Allen Family

COOKIES FOR CUTIES

2016-02-15T17:16:00.001-07:00

Tyson and his friend Branson decided to make chocolate chip cookies for some cute girls that their friends with. Somehow whenever Branson comes over chocolate chip cookies are made. They won't have any problems on their missions when they want a good treat to share with investigators. These boys sure know how to schmooze!
The past few months I realize just how quickly time is going by and how in only a few short years Tyson will be moving on to adulthood, at least physically. So for now I will watch they're developing personalities and fun-loving traits and engaged whenever he will let me.

HOPE ON A STRING

2016-01-30T21:59:00.001-07:00

I'm in LOVE with this!!

My cousin's daughter, Katelin, painted this water color for me. She did such a great job. Just one of her many talents! It is a simple but special replica of our family on a day that represents such a special memory for me for many reasons dear to my heart.

To begin with, it was the day our family hiked up above the Bountiful Temple to send off birthday wishes to Sweet Suzie on her "First Birthday Back in Heaven" as I like to called it. We tied our birthday wishes to the strings of our bright red balloons and sent them afloat heavenward.

Secondly, this day marked a milestone for me personally to exert myself physically up a rather quick & steep incline to reach the top of the mountainside. I've spent almost 3 years dealing with many physical health issues that have made exercising, especially outdoors with severe allergies extremely difficult to accomplish. So making that specific trek on that specific day for me was not only a physical challenge, but an emotionally symbolic day of renewal. I had spent most the day sobbing and cleansing my heart of all sorts of emotion after the past year of healing from my mother leaving this mortal world. Our family had also lost my step-father, Dallas, six months after my mom. Then a short 6 months later, we had the devastation of Dallas's son Mitch and daughter in law Ruth dying in a horrific automobile accident just 2 weeks prior.
Then with enough day light before sunset, I wiped my tears again and let Todd and the kids know it was time to go. I had purchased the red balloons the day before, on Saturday night. "For Grandma", I told them. We even had an extra for Rocky. She liked Rocky! So off we went. We drove up to the Temple on that beautiful Sunday afternoon last March.

As we parked and exited the car, I looked up the side of the hill, letting out a sigh. Which brings me to the third layer of this day's memory. The spot we were hiking to above the temple is one of my favorite spots in all the valley. I spent many days while Todd was on his mission, hiking up there to watch the sun setting across the valley and the Great Salt Lake. At the time, the temple was still being completed, dedicated and newly opened. I had yet to receive my endowments. Needless to say, many thoughts of my future were contemplated while sitting atop that hillside.

I took a deep breath and up we went. The kids dashed up the backside much more quickly. Todd stayed by me at my sloth of a pace. All the while we each carrying our bright red balloons. The path is rocky and some parts have patches of trees with branches sticking out so we needed to be careful to hold our balloons higher while climbing. There on the trail, as my tears welled again, with my footing unsure, and my breath deep & heavy, I continued to climb...with my hope on a string.

Although it was slow going, we finally reached the top where the promise of that familiar valley was there to greet us in full view! What a beautiful sight!! It's like standing on top of the world. Especially for me, since it had been so long. In the midst of weathering this difficult season for a few years, it was such a great feeling to be up there. At that spot. On that day.

The kids played around and ran further up through the hilltop meadow. Todd and I enjoyed the scenery. I sat on the bench for a moment looking down at the temple. I was reminded of how Todd had chosen to ask me to marry him while we were at the Bountiful Temple in the celestial room a few months after he returned from his mission. This being another layer of memories for the occasion.

After a while the kids came trotting back. The sun was just setting, as we set the camera up to take a few snapshots of our family.

The camera snapped and we all sat there together for a brief moment. We then wrote our small notes to Grandma Suzie and attached them to our balloons. Our bright red balloons. Because red is the color of love. Red is also the color that was my Grandma Jane's favorite. Red because for many years the Gardner family would meet at the cemetery with big red balloons for all of us to let go together in memory of Grandpa Hart and Grandma Jane. So when I asked Todd, the day before, what color of balloons I should get for my mom, with out hesitation he said, "red"!

After we released the balloons, we took a few more beautiful shots of the temple and enjoyed the scenery before heading back down the mountain.

Later that night when I looked at our photos- I smiled. We weren't dressed up, our hair wasn't combed. Our sunglasses on. Oh but what a JOY filled my soul as I saw our small eternal family sitting atop a mount with the sunset across the beautiful valley and an amazing symbol of the everlasting gospel in the background. This photo was lastly the topping of a monumental day for me. I had everything I needed. I realized seeing that picture of our family in my favorite place was a blessing and promise of hope come true. Not only that, but there I was once again, trying to let go of sorrows, looking to the future while holding my... hope on a string.

TUCK SORROWS AWAY SOFTLY.

ENJOY BEAUTY IN THE PRESENT.

HOPE BRIGHTLY IN THE FUTURE.

As I sit tonight sharing my thoughts, A new layer comes to mind with those beautiful red balloons. Red is also the color of blood. The color of the atonement. Christ shed his blood for us. For our sins and our sorrows. That we may have JOY and HOPE in him. I know God lives. I know Christ is our Savior. He is our Redeemer. Through him, families can be together forever. This life is not the end. Mortal death is not the end. It is only a goodbye for now.

While we were watching the sunset and taking pictures, we saw the most beautiful ray of sunlight glistening across the sky. It was shining right into the spire of the temple.

SORROW

2014-07-02T15:15:00.001-06:00

My Sweet Mother, Suzanne, returned to Heaven last month. (I will write more about her later, when I can bring my self to do justice to the details in writing.) However, I want to write today that along with her passing- the past 6 months have been one of those “seasons” in life of bitter sweet trials. The kind that we are sent down hereon earth to endure and find strength from. The kind that shake us to the core. The kind that hit not only one at a time- but in waves crashing upon our shore of faith, comfort and hope. The kind of trials that beat us down only to refine and reshape us. I am now waking from the night. Rising with the morning light that I find slowly increasing from behind the mountains to take on the clouds of day ever so brightly. I have hope in my future and what I have the capacity and wisdom to continue. I will continue to glean wisdom from the night and salt from the waves of tears on my pillow. I will move on. I will strengthen. I will endure…I will learn to endure well.

SANDALED FEET

2013-12-24T20:49:00.001-07:00

WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR…

2013-12-23T23:38:00.001-07:00

GIVE…& THEN GIVE THANKS!

2013-11-20T12:41:00.001-07:00

FARM DAYS 2012

2013-11-12T19:11:00.001-07:00

This is another post from over a year back now. We had a really fun time enjoying our first official Pearson FARM DAYS. There were plenty of activities for the young and old cowboys at heart, like starting out with helping the mother duck with her ducklings trying to nudge them over a large pipeline in the field. There were activities such as lopping sheep tails, roping cattle, Branding, dehorning and castrating the cattle (eww-)! Steer riding errr I mean those men TRYING to ride the steers. The kids also tried their hand at riding calfs- and Grandpa used his expertise to rope the grandkids, of course! Between Cameron’s Farm and Grandpa’s Ranch- we sure covered all the bases of what Farm Days are all about. We spent the morning at Cameron’s Farm and then headed to Grandpa’s Ranch where we ate tin foil dinners and yummy treats like white chocolate popcorn, cow pies, licorice ropes, cow chips and punch bags and Dutch over cobbler! Yum Yum!

FALL, DON’T LEAF!

2013-11-12T11:17:00.001-07:00

We have loved this year’s Fall season. What beautiful weather we’ve had in this part of the world! So many great sunsets. I’m a sucker for a great sunset. I used to hike up to the top of the Bountiful Hills in my teens and early twenties, right before dusk, just to get a great view of the stunning Utah sunsets we have here. I found this darling poem today. I loved it, and thought I’d share.

HALLOWEEN 2013

2013-11-03T18:44:00.001-07:00

I don’t have much to say about this year’s fun and enjoyable Halloween. Alyssa had her parade at school that Todd and I went to. We saw her for about…oh 45 seconds and then she was off dragging her leg like a true Zombie Cheerleader. She practiced that leg drag for a month! Tyson and his friends enjoyed dressing up, even though they’re “Sevies” this year. They had fun trick or treating and attending neighborhood haunted houses. Alyssa went trick or treating with a friend- so Todd and I ordered take out and enjoyed dinner while taking turns answering the door. It was a good night and the weather was perfect for our

DROP DEAD CHEERLEADER & OUR DODGE BALL DUDE !

OUR DROP. DEAD. CHEERLEADER.

OUR DODGE BALL DUDE!

Look at Alyssa photo bombing Tyson’s friend Britton. I think it’s hilarious!

Another great photo bomb by the amazing Alyssa!

FAMILY SCRIPTURE DEVOTIONALS

2013-10-13T18:41:00.001-06:00

So, I have been trying, or rather wanting to try to get on a routine of morning scripture study. That’s just not going to work in our house. We try to get to reading it at night- but find we are just as tired then too, if not more so! In continuing the quest to find the right time frame that fits our family- and really- just wanting to make sure my kiddos get some spiritual scripture nugget each day- I pinned a link about a month ago to a daily devotional download that was put together. I finally got a chance today to pull it back up and see if it was something that I would like and incorporate for our family. I was excited to see that it was! So I thought, I’d share it- It is a 16 week series of 3-5 minute scripture devotionals that you can read with your children, or as a family. They are broken down in to 5 days a week. I love that each week has a theme- ie) Kindness, Service, Honesty etc.

Here is the link below just incase any of you are interested. It’s called Armor Your Children-

http://www.momentity.com/armor-your-children-updates-plus-special-christmas-edition/

2012 JULY 4TH

2013-09-30T16:18:00.001-06:00

After the 4th of July last year is when I let my blogging get behind. Alyssa loved jumping right into the fish pond and grabbing for a fish. We enjoyed our usual day of the parade, water games and BBQ over at Grandpa and Grandma’s house. We also got to listen to Uncle Ben’s band sing and play at the City Park Stage. They did a great job! Along with watching city fireworks that night. Angie made cute & yummy covered strawberries, and Alyssa and I made a stop off at Cameron’s farm to feed the sheep Aunt Sarah, Liz & Chandlie.

3RD & 7TH

2013-09-17T20:34:00.001-06:00

The school year is now in full swing! Well, kind of, I guess. Alyssa started year-round July this year. She's off track for 3 weeks in September. She has grown like a weed this past year. 3 full inches amd counting. She loves her class this year. She's finiky-and quite opinionated at what makes a good or not so good class...or day...or hour...or...I guess that's a typical girl for ya.

Tyson started Jr High. About 6 months ago- that thought sunk in real quick! After a little bit of freak'n out (by me) I soon embraced the idea and got on board with the inevitable. Tyson on the other hand has been all cool cat about the whole thing. Go figure. He seem to be enjoying it, though we did spend an afternoon spinning his locker com- over and over and over again. I'm sure the growing pangs of the tweenage years are right around the corner. Heaven help us!

DATED IN THE 1400’s

2013-09-09T20:31:00.001-06:00

Todd’s Dad showed us a really neat document last spring. It looks to be a Will of some sort that dates back to the 1400’s. It is of a man with the name of Thomas Darley. John’s father was named Darley Allen and the name goes back from there as a last name. It is so neat to see such a beautifully scripted document in such good condition from this time period. This specific Thomas Darley is believe to be the son of a John Darley that is in relation, from what Todd says. Ty & Alyssa thought it was pretty cool to see and touch. They liked the wax seal and the family crest that Grandpa pointed out.

DANCETEAM 2012-13

2013-09-04T14:17:00.001-06:00

Alyssa had an enjoyable time as a member of her first real dance team last year. In the past, she has taken recreation dancing and had performances for Christmas and year end recitals.

This last year, we put her on a little show team that gave her a chance to experience a few fun team competitions. She had a good time, and decided to move up this year to a team that will perform a bit more. She’s not a lover of practice- so more than one day a week will challenge her commitment- she’s a girlie that sure loves her free time to play and be with friends…so we’ll see how she does through the year.

I love watching her dance- and her smile is as bright as the stars when she’s on stage. So, I’m hoping to continue to nudge her a little while longer down this dancing path…keeping my fingers crossed that she wants to stick with it. If not… then who knows, I may have a fantastic seamstress, volleyball player, accountant, or swimmer on my hands. It will be fun to see where she and her talent interests end up through the years!

GETTER DONE!

2013-09-03T09:59:00.001-06:00

There are seven days in the week

and someday isn’t one of them.

Do something today

that your future self will thank you for.

I’m a little afraid of tackling this next feat- but I fear more of the not doing it. I have loved keeping a blog for the past 5 and a half years now. This past year, starting in actually about July- I really petered out…INSTAGRAM did not help. I love the ease of INSTAGRAM when it comes to loading photos and keeping in quick contact with friends and family on what we are up to. However- I have also missed many opportunities to share fun and sometimes relevant stories and background on those experiences.

I contemplated for a brief bit, whether my blog would be a thing of the past. Over the months- I have not been able to shake it. I love writing here, about my family-and documenting the JOY IN OUR JOURNEY! I have missed it. Missed sharing quotes and thoughts and feelings pertaining to my life and family. I may not write all of our difficult times on here- because this blog has been a documentation of the enjoyment of my life and the record keeping of significant years of rearing my family. I love to add neat stories and quotes that hopefully add to the richness of this record for my children when they look back on it.

SO- I am going to take the next month and go back through the past year to document and post all the things I have missed since last July. If anyone is still reading our blog- bare with me. There will be quite a bit. Wish me luck, and forgive the quickness and sharp edits that may come along with fast writing and quick photo collaging.

PATRIOTIC PROGRAM

2013-09-03T08:57:00.001-06:00

Last spring, Alyssa loved participated in her

2nd Grade Patriotic Program.

She practiced the words to some of the songs at home for months. She has loved learning more about our freedoms this year and has really taken an interest in what a blessing it is to have our liberty and freedom of choice in this country.

MAYOR'S CUP 2013

2013-09-02T13:29:00.001-06:00

Tyson's soccer team did a great job this weekemd in their club's Mayor's Cup Tournament. They took 2nd place in the championship game!

BE BELIEVING

2013-08-21T16:11:00.001-06:00

A great little quote for the day.

President Hinkley sure had a way about him!

A HAPPY WAY TO LIVE

2013-08-02T23:27:00.001-06:00

We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed.
The race we are really in is the race against sin.
Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not make you a better person.
Be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live.

-Jeffrey R. Holland

HERE A LITTLE, THERE A LITTLE

2013-07-26T12:14:00.001-06:00

I really enjoyed this months Visiting Teaching Theme. I found a cute printable online to take to the ladies I visit, so I thought I’d share it.

FREEDOM CELEBRATIONS 2013

2013-07-26T12:04:00.001-06:00

We looked forward to getting out of town and heading South to visit with family this year for the 4th, especially since the whole family was going to be there. Shawn and Angie D have been in Maryland for a year and a half now- so it was a joy to see them!

We spent 4 full days enjoying activities and downtime. Here are some of the fun events that transpired :0)

Tuesday July 2nd- Grandpa Clark and the Men took all the cousins up camping to the Milk Ranch area. They were disappointed that Ben & Kaden couldn’t make it this time. They went four wheeling and hiked. One funny story is that when Uncle Shawn & Tyson took the younger kids on a trail hike – Allie, McKenna and Halle got stung by bee’s AT THE SAME TIME! They all three screamed as I was told- and then chaos amongst the boys spread as they continued the hike back wondering if there were going to BEE next! I’m happy to report they weren't as lucky as the girls…NO stings for them. ;0(

While the men and children were gone – the women played. We went to Sarah’s house for a Maxi skirt party and enjoyed hanging out and talking with our Gardner Cousins: Polly, Stacey and Summer & her daughter Livie. Afterwards we went out to a late night dinner for more chit chat.

Wednesday July 3rd- We hung out a t Grandma Suzie’s most of the day, while the men and kids trickled down from the mountain. The day was filled chilling out and mingling. Chandlie & Lizzie put together a Luau Party for all the little girl cousins. They had cute signs, food and taught them to Hula. Alyssa sure loves them!

Thursday July 4th- We all headed out to the traditional small town Main Street parade in the morning. Although as an adult it’s not my favorite pass time anymore- the heat- crowds- sun and sirens- the kids enjoy it- and well…it’s tradition. Making these memories is a beautiful way of linking the past to the present and then hoping these memories live on through our kids to the future generations. The kids love walking around the City Park and partaking in the fun festivities. This year there was a mechanical bull. The kids loved it. Alyssa didn’t want to ride – but Tyson gave it the good ‘ol COWBOY TRY! He hope on that thing like it was nothin’.

We headed over to Dad and Jami’s house for the annual water games, BBQ and nighttime fireworks. Jami made sure this year that the adults were fully incorporated in the festivities with separating everyone including adults into teams and organizing Volleyball and Water Baseball.

Friday July 5th- We took the kids to Grandpa’s Ranch, where they got to ride the horses for a bit. It was getting really hot and dry- the day down there didn’t last too long. Spending time in the dessert is surely much for enjoyable when the weather tops out in the 80’s instead of 100! We spent the afternoon again at Grandma Suzie’s & Grandpa Dallas's just chill’n, then the adults headed out to dinner with Grandpa Clark and Grandma Jami. When dinner was over- we sat out on the large wooden porch at the restaurant and watched the monsoon downpour across the valley. It was so refreshing.

FRITZ & GIGGLES

2013-06-14T02:52:00.001-06:00

Alyssa lost another tooth today. She wrote a check box note to see if the visiting toothfairy is a boy or girl.
It's just past 2am. I happened to wake up and thought I'd check to see if the fairy had visited...yep sure enough...this is what I found. Looks like Fritz & Giggles work as pair!

THOSE WHO LOVE HIM

2013-06-02T17:15:00.001-06:00

Presidential Fitness Award Winner and Decathlon Athlete

2013-05-29T10:33:00.000-06:00

We're proud of our boy Tyson for not only achieving his Presidential Fitness Award, but for also being 1 of 2 boys selected out of the 6th grade to compete against other elementary schools at the district level in a decathlon. He is a very competitive and skilled kid who competes at the top level and enjoys every minute of it. The 2 boys and 2 girls from each grade competed as a team against other schools. They did a great job in everything except the cup stacking event; I explained to Tyson that he is a natural at a lot of things, but some things you just have to practice at in order to compete. The events of the decathlon were Long Jump, Cup Stacking, Ball Throw, Sit-ups, Push-ups, Hula Hoop, 200 Meter Dash, Sit and Reach, Shuttle Run, and Basketball Dribble. He was selected when he was a 4th grader as well.

SISTER FRANCES MONSON

2013-05-17T10:13:00.001-06:00

Lately, I have been reading over and enjoying the beautiful quotes and writings of Marjorie Pay Hinckley. Today, when I heard the news of Sister Monson’s passing- some of my first thoughts were - I don’t know too much about her. I should have noticed more, and WHY am I finding it an odd thought to not recall more in my mind on who she was. So after dropping the kids off at school, I came home and read this article. My questions were answered quickly and I realized in just a short beautiful tribute article – that her life devoted to going about the Lord’s work. In strengthen her family. Then those closest and most near and dear to her. She was smart and schooled – yet also chose to use her talents where they eternally mattered the most.

I see many amazing women, even right here in my own neighborhood – who quietly go about their life’s work with strength and determination to get it right. Probably, just like Sister Monson.

SISTER FRANCES MONSON

“Never purposely in the spotlight, Frances Beverly Johnson Monson was always gracious, kind and supportive in everything she said and did.”

Frances B. Monson, wife of Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away at 6:35 a.m. this morning in a Salt Lake City hospital surrounded by family. She had been hospitalized for several weeks and passed away peacefully of causes incident to age. Sister Monson was 85 years old. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Recognized by her husband as the family’s beacon of love, compassion and encouragement, Sister Monson lived a Christ-centered life in word and deed. She will forever be remembered for her kindness and quiet, sustained support of her husband in his Church duties.

Born on 27 October 1927, Frances Beverly Johnson was the youngest and only daughter of Franz E. Johnson and Hildur Booth Johnson’s five children. Her parents were delighted to have a little girl in the family, whom they promptly named Frances, after her father Franz.

She grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, as a child of the Great Depression and learned the value of hard work and thrift, which served her well throughout her life. She graduated from East High School and the University of Utah, where she excelled in math and science. When asked why she enrolled in these difficult classes, she replied with a twinkle in her eye, “Because that is where all the cute boys were.” Frances was also an accomplished pianist and was often seen playing tennis in Liberty Park during her teenage years. Later, she worked in the accounting department of a large department store to help pay for her college education.

It was also during her university days she met a handsome, strapping young man also of Swedish descent, Thomas Spencer Monson, at the time known as Tommy. “The first time I met Frances, I knew I’d found the right one,” he would later say about their courtship. They met in 1944 and were married on 7 October 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple.

The couple was blessed with three children: Thomas Lee, Ann Frances and Clark Spencer. The children soon learned that they had a very special mother. She helped her sons learn about, buy and raise Birmingham Roller pigeons, at one point helping her son to travel to England to meet a Birmingham Roller expert. She allowed one son to keep a pet snake in the bathtub. Most mothers would shudder at the word snake, let alone have one in the tub. The herd, gaggle and flock of family pets eventually included chickens, more pigeons, a dog, geese and other animals.

Daughter Ann Dibb said her mother was always good at bookkeeping, budgeting and “being mindful of where the best bargains could be found.” Ann’s mother followed the Church’s provident living advice of thrift and self-reliance, making her grocery money go further by researching and buying items on sale and then storing them at home. Up until recently she continued to read both Salt Lake newspapers looking for coupons and bargains.

She was known as the family assembler and fix-it person. Early every Christmas morning found Frances assembling bikes, toys and doll houses and on other occasions fixing an electrical switch or plumbing leak. Ann said this was something her father readily admitted was her mother’s talent, not his.

She served in the Relief Society and Primary and spent many hours preparing lessons for those callings. She also served alongside her husband when he was called to preside over the Church’s Canadian Mission, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, from 1959 to 1962. Both concur that the mission was a beautiful experience that gave them many opportunities to learn and grow both spiritually and intellectually.

Frances was blessed with an endearing sense of humor, a part of which President Monson shared in a general conference talk: “Several years ago my dear wife went to the hospital. She left a note behind for the children: ‘Dear children, do not let Daddy touch the microwave’ — followed by a comma ‘or the stove, or the dishwasher, or the dryer.’ I’m embarrassed to add any more to that list.” Her recipe for life included plenty of encouragement, kindness and hard work, with a dose of humor thrown in for good measure.

Most importantly, Frances will be best remembered for the love and support she showed to her husband and family and the service she rendered to others. Ann said, “She dearly loved my father and recognized his talents and the gifts that he’d been given and took pleasure in supporting him and helping him magnify the talents that were his.” She completely supported her husband in all of his Church duties. She also delighted in being a mother, continually teaching her children the importance of sacrifice and serving the Lord.

Ann shared a tender example of her mother supporting her father in his Church callings. As a newly called member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the then Elder Monson was assigned to speak in general priesthood meeting. Frances tried to stand in the doorway of the Salt Lake Tabernacle to listen to her husband speak, but the ushers wouldn’t allow it, so she stood as near to the window as possible to hear the talk. She loved to listen and show her support and accompanied him many times on his visits to the elderly and those with poor health.

Frances radiated patience and compassion when serving others. She tenderly cared for her mother, who suffered from cancer for more than six years. In April of 1988, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s Villa, an elder-care facility, presented Frances and her husband with the Continuum of Caring Humanitarian Award, honoring both of them for their dedicated and untiring service to the senior citizens of Utah.

Never purposely in the spotlight, Frances Beverly Johnson Monson was always gracious, kind and supportive in everything she said and did. Her quiet influence felt around the world will be missed.