Welcome Back to the Pew!

When Joseph was called to the bishopric about 2 years ago, I wondered how we were going to do it. Joseph had just started a new job and it was proving to be very demanding, we had a very young family with plans to add more, and we had just moved to the area. We were shocked that day as we met with a member of the Stake Presidency, and I am sure he could see it in our eyes that night. Bishop Brooks promised us that we would be blessed for our willingness to serve. We were, both spiritually and temporally, but there were also many times I felt we were being burned at both ends. Sundays became as long as, and sometimes longer than workdays, and there were many nights spent doing meetings, activities, and ministry visits. When the Stake Presidency called Joseph to be seminary teacher a few months ago, they promised him that this meant a release from the bishopric. We waited and waited and waited and it just didn't happen. We started to think that maybe they weren't going to release him, and just decided, "Oh well, we'll just keep on keepin' on. " The first week of seminary he

spent Sunday 6 a.m. until 3:00 pm. at the church doing his normal bishopric responsibilities and then after feeding the missionaries and having a less active member over for a visit he spoke at a seminary fireside. The first day of seminary he was up preparing the classroom at 5 a.m., then to work and then Young Men's and a visit to another ward member. The kids went about 34 hours without seeing him those first days. He would wake up at the crack of dawn to teach, work, then do church work, come home to prepare again for seminary and do it all over again. After a few weeks of this, we were starting to feel like this..... Then last night a member of the Stake Presidency called (hum Halleluja).......Joseph met with him after bishopric meeting this morning and was RELEASED from being 1st counselor in the bishopric. Because the bishopric has served for about 4 1/2 years, when they called Joseph to teach early morning seminary, they decided to call a whole new bishopric. Our new bishop is James Ellis, with Craig Haley as 1st counselor and Robert Pratt as 2nd counselor. I am glad that Joseph was able to serve. We really have learned alot, but I have to admit, from all of us in the FamiLEE...

"We've missed YOU on the PEW! Welcome back!"

Happy Anniversary!

Being married to Joseph, I wake up to SUNSHINE 365 days of the year....no matter what color is really in the "sky" of life. Boy am I grateful! Thanks for brightening my existence from the first day we met! I sure love ya!

Bridal Veil Falls

Emily invited us to spend some time in Provo Canyon at Bridal Veil Falls. We all enjoyed the escape from the heat and loved the feel of the cold water on our legs. It was very relaxing for all of us. Stephen was at football practice, but when he finished we met at their house to BBQ steaks, chicken and burgers. Stephen's little sister Arden came over right before we left and the kids had a fun time playing with her.

Annette booked an extra appointment with Meg so I took it. I had to wake up early to get there, but it was worth it, she does such a great job. Don't my toes look cute!? Okay, so maybe my toes aren't cute, but the paint atleast is. I don't know how she does it, but her paint lasts so long. I'm enjoying them and will be so sad when they grow out.

We ended our trip with more shopping and visiting and playing with cousins. On Saturday night before we left, we went to Chad's work party at Scera Pool. It's a fun pool and we had a great time going down the slides together. At the Scera Shell Outdoor Theater "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" was going on. The second the girls heard the firsrt measure of music they said, "Mom, can we go see Joseph?" The whole time we were swimming they listened to the music and told me play by play what was happening in the story. It's so funny to me that they can pick those things out. I don't have that kind of musical memory.

On Sunday we picked up Joseph from the airport and made the trek back to California. He flew back and forth 4 times this trip. What a trooper! We were glad he was there to drive us home. He makes the drive much more fun. We stopped at Donner Summit and hiked around with the kids. He's does much better at taking time to enjoy the scenery when sometimes I just want to plow through and get it over with.

Called to Serve~Uncle Gabe

Our trip to Utah this year conveniently coincided with Joseph's younger brother Gabe's mission farewell/talk, whatever-you-call-them-these-days. Gabe gave a great talk and we enjoyed visiting with family at the Lee Home. The Wednesday he left, we all gathered again at the Lee Home for a breakfast and a good-bye. Because of the H1N1 Virus, the missionaries are now dropped off curbside at the MTC. I think it's good, could you imagine the crew if we all tried to attend. The kids loved playing with all of their cousins. Because my kids have spent most of their lives out of the state of Utah and away from family, they really haven't spent much time with Gabe. Their contacts have been limited to a few times per year, but because of his involvement in BYU Young Ambassadors this year, they got to know him via BYU television. We DVR-ed a Young Ambassador performance and the kids watched it over and over again. It was great, they weren't shy with him at all, but because they don't see him very often anyway, it wasn't a very hard good-bye for them either.

See ya later Gabe! The people of Kobe Japan are very lucky to have such a great guy in their midst.

We enjoyed a few more daysof enjoying the Lee Family after Gabe left, but the camera wasn't pulled out as often. Thursday, the day after Gabe left, we headed to Fairview to visit with Blaine and Alyson's family. The kids were really excited for the visit and had a great time. I loved visiting with Alyson and I even loved the drive to and from Fairview, it was pretty relaxing.

We spent Friday evening at Michal's house for another visit with cousins. They again had a great time playing together.

Vest Family Reunion~Hiking Ensign Peak

By the end of the reunion, people started trickling back to regular life, but mom still had a hike planned to Ensign Peak. We were tired and hot, but we decided to go anyway. I am so glad we did. I have always wanted to hike to Ensign Peak. The view was beautiful, and it felt good to do something that seemed hard at the moment (not a hard hike, only hard because it was sooooo hot and we were sooooo tired and we had complaining kids). Doing the hike was also great for our complaining kids. Brynn stayed at the bottom with Chad and a sleeping Kaden, because she had a puncture sore on the bottom of her foot from earlier on the trip, but Grandma, Grandpa, Me (Amy), Joseph, Abby, Aaron, and Isaac enjoyed the hike despite the hot afternoon- in- July weather. It was great to help the little ones (namely Abby) learn they could accomplish something hard even though they were so tired and so hot. It also helped that she was carried by me or Grandpa most of the way. :)

I often think of all of my wonderful childhood memories, much of what I remember did not happen without alot of effort on my parents part. I am sure we complained, and I am sure it wasn't always fun for them as adults to do what they did, but they did it anyway and we have great memories because of their sacrifice. That's what's great about being a parent and an adult. You have a reason and an excuse to be positive about something when conditions aren't just rght. It's hard to have a bad attitude about something when you're trying to get someone else to have a postive attitude about it. It kind of helps you to realizethat things really aren't as bad as you think and you can get through it. But, did I mention it was HOT! Well it was, and I was wearing black and well, it was just plain HOT. But the breeze on the peak felt nice and it was great to accomplish something we've always wanted to do.

Can't you just hear Brigham Young saying, "Here is a proper place to raise an ensign to the nations."

I love my dad. He is such a good guy. He will submit to anything. Almost to a fault. :) My kids adore him and I am so grateful they have such a wonderful relationship with him. They absolutely love him.

Joseph was a trooper and carried 2 little boys down the mountain. He is such a great dad.

Mom wore mules/slides on the hike. For someone who planned the hike, we had to laugh at her choice of attire. She planned a wonderful family reunion and we are very grateful. It had just the right touch of meaningful moments and plain old fun. Thanks Mom and Dad/Grandma and Grandpa!

Vest Family Reunion~Salt Lake City Cemetery

After we left Park City we drove to Salt Lake to the Salt Lake City Cemetery on the northeast side of town. We had a map of the cemetery and it was interesting to see where many prominent church members and prophets were buried. It was also interesting to see how many of the prophets and leaders of the church are intertwined and connected through marriage. We all laughed and joked about someone from the outside looking in. I'm sure they would be thinking, "Wow, there's a whole lot of nepotism goin' on there." :)

Below is the monument for Willard Richards, who along with Orson Hyde, taught and baptized my great-great-great grandmother, Ann Morris Creer in England. Elder Richards was one of the first missionaries sent to England by Joseph Smith in 1837. He was also 1st counselor int he First Presidency, under the direction of the prophet Brigham Young. In this picture I think my mom is explaining to my brother Chad these facts as well as the fact that my sister Emily is married to one of the descendants of Willard Richards. Stephen's grandfather, Stephen R. Covey (I assume the R is for Richards) is a grandson of Stephen L. Richards, who is a grandson of Willard Richards. So essentially my brother-in-law Stephen's great-great-great-great grandfather taught the gospel to my great-great-great grandmother and introduced our family line to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Hopefully I have all of those greats right. Pretty cool!

Below we are standing by President Harold B. Lee headstone. Yes, we are related, he's a first cousin a few times removed. That's all I can remember.

And of course, the beloved, President Hinckley. We miss that dear man.

It might sound a little strange to hang out at a cemetery or to even think to call it "fun." But it was, I felt so connected to those who have gone before, so grateful for the lives they lived and the sacrifices they made. Because of some of these people and their efforts to build the Kingdom of God, my life here on earth has been tremendously blessed. It's humbling to think about. Seeing the names of the posterity, and feeling the connectedness made me want to live well and love well and work to keep my family connected. Something about being in the cemetery and seeing all of the names and families connected also made me want to have more children. Crazy! Who knows if we ever will, but it was kind of interesting and funny. Who would have thought that hanging out in a cemetery could make you want more children.

Vest Family Reunion~Lawn Games

Mom and Dad brought up their speed gun and we raced acrossed the lawn to see how fast we could go. I can't remember the winner or how fast they went, but it was fun....and a great reminder to how out of shape I am....I felt a few aches afterward. But, oh it was fun! We also enjoyed water balloon launching and catching and a great game of kickball. If we don't have a picture of you, it probably means you were too fast for our ol' point and shoot.

Kaden
Aaron

Cooper

Brynn

ArdenAunt Sara

Amy

Nice catch Joseph! I love summertime.

Vest Family Reunion~Swimming

One of our favorite parts of our Vest Family Reunion is always hanging out at the pool. We LOVE swimming! We especially love swimming with cousins.