The up beat of the day!

Tuesday - 5 April 2016

The schools are out up North for Spring Vacation so the Monticello Temple is going to be busy this week.  The Tuesday Am shift is the shift that we work on today.  We had Baptisms three different families in the morning and about 7 different families in the afternoon.  I was talking with one of the families, it was a mother with two or three of her daughters here from up north  to do Baptisms.  She told me that  her older daughter had cancer and had a goal to go to every Utah Temples before she died.  They had her funeral last week and the mother and daughters were here in her honor because this was the only temple she hadn't gotten too.    She had met her goal now and as her mother talked she was a strong women, she didn't even cry but I did.   What a tender moment that was and it truly strengthens my testimony of the special times we have in the temple.  The spirit of love is there and very strong I'm sure her daughter was there with them.  In the temple you are nearer to God than any other place you could be.  I truly feel blessed to serve in the house of the Lord.

We are on a very busy schedule working 4 days in a row then we have Saturday off.  We work Tuesday and Wednesday AM shifts then Thursday and Friday PM shifts.  It is nice to have a three day week-end off but at the end of this month April we go back on our 1st shift.   We work Tuesday PM, Wednesday off but go to presidency meeting at 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM then off.  We work Thursday AM then have Friday off then we work Saturday Am shift which is always a busy time.  We work until 1:00 then we are off.  I really like this shift because we have a few days we can do other things to get done such as farming.

Older couple experience! Wow

27 February 2016

We had a sweet experience  this Saturday afternoon.  We had a couple come to the temple so she could receive her own endowment going on the session at 1:00 PM.  They met each other in an Nursing Home and were married.   He is in a wheelchair with oxygen and she is with a walker that she can sit down on.  They were so cute you would think they were a young couple being sealed. She received her Initatory and then  I had the great opportunity to give her own endowment instructions.  We were in the brides room in the Monticello Temple and she is in her eighties and so is her husband.  She listened and became shaky with her hands.  I tried to help her relax but she shook worse as time went on.   She was so excited to receive her own Endowment and he received  his Endowment years ago.   When at the end of the endowment she saw him and said, " Hello" so sweetly and he said, " Are you still smiling?" and then they just held each other's hand for a while.  It was so sweet and they showed so much love for each other.  It made me think how we should show more love for each other. Then they were taken in the sealing room and sealed. I wasn't there but I bet it was a wonderful ceremony and what a special experience it would have been for them on that special day.

Monticello Temple closed for two weeks.

18 January thru 30th 2016

The first week of the Monticello Temple closed President James Harris had to go to the Temple every day because some man from the temple district was putting in some new equipment and since Jim is over maintrance he had to be their to see how things work.   Saturday the 23rd of  January we left to go to Tucson to visit J.B. and Loni and the girls.  We were glad to get out of  the snow and go to warm weather.

Jim's first two weddings !

2 January 2016

This day Jim was ask to marry two Blanding couples. At 9:00 AM he met with Jace Holiday and Lexus Latham and got all their records completed to marry them at 10:00 AM.  I was so impressed with Lexus she had been on a LDS Mission and was so prepared for marriage.  She glowed thru her eyes and wasn't nervous at all. What a delight young women she was.  I took her to the Brides Room to hang up her wedding dress.   She told me she was going to be married in her temple dress because her dress material under neath the lace was a cream color.  We took them from the Celestial Room to  the Sealing Room to be Sealed.   President James Harris gave them some good advice and  then he married them. This was his first time since he had received the Sealing Power. He missed a part at the end as he was talking to Jace before he said, "Yes" and then he said to Lexus her part but he did it right. I noticed so I stopped him and said, " You need to start over." and he said," Well you will be married twice." The second time it was perfect and they were married. They choose to not exchange rings here in the temple.   Everyone comes to them and hugs and tells them how happy they are for them.  It was standing room for men standing behind the chairs. I bet they had at least 50 people or more at their sealing.  It was beautiful then I had the opportunity to take the bride and her mother Lana Latham back to the Brides Room for her to put her wedding dress on and the  bride and groom walk out the temple together with family and friends outside to great them.   Then they will take pictures and go to their luncheon. They didn't have a reception just family and friends at their luncheon and that is where they probably exchanged their rings.

The next bride was Simone Shumway and her husband to be Kevin Griffin.  President Livingston worked on their records and got them completed to be married at 11:00 AM.  I took her to the Brides Room and she wore her brides dress to be married in.  It had a long train and was beautiful but Simone was very nervous and I was surprised because she had served a mission also. She is a shy young women and didn't want to kiss her husband across the alter in front of all those people after the marriage.   She loved her husband but she didn't want to do that.  She informed President James Harris that she didn't want to do that.  He said he wouldn't even invite them to kiss across the altar.  He informed the fathers which were the witnesses that they would not be kissing across the altar.  When I got the mothers I informed them that she would not be kissing across the altar after being married.  This was a first time for me because a kiss is always encouraged  across the altar after the marriage ceremony.
Kevin is the oldest child in his family and he was their first marriage. President Harris started marring the couple and he did the same thing.  He forgot to finish the part just before the groom says,"Yes".  So I stopped him sooner this time and he started over again.  He did it perfect and they were married but she did not kiss her husband across the altar.  They stood up in front of the guest and exchanged rings and some started to say kiss him and I said, " This is her wedding and if she doesn't want to kiss in front of all you that's Okay." And Simone looked at me and said," Thank you sister Harris." Then everyone came up to the couple and hugged and expressed their love for them and their happiness for them. Then I took Simone and her mother Mary Shumway to the Brides Room so she could get ready to walk outside with her husband and they were in the foyer when Grandma Carolyn Black kept telling Simone to kiss her husband inside the temple before they went outside but I don't think Simone did.   I doubted she kiss him for pictures either but I don't know I was not outside to see. They didn't have a reception here in Blanding but they did where he was from.
They are a cute couple and she told me if she had her way she would have eloped to be married in the temple.  The guest were about 50 people also and standing room of men behind the chairs.  Great love and support from families and friends.

Barkley and L'sha receiving their Endowments.

Saturday--5 Dec. 2015

Barkley Christensen and  L'sha Shumway received their Endowments in the Monticello Temple two weeks before they were married.  They were married in the St. George Temple, 19 Dec. 2015.  President Jim and I were the Presidency that helped them received their endowments.    L'sha has really helped Barkley get active in the church.  Barkley was so humble and we were very impressed with him and his spirit.  They are in the 2nd ward with us and it was so fun to see how excited they were to  receive their endowments.  Awesome experience it was and we were proud to help them.

Two Baptisms and a Baby Blessing

Saturday- August 1, 2015

Saturday Morning at 9:00 AM was Mark Hunter Bonney's Baptism in Orem, Utah.

Mark's dad Ken Bonney Baptized his son in Orem, Utah.

Ken and  Tami Bonney with Mark before his Baptism.

Grandpa Jim and Grandma Beverly Harris with Mark.   Grandpa Jim Confirmed Mark a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and gave him the Holy Ghost.    Brent gave the talk on Baptism and he did an excellent job.  He truly looked like a Missionary....

 The Bonney family- Derek, Tami (Mother) and Ken (Father), Brent, Mark, Caroline and Kyler.
After the baptism we were all invited to the Bonney's home/garage where the table was set for a few refreshments.  Grandma Beverly was asked to give the opening prayer in Marks Baptism.

Saturday- Aug. 1, 2015 the same day at 11:00 AM Kavan Reeves Harris was Baptized  by his father Bradley Robert Harris in Kearns, Utah.   Grandpa Jim and Grandma Beverly was asked to lead the music at the Baptism so they didn't go to Tami's home because I was nervous I would be late to lead the music.   Everyone made it to the baptism before it got started.  Both baptisms were very special and the spirit touched my heart.

Here are some pictures of the family and friends that came to Kavan's Baptism and Preston Dodge Harris's baby blessing.

Megan's family picture. Bradley Robert Harris did the Baby Blessing and named him Preston Dodge Harris. Bradley did a really good job.  Here are some pictures of that special baby....

             Preston Dodge Harris Baby Blessing- with Grandpa Jim and Grandma Beverly.
             Grandma Beverly made the white Baby Blessing afghan blanket for Preston.

What a beautiful Baby Boy!!

 
Aunt Kisti-Jo, Grandpa Jim and Aunt Tami.

Bradley and Teagen- middle brother.

Kim's roommate Jen (non member) and Grandma Bev.

Blue booties made by Megan's Grandmother for the baby blessing.
Megan a proud mother of her cute baby boy Preston.

Cousins- Jens, Mark, Porter, Kavan, and Derek.

Aunt Kim and Aunt Tami and Spencer with Preston.

Mark and Kavan cutting their Birthday Cake both are 8 years old.

A Spiritual Calling

Thursday- July 30, 2015

I was up north tending Kisti's children when Jim called and said on Tuesday July 28th that Elder Robbins Secretary had called and wanted to set up a time that Elder Robbins of the Seventies could talk to us. They would call on Thursday and we would be on a three party line because Elder Robbins wanted to talk to both of us together.  Jim was working at home in Blanding so we wanted on this day for the phone call.    Jim and I had decided before the call that they were going to call Jim to be a Councilor in the Presidency of the Monticello Temple, we knew they were choosing councilors at this time.

We did received a call from Elder Robbins of the Seventies Thursday July 30th and they called Jim to be the 2nd Councilor in the Monticello Temple and me to be Assistant to the Matron which is the Presidents wife, Sister Layne Livingston for three years.  The 2nd Councilor is over the maintenance of the temple. He said we were called because of our worthiness to the Lord and we felt very honored to be ask to serve in the Monticello Temple with President Tom Livingston and his wife.    We had worked in the baptistery in the Monticello Temple with this couple years ago and dearly loved them.  We are very excited and a little nervous.  We do serve in the Temple on Thursday AM shift as ordinance workers and love it.  Once again I can see the Lords work in all things.  Things that happened on our Nauvoo Mission prepared us for this calling.  At one time I thought Jim was going to be called a councilor in the Mission Presidency but we would be going home in two months and President Gibbons wanted a councilor with him for a lot more months than two months.  I had the strongest feeling that he was to be a councilor little did I know it would be in the Monticello Temple.  I feel very humble in this calling and just want to be close to my Heavenly Father so I will do things right in His Holy House.   We have three month's to visit family and do everything we need to do before we start November 1, 2015.    It is scary because they ask the Temple Presidency to talk in Stake Conferences at times.  We have a lot to learn but I know with the Lords help we can do this.

                                           The Beautiful Monticello Utah Temple!

Going west-Home

Wednesday---Oct. 8th, 2014


Here is our apartment when we walked out to leave.

                       


This is our  wonderful kitchen..
We had so many cupboards that we couldn't fill them all..   We also had the washer and dryer in the kitchen...

Down at the end where the table was, was the best because we could watch the deer come up close to the patio and we could watch the turkeys and squirrels..

To the right I took the picture looking toward the front room from the back door. It was a very long kitchen and it was so  homey...

Looking at the length of our Kitchen...

This was our bedroom below...

To the right was two large closets for our cloths, awesome!!

 I loved the picture of the Mississippi River that hung above our bed...

We really felt blessed because of the beautiful place that we were able to live in at the end of our mission.  Here is our front room with Elder Harris seating on the cough.

We are packed up and ready to travel on our trip to the west. 
We drove past the Pioneer Pastimes.  Here is some pictures.

Here is a small log cabin that children can dress up and play house.The girls really enjoy this area, on the other side of Pioneer Pastimes is a small school log cabin which the boys dress up and enjoy.  You also can play pioneer games which I learned to play them all.

We are driving down the Trail of Hope for the last time and to see the Mississippi River to say good-bye.

We past this wagon that is by the Mississippi River where the pioneers went across the river on a cold winter day.

Here is Elder Harris 
saying good-bye to the Mississippi River and our fun times we've had in Old Nauvoo.

 We had never put our feet into the water so I reached down and touched the water with my fingers.

 

We are loaded with everything in the trailer and in the back of the car.  We are on the road again leaving to go out west, home!!

We drove to the Red Brick Store to buy my last gifts I wanted.

We bought a hurricane lantern and the large plate, saucer, small plate, and salt & pepper shakers that were called "Willow" which was the dishes that Emma had in the mansion. They are blue and I just love them.

As we drove onto 96 road leaving Nauvoo we say good-bye to these geese that have been on this grass when they were babies and have grown up ready to fly away. They are so fun to watch. They know they should not go on the water because it is duck season and the hunters can't shoot them if they aren't on the river and they are save on the grass, they're so smart.

We went west  though out the day and after about 2 hours we stopped at Pella, Iowa.  This is the tulip  place of the states.  We weren't able to go see all the tulip display in Aug. or Sept. but we did stop and see the cool large wind mill and the town.  Here are some pictures..

This is the entrance into the Vermeer Mill/Mall...It was neat!!

Here I am at the entrance to the Mall.. Elder Harris right next door at the Wind Mill Historical Village Museum. We didn't go inside because we needed to get on our way...

As you can see it was a beautiful sunny day.






Here are some more pictures around the mall.

We walked around the town and found this really neat place so we sat on a bench and listened to the music when you look up in the window their were these cute dutch people dancing...

Here is where the curtains open and the dutch people dance, it was very clever!!  

This flower arrangement to the right was behind the bench where we sat. What a wonderful atmosphere as we sat and relaxed. The clock says 3:05 p.m.  

 


As we walked through the town back to the car we past these beautiful flowers and the Tulip sign.  This town is well known for their beautiful Tulips in the season.

We are on our way to Council Bluff at arriving about 7:00 pm. We couldn't find Winter Quarter Temple so we ask for help and they sent us on a street that we drove and drove and we never saw the Temple.  We were in the country and decided to turn around but it was hard with the trailer.  The road was narrow and we had to turn off on a road and turn around in someones yard.  On our phone we found a Motel 6 so we put it on the gps but it sent us all over the place and we were lost. Dark, tired and decided to just get on the Free way 80 and leave but ever road we went on their was not a ramp to get on the Freeway.  Jim was really getting up set so he went into a store and ask how to get on the Freeway 80.  I had found a way how to get on when he came out and the Freeway 80 was right close to us. So we got on the road and just left without seeing the Winter Quarter's Temple. What an experience we had.  We thought if we could find the Motel that we would get up in the morning and go see the Winter Quarter's Temple. I guess it was not meant to happen. Their was road construction and I saw the Motel 6 sign as we past the exit and we were so happy to be on the Freeway we just said forget it!! We drove to the west side in Omaha and we stayed in a pretty good motel and by the motel was a Cracker Barrel Restaurant and I bought a really cute Christmas Village. In the morning we had breakfast there and was on the road again. This was all done on Wednesday Oct. 8, 2014. Long Day.....

Thursday Oct. 9, 2014

We are driving to Cheyenne, Wyoming. We got there in time to find a place to stay. All we saw all day was corn fields and more corn fields, lots of farm land but not a lot to see. We saw a Motel 6 so we went to it but I didn't like what it looked like, Jim said "let's go see it anyway." The whole place looked so dirty and the one man behind the desk was talking to the other man about the room would be $55.00 dollars and didn't act like he even knew we were there.  We had been waiting for a while.  Jim looked at me and said," Do you want to go and I said Yes!!" So we walked out.  There were signs everywhere that said, " We are not responsible for anything that was lost or stolen." With our trailer full and car we decided we would go somewhere else, I didn't have good feelings about this place anyway.  We drove under a railroad track to a Super 8 Motel.  It looked like a nice clean place. 

We walked about 3 blocks looking for a place to eat. We didn't want to drive the trailer to a place to eat anyway.  It was windy and felt like rain was coming but we still walked, it felt good to get out of the car and walk somewhere. The food we had was really good.  After walking home from the restaurant their were trains going up and down on the tracks by the road and blowing their whistles.  O Boy, that was a bad sign...We had trains traveling all night long ever hour blowing their whistles.  I won't miss the trains when we get home to Blanding.

Friday  Oct. 10, 2014

We had a good breakfast at the Super 8, Waffles and orange juice and on the road again to Laramie, Wyoming.   We stopped for a short time and on the road again. We stopped at Rock Spring for lunch, Taco Time then drove to Evanston, Wyoming. We stopped for gas and a snack then on the road again to Kisti and Matt's home for the night. It was 4:00 O'Clock at this time and we arrived at their home between 5:50 or 6:00 pm. 

Sister Harris went with Kisti-Jo to one of her Laurels Wedding Reception and it was amazing. Her father paid a pretty penny for that Reception.

Saturday  Oct. 11, 2014

We had a fun time playing with the Grandchildren we hadn't seen for about one year.

Sunday  Oct.12, 2014

Kisti's ward had their Primary Program today and she really wanted us there because it was Jens' last time since he is advancing to the Young Men's Program.  Kisti's family also sang a special family song in the program. It was so fun to see Jens, Joey, and Charity sing and they knew all the words.

Thy knew all their parts and said them loud and clear. Their ward started at 11:00 O'clock so we could sleep in a little because in Nauvoo we had to be to church at 8:00 O'clock.  Wonderful special  Sunday.

Monday  Oct. 13, 2014

We started for home today and stopped off at Tami's for a short time then on for the Four and half hours ride to Blanding home.

               WELCOME HOME SIGNS!!