South Carolina, Columbia Mission

Jake has been called on a Mission to the very same mission Brent and I served in! What an honor! We are so proud!

Sarah is going on a mission

May 18, 2013 Sarah was able to go through the Temple in preparation of going on a mission. She wanted to go on a mission since she was little. She has always had a strong testimony that Jesus lives and has wanted to share that. When the Prophet announced the age could be 19 for girls she started getting everything ready. She is awesome and we are so proud of her decisions. Everyone who knows Sarah knows that she has a big personality and she will be an influence for good.

Helen Olsen Mitchell 1928-2012

My dear Mother, Helen Olsen Mitchell, passed away this morning Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 1:26 am. She has gone to be with my Dad. What a happy reunion! She was a trooper till the end. Always a stalwart in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How fitting she should pass on a Sunday, the Lords day. She loves her Savior so much. She was diagnosed with a rare sinus cancer last year close to this time. She was not afraid to die and looked forward to being with our Lord and Savior. She said, what better place can I go? I love my Mother!

Searching for Ghost Towns

Jess, Penny, Thomas, Felix and I decided to go on a Ghost town hunt.  We were trying to find obscure towns that had vague directions.  We started out with a picnic on a lava bubble boulder trying to find Boulder Basin. No luck finding it though.

We tried this road to find Vienna.  It was a beautiful drive and we ended up going back about 10 miles.

It was "free wood cutting day"  who would have known:)

We did find Vienna but it was in ruins.  We learned the town had been destroyed for an unknown reason.  There used to be  quite a mining town there.  They had even had their own newspaper. This building and the out house were the only buildings actually standing.

On our way out we found some nice camp spots and so we just explored a little.

We ran into a heard of sheep looking for Sawtooth City.  We did not find it but found it on the map after we got home.  The sheep dogs were awfully protective when we drove through the heard.  They stayed right by us till we passed the heard.  We had a fun day!

Mesa Falls Marathon and 5k

I never have been a runner.   I had always hated running in school and could barely finish one mile.  I would start out running my hardest and then get a side ache and lose my breath.  It was no fun at all!  A couple of months ago Brent and I were on a walk and he started running and wanted me to run with him.  He has bad knees so he was slow.  Well, I found that it wasn't that hard if you run slow!  Dah!  He said that's all you have to do!  Well, I have been running now almost 2 months so Brent insisted I could do a 5k.  My daughter Jessica had been training for a half marathon (13.1 miles) and it was a good opportunity.  So here I am:)  This is in Ashton Idaho

I actually finished and I ran the whole way:)  I wasn't fast.  In fact I think there were only 5 people slower than me. Most of them were walkers.  I'm talking slow!  But I did win a flashlight in the drawing!

Jessica and Alisha Kirk did the half marathon together.  They started out up the mountain near Mesa Falls.

Jess finishing in about 2hr 20min

Brent and Thomas looking at Lower Mesa Falls.

The bear is licking Thomas!  This is in the Mesa Falls Lodge.

Upper Mesa Falls!  Aren't they stunning?

Crater Lake

We went to Klamath Falls to pick up Sarah.  She was helping our friend Susan recover after a surgery.  She carried her things for her so she wouldn't have to lift.  Susan lives in Klamath Falls, Oregon.  We went to get Sarah after about 5 weeks.  While there Susan took us up to Crater Lake.  Left is Susan, Penny, Me, Jake and Sarah

Sarah and Jake by a cool tree!

Brent and Penny.  Pretty handsome guy:)

I can not believe how blue the water is!  So gorgeous!  It was a treat!

I'm 50

I had a wonderful 50th birthday party!  We had a BBQ and was it delicious!!!!!!!  Brent grilled steaks and pork loin.  Mmmmmmm!

I had special decorators come in for the occasion. (Glen and Steph)

They spoiled me!

I had 2 cakes!  Jess made the chocolate one and Alisha Kirk made the lemon pound cake!  My goodness were they delicious!

Friends and family came!

I feel loved!  I like being 50!  Amber (right) came from Washington and Wendy (right) came from Utah!  Group hug:)