quin and I flew to New Hampshire the same day Jason was flying home from Nevada. We planned to all be there at the airport when he arrived. Unfortunately his plane was a half hour early. We looked around and couldn’t find him and finally Sheryl has the inspiration to go look out front. There he was on a bench waiting, feeling like the guy in R.M. whose family had moved and didn’t tell him! It was great to see him again.

At the airport

It was fun to watch Jason decompress, which he was very eager to do! He watched a lot of movies and played video games with his brothers. We worked on clearing out a space in the basement for him to have a room. He wanted to go to his favorite restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings, which had gotten outlawed on his mission. (It was a pretty worldly place.)

The Dodge guys relaxing in the hot tub

A new shipment of chicks arrived

Sheryl with her girls

Right after this photo he climbed in to retrieve the green duck

Farmer Sheryl

Jason and Quin at a playground

Hanging out with Grandpa

On Saturday I tended Quin for several hours while the Dodges took Jessica and Jason to the temple.

We also drove out to the Audubon Center and saw the displays of animals. Jonathan checked the beehives while Sheryl, Jason, Trevor and I walked out to the lake.

Today it was quite amazing to hear Jason speak in church. The topic assigned was missionaries and  mothers. He was quite down to earth. First he told how difficult the mission was especially because of the heat. He said people ask about the converts, but the one he was most excited about was himself. He said he learned to listen to the Spirit there and the Lord helped him. He quoted Harold B. Lee: “The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes.” He said mothers do so much of this work and his mother has been a good influence for him. He said she had been quite irritating and nagged him to go on a mission, but he’s glad she did. He said now he is glad to become a member missionary and looks forward to becoming a Dad someday.

This afternoon we all went to the beach while Jason went to the student ward. He got a calling--ward mission leader! Which he was excited about even though he had complained about all the ward council meetings he had had to attend.

Pictures from the beach:

Four generations

Curtis and Trevor

Trip to Victoria BC

The first day we stopped in Lincoln City to shop at the mall. Then we visited the Tilamook Cheese Factory for squeaky cheese and ice cream. Then we stopped at Cannon Beach because it’s famous. We stayed in Seaside at a cool motel with a kitchenette.

The next day we drove all morning in the rain to Port Angeles and caught the ferry to Victoria. We passed by the Empress Hotel and stayed in a Super 8!

The following day we spent several hours in Butchart Gardens. We were the second car in the parking lot. It’s not very crowded this time of year. The tulips were in full bloom and were spectacular. So many varieties. It would be hard to say which garden was our favorite.

The Japanese Garden

The Italian Garden

Ross Fountain

The Sunken Garden

Our final day we visited the Royal BC Museum and then wandered around the inner harbor.

The woolly mammoth

Trumpeter swans

The Empress Hotel

Chilean cuisine--prawns and mussels with lots of curry!

Farewell to Victoria. We enjoyed the ferry ride going back as the weather was sunny.