Thanksgiving 2011

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with 48 of the Byers-Smith-Rogers Clan in a meetinghouse in Salt Lake City. All the posterityof Dennis and Kathie Smith except a great-grandaughter were there. Lillis and Frank added to the joy of the occasion. From the John Rogers' family were the Carters from Idaho, Keith's family, the Eliasons, and the Burninghams. Mike's and Melody's families enjoyed Thanksgiving with their friends because of the distance.

DENNIS AND KATHIE AND THEIR CHILDREN

Kevin and Candice, Marilee, Chris, Doug and Tracy

Tim and Nesy, and Kathie and Dennis Smith

Back row: Kevin and Candice, Marilee, Chris, Tracy holding Cecily(3), Doug
3rd row: Tim, Nesy holding Bristol (9 months), Kathie holding Cerrah (2), Dennis holding Cerrice (2)
2nd row: Sydney (9), Tara (9), Jamin (10 in Dec.), Shanon (6), Michael (8)
Out in front: Sam (4 in Dec) and Jason (6)

Marilee Smith with her sons Michael and Jamin Perez

Around the table--Jason, Sam, Tara, Sydney, and Shannon. Jessica, Tracy's sister is in the back.

Candice holding Cerice and Kevin holding Cerrah. Unfortuntely I blurred the good picture I had of their family.

Kathie at the pie table. The pies were delicious!

We had Thanksgiving Dinner in the Relief Society room with trains, large Legos, and activity sheets in another room, and lots of balls for fun in the cultural hall. In this picture Neal is talking with Frank and Lillis Byers and Doug.

Tim and Nesy with their sons Ronnell and RJ (Raymond).

Raymond and Ronnell with his son Aiden. Ronnell's daughter Taeghen was with her mother.

Tracy, Nesy, Candice and Marilee

Chris and Doug with his darling 9 mo. baby girl Bristol.

Chris' children are Tara, Jason, and Samuel.

Doug's children Sydney, Shannon, Cecily, and Bristol

Three sets of twins:

Grant and James Eliason (born Dec 2006)

Cerice and Cerrah Smith (born July 2009)

Lillian and Amelia Eliason (born August 2011). They are looking more alike every dayDaniel, Talisa, and Kira took Anna for a ride.

November Blessings 2011

At this Thanksgiving our hearts are filled with gratitude. When I saw the eye surgeon on Friday from the eye surgery on November 10, he commented, “You had a blessing! You have healed much quicker than usual and there is no need to see you again for this problem.” I’m grateful for my eyesight, priesthood blessings, and the faith of my family.

We’ve had a good two weeks with FTM’s. John’s student was a lovely widow from Quebec who spoke English as her second language. She had over 32,000 names in her file and was able to read very difficult old French records. My student was an accredited genealogist from Idaho who served with her husband for years in the Idaho Family History Center who works in Legacy rather than PAF5. In the last three weeks I have been incredibly stretched as I have had to demonstrate and to teach advanced techniques but I have felt the inspiration and instruction of the Holy Ghost as I silently prayed my way through the challenges. Friday was Go Forth Day and we took our students to the Salt Lake Temple with the mission presidency and staff. The spirit was very strong as we did the work for people we had personally researched. I did the work for Ida Robertson from Georgia. There are four daughters in the family and as I have done the baptisms, initiatory work, and now the endowments they are all so eager to make covenants! John did the work for Charles Rogers, born about 1856 in Kent, England—a distant cousin whose family did not go with John Rogers to South Africa. John said there was no doubt that he accepted the work because the spirit was so strong. It is such a blessing to be missionaries and serve on beautiful Temple Square. We have peace and satisfaction in our days though we work very hard!

Lillian Dianne and Amelia Ann's Blessing Day

We had a beautiful blessing day for our precious twin girls. Mark gave tender, specific blessings to each of his daughters at the church. We had a dinner at their home afterward for 23. Grant, Kirstilyn, Lillian, Mark, Amelia, and James
John, Amelia, Kathryn Ann, and Lillian

Kristilyn holding Lillian and Amelia

Dinner with Talisa, Kira, Grant and James

Pretty girls--Julie and Kim. Kim lent the elegant blessing dresses from Talisa and Kira to Lillian and Amelia which makes them extra special with a generous portion of love and precious memories.

Kristilyn holding Lillian and Mark holding Amelia

Eliasons with the grandparents.

The Priesthood

Front Row--Grandpa Rogers, Mark, Grandpa Eliason

Back Row--Great Uncle Frank Byers, and Uncles Keith, Jason, and Josh.

We had our first major storm of the season early Saturday morning. The snow is shown here with the last rose of summer shot from our front room.

We had a wonderful time a week ago singing with the Elijah Missionary Choir for two CSM Devotionals in the Tabernacle on November 6, 2011. Pres. Jay Jensen of the Seventy spoke at the first one then Elder Don Clark spoke at the second one. What a thrill to stand and sing "Called to Serve" with the Tabernacle Organ playing full organ!