Missionary Update

So it's been awhile since I even mentioned our

fantastic Elder Van Bibber.  Last week he celebrated

his one year mark in the mission field - hump day!

Apparently the missionary landmarks are as follows:

6 Months: Bump Day

12 Months: Hump Day

18 Months: Slump Day

24 Months: Dump Day

Here is how Taylor celebrated that day, burning a shirt.

It has been so wonderful to see Taylor mature and grow,

especially spiritually, while serving the Lord full time.

He is still serving in Kenai, south of Anchorage on the

Kenai Peninsula and has now been made a district

leader.  We think their district consists of three

companionships, one of which is sisters.

Here is a picture of Taylor, and the sisters in the car on their way back to Kenai after transfers in Anchorage. Elder Nelson, his companion, better be somewhere in that car too!

This is what Taylor said about that experience:

"  I'm not going to lie, it was weird to have girls in the car but Elder Turner liked it.  We had a good time talking and Sister Hewitt is from Vegas so she was freezing the entire time (it didn't help that she fell coming down off the snow when we stopped to take a picture in front of the sign 

when she was searching for a moose.")

It has been so exciting to see all the young men and women

rushing to serve missions after the Prophet's announcement

in October.   There really is something shifting - a hastening,

a re-committment, an excitement that wasn't in the

air even a year ago.  As parents it is especially fun for us to 

have Taylor be a part of this army of missionaries going forth

with such zeal.  Now as members we have to step it up

and help the full time missionaries find people to teach. Taylor

has been very blessed to have most of his investigators and

those seriously studying the gospel come through the efforts

and referrals of the members in his area.

More pictures of OUR Elder 

With Elder Turner from Weazer, Idaho.  

Elder Turner, Jayton - member of priest quorum, Elder Van Bibber

Another busy weekend for 

everyone in our family!

The Move!

My parents recently sold their home in Salt Lake and

bought a smaller home in Riverdale, Utah to be 

closer to family in Ogden.

My sister and I were recently reminiscing about all 

the events that took place in this home.   

All three of us kids - Manja, Shelly and Mike - 

became engaged in this house! 

(Not to mention a few grandchildren conceived 

in this house-who will go unnamed)

We've seen a lot of Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter, Fourth of July 

and Thanksgiving celebrations within these walls.  

We've celebrated birthdays, wedding dinners, baby blessings, 

missionary farewells, wedding and baby showers and anniversaries.

We can only hope that Grandma packed the

Happy Birthday sign to be used in her new home.

Every grandchild has played in the toy closet and 

worn the dress-ups, put up the tent in the backyard 

climbed the cinderblock walls and 

helped Grandpa pick the raspberries.

We'll miss the barbecues in the backyard, but 

we look forward to more in their new backyard.

We've enjoyed the Christmas lights that Grandpa put up

in the windows inside the house, 

and the ones on the outside of the house.

Every grandchild has been afraid of Montezuma 

(who lived under the stairs) and some have even 

been brave enough to search for him.  However, we are 

confident that he slipped into one of the boxes packed up

and taken to the new house, because we never found

him under the stairs when Grandpa cleaned out that closet.

We've eaten a lot of yummy potatoes, brownies

and caramel popcorn lovingly made in this home's kitchen 

as we packed as many grandkids as possible 

around Grandma's kitchen table.

We've had sleep-overs in the "pink room" which spilled

over to all the hide-a-beds, couches and floor space.

And all of us are the recipients of the quilts Grandma pieced

together in her sewing room and hand quilted on the

quilting frames that would take over her living room.

We have the memories - and a few pictures and slides

to go with them.  And we look forward to making

new memories in their new home.

Friday

The Daniel and Midgley/Zundel families

help get Grandma and Grandpa's belongings 

packed and loaded in the truck.

 Quinn and his friend                                    Kaylee

Ally                                          Eric

Saturday

The Van Bibber family helps finish 

the last of the packing.

The doors are locked and we say our final good-byes to a 

wonderful home filled with lots of memories.

Unfortunately, we were all so exhausted from the move

and trying to get Grandma and Grandpa situated inside

the house, that this was the only picture of the outside 

of the house that was taken by my sister.  

Sunday
Mia's blessing day 
(Side note - it was also Easter)

Blessing dress purchased by Great-Grandpa Zundel

when Lauralee was born.  

Baby girls who have worn this dress on their blessing day:

Lauralee, Carly, and Anne Van Bibber

Jenny and Heidi Daniel

Emma and Mia Lavender.

A few weekends ago Eric, Kaylee and Ally 

came to play at our house.

Bryan, Manja and the girls played Life

Manja took the kids to the Treehouse Children's Museum

Kaylee and Eric played chess for about an hour.

 Ally played EVERYTHING else.

Is it a guy thing??

Great-Grandpa and James totally into smart phones. 77 year age difference makes no difference.  Great-Grandpa got his phone for Christmas and James is using Grandma's phone.

By the way James, how come every time I get my phone back after you have been playing with it there is a new picture saved as my wallpaper??