Putting Down Roots at the Ranch

Friday, September 25, we planted a willow tree behind the ranch house. In my mind it is to commemorate the reality of putting down roots at the ranch. Since John will be realsed as the Ft. Stockton District president soon, we are looking forward to moving to the ranch permantely. Now this tree is not just any ordinary tree. It is a start that Elizabeth Stephens got for us from the willow tree in her back yard. The orgional willow tree was one that her family had planted in their front yard when they moved to Artesia in the 1950's. Then wehn they moved to Hart, Texas, they planted a start from the that tree in their yard in town. When they moved to the farm outside of town, they transplanted the whole tree to the farm. When Elizabeth moved to California, she took a start from that tree and kept it in a pot. Then when she moved next door to Happy and Papa in Artesia, she planted that tree in her back yard. It is a most magnificent tree now. I am so hopeful that our start will do well and we can continue with the legacy.

Pile of East Primary

Kermit's new school.

Our new elementary is finally finished and ready for the start of school. It was kind of sad to see East Primary leveled, but the change was needed. I am so glad that neither John nor I will have to be a part of this change.

It's A Great Life!!

This has been such a great summer! I enjoyed my trip to Utah for the 75th celebration of Ogden Pioneer Days and to visit my family. My sisters hosted a baby shower for Brady and Annelise Wiggins the first day I was there. They have finished at BYU and are headed to Knoxville, TN to complete his residency. It was great to see not only all my sisters, but most of their kids too. What a baby year this will be. In the Wiggins family all the married cousins have either recently had a baby, (Jana and Ben's new little boy) or will soon be having a baby. Brady and Annelise--girl, Jana and Wes ?, Shawh and Kerry ?. Jason Hyde and Shaylee will have their baby in January (I think), Amber and Devin had their little boy, Boston, the Thursday after I left and Mike and McKenzie had Jack Finch Tagart two days after I got there. Wow! Add all the little ones that are already here and the Bell recent babies, Kalani, Benson and Lauea and Mark's new little girl (due in November) and we ought to be able to host a real rip roaring family reunion. Jacob will be coming home to quite a different bunch.

While I was there, Kathy and my cousin, Bill, hosted a memorial for my Uncle David Dixon. He was my mom's youngest brother who died several months ago in Idaho. It was a wonderful way to celebrate his life. My brother, John, and his wife, Mary came from Arizona to be at this meeting. I visited with cousins that I haven't seen in literally decades and I got a boomarang to remember him by. What a great trip!

Speaking of family reunions, my favorite daughter-in-law, Leanne invited all the Bells to join them at Padre Island. We had such a good time. The nicest part for me was that all my kids treated me like company. I didn't cook a meal or wash a dish. It was pure heaven and we all had such a good time. Thank you all! Check out the family blogs for pictures.

Anita & Brad on Good Morning America!

Anita and Bran Wigins were on Good Morning America this morning. They were talking about how the recession had been positive for them. Google them on Good Morning America.

What a Great Weekend!

This weekend has been incredible! We enjoyed watching Leanne graduate from TCU. She is amazing we are all so proud of her! Jesse served up a wonderful feast afterwards. The depth of Leanne's committment to friends and family was evident by the number of people who traveled far to be there for her. Way to go Leanne!

Mother's Day was the best ever! John and Jesse presented me with a beautiful orchid corsage. We attended Keyshia and Kyle's baby blessing and then drove like crazy to get home for Jake's phone call.

I told John that I hoped that I would be as content next mother's day with where my children are and what they are doing as I am today. It is especially nice to share mother's day with Bitsy and Laura and their babies. Life doesn't get much better!

Great Letter from Jacob

hello again
Well my new companion is great. A very mellow quiet kid, quite oposite from my last companion. i really enjoy Sunnyside. There are plenty of really nice people who might not except the gospel now but in time. I was feeling pretty low for a couple of weeks before I got my new comp. just really sad that not a lot of succsess is happening, but I was reading Alma 8 and then my mission president called and told me to gain a new hope and faith. I had also just got elder worwood and so the chapter really just was written for me. alma was like me. the angel that told him to return was my mission president. and Amulek is like my greenie who is being taught how to become a missionary. it was truely amazing miricle that showed how much the scriptures are for me in this day. I know my gramar and spelling are still weaknesses! Well I'm glad you got those pictures, please share them. Oh and for my birthday, I dont need much. I would like som pictures of home though. Laura that scrap book calendar you gave me 2 christmases ago was perfect. it had all the birthdays of everybody. i loved it. so mabey just one of those would be nice. we are now looking for people to go teach so that we can do what the Lord would have us do. Tracting is not effective! Repeat tracting is not effective! Please give refferals to the missionaries. the more people you give the more of a chance that someone will accept the gospel and I know that ya'll have a great desire for every one, espcially the people you know, to have the gospel in your life. Pray that you will know who to invite to have the lessons not pray that the missionaries will find them. I cant remember what talk it was but they said thats like praying that someone else will do your job for you. If you testify and invite people. every body! I promise you will see success. I love you and thats why I ask that ya'll do that. Last night I truely gained an understanding of asking questions. While I had gone through great and long trials, I really felt inspired about asking the right questions and how to do that. I will report to yall the next week how it goes. I feel that if I did'nt endure the trials then I would'nt have gained this great knowlege. I love all of you. And remember the Lord is in control let satan blow against you, just know that it will make you stronger if you endure.

Love Elder Bell

STATE OF THE UNION

Since today is the inauguration of the president, I’m going to share some thoughts I wrote awhile ago. Both Dad and I are struggling with this election, but I guess we’d better move forward. Here is a thought Debbie Riley sent me.

From the biography of Church president Ezra Taft Benson (published by Deseret Book, by Sheri Dew, page 37):

"[Ezra's father] believed that the Founding Fathers of the United States had been inspired, and on one occasion he openly supported a particular candidate and even made mention of the man in family prayers. When George's candidate lost the election, Ezra was anxious to hear what his father would say in his next prayer. George prayed for the man who had won. When Ezra asked how he could pray for the man who had defeated his candidate, he replied, 'Son, I think he'll need our prayers even more than my candidate would have.'"

Puts things back into perspective.

Here is my personal “State of the Union”
5-18-08

STATE OF THE UNION

Since we have just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary I feel a great desire to assess our current position. As is gaze at the diamond John gave me thirty and a half years ago, it sparkles just as brightly. In fact, it is even more beautiful as is my love for him. I am grateful for a good man who honors his priesthood and lives his life according to the gospel. In my mind are indelible “snapshots” of pure joy which I would like to share with you.

One Wednesday night as was my custom when Jesse and Leanne lived in Monahans, I stopped by after mutual to say good night. Jesse, Leanne and all the kids were on the bed reading scriptures and stories. I was especially impressed that even though the children were so young, they were actively listening and conversing about the scriptures. Afterwards, Jesse made up an amazing bedtime story.
This memory takes place in the Lubbock Stake Center gym. I hear Mary talking to a rag headed, droopy-drawered player who is waiting to be called back into the game. “So, how long have you been playing basketball here?” “Four years.” “Have you ever wondered what goes on in the rest of the building?” He replied that he knew it was a church and that he didn’t go to any church in particular, but that if he did go to church, he would go to a Mormon church.
When Amy was working in Jackson Hole, she called me and said that she had been taking some horses back from the vet’s and that the tire had blown out on the trailer. The trailer had broken loose, thrown the truck to the other side of the road and was lying on its side in the borrow ditch. She said, “Mom I don’t know how to get the horses out of the trailer. I think one must be dead because he has a plank sticking out of his chest.” We talked it through and she got the horses out and settled. She was so calm through the whole experience I thought she might be in shock. But not Amy. Amy takes the world for what it is and moves on.
I was so honored that Mark and Laura asked me to be with them when Benson was born. When they discovered the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, a team of nurses began working on the baby. Mark would comfort Laura and I would try to see what was going on with Benson. Then we would switch posts. At one point when it was evident that both mother and baby were all right, I turned to switch places with Mark who stood between the two weeping for joy.
B is for Bitsy and for bravery. I called her when we had seen reports of a earthquake in Hawaii which reached a seven on the rector scale. She was completely unmoved. She said that they had cancelled church and that they didn’t have any electricity so she planned to read as much as she could before it got too dark. Later she emailed me a poem she wrote about walking in the dark that night with only the light from her little flashlight. To walk with confidence and beauty in the face of disaster. What a girl!
I am especially grateful for the choices which Jacob has made this past year. We anticipate his letters and emails. I can already see the changes in him. He really has so much depth to him. He is so completely immersed in his mission. How many mothers can say that they are so happy that their 19 year old son is where he is and doing exactly what he is doing?
We are truly blessed.