THATCHER FAMILY

Today has been a day.. so I am thankful that I can set all of the wordly issues aside and think of something beyond that for a few minutes.

"The word gospel means good news. The good news is that Jesus Christ has made a perfect atonement for mankind that will redeem all mankind from the grove and reward each individual according to his/her works." (Bible Dictionary)

"And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." John 6:69

I know for me it is hard to think of the Gospel as good news... I actually never even thought of it that way. What a wonderful reminder.. I am thankful for the Gospel and the knowledge that I have about it and that I can continue learning and growing within the Gospel.

This school year we are going to be doing our scripture studies on Discover the Life of Christ and the New Testament.. I am excited to learn about Christ's life from the beginning.. So stay tuned cause you may be learning with us. Happy Wednesday!

Yes, we are alive and well... Just been super busy. The roof is on the shed and all of it shingled. We went on a trip with my mom and Jack to Spearfish South Dakota and then drove into Rapid City. So if I ever tell anyone I want a motor home will you please remind me that I got so so sick driving in one... We had a fun time going camping (all should be proud I put up a tent all by myself). We went to Reptile Gardens, Bear Country and Mount Rushmore. The boys love Reptile Gardens and they also enjoyed seeing the animals at Bear Country. When we all got back to Casper, my mom and Jack stayed at the KOA and we were able to go and swim there with them. Thanks for coming to visit. We have been hanging at home and doing lots of things and seeing lots of people.

I have the boys doing an art class at the Nicolaysen Art Museum once a week.. That is fun and pretty creative. Right now at the NIC is a shoe exhibit so they got to go see it then head up to the classroom and decorate their own shoe and then it will also be placed on exhibit. When we get them back I will try and remember to take a picture of them.

We had some fun un-expected visitors stop by not just once this week but twice. We LOVED spending a few hours with T'Ann, Dee and Frank. It has been so long since the last time we have seen them. (this is my second family.. we talk on the phone at least once a month) Thank you guys for swinging in on your way to South Dakota and back. We love ya!!! Sid totally fell in love with T'Ann and keeps asking when she will be back to play with him. (she spoiled him by playing games and chasing him)

We hope you all are doing well and enjoying these last few weeks before school begins. I will be posting a slide show, so enjoy!!!

Oh and I am going to change my comments around.. I know there are many who would like to leave comments but does not have a google or blog account. So I will change it so anyone can leave a comment.. I LOVE COMMENTS

A day late... isn't that my life lately.

This Saturday is Pioneer Day. How are you all celebrating?? Wish we were in Utah for the celebrations.

Many emigrants made one "last camp" in Emigration Canyon before heading into the Valley of the great Salt Lake. Young and party camped here July 23, the last night before joining the rest of the 1847 pioneers. He was riding in Woodruff's carriage and, in the morning, Woodruff turned his carriage around so Young could get a better view of the valley. Woodruff noted in his journal the "President Young expressed his full satisfaction in the appearance of the Valley as a resting place for the saints & was Amply repaid for his Journey."

According to Hosea Stout, Young reconfirmed this in 1848, Woodruff embellished the events of July 24, 1847, with the following afterthought: "President Young was enwraped in vision for several minutes. He had seen the Valley before in vision, and upon this occasion he was the future glory of Zion and of Israel as they would be...when the vision passed, he said 'It is enough. This is the place, drive on.'"

The advance party had explored the valley. The lack of trees was their only objection and they realized they would initially have to build out of Spanish brick or adobe. The Saints also improved the Trail at the mouth of Emigration Canyon and, of course, offered up a prayer. This honor was given to Orson Pratt. They also dammed City Creek for irrigation, dug ditches, plowed and planted about 35 acres of potatoes, corn, beans, turnips, and buckweat--things that would have the best chance of maturing in spite of the very late planting.

It was Young's illness that delayed his entrance into the valley until July 24. Erastus Snow and Orson Pratt had actually entered the valley July 21, and the advance company on the next day. Nevertheless July 24 became, and has remained, the second most important date in the Mormon calendar (the first is April 6, the day Joseph Smith organized the church in 1830). It is also the day Utah history officially begins. Everything in Mormon history is figured from before or after July 24, 1847.


"This is the place, drive on." --Brigham Young, 1847

"We came in sight of the city, oh, how my heart leaped for joy at the sight. The Zion I had so long wished to see." -- Thomas Memmott, 1862


Happy 24th of July... Hope you all enjoy the day and have enjoyed a glimpse into the pioneers journey.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my sweetheart... I can't believe it has been 13 years. I can't imagine anyone else I would have wanted by my side through the last 13 years.

Kennen and I met through his sister. She and I were in a class together at college and she kept saying that I needed to meet her brother who just got home from a mission. I said no that it is okay. So one day she and I and another friend drove to Payson and went to her home and met Kennen. For the record Kennen did not remember me on this meeting he just remembered that Jen was there and Moe cause those two talked and I didn't say anything. This meeting didn't make Moe's approval so... The night before she was going home for Christmas break she was meeting me for the ward Christmas party and then we were going to the Helper light parade. She called me and said, "I will be a little late my brother is almost to the apartment and then we will be over" my response "brother?" She said "yes he wanted to come and see me" my response "you will be home tomorrow" she laughed and hung up... So they came to the house and picked me up for the dinner and then off we went. Just for the record.. Kennen thought I was 16 and he wasn't going to talk to me cause I was way too young for him. Moe had to laugh and tell him that he and I were the same age. So we went to the dinner and light parade, had a fun evening. Kennen and I seen each other a couple more times and at Christmas when he brought his Grandma back to Wellington I told him I didn't want to see him anymore that we were two different. My dad got mad and said "honey, I know that is the guy you are supposed to be with" Kennen asked me to pray... Me being stubborn didn't want to hear any of it.... Well, after new years I called Kennen back and said.. Can we try it again. Our dating and courtship was much different than most, I lived in Price he lived in Payson. We spoke once a week on the phone after my Wednesday night class. We seen each other some weekends depending on our work schedules. I was working 2 jobs and going to school full time. He was working a full time job and going to school. It was crazy and when we did see each other we never were alone. We always had his family or my family with us. On Feb. 21, 1997 this handsome and patient man asked me to marry him. On July 18, 1997 we were married in the Manti Temple for time and all eternity.

I can't imagine my life without him.. He is my world. He makes me laugh, he makes me happy, he makes everything safe and okay. He is my calm.

I love working next to him in everything we do. I love you honey and happy anniversary. Here is to many more years to come.

I tried to scan in a wedding picture but my printer is being silly so.... I just found one with us together. :)

This is our week.. we bought a slip and slide and that is what we have been doing, it has been a nice chill week. The house is a mess, the laundry undone, but... the boys and I have had fun. That is all that matters right?? So if you are planning to drop by, I will apologize for the house right now. Hope you all have a wonderful, fun week ahead.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY DAD!!! WE LOVE AND MISS YOU!

I am going to do something a little different today. Since the 4th just passed and the 24th in arriving. For those who do not know about the 24th in Utah it is Pioneer day, where we celebrate the pioneers. So.... for today I am going to do some little quotes from the mormon pioneers diaries.. Hope you enjoy. Love to you all.


"I stopped my Carriage on the top of a rolling prairie and I had....A splendid view. I could [see] the Saints pouring out & gathering like clouds from the Hills & dales grove & prairie with there teams, wagons, flocks & Heards by Hundreds & thousands as it were until it looked like the movements of A great Nation." Wilford Woodruff, 1846

"I could knit and read as we traveled and Horace could read or play his flute as he liked and none...can...appreciate the happiness it gave us to have a little wagon all to ourselves...." Helen Kimball Whitney, 1846 (new bride)

"My things are packed ready for the West....In the afternoon put Sister Harriet Young to bed with a son. Made me a cap and...went to the Hall to see the scenery of the Massacre of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.... We bade our children and friends goodbye and started for the west. Crossed the river about noon." Patty Sessions, Feb. 1846

"Come, come ye Saints, No toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend your way: Though hard to you this journey may appear Grace shall be as your day.... We'll find a place which God for us prepared, Far away in the West, Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid. There the saints will be blessed. All is well! All is well!" William Clayton, April 1846

"Clean straw was spread...the walls draped with sheets, Turnips were scooped out and in them was placed lighted candles...imparting a picturesque effect. Dancing, speeches, songs and recitations varied the exercises, which opened and closed with prayers." Lorenzo Snow, 1846

"Brigham Young came up with his company driving his team in mud to his knees, as happy as a king." Patty Sessions, April 1846

"In loving memory of six thousand Pioneers who died on the plains between 1846-1869. The bodies of nearly six hundred of these brave souls were buried within this sacred enclosure." Inscription on Mormon Cemetery Gates, Winter Quarters.

"...I could stand on my wagon and see more than ten thousand buffalo....The plains was perfectly black with them on both sides of the river.... O.P. Rockwell killed a two-year heifer which was good." Aplleton Milo Harmon, 1847

"We passed over sand bluffs which were decidedly the worst we had encountered and had to double team all our wagons. The mules were brave little fellows to pull." Frederick Piercy, 1853

"Our caravan was encamped...when death began to invade [our] ranks... The suddenness and the violence of the attack, together with the fact that the first victims were among our friends...made a profound impression upon my mind...." Jean Frederick Loba, 1854

here are 10 of the diary entries from the Mormon Trail between Nauvoo and The Ancient Bluff Ruins in Nebraska.. More to come between Nebraska and Utah. Happy trails and as the pioneers would sing "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning,"

What a great week!!! We were able to spend almost 4 days with our dear dear friends from Springville. Chris, Ashleigh and girls came to visit. We were able to go to Martins Cove and hang out. We did fireworks and put the trusses up on the shed.

The last time we were able to spend time together like that was when Ashleigh and I were frantically painting and packing cause we only had 21 days to move and sell a house. We had such a great time. The boys were so good to the girls, what great big brothers they are.

Thank you guys for coming and sharing your love with us.


As for the rest of the week we just hung out, Sids allergies are getting the best of him. Poor little man has swollen eyes constantly. Robbie is also having allergy issues but not as severe as Sid's. Kennen has been working lots and lots.

So today is the 4th of July and we were all awaken at 6 this morning with an awful storm. We had WHITE stuff on the ground. It was hail but it was about an inch thick all over. It has shredded all of my 27 tomato plants and 4 rows of peas and squash. Killed my flowers and all of the trees no longer have leaves. I guess welcome to Wyoming. It makes me a little frustrated as I look at all my things and they are ruined and then look at the empty lots with weeds knee high and not one of them were damaged. Kennen says what a great parable that is.. that the weeds are strong and those that are trying and growing get beat down. It is like that in the world with people. The bad are strong and those trying to do right get knocked down more than those that are doing the bad.

Anyhow.. Hope you all have had a safe and wonderful 4th of July. Thank you to all those that have served our country yesterday (past), today (present) and tomorrow (future).