Matthew Home Again

At the end of his senior year, Matthew was called to serve a mission to Sydney, Australia. He had so much excitement to serve and we were all excited for him to share the gospel in the same country where my Dad served his mission. When it was time for Matthew to leave, Australia's borders still closed from the COVID pandemic. They were one of the last countries to open up. Matthew received a temporary call to the Charlotte North Carolina mission. Again it was special call since my parents served their senior mission in the same mission. He spent about 8 months in North Carolina and then flew to Sydney. Both experiences were a tremendous growing experience for Matthew in the gospel and also as an individual. It has been so great having him home. He has been working and then spending his nights trying to plan his future. He says that his mission taught him to plan his days, months and lifelong goals. I loved his last letter that he sent to his family and friends before his return home. Here are his words and testimony:

“This is my last week as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The most humbling experience I have had in my lifetime and I am eternally grateful. Serving a mission is not an easy thing, and people know that, but the thing that I wish i could help youth in the church understand is that serving a mission changes the course and perspective of life. You go from being focused on what you are and where you are going in high school to, how can I help every person I talk to today feel the light of christ in their lives. It's all about serving the people around you and seeing their progression! Missions are a daunting thing!! But if I'm being honest as I've realized in the last couple weeks, life is even more daunting!! And what better way to give ourselves a head start in life than serving Jesus Christ fully. Not being worried about yourself but those around you.”

The originals: Matthew, Catherine, Kirsten, Julie, David, Sarah. Camille, and Spencer

Our growing family: Caleb, Catherine, Matthew, Spencer, Adelyn, Kirsten, Sarah, Poppy, Lottie, Julie, David, Camille, Lincoln, Heidi and Jonathan. (Missing Ben, William and Eleanor)

More family who attended: Sara Jane, Mary, Anna, Scott, Clara,  Grandma and Grandpa Thompson and in the front Hannah and Peter.

At Idaho Falls Airport

Friends who welcomed Matthew home: Landon Drake, Dylan Lewis, Mike, Julie and Tanner Severn

School Begins 2023

School started at Madison this week. Dave is on his 29th year of teaching. We have been at Madison for about 24 years and after all that time we finally have all the music filed away in a very orderly manner. It took two weeks of sorting and purging but we finished the day before Dave had a faculty meeting in his room. Dave made a big pile of music to discard or as the district says “put it in surplus”, we emptied all of the files then reorganized them, and we put away many, many pieces of music. It was a huge project and at times it felt as if we would never finish. The efforts we made will make a big difference for Dave. He will spend much less time looking for music. Things will be much easier to find because there is significant less clutter. It’s a big improvement! 

Lincoln started 1st grade on Monday. When Camille talked to his teacher today, she said Lincoln has so much imagination. It’s true, he does like to find opportunity to put himself in an adventure, or pretend to be an animal or get lost in time. He has yet to understand the concept of being late. Camille is trying to teach him that it is to everyone’s benefit when he arrives on time to school. 

I have been doing yoga each morning. I started after I visited the doctor about my back. Each morning I would wake up to a lot of back pain. He suggested either doing exercises or getting an MRI. I chose the first and it has made a huge difference!

Eleanor Ophelia's Blessing Day

 Sometimes I forget about this blog but I have been thinking about it recently and thought I might as well make some effort to record our lives. I'll start with last weekend. Caleb and Catherine are living in Moscow, Idaho where Caleb is attending medical school. This summer they spent two months in Seattle while Caleb participated in a research project. When they finished the project, they headed to California and used their previously purchased Disneyland tickets. After spending a few days there they drove back to Idaho and arrived on Friday. Saturday we celebrated William's 3rd birthday and on Sunday Eleanor was given a name and a blessing by Caleb.

Back in February, Catherine was recovering from COVID-19 and was quite sick. When she called the doctor hoping for an appointment they told her they would be unable to see her because of her symptoms. Caleb pushed forward with insistence that she be checked. They agreed to check and see if the baby was doing ok. During the test, they found that Catherine had a very thin cervix, was contracting and starting to dilate. It was an emergency situation so they flew her in the helicopter from Moscow to Spokane. Caleb was able to travel with her. She was put on immediate bedrest at 23 weeks. Catherine ended up spending one month in the hospital and then accompanied by her father-in-law was driven to Rexburg where she remained on bedrest for the duration of her pregnancy. Eleanor Ophelia was born on May 10 in Madi hospital in Rexburg, ID. She was born at 37 weeks and was a very healthy newborn. 

Finally, this past weekend she was able to receive her baby blessing. We gathered in the Relief Society Room in the the Mill Hollow Ward Building after church.

Braden, Chrissy and Allred, John Allred, Deann Clark, Grace and Nanette Allred, Catherine, Eleanor, Caleb and William Allred, Sue Anne and Kent Thompson, Tamera Wood, Lincoln, Jonathan, Heidi, and Camille Wright, Dave and Julie Hinck, Spencer and Cady Hinck holding Adelyn Wright.

Eleanor's blessing day

Catherine's blessing day

We gathered at our home after the blessing. We served grain bowls copying an idea from John and Kim that they used at our Thompson reunion. It was a hit. I put a lot of effort into making a nice meal for the occasion. Camille helped me a lot and I was so appreciative.

Photo #1: The Allred family in our back yard after the blessing. #2 Four generations with Kent me, Sue Anne and Eleanor. #3 Grandma Wood holding Eleanor with Catherine, A cherished photo of me and my parents. and the Allred family in the Relief Society Room

New house on Memorial Weekend

Last Friday, we loaded into two cars and traveled to Utah. We hadn't seen our family members that live away from Rexburg since December. Most importantly, Spencer hadn't seen anyone outside of Rexburg since coming home from his mission. With the restrictions of coronavirus being less rigid, 

we thought it was a good time to take a road trip. We were all anxious to have a little time away.

We drove our minivan and car. We included Catherine, William, Sarah, Poppy and myself and then Dave, Spencer and Matthew. We needed to travel in two carsto allow room for all the baby equipment and our return trips were at different times. Caleb joined us for Sunday and Monday.

On Thursday, Camille and Jonathan had just moved from their first home to a new home a few miles south. They had been looking for a home with less stairs and a bit more space. There old address was 11444 South 150 East in Draper and now their new address is 618 East Beaumont Way also in Draper. Because of coronavirus, they hired a company to move them. By the time we arrived on Friday night, they were all moved and were beginning the stages of unpacking. While there, we helped them get a little more settled. Catherine and Sarah arranged the pantry. The men put together shelves for the garage and did a little yard work. I cooked all the meals and we all helped with the cute grandbabies so that Camille and Jonathan could focus on unpacking.

It was really fun to spend time with our family. Besides unpacking, we played a few games, went to the park, flew a kite, did our Sunday home worship together and collectively visited visited three cemeteries on Memorial Day. Ben stayed home to work and of course, Kirsten was in DC. Matthew had been scheduled to be in California on his orchestra Disneyland trip so it was nice to have a little getaway.

Lincoln gets some time with Spencer.

All the babies remarkedly direct their attention to the camera.

To help Matthew have a little Disney in his life, we bought the game Disney Code Names and enjoyed refreshing ourselves on the Disney characters.

Poppy and Spencer

Camille's home provides a lot of fun toys for the babies.

Lincoln loved reading books with Spencer.

While there, we had our first ever zoom meet with the Thompson family. The babies said hello.

Lincoln and Grandpa had a successfully flew kites.

Lincoln and the kite.

The granddaughters and Camille say hello.

The van, packed with the girls and babies, returned to Rexburg on Tuesday. On our way home we stopped in Logan and Smithfield to say hello to our parents. The men returned on Wednesday and also made a stop to see our parents. Dave and the boys helped grandma Wood with some small chores. Grandma Wood has been recovering from a small stroke that occurred on March 27th. Luckily the effects have been able to dissipate for the most part and she seems to be able to resume taking care of her needs since having the stroke. It was so nice to spend a weekend with family. Kirsten sent a picture of her Memorial Day plate that she prepared for her and her roommate, Catherine

William and Caleb at a South Ogden cemetery where Caleb's older sister, Natalie is buried. She died as an infant

Grandpa Clyde Fleming Sarah Viola Thompson are buried in the Holladay Memorial Cemetery in Utah. We took the opportunity to visit this spot on Memorial Day.  In this picture we have myself, a granddaughter, Camille, Spencer, Matthew, Sarah and Catherine, five of their great-grandchildren, and Adelyn, Lincoln, Poppy and William, four of their great-great grandchildren. 

The first weekend that all the grandchildren were together since Christmas.

Adding Dave to the picture.

Now adding Jonathan.

Burrell, a dear friend of Jonathan and Camille, passed away  about 3 years ago from a fall while hiking. He is also buried in the Holladay area.

Lincoln and Adelyn loved having visitors to play with. 

Enjoying a visit with Grandpa and Grandma Thompson.

We also enjoyed our visit in Logan.

Matthew Wins as Co-VP

Matthew decided to run for senior class co-vice president. He put a lot of effort into his campaign. Because school switched to on-line schooling in March, campaigning was entirely on-line. In a way, it was probably easier to do it digitally rather than spending a lot of time making posters and flyers.
For one of his instagram posts, he rewrote the words to a "High School Musical" selection, singing that they should elect him as Co. He found out the results this morning and he was elected as one of the VP's. Now let's hope that school will resume in the fall and that the seniors will be able to have a fun year before they graduate in 2021.

Elder Hinck's Final E-mail

Knowing that he would be returning home shortly, Spencer sent the following e-mail that really sums up how much he loved his mission.

well... 

Que puedo decir??? Its a been a crazy couple of days here in mexico. First off. ON thursday they told us they we cant contact or talk to people in the streets. today they rold us that starting tomorrow we will be in quarantine, and sunday night they told us that all foreigners are going home and if you have 18 months or more in the mission youll be getting released as a missionary. So.... Ill be going home in about two weeks more or less. Its something hard to get over my head. I have no idea really if this will be my last email or night so i just want to tell you all how much i have loved the mission! When i came here I honestly didnt know what to think. There were so many things that i didnt know and that i had to learn. I just want to say i am so grateful for the opprotunity that i have had to serve the people of mexico. I love them with all my heart and it hurts me really to have to leave them so soon. But if theres anyhting that i know, is that the time of the lord is perfect and i know that if its time to go home, i must have finished my work here. the mission has changed me in so many ways that i cant write all of them. I have had so many challenges here. So many. but i wouldnt change them for anything because i know the lord gave me them to grow stronger and firm in the gospel. Im so grateful for the gospel of jesus christ. It isa the only path to happiness on this earth!!! I testfiy to you all, there is no other way that i would have wanted to spend 20 months of my life than serving a mission!!!!! Even though im very sad to leave this story here, im excited to start another one!!! Los amo a todos!!!!!!!

Elder Hinck 

P.S. Luis got baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Return of an Army

Covid-19 has disrupted so much of our lives. I'll start with one of the biggest changes for our family. On April 21, 2018, Spencer opened a mission call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to labor in the Mexico City North Mission speaking Spanish. His assignment was to report to the Mexico City Mission Training Center on August 28th. The intent was for him to serve a two year mission with a planned return around August 12th of 2020. That was before we knew that coronavirus or Covid-19 was a thing. When it became apparent of the effect that the virus was having on foreign countries, the church made the decision to return home a majority of missionaries serving in foreign countries. Within a month, thousands of missionaries returned to their countries from their assigned areas of service. For a short period of time, I wondered if Mexico would pass by without to much effect but in time Mexico and the US announced that their borders would be closing so that they could reduce the spread of the virus. In just one week of time, Spencer went from not seeking out new people to teach, to being under a stay at home policy, to then coming home. It was not the kind of closure any of the missionaries expected but it was what needed to be done. His good friends from high school also returned home from the countries where they were serving. Peter Bressler returned from Africa, Brian Andreasen returned from the Philippines and Nathan Geimlich returned from Peru. They were all home within a space of a couple of weeks.

Because of the policies of the United States and Idaho, only Dave, Matthew and I were able to pick Spencer up at the airport. On March 31st shortly after 8:00 pm, we waited outside the airport doors with other awaiting families  A plane arrived with a group of missionaries returning from several different countries. They arrived in a rainstorm so photo opportunities were not the best. We were able to get a few photos to remember but I wish I had thought to get more.

Since everything was unconventional in our welcoming of missionaries, I organized an opportunity for neighbors to welcome Spencer. The morning of the day he was to arrive home, I contacted all the ward neighbors who lived in our corner of the subdivision and asked them to watch for my text that evening. Upon receiving my text, I asked them to come to their porches and give a wave and a shout to welcome Spencer back home. Everyone was excited to be part. At that point, we had all been staying home and away from people for a couple of weeks and it was fun to do and activity together. Not only did we have waves but there were posters, flashlights and even fireworks. It was really fun!

We took pictures of Spencer as he was inside the airport waiting for luggage and then at the doors of the airport. I'm sad that somehow we missed getting a photo of Matthew with Spencer. Matthew was there and was so excited to welcome him home!

We visited with Spencer for a short time and then President Zenger, our stake president, called to release him. It has been so apparent to me from listening to Spencer's tender words that he had many powerful and tender experiences while serving in Mexico. He loved the people there and continues to show love and emotion for the people he diligently served for 19 1/2 months. His testimony of our Savior's mission on earth is strong and he desires to continue to study and share his testimony with others. We love you Spencer. Thank-you for your faith, example and love.

The morning of Spencer's return. He is pictured with other returning missionaries and President and Sister Severson.

Spencer and Julie at the Idaho Falls Airport.

Spencer with his welcome home sign.

Spencer and Dave

He looked so great and he was so happy.

Spencer brought me a beautiful blouse.