BE 2014

Last week our the youth of our stake participated in a Youth Conference. Part of the conference included re-enactments of stories from the Book of Mormon. Carter was chosen to portray Abinadi. On Saturday as a treat for those who were not invited to attend. They performed some of the portrayals again. A re-enactment re-enactment if you will. Carter's group was chosen as one of the featured acts. It was so good. All the actors performed well. It was a sobering and thought provoking scene. I was blessed to be able to see it and to get some good photos.

Loved it!

Noah making a grand entrance. It certainly had style and he looked like one cool guy!

His Priests

Abinadi's first visit before King Noah

Alma listens and learns

Abinadi in prison

Alma pleads for righteousness

They won't listen. They persuade the king to have Abinadi put to death.

Abinadi at the stake. this was to be a type of things to come and indeed there were other deaths by fire.

I always wondered as a youth, why the Lord didn't save Abinadi? As an adult I understand that Abinadi's testimony was sealed with his blood. It still makes me pause and think. Would I be able to die for my testimony. I think I could , but again He didn't ask me to die for Him but to live for Him.  

Off to Serve

    I am finally in a place mentally that I am able to share this life event. All of his life, I have hoped that Hayden would serve a mission for our Savior. At the General Conference announcement of the lowering of ages for full time missionaries, I thought we would see an energetic young Elder Johnson leave quickly. He didn't. As I talked with him, I realized that he wasn't sure that was what he wanted to do. I assured him that the choice was his. That was a decision made between Father in Heaven and himself. I believe that not all individuals are called. My wish for all my children is that they be worthy to attend the temple and follow the Savior. I also assured him that we loved him no matter what that decision was and I meant it. We watched as he went about his business. One Sunday, after a day of fasting, he and his friend announced that after fasting and praying, they had both decided to serve missions. Superman had been fasting specifically for Hayden. Wow!
   This past week, Hayden departed for that service. While it was something that I wanted, it was also a heart tearing experience. Hayden spoke in church and gave a wonderful talk. We had family and friends to the house for finally bonding time and eating. We spent two days frantically acquiring the things he hadn't yet obtained. Then all too soon, Wednesday morning arrived. We met at the Stake President's office with those of our loved ones that could make it. He had a wonderful priesthood blessing from the Stake President.
  We came home to fresh blueberry muffins...made from scratch wink wink. All of the sudden it was time to leave. We took him to get a few birthday gifts as he would be in the MTC for his birthday, said a final goodbye to his Grandparents Johnson. (he said goodbye to Hulses the day before) and then we drove to Provo. We had lunch at Rubios. He said he didn't care where we ate and I could see that the reality of the moment was settling in. It was settling in on me also.
   We drove to the Provo Temple to say our goodbyes. I looked at him and tried to express my heart. All I could do was whisper, "I'm happy of you" (A phrase our family has used for years) The tears started. We hugged. He insisted on driving into the MTC. It caused a lot of confusion. At the first stop, the Elder asked for the back window to be rolled down. He saw Superman...He asked if there was an Elder in the car.  He put a sticker on the windshield to indicate that the Elder was driving. The next stop removed it. The final stop....Hayden removed his bags from the car and the greeter kept trying to take Carter (still dressed in his white shirt and tie from the blessing to set Hayden apart) I had to say several times. "you can't take him yet". When the greeter finally realized that the handsome gentleman with the bags was the Elder, they each took a bag and walked away. Hayden didn't even look back. My heart broke. I spent a very anxious week. I wanted to send a birthday party to Hayden in the same day delivery service at our market. Steve told me is would be too distracting and then I had an accident and couldn't walk. I wasn't able to let him know I loved him on his birthday. My heart kept breaking. I was wondering if he was able to sleep, was he feeling alone, was he feeling overwhelmed. What was happening!!!!
All day Monday I waited for an email so I could get some sense of his experiences. I had sent an email a day so he would know I was thinking of him. At 4:30 the mail was here! He was doing wonderfully. He was the Zone Leader. He had everyone meeting nightly to sing hymns and feel the Spirit. He was protecting his zone from hooligan missionaries. He was enjoying his group and liked his companion. My tears stopped (except for a few as I write this). I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for watching over my boy...who is really His boy. I know that Hayden will become a greater man because of this. I read his Patriarchal Blessing before I put it away. Father knows what a great spirit Hayden is. He will make him even greater.

Last photo while 'arms length' rule isn't in effect

Those aiding in the blessing

With Mom and Dad

There was more than one super hero at our house that morning. 

Farewell to Grandparents. (Should have taken a photo the day before also.)

It's setting in...this is the final hour.

OUr last conversation with "Duh huh huh)

Impression of Carter

No words

Bye Dad

Georgia- you are getting the greatest man ever. Who will he touch?

Another Mile Stone Successfully Passed

      Woohoo! I am finished with the public school system as a mother. I will probably feel a need to report my feelings again in the Fall when I feel the impact greater. It is something I have been looking forward to for a very long time. I always felt like I was tossing my children to the wolves every Autumn. I am grateful for they learned in the school system, but I am so happy to not have to deal with 'those people' anymore. (Please don't point out that I am one of 'those people")
      I really don't like High School graduation ceremonies. They are usually long and boring. Carter's was quite delightful. I sat next to the wife of Carter's math teacher. She told me how she only had two children. One that was graduating and one who had passed away 3 1/2 years before. They had awarded him his diploma posthumously and she had carried his picture across the stage. It was a tender story. We had some very nice conversations.
This year the choir sang. It made for a very entertaining afternoon for me. I got some great pictures of Carter. He even winked at me in one of them!
 

Ready to start. Notice Heather peeking up at us.

Walking

Ahh, the dignitaries.

I can't figure out why he is hugging Sue...I guess he spent some time in the office.

Heather poses.

The wink

Friends

Ward friends. They are pretty close to each other. 

Add you own caption here.

I am very proud of Carter. He is a great person. I do not fear that he is making bad choices. He has good friends and tries to influence people to follow the Savior. What more can I ask?

Thirty Five Years of Amazment

I should be out in the yard, but have a lot to share and remember. Sunday marked 35 years of being Mrs. Superman. I refuse to be stupid Lois Lane. He is amazing. I think of all he does for me and all the times he has worked miracles and he acts like I am something! I have been wanting to make a Rhubarb Leaf Bowl. So for our anniversary- we made it together. I am showing the steps.

Make a mound of sand into the shape you want your bowl to be. I wanted a deeper bowl. I am going to try other shapes later. 

Cut small squares of wire to reinforce the concert. About 4 inches square.

Choose a big beautiful Rhubarb leaf. 

Position the leaf over the sand. Spread it out. I made sure there were no folds.

Have Superman mix you some concert. I made him do it just a tad thinner than he wanted to. It worked great.

I have no idea why this cement mixer is junking up our yard. Superman prefers the wheelbarrow. (That was so that he would use it for more of my little project ideas!)

Spread a thin layer of concrete and smooth the wire over it. It can overlap and I didn't care if it covered every little spot.

Reinforcement

Spread another thin layer of concrete. I decided to engrave ours. "Happily Ever After
Steve & Becky June 1 1979

Let it cure for a while. What I read said 48 hours but Superman left it 6 days....actually, I couldn't stand it anymore and turned it over and cleaned it up after 6 days. The leaf was a little 'moist' . We let it dry and brushed it with a kitchen brush. It looks gorgeous. We are making it look like a pond for Cooper. I can't wait to try Hosta leaves!