Trinity Ranch Jackson Hole, WY 2011

Ernie's employer, Sun Pacific, owns a ranch in Jackson Hole, WY, named Trinity Ranch.   It is an amazing retreat with an awesome, unobstructed view of the Grand Tetons!  His company is generous enough to open Trinity Ranch to their management level employees, and this year we were the beneficiaries of an unforgettable week.  We were blessed to share Trinity Ranch with our children, Spence and Aly, Jess and our grandkids, Will and Lilly!  Unforgettable!!!!

 Boating - Fishing - Horseback Riding - Hiking - Bike Riding - no words can desribe the beautiful nature we lived in for the week!  We saw a buffalo herd, an elk herd, a bull moose and a mama moose with her baby.  Both Ernie and Jess caught fish at least 18 inches long - which, I'm told, tasted incredible!

 Will and Lilly were sooo well behaved - they loved living in nature - waking up with the sun - not falling asleep til they couldn't keep their eyes open any longer for fear of missing this unforgettable adventure!  We met new friends from Georgia - Mark and Dee, as well as the caretake and his wife, Maury "Jonesy" and Colleen Jones.  They bent over backwards to be of service and we were blessed to make lasting friends with them.  As difficult as it was to have our week come to an end and leave Jackson and Trinity Ranch, it was more difficult to say so long to our friends,  We anxiously await our next vacation at Trinity Ranch. 

This was a blessed experience we will remember forever..  How thankful I will always be to have shared this experience with those I love the most!  I will treasure our last night there and our spirit filled discussion on the eternal nature of doctrines, principles and applications in our lives - forever!  I am sooo thankful for Spencer's  insight into our relationship with our Father and His Son!  Trinity Ranch - I can't wait to return! 

Renovation Master Bath 2011

For the past 13 years, Ernie and I have discussed the need to update our master bath.  The time never seemed right - until now.  We are fans of DYI so we decided to enlist the help of our contractor, Allan Dawley.  It was decided that Ernie and I would cover the demolition and Allan would renovate - with the hope that Ernie would be able to assist.  The master bath was a BEAST because of its size (10' x 11') and because of the amount of tile we had to remove - not to mention that the master bath is on the 2nd floor and rather than cart the debris through the house, we chose to use our balcony and spiral staircase to take the trash from the backyard out to the truck!  The demolition took us a week, as Ernie was unable to take any time off work.  We were so happy to have that work done.  Along with demolition, Ernie and I were also in charge of purchasing the supplies, fixtures and cabinets, as well as painting.  We had to find cabinets that would fit a 10' wall and would be delivered within 2 weeks.  We were unable to find cabinets we likes or a cabinet maker that could deliver within our limited time span until Ernie found an online company that manufactured high quality cabinets we could afford in a timely manner.  The only glitch was what we would have to assemble the cabinets on our own.  We opted to go with them, and are sooo happy we did!  We will recommend Cabinet Giants to everyone!  They make their cabinets out of beautiful hard wood maple, with dovetail drawers and soft close mechanisms for the drawers.  Awesome!!!  After all the hard work and Allan's ability to create beautiful spaces, here are the before and after pictures.The toilet was moved about 3 feet to allow us to have a deep soaking tub in its place, along with a 4' shower.  We are so happy to have our new bathroom!

                        

      
                  

Jess Graduates from Highland High School June 2, 2011

 

Jess completed her requirements for high school in December, 2010.  She was given the option to receive her diploma in the mail or to walk with the neighborhood high school in June 2011. She chose to walk - giving us opportunity to preserve her experience for posterity =D

Jess, we are proud of your accomplishments thus far and know that with God's help, you are capable of great things to come! 

Jess with Cindy Moyes and Crystal Johnson



We love you Sis




Jess with Elder Helton - her institute buddy =D



Palmyra - New York City - Boston 2011



The Sacred Grove





Joseph Smith Log Cabin




Palmyra New York Temple




Inside Joseph Smith Farm House




The Sacred Grove



We gave Jess the opportunity to choose where our family would visit for her high school graduation.  She chose Palmyra NY, NYC, and Boston.  I went about planning an itinerary that would be suitable for our family - we only had one week to visit these places.  We left on May 14, 2011 and flew from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago and then on to Rochester NY.  We lodged in Victor, NY for 3 days.  While there, we traveled to Palmyra NY so that we could see where the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ all began.  We attended the Palmyra Ward on Sunday morning before driving over to see the Palmyra Temple, Joseph Smith's family log home - where Angel Moroni first visited Joseph. Then we wallked the block from Palmyra to Manchester where the Smith's built their large family home.  We visited the Peter Whitmer Farm, where the Gold Plates were translated into the Book of Mormon.  There I met a senior couple who were serving their mission.  As we visited, we discovered that his great grandfather is my great great grandfather - JDT McAllister -

We walked through the Sacred Grove, and although it was pouring rain, the reverential awe we felt as we strolled through the grove filled my heart with the burning knowledge that this was the place where God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ did in fact reveal themselves to young Joseph Smith.  I can testify that all that Joseph said happened there - did in deed take place.  I know it with every fiber of my being!

 

Niagra Falls

 Monday we traveled by car up to visit Niagra Falls!  What a magnificent creation of God! 



Angel Moroni A Top Manhattan Temple



 Tuesday we traveled by car 5 1/2 hours to NYC.  Our hotel was in NJ so after checking in, we traveled by train to Penn Staion in NYC.  We visited FAO Schwarz, took a carriage ride through Central Park, strolled through Time Square, visited The Empire State Building - which allowed us a great view of all of NYC!  We also attended the Broadway Musical "Wicked" - which was THE BEST production! We sat 5 rows back - center stage!  Amazing!  We walked down 5th Ave to see the Manhattan Temple and also Ground Zero - a reminder once again that freedom is not free! Before leaving NYC we rode the ferry to Ellis Island and visited The Statue of Liberty!  Every minute of our stay was incredibly enjoyable!



Lady Liberty



    

Carriage Ride Through Central Park



 



 

Thursday we left NYC and headed for Boston!  What a beautiful drive through Connecticut!  We arrived in Boston just in time to catch the bus for Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox game against the Cubs.  So much fun!

Friday morning we attended the Boston Temple to do Baptisms for the Dead.  Jess and I were able to be proxy for 6 of my paternal grandfather's mother's side - the Fitzgeralds.  Ernie was able to baptize us and then be proxy for some of his Larsen family!



Enjoying the Boston Temple

 After a short rest back at the Crown Plaza Hotel, we hopped aboard the express bus and headed for Downtown Boston tour sightsee, shop, and watch Pirates of the Carribbean!  We enjoyed the historic Fanuel Hall, ate clam chowder and shopped for an authentic Boston Baked Bean Pot.  Can't wait to have it sent to me so I can try it out with my baked beans!
Saturday we rose bright and early so that we could walk the "Freedom Trail" through all the historic sites in Boston.  We saw Bostom Commons, the State House, Park Street Church, Kings Chapel, the Burying Grounds, Faneuil Hall Market - where the Sons of Liberty held their debates and oppositon to the taxation by the king of England.  It is known as the "Cradle of Liberty".  We also toured the Old Meeting House, Paul Revere House, the Old North Church - "One if by land, two if by sea", Bunker Hill - the place of the battle which defined America's independence, and "Old Ironsides" - the oldest commissioned warship in the world. 
We really just got a taste of the history of the beginning of America and how it became
the land of the free and the home of the brave!  

I LOVED LOVED LOVED our vacation and feel sooo grateful for the opportunity we had to experience it. 

The Big '5' '0'

This post is dedicated to the most important person in my life.  He has been my best friend for the past 34 years and my eternal help meet for the past 27.  Norman Ernest Larsen was born May 3, 1961.  He was taught correct principles, helping him to grow and wax strong in the site of God.  I love him with all my heart and cherish every step we have walked together on earth. He is my forever sweetheart!
We honored Ernie at a surprise birthday party on Friday evening, April 29, 2011 with 30 friends and loved ones in our home in Bakersfield, CA.  As Ernie walked through the door from work, he was greeted by a chorus of "Happy Birthday" and well wishes.  Among those attending were friends of 20 years from Bakersfield, as well as the surprise attendance of Marv and Denise Procter - friends of 27 years, who drove all the way from South Weber, Utah!  The highlight of the evening was when Ernie was given the ultimate surprise of watching Spence, Aly, Will and Lilly walk through the door!  They live in Salt Lake City, Utah and arrived that evening to spend the weekend celebrating Dad and Grampa!  Special thanks to Jess for her assistance in planning and carrying out this wonderful celebration!

Saturday morning we woke early and shared breakfast with the Procters before they drove back to Utah.  Our family then piled into the car as we were to spend the day at Disneyland =D What a wonderful time was shared as we viewed Disneyland through the eyes of a child.  Will and Lilly LOVED it and so of course --- we did too =D  What a blessed weekend full of happy memories to last a lifetime!

Memorial Day 2011



I am so grateful for my family roots. My parents taught me to love my family and to love the Lord. They were hard-working, loyal people who gave unconditional love to each of my 9 siblings and myself. We knew they loved the Lord and they had testimonies that families can be together forever. Because of their testimony of this doctrine, they did all in their power to bring the Gospel into our home and to live in a way that we would want to be together forever. I appreciate the values they placed on work and education. Because of them, all 10 children attended college and most graduated from college. They never had a lot of money so it was up to each of us children to find a way to personally finance our education. How grateful I am for the principles of love, integrity, loyalty, hard work, faith in Christ, individual worth, knowledge, accountability, forgiveness, and repentance that were taught by word and by precept in my home. I am thankful for the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - I learned to pray, to pay an honest tithe, to attend my church meetings and to give my best effort from my parents. I learned the value and importance of regular temple attendance as I watched my parents go forth in faith. I know that this way of life didn't begin with my parents. They learned these same principles from their parents, who learned them from their parents and so on, back to the first days of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on earth. How richly blessed I am because of my family roots.
I am also thankful for all those in my family who have faithfully served to preserve our liberty and the freedom of America. My dad and his brothers served in World War II- it wasn't only their sacrifice but that of their parents and sister as well. How my Granny made it through those years, 2 sons serving in the war, one son dieing - then my dad joined the army air core, helping to defeat Hitler and his minions... the price of freedom is not free!