The Year in a Glance

2012 was a great year for the Paxman family.

Linc continues to spend his time at Sandy City Fire.  He can also occasionally be found at Bluffdale and Lehi fire.  He also spent a week at one of his favorite places.  The National Fire Academy.  One of the side benefits of attending the academy is its closeness to all the Civil War Battlefields for which he is obsessed.  He really enjoyed his week there getting more in depth looks at Gettysburg and many other battlefields in the area.  This summer he spent a lot of time in the garden, a favorite pastime of his.  Also many day trips fishing, shooting and exploring with Benjamin. 

I spent a lot of time with the Young Women of our ward, which also includes Brooklyn and I love that.  A full week of Girls Camp at Heber Valley Camp.  What a great time that was.  I loved girls camp as a young woman myself and enjoyed it equally as much as a leader.  That camp truly is an inspired piece of heaven on earth.  I also enjoyed the yard this summer, reading many books and spending great family time.  I especially enjoyed reaping the benefits of a great garden.  This fall found me back to work at North Star Academy.  I am sitting at the computer taking lunch numbers for two hours a day.  It's fun to see Brooklyn interact with her peers.  This little job will help fund the mission and college expenses at our house.

Bailee finished her sophomore year at Weber State University then moved to West Yellowstone, Montana to spend her summer acting at the Playmill Theatre.  She performed in three great shows, "The Drowsy Chaperon", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", and "Annie Get your Gun".  It is the first time she has been so far from home for such a long time.  She learned a lot and made some great friends.  She said she felt lucky to look out her front door every day and see a wall of pine trees.  What a beautiful place.  She is currently in her junior year at Weber State, dancing on the Institute Folk Dance team, Singing with the Institute Choir Choralaires, serving as the Social Co-Chair for AAT and serving as the First Counselor in her singles ward Relief Society.  She will be performing on the Weber State stage in the spring with a role in "Will Rogers Follies".  She is really excited about that.  She enjoys her time with friends and dating ;).

Benjamin graduated from Riverton High School.  He loved his time there and finished the year performing with the Musical Dance Theatre class in a great show called "Working".  He then began a job as a CNA at Rocky Mountain Rehab.  He loves helping other people and enjoys his job.  He enjoyed his summer spending quality time doing what he loves most.  Hiking, fishing, shooting and anything else outdoors.  Benjamin spent a semester attending Salt Lake Community College taking some general education classes. On November 13th he attended the temple to receive his own endowment.  It was such a great experience.  After many years of preparing he turned in his mission papers and has been called to serve as a full time missionary in the Indiana, Indianapolis mission speaking spanish.  He leaves March 13th.  He is spending his time until then attending the Temple whenever he can, hanging with family and friends, working and saving money.  

Brooklyn finished her last year of Elementary school at North Star Academy.  She is glad to be moving on to middle school.  She spent her summer babysitting (she is a great babysitter), hanging with friends whenever possible and attending her second year of Girls Camp.  This year at Girls Camp she overcame a fear of high places and participated in a High Adventure activity.  She was amazing.  She is still dancing Ballet three times a week and has added Hip Hop classes which she LOVES!  She also continues to take voice lessons and is becoming a great little singer.  We really enjoyed her recital and listening to her sing.  Brooklyn developed a new talent this year and learned to play the acoustic guitar.  She really took to it quickly and is enjoying it very much.  In the fall she started Middle School at North Star Academy and is loving the new format of school.  She also made the principles list the first quarter.  This is a huge achievement, it required her to have a GPA of 3.8 or better.  She is really taking pride in her schoolwork and wants to succeed.

As a family this summer we took two family vacations to West Yellowstone to see Bailee perform and to explore Yellowstone National Park.  We went for a five day trip in June and the another 4 days in August.  While there we saw 3 bears at very close range, swam the rapids at Fire hole, shot a variety of fancy weapons and saw three great musicals.  It was so much fun we plan to go again next summer even if Bailee isn't working there.  We also spent 10 days of Christmas break in California.  We saw Sea Word in San Diego, spent a great day in the San Diego temple together, a beautiful day at the beach, enjoyed 3 fun packed days of Disneyland and a day at Universal Studios. It was great to have ten days of family time before Ben leaves for two years.  

We are so grateful for the blessings of the gospel in our lives, for the opportunities we each have to serve and for the love of our Savior.  I hope 2012 brought joy and peace to you.  We look forward to the coming year.  2013 looks to be a year filled with change, we look forward to all Heavenly Father has in store for us.

California Crazy

Called to Serve on December 5, 2012

I have discovered that I am maybe not the most patient person in the world.

All that waiting for Ben's mission call to come was pure torture.

On Sunday December 2nd our bishop checked Ben's mission call status and told us it had been issued.

Living here in Utah we knew that meant it would be delivered on Wednesday.

Finally.

So Wednesday morning about 10:00 a.m. Ben went to check the mail.

There was mail there all right, just not a mission call.

I told him I was sure the mail he had just gotten from the mailbox was Tuesdays mail.

Our mail NEVER comes before 1:00 p.m.

But.... The doubt began to settle.

So he tried to keep himself busy for the day.

I went off to do my regular Wednesday bowling with the girls.

When I came home I drove right up to the mailbox and opened it.

YES!!  The big white envelop was sitting right there before my eyes.

I reached in to retrieve it and at that moment Benjamin came running out of the front door

yelling.... "Don't touch that".

We were so excited to see that big white envelope with the return address of 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

However, watching it sit on the living room table for 4 hours until our family and friends could gather was again TORTURE.

We hung a huge world map on the wall and everyone put up their guess.

Each orange paper is someones guess.

Also family and friends that couldn't be present were able to give out there guesses.

Immediate family, Linc, me, Bailee, Ben and Brooklyn got to make two guesses each.

One stateside and one foreign.

 Finally at 7:00

with friends and family present some via phone, the big moment had arrived.

 I swear I have never been so nervous in my life.  Well maybe that's an exaggeration..

Either way he was SO SLOW opening that thing.

Bailee was telling him he better hold it out of her vision or she would read over his shoulder

probably faster than he could.

He finally get's it opened and scans... silently.

He then says... "Oh Wow."

I look at him and say read it out loud.

Elder Benjamin Paxman

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

You are assigned to labor in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission.

You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish Language.

You should report to the Provo Mission Training Center 

on March 13th 2013.
No one had guessed it right.
I was the closest with my stateside guess of Kentucky.

 We were all so excited for him.

It's also a bonus that he gets to learn a foreign language.

The waiting was all worth it.

He is so excited and ready to go forth and preach the gospel.

I know he will make an amazing missionary.

Many thanks to all who have supported Ben through the years.

It truly is a miracle to find ourselves at this point in his life.

Family and Friends in attendance:

Linc, Myself, Bailee and Brooklyn

Darla, Megan and Kaela Snodgrass

Desiree, Krey, Savannah and Sierra Geis

Eva and CourtneyRae Shoell

Amanda and Sam Paxman, Mckayla, Quaid, Evan and Aiden Burr

Ken Graff

Eric Vance

Aaron Bailey

Joel Nielsen

Grandma Paxman via phone

The Gublers via phone.

Grandma and Grandpa Pack were working in the temple but called as soon as they were out.

Many other family members were informed via text asap.

Many ward members popped by as well.

We are blessed to have so many people who care and love Ben.

The Temple

Yesterday, November 13th 2012 Benjamin received his own Endowment

in preparation for serving a full time mission

for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He chose the Oquirrh Mountain Temple

because of it's resemblance to the London Temple.

We attended the 8:00 pm. session 

which is the last session held.

It was very small.

Mostly just our family and about 5 others.

It was a wonderful night.

I can't believe I am attending the Temple with one of my own children.

It is a wonderful experience,

One I will cherish forever.

The proud parents and their boy

 Ben and Kenny, who is like an uncle to him.

My parents, my brother Marty and his wife Kisty, my Sister Melanie and Kenny were all there.

But due to the lateness of the session, and Benjamin wanting to take his time

 they left before we were able to get pictures.

We are so grateful to family and the support they showed Ben.

Family is what its all about.

Congratulations Benjamin!!

Today Benjamin also had his missionary portrait taken
by Amy Bennion Photography.
They turned out amazing!
She fit us in on short notice and did a great job.
Thanks Amy!!

Doesn't he look handsome...
Of course I am not biased in any way.

Sunday we finally get a new Stake President

so the hope is that his call will be submitted before Thanksgiving.

P.S. I have been playing catch-up, so if your interested in our past few months you'll have to scroll through about 10 posts.  But I'm current now and the hope is to stay current...;)

Inspirations

Brooklyn entered our School's Inspirations program.

This is the Charter School version of Reflections.

The theme:  Beautiful is...

She entered in two types.

Photography:  This can be any picture taken that is not digitally enhanced in any way.

Digital Art:  Photography that is changed in some way digitally.

She received an Award of Excellence for grade level 6-8.

This will make her entry move on to Region Competition.

She was so happy.

Her entry was taken on our Conference Weekend walk through the mountains.

She took it and enhanced it.

Her title...

Beautiful is the path that lights the way.

She was so excited.

Good Job Brooklyn!!

Love you.

Boo from Brooklyn to You

As usual Brooklyn started looking at ideas for a Halloween costume about two months before Halloween.  And as usual, I told her I would have no discussion about Halloween until a few weeks before, being the Hater that I am.  But, being in Middle School now and wanting a minimalist type costume Brooklyn started scouring Pinterest and found this face painting.  I was worried about her being able to do it herself.  I couldn't help because I can't do fine stuff like that with my shaking.

But...Here she is and it looks great.

My favorite kind of costume.  Low maintenance.

A little face make-up, an old T-shirt of Ben's cut up.

This is what you get...

She was happy with the way it turned out.

Then when it came to carving pumpkins, she wanted to avoid the original Jack O Lantern, so back to Pinterest she went.  And found a way to do something else.  You just take cookie cutters and pound them into the pumpkin in whatever design you want.  Hers was a design of stars.  Really cute idea and really easy.

She spent the night at home handing out Halloween candy to the trick or treaters.

It was a fun night.

The Big Announcement and Fall Leaves

Conference Weekend brought a big announcement from the Church.

The age for young men to be eligible to serve full time missions

was reduced from 19 to 18.

For sisters from 21 to 19.

WOW!!!

For Benjamin this didn't change his plans.

You can turn your papers in 120 days before your birthday.

Benjamin was already at this mark for his 19th birthday.

But for Bailee...

The options were endless.

She has been contemplating serving a mission for about 6 months now.

She has also been considering auditioning to serve a performance mission in 

Navoo.

Another choice open to her is to audition to return to the Playmill 

in Montana and participate in their 50th anniversary.

So many many choices.

We have told her we will financially and emotionally support her in whichever decision she makes.

I know she will let the spirit guide her.

She already has. But that's not my story to tell.

Conference Weekend also brought a drive to the mountains to see the fall leaves.

What a fun time with the family.

I find myself really cherishing all the small family moments even more

knowing that soon, for a time we will be separated.

Here are a few pictures to capture the afternoon.

My joy, my kids

 A gentlemen even to his sister...

 "Daddy...stop teasing me"

The Mission Papers and Patience

Since he was a little boy, or for almost 19 years Benjamin has had a goal.
To serve a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Finally the time has arrived.

Taking the steps to become a missionary is a big process.
For Ben it started with a meeting with the Bishop.
Then a log in and beginning the process of filling out those papers.
Doctors visits to get a clean bill of health
Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Meeting with the Stake Presidency to become an Elder.
Then the patience part comes into play.
Our dear Stake President passed away.
So Ben's papers must wait until we receive a new Stake President.
The counselors cannot submit mission papers.
We found out we wouldn't get a new Stake President until November 18th.
That would be almost 8 weeks.
8 weeks to test a young man's patience.
8 weeks filled with friends receiving their calls
8 weeks of waiting
But we made good use of the time.
We were able to listen to Benjamin bear his testimony in front of the High Counsel
He talked about learning young, through his trials, that relying on the faith of his parents wasn't enough.
He had to have his own faith.
Ben was ordained an Elder on Sunday October 21st by his dad
with family, grandparents and good friends present.

I am so proud of the man Benjamin is becoming.
He has such a desire to serve the lord.
I know the waiting has been hard.
But we/he also know it's in the Lord's time.
Benjamin will serve when and where the Lord wants him to serve.
Benjamin and a friend of his recently called upon their Melchizedek Priesthood
to give a blessing to a woman at the facility where Ben works.
She felt she needed a blessing and couldn't get a hold of anyone to come give her one.
So Ben and Aaron, his friend who is leaving on a mission in a few months had the privilege.
It is amazing to me to see the growth from boy to man I am already seeing.

Next on the list while we wait patiently
The Temple.

The End of Summer

The end of summer brought a lot of changes.
Ben started his first semester of College.  He is taking a few General Ed classes at SLCC and working.  He works at a place called Rocky Mountain Care as a CNA.  For the most part he enjoys helping others and making a difference.  I think it helps him to know that it's a stepping stone for where he wants to be.

Brooklyn went back to school.  She is in Middle School now and loves it so much.  She still attends North Star Academy.

I went back to work to help alleviate the costs of having two college students and soon a missionary.  I work in the lunchroom at Brooklyn's school for two hours a day.  I am the lady who sits at the computer and takes the lunch numbers.  I actually really enjoy it.

We took a trip to Southern Utah to see Linc's mom.  It will be Ben's last trip south before his mission.  We had a great time with family.  The guys hiked Angels Landing in Zion National Park and had a great time.  The girls shopped and enjoyed girl time.

On our way home we went to a place called the Parowan Gap.  It is a place with a lot of hieroglyphics.

Here are a few pictures.

The Housing Crisis and Answered Prayers

Summer had come to an end and it was finally time for Bailee to re-join us in this great state of Utah.
Before the summer began she made arrangements to live with a friend from High School.
They looked around Ogden and Weber State and chose a great apartment.
But, a few weeks before Bailee was to return to live in Ogden the previously arranged place fell through.
The girls she was going to live with looked around and found another place for them all to live.
I went and looked at the outside of it, as Bailee was in Montana and couldn't look for herself.  It was not optimum.  It was farther away from campus than she usually lives and in a very wooded area.  After a lot of discussion, Bailee decided she would live there anyway to avoid having to live with strangers.  She really felt living with some girls she knew would outweigh the location.

The plan was for the dad and I to move her belongings in and buy her some groceries on the Friday before school started.  That Sunday she would drive down from Montana attend three days of school, sign her housing contract then Thursday return to Montana to finish out her contract.  Sunday she would move back to Ogden for the school year.  So Linc and I loaded up our two vehicles with all of Bailee's hud and drove to Ogden to meet her roommates and move her in.

The first major warning that our Bailee should not live here were the woods surrounding the apartment complex and parking area.  Bailee often travels to and from her house very late at night.  Due to her major and Folk Dance she is involved in a lot of late night rehearsals and shows.  Her dad felt very concerned about her walking through this very wooded area to get from her car to her apartment.
The second warning, the elevator was broken.  The apartment was on the third floor. Not good at all when you have to move in a butt load of furniture.  The third warning signal, the air conditioning was not working.  Really!!  They are moving in and something is already broken.  The stairways were very dark. The final straw for the dad had to be the type of housing it was.  It really wasn't college housing.  It was apartments that were occupied by a variety of people.  Some a little sketchy.  But, to avoid a scene we moved her in and felt wrong about it the whole time.  It just didn't seem like the place for her.  As we drove home the feeling just got stronger and stronger.  We just felt like she needed time to make a choice that was right for her.

I called and cried and begged to my sister who lives not far from Weber State Campus to allow Bailee to live with her temporarily while she finds another place to live.  Of course they were happy to have her.  So I broke the news to Bailee.  Daddy and I just don't feel like this apartment is the right place for you.  She had also been feeling very uneasy about the decision to live there.  Thank goodness she had not signed a contract.  So Sunday back up to Ogden our family drove and packed up Bailee's belongings and moved them into the garage of my sister.  Bailee arrived in Ogden feeling homeless.  All of her stuff was boxed and stacked and school was starting the next day.

For the next three days I drove to Ogden every day and we looked and looked at apartments and houses.  Nothing was working out.  We all just prayed that she would find a place to live that was safe close to campus and with sweet girls for room mates. A place available soon.  She really wanted to settle in somewhere with her stuff.  She went to classes and I scoured the Internet.  No luck.  So she hopped in her car and headed back to Montana thinking she might be living with my sister for the semester.

Then a folk dance friend told her about a house with a space available.  She gave Linc and I instructions to go look at it as soon as possible and if it looked good, sign the contract.  It was perfect.  A cute house about 2 miles from campus with three great girls living there.  We signed the contract and moved her in.  Sunday she came home to a new house and all her belongings there and ready.  It has been the perfect place for her. She loves it and her dad can rest easy at night knowing she is safe.  It really was an answer to her prayers having the other housing fall through and finding this house.  It's where she is meant to be.

Home away from Home at Heber Valley Camp

This year as part of my calling as the Young Women's President I had the privilege of attending some events at Heber Valley Camp. I am going to refer to it as HVC for the rest of this post.

I don't think I have ever spent so many nights on a wooden bunk.  Thank goodness for air mattresses.  I first went HVC this year for Youth Conference.  It was just a two day conference on July 20, so only one night on the bunks.  Just one sleepless night listening to my 3 young women laugh and laugh.  The boys were in other cabins and sound asleep early.

About two weeks later, August 6-10th, back up to HVC for a week of Girls Camp!  What a blast!  If you want details see my Walk Tall blog...after I update. :)  But let me tell you, I have the best young women EVER!!  There was no arguing, everyone gets along and strengthens each other.  It was four long nights.  Man, those girls don't need much sleep.  So much laughter.  There were so many great events that happened at girls camp this year.  Times when the spirit really testified to us what an inspired place this camp really is.  It truly is the Lord's camp, the Lord's mountain really.  I feel blessed to have been able to participate in camp.

 The road entering the camp is lined by flags in all the Value Colors. 

 You know your at Young Women's camp.

 This picture of the bunks is before the cabins are totally finished.  

There are blinds on the windows and tables in the center of the room

Friday camp ended.  Our girls loaded up on buses and headed home.  Me and my leaders...not so much.
It was now time for Relief Society Retreat, also at HVC.  I love Relief Society Retreat, it is an event I NEVER miss!  It has always been a time of building friendships and love.  But, after five days I knew I could not, no way, no how sleep on that wooden bunk for even one more night.  So the other young women leaders and I spent the day with the sisters and after dinner headed home.

A long hot shower, a real bed and hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Welcome to the "Teens" Brooklyn

Today was Brooklyn's big day!

She turned 13 years old.

I cannot believe my baby is officially a teenager!!

 She woke up to the surprise of having her sister here for the day.

Bailee has been living in West Yellowstone Montana for the whole summer 

but took the shuttle home in the middle of the night.

Brooklyn loved having her sister home with her on her birthday.

She chose one of her favorite dinners and Chocolate cake to celebrate!

Silly kids!

We are done with big birthday parties at our house until the Sweet 16

(we don't want to rush that)

So Brooklyn spent Saturday with her friend Nicci

they went and saw the movie Step Up 2

and had a sleepover Friday night.

I am so proud of the sweet young woman she is growing into.

She is a great babysitter

She Loves to do laundry :)

She loves her siblings

She is a good student who works hard

She is affectionate

She has a strong growing testimony

She is an example

She is kind to others

She is a blessing to our family.

We Love you Brooklyn

Happy Birthday!

Just a little something...

I loved This story I read today!
It comes from a Blog I follow.
Go read it...
I promise you will walk away glad you did.
It just made me go awwwww.

Happy Weekend!

Let the Rain Fall

After 38 days of dry, hot, windy and smoky weather

I woke up to the sight and smell of this..

Rain

I took these in my very own back yard this morning.

It was a beautiful sight, with a wonderful smell.

I could see it and smell it for a week and still be happy!

 I don't know if you can see it in this photo with the swing, I am a little proud of myself because I caught the drop coming of the bottom.  It took me a few tries.

I Love Warm Summer Rain.

Just one thing I Love about Summer

Fruit Pizza

I was first introduced to fruit pizza by an old friend, Charmaine. I've been a fan ever since.  

What's not to like?

There are so many great things about Summer.

The Summer foods are my favorite.

Fresh fruit.

Corn on the Cob.

Tomatoes from the garden.

Barbecue Hamburgers and Hot Dogs.

Pasta Salad.

All of these foods say "Let's get together"

Although Summer is NOT my favorite season

I love the opportunity it gives us to get together with family and friends.

I love the 4th of July parade

and the town day fireworks.

I love spending the 24th at my parents 

going to the Rodeo.

I need a party with friends to top it off.

Whose hosting?....

Maybe me