Idaho Falls Temple Rededication

Jonathan and I went up to Idaho for the rededication of the Idaho Falls Temple. This is a very special temple for my family because my grandpa Machen helped build it after he came home from his mission in Tahiti. It was a wonderful weekend.

It started with Ruby not going to sleep on Friday night.

We played for most of Saturday while Chris and Annie did yard work. Ruby fell asleep before dinner.

We were able to watch the youth cultural celebration about the area and the temple. One of the songs they sang was about potatoes. It was very Idaho! Afterwards, we roasted marshmallows in the backyard.

Sunday morning, we went to the second session of the dedication. It was wonderful. I kept thinking about my grandparents and their example of temple service. My life would be bleak without the blessings of the temple. It gives me real hope for the future both for the coming years and after I die.

I can't wait to go inside the temple again!

My Elder Machen

Spiritual Enlightenment: Honorably Hold a Name and Standing - This talk helped me understand the importance of the temple for me as an individual.

Amy's Diary

No, I am not about to share what Amy wrote in her diary when we were growing up. I'm going to share what I wrote in her diary. 😊

During our last trip in California, Amy gave me her old diary. I don't remember if she gave it to me or if I took it, but that doesn't matter anymore.

It is really funny. I wrote in it 5 times and mostly about how much I miss Andy because he's on his mission. I'm glad that I wrote these little things down, even when it was complaining that my mom got a nutcracker for Amy and not for me. I also like that I was bragging about my "inproved writeing". Don't worry 9 year-old BJ, spellcheck is an integrated part of life in the 21st century.

Lip Smackers

A few weeks ago, I was walking to my work desk from the break room and smelled something fruity. It smelled familiar and then it hit me. It smelled like my old strawberry-kiwi Lip Smackers! 

source

I texted Amy R about it and she said they still make it and she almost got some for Charlotte. I don't think that any of the men that work in that part of the office use Lip Smackers, but it totally smells like it!

Spring

It's been raining for the past two days. It's a nice reminder that winter really won't last forever. I know that the snow will make another comeback. (Actually this Saturday to be exact.) These rainy days remind me of the soggy winters of my childhood. The layer of high gray clouds that lasted for months mixed in with the occasional foggy day when you couldn't see across the playground. Now that I have lived through a couple of snowy winters, I really love spring. Everything is fresh and colorful. Soon enough, spring will be here.

Here's a glimpse of what we've been up to this fall. We were able to go to the ISU volleyball game to watch the amazing Abby play!

Jonathan and I went to the funeral for my dad's mission president Reed Benson. I loved seeing all of the flags around the building. One of his sons shared a common phrase President used to say, "May the Lord bless you and the devil miss you." I have a better understanding of why and how President impacted my dad's life. He lived what he preached.

Jonathan and I went for a hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon so I could see where William McMillan spent most of his time hauling lumber for fuel for his family.

We went for a drive up Provo Canyon to see the fall colors. I am not looking forward to winter, but Jonathan kindly reminds me that this is our last Utah winter. I have a feeling that will be my daily mantra as I scrape the windshield in the mornings.

Jonathan and I went the Pioneer Museum in Salt Lake City that also houses the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. There are photos lining almost all of the walls. I was looking to see if we could find any of our ancestors and sure enough I found one! Susannah Meredith Nebeker was there! I couldn't read her name plate, but I knew I had seen that picture before. I went home and found the same picture of her on Family Search.

Susannah is on the top left.

I loved this beautiful stain glass window in the museum.

We went to our first professional soccer game. It was pretty rowdy. I can only imagine how deafening the World Cup matches are in comparison.

We started off Jonathan's birthday month off strong with some delicious (to him) black licorice ice cream at Rockwell Ice Cream. We will have to go back and try more of their delicious flavors!

Jonathan is on track to graduate this upcoming May. I couldn't be more proud of him for his determination and grit to finish his education. He truly is an amazing man and will have so many opportunities because he refused to give up.

A Year In Review

Another year has come and gone, though it feels like this year went a bit faster than most. Here are some highlights from the year.

Surprise, surprise. Our year started out at the Salt Lake temple.

My very own desk at work while our office was still in Orem.

We explored Park City.

I helped Jonathan find his own family names to take to the temple.

Back in February, Jonathan and I were sick for about three weeks.

In March, the company I work for moved it's office to Lehi.

In April, the wind kicked up so much dirt in the air that it was raining mud!

We went to a UVU baseball game.

We had a small Cinco de Mayo celebration.

For Memorial Day, we found the graves of our ancestors.

My least favorite day of the entire year. The day the apartment turns on the swamp cooler.

We saw fireflies for the first time!

We went to the Manti Temple Pageant. 

We went shooting on the farm in Idaho for the 4th of July.

We spent time exploring BYU with Tyler.

I searched for my cousin, Elder Van Matre.

We went to Promontory to see where the transcontinental railroad met... 

and stumble onto ATK where they build the rocket boosters for the space shuttles.

We visited the University of Utah.

We visited the mine my great-great grandfather worked at when he first moved to Utah.

We got a new nephew in the summer. Theodore Nelson.

We went to a CRAZY good BYU game against Boise State.

I got to see Stephanie Nielson speak. (It was amazing!)

We finally made it to the Ogden Temple.

We saw Abby kill it!

We went to a Spanish fireside where Elder Christofferson spoke in Spanish. (Also Jonathan shaved his beard. I think I'm still recovering from that. I LOVE the beard!)

We played in California with all of the Pattersons!

We went to a crazy good UVU basketball game against Weber State. UVU won after the game went to double overtime!

We had a wet visit when we saw the lights at Temple Square.

Our apartment was toasty with our pixel fire.

It has already snowed more times this winter than last winter. I'm dreaming of wet California winters.

We got a second new nephew just before Christmas. Spencer Wadman.

We had a merry little Christmas in Idaho. We weren't sure if the weather was going to cooperate, but thankfully it did!

It was maybe 4 degrees in Idaho. It made me happy when we got back to the toasty 20 degree weather in Utah. (You can see why I really miss California!)

We had a good year. Jonathan's getting closer to being done with school and I have a great job. We still love being in nursery and get nervous anytime the bishop or Relief Society president talks to us. (Luckily the Relief Society president has a daughter in nursery and she loves having us there!) We look forward to seeing what the new year brings us.