Summer Fun: Bowling

We have had a fun summer. One thing we enjoy doing together is bowling. We found a place that during the noon hour they turn on black lights, a disco ball and lazer beams :) I loved to hear their hoots of laughter and giving them high fives all the time for great jobs. Any time we find an activity that gives belly laughs it has to be done and bowling did the trick. All of the special effects that the bowling alley had going made it even more fun. The kids really enjoyed this activity. This is their friend, Sam Schmuhl.

My first pair of contacts.

Hello, this is Hannah, today me and mom went to the eye doctor to get my glasses and CONTACTS!!!! The lady that worked there gave me tips and hints and told me how to put them in, she watched me put them in, and take them out. The contacts at first felt annoying when I blinked, but after a few minutes, I couldn't feel them!!!! I love contacts...= )
Bye, have a nice summer = P

Hannah's Talk

My feelings for my talk that me and Dad wrote is that I think that it is very good, and when they were doing opening announcements, Br. Duncan, 1st consler, said that the menu of the order of the people to speak was to change and he forgot about me!!! The first thing that popped into my head was that, " Oh, great, so I'm just sitting up here to look pretty." As Br. Duncan sat down a low murmer went over the crowd. When the 1st person was talking, br. Duncan leand over and mouthed, "Sorry, your next." As I went up it felt as if I was at the bottom of the ocean and my body was being crushed. After a while I was not so shakey and scared, in fact, I felt as if I was talking to myself in the mirror...it was very uplifting for me.

Here is the talk that Hannah gave:
I was asked to share my feelings and speak about "What do I have to say about my ancestors and their faith."

I assume I was asked to speak on this subject because it is close to July 24th, the local celebration of Pioneer Day. When many of our ancestors entered the Salt Lake Valley with Brigham Young to escape the religious persecution in the east and extablish a settlement. The celebration is more than a rodeo and parade through downtown. It is to commemorate the new beginning the Saints found in this area.

A number of my ancestors traveled with the early Saints from Illinois across Iowa and the undeveloped lands to settle in Salt Lake in 1847. At that time there was very little in this valley except sage brush, wildlife and a large salty lake.

The Saints had to have a tremendous amount of courage and faith to have been willing to travel on foot, cart or wagon to get here. They did not have th convenience of today's comforts like cool air conditioning, grocery stores, cars, nice comfortable shoes, paved roads, GPS, or Home Depot to make their lives comfortable and safe.


We get to enjoy these comforts because of the sacrifice, courage and faith of the early pioneers. They followed the guidance of Brigham Young and believed they were entering a promised land.

Once the pioneers were extablished in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young asked certain families to leave Salt Lake and establis new areas. My great, great, great grandfather, Joseph P. Hacking, was asked to move his family to North Easetern Utah and help build a settlement to provide food and other supplies for the Saints in Salt Lake.

My ancestor, Joseph Hacking, along with others, was a very faithful and industrious man. He left and willingly followed Brigham Young's counsel:
"Keep your valley's pure, keep your towns pure, keep your hearts pure, and labor as hard as you can without injuring yourselves... Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure and angels may delight to come and visit your beaufiful locations... Your work is to beautify the face of the earth until it shall become like the Garden of Eden." (June 1860, Journal of Discourse 1:14)

Now Vernal Utah may not look like the Garden of Eden to many people today but because Joseph Hacking believed in following Brigham Young's counsel he was blessed by the Lord and because of his faith and hard work he acquired large tracks of land to increase and graze his herds of sheep. The sheep were used to make wool cloth and provide meat for the saints in Salt Lake at the time.

Today, much of my ancestor's original property is still owned by Joseph Hacking's decendants and is used to produce hay, corn, and cattle. The land continues to bless our family and provide a livelihood for many.

I love to make the long drive to the farm in Vernal. We can get there in 3 hours when it took Joseph Hacking about 2 weeks to make the same journey on horse back.

Our current methods of growing crops are much more productive and easier because of modern machines and practices. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for my ancestors to grow crops without ready access to water for irrigation and fertilizer for the crops. They were totatlly dependant upon the Lord to send the rains to water the grasses and croops in the early years. My ancestors helps build the current irrigation canals in the Ashley Valley and used today to bring water from the mountain reservoirs and water the fields. I also enjoy swimming in them on the hot summer days.

My ancestors truly believed the Lord would bless them if they kept His commandments and followed the direction of the prophet.

We all enjoy the modern day comforts provided us through the sacrifices of our ancestors. I am greatful for my pioneer heritage, for the examples of sacrifices and faith taught to me by my ancestors. They remind me to continue to work hard and follow the counsel of the Lord.

They knew, not just believed, that the Lord would bour out His blessings on them if them if they were obedient. I want to live my life believing and knowing that the Lord keeps His promises as my ancestors did.

I know this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I felt it in my heart when I was baptized. My ancestors were a few of the pioneers that have contributed to making our lives full, comfortable and safe. I am greatful for their courage and faith.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Hannah's Grandma Smith also shared two great experiences to help her with her talk. Here they are:

Hannah, here are two experiences. Choose the one that fits your talk the best.
Thanks for asking me to think about faith. Faith is exciting to me.

Experience #1:
When I was growing up I lived in a town where many people wondered whether Joseph Smith was really a prophet of God and saw Jesus and Heavenly Father
I believed that Joseph Smith was a prophet. But I felt nervous when I heard the criticism and the doubt.
I went to a college where I was the only member of the church. My classmates were respectful and nice to me but they did not believe in Joseph Smith. They thought it was just a nice idea for people in Utah and Idaho.
I still had faith and so I lived the gospel and went to church even though I was alone in my belief.
Later, after I was married I was leading the hymn “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.” in Sacrament meeting. As we were singing I had a feeling that was very different. At that moment my faith changed and I realized that I actually knew the First Vision really happened. My belief and hope changed to strong powerful knowledge. I was surprised because I had not been praying about Joseph Smith’s first vision. I learned that when we keep living in faith and go forward, sometimes our prayers are answered when we do not expect an answer.

Experience #2:
When I was about your age my mother was seriously sick. She was bleeding internally and was losing lots of blood. She was given a Priesthood blessing. I remember that she asked my dad to call her mother on the phone and ask her to pray for her. She said, “My mother’s faith is so strong that I know if she prays for me I will be all right.” My mother’s heart stopped while they were operating but it started again, and the doctors were able to stop the bleeding. She came home weak, but OK, to her seven little children --- partly because of her faith in my grandmother’s faith and partly because of my grandmother’s faith in the power of prayer. Later my mother had two more children.

I, as Hannah's mother am greatful for so many good people that touch her life and want to help her. I am very proud of my kids and their lives. I feel privillaged to be a part of their lives and to have them love me.

Visit with Uncle Dan Ely's family in Las Vegas, July 10-12, 2009

Wow, another visit to see family. We sure are lucky. We haven't been home much but we sure have felt at home with all the family we have been able to see this summer and through the years.


David helping Uncle Daniel and Jonathan put up in 150 degree Las Vegas weather.

Derek jumping off the waterfall in a fun way to escape the heat.

I love this picture, Derek kissing his "guns". We sure do have great cousins.

The bathing beauties, Caitlin, Hannah, Erin, and Breanna. This picture shows the water coming down.

My fun fun fun boy. He sure is fun. I love all his great poses for the camera.

We hope to come back again and again and again...

July 4, 2009, Smith Family Reunion, Washington

Fun on Aunt Janna's trampoline

More fun in Aunt Janna's pool.

Some crazy fun with my favorite Small Bear! I can always count on Derek to give me a smile. Thanks son!

With Uncle Stuart, Aunt Kim, Tate, Michah, and Gavin

Uncle Matthew's family, Aunt Kris, Adrienne, Claire, and Landon

With Aunt Janna, and Stephanie. They were so awsome and giving to let us all come and invade and feel so at home in their home and very fun yard!

A great picture with Grandpa and Grandma Smith, we sure love you guys!

Here is a picture with Eric, Kelly and their boys, Eli, Brandt, and Asher. We were able to go and visit them in Birmingham Alabama the beginning of June. We had a great time. It sure is great to see family. Our cousins are such good friends to us.

We have a tradition at the Smith Family reunion to roast S'mores. Yum!

Hannah and one of her best buddies, Grandpa Smith, getting some great memories and stories Grandpa Smith style as only the great legendary "Solomon and the Winkle" story teller can.

We have come out for our anual Smith family reunion and we are having a wonderful time. We arrived Friday the 3rd of July. Derek rode first class and Hannah and I rode in the back (lol).

Our first night we cleaned out the "Hobbit Hole" that we sleep in at Janna's house. The kids love the idea of sleeping in a Hobbit Hole, it makes it that much more fun. Uncle Steve has even painted a big red circle on the door to get in to the area with some Hobbit phrases also painted on the wall.

Saturday we had Utah weather here in the Northwest. It was rather hot, almost 90 degrees. Fortunately, Janna has a 15 foot pool to help keep the kids cool and a trampoline and a jungle gym to keep all 150 children occupied. It was a great day of cousins saying that each one of them were their favorite cousin.

Sunday we all went to church and then came back to Janna's. She has quite the garden. The kids helpped to "harvest" some sweet peas, and rasberries. We had a delicious 4th of July deseret. We had fresh blueberries, rasberries, whipped cream, ice cream and angel cake, very yummy. Grandma also helped Hannah get her geneology started on line, Hannah was very excited. She wants to do this for a goal for Young Womens.

The kids and I also went to visit Grandpa and Grandma Ely. We had a wonderful time. Here are some photos from this visit:

This photo above is standing outside of the beautiful gate to go in their yard and home.

This is the Yert that we slept in, the "guest house". It was quite luxurious. Inside was beautifully decorated in an Asian theme. There was a very comfortable bed, and even a T.V. and telephone. The heater was also much appreciated, even in July... The first night, Hannah and I slept out here, then the next night Derek and I had the privilage of sleeping out here.

This is down by their pond. It was so beautiful and lot of hidden beauty and treasures to find. Hannah was very much in her element there. :)

Hannah's favorite animal right now is a wolf. My beautiful Goldie is wearing a wolf skin hat from her Grandpa Ely.




Hannah and Mom looking for baby dragons, (otherwise known as Salamanders), she caught 3!
Derek and his Grandpa Ely. Two kids having fun in their boats. They also played with remote control boats (one right by Grandpa Ely) they also played with remote control helicopters later. They had such a great time together.





Wow, what a beautiful photo of the Sound! Great kids too! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for taking us!

"Live long and prosper" Derek. :) More fun at the zoo with the elephants and next with Grandma Rita and the birds
Yup, that's Goldie on a camel!


On the way out of the zoo we saw this racoon. It was so cute I just had to get out of the car and take a photo of it. He was playing peek-a-boo with us. This was also not the first racoon but one of at least 11 that we saw, none of which were "road kill" all acting for us as if reading from a movie script...

We had another wonderful time together visiting with our Smith and Ely family. That is one of my very favorite things to do. I love my family so much and I am so greatful that we can visit them all as often as we do even though they are far away.