Family Pictures from the Tauna & Isaac's Utah Open house

 Here are some of the Garvin’s that were in attendance.  We missed Charlene and Paul and their family who live in Las Vegas! 
It turned out to be such a beautiful night, that we took some fun pictures of Craig and I with our kids and grandkids.  Below are some pictures with the Rindlisbachers!             Grandma and Grandpa had fun having a photo shoot with each of the grandkids
       Look at how darling Mya, Brooke and Natalie look in their “junior bridesmaids outfits!
        

              Here some cute pictures with our little man, Ryan Rindlisbacher
Here we are with Bryon and Tracy and Carston 
        Mr. Carston Bradley Garvin
 
  Above is Papa and Grandma with Logan and Carston and below are Dan & Kyrstin
                                        Here with Logan Daniel Garvin
                                   Here with little Miss Claire Garvin

Other Random pictures from the Open house

   

   

We were thrilled when our dear friends friends, Wes and Donna Stephenson came.

         Here is another dear friend of the family, Micah Massey with his cute girlfriend Emily!

  The reason the Utah Openhouse was 3 weeks after the wedding, was because Isaac’s little brother, Kaleb came home last week from his mission to Scottland and he wanted him to be there.

Why is CAMPING the secret to a close knit family?

This year we had our family reunion in the beautiful surroundings of Kelly’s Grove, in Hobble Creek Utah. We camped for 3 days and 2 nights and had a glorious time with all of our family. Here is a picture of the extended George Lee & Pearl Tenney Romney Family. It has my 89 year old mother, all 5 of her children and most of her 30 grandchildren and 79 great grandchildren. There were 125 members at our reunion.  Our theme was “Show your True Colors”.  For more pictures of the reunion go to www.theromneyreunion.blogspot.com 



This picture goes from oldest to youngest (left to right). Marsha & Cliff Stratton Family (Blue), Jerry & Pat Romney Family (Green), Shawna & Norm Jackson Family (White), Tami Farnsworth & Doug Parry Family (Red) and Michele & Craig Garvin Family (Black).

While we were at our reunion we were rained on every day. We had many tender mercies along the way, and we never had our planned activity rained out. One of the nights a big wind and rain storm came up and started blowing over all the cups and plates on the tables. We all ran around trying to secure things and bring the food in from out of the rain. The last day we had a hail storm and several of my grandchildren were not happy with the situation and started to cry. It wasn’t long before everything settled down and we waited out the storm under the nice and comfy pavilion.

The last morning we have a traditional testimony meeting where many of us share our feelings about the family and the gospel and some of our joys and sorrows. Many of us have had health issues, as well as other life altering challenges and it was so fulfilling to be able to listen to each other share how their faith has carried them through their trials.

During my testimony I mentioned about the rain storms that had come off and on throughout the reunion.  I told them that I felt that they were a blessing to us because they had brought us closer together. I went on to explain that I had listened to a tape by Gary Smalley where he asked different families the following question: “If you could pick one activity that brought you closest together as a family, what would it be?” The  #1 answer that he consistently got was CAMPING!

Why? Not because camping is so great, but it’s what happens WHILE you are camping. Many times while you are camping, there is a crisis or two that happen along the way, and that is what brings you close, and you don’t even realize it until after it’s over.

One year our family went camping and during the process, we got a flat tire on our van. It was getting dark and we needed light, so we fired up the lantern so we could see to change the tire. We needed it to be up higher to see better and as we looked around, we saw a nearby tree with a broken branch. What a great idea! We hung the lantern on the branch and started to change the tire. Just as we were finishing, we looked up and saw that the tree had caught on fire. There had been sap seeping out of the tree, and the heat from the lantern had caught it on fire. Luckily there was a nearby stream and so we grabbed several pots and ran down to the stream and came running back and threw water on the tree to put the fire out. All I can remember thinking at the time was that this was a total nightmare & I never wanted to go camping again!

Well, it wasn't until years later that I heard this talk from Gary Smalley and I then realized what he was talking about. What we had experienced was a traumatic experience - A CRISIS!  So the secret to bringing any family closer together is a SHARED CRISIS and it doesn't always have to be camping! When the crisis is a conflict from an OUTSIDE force, we all struggle together against a common enemy, kind of like you and me against the world. The worst thing is when there is conflict from WITHIN - then you have the complete opposite effect. It DESTROYS your unity instead of building it.

A perfect example of this is in the Book of Mormon when the church members began to persecute one another (conflict from within), it ultimately destroyed their lives. When they were fighting for a common goal against their enemies (conflict from without) they were victorious!  What a great example for each of us and our families to follow. 

A very important point to remember is that the bonding does not take place in the middle of the crisis. Outside conflict is the glue that provides the bonding; however it is “slow-drying glue.” It usually takes about 3 weeks for the glue to dry. Then you look back at the experience and laugh and slap each other on the back and say, “Remember when… wasn't that awesome when…?” But during the crisis, no one was laughing! It’s later on that the glue slowly begins to dry and the bond between those involved becomes stronger and stronger.
 
Could that be why they have girls camp out in the dirty, dusty, bug infested wild? I was talking to one of my nieces and she mentioned that their ward decided that they didn't want to go girl’s camp at the regular dirty spot that everyone went to. So their ward withdrew from the stake camp and went and had their own camp at a really nice place that had showers and all the nice amenities. She said that when the week was over, many of the girls and leaders said that they felt a void and didn't experience the same thing that had during the past years at the old camp. Why? Was it because there were not a shared crises and none of the girls had to let their guard down, because they could still wear makeup and look cute? It really makes you stop and think.

I wonder if that’s why our Tenney Reunions when I was a little girl all started out being where we all camped together for 3 days. We got away from the cares of our normal lives and could bond out in nature and pull together when the storms came in upon us. If we needed to get away from worldly distractions back then, can you imagine how much more we need to now? This is so symbolic to me. That’s why we have reunions, so that we can pull together and share how we have weathered the latest storms in each of our lives.

So really camping is not the secret to a close knit family, but what takes place WHILE you are camping can be. Let’s take a look at two other examples that had a crisis that provided slow drying glue later on.

The story is told of a father and son who went skiing. Half way down the slopes, while in full ski gear, the father gets diarrhea. He pulls off into the forest and begins to undress, just in time to fall and slide down the mountain in the snow. The son following behind him begins laughing hysterically and says, "I can hardly wait until I get back to tell everyone what happened!"

There was a trip where six teenagers were traveling in a van with a couple of leaders. They had been on a trip in beautiful Canada and one boy cut his foot really deep and they had to cut the trip short. On their way home in the car the driver started to fall asleep while driving. The boy that cut his foot reached up and slapped the driver on the head and said, "Hey watch out, you were drifting off!" The driver told him to knock it off and not to ever slap anyone like that. Later on they stopped at a restaurant and the driver noticed that this boy had put a few packets of jam in his shirt pocket. Later on that evening the driver noticed that the boy had fallen asleep in the car, so he slammed on the breaks. The boy flies to the ground, chest first - jelly all over the place! Do you think he was a happy camper? NO! Do you think he liked the driver at that point? No! However, 3 weeks later they were TIGHT as could be!  It’s been years since that happened and they still talk about it with fond memories.

Rafting or canoeing is another  guaranteed bonding experience because something always goes wrong! The food tips upside down or you have to sleep in a wet sleeping bag all night. Oh, when that happens, its awesome stuff! You forget the main dish on the picnic, the bigger the mosquitoes, the better! While it's happening it HORRIBLE, but 3 weeks later - its GREAT! In fact, the next time you take a trip, if NOTHING goes wrong, DARN! Oh well, maybe NEXT Time! The more things that go wrong, the better the bonding later on! 

So remember this new found knowledge as you go about your day to day life, when you feel like life is falling down all around you.  Open your eyes and see the beauty in your life.  Start looking for all the AWESOME bonding experiences you will have to share 3 weeks from now!

Turning the Hearts of the children…..

“And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:6

I've often pondered the meaning of this scripture and wondered just exactly what will turn their hearts? Today after reading a letter from my niece, I think I have finally begun to understand.

Dear Family,

Since the death of my husband, I hadn't realized how important extended family would become to my children, until after the experience they had at our last reunion. Thank you for the forever memories we created with you. A special thank you goes out to Aunt Michele and Aunt Marsha who so faithfully revised and republished Grandma's life history. I must say although I received a copy of it 15 years ago when I was a young and stupid teenager, I felt little compulsion to read it. I admit I did browse through it and read the passages about my Dad but that was about it. So imagine my surprise when I brought home my new copy of Grandma's life history and actually had a desire to read it.

It was late one evening and I was sitting in bed restless and unable to sleep. I looked over and sitting on my bed was Grandma's book which my children had neglected to 'put a way on the shelf' where I had always kept it in the past. As I looked at it, I was prompted to pick it up, so I did. I began reading. It was not what I had imagined. Rather than a long list of relatives names, births and death dates it contained hilarious stories, tales  of places I had been to in Prescott and hard won wisdom from a somewhat naughty little girl. .
I fell asleep reading it and woke up wanting more. So... I decided to be lazy and sat in bed and read. After a while Morgan, my 9 year old daughter wandered in and wanted to know what I was reading. My first inclination was to immediately tell her about the wonderful life history I had discovered and list all the reasons why I wanted her to read it and how wonderful it would be to know more about Grandma Romney's life.
Just as the words were on the tips of my tongue ready to slip out I clamped my jaw shut. I knew if I even so much as uttered one word of my 'genealogical mind lecture', her eyes would glaze over, she would tune out, begin picturing what she wanted for Christmas, and would slink further and further toward the door. So I didn't. I didn't say anything. I ignored her.

After another moment she asked again. I pretended to dismiss her, "Oh nothing, just leave me alone. I'm reading," I grumbled. This of course only intrigued her more. I let out a short burst of laughter. Then sucked it back in.
"What?" She cried "What is it?"
"Nothing, nothing. You wouldn't like it. Go do something." I continued.
"Please tell me what you are reading," she whined as she began to crawl onto my bed and crane her neck around to attempt to read a title of some sort. "Is it bad?"
"No," I snorted, insulted at the idea, "it's just your grandmother's life history. You wouldn't be interested. Go away."
"Which grandma?" she asked, her interest extremely piqued. I sighed an pretended,exaggerated breath of exasperation, "Your Grandma Romney."
"You mean the one from the reunion that we just got to hang out with?"
"Yes, now go."
"What exactly is a life history anyway?"



At this point I was attempting very hard not to do a little happy dance as I could feel victory on the horizon. I put down the book and opened it to the cover, to show her the picture. 
I sighed again heavily, "It's just a book with a bunch of stories about her life and what it was like to grow up on a ranch with 10 brothers and sisters, and what life was like riding horses and going to rodeos and dating boys, and stories about naughty things she used to do as a little girl....oh and there's stuff in here about Papa Jerry too..."







Wait for it, wait for it... eyes as large as saucers, she stared at me, stared at the book, looked back at me again as her eyebrows slowly puckered up together. Suddenly her face took on that look that says, 'Where's my piece? I wanna read it." [VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!! and the crowd goes wild!!!!!!!]

"Why can't I read it? Please?" I tried to control myself and play it cool.
"No, I'm reading it. Besides it might be above your reading level anyway."
Instantly insulted, she replied, "Hey, that's not true, I can read chapter books now. You just don't want to share!"Trying not to smile..."Ugh, fine. Maybe if you get dressed and ready to go Cheyenne, I will let Isaac read a story or two from the book-MAYBE."

With that and a huge smile on her face she bounced out of the room and down the hall to instantly prattle on and on to the boys about how they needed to hurry and get ready so we could read this pioneer story about grandma, but only if we are good and maybe we can make mom let us read more than one or two stories. Holy Cow am I going to be sad when reverse psychology stops working!
So we readied ourselves for the 45 minute drive to Cheyenne, Wyoming and I outwardly, begrudgingly, made sure the kids were allowed to take the book. Once in the car, before I was even out of the driveway, the two youngest in the back seat were begging for the first story.
"No." I told them, "I like this song."
"It's a CD mom, you can listen to it anytime." whines 6 year old Jo from the back.
"Fine, I want to listen to the radio for a little bit."
"Noooooo," whines Morgan, "it's so boring, and you said they never have good stations here anyway."
"Okay fine, Isaac start reading."



Here I met some resistance. Thirteen year old Isaac was NOT excited to read and I had to give him a little encouragement (okay it was a straight up threat) to get him to start, but hey it worked and he thanked me later.


I watched my kids for the next 45 minutes giggle and gasp and sigh and squeal over events in their great grandmothers life and I wanted to shout from the rooftops.

 "Today I am a good Mom! Thank you Aunt Michele, Aunt Marsha and big kiss to Grandma wherever you are. You made my kids find joy in the simple and beautiful moments of life!”


I tried to get the kids to stop reading after 2 or 3 stories but that was not going to happen. They were upset when we had to get our shopping done and were more than delighted to begin reading it again on our way home. I held my breath hoping their initial interest had not waned. To my delight they were hooked, and guess what, I have enjoyed hearing the stories too. Occasionally I would jump in and stop a story so we could discuss lessons learned and compare it with my children's life experiences. We have had several pretty amazing talks because of it.

Now every time we get in the car to go somewhere other than around town the book comes too. The kids look forward to it so much and they get very feisty when I resist. Apparently it’s all about the forbidden fruit with my kids. My children have been so inspired by the lessons learned. They will bring up a particular story when something happens that reminds them of something they've read. 

They tell total and complete strangers they are reading their grandmothers life history and how good it is and ask if they have a 'grandma life history' of their own? When others respond that they do not, the general response is filled with expressions of pity and consolation at their terrible misfortune.
Listen to Jo's comment to the cashier at Albertsons, "Oh that's so sad, you poor family. Would you like to have one of my grandma's stories instead? I can share, my grandma wouldn't mind. You will love them." It is moments like this that the poor cashier or clerk or librarian or waitress will look at me oddly, at which point I will be pursing my lips in an attempt to avoid full-on belly laughter.









So inspired, was my daughter after reading how grandma used to attend the rodeo dances dressed as an Indian squaw, that she determined she must be one for Halloween. 

"Grandma was really smart," she said. I bet she got lots of attention from the cute boys that way, 'cause all the other girls were just dressed as cowgirls, but she stood out. I bet she looked so pretty with her dark hair! (Insert her little wicked giggle here) Oh yeah, she knew what she was doing for sure-stealing all the attention!" Upon hearing that remark I blinked hard and had to take a minute and ask myself if Grandma's stories were a good influence. (JUST KIDDING!)

  Yesterday we spent all day sewing Indian and mountain man costumes. It was like the anticipation of the rodeo had rubbed off on my kids. Which reminds me, we HAD to attend the rodeo this year, just like grandma. 

My kids wanted to know why they never got to be in the parade. (While we usually attend the rodeo, this year it was essential that we go because of Daddy AND grandma.) "...And could we please go to the dance afterward?" Answer: NO!

The other latest development (thank you grandma) is a sudden interest in marbles. As we read the passage where grandma talked about playing marbles as a kid, I could hear the comments forming in their little brains before they were even spoken.
 
"I want some marbles. Can we have marbles? Why didn't you get us any marbles? Does Wal-mart have marbles?"

Now thanks to a few thrift shops and antique stores (apparently they have the best kinds- or so my children tell me) my children have started collecting and playing marbles. Every once in a while a terribly maniacal sounding laugh will echo through the house and I know one of my unfortunate children has just lost a particularly lovely round specimen.

The point of all this rambling is to invite all you cousins out there to follow our example. Pull the 'old book' off the shelf. Trap your kids in the car and read it. Take it on a road trip. Use it during FHE. It is fun! It is worthwhile!

Quite frankly as I read about Grandma's life there have been a few times I have thought to myself, "Wow, I wish I had read that 10 years ago when I was going through this or that, etc..." More than anything it gets me thinking, thinking about all sorts of things, certainly too many to list here and if it does that for me, just imagine what it can do for our kids. Give it a shot if you haven't already and if you have read it before, do it again, you'll be amazed how much you forgot!
As a closing thought I just wanted to say how lucky we are to have a mom, grandma, and great grandma who lived a life that delights and inspires others to emulate those experiences and who took time to share those experiences with us.  Generations to come will be blessed because of it.
 
“Grandma thanks for making us laugh and gasp and giggle and cry. We are truly blessed to have you in our family. You are amazing, thank you for sharing your life with us!”

Love,

Emily Romney Williams (and children looking at Grandma & Grandpa's wedding picture)

P.S. Anyone who is willing to have their trash handed to them in 2 years at the Romney reunion is hereby challenged to a game of marbles. You pick the game and bring it on. Oh by-the-way it's best that you start collecting marbles now, because you are going to lose a lot :)