Betsy's Family Blog: 2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

Happy New Year’s Eve

New Year's Eve started out as a day to relax and an evening of celebration, but oh how quickly that changed.
The day was fun, everyone was hung out at the house, we had fun together.

Mom and her girls: Jessica and Marissa - She's playing the ukulele

Grandma and Grandpa with Cayson - what a great year!!!

Mom and Dad (Jessica and Tate) with their cutie - Cayson

We had Devon organize with Norman to meet us for dinner at Red Robbin. For some reason, Red Robbin has become the restaurant we go to on New Year's Eve. I think it started three or four years ago, when the boys loved hamburgers and enjoyed their bottomless fries. Norman and his girlfriend, Shelby met us there. We had Devon and Sierra, Mark and Betsy, Jessica and Tate, Marissa and Norman and Shelby. Jessica and Tate arrived after later so they could feed Cayson. We ordered appetizers and drinks while we waited for them to arrive. IT was wonderful to catch up with Norman and it was even nicer to meet Shelby. They are such a cute couple. I love seeing Devon and Norman together. They are the best of friends!!!! Once Jessica and Tate arrived we ordered dinner and enjoyed a two hour dinner there.

At the end of dinner, Devon and Sierra, Norman and Shelby went downtown Louisville to celebrate New Years. The rest of us went back to the house. We thought it would be a good idea to light lanterns and set them off in the dark night sky. Before setting them off, we each wrote one of two things: 1) write the things you want to get rid of in 2019, or 2) write resolutions for 2019.

We loaded everyone into the RAV4 and drove to the Moser Farm Park. The wind had picked up again - we wondered if we should try it again. We got the first lantern off - YEAH!!! Then the second - YAY!!! The third lantern did not cooperate as nice as the first two. Betsy and Tate got it lit - they set it loose, but then it came back towards earth, but just as they were going to rescue it, the wind picked it up and blew it into the top of a tree! YIKES!

Tate and Betsy chased it - Betsy watched it from afar, but Tate climbed the tree going at least 1/2 way up. He was there just in case he needed to go further up and put out a fire. Luckily, the flames went out on their own - YAY!!! Everything is okay ... until ... Tate fell from a branch as he was coming down. He fell a fast 10 feet to the ground hitting the bridge of his nose on a branch. He didn't think it was serious, that is until Betsy saw all the blood. He was very calm, but everyone else knew something more serious happened.

We loaded up the car and headed back to the house. Luckily Tate's brother in law is a doctor so we called him - via Facetime so he could see the extend of the injury. Tate and Jessica applied super glue to Tate's nose. Betsy got him ice packs to help with the swelling. Oh my gosh. What a dramatic ending to a special day.

Week 30: Happy New Year!! 2019 - Here We Come!

Heyyyyy everyone!! So this week has been such an interesting week! First of all, my phone hasn't worked at all this whole week. It has been super frustrating especially when I want to contact members and all the people we teach. It has taught me a lot about being patient and it has actually made me way more focused on just working. I cant spend anytime on my phone, so more time for working and finding people.

Basically this week has been soooo much finding. My comp and I made the decision that we need to get more people to teach. We have found 10 people this week, and we continue to just find, find, and teach. It is funny I have this guy this week who didn't seem too interested at first, but we came back and invited him to church and he and his daughter came. What a miracle! Overall, I have learned so much this week. My companion and I both talk to about 30 people everyday (60 people in total) and we get rejected a ton. But it is so amazing to testify of Jesus Christ. That he came to this earth to atone for our sins and has given us the opportunity to have eternal happiness if we will just follow him. I got to testify about Jesus Christ's birth on Christmas day to so many people. I was able to share the video "he is the gift" to about 5 people, and I could feel God's love for the people. But that is pretty much all I did on Christmas.

Specifically to my family (you can skip this part)

Oh wait...yeah I video called my family too!!!! It was soo amazing to see you all. Shoutout to my family for being the best family ever. I seriously have the best mom, dad, and siblings. Mom, you light my world and have always been my biggest fan. I can't begin to tell you how grateful i am for your unconditional love. No matter how many mistakes I have made in this life, you always pick me up with loving arms! I love you mom. Dad, you are the person I look up to most in this world. You are so Chirst-like and have always been my best friend. I miss shooting hoops with you, watching sports, playing tennis, and so much more. You are my greatest example and I cant wait to see you again. One day we will be speaking Thai together and no one will no what we are saying...gonna be so fun!!! Jessica and Tate, I love you both soo much. Jessica being my oldest sister, we have such a great bond and have way way too many inside jokes! LOVE you chunky ;) So grateful for you and the greatest brother in law ever. Tell Cayson I love him too! Devon and Sierra, Love you bro! I look up to you and your wonderful testimony. You are such a great disciple of Christ and push me to be better. I am so glad you and Sierra are eternally sealed and are beyond happy. Sierra welcome to the family!! Marissa, I love you so much and am so grateful for our amazing friendship! You have such an amazing personality and literally one of the funniest people ever. I am so grateful to have you as my sister!! By the way, you don't have to wait for me to get home to get married. Haha love you Maria :))

Love you family, you all rock and I feel so blessed to be able to be with my family for all time and eternity.

So yeah I got to Skype call my family for an hour and right when I saw my sister and mom's face I started crying. LOL I couldn't control myself, but I guess and I just miss and love them so much! Also thank you family for all the wonderful presents! Love you!!

This next week is going to be very interesting because everyone is so busy during the new year. I am guessing a lot of people will cancel on us, but I am excited to see what happens. The mission president came down to Phuket this week and fired me up again. I am ready to fire this place up and start baptizing! That is about all I have for this week. Sorry it is such a choppy email. I promise next week will be better! Again no pictures, but probably next week there will be a lot!

I love you all and Happy NEW Year! 2019 is already here...so crazy. You all are the best!

Love,

Elder Lowe

(No photos again - next week for sure)

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Made this quilt

A police officer from Oldham County Kentucky was killed after pulling over a pickup truck in Louisville and was subsequently hit by a different semi-truck by a driver allegedly under the influence while she was conducting a traffic stop on Christmas Eve. It was tragic - the semi pushed the police car into the truck she had stopped and then her car caught fire. The four people were in the truck but they were not injured.

Detective Deidre Mengedoht, 32, and the mother of a 9 year old boy, had been on the police force for more than seven years.

"Deidre -- DeeDee, as she was known to her friends and colleagues -- gave her life serving the community which is something she loved to do. Those who knew DeeDee would tell you that in her 32 years of life, and her seven and a half years with the police department, she always went above and beyond of what was asked of her or required of her," Conrad said on Monday.

(LMPD) Detective Deidre Mengedoht is seen in this undated police portrait.

"This is a tragic, tragic day, for everyone: for DeeDee's family, for the men and women of the Louisville Metro police department, and quite frankly for everyone she touched in this community. I can't imagine what her family is going though today, today of all days," he added.

The man who crashed into Mengedoht's vehicle was identified as 60-year-old Roger Burdette, faces charges of murder and operating under the influence. Burdette is an employee of the local Metropolitan Sewer Department and was driving one of their semi trucks at the time of the accident, The Courier Journal reported.

(Louisville Metro Department of Corrections) Roger Burdette, 60, was allegedly under the influence when he crashed into the patrol car of Detective Deidre Mengedoht, killing the officer in the crash.

"My heart is breaking today as we mourn the tragic death of @LMPD Detective Deidre Mengedoht. When Deidre joined LMPD, she committed herself to service on behalf of our city, and her death is a painful reminder of the sacrifices that our public safety professionals make every day," he wrote in the tweet.

It was heartbreaking that this wonderful lady and single mother was killed. A few days after the accident her neighbor called me asking me if I could make a t-shirt quilt for her son. I was happy to do this for her and for the boy. He attends Kenwood Elementary School. She brought over the shirts. There were not enough for the traditional 12x12 quilt so I made each (most) squares 13x14.

Here is the finished quilt for her son. I hope he will have it forever as a reminder of her, and her love for him.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

The Bird

Since it rained while we were walking the Big Four Bridge, some of us walked down to keep Cayson out of the rain. Then the rain stopped but we were too far from Devon, Sierra and Dad that we decided to ride The Bird around while we waited for them to return.

Betsy was the first to ride. WWWWHHHOOOWWW! So much fun. The scooter went super fast, but also safe!

Then Marissa road it - she loved it!

The Jessica handed Cayson to Tate so she could ride too!

Walking bridge before they go

We finally got to go to the Big 4 Walking bridge. We all went... Devon and Sierra, Betsy and Mark, Jessica and Tate, and Cayson, and Marissa.

Despite the coldness of the day (although it is the warmest day of Christmas vacation), Cayson is all grins.

We were very happy to be there for our family tradition. Left to right: Tate and Jessica, Devon and Sierra, Marissa, Mark and his grandson Cayson.

On our way up ... everyone was super happy to make it while the rain had stopped. We got there at the perfect time. Smiles all the way around.

As usual Devon is avoiding the camera but Sierra is grinning ear to ear. She's happy not to be sick today.

Mom with Jessica and Tate!!!

Marissa loves crossing the bridge just as much as we do. It's a family tradition!

The cute little family

The great Aunt Marissa!

We were trying to get across the bridge and back before the rain started, but ... we didn't make it that far. As soon as we got to the top of the walkway, the rain started to drizzle, by the time we were about to cross the rain started to down pour. Jessica and Tate decided to go back down because of the rain; Marissa and I went with them, while Mark carried on with Devon and Sierra. Devon was determined to take Sierra all the way.

Friday, December 28, 2018

Kentucky wedding reception

Devon and Sierra's wedding reception in Kentucky was beautiful. The day before Betsy, Marissa and Jern Jern went over to decorate and set up as much as they could. Everything turned out beautiful.

Devon and Sierra had photos taken before the reception. They came out beautiful.

We are so happy Jern Jern was able to come from Thailand for the wedding reception. She arrived Thursday afternoon and we had a wonderful visit with her. We had a family photo taken with her in it!!!

We love our Grandson, Cayson

One of the best surprises of the night was the arrival of Katie St. John. Katie was my best friend when we lived in Columbus OH. I was so surprised - so happily surprised. She made the night so wonderful. Her son Zach was born just 6 weeks after Devon. If we had stayed there, they would have been such great friends.

Marissa and Jern Jern

The evening was supposed to start at 6:00 pm but Devon and Sierra said it started at 7:00 pm on the Facebook page, so we waited to serve dinner until 6:45. Mark started the evening with a welcome and a blessing on the food. The dinner was prime rib, herb chicken, red potatoes, green beans, salad and rolls. It was delicious. Around 7:00 pm more and more people arrived.

After dinner we started with the Bride and Groom dance. They danced to Perfect by Ed Sherran. That was followed by the Groom and his mother; we danced to "You'll be in my heart" from the Tarzan sound track. Devon tried to make me cry ... again. Then, we weren't sure if we should do this or not, but then Sierra and Mark danced.

We waited for Ethan Hansen to get off work before starting the toasts, but he had still not arrived, so we had Tate start the toasts off, then Betsy, then Mark, followed by Jessica, Jern Jern and Marissa. Then we opened it up to others.

Jern Jern was so cute because she shared how she remembered Devon saying he would never get married, and she really thought this day wouldn't come.

Katie St. John was the first to take the mic. She was so sweet.

Ethan arrived to say "He's the man." He said he always thought the opposite of what Jern Jern said, that he knew Devon would marry the lady of his dreams. It was so delightful to hear Ethan share about Devon.

Next was Brother White; he shared how Devon had been on all 4 high adventures, biked 52 miles, didn't eat anything but Cocoa Puffs, almost went over a cliff, how he Devon was always willing to go the extra mile.

The rest of the night was for hanging out and having fun on the dance floor. Betsy and Mark danced. When they weren't dancing they were talking with friends. It was a joyous night.

Cutting the cake is always fun. Devon and Sierra were not afraid to make a mess on each other. I was surprised.

Cutting the cake

Cake Fight!

Maureen, Betsy and Fran!

Marissa and Emma

Around 9:15 we took everyone outside to light off the lanterns. IT was very chilly and a little too windy. Devon and Sierra were able to get theirs off into the night sky first. Then a few others went before we decided it was just too windy.