THE POPE

One of my students, Josh Bearss,

is serving a mission in Macedonia.

They heard the Pope was going to be in

their community!

You could start coming at 6:00 a.m.,

and had to be seated by 9:00 a.m.

Then, they found out that the seating was reserved,

and they would have to stand.

Since they had stood for 3 hours already,

they decided to leave after they saw him.

I love the name the Pope chose to go by:

Pope Francis.

It's pretty cool how close they were!

WINTER QUARTERS MISSION UPDATE

I have 2 girls from my same 5th grade class who received

a mission call to the same place.  

They entered the MTC the same day, and

were in the same zone or district in the MTC.

You can read about their calls here:

http://missmitchellsfabulousfifthgrade.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-surprise-mission-call.html

Kalani has been serving in Iowa, Addie in Nebraska.

Here's their Pioneer Day mission photo:

Addie is third from the left and Kalani is fourth from the left.

#ProudMissMitchellMoment

ISABEL . . . AN EARLY MISSIONARY

From Isabel's mom on Facebook:

Izzy will be graduating early from high school because she’s leaving 

May 4 to serve in Nauvoo, Illinois as a performing missionary! 

She’s going to miss her graduation and her dance nationals in NYC, but she 

doesn’t even mind because she gets to sing and dance about the gospel, Jesus Christ, 

and God’s love for each of His children. We think she’s pretty neat, and we are proud 

of her! Love you Sister Isaacson!

Here is a blogpost from almost 4 years ago.

Isabel's mission will last for 4 months . . . the summer/tourist

season for Nauvoo.  She had to audition.

She will be 19 the day after I hit that big birthday of mine!

I love how the last thing I wrote on this post was:

Watch for Isabel to go places!

After all, she's only in 8th grade!!!

Saturday, March 15, 2014

ISABEL

As a teacher, every year I would have about

10-12 really great students!

These were the ones that were not only good students,

but leaders in the class!

The type that all the kids want to sit by in class,

and play with at recess.

But, about every 3 or 4 years, you get one student

that is head and shoulders above the rest!

These are the students who not only excel in school,

but they are the "golden child" in their life outside of school.

These students really "have it together!"

They are smart...but more importantly, they are kind,

courteous, friendly, and helpful to all!
They are OUTSTANDING in everything they do!!!

They are also EXTREMELY organized, because

they know when the 3:30 bell rings, they are off to

"Part 3" of their day!

(Usually they do a lot before the school day begins!")

One of my last of these "golden childs" was Isabel.

Isabel was just a FABULOUS student!

Her father, and aunts attended Alpine Elementary

while they were growing up!

I also taught 2 of her dad's cousins!

They were all "golden childs", too!

This picture was in my classroom.

This is me with Isabel and her Grandpa Waddoups.

He was the president of the senate in the Utah legislature!

He came and taught about the government to the class.

Isabel's grandparents are currently presiding over the Rome, Italy mission!

Isabel is an outstanding dancer!!!

And she works hard at it!

Here are some pictures from her Facebook photos

of this exceptional girl!

 On the movie set of "Dear Dumb Diary!"

 The Joffrey Ballet School is one of THE most

prestigious schools in the country!

 Lovin' the Christmas card!

 Isabel won a Superstar medal.

These go to the top 5 dancers overall!

 Isabel won platinum overall!

1st in contemporary dance

1st in duo

1st in both team dances!

 Hmmmmm...

Not too sure if I could do this!!!

 Isabel wins scholarships to attend these dance camps.

She recently won a cash prize to perform with the

faculty in the faculty show at the 

national competition in Anaheim!

 This was a competition on March 22-23.
It was the LA Dance Magic Convention.
Isabel won
"Teen Performer of the Weekend"
received a couple of scholarships, and won this jacket!

Watch for Isabel to go places!

After all, she's only in 8th grade!!!

A SURPRISE MISSION CALL

Addie Spencer & Kailani Young were in my

5th grade class.  

They have been called to the

Nebraska Omaha Winter Quarters 

Visitors Center Mission

They entered the MTC on the same day,

and are in the same district.

Addie & Kalani are together on the left.

Kalani's brother, Zach, entered the MTC

the same day!

Zach will be serving in the

Georgia Atlanta Mission

Their sister, Sydney (same class as Kalani) will

be serving a mission for 2 years on Fridays and Saturdays

at the Conference Center.

George & Jan Young have 4 children.

They have adopted 7 more.

I have taught 6 of the 7.

(I retired before Keenan got to 5th grade.)

(Kalani, Keenan, Sydney, Mariah, Ari, Dylan, Zach)

Dylan

Sydney

Kalani

Zach

Mariah

Ariana

Keenan

I attended Dylan and Keenan's family sealings.

The others were already sealed.

CALLED TO SERVE

I have known Don Beckstrand since 1984!

WOW!

He taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grades at 

Alpine Elementary.

He was on my team for several years,

and, my most favorite team:

Calvan, Paul, and Don.

He was also an assistant principal

for awhile.

(He used to have to call for substitutes...bleh!)

Don married Marlene in 1988.

I knew her brother Glen, and sister, Carren, 

from high school.

Glen was one year older, Carren was

one year younger.

Marlene also taught school.

She was at Sego Lily, then Snow Springs.

Marlene was a trooper!

She was very ill for years . . . and still was a teacher.

During this time, Don would take Marlene to

the ER many nights, and then come and teach all day.

He was also a bishop.

Marlene had to finally quit teaching.

She passed away at the end of the

2011-2012 school year.

Don dated/was lined up with many ladies, 

including my classroom aide and a former teammate.

Some said he was the most eligible bachelor around!

Thank heavens, none of them worked out!!!

Don met Paige

and they were perfect!

They were married in April of 2015.

She has two daughters.

One who is married, and lives in Texas.

One who is an angel from above.

Don has always wanted to serve another mission.

And now, he will.
(First mission . . . Japan, age 19)

Don & Paige were called to serve in the

Indianapolis Indiana mission

working with seminaries and institutes.

PERFECT!

My former student, Katelyn Simmons,

just returned from serving there.
(Steve Cleveland, former BYU basketball coach,
was the previous mission president there!)

I hope he gets to work at Purdue.

Maureen's daughter, Melanie, attends school there.

He also taught her.  

(non member)

Morgan Ruesch is in Layfette, Indiana.

Entering MTC August 7.

Serving for 12 months.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU, ELDER

One of my favorite kiddos,

(But, aren't they all?}

Jake Ebert(left), is

serving his LDS mission in the

Las Vegas West mission.

Looks like he's doing a great job!

CADEN

Lexie, Caden, Zac

Wendi, Steve, Megan (Zac's wife)

(Steve is Elder's Quorum President and

Wendi is Stake Young Women's President)

Aunt Pat & Uncle Darwin's grandson, Caden,

had his mission farewell on Sunday, July 17.

Mom & I went to Kaysville for it.

Since Pat & Darwin live in Yuma, Arizona now,

they don't come up very often.

They were up last fall when Zac returned from his

mission in Washington D.C. and Virginia.

They came up for our reunion on Memorial Day weekend.

Then, Lexie had Jr. High graduation, Caden graduated

from Seminary and Davis High (where he was the drum major),

Caden was endowed, Zac was married, and Pat went to

a bunch of bridal showers for Megan.  

Since they were just up for a month, they

said they would not be returning for the farewell.

AND . . . THEY'RE HOME

Recently, some pretty sweet missionaries,

mission presidents, and wives, 

have returned home from their missions!

Elder Brayden Bezzant
GERMANY FRANKFORT

Brayden is Renae's great nephew.

His mom, Trudy Allen Bezzant, is Renae's niece.
He also lives next door to Renae.

Trudy grew up in my ward.

Brayden is the reason I got to go to the

Rose Parade trip with the band!!!

Nothing says "Welcome Home" like this:

President Norman & Sister Krisin Klein
HONDURAS SAN PEDRO SULA EAST
I taught the Klein's daughter, Karianne.
When their youngest, Kelsie, got married,
they went to Honduras so her dad could be there!

The day after they returned home, 
Karianne had a baby.


Elder Garett Vance
ARIZONA TUSCON
I taught with Garett's grandpa, Calvan, for 17 years.
He was my favorite teammate in all of my 33 years!
I was also Garett's 5th grade teacher.
He's a huge JAZZ fan!

President Brad and Sister Dana Smith
FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE
Brad and Dana lived down the road from me
for several years.
He was my bishop.
Dana was 1st counselor in the Stake Young Women
when I was serving as Stake Sports Director.
Brad and Dana presided for 9 months over the
Marshall Islands Majuro Misson,
the same mission Renae's son, Jared, served in.
Their daughter, Megan, and her son were in a
horrific car accident.  They were released to come
home to help her.  
She recovered and was remarried.
The Smith's were recalled to preside over a mission.
Ranae Black, 4th grade teacher at Alpine,
her son served in this mission.

President Robert and Sister Katherine Chatfield
UGANDA KAMPALA
also. . . Rwanda, Djboutia, Ethiopia, and southern Sudan.
I taught ALL six of the Chatfield girls!
Katherine was my room mother several times!
I chaperoned 3 trips with Katherine's gymnastics group,
Alpine Aerials.
We went twice to Disneyland and southern California.
One time to Phoenix.
I also taught Lori Jo's husband, Jared.
When I retired, three of the girls came to my open house.
They gave me the cookbook,
"Six Sisters" because they were six sisters!

They also had 3 new grandchildren to meet!

CALLED TO SERVE . . . ELDER POPE

I have known Nathan Pope since he was born!

His mom, Nancy, started teaching my 4th year at Alpine.

We also went to Hawaii together in 1985.

I taught his sisters, Kandace and Natalie.

I went Sunday to Nathan's farewell.

He did a great job!

He enters the MTC on January 13.

Serving in the California Modesto Mission.

THE RAMPTONS

Our next door neighbors, the Ramptons, have

left for an 18 month mission in England.

They moved in a month after we did.

He used to work for the FBI, the LDS Church Security.

He really helped me when I was robbed in Boston.
I thought they might get called to the Hamptons in New York.
You know, The Ramptons in The Hamptons!

We will miss them!!!

Ann and Dixie,

 We arrived after a smooth flight and now have a little jet lag.  Otherwise we’re fine and excited 

about beginning our mission in England.  

These are our mission president and wife; 

President and Sister Gubler - the others are the usual suspects.

We’ve been assigned to work in Bristol, a port city in the NW portion of our mission, 

about 2-3 hours west of London.  There hasn’t been a senior couple there for about a year, 

so we’ll be camping out in a flat designed for elders (without the elders) for a week or two 

while we flat-hunt and get settled in.  Our assignment will be to work with 3 YSA groups in the area, 

hosting FHE, teaching institute classes, and helping activate kids; also the stake president
wants us to help “shore up” 3 wards in his stake.  We’ll find out what that entails when

we get to Bristol.  Oh, and the mission president wants us to be the grandpa and grandma

to the missionaries in the zone.  So, we’ll be a little busy but anxious to do the work.

Thanks for being such good neighbors and friends.  Keep our bench for us.

Love, Greg & Robyn

HOMECOMING

PAT & DARWIN'S GRANDSON, ZAC, JUST RETURNED

FROM SERVING HIS MISSION IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION.

I HAVE LOVED FOLLOWING HIS MISSION BLOG.

MOM, WENDI

DAD, STEVE

BROTHER, CADEN

SISTER, LEXI

 GRANDPA DARWIN

GRANDMA PAT

 ELDER SNELL

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

 GRANDMAS