Sunday, March 6th, 2011

Today I sang in the

MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR...

...seats!

The Ensign Stake Conference is held in the historic tabernacle.

It was fantastic!

A favorite scripture shared from conference:

Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

D&C 6: 36-37

Love, Mom
Carolyn

February 2011

Incredible!!!

South for the winter. Palm trees. Clear blue skies. Warmer weather.
WRONG!
Well, to be honest, it was warmer. We left Salt Lake in 5 degrees and heated up to 12 degrees in St. George. Records lows followed us. We set out to find a 'new' old temple. Randi, Lane & I entered through it's doors for the first time. Incredible!

One week later Randi enters the MTC wearing my name tag "Sister Howell". I guess I'll have to get a new one...

Lane and I submitted papers to serve a 23 month mission. Our start date could be as early as July (with some assurance of returning for a key family event in the Fall)!

Baby-no-more-Brennan invited us to a celebration marking ONE year.

Kim came for a sleepover and shared a glimpse into her Egypt memoirs - a bound book of personal photos.

And we succeeded in escaping the cold on our next try...

10 days in the Caribbean
Wow! Incredible!

Home again. It is always sweet to return to our family.
Thanks for the airport transport, house sitting and dinner Sam & Jamie.

My last ward newsletter was also my last. That calling has been my favorite one.

Time to organize, declutter, downsize, and pack up again. We have moved 8 times in 14 years. It would appear that we are due.

I feel a tapioca night coming...Mom & Dad
Carolyn & Lane

January 2011

The holiday season nearly passed without my walking across the street even once to see the Christmas lights. Thousands of visitors drive into the heart of Salt Lake City, hunt for a parking space, bundle up against the wintry weather and take to the walkways to see the lighting displays; perpetuating years of tradition, teaching little ones why CHRIST is in Christmas, and feeling the excitement and spirit of this special season.

Temple Square. I live next door. So, late on Saturday the first of January, (also the last night) I strolled over to see the nativity display. I walked straight to the statuary camels facing towards a 'stone' stable. Having toured Israel a few weeks prior I can more easily visualize the real thing. Hallelujah!

I believe the greatest words in the scriptures are:
- Unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord
- He is not here, for HE IS RISEN!
- Joseph, this is My Beloved
(Birth, Resurrection, Restoration)

Great words in my family history, this month, are:
- Michael Hill, "you are hereby called to serve in the New York, New York North Mission" (my first mission area as well)
-Sam & Jamie Howell, "you may now kiss over the altar"
-Jerry, Erin, Ava, & Brennan, "we are moving back to SLC"

Jamie & sister Heather at Bridal shower/Meredith celebrates 27!!!

Parents are as happy as their unhappiest child. We celebrate the happiness of our children.
Katie X, hurray for your countdown to graduation and returning home to NV.
Jami, a stand out college grad making good choices and constantly helping others.
Randi, your choice to serve a mission will bless your life forever!
Callie, a delight to watch as you embrace motherhood and reach for temple blessings.
Meredith, we excitedly wait to meet your latest creation.
Britni,your love of life and enthusiasm for homemaking are contagious.
Jerry, a hardworking, amazing son with a wit that won't quit.
Sam, you've proven that no goal you set is out of reach. Dream big.
Tom, devoted to family, teaching by example, embracing truth.
Lincoln, a great communicator and family man with a zest for life.
Stephanie, a remarkable mom with extraordinary abilities.
Cameron, predictably goofy and notoriously lovable.
Greg, incredibly patient, persistent and ready for anything.
RayDean, a cherished daughter who pays it forward beautifully.

We echo Alma's advice to his child...
"Therefore (your name here), see that you are merciful unto your brothers and sisters; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward-"

For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again...love, Mom & Dad (Carolyn & Lane)

December 2010

An abundance of family fun!

- Best girlfriends meet again
- Gerbers nite out (THANKS!)...
...joined by Adams family
- Hightowers celebrate wedding (Jerry's mission president is related to the groom)
- Lane's pirate imitation
- Curtis' latest creation
- RayDean's accreditation party

- annual shepherd's dinner
- Creek progessive dinner

Merry Christmas & A most Happy New Year!!!

Glory to God in the highest
and on this earth, PEACE,
GOODWILL to all sons, daughters, grandchildren, parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles & friends.

Boundless love,
Mom & Dad
Carolyn & Lane

November 2010

!!!

Great expectations!
Outstanding events!
Dreams do come true!

We sold our business...again!
Randi surprises family with a mission call!
We take our family to Egypt!
Sam gets engaged to Jamie Young!



Mission surprise at JFK/JORDAN/Petra/Camel riding

Israel - part 1

4 c's : Galilee, the Med, the Red & the Dead
Israel - part 2

Israel - part 3

Egypt - part 1
3day Nile Cruise

Egypt - part 2
Cairo/Pyramids/Sphinx

(Dang it, 600+ photos disappeared from my blog file.
Honestly, I only wanted 8 more for my last collage.)
Say la vie!

Enough with the exclamation marks...but I can't help it, this month was totally awesome.

We loved Egypt, traveling with family, riding a camel, and seeing Sam propose to Jamie.

Welcome Jamie Young - soon-to-be-Howell.
We love you!

Lane & Carolyn
Dad & Mom

October 2010

October was thrillin' and chillin'

Time with family was thrillin!

This photo collage depicts...(clockwise from top left)
-Howell/Creek FHE with G & G Creek at their puppet show.
-It wouldn't count as FHE without treats!
-Lane and Carolyn create a new fangled family tree for Sam.
-G'ma Carolyn & grandgirls do lunch at the Needle.
-A Britni picnic.
-Jerry's family kindly invited Carolyn to join them on a road trip to the NW.

Thanks Jerry, Erin, Ava & Brennan. I had a blast!


The 2nd Annual Great Pumpkin Contest was chillin'!

Pumpkin growing contest winners:
1st place - Sam
2nd place - Greg
3rd place - Jerry

This year we added prizes for carving or painting.
Matthew took first prize.
Don't they all look spooky?!

We are reminded of the scripture that says,
"By their fruits and vegetables ye shall know them."

Our family is so amazing.
Thank you for supporting each other and family events, sharing your talents, and letting your light shine.

We love you,
Mom & Dad
Carolyn & Lane

September 2010

Lots of little events added up to some BIG fun!

* a last minute labor Day trip to Jackson, Tetons, Yellowstone
(Amazingly, 24 family members came camping. As great as it was, it would have been way cooler to have had more with us! Missed those unable to join in.)

* a little hiking, boating, horse-riding, sightseeing, rock-throwing, wood-gathering (always the wood-gathering), marshmallow toasting, Geyser watching (unbelievably great timing at every stop!)
* some BIG eating at the Bar J Chuckwagon
* some major serious foil dinners (can they get any better?)

* I couldn't help but trip over all the ladders I saw on my walk around Temple Square the day after Labor Day.
* Seriously, Temple Square started it's long deliberate process of stringing nearly one million lights onto the branches of it's trees. The famous Cedar of Lebanon tree alone features 75,000 lights (nearly double the entire count of the 40,000 used over the entirety of the square in 1965, the year the tradition began).
* Maybe Sam should string lights on his famous Cedar of Lebanon tree this year as the one on Temple Square takes time off every even year...
* Notice how lovely his tomatoes have grown. The purple-ee one is meant to be that color.
* Other birthdays were celebrated besides the ones pictured...RayDean, Carrie, Brian, and Justin. Happy days!
* Lane insisted on taking me away to Snowbird to relax. We loaded up the car with my sewing machine, our laptop, misc. files, and exercise shoes.
* hint: if your goal is to truly relax, leave your cell phones, ipad, laptop, and sewing machine home.
* The tram ride up offered spectacular scenery as the fall foliage was beginning to turn.
* My calves hurt for 3 days following our hike down the ridge trail.
* Thanks to my hunny for treating me. I do enjoy eating out every meal!

* We were hosted for a day at Kindergarten, and in 2nd and 5th grades
* Did you know that Carolyn and Carlie are twins? (personality wheels)
* Did you know that you can spell AMANDA with french fries?
* Did you know Josh can draw upside down?
* My family met for dinner while Cathy was in town. I couldn't stop laughing while they all mocked Charla, tongue in cheek...usually they are really nice to her.

* We accepted Cam's invite to come crabbing (and other interesting activities.)
* The morning of our return Britni and her family stopped in for a few hours rest, breakfast and a dip in the pool. They were enroute to her G'ma Gigi's funeral in Duchesne. (5 hours isn't nearly enough time. Come back!)
* We are watching the progress of Sam's remodel...his house that is.
* Our pool was closed when Ava came to swim so we opted for the gateway fountains. She prefers the submerged approach to water.

September was a wonderful month for us. Thanks to you!
We saw everyone but Lincoln's family and Rayson (working in AZ).

Closing thought...in case you're still reading this already long entry.

We believe that faith motivates us to live well. It is by prayer, study, obedience and covenants that we build and fortify our faith. For faith is not only a feeling, it is a decision. So, decide to have faith! We do. We have faith in you. We have faith in the Lord and His promises.

We love you forever!
Mom & Dad
Carolyn & Lane