ELDER GILL HAS RETURNED!

We thought we would let him "ease" back into the real world...

FALL BREAK TEMPLE TOUR

First stop: Oquirrh Mountain Temple. We performed baptisms. Colin and Chris Dixon and Brian baptized Amy, Kyra, Josh, Ashton, James, and Mindy. We had family file names for the Michel family. It was great to do their work and feel of their gratitude. Thanks Michels for providing the names.

Standing on a beautiful bluff just west of highly traveled Bangerter Highway, the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple sits at the foot of the Oquirrh (pronounced O'-ker) Mountains, facing east toward a panoramic view of the Wasatch Mountains and the valley's other three temples: the Salt Lake Temple, Jordan River Utah Temple, and Draper Utah Temple.

The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple was the thirteen

th temple built in Utah and the fourth built in the Salt Lake Valley.

Next we visited The Mount Timpanogos Temple. Some of us did baptisms again while Colin, Chris, Brian and I did sealings. It was great to be in the sealing room with such wonderful, pure men!

On July 17, 1995, a 13-foot-3-inch gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was set atop the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple to an audience of an estimated 20,000, who literally clogged the surrounding streets. Once the statue was in place, the throngs of visitors broke into applause and then spontaneously began to sing The Spirit of God.

The third day we went to the Draper Temple. Once again, doing baptisms. What a great day for me to stand in the water with my son Colin and see those I love sitting all

around, watching us. Then I watched as they performed the work for those who can't do for themselves.

Standing high atop a hillside near the mouth of Draper's Corner Canyon—featuring 1,021 acres of dedicated open space—the Draper Utah Temple offers a inspiring view of the entire Salt Lake Valley.

Last day, we finished at the Salt Lake Temple. (Home to our own beginnings, so really a special day.) Colin, Brian and I went to an endowment session while Amy, Keera and Ashton did baptisms in this historic baptistry. It was an amazing thing for them, although they did have a bit of a wait after while we finished up. The three of us had the amazing experience of having an "insider's tour" after our session. Something I will never forget, but will have to wait for another venue to share.

When I was five years old, I was Mary Poppins for Halloween. It was my favorite costume ever. I really wanted to be Mary Poppins. I love every single song and my children have grown up hearing me sing those songs as an answer to their questions now and then. My life has been regulated and carefully swayed by Mary Poppins: a thing of beauty is a joy forever, spit spot and off we go, Splendid, splendid! Pie crust promises: easily made, easliy broken. I even sang the lullaby Stay Awake to get my children to sleep. I have told a couple of people in my life that they are "practically perfect in every way"--just like the famous nanny, or well begun is half done (in other words, tidy up the nursery-or playroom in my case) in every job that must be done, there is an element of fun, you find the fun and snap! I love LOVE Mary Poppins! I often tell those in my household: Enough is as good as a feast or I love to laugh! So it seems fitting that my feelings this week as one son comes home from a mission, one departs, one who has been away for a long time returns, that I wrap it up in another quote from the script from the very beginning of the show and the central focus of it's meaning:

WIND'S IN THE EAST, MIST COMIN' IN.

LIKE SOMETHING IS BREWIN' ABOUT TO BEGIN

CAN'T PUT MY FINGER ON WHAT LIES IN STORE

BUT I FEEL WHAT'S TO HAPPEN, ALL HAPPENED BEFORE.

This week in my own life, I am excited, nervous, happy, anxious, ready, not so ready. Sure at moments and at others, not so sure. Change is in the air, that is for sure. As a mother, the only thing constant is change, but as my children get older, the changes are more permanent and affecting. So, I "look to the future with joy" (this one from Grandma Hazel) and increase in faith. If you look closely, you will see my "carpet bag" sitting next to me in the above temple photo. And I try to remember Change is as good as a rest.

"Like the bee, we should make our industry our amusement."

so... i came home from a wedding on saturday and brian and the boys had dug out our front yard. and piled it onto our front walk. for their amusement.

as brian is always reminding me, "we are not raising landscapers, we are raising boys...".

day 2: the pit.

day 3: the drill
(incidentally--this happens to be the week before elder gill (nathan) returns and elder gill (colin) leaves)

day 4:

the liner

(we still can't get to our front door

day 5: brian, hard at work between surgery cases

on his "day off,"--shovels the last of the river rock from the front step into the rock garden.

day 6: farewelcome fountain: finis! (french for elder gill's benefit) in preparation for colin's leaving (farewell) and nathan's return (welcome) we now have a farewelcome fountain! thanks guys!! I love it!!!

THE AWESOME EIGHTSOME

... AWESOME

go for the gold night

the best part of this is natalie asking for one of the cups when they finish--wait for it-- (which is what i think spurred this whole routine on anyway--natalie just needed drink...)

making calzones. yes, josh is sitting on the counter... ahem....

pie eating contest. this was after they played three-legged volleyball and basketball. it was hilarious but too dark outside to video tape.

"scooch on over closer dear..."

josh sings a jason mraz solo for the mountain vista goldtones performance. you can't see him (or anyone for that matter--but he's the one in front of the mic) but if you listen closely you can hear him sing and "scat:" a form of extremely fast rapping--words sung usually have no meaning and are improvised--ski ba ba do bop... just like josh.

Jesus wants me for a sunBEAM

"Jesus said love everyone

treat them kindly too

when your heart is filled with love

others will love you!"

Brian and Colin team teach the sunBEAMS! These little beams are so full of sunshine--it's hard to stay out of there--I go to entertain on the guitar every chance I get. Here Colin shows them how to actively fill your heart with love (and quickly find a carpet square to sit on)--good mission prep...

I taught Nephi's Psalm from the 4th chapter of 2nd Nephi in the Book of Mormon this morning to my high school seminary class. Even those (like my students) who do not have an understanding of ancient hebrew poetry can recognize and relate with the heart felt pleadings of Nephi's psalm. It was a wonderful morning of sharing/writing (our own psalms) and feeling the spirit. The psalm has been written and put to music (see the tab above right). It is like the Psalms of David, replete with vivd figurative language and the dramatic rising and falling of emotion (my students loved this.) Nephi's Psalm articulates universal feelings of self-reproach and rejoicing, of pleading and praising. This hymn was built upon the single climactic line in Nephi's psalm "Awake my soul! No longer droop in sin!" (2 Ne 4:28) Enjoy the Hymn-- set to the tune of "Finlandia" also known as "Be still my Soul." It is powerful.

I Love The Lord, written by John Tanner:

I love the Lord. In him my soul delights. Upon his word, I ponder day and night. He's heard my cry, brought visions to my sleep, And kept me safe o'er deserts and the deep. He's filled my heart with his consuming love, And borne me high on wings of his great dove.

Yet oft I groan,"O wretched man am I!" My flesh is weak and I'm encompassed by A world of sin, which holds me in its thrall, If I give in and to temptations fall. Then strength grows slack, I waste in sorrow's vale. My peace destroyed, my enemies prevail.

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, my heart! And let me praise again The Lord my God, who is my rock and stay To keep me strict upon his straight, plain way. O let me shake at the first sight of sin And thus escape my foes without and in.

AMY BUMPS IT OVER

In 1895, a physical education director created a new game called Mintonette as a pastime to be played preferably indoors and by any number of player

After an observer noticed the volleying nature of the game at its first exhibition match in 1896, the game quickly became known as volleyball

common faults include:

▪ causing the ball to touch the ground outside the opponents' court or without first passing over the net;

▪ catching and throwing the ball;

▪ double hit: two consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same player;

▪ four consecutive contacts with the ball made by the same team.

**THE FAULTS ARE OFTEN PRACTICED AT THE EVOLUTION OF THE GAME KNOWN AS RUFF N TUFF (ABOVE) PLAYED DURING HOMECOMING WEEK...(JOSH'S TEAM MADE IT TO THE FINALS...)

AMY SERVES THE WINNING POINT FOR THE RAMS

KOKOPELLI TRIATHLON IN ST. GEORGE

Triathlons have become a Gill Family tradition! (first time for dad, yeah! 7th time for mom, 10th for colin, josh stayed home this time for homecoming but promises to return again next year. Thanks Gma, Gpa and amy for all the support from the sidelines! (and the photos)
A perfect day at Sand Hollow. The water temp was a balmy 72 degrees!


What? Mindy and Dawn Anne finish at the same time!?

(okay, Mindy had gone double the distance...)

APOLLO HAS HAD ENOUGH

(TOO HOT FOR A FUR BALL)

GO TEAM CRELLIN!

SHEER EXHILARATION!

(ashley you are too cute!)

Colin finishing strong after a mile swim, 20 mile bike ride and a 10K run

Why do we tri?

• so we can eat whatever we want
• to fit into whatever style of clothes we wish.
• to feel confident when puting on spandex.
• Not dying early so we can travel with our grandchildren.
• Having an honorable excuse for not doing yardwork on the weekends because of our “training”..
• Less stress.
• to be a good role model.
• to have a balanced lifestyle.
• to have more energy.

okay, most of that is just a lot of talk but the hugs at the finish line? That makes it all worth it!