January 2022

I have no pictures of the 1st or 2nd day of the New Year but they are worth mentioning.  Well, not so much the 1st.  It was a pretty dull day as we took down all our Christmas decorations and got the house back to normal and clean and spiffy.  So not exciting but we had family visiting the following day, so necessary.

January 2, 2022 was a big day for our family and one that I will never forget.  Justin was sustained and set apart as the Bishop of our ward.  We had met with President Wilde on December 22nd and he extended the call to Justin then so it had been a week and a half of a lot of emotions for him.  He went through everything that week-feeling overwhelmed and inadequate, humble and, as we got closer to that Sunday, peace and calm.  After an emotional week of waiting (that seemed forever) he was ready for this day and to be able to get started and get to work.

He had a bishopric meeting that morning (with the old bishopric), then the bishopric and their wives met with the Stake Presidency so they could extend a release.  We went around the circle and shared testimony and that was special.  Then we were excused back to the chapel to wait for sacrament meeting to start.  I had brought the kids with me that morning and they waited in the chapel while we met with the Stake. We had told them about Justin the morning before so they had a heads up.  My parents, Gene, April, and Brett had also been told so they could be there as well.  We appreciate their support on that cold, early January morning.  

President Bart Wilde released the old bishopric and called the new.  Justin as bishop, Dale Whimpey as 1st Counselor, and Nate Mitchell as 2nd Counselor.  Justin knew these names even as we were meeting with President Wilde the very first time and I am grateful he has them to support him through the next several years.  It was a Fast Sunday meeting but it didn't go as usual.  President Wilde had Justin Ellingford (just released counselor), Becky Allen (wife of Bishop Allen), and Bishop Allen bear testimony.  Then he had Nate, Dale, me (!!) bear testimony and ended with Justin.  I knew it would be a strong possibility that I would be asked to do that and I had thought and thought and thought about what to say in the days leading up to Sunday...but continued to draw a blank.  I don't know what I said but I felt calm and I know that Heavenly Father was speaking through me.  Justin was so good.

After the meeting, we all met in the Young Women room for the setting apart.  Justin was set apart and given appropriate keys needed to run a ward.  He was given some special promises for him personally as well which gave him a lot of comfort.  His dad and my dad were able to be in the circle-both were bishops in our youth and were excited for Justin. 

That took up the bulk of second hour so we went home.  I was a little drained.  April had brought a ham, I made two pans of funeral potatoes, my mom brought a salad.  It was a simple lunch but we enjoyed that and some visiting.  Justin was put right to work and never actually came home for lunch that day.  Everyone had left by the time he got home, leaving all their love and support for Justin.  I regret not taking a family picture but it had just been a day with a lot going on and it never happened.  Good thing I had the forethought to take that family photo the previous Sunday when Justin didn't have any morning meetings.  I knew what was coming.

Alright, now we got that out of the way...I'll move on with the rest of January.  I'm sure this bishop stuff will pop up more on the blog because it is a big part of our day-to-day life now.  Justin (and the kids and I) are grateful for any opportunity to serve in the Lord's church and will continue to try to do our best in whatever capacity we are needed.

I was lazy during Christmas break.  I usually take a bedroom a day and help that child go through all their stuff and organize.  I just wasn't feeling it but I knew I needed to get a couple of them done before our schedule got busy again.  Molly didn't really need help this year. While not always having a clean room, her closet and drawers have stayed pretty organized.  So I started with Stockton.  We got his closet and all his drawers cleaned out, made a DI bag and a garbage bag, and the rest of everything we put away nice and organized.  Since I took this picture, his room has changed a little-he took the top bunk off to clear up some wall space.  My parents are storing it since we don't really have a spot that it will fit. 

Molly's Young Women's group was moving up to the older group which meant we, as leaders, were losing them to new leaders.  As a send off, Rachel Larsen organized a breakfast before they went back to school.  This was the greatest year with the greatest group of girls.  I felt like they bonded together so well.  They may not hang out a lot outside of YW's, but they are all supportive of each other and I felt a genuine sense of love and togetherness when we were together each week.  Such a blessing.  I'm glad they are still together, just with the addition of some of the older girls (who are awesome in their own right).

Lauren Whimpey, Pallas Andersen, Kelsey Larsen, Rendi Holm, me, Samantha Steiner, Molly, Sloane Ellingford, Emma Stinebaugh

Brynn got her room done next.  Her and Stockton had the worst rooms so I'm glad I got both of them done before going back to school.  

     The first activity back for the youth was a combined Hungry Hungry Hippos game.  This isn't new but our ward had never done it!  I had so much fun watching them.  They had to collect their balloons, pop them, and unscramble the scripture that was hidden inside the balloons.

 

Sadly, this was my last activity. I was released the next Sunday.  When Justin was called to the bishopric in August, I was given the chance to be released but I wasn't ready.  I was given the choice again with the new calling.  It was a hard choice but it felt right to be done.  I felt like it was my time to step back and support.  And to give myself, and Brynn and Ivy, an extra evening at home.  It has been good and it was the right decision.  I am on the stake girls camp committee and super excited to help in that capacity and be with the girls this summer at camp.  I don't have a new ward calling yet.

The kids figured out how to use the projector in the living room.  You have to sit in the right spot so it doesn't kink your neck but they like it!  Watching Encanto.

 

Brynn's cheer competition season began in earnest.  Her first competition was in Ogden at the Golden Spike Events Center.  That was nice because the other kids could go to grandma's and play with cousins and my parents were able to come and watch Brynn perform.  She did so great!  Not all the stunt groups hit their stunts but Brynn was spot on on all of them.  It was super fun to watch.

flyin' high!

flyer on the left

she is the point flyer, front middle

this is all four teams-she is somewhere in the mix 

After my parents came to watch Brynn my mom took Ivy birthday shopping. Lucy got to go with them.  Lucky girls!  Ivy picked out a snazzy pair of high heels for church.  The other cousins made the most hilarious movie at the Broadbent's house.  I think it might be Molly's best work.

 

It has been so hard to get temple appointments for baptisms.  I finally was able to get one for January by setting my alarm for midnight on December 1st-and even then, they were going fast!  Justin and I were able to take Molly and Stockton down one Friday night to do baptisms.  I was hoping to go with Stockton for his first time but he had been two days earlier with the deacons so it was his second time.  But wonderful just the same.  As hard as it is to get an appointment, it is nice to have the baptistry almost to yourself when you are there.  They wanted to eat at CupBop after so that's what we did!

This makes it official.

Bishop's Certificate

I got to Ivy's room later in the month when we had a free Saturday.  Her new swing had come by then as well so Justin got it hung up for her.

 

Brynn and Ivy put on an Encanto show for us one Sunday afternoon.  Stockton helped them with logistics.  There was one melt down.  Sunday's tend to get long in the winter especially with the earlier church block (and with Justin gone for so much of the day now).

 

We did bundle up the next morning and got out for a walk.  Ivy has graduated to Brynn's bike and Brynn was using her moped.  We took a few laps up and down our street and I even took off one of my layers.

We didn't have any plans for the holiday Monday but I was wanting to get out of the house and was thinking it would be nice to drive up Mirror Lake Highway.  We love it in the summer but we've never seen it dressed for winter.  It was a pleasant drive up but closes before you can get to Provo River Falls or Mirror Lake.  You can take snowmobiles further and there are groomed trails for cross country skis so we'll have to remember to try that another time.  We had brought our snow clothes so we spent some time exploring and playing in the snow.  We didn't think to bring a sled so had to make do without.  The girls found that sliding on their bellies was just as fun.  Stockton was fighting a cold so he stayed in the car while the girls played.

We had one of the saddest days of our lives (our kids saddest day for sure) on the 22nd when we lost our best puppy, Cash.  He was a curious and adventurous doggie who wandered a little too far one afternoon and was hit on the highway.  Our neighbor saw him and called me and I called Justin who came home and got him off the road and home.  He had to go back to work but he spent some time later that night cleaning Cash up so we could all see him.  We were all completely devastated and the kids were barely consolable.  It was a hard, hard night.

That was Friday night.  We tried to just snuggle and watch a movie.  None of the kids wanted to sleep alone that night so Stockton bunked with Molly and Brynn slept on Ivy's floor.  It was hard to put them to bed when they were so sad but I drew the line at them sleeping on my floor.  Brynn and Ivy made sweet notes for Cash that they buried with him.  Justin made a nice casket out of barnwood and Stockton wood burned Cash's name on the lid.  Justin's 1st counselor (Dale Whimpey) brought his mini excavator over and dug us a nice hole in the pasture so we could bury Cash properly.  There were lots of tears.  We plan on planting a nice bush or tree at his grave site.  You never really understand how these pets become such a part of your family until they are gone.  Even still I find myself going to check on Cash or let him out or feed him scraps and that makes me a little melancholy.  He was such a good dog for our family and is going to be hard to replace if we ever get around to getting another dog.  We are grateful for the many, many memories we have... and photos with him in it.  I've noticed his cute little nose in lots of pictures that I never noticed before.

Stockton and Brynn got really into playing basketball for about a week.  They had scoreboards, Jazz uniforms, a buzzer, etc.  I think Ivy was the cheerleader.

 

Another competition for Brynn.  They always spend some extra time preparing in the week leading up to it.  Their team seems really close as their coaches have emphasized unity not only in their routine, but as a group of individuals as well.  My kids have learned some really great life lessons participating in their sports, even if they don't realize it yet.

 

This competition was also up in Ogden, at Weber High School.  All the kids came again so they could play with cousins.  I did make Molly, Stockton, and Ivy come watch this time so they could see what Brynn can do but it's nice because we have a performance time so they can just come for that instead of watching a couple hours of cheer.  Grandma and Grandpa and Ali and Lucy also came to cheer her on.

Molly, Grandma, Grandpa, Justin, Stockton, Ivy, Brynn, Ali, Lucy

Brynn's team did so awesome-I saw a huge improvement from the last competition.  It's the same routine that they use the whole season but they have made tiny changes each time.  I've learned what it means to hit zero (basically everyone hit their stunts), which they did this time around.  The coaches were so pumped up and excited and I've learned to take my cue from them to determine how well the team performs.  It was a fun day.  I appreciated some of the moms sharing photos of the girls warming up and hanging out before they performed.

short one on the front row

getting a piggy back

she's the flyer on the front point

celebrating after an awesome routine-tiny one in the back

Justin and Stockton went to a catcher's clinic, not because Stockton is a catcher, but because Dale Murphy was going to be there.  He is the player that got Justin to become a Braves fan clear back in Kindergarten (he was on a poster in his school library).  He is a really nice guy and spoke with Justin for a while and signed Stockton's hat.

 

Having a 5th Sunday in a month means that the bishop teaches all the youth.  I snuck in the back of the room while Justin was teaching rather than going to the adult class.  He does such a good job with the youth, the boys especially connect with him.  I was sitting in the back and watching how they were engaging with him and it came into my head that this is a shepherd with his sheep...so I took a quick picture to remember.  One month in and he has settled into his role (as much as he can one month in-there will still be lots and lots to learn).  It has been neat for me to watch the mantle settle on him and the man and the bishop merge together.

I spy Stockton way over on the left