Meridian Lions Rodeo 2022

 

June 29th 2022 - Ava had her rodeo this past weekend, the 24th and 25th.  It started on the 23rd with Slack, Ava and Chica pushed so many cows.  Friday the rodeo started and they buzzed, carried flags, and pushed cows.  Ava was really worried after the first buzz during grand entry.  Chica was limping and they had a long evening ahead of them.  She called me and I came to check on Chica, I asked her to walk her out after I stretched her.  Chica walked out her soreness, she reared before buzzing which probably caused it and she went on to work all evening/night long until the rodeo was over.  It was hard work but Ava and Chica did great.  It isn’t normal for the mini-queen to push cows.  Ava and Chica are the exception, they do it all, because they are soooo good.  On Saturday Ava was really tired before her last buzz as mini queen, before she was crowned teen queen.  Chica was in heat all three days, loved pushing cows and was getting anxious so she wouldn’t stand still in the rodeo arena by then end of day 3, which was driving Ava crazy. If the handsome black Morgan Ozzie was in the arena Chica would happily stand next to him but otherwise she was weaving and bumping other horses.  Ava tried to settle Chica to watch while keeping her from bumping anyone and a flag carrier came and parked her horse next to Ava.  She started a conversation with Ava and when Chica started moving and Ava went to move her away and stand somewhere else the lady told Ava “It’s okay, stay, she can bump into my horse and settle.”  That’s what Chica did, she bumped into the horse, nestled in close and sat while Ava visited.  The lady told Ava that she had a daughter who was the Owhyee riding club princess and if Ava could watch out for her and return the favor, if her daughter ever needed a friend.  After coronation Ava took Chica to the warm up arena and when she came back to stand waiting for her flag for the serpentine the same lady came and stood next to Chica to calm her and let her bump her horse.  What an angel.  I was praying for Ava and the Lord sent this woman to her.  Ava looked her up on Facebook after and her name is Kristen Montenegro.  We had so many family and friends come support Ava: Greta, Madison, Wil, Karli, Ashtyn, Chloe (Ashtyn’s girlfriend), Candice and Josie, all the Griggs, the Williams (Jensyn), Heather and Arria, Jan and Royce.  Taylor and Casey stayed at our house.  They have been the best mentors' and friends to Ava and I this year.  PC: Thomas C Duncan Photography

 

2022 Trek Miracle #1

Wil did not want to go on Trek. I told him that if he would only go for me that was okay. That I wouldn’t give up hope of him going until the bus drive off. He decided he would go, for me. He went on Trek to Wyoming and decided once there that his family was going to have the best experience possible.  He is irreplaceable in our family and quickly became irreplaceable to his trek family. He came back with so many memories and fun stories. He saw a plaque with his 4th great grandfather’s name John Cameron Galbraith. Who was 1 of 20 courageous men who stayed for months to help the Willie and Martin handcart companies at Devil’s Gate. The hardships John witnessed were heartbreaking and he did everything he could to help and cheer the people in that harsh situation. Wil carried on that legacy by walking in his great grandfathers shoes for a few days, lifting and helping as he did so. I love you so much son, thank you for sacrificing some days of summer and trekking in Wyoming.  **And how many boys can you fit in a charter bus bathroom? ** The answer is 11. 😂😂

I told Wil that he would find it fulfilling to go if he went. He did, my prayer was answered. He loved his Trek Ma and Pa. He loved taking care of his family. The girls hugged him when he left and told him he was the BEST big brother. When I found out I heard - That’s Miracle # 1. I agreed with the spirit but I didn’t know why that was so familiar. “That’s Miracle #1” I was racking my brain in Relief Society and it suddenly came to me. It’s from the New Top Gun, Maverick. In the movie they need 3 Miracles. Funny that’s what I heard. But I do need a few more miracles, that I’m praying for. 

John Cameron Galbraith's Story:  

My 4^th Great Grandfather John Cameron Galbraith

John Cameron Galbraith was born on 26 July 1829, in Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland as the son of John Galbraith and Catharine Smith. He married Mary Ann Gittins before 1859, in Provo, Utah, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. He died on 5 July 1868, in Smithfield, Cache, Utah, United States, at the age of 38, and was buried in Smithfield, Cache, Utah, United States.

John emigrated from Scotland aboard the sailing ship Enoch Train, but was not listed as a passenger because he was hired on to work for his passage as a ship's cook. Page 89 of the ship's manifest (as found in the British Mission Record on mormon.migration.lib.byu.edu ) lists his name.

He was among the small group of men who remained behind at Devil's Gate until spring to guard the personal belongings of the emigrants who had been rescued.

All Events Born 1829 July 26 Traveled in John A. Hunt Company 1856 August 1 – December 10 (Age 27) Pioneers in Company Date Details On 1856 August 1 Joined Company On 1856 December 10 Company Arrived Died 1868 July 5 (Age 38)

 

From John: We continued on, overtaking the hand-cart company ascending a long muddy hill. A condition of distress here met my eyes that I never saw before or since. The train was strung out for three or four miles. There were old men pulling and tugging their carts, sometimes loaded with a sick wife or children—women pulling along sick husbands—little children six to eight years old struggling through the mud and snow. As night came on the mud would freeze on their clothes and feet. There were two of us and hundreds needing help. What could we do? We gathered on to some of the most helpless with our riatas tied to the carts, and helped as many as we could into camp on Avenue hill. This was a bitter, cold night and we had no fuel except very small sage brush. Several died that night. This was a bitter, cold night and we had no fuel except very small sage brush. Several died that night. Next morning, Brother Young having come up, we three started for our camp near Devil’s Gate. All were rejoiced to get the news that we had found the emigrants. The following morning most of the company moved down, meeting the hand-cart company at Greasewood creek. Such assistance as we could give was rendered to all until they finally arrived at Devil’s Gate fort about the 1st of November. There were some twelve hundred in all, about one-half with hand-carts and the other half with teams. THE winter storms had now set in, in all their severity. The provisions we took amounted to almost nothing among so many people, many of them now on very short rations, some almost starving. Many were dying daily from exposure and want of food. We were at a loss to know why others had not come on to our assistance. The company was composed of average emigrants; old, middle-aged and young; women and children. The men seemed to be failing and dying faster than the women and children. The hand-cart company was moved over to a cove in the mountains for shelter and fuel; a distance of two miles from the fort. The wagons were banked near the fort. It became impossible to travel further without reconstruction or help. We did all we possibly could to help and cheer the people. Some writers have endeavored to make individual heroes of some of our company. I have no remembrance of any one shirking his duty. Each and everyone did all they possibly could and justice would give to each his due credit. All the people who could, crowded into the houses of the fort out of the cold and storm. One crowd cut away the walls of the house they were in for fuel, until half of the roof fell in; fortunately they were all on the protected side and no one was hurt. Many suggestions were offered as to what should be done, some efforts being made to cache the imperishable goods and go on with the rest. Accordingly pits were dug, boxes opened and the hardware, etc., put in one, while clothing, etc., were put in another. Often these boxes belonged to different persons. An attempt was made by Brother Cantwell, to keep an account of these changes. This caching soon proved to be a failure for the pits would fill up with drifting snow as fast as the dirt was thrown out, so no caches were made. The goods were never replaced. The storm had now ceased to rage and great hopes were felt for a successful move. We were daily expecting more help and often wondered why it did not come. Next day all hands pulled out, most of them on foot. After getting my camp regulated a little and giving some instructions, I got on my horse and rode on to see how the train was moving along. All were out of sight when I started. After traveling a few miles, I came upon a lady sitting alone on the side of the road, weeping bitterly. I noticed she was elegantly dressed and appeared strong and well. I asked her what was the matter. She sobbingly replied, “This is too much for me. I have always had plenty, and have never known hardships; we had a good team and wagon; my husband, if let alone, could have taken me on in comfort. Now I am turned out to walk in this wind and snow. I am determined not to go on but will stay here and die. My husband has gone on and left me, but I will not go another step.” The train was two or three miles ahead and moving on. I persuaded her after a while to go on with me. This lady, Mrs. [Mary Jane Paul] Linforth, and her husband now live in San Francisco, California. They could not stand the hardships of Zion; but I believe they are friendly to our people. After overtaking the train and seeing them on the move, Captain Grant asked me to go back with instructions for the brethren left with me; then to come on next day and camp with them over night. On calling the company together at the fort that night, I told them in plain words that if there was a man in camp who could not help eat the last poor animal left with us, hides and all, suffer all manner of privations, almost starve to death, that he could go on with me the next day and overtake the trains. No one wanted to go. All voted to take their chances. On taking stock of provisions, we found about twenty day’s rations. No salt or bread excepting a few crackers. There was at least five months of winter before us and nothing much to eat but a few perishing cattle and what game we might chance to kill. The game was not very certain, as the severe storms had driven everything away. The first move was to fix up the fort. Accordingly Brother Alexander, being a practical man, was appointed to manage the business; Brother Hampton was to see about the cattle. I followed the train this day to their second encampment and the next day traveled with them There was much suffering, deaths occurring often. Eph Hanks arrived in camp from the valley and brought word that some of the teams that had reached South Pass and should have met us here, had turned back towards home and tried to persuade Redick Allred, who was left there with a load of flour, to go back with them. The men who did this might have felt justified; they said it was no use going farther, that we had doubtless all perished. I will not mention their names for it was always looked upon by the company as cowardly in the extreme. If this had not occurred it was the intention of Captain Grant to have sent some one down to us with a load of flour. As it was, by the time any was received, the people were in a starving condition, and could not spare it. From the third camp, where I saw the last of the brethren, an express was sent on to catch the returning supplies and continue on to the valley, giving word that the train was coming. I know nothing more of them except from reports. As I am writing mainly from my own observations, I will simply state that after great suffering and much assistance (hundreds turning out to help) the emigrants were finally landed in the valley.

October 22, 2021

I don’t even know where to start. My journal/blog says I haven’t written anything since January 11, 2021 but I did find some letters written to Jaxon that hadn’t been included.  I think I should start with making a list of the things I need to journal about or include.  I also want to make a list of the things I want to do about/for my journal.  I want to get it printed out and I haven’t decided how yet.  I know doing it in a pdf version is best but I struggled with deciding on Word, Google Word, Publisher or to keep using my Blog.  I do think I am going to get rid of my blog but it is so easy to search so I am just not sure what I want to do there.  I just can’t decide.  For now I will post what I write here until I decide. (Copy and Paste)  Important things I need to write about: Hawaii December 2020, Pics/Holiday together Dec/Jan 2021, Horsebowl/Hippology, Ava run for Meridian Lions Club MIni Queen, Visit to Lousiana April 2021, Meridian Lions Rodeo, Branson Trip June 2021, State Horsebowl/Hippology, Stampede Rodeo, Kelsey’s Wedding July 2021, Wil climbing Mt Borah, Ava swimming with Chica July 2021, Fair and many more.  I noticed that I could just put up my facebook posts with some extra info for the most part.  I will start there to catch up.  I also need to add those letters to and from Jaxon.  So many things to say for the months of August - October too.  It has been a crazy ride of a year.  I will do my best to cover the highlights and things we shouldn’t forget.  

1/11/2021 Letter to Jaxon

Monday January 11,  2021

Jaxon

I started a letter to you on Saturday but to be honest it was depressing.  I was a mess Friday and Saturday.  My friend Rebecca Hirschi died last Sunday, the day you flew back to Georgia.  I had so much going on I didn’t really process it.   When Friday came I had to decide if I was going to the public viewing on Friday, watch the live funeral on Saturday or go to the public gravesite service on Saturday, in short I was a mess.  I couldn’t stop crying for my friend and her children.  This hit really close to home since I was 27 when my mom passed away from the same cancer.  Enough about me being a mess and crying, it wasn’t a pretty site.  Looked like a leaky faucet all the time.  Let’s move on to what I have learned this week and what is going on in the world because I am guessing you might not know. 

Funeral First – I love Rebecca, she was one of the most Christlike people I know, maybe the most Christlike.  Her 4 girls and her son all spoke at the funeral and did an awesome job.  One of her girls read a scripture from John 11:35 Jesus wept. Short scripture, huh.  But very powerful.  Jesus does weep with us, he walks with us.  We do not have heartache or weep alone.  Jaxon NO matter how bad it gets in training or life you are never alone.  You NEVER walk alone and if you don’t or can’t weep, Jesus will weep for you.  He loves you.  He walks with you Jaxon

2^nd thing from the Funeral – I love the song they sang and have included it.  Master, The Tempest is Raging.  It says over and over in the chorus “Peace, be still.  Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea Or demons or men or whatever it be, No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean and earth and skies.”  No matter what situation life throws at us we can find peace.  Rebecca found out she had cancer when she was 40 in 2011, she even ran the Boston Marathon in 2012 after completing Chemo and took a day off from Radiation to run the Marathon.  She thought she had conquered the cancer, but in 2017 while training for another Marathon she found out the cancer had back with a vengeance. Further testing revealed that the cancerous lesions weren’t limited to her hips. It had spread like oil over the surface of water, metastasizing to her ribs, spine, lymph nodes and a lung.  She was able to take chemo pill medication every day from 2017 to the end of 2020 suppressing the growth of the cancer until the medication didn’t work anymore.  But through it all she felt her trial was small compared to other’s trials and found peace by being an Execeptional Responder.  Exceptional Responders in the cancer world are: patients who met the following criteria: Received a treatment in which fewer than 10% of patients had a complete response or a durable (lasting at least 6 months) partial response based on clinical trial data or extensive historical experience in the context of the patient's tumor type.  Rebecca wasn’t an Exceptional Responder because she responded to a treatment that cured her cancer or had a durable response to a treatment but because she persevered and never let the cancer beat her mental strength or shake her testimony.  She was an Exceptional Responder because she LIVED her life and made the most of it with the strength of a warrior and didn’t let this horrible experience turn her bitter.

3^rd thing from the Funeral – This quote:  “The only way to take pain out of death is to take love out of life”  It goes along with a quote I saw recently that says: “Grief never ends…but it changes.  It’s a passage, not a place to stay.  Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith…it is the price of Love.”  I was feeling grief for my friend and her family this weekend and still do.  I will always feel grief for my own mom’s death.  But it is the price of Love and I do love them so much Jaxon.  Jaxon – you, me and our whole family are going to feel grief being apart and it’s okay.  It’s healthy, it’s because we all love each other so much.  But we also support each other and it’s okay for us to be apart for us to do what we need to do in this world.  

Attack on Capital Hill – On Wednesday January 6^th there was a riot on Capital Hill.  I have included a letter from your dad that will explain what happened.  In Case your stop reading my letter now make sure you come back and read the rest, please!  Major General Donahue put up a response today about what happened on Capital Hill.  He said: I have wrestled to contextualize the past few days.  I’ve wondered how to lead given the divisions in our nation.  I’ve struggled with how to help our organization through this turbulence.  And then a high school classmate of mine made a FB post that really helped.  Here it is: Yesterday, it was both difficult and heartbreaking to watch the images of the United States Capital – which dates back to 1800 and is a place that I have frequented for our advocacy efforts for many years – descending into chaos, weapons drawn, lives lost, our members of Congress forced into hiding, and a truly sacred space defaced and desecrated.  While there are so many things going on within Centura this week, there is nothing more important for me to talk with you about today.

While we all might not agree on politics, policies, parties and positions, we can and should respect one another’s opinions and ideas, and encourage healthy debate and uncomfortable conversations, and do always through the lends of our distinctive Mission, Vision, and core Values.  This requires an assumption of good intentions for our fellow team members, a sacred, implicit agreement to always speak the truth, to be compassionately transparent, not intentionally do harm, not being thrown by disagreement, taking a big risk by sharing, and never losing the super power of both humor and fun.

In the ever-so-timely words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a great toughness.  We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love…Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate... but to win… friendship and understanding.”  We should never resort to violence and we have seen far too much of this over this past year.  None of this is truly representative of who we are (as a country and a healing ministry) nor should it ever be condoned for any individual or any group in any way. 

 

Major General Donahue went on to post: On our worst day, America is still a nation of laws – and we are watching that play out around country as those criminals that rioted, vandalized and murdered while attempting to interrupt the sanctity of our democratic process are rounded up by law enforcement.  I trust in our system to bring them to justice.

 

Thoughts – There is such a division in our country right now.  It is HUGE and everyone is up in arms and fighting and there is violence.  It shouldn’t be condoned for any individual, or group (not the conservatives, liberals, republicans, democrats, or any race, or religion)  Then I think about you and your platoon and what you guys are experiencing from the little you have told me.  This sticks out to me: Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a great toughness I don’t know if you agree but those around you, that will remain unnamed beget hate, they beget violence, and they beget a toughness out of you and those around you that is greater than their own toughness.  Somehow you and your group need to find a way to meet the forces of hate with the power of Christlike Love.  I know that mind sound completely CRAZY because of your situation but BE THE LEADERS that you know your men need, that your friends need.  Be like Senior and Lieutenant.  Find a way that is better than the hate, violence and toughness.  Infantry trains you to kill but the infantry creed also says: For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. All of you are mentally tough, physically strong but are you being taught to be morally straight?  Are you as leaders teaching that to your men?

 

 

1/5/2021 Letter to Jaxon

 

             #35 Tuesday  January 5^th 2021

Jaxon – It has been an absolutely crazy Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  We did get Greta all moved in and her room mate seems great.  Her name is Heather and she is a sophomore and works for the school so she is able to help Greta with any questions she has.  Kamry has arrived and that makes Greta feel a lot better too.  Kamry’s brother is giving his mission report on Sunday so Greta is coming home to pick up a medication that got delivered here in Kuna.  Luckily she can just catch a ride with Kamry to Kuna and back to Rexburg.  We signed her up at Bodifi in Rexburg and she likes it.  There was a blonde girl there that looked just like Dani Spiegel.  Kind of funny!  LOL  Greta starts school tomorrow, Wed. 

My friend Rebecca Hirschi passed away on Sunday.  Her family said she put this quote in her scriptures before she passed away.  She wrote this quote in the margins of her well-loved scriptures in the days before she passed: “There is no greater, more thrilling, and more soul-enobling challenge than to try to learn of Christ and walk in His steps... what would Jesus do? Or what would He have me do are the paramount personal questions of this life. Walking in this way is the greatest achievement of life. That man or woman is most truly successful whose life most closely parallels that of the Master” (Ezra Taft Benson).

Truly, Rebecca met that challenge and walked in Jesus Christ’s footsteps. Her life paralleled His life in every way.

I’m really sad that she passed away she was so amazing.  I know she is still amazing and in Heaven but my heart still breaks for her family and I am going to miss her smile so much!  I just hope I can be like her.  I hope I can be a mother, wife and friend like she was.  She was just the best. 

I hope you are doing well, kinds of sounds like Major General Donahue put everyone on limited activity/movement for 2 weeks and we don’t know what that looks like for you.  Stay Strong Jaxon and keep pushing through.  Don’t let everything going on around you discourage you, I know Heavenly Father has big plans for you, pray and listen.  Don’t forget who you are, I know who you are.  Remember you always have others with you, even when you can’t see them.  Take care of yourself, never give up on yourself and take care of your buddies.

 

11/12/2020 Letter to Jaxon

 Jaxon – The other day we watched a short video about ministering angels with Elder Holland talking during it.  It was really good.  I took screenshots from the video and was going to send you the screenshots with the remarks form Elder Holland but Wil said “He will get made fun of for that.” The video is just kind of quirky.  They have ministering angels following a HS age boy around and they are just youth dressed in white type gowns.  So I deleted the pics and instead added some photos of times when I know you can personally understand what Bro. Holland is saying.  I don’t think anyone makes fun of Jaxon Kingsbury but I can show you the video when you are home if you want to see it.

Today was Blitz’s Birthday and Ava made him a cake.  It was mostly made out of pumpkin and peanut butter.  Blitz LOVED it.  We think he really misses you and I also took him on a 6 mile run today.  He is being silly and depressed.  Maybe talking to you on the phone will help him this week.  He is going to go nuts at Christmas.  I have included a few pictures. 

FBI has new episodes.  I am going to wait to watch them until you get home if you want to watch them with me?  If not then I can watch them by myself.  LOL 

Tell me more about your friends.  Fevin, Curtis, Mitchell and Jade.  Who are these guys?  Where are they from etc.? 

We are watching your graduation from the basic combat training of your OSUT tomorrow morning.  Can’t wait and can’t wait to hear about the Forge. 

Love you LOTS LOTS LOTS LOTS!!!!!!!!

The Ministry of Angels, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostle

In the course of life all of us spend time in “dark and dreary” places, wildernesses, circumstances of sorrow or fear or discouragement.

But I testify that angels are still sent to help us, even as they were sent to help Adam and Eve, to help the prophets, and indeed to help the Savior of the world Himself.

 

Usually such beings are not seen. Sometimes they are. But seen or unseen they are always near. Sometimes their assignments are very grand and have significance for the whole world. Sometimes the messages are more private. Occasionally the angelic purpose is to warn. But most often it is to comfort, to provide some form of merciful attention, guidance in difficult times.

I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He would fight our battles, our children’s battles, and the battles of our children’s children. And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to search diligently, pray always, and be believing. Then all things shall work together for our good, if we walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith we have covenanted. The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. 

On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal.

May we all believe more readily in, and have more gratitude for, the Lord’s promise as contained in one of President Monson’s favorite scriptures: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, … my Spirit shall be in your [heart], and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”

 

Family Home Evening 11/9/2020

 

This was our family home evening tonight:

Did you know that Mormon lived his entire lifetime while the Nephites were wicked and the Lamanites waged war against them?!

He never experienced righteousness and peace in the land.

He didn’t really have any super successful “missions” where he converted a bunch of people.

He didn’t get to perform miracles in front of a bunch of believers.

(This is all at least as far as we know, and I feel pretty fair assumptions based on his descriptions.)

His world was in extreme turmoil, war, and hatred from the moment he was born until he took his dying breath.

And yet he lived a righteous life, followed the Spirit, was visited by the Savior when he was 16 years old, tried to influence his world for good, and took on a writing project that influenced millions of people for years to come.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely had the attitude sometimes that the world needs to go back to “normal” before my real purpose can go back to normal.

But Mormon never had a “normal” world.

And he still found a way to be one of the most righteous individuals in history and change history for the better.

President Nelson taught us recently to: “Embrace your new normal by repenting daily.

“Seek to be increasingly pure in thought, word, and deed.

“Minister to others.

“Keep an eternal perspective.

“Magnify your callings.

“And whatever your challenges, my dear brothers and sisters, live each day so that you are more prepared to meet your Maker.”

We don’t need to wait for old “normal” to do any of that.

It’s all available to us right now.

And even if we never go back, even if we keep getting more chaos and hatred and even bloodshed around us-
We still have full access to God, to our Savior, to righteousness, and to fulfilling whatever our purpose might be.    Happy Studying!   -Cali Black

Letter to Jaxon 11/9/2020

 

Monday November 9th 2020

Hello Jaxon! 

This letter is going to arrive sometime after you do the forge.  Everyone is saying that you guys are going to get your phones for the weekend.  That would be great! I was thinking on Saturday that I didn’t have any updates or anything to tell you.  Wow do I have a lot to tell you now. 

Hunter was in a 4wheeler accident, he was standing on his 4wheeler and pulling limbs to their burn pile.  The 4wheeler hit a rock and Hunter hit the brake and went flying over the handle bars and hit is top jaw on the front rack.  It knocked out two of his teeth, one on the left and one on the right.  He also broke his jaw in two places and knocked pieces off his two front teeth.  He ended up getting his top jaw/teeth wired and a bone graft done to replace a tooth.  He is doing okay but in pain.  He wasn’t even going fast, it was just a freak accident.  He went to a cosmetic dentist today and he will require another bone graft and another surgery.  It will take about 6 months to fix his mouth.  Katie also told me today that one of his front teeth are dying.  I included a picture of him in the ER.

Wil loves the Rogue hat and is wearing it all the time!  I also had bought Ava a small Rogue sweatshirt, black on black so that she would leave your sweatshirt alone.  She wears it constantly, she was wearing yours constantly but she loves her new one because it is just like yours. 

Wil has a concussion.  ☹ He started complaining on Sunday, Friday he was in the accident with Brody in front of Freedom Fitness.  The lady was going 65 in a 35 and rear ended them.  Monday Wil went to school and just after 30 minutes he felt like he was going to throw up so I told him he needed to be seen.  I couldn’t get him in with Jeff until Thursday so I texted Igor (the trainer at the school, who knows Wil well).  He said to bring him in today so he did concussion testing on him and Wil does have a concussion.  He had 16/22 symptoms and his score was a 55.  Those don’t mean much to me but his eyes wouldn’t track on the vertical movement test.  He was nodding his head and trying to move his eyes up and down but Igor suddenly said stop and told us that Wil’s eyes had stopped on the bottom hand and his head made a whole movement up and down before his eyes could catch up.  And Wil’s vision was super blurry after and he had to close his eyes.  Igor stopped the testing there.  It’s a bummer.  So he has to wait until he has 48hr with no symptoms to go back to school, no in person or online until then.  And after he has 48 hours of school without symptoms he can start weight lifting again.  We are watching Psych right now and Blitz just came in and got on the couch on top of Wil’s blanket.  Literally just jumped right up with Wil and we are not sure why and he won’t get down.  We think maybe he knows Wil doesn’t feel good. 

Zachary Gulick’s parents Kelly and Brandon reached out to me this week and we are getting to know each other. Zachary told them you and him were Buddies.  They are really nice.  I’m glad they found me.  😊

Trek - So I have been thinking about you a lot this week and about the Forge coming up.  I have been thinking about how incredibly hard it is going to be but I am not worried about you at all.  I miss you like crazy but one memory keeps sticking out.  Remember when you went on Trek?  I think you were about 14 years old.  You came home and I took you to Jeff Ball and he said you had extreme fatigue.  That you pulled the handcart constantly.  That you pulled Dustin a lot because he wore cowboy boots and girls that couldn’t walk anymore.  That you went and went and went and never stopped.  When you got home you couldn’t figure out why you didn’t feel 100% but you didn’t regret all you did for everyone.  I’m on pins and needles to hear how it went even though I know you will be just fine.  Anyhow anytime I start to worry I just remember what you were capable of at 14 and now you are a man.  😊

I am starting to stress about your birthday cards and birthday money, I really don’t want to do anything to get you smoked.  We thought it would be fun and within the rules.  I really really really hope you enjoyed it and nothing bad happened.  We miss you so much and love you so much!!  I am including a photo of you I saw on your Company Facebook page and that photo for Fevin. 

Airline Tickets – I have included your flight details!  I got the flight on Southwest for free with points and spent $350 on the flight with Delta so I did REAL GOOD.  Did you have any friends that want to come for HBL.  They are welcome if they want to!  Your Delta flight going back is actually the same flight that Bailey Giles is on.  It was the only flight out of Boise that would get you back on base on time so it’s not surprising that you will both be on it.  Can’t wait for HBL!!

I can’t wait to hear from you this coming weekend!  We are going to watch your turning Green ceremony.  We MISS you sooo much and LOVE you sooo much!! 

Letter to Jaxon 10/20/2020 Grateful Cat Parable

 

Monday 10/19/2020 9:45pm

Jaxon – We will see how fast I can type. 😊 I have a super busy day tomorrow and I wanted to write the rest of what I wanted to tell you today.  First off Wil’s birthday is tomorrow.  He is going hunting and REALLY wanted to take the 308 you gave him but it didn’t have a scope on it so he is taking my 25-06.  He is okay with that, the gun is from Grandad and your Grandpa’s time frame.  Your grandpa traded his electric guitar for it with his Dad’s help.  It doesn’t kick, well hardly at all, so Wil really liked that.  But when you are home for break can you put a scope on your brother’s 308 please.  I will pay for it or if we have a scope great.  That way it is ready for him when he wants to go again.  He can use mine any time but I know he wants to use the one you gave him.  Maybe it’s something you can do together, I think that would be the best and something he wants done.  So I am getting up at 5 so I can take birthday pictures while he is dressed for hunting.  Also Wil was told tonight at practice that he will sit Varisty on Friday and for the rest of the season.  Which is the play off games etc.  Idk if he will play at all but I’ll watch and hopefully go if I can, take a picture of him on the sidelines.  He said though that we HAVE to tell you he played.  😉 I bought him a hat, army green with a flag from you.  Hope that’s okay. He has wanted a new hat.  I included a picture. 

Okay on to the things that I needed to tell you earlier.  But first I’m busy tomorrow because I need to take Aunt Debra to see Dr. Choutka (yes Greta’s neurosurgeon).  Debra has MS and she fell awhile ago and had to go to the ER.  She had a T12 compression fracture.  She also had some seizures and they had to change her seizure medication.  Tomorrow we will see Choutka, get an xray of her back to make sure it is healing correctly and an EEG also. OH YEAH Dillon Hansen is home and spoke on Sunday, he did a great job.  Bishop Elsasser said it was the most he had ever heard Dillon speak.  LoL

Wil was in a business class with Sharkey the other day and they did a Bully survey.  During it they moved to one side of the classroom for No and the other side for Yes and stood in the middle for the question.  Anyhow first question was if you “Have you ever seen someone get bullied?” and everyone moved to the yes side.  Then they moved back for the next question and it was “Have you ever stopped or stepped in when you saw someone getting bullied”.  Wil was the only one that went to the yes side.  There were a few other questions that shocked him with the classes response.  When he came home he talked to me about it and said that it made him think of you.  That when he was in 8^th grade and you gave him a ride home every day that while he was waiting for you in the parking lot he saw you multiple times confront bullies.  He said that most of the time you didn’t even say anything, that you would just walk up and square your shoulders and glare at them and that they would walk away.  Wil said that he always thought I want to do that, but I am so scrawny, but I will when I can.  Jaxon’s buff he can do it but I will be able to some day.  He says now he is strong even though he is lean and he has stood up to bullies many times, especially during football.  That he has told them I’m not afraid to fight you.  Amazingly though, as you know, bullies you usually are not fighters and they always walk away.  Which is good cause your brother doesn’t want to fight at all, he just wants them to know he is serious when he tells them to stop.  And he would if he had to.  It was really sweet how he remembered wanting to be like you and stand up to others for those that wouldn’t/couldn’t and that he can now and does.  He was amazed at his good friends with impeccable reputations and that they hadn’t ever stopped a bully, or tried.  He wasn’t judging but confused.  Anyhow I wanted you to know.  Great big brother moment. 😊

So I was thinking that when you come for holiday break I want some photos of you in your uniform.  There is a guy that takes photos of the club riding horses etc. and he is an army veteran.  He is a really great photographer so I am going to talk to him and I want to get some photos when you are home.  I know how much you LOVE photos so I’ll tell him it will be short. 

 

I have wanted to share this parable with you.  It’s so good.  It is called The Parable of the Grateful Cat by James E Talmage.  I heard it during my scripture study last week and found it today so I could send it to you.  I like to watch these you tube videos by what Wil calls “The Seminary Dudes” so I found a written version to send you.  We had a really good scripture study last night and the kids watched the video portion where Tyler (seminary dude) tells the story.  😊

A certain English student of Natural History, as I have heard, once upon a time had the experience described below.

Mr. Romanes, in the course of his customary daily walk, came to a millpond. At the edge of the water he saw two boys with a basket. They were obviously engaged in a diverting occupation. As he came up to them, Mr. Romanes observed that the youths were well dressed and evidently somewhat refined and cultured. Inquiry elicited the fact that they were upper servants in a family of wealth and social quality. In the basket were three whining kittens; two others were drowning in the pond; and the mother cat was running about on the bank, rampant in her distress.

To the naturalist’s inquiry the boys responded with a straightforward statement, respectfully addressed. They said their mistress had instructed them to drown the kittens, as she wanted no other cat than the old one about the house. The mother cat, as the boys explained, was the lady’s particular pet. Mr. Romanes assured the boys that he was a personal friend of their employer, and that he would be responsible for any apparent dereliction in their obedience to the orders of their mistress. He gave the boys a shilling apiece, and took the three living kittens in charge. The two in the pond had already sunk to their doom.

The mother cat evinced more than the measure of intelligence usually attributed to the animal world. She recognized the man as the deliverer of her three children, who but for him would have been drowned. As he carried the kittens she trotted along-sometimes following, sometimes alongside, occasionally rubbing against him with grateful yet mournful purrs. At his home Mr. Romanes provided the kittens with comfortable quarters, and left the mother cat in joyful content. She seemed to have forgotten the death of the two in her joy over the rescue of the three.

Next day, the gentleman was seated in his parlor on the ground floor, in the midst of a notable company. Many people had gathered to do honor to the distinguished naturalist. The cat came in. In her mouth she carried a large, fat mouse, not dead, but still feebly struggling under the pains of torturous capture. She laid her panting and well-nigh expiring prey at the feet of the man who had saved her kittens.

What think you of the offering, and of the purpose that prompted the act? A live mouse, fleshy and fat! Within the cat’s power of possible estimation and judgment it was a superlative gift. To her limited understanding no rational creature could feel otherwise than pleased over the present of a meaty mouse. Every sensible cat would be ravenously joyful with such an offering. Beings unable to appreciate a mouse for a meal were unknown to the cat.

 

Are not our offerings to the Lord-our tithes and our other free-will gifts-as thoroughly unnecessary to His needs as was the mouse to the scientist? But remember that the grateful and sacrificing nature of the cat was enlarged, and in a measure sanctified, by her offering.

Thanks be to God that He gages the offerings and sacrifices of His children by the standard of their physical ability and honest intent rather than by the gradation of His exalted station. Verily He is God with us; and He both understands and accepts our motives and righteous desires. Our need to serve God is incalculably greater than His need for our service.

 

 

 

Letter to Jaxon, The Veteran at the Post Office

 Thursday 10/8/2020

Hi Jaxon!  I have a story to tell you and I can type faster than I can write so this will be a typed letter.  My informed delivery (mail delivery, images of letters etc) says that we have letters coming from you today!  I am so excited!

In Conference Sat morning Sister Craig, First Counselor in the General Young Women’s, gave a talk and this is something she shared, it is very pertinent to my story.  

Sister Craig - Even in our busy lives, we can follow the example of Jesus and see individuals—their needs, their faith, their struggle, and who they can become.

As I pray for the Lord to open my eyes to see things I might not normally see, I often ask myself two questions and pay attention to the impressions that come: “What am I doing that I should stop doing?” and “What am I not doing that I should start doing?”

Months ago, during the sacrament, I asked myself these questions and was surprised by the impression that came. “Stop looking at your phone when you are waiting in lines.” Looking at my phone in lines had become almost automatic; I found it a good time to multitask, catch up on email, look at headlines, or scroll through a social media feed.

The next morning, I found myself waiting in a long line at the store. I pulled out my phone and then remembered the impression I had received. I put my phone away and looked around. I saw an elderly gentleman in line ahead of me. His cart was empty except for a few cans of cat food. I felt a little awkward but said something really clever like, “I can see you have a cat.” He said that a storm was coming, and he did not want to be caught without cat food. We visited briefly, and then he turned to me and said, “You know, I haven’t told anyone this, but today is my birthday.” My heart melted. I wished him a happy birthday and offered a silent prayer of thanks that I had not been on my phone and missed an opportunity to truly see and connect with another person who needed it.

With all of my heart I do not want to be like the priest or the Levite on the road to Jericho—one who looks and passes by.  But too often I think I am.

Fast Forward to Wednesday, yesterday.  I was mailing you a letter and it was just a little to heavy so I needed a .15 stamp for the extra ounce.  I pulled up to the post office (it’s a booth outside right now because they are moving into a new building) and see a long line.  So I decide that it’s okay that I will wait in line.  An elderly man gets in line right behind me wearing a black mask, we are all about 6ft apart.  I felt that this man looked at me and then a lady, a couple spots ahead of me and isn’t thrilled we don’t have masks on. So I ignore him and get on my phone.  I check my messages and look at Facebook and then I think of Sis. Craig’s talk.  So I decide to put my phone in my purse and look at the people around me.  I look back at the man behind me, he has on tan pants and he has tried to tuck them into black cowboy boots (that are totally shiny), tan shirt tucked in with a black belt, then I glance at his hat and it says National Army Museum.  I look down and think, I wonder if he is an Army veteran and I start to get emotional.  So I take a deep breathe, look at him, make eye contact and ask “Did you serve in the Army or do you just like the hat?”  He replies “I served in the Army”.  So I say “That’s Awesome” to which he replies “Depends on how you feel about things”.  

I was sad at his response, the world is messed up.  I tell him “I have something to say but I will probably get emotional” and then “Yep, I am emotional”.  He just patiently waited, looking kindly at me.  Then I said with a quivering voice “My son is at boot camp”  Then he asked where etc. and I was able to talk with him.  Found out he was an instructor for years, was in the Army for 30 years and loved it.  Has taught/instructed at Fort Benning and other bases, he mentioned Missouri and California also, he couldn’t remember the names of all of them.  He said that he was Airborne and had learned to jump with parachutes and all of that.  I told him about your drill sergeants and he said the reason they are so good is because they are not full of BS.  That they know their stuff and care about who they are training.  They have a purpose.  He said he had been a First Sergeant at one point in his career and had drill sergeants under him and they hated him.  That he always deflated their egos.  That they were full of BS and ego and he didn’t like it so he would take them down a few notches.  

We were in line for almost 20 minutes, he also said that he had joined the Army because college just wasn’t for him.  But then he ended up teaching at College and spending time on bases still instructing.  At one point he said “Don’t worry about your son Momma, he is going to be fine.  He sounds like he is going to do great in the Army.”   I got emotional again (I have to point out, I held it together!  Never cried or lost it.  My voice just wouldn’t stay steady sometimes) I responded with “Actually I am not worried at all.  I just miss him.” He nodded at me, inferring that was good that I wasn’t worried.  Even though he wore a mask I know he was smiling  and then then we talked more about his time at Fort Benning etc.  I kept wanting to say something like “Thank You for your service” but I just KNEW I would lose it and be the crazy lady crying at the post office.  So instead when he was telling me about being an instructor I said “I bet you made a lot of difference and influenced a lot of people.”  He shrugged and said “I hope So”.  I then made sure I was looking him straight in the eye and said “I know you did because my son will never forget his instructors.”  He was quiet and nodded.  

Jaxon I saw this man square his shoulders and grow bigger the more we talked.  He was an elderly man but can you imagine the young man he was once.  A First Sargent, an Airborne, an instructor, he had a family.  He said one time he only came home 3 times during part of his service.  He loved training and instructing, he only stopped when they told him he had to.  He said he was sad the day his last check came and he knew he was done.  That he had just kept finding new ways to serve as he grew older in the Army.  That he loved it.

During this conversation I noticed a lady behind this veteran and she was always smiling at us and listening.  So in a lull of our conversation I looked her in the eyes and she spoke up and said “I was 9 years old when my brother joined the Navy and I will never forget it.  I cried every time I talked to him but he was my hero.  I didn’t see him very much but it was okay and I will never forget it.”  The veteran looked behind him and stepped to the side so he could turn and see both of us and then three of us talked for a while about letters and technology, like the fact we in our age are so used to having our phones and what a transition it is when now you don’t.  How our family has gotten used to letters and that we all write to you.  The veteran said that is all he had in his day.  There were no personal phones to use and how he received letters too.  

I told them both “Thank you for talking to me” when it was my turn at the window finally.  And then I was talking to the lady at the window, who knows me, it’s Kuna you know.  :)  I told her I needed a page of .15 stamps so that I could just add one when I needed to and that I needed regular stamps too.  She asked what kind of regular stamps and I said “Flags, I hear they require the least amount of push-ups”.  She stopped and turned to me and said with a big smile “You know what, you are absolutely correct, lets find you some flag stamps.”  (I don’t even know why I said that.  You are the push-up king.)  She couldn’t find a book and and I didn’t want her to keep looking because the line was still long so I told her to just give me a whole roll (I could see those in her drawer) and that I would use them for work too.  We talked a min about all her computer problems and needing to be in the new building and then I was ready to go.  As I turned to leave both the veteran and woman in line raised up their hand and waved at me, both telling me to “Have a great day”, with big smiles (pretty sure the veteran was smiling even though he still wore his black mask).  I told them the same thing, waved and left.  

I might have lost it in the car.  I think the post office is a dangerous place. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha  I am really glad I was able to talk to both of them and I hope it brightened their days.  I hope that veteran feels more important and knows there is a lot of us that support the Army, the US’ Military branches.  That he is proud of who he is.  He seemed so sad when I first spoke with him, when he wasn’t sure if I really thought it was awesome.  You could tell that the unrest in the world weighed on his shoulders.  That he felt like he was a dying breed and that he wasn’t appreciated.  I never could say ‘Thank You for your service”.  It just couldn’t come out without me making a fool of myself but I am sure he felt it from me.  And the moment he realized I was an Army Mom he changed.  He changed before my eyes and the woman behind us was wonderful to join with us.  

I hope you enjoy this story.  I am so glad I put my phone away and spoke with him.  He is a great man and needed to feel important and powerful again.  Don’t worry about me at all.  I promise I wasn’t a mental case.  It was my love for you and the spirit that brought out my shaking voice and had me crying later.  To much emotion, to much spirit.  The other day Madison asked me “What is wrong with you, did you take something.”  Inferring I was on caffeine, that I was too awake and happy.  I told her “No, I’m just filled with the spirit”  She laughed and said “Oh no, that’s almost worse.” and then gave me a big hug and smiled.  

We are all okay here!  Heavenly Father has been taking special care of us.  I feel like we are receiving blessings at home for what you are willing to do.  Your righteousness and desire to serve and do what you know your Heavenly Father wants you to do blesses all of us here at home.  I love you Jaxon and I am so proud of you.  I can’t express how proud.  I bore my testimony in church last month and I brought up your accident last August and almost accident last July.  And that Heavenly Father watches out for us and takes care of us while teaching us valuable lessons and prompting us to follow his path.  President Christensen was there and he came up afterwards and told me “Your son Jaxon has a birthright, sometimes that is an amazing blessing to us because they will be protected because of that birthright.  He will fulfill his birthright, Sister Kingsbury.”  I want you to know you have the support of your stake president, that he knows you are doing what you are meant to do.  You have so much support son!  Everybody asks about you and nobody is surprised that you are a beast!  I better go now.  I have almost written you a book.  I need to do billing, dishes, laundry, study my scriptures, all of those day to day things.   I love you Jaxon Kingsbury!  

Letter to Sis Ashlee Price

Hello Sis Price - I am so happy to be writing you!  I hope you are doing good!  On Wed the younger YW class came over rode horses.  Alexis did so good even though she was nervous.  I don't know if she knew but she was riding the least experienced horse I have and did great.  It gave us a chance to talk about you and how you would come to ride.  Those are fond memories!   All my life I have just loved the scriptures that include Ask, Seek, Knock etc.  At one point I went through my scriptures and marked all the scriptures in my scriptures that included those words.  This past week in 3 Nephi I came across one of these favored scriptures.  

3 Nephi 14:7-8 7. Ask and it shall be given unto you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 8. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

I had also been praying all week to hear that my son Jaxon in basic training was doing okay.  His last letter was dated 9/4, he started basic on 9/11 and left home on 7/28.  I knew that something would come but I didn't know when or how.  I didn't know if it would be a letter, a call, text, facebook post, or photos uploaded.  I just knew that my Heavenly Father was bound to answer my prayer.  That I try my hardest and I'm doing what I should and my prayer was sincere and I knew it would be answered at some point.  After two weeks of hearing/knowing nothing.  There is a real grief that goes with no contact of any kind and knowing you can not contact someone at all.  I woke up at 5:30 am on Saturday with bad allergies and looked at a site called basictrainingphotos.com and clicked on his companies folder A354 and was speechless with emotion when I saw the training folders.  I searched through the two folders of photos and found him.  I found him and not only did he look good but he looked healthy and happy. 

The cool thing I have learned and my close friend Ginger Madson pointed out to me is that when we show gratitude for our blessings the Lord blesses us more.  I had immense gratitude and on Sunday morning didn't even check the folders or Facebook.  Then when I did open Facebook I saw that one of the Fort Benning Family Support Groups I am a part of had posted that company A 3-54 had made a new post.  It felt like Christmas, I clicked and then stared.  There in the the very first photo of the post was Jaxon reaching down, with a slight smile to his mouth, pulling up/holding on to his comrade.  My gratitude is unspeakable, my heart could just burst, it hurts it's so happy.  Our Heavenly Father knows us and loves us.  He listens and will answer us.  I'm attaching two of the photos.  The one of Jaxon standing  listening to a fellow friend/trainee is my favorite I found on the basic training photos website.  The one of him reaching down was the 1st one on the Facebook post and my favorite from that day. 

Take care of yourself Sis Price!  I will write again! 

Love Sis Kingsbury