Farewell to Sister Hallie Johnson

Hallie is one of four speakers in her ward this morning.  Two youth speaker spoke first and then and a return missionary was the concluding speaker.  At the end of the meeting the Bishop made a few concluding remarks.  We were told to be there by 10:30 so we would be able to sit on the soft benches in the chapel.

I was up early, showered, shaved and then went out to the greenhouse to do the watering.  Dawn was just beginning to break.  I turned the lights on in house six which is the on greenhouse that has lights.  I was able to do the watering.  When finished with house five it was light enough to do the watering in house one though five.  I also had to water plants that were on benches outside. It took just a little over an hour.

While I was watering Carol was getting the salad ready for the lunch after the Sacrament meeting. Yesterday she made a tray of brownies.  We had everything ready to go about an hour.  We were getting close Salem, so I turned on the GPS.  It was giving directions until Melissa called for directions to get there.  She gave the phone to Derick who was driving.  He asked me several questions of which exit, etc. Every time we got a direction, Derick asked a question.  I was pointing left and right for Carol telling her which way to turn. We finally reached the church which didn't have an address any where to let us know if we were at the right building.  We concluded that we were.  I was then able to answer Derick's question.  We went inside and were able to get a seat in the chapel.  Jeanne came a little later and we moved to the chairs behind the last row of benches.  There was room for all the family and friends.

I was on the chair next to the isle.  A man came by, I looked at him and stood up.  He asked if I knew who he was.  He looked familier and I thought that it was someone who had come to the nursery.  I was Richard, our oldest son.  I hadn't seen him for a couple of years.  It was good to see him.  About the same time Emily our oldest grandchild, came in accompanied by her boy friend.  It was so good to see her.  It has been about a year since we have seen her.  The meeting went well and Hallie gave a good talk.

We went to Robert and Jeanne's home for a lunch as soon as we could get out of the church.  Everyone brought salads and deserts.  Robert and Jeanne had rolls and cuts of lunch meat.  It was good.  Of course we had a good visit with every one.

The battery on my camera was nearly dead and I didn't get as many pictures that I had wanted.  Our oldest daughter and her husband and Allie, one of their children. 

Emily and her dad, Richard Johnson.  This is the first time that Richard has seen Emily for many years.  It was good to see them together again.

Melissa and her boy friend Derick.  She is so supportive of family activities. 

Here is pictured Emily and her boyfriend, John.  It was nice meeting him.  From this brief meeting, it seems like he is a nice person.

Hallie on the left with her friends 

Hallie on the right with some of her extended family.

Japannes food

I worked inside at the computer this morning.  There were a couple of customers just  after lunch.  We left for Sandy, Utah in the early afternoon.  On the way we stopped for a few things in Provo. I have been looking for a four foot wand for several days.  I get them form Steve Regan in Salt Lake City.  The did not have any at any of the places were we stopped.  I checked out Cooks nursery to help me determine prices for our plants.  I also checked out the prices at the Home Depot.  

We were an hour early at the home of Eric and April.  We drove to the Draper Temple to take a close look.  The photo is from the east side of the temple.

We then went to Eric's house and had a nice visit before the others came.  Those that were there were Eric, Lisa, Emi, Chase, and Allie Gray.  Sadie, Mason, Hallie, Robert and Jeanne Johnson.  Erica Peterson, and  Eric and April Johnson.  The Grays fixed a Japanese diner which was very good.  We ate our fill.

Sadie and Mason.  The stripes on their legs is the sun shining through the blinds casting a shadow.

 
Robert, Hallie, and Emi

We said our good-byes and the drove home without a stop.  We got home around ten.  We are usually at the temple on Saturday night, but the temple has been closed for cleaning.  It will be open Tuesday morning.

Family Time

This evening we drove to Spanish Fork where we had dinner with my brothers and sister and their spouses.   We enjoyed a lovely meal at the Prestwich Farms restraunt.  All were there except Dan, Betsy Husband.

The Baptism and Confirmation of April Johnson

This is a report of the baptism and confirmation of April Johnson, wife of Eric Leslie Johnson

We just left Holden and are on our way to the baptism of April Johnson. It was snowing some this morning and still is as we leave town. Roads are mainly wet now but still pretty good. The snow is blowing across the frontage in some places as we approach the entrance of I-15 north of Holden. Some Snow was sticking to road as we went up and over Scipio pass, but once north of Scipio the road was only wet with visibility of a mile or so, due mostly to fog. The road is barely wet between Scipio and Nephi with a few areas of heavy cross winds. As we pass through Nephi, the roads are damp and in some place look dry. There seems to be thirty mile visibility. Coming into Payson. it is windy with falling snow.

North of Payson the roads are wet and in some places slippery. One car slid off the road to the right. A Utah trooper had stopped where slid off the right shoulder. Cars splash a dirty mist through the periods of falling snow. The road now is wet enough for the passing cars to keep our windshield dirty. Good that we had our wash tank full of windshield solution.

We arrived in Eric's neighborhood a little after two. We drove back and forth on 13 east several times until we finally found his street. The road past his house was the worst for snow than any road that we have driven all day. We had a nice visit with Eric and April. We were plenty early at the church. I got my jump suit on and was ready for the service to begin. But we needed to wait until four. When four came, there were some people that hadn't arrived yet. Robert and Jeanne and Hallie were late.  They had so much snow this morning that they drive out of their driveway let down the steep road.  I talked to Robert on my cell phone.  They had left and were in Orem.  I suggested that they keep coming and would be here in time for the the lunch. Brother Stevens, the ward mission leader, announced that there would be a fifteen minute delay to accommodate those that had not arrived. I called Robert again and informed him that they would wait. Robert and family arrived during the opening hymn. The room was full of friends and family.

The meeting went well. The opening him was "How Great Thou Art". Carol gave the opening prayer. The first speaker was Berta Webb, the relief society President, who spoke on faith, repentance, and baptism. Her talk was inspiring and invited the spirit. April and Susie, her sister, and others shed a lot of tears.  TJ Brown, Susie’s boyfriend, was also in attendance.

I entered the fount from the left and April came in from the right. I positioned her close the right end of the water facing the right wall. I positioned our hands, brought my right hand to the square, called her by name, repeated the words of the ordinance, and laid her down in the water. After she came up from the water, she gave me a hug.

As I called her by name, she looked over at me, I repeated the words, and she watched me as laid her into the water. That really made it personal. I was talking to her, which made it extra special.

I removed the jump suit and put on my suit.  While I was doing this, three different videos were  being shown to those that witnessed the baptism. When April came back, Melissa, a good friend, spoke on the Holy Ghost and how important it was.  She invited those there that were not members of the church to accept a copy of the Book of Mormon.  She did a good job. When she finished there hardly was a dry eye in the congregation.  After hugs and congratulations, we went into a multipurpose room where a lunch was served. The buffet of croissants, funeral potatoes, salads, and deserts were waiting for our enjoyment.  There was plenty of food for everyone. 

Early Sunday afternoon I had the opportunity to confirm her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and give the Holy Ghost.  After sacrament meeting we said our good byes and drove home.  The roads were dry all of the way home.

We stopped at Roberts house in Woodland Hills on the way home.  Finding his house was a little bit difficult we had the address, Utah that was all. We found the street okay, but could not find their house number.  The large houses were not close together with a lot of snow in the yards.  We went past it once and made a big loop and found it the next time. The sign was really small and difficult to see. Their house is large with many rooms on three or four different levels.

Merrill & Carol Johnson

The phone has been ringing much of the day.  Richard called.  He has been having back problems.  He had an MRI trying to determine the cause of his back pain.  He may get a job in Colorado.  Lisa called wanting to know how her mother was doing.  Carol has been sick with a bad cold for a week now.  She went to the clinic just before lunch.  She has a bad cold and the only thing that will help her is more time.  She did get a prescription that will help prevent complications in the case that she another cold on top of the that she has.  Melissa called.  She is moving into her own apartment.  She has been on a waiting list for nearly a year.  She is pretty excited about it.  She had a sist removed from her left wrist.  The surgary went well and there were no feelers from the sist.

Eric, our son called.  I answered the phone and turned on the speaker.  The first thing out of his mouth was,"I want to borrow $10,000."  Of course we said that we would loan it to him.  Just kidding.  Then he said that April is going to be baptized on February 23, and she wanted me to baptize her.  Our response was, "your kidding."  He wasn't.  We are really excited about that.  Eric wanted us to invite the rest of the family to be there.

The last call of the evening so far was from Holden.  His birthday is tomorrow and Carol sent him a card with $25 in it.  He called to thanks us.

Francis & Muriel Johnson Burham

Gordon & Helen Johnson McEuen