Gardening, gardening, gardening!!! May is the month that we Missourians put our gardens in. It has been so muddy that it has been hard to get the job done. Yesterday was the day for us. We are sharing our plot with Jamie and Buck Wright. We all put in SIX hours yesterday. Needless to say, we were four tired people. We will think of you all as we eat of our labors come August.

May 22 we traveled as missionaries up to Winter Quarters and got to attend the temple. With only two chances to attend the temple each year, we were all so pleased to be able to attend. Afterwards, we went to the Visitors' Center. I have three relatives that are buried there, the most direct being my third Great-Grandfather Horace Datus Ensign. He died on his 48th birthday. he had five sons and one daughter that traveled on to Salt Lake the following year. One of his sons traveled into the Salt lake with Brigham Young and rest of them were there in September of 1847.

Oreo Returned

For a few days we did not see or hear from Oreo, then one afternoon there were two of him. I think that Oreo found a mate and brought her over to meet us. They have made a nest up by our chimney. I can often hear them singing up there.

Come meet our new little friend, Oreo

I wanted to write to you about my friend I call Oreo. He is an oriole bird. His feathers are black and a bright orange. Oreo has decided that he wants to be part of our family.
One day he just flew into our window because he wanted to be inside. Of course, he could come in, nevertheless, he keeps trying. He likes to just look in the window and watches us. We first met him Sunday afternoon. I was excited to take pictures and thought I might scare him away, but he seems to like the attention. After he watches us for awhile, he will sing the most beautiful songs. He seems to be talking to us. When it got dark we closed the draperies and went to bed.
The next morning Lloyd and I were reading scriptures together and I could hear Oreo singing good morning to us. I opened the draperies and there he was! He would fly from the window over to the bird feeder. I was out of seeds and it was like he was letting me know I need to put more out. One of my friends gave me some and this afternoon he is still singing and watching me.

Patriarchal Blessing

The reason the Klippels came out here for such a short visit was so that Tanner could receive his patriarchal blessing from his grandfather. It was such a marvelous experience for us all. When Adam was 927 years old, he called his righteous posterity to the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman where he blessed them. The six of us gathered at a sight over looking the Valley and Tanner received his blessing.

Klippels came to twon

This last Thursday night, well, it was really Friday morning early when they arrived here at our home. People had been telling us how tall our family is growing and we soon found it was very true as we looked up into Tanner's eyes and saw how beautiful Emma is. We spent Friday in the rain. It rained five inches that day and these Arizona people had a real treat. I thank them for the sacrifice to come. It was so wonderful to share this experience with them.

Here I am having another Mother's Day away from my babies, but as long as I have Lloyd around, I am able to survive. It started with Lloyd fixing a yummy breakfast. Then I opened the homemade cards from the Matthews and Jensens. Paige had sent a package with a beautiful necklace and homemade cards from all of them. I got a message from Taylor on Facebook. After church, we went over to the Wrights and had lunch with them and the Allans. It was a nice day.

One of the annual trips we missionaries get to take is to Pella, Iowa the first weekend of May. this little community was founded by the Dutch and their traditions have been kept up. They plant thousands of tulips and put on a great parade with all the towns people participating. If you are ever in the neighborhood, you should go.

Springtime

I wish so much that I could share with my loved ones this beautiful spring. I have come to the realization that we will have to leave this spot. I am trying to enjoy it all as much as possible. One thing that I am doing is reading our book on Adam-ondi-Ahman outside. You would probably have to imagine being outside and not hearing any sound that is made by man. Yesterday I went for a walk with Jamie Wright and Kara Allan. We headed down a wooded lane and we were chattering all along the way. I suggested that we stop and just listen. As we did this, at first we could hear the birds singing, then the breeze going through the trees and then we could even hear a little spring bubbling up from the ground. We were just in awe. As we looked around, we noticed a red cardinal sitting on a tree singing and watching us. There were also yellow finches and blue jays. We bowed our heads and gave a prayer of thankgiving and then walked reverently back down the path and had a whole new experience. I need to slow down more often and learn from the wonders around me.

New Family Members

We are pleased to introduce the newest members of the family. The Barrons have SEVEN new goats. What a life! So far I have heard the names of Myrtle, Jilli, Billy, oh, I am having a great-grandmother moment, I really cannot remember the rest. What a loving world they have been born into in Texas.

Vandalism at Adam-ondi-Ahman

When we got up for church today we shortly got a phone call reporting vandalism that happened during the night. Someone was driving a truck and knocked over four trees, knocked down hundred of fences posts (that had just this last week been painted) and drove the truck around on the grass and ruined it. The sheriff has arrested the kid that did it. It is so sad. There is a lot of work to get it back where it should be.