School's out!!!

Dear Caleb,

I love lightening bugs! I wish I could see them face to face. Thanks for sending a clip of one in action. I hope you had a great week. Brother Traveller sent us some more pictures and information about your last p-day travels before you left Fredericksburg. They're awesome!

Adam had a great time in Yellowstone. The little girls really missed having them gone for 3 days. Jacob just received his patriarchal blessing this morning before church. Uncle Lyman is our stake patriarch. He'll be going through the temple on Friday, June 10, Adam's birthday! He just went to the senior ball last night and graduation is on this Wednesday.

The gas people will be here on Wednesday to hook up Dad's fire pit for gas so "yeah," that will be super nice to just flip a switch for a campfire with no smoke in your eyes! I'll be starting to build the retaining wall by the fire pit tomorrow morning because Lowe's delivered our stone block on Saturday. They also delivered a nice fridge for the downstairs kitchen. It has an ice & water dispenser in the door so you can bet that the little girls are all over that! They've been playing restaurant or pub or something down there. They're so cute!

We finally got a part of the garden planted last night, the Adam, Samantha, Sariah and I took Daelynn to work from 9:00 to midnight. She works out at the USU farm across from the American West Heritage Center on the south highway. She is going into Veterinary science so this is her job/internship to help with the pregnant ewes (sheep) give birth to baby lambs. We got to help feed the baby orphaned lambs milk with bottles and helped her with some of her chores. The most exciting, though, was when she found that a ewe had give birth and so we helped get the straw bed ready for the mother and her lamb. Then, after the baby had learned to stand and found milk from his mom, Adam had noticed that another baby lamb had "plopped" out! She was so tiny! It was so fun for all of us to witness! They had so much fun that they want to go out to feed them again, including Sydney this time. I'll have Adam send you some pics.

Well, that's about it for this last week. We've got a full week ahead of us. Graduation, last days of school, Great Grandpa's Funeral and lots of FUN landscaping work!

We love and miss you sooo much! Keep up the great work! You are such an inspiration to us all!!

Love,
Mom

Pictures

More to come tomorrow

Letter May 29 2016

Caleb:

I hope all is well with you.  tonight we are getting our first real thunderstorm of the season.  I like spring thunderstorms.

On Friday, May 27, Grandpa Gibbons passed-away.  He lived a wonderful life and remains one of the greatest men I've ever known or known of.  Attached is his obituary. I was able to visit him several times before he died and enjoyed my time with him.  The first time I stopped by, he indicated that he was done with Lewiston and would likely never return there in this life.  He was resigned to that fact and wasn't bitter or sad.  He simply stated it as a fact.

One of the other times I was there, Jason Gibbons' family stopped by.  They had done a lot for Grandma and Grandpa over the later years of their life and were close to them as a result.  Jason refuses to take them to church and so Grandpa and Grandma had taken them every Sunday morning for years.  The girls wept openly and so did Grandpa.  After they were gone, Grandpa called me into his room and wanted to assure me that he and Grandma loved me as much as them, but they were closer to them because of proximity and circumstance.  It was a tender moment.

Remember the golf cart we had?  You probably remember that I bought one for Grandpa as well.  When he knew his health was failing, he called uncle Gary down and wanted to discuss the disposition of his remaining assets and basically he had one asset in mind... his red golf cart.  He told Gary that even though I bought the gold cart for him, he would like it to stay in Lewiston and be available for family to use when they come to visit the farm.  Then he told Gary to get my dad to ask me if that would be okay.

A few days later, Dad and I were together and he asked if there was anything I wanted from Grandma and Grandpa's house.  I deflected and so Dad asked me if it was okay if the golf cart stayed in Lewiston to fulfill Grandpa's wishes.  Of course I told him it was fine.  The golf cart make me think of you and the fun you had as a kid driving the golf cart around on the front yard and then you and me doing your paper route and finally you selling the golf cart and then wanting a commission for the sale.  Great memories for me...

Have a great week.  I love you,

Dad

Hello!!

Dear Caleb,

We're down to 8 more days of school here and the kids are excited for Summer! It has rained a ton here so I'm excited for some warmer and dryer weather! I've got a lot of outdoor projects waiting for me so it better get here fast.

Jacob just had his interview with the Bishop for the Melchizedek Priesthood and his Patriarchal blessing and I think for his Temple recommend to so he's cramming quite a bit into his last 3 weeks before he leaves.

Sydney got to sing some "oo's" and "ah's" for a commercial for an Internet device with an AP that Dad's involved in called the Circle. Maybe we'll hear it on the Ellen Degeneres Show this Wednesday when our friend Jeremiah goes on there to advertise it!

Adam is excited to leave for Yellowstone tomorrow morning until Wednesday. It's supposed to rain and snow when he's up there though. Oh well, he gets to get out of school and be with friends so he'll have fun anyway!

Samantha and Sariah have pretty much finished all their homework for the year so it's already been play play play time for them. They've had a lot of friends over the last few weekends with their first "late nights" until 9:00 pm! They're still competitive as ever!

Well, let me know what you want me to do about your Zagg glass protector and how much to send for your pants and shoes. We love you and wish you a happy and successful week!

Love,
Mom

Comics for your Week

Samantha's Letter

 Hi Caleb this week is normal except we changed our schedule around.  We played kickball this week and the next week we play another fifth-grade class at Elk Ridge Park. On Thursday and on Wednesday we have a field trip to the aquatic center; technically all that happened... it was strange this week.

I love you have a great week,

Samantha

Sent from somewhere really cool.

Sariahs Letter

Hi Caleb it's me Sariah.  I had a great week because I had Emma and Delta and Lauren over.  Samantha even had friends over. I'm wondering how your week was. And even today I got a crunch bar.

Love, Sariah

Sent from somewhere really cool.

Pictures

Letter May 22 2016

Caleb:

I hope this email finds you well.  I was thinking about the advice I gave you earlier in the week and I think it's worthy advice.  So much so that I was at my grandparents in Legacy House and was telling them and Darrell about it to see what they thought.  Darrell liked it, or so he said.  Then when I got up to leave, he asked if I'd like to give the house a blessing.  I was taken back and realized that I was way uncomfortable with the idea.

As I've thought about it, I've realized that I'm uncomfortable because I'm out of practice.  Priesthood is meant to be be exercised for the benefit of God's children.  You are called to "minister" which implies that you will be doing something more meaningful than knocking doors all day asking if people have time to hear your message.

If you take it from the perspective of those on the other side of the door, they likely aren't expecting you and so aren't very excited to suddenly carve out time that they hadn't planned on to have you teach them.  I sometimes think that we are too hard on the people who don't want to listen to our message.  I have to tell you, I get why tracting is so ineffective.  Not only are you asking people who don't know you to trust you, you are also asking them to take time out of their day and let you teach them.

Here are some thoughts you might consider while tracting:

1) Ask people if they would like you to leave a blessing on their home.  I never did that on my mission and I"m sure it will be awkward at first, but if you perfect it, you might find that people will let you in and then invite you back once they feel the spirit.

2) Acknowledge that you have shown up unannounced and ask if they would be interested if you came back at a more convenient time.  I have to tell you, I would be more inclined at times if the salesman gave me that option.

Anyway, I encourage you to maintain that positive attitude.  Love the people and learn to work smart.  I encourage you to use your priesthood.  I think you'll find that the spirit will accompany you more fully when you do.

I love you,

Dad

Fwd: Caleb Gibbons Mission Blog

Caleb:

One of the lessons that comes through loud and clear in the New Testament is that the Savior didn't withhold blessings from those who asked.  The Savior spent his time on earth ministering to the poor and downtrodden.  

As his representative, you can have great confidence in your calling and willingly and confidently use your priesthood to bless the lives of those you come in contact with.  That said, my guess is that you don't feel confident (most men don't).... So practice; leave blessings (in the name of the priesthood) upon the homes and families of those you visit - especially the less active and those who are investigating as they are ready.  Ask the head of the home if you can leave with a prayer and blessing and then pronounce a blessing in name of Jesus Christ and by the authority and power of the priesthood.

You never know;  You absolutely never know when the spirit will touch the loves of those with whom you leave the blessing.  The added benefit is that you become comfortable listening to the spirit and exercising your priesthood so that when you are called upon in moments of crisis, you will be prepared to call down the power of heaven.  You will be confident and articulate as you feel the spirit and then communicate the will of your Heavenly Father as one who holds his priesthood.  

I invite you to consider this approach.  I predict that you will be astounded and have some absolutely incredible experiences as a result of exercising your priesthood.  Get your companion involved and make it something you both actively do every time you visit a home.  Especially where you have a younger companion.  I think he will appreciate and be willing to try it.  It will work.

I love you,

Dad

On Mon, May 16, 2016 at 8:17 PM, Caleb Gibbons Mission Blog <noreply+feedproxy@google.com> wrote:

Caleb Gibbons Mission Blog

---

Halfway through the transfer! Posted: 16 May 2016 07:49 AM PDT So this week was pretty straight forward. We had a district meeting and talked about how we can be consectrated in the work. After that we worked the rest of the week. On Thursday we had an incident with one of the members. We gave her a blessing about two weeks ago when I first got here because she was complaining about a pressure in her chest. She had been to the hospital to check it out but the hospital just gave her an antibiotic because of a misdiagnosis. Anyway she had a massive heart attack on Thursday and we were asked to go give her a blessing the following day. She was put into a coma and didn't asked for it but the family did. We gave her a blessing and said a prayer with the family. It is such a weird thing when things like that happen to the members out here. Hope she improves. So after we had a strange lesson with a less active member, we were driving home and about half a mile down the road we heard a *thud*. Then I thought that it could've been my iPad. And when I realized that it was I felt so stupid. We turned around and looked for it about a half hour but couldn't find it anywhere. So I said a quick prayer to myself that I would be able to find it and that it wasn't totally destroyed. After all we were going about 60 MPH... Well I finally found it in the middle of the road and to my amazement it was completely untouched. The glass screen protector was shattered, but when I peeled it off to see it the screen was damaged, I found that it hadn't even been scuffed. THAT'S CRAZY! My mind still can't comprehend what happened! It was a huge blessing that it hadn't even been touched. Anyway I hope that all is well at home. During my studies, I was reading the account of Alma and Zoram. Found in Alma 32:26-28 26 Now, as I said concerning faith--that it was not a perfect knowledge--even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge. 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. 28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves--It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. Love you all so much! Talk to you next week! - Elder Caleb Gibbons

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Middle of May!

Dear Caleb,

We're winding down another school year. Jacob pretty much only has one more real week to go. His farewell is set for June 12 in 4 weeks. We petty much have his suits & shirts ready to go but that's about it. He's down to 29 days now. Any more advice on packing? I've got a few questions for you at the end of the letter.

Sydney had her first driving mishap this last week at a yellow light on Smithfield's Main Street by our orthodontist. She stopped at a yellow light and the car behind her thought she was going through and bumped her and broke the lower red tail light. She was shaken up and lost her driving confidence a little.

I think Adam's voice is starting to change...it's weird to witness. He can't tell though.

Dad found Samantha and Sariah some beautiful cruiser bikes through KSL this last week and Sariah's been riding hers to school every day that it hasn't been raining. Samantha's is still a little big for her so she's still a little intimidated about riding without training wheels.

We had 5 loads of topsoil brought in through Lyman's alfalfa to our garden. We'll have it spread soon do that we can get a garden planted. Our grass still looks like sparse moss where we planted. Hopefully it will change when it starts warming up. We've even over seeded twice and used up all the seed you got. We'll have to get more when we're ready for the west side planting. Dad finished boring under the concert so now we can have Western Mechanical come and hook it up for a gas fire pit. It will be awesome! We just planted a bunch of shrubs and perennials yesterday so it's really looking great!

Well, that's about it as far as any new happenings this week. I hope you had a great one and are still enjoying your new area. We will miss Brother Traveller's updates and photos.

Have a terrific week! Know that we love you and are so very proud!

Love,
Mom

Questions for you regarding Jacob:

•you took a casual pair of pants with you...what brand and type were they?

•what do you recommend as far as more pairs of shoes (he had two dress shoes and sandals for shower)

•what is the size of your luggage...approx height & width?


Sent from my iPhone

Pictures

Letter May 15

Caleb:

I hope all is well with you.  It's amazing how time moves by for us.  Mom is focused on the yard and is pushing to get plants in so the yard will look and feel nice.  The grass we planted before the snow flew last winter is sort of up... but not really... I may have to eat crow and buy sod.  Bleh...

The date  of Jacob's farewell is set for June 12.  It's coming right up.  He is shopping for luggage and I can't believe how expensive it is, especially compared to the cost of your luggage.  it's a little thing but it has made me think with appreciation toward Jason Pond.

I hope that you take time to think and resolve who you will become after your mission.  I think it's easy to live in the moment and frankly, I think one should live in the moment to the extent possible but I also think that it is important to plan and make commitments to yourself about who you are and who you want to become.  

I hope that you can see how blessed  you are and appreciate all that you've been given.  Remember Spiderman, "Where much is given, much is required"?  I just want you to resolve that you will search for and find a top tier woman who will love and support you through it all.  It's a big decision and I want you to make it well... In fact it's the biggest decision you will ever make in your life.  Luckily, there are lots of wonderful young women to choose from...  I just want you to avoid the duds of which there are a few.

I'm trying to write this letter and Samantha is avaluating my double chin, Griffin's peak, "blends" or gray strands of hair, attached ear lobe.  She has yet to find anything good about me so I'm feeling like she wants me to be done on the computer...

Anyway, I love you and will send pictures in a separate email.

Dad

Samantha's Letter

Hi Caleb this week I showed my poster to my class and they really liked it.  They commented on the picture of you on the Canon and it was just awesome.  I showed them a picture of the Virginia candy and the shells that you sent me.

I also ran the Greenville mile.  I actually don't know my score yet but I know I did awesome. Dad bought me and Riah two new bikes and my bike is amazing!

I had a play date with two friends yesterday and it we had a tea party which was really fun.

I love you have a great week,

Samantha

Sent from somewhere really cool.

Sariahs Letter

Hi Caleb it's me Sariah.  I had a great week, did you?  I played with my friends Emma and Delta. Samantha's friends came over and we had a tea party. I got a new pink bike; I love it so much. I had a great week!

Love, Sariah

Sent from somewhere really cool.

Mother's Day Phone Call

Caleb:

It was great to talk to you yesterday.  You look good and have a good spirit about you.  There are some things I wish we'd done better.  I feel like we had everyone here right at first and the call would've done better if we'd have just had our family.  Regardless, it was good to see you.

I'm sure you're already all over it but I'd suggest in an area like the one you have that you find the inactive and part-member families and work with them.  I can't imagine that tracting is super productive.

I wish we'd have spent more time with you on your PPI so that we had a better idea of the things that are on your mind.  I'll await this month's PPI though and we'll go from there.

This morning about 5 am, My mom texted and said that Grandpa isn't doing well.  Mom and I saw them on Saturday and they seemed fine; just old.  I would guess that it's a short matter of time before they pass on.  Grandma Follett is in the same boat.  They are all blessed with pretty good faculties and can still think and reason very well.

Have a great week.  We love you a lot.

Dad

Me and Mom's Visit to G&G Gibbons

Grandma and Grandpa are now in the Legacy House in Logan. They are not long for the world.

[Tiny Scanner] Doc May 08, 2016, 07:51 Sariah's Project

May!!

Dear Caleb,

So, I guess you've heard by now that Jacob's going to the Arizona Scottsdale Spanish speaking mission. We only have 6 weeks to get him ready! Thanks for emailing him advice on what to pack and to to prepare for the mission field. He read your letter with the missionary name tag enclosed right after he opened his call. You are an awesome big bro!

That was so awesome that you were able to use Bulent as a missionary tool. How were you able to get his number or even the permission to call him? It's just too bad that you've transferred and won't be able to continue teaching Elyaz. Speaking of transfers, will you share with us your new address? I hope you're settling into your new area well. Is your little video from last week's letter maybe symbolic for not having a car anymore?

I'm so proud of your example shown through your letters. Sydney says she has so much admiration and respect for you right now and I'm sure that your other brothers and sisters feel the same way. Thank you for your uplifting and positive attitude! We just love your letters!

Talk to you soon!
Love,
Mom

Ps. I just put $100 into your chase account. Budget it wisely! ;)

We can't wait to speak to you next week!

Sent from my iPhone

Pictures

May 1 Letter

Caleb:

I hope all is well with you.  I surmise from the video you sen that you are being transferred to an area without a car?  Mom and I were talking about it and that's what we came up with.

Bro. Traveller sent an email and told us where you were headed so we have some idea but we're really not completely sure.  It sounds like you may be on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Lynchburg and Chartlottesville.  We're still unclear on exactly where though.

Bro. Traveller also mentioned that you are assigned to work with a companion who has only been out 3 months.  Wow.  That's a lot of trust that your mission president is putting in you.

We've seen two pictures we've seen so far.  Anyway, we're really looking forward to hearing from you this week about the details of your situation.

Jacob got his mission call this week to Scottsdale AZ.  Funny fact, the day before I was teasing him and saying I hoped he didn't get called to someplace like Boise or Scottsdale.  I kinda felt bad about that when he opened his call.  I think he's probably okay with it though although he hasn't said much.  I noticed and appreciated the letter you sent him.  I know it meant a lot to him to get a name tag with the dates of service scribed into the back.  I've also appreciated your letters to him and the advice you've given.

I hope all is well.  Are you planning to call over Mother's Day?  If so, please let us know when so we can be ready for you.

I love you and am proud of you,

Dad