The Sabbath Day!!!

The past couple months in our home me and Mark have talked about how we really need to improve our Sabbath Day Observience. Not just keep the TV off

but do things to uplift us and draw closer to our Savior. We have been taking the opportunity to read more talks from the Ensign, visit the Elderly, go for family walks, play games together, sing church songs and of course fit in some naps. What a blessing it has been in drawing our family closer together. 

We took some pictures of the kids today when we went for our walk on this incredibly beautiful hot day. 

Elder and Sister McBroom

Its hard to believe that in a few short weeks our beloved senior missionary couple the McBrooms are completing their service in our branch and in our area.

It seems like yesterday that we met the McBrooms an Elders Quorum activity at Bud Miller Park in August of 2014.

Let me back the truck up to add an earlier memory of the McBrooms.

It all started in May of 2014. I was in Bartlesville Oklahoma for a week long training for work. I had went to Bartlesville 2nd ward and enjoy the friendly people of the ward. Now at this same time back home we had offered our basement room for any missionary couples that would be moving to Lloydminster. Now lets fast forward to June 2014. I got a call from a sister named Vickie McBroom wondering if I was the one that was willing to house missionary couples in Lloydminster. I replied that we are the family and asked her where she was from. Well bless my soul, she said she was from Bartlesville Oklahoma. "what, your kidding me?" was my response. "I was just there a month ago,which ward?" She replied from 1st ward. Thats pretty darn close. It was to crazy to have just been there and then have them call to see if they could stay with us

Anyway the tender mercies of the Lord can bring some very blessed experiences to our lives if we are open to them. In August the McBrooms came to stay with us. We spent much time talking about Oklahoma and what I was able to see and do, and what else there is to be done. We look forward to completing another training in Bartlesville and reuniting with the McBrooms.

What a great blessing it was to have the servants of the Lord in our home. We got to see how dedicated they were to the work they were called to. They were ask to work with the Onion Lake Cree Nation in anyway they could.

They have spent their time getting to know the members of the band,  and serving them in many different capacities. The biggest one was teaching and tutoring students in all areas of high school study. There were many nights that they would say they failed, as no one showed up, or the person who was suppose to open the building was late and people left so they could not teach everyone.

I say that they have done more than they can imagine. They have shown great love to the people of Onion lake and the Lloydminster Branch. They have served in any capacity they have been ask to serve in and never complained. They love God with all their hearts and it shows as they serve us so freely. 

Elder McBroom is a major tease. He has saying and stories that are very goofy, and make Sister McBroom blush. He has a heart of gold and shows up for basket ball "bump" most Thursday nights, even though he has arthritis in his feet. He is kind and humble. Elder McBroom loves a laugh and is a legand of being one of Bartlesville's best Clowns.. Ask him about his trumpet some time...

Sister McBroom has many talents, including music, baking, and teaching. She is even more humble than Elder McBroom, and has a tender heart. She has the ability to love and help those she comes in contact with. She unlike Elder McBroom is more serious, but has a sense of humour when she needs it.

They are such sweet couple and very near and dear to our family. Lloydminster has been greatly blessed by the selfless service of the McBrooms. May God Bless them and their families.

BRANDI'S WEDDING!!!!

Brandi Leavitt moved to Lloyminster way back in 2008, she came up here to play Basketball for the Lakeland College. We were already trying to make it to games when we could and that just gave us a better reason to go. We went as often as possible to cheer her on. When she was up here she meet a wonderful man named Jason Mendes and they started dating. Last year Brandi moved home as her parents where going through a separation, but she just couldn't stay away from Lloydminster and Jason. She moved back up and needed a place to stay and we opened are home up to her. She has been living with us ever since September, and got to hear the amazing news when Jason purposed on Christmas Day. She has been planning hard every since for her Wedding day, and that day was today.

She looked beyond beautiful, she took my breath away. Macie was of course in heaven seeing Brandi in her beautiful dress. I was honoured when Brandi asked to wear my veil as she didn't have one. The ceremony was short and sweet. In the evening we headed to the College where the reception was held. They had a delicious meal and great program and then some dancing. Macie and Wade loved it and Wade kind of stole the show dancing his heart out, all the while Macie followed Brandi around like a puppy dog. Brandi was so good about it and danced with her whenever she could. Brandi kind of won over Macie's heart when she moved in with us and Brandi has been such a good surrogate Auntie to her. We will be so sad to lose her as a room mate but so excited for her and this next step in her life.