JULIE ROGERS - WHAT A TREAT!

After another delicious Pot Luck dinner on Sunday afternoon 

we were treated to a special fireside from Julie and Russell Rogers. 

Julie has painted hundreds of pioneers

and brought their stories to life for everyone who sees her work. 

She displayed extra large versions of many of her most beloved paintings 

and filled the Trek Center with them.

It is spectacular to see them all!

Then she spoke to us, telling us how and why she painted each one as well as what she was feeling while she painted.  She told us how she tries to use models who are actual descendants of the pioneers and often felt the presence of whomever she painted.

Julie and Russell stayed the night with us so we could talk and visit, and then she offered us a beautiful new painting for our Trek Center of the Savior caring for and rescuing all His sheep - especially the black sheep.  We will have it framed to match her other paintings that hang there. 

What a priceless gift that will be!

A FAMILY BAPTISM!

Last week the doctors cut off both my casts and replaced them with 
a new "air cast" for my ankle and a removable velcro brace for my wrist 
which made everything I do a little easier.

The next day our family started to arrive.  First came Christina with Stella and Lucy.  Until I can walk better I am using a rover to get around, and the girls loved riding in it.

They loved pulling handcarts . . .

. . . and finding pioneer names on the rocks at Rattlesnake Pass . . . 

  . . . and having prairie diamond rings made for them at the Blacksmith Shop . .

. . . and visiting Martin's Cove in the still of the evening.

Then the rest of the family arrived, starting with Kim, Anna, Grace, Jack, James, and Jacob. Brave  Kim rented an RV and drove up here with the 5 children all by herself!  She deserves some kind of award for that feat, but she made it with no problems and the kids all loved sleeping in it along the way and during the night.

 It was good to see little James again.  

He has grown SO much and is a busy, busy boy!

 It was also fun to finally see cute Jacob with his big brown eyes.  What a cutie!

Michelle's family came right after, and we headed out on rovers 
to show the kids around before it got too dark to see anything.

It was fun to see little Rosie and how she's grown, but I couldn't get a picture 

of me holding her because she doesn't know me and wouldn't get close.

The next morning was Isaac's special day.  
Both sets of grandparents were present for his baptism. 
Many thanks to Janice and Steve Bagley for making the 5 hour trip to be here!

Lisa and her family arrived in the morning. 
 Abel and Stein are both way taller than I am!

When we were all present we started the baptismal service 
right on the bank of the river. 

 As Branch President, Grandpa Moench conducted.

 Anna and Grace provided beautiful music with Kim and Steve 

acting as music stands in the ever-present Wyoming wind.

Both grandmas got the chance to give little talks . . .

. . . and so did Abel, whose mission call should arrive shortly!

And then Isaac Moench Bagley was baptized by his father David Bagley 

in the Sweetwater River . . .

. . . followed by his confirmation to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It was wonderful to be with our four daughters . . . 

. . . and so many of our grandchildren!

We had a great little lunch afterward down in the Gathering Room beneath our apartment.

And then after a little more handcart pulling by Grace and Jack . . .

 . . . and then Isaac, Janice and Steve . . .

 . . . they all left.  It was way too short, but still a wonderful visit - 

and a touching and memorable baptism for Isaac!

OOPS!

Well,  what can I say!  This is an example of what NOT to do on your mission:

 Broken ankle . . . broken wrist!  Ugh!

All we were doing was walking down the sidewalk to the office - right here - 

something we do several times every day. 

But this time I fell for some unknown reason and I heard them both snap.  Now we have a new mission rule that we want each couple to walk together arm in arm whenever possible!

The break in the ankle is right in place and did not require surgery, 

but the wrist did, and now I have another plate and 6 new screws

to add to my body metal collection. 

 

Everyone has been SO nice to us - sending wonderful meals, delicious bread 

and other goodies like this . . .

 . . . plus many, many sweet thoughts and cards.

My biggest regret is that I will no longer be able to trek, which is especially disappointing because our very own Salt Lake Valley View Stake is coming in a week and we had planned to trek with them.  But life goes on, and there is still lots of work to be done, even if you're in a cast.

I even discovered that I could still do a little project with a cast on if I 
put my "boot-leg" up on a chair and painted very slowly and carefully.

Last week was definitely the busiest of the season so far 

with thousands of trekkers all here together.

  It takes a mighty big support group to feed hundreds of hungry trekkers . . .

  . . . especially after a long hot day of trekking . . .

. . . and trekking!

Because one really large trek group was not able to trek over Rocky Ridge they reenacted those stories so all the youth could learn about that experience.

They portrayed Jens and Elsie Nielsen, Bodil Mortensen, 
James Kirkwood, and others. 

Last Sunday the Fabulous Pay Sisters - JoAnn Baird and Doreen Lloyd, sisters of President Hinckley's wife Marjorie - came to entertain us and share the amazing story of coming across the wooden grave marker from the little sister of their grandmother.  

Little Edith Goble died and was buried along the trail in Wyoming in 1856.

Through an amazing series of little miracles, the wooden grave marker 
that her father had sadly carved those many years ago 
was somehow preserved and found its way back to their family.

Even though our days are filled with trekkers and visitors
we still have a little down time now and then.

We always enjoy Sister Judd's amazing homemade donuts . . .

 . . . and we never miss a chance to look out our windows each morning 

and see the beauties right in front of us:  

the huge, full moon getting ready to set behind Ft. Seminoe 

and misty fog along the Sweetwater River.

Check out this fabulous sunset after a cloudburst!

 Just so you know, being a missionary is THE BEST - even in a cast!  

(Which I hope is coming off soon!)