Fruit Punch

6 strawberry Kool-Aid
6 raspberry Kool-Aid
1 (46 oz.) can pineapple juice
1 small bottle Hawaiian Punch
5 lb. sugar (or less)

Mix well. Makes 5 gallons punch or could use 1 part to 4 parts water.

From: Aunt Eula Mae Judd

Fire Destroys the Earl Family Home

It seems strange that we have just been posting about the Earl family home and our header picture is of the home, too and then we get this news.

Fire has destroyed the Earl family home on July 3rd. Click on the following link to read the newspaper article: http://www.mvprogress.com/2009/27/fire

My dad (Gary Earl) said the following:
"The photo in the newspaper was not of the front of the house. The fire started back in the area of the back porch that led into the kitchen. So the photo was taken from an angle that shows the northwest part of the house showing the porch on the left and the bedrooms on the right.

I told Janice that I felt good about the life of that home ending, because we have Doug’s beautiful water color painting that gives us the best memories. It was hard for me to drive by and look at the “remains” of what was once a very beautiful and wonderful home. And the thought came that it was the “mother home” for many other wonderful homes for Mom and Dad and for all of us kids … in St. George, Las Vegas, Reno, and California!"

We have more "blueprints" of the home that the "kids" put together and will be posting them in the next while.

Peach Cobbler from Bridget Earl Pehrson

PEACH COBBLER
Preheat oven to 350 - Makes 8-10 servings

BATTER
1/2 C. Butter
1 1/4 C. flour
2 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 C. sugar
1 C. milk

FILLING
4 C. sliced peaches
1/4 C. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 T. lemon juice

Mix together the peaches, sugar, cinnamon & lemon juice. Allow the mixture to sit while making the batter.

Put the butter in a 9x13 baking dish and put the dish in the preheating oven. While the butter is meliting, mix up the batter by combining the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar & milk.

When the butter is completely melted, remove the pan & pour the batter into the melted butter. Then carefully, spoon in the peach filling mixture evenly over the batter. Return dish to oven & bake for 45 minutes.

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Note-I found 350 to be too hot. I did 325 for about 35-40 minutes. Until the crust was golden brown and the mixture was bubbly.

I found this recipe in a Smith's grocery store flyer and it is the best cobbler recipe that I have found!

May Header Picture

Well my Dad has come to our family blog's aid with some new ideas and information to share. Thanks, Dad!

This watercolor painting was painted by a very talented artist in our family, Doug Whipple. Doug is the oldest son of Aunt Janice and Uncle VJ. He painted this painting of the Milton and Erma Earl family home in Overton (Stringtown), Nevada. He painted originals for all 5 of the siblings. How cool is that! If I remember correctly, he even made the frames for them, too. (Correct me if I am wrong, Doug.)

This painting is the first thing that you see when you walk into my parent's home (Uncle Gary and Aunt Diane). I know that my dad cherishes this work of art of his boyhood home painted by his nephew.

Uncle Gary made a four part (1 page each) map of this home, the yard, the farm and backfields and the ranch. He conferred with his siblings on what they remembered and added their additions or changes, as well. I hear that they all had a wonderful time reminiscing and making this history for us.

It was so interesting to me, that I asked my Dad to give our family a little presentation about this family home, farm and ranch. He dutifully complied and we had a very interesting evening. I would encourage you to talk to your parent or grandparent about their home they grew up in and what life was like. If you have any questions, Uncle Gary would be happy to give you an interesting answer, too! His e-mail is: jge1935@embarqmail.com
 

How to Copy the Pictures on the Blog to Your Computer

We have had a few family members wondering how they can copy the pictures on our family blog to their computer.

It is easy. Just right click on the picture that you want. (It can't be a header picture, just a picture in a post.) Go down to copy and click on copy. Then go to your computer desktop and right click again. This time click on paste. It is now on your desktop and you can save it where ever you like.

If you have pictures for the family blog, please e-mail them to me and I will gladly post them. I am running through the few pictures that my parents have at a quick pace and will need more from the family.

Header Picture - February 2009

Aunt Eula Mae Judd is our February 2009 header picture. This is in honor of the following post with her biography in it.

Little known fact about Aunt Eula Mae....Did you know that she has belonged to the same book club for over 50 years?! How cool is that. That is quite some staying power! You go, girl!

PS - I found out from Aunt Mae that this picture was taken her Sophmore year in 1942.

Aunt Eula Mae Speaks at Women's Conference About the Las Vegas Temple

Our stake had a wonderful women's conference yesterday. They invited all of the 6 previous temple matrons, the current temple matron and the architect of the temple to speak commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Las Vegas temple. (Can't believe it has been here 20 years!)

Aunt Eula Mae and Uncle Paul Judd worked in the Las Vegas Temple presidencies as both the counselor/assistant matron and president/matron.

Darlene brought Aunt Mae to the conference to speak and she did a wonderful job. I was so proud to see our sweet Aunt bearing her testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and the blessings of the temple. She even brought a little bit of Grandma Erma Earl with her by wearing her beautiful purple crystal necklace and matching earrings. :)

I wanted to share with the family the small biography that they had in the program about our sweet Aunt Eula Mae:

Eula Mae Judd was born in Las Vegas and raised in Overton, Nevada. She attended Dixie College for two years. She met her husband, Paul, on a blind date just before he served in the United States Navy during World War II. After serving three years in the Navy, he returned home and their paths crossed again. One year later they were married in the St. George Temple on May 2, 1947. They have 4 children, 12 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way. They raised their family in Las Vegas where her husband worked in office management. In April of 1990, she and her husband served in the Las Vegas Mission office. On September 2, 1992, they served in the second Temple Presidency and served there for three years. On October 27, 1998, they were set apart as President and Matron. They served for three years until President Judd became ill and they were released on June 26, 2001. President Judd passed away on Sept. 16, 2001. Sister Judd's favorite pastime is spending time with her family!

We love you, Aunt Eula Mae!

Remembering Uncle Lee

Happy Birthday to Uncle Lee Earl on this January 29th!

January 2009 - Header Picture

Can anyone guess who this little cutie is that Grandpa Milton Earl is holding?

It is Grandma and Grandpa Earl's first grandchild, Katy. Katy is the leader of our grandchild pack and her parents are Lee & Doris Earl.

Happy Anniversary Uncle Gary & Aunt Diane!

A very happy 49th wedding anniversary today to Uncle Gary & Aunt Diane! This cute couple is at their reception in Boulder City, NV. They were married in the St. George temple.

Aunt Diane's Christmas Cheese Ring

My mom has made this pastry cheese ring for Christmas morning since I was in about 2nd grade. She got the recipe from her friend, Ann Flemming. It has always been a favorite of ours.

CHEESE RING RECIPE

1/2 C milk
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp. salt
l cube butter or margarine
1/2 C warm water
2 pkgs. yeast
2 eggs beaten
4 1/2 to 5 C flour

Scald milk, stir in sugar, salt and butter. Cool to lukewarm. Measure warm water into large bowl. Sprinkle in yeast; stir until dissolved. Stir in lukewarm milk mixture, beaten eggs and l C. flour. Beat until smooth. Add enough additional flour to make a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic about 8 min.
(I use my Kitchen Aid machine.) Place in greased bowl turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place, free from draft, until double in bulk (about 1 hour.) (I put mine in my oven that I have slightly heated and turned back off.) Punch down and let rise again until almost doubled, about 30 min. Turn dough onto lightly floured board and divide for rings.

Cheese Filling

2 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese
1/2 C. sugar
6 T. flour
2 egg yolks
1 tsp grated lemon peel (optional)
2 T. lemon juice

While dough is rising, soften cream cheese. Add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in flour, egg yolk, lemon peel and lemon juice. Roll dough into three equal rectangles. Spread filling over 2/3 of surface.

Overlap to center making a roll. Join ends in a circle. Make cuts from outside edge 2/3 of the way to the center edge. Turn each section over on its side.

Bake in 350 degree oven until nicely browned (about 25 minutes.) Then cool and glaze with powdered sugar and water mixture.

Aunt Diane said: "It is so delicious! The family just loves this. I've been making it for years."

December 2008 - Header Picture Update

More information on the cute Christmas card of Uncle Gary and Uncle Clair. My dad (Gary) said that those were new suits! Grandma Earl took the picture and then used it for their Christmas card the next year. Pretty savvy, especially back then. I can't imagine that photo Christmas cards were used much a few decades ago.

December 2008 - Header Picture

This great picture was an Earl family Christmas card that Grandma Erma and Grandpa Milton Earl sent out. This is Clair (left) and Gary (right).

How did Grandma Earl get two teenage boys to dress up in their suits and look interested in their Christmas presents for the picture?! With a teenager myself, I am impressed!

Grandma Earl's Lime Jello Salad

LIME JELL-O SALAD

1 1g. pkg. Lime Jell-O
1 ½ C. boiling water (part pineapple juice)
1 C. drained, crushed pineapple
1 C. cottage cheese
1 C. nuts (usually walnuts and they are optional or can be reduced in quantity)
1 C. whipped cream with vanilla and sugar

Combine lime Jell-O and water; dissolve Jell-O. Add pineapple and chill until wobbly. Fold in nuts, cottage cheese, and whipping cream. Chill until firm.

This recipe is from Grandma Erma Earl. This was always a favorite of mine.

Thanksgiving Time is A Time to Be of Service

This is the time of year when we think about serving and giving the most. Here is a helpful list to help further your family's humanitarian efforts.

Click here for the Humanitarian Service Sheet. It is a list (in a Word document) that lists current service project ideas.

It is a really easy way to see what projects interest you for humanitarian projects. Some ideas are local, but most are for anyone in the world to participate in.

For more links and helpful information go to: http://humanitarianhelpers.blogspot.com/

Grandma Earl's Fruit Salad

We have this salad every year for Thanksgiving. It is yummy and reminds us of Grandma Erma Earl!

Grandma Earl's Fruit Salad

4 bananas
4-6 apples
1 large can pineapple
1 cup pineapple juice
1 sweet pomegranate
(1 patient person to get all the seeds out of the pomegranate!)
1 pint whipping cream, whipped
5 tbsp. flour
6 tbsp. sugar
1 egg, beaten

Mix flour and sugar in pan. Add beaten egg and stir. Add pineapple juice. Cook until thick and smooth, stirring constantly. Cool in fridge. (Make a few hours beforehand). Cut up fruit. Blend custard in whipped cream. Add fruit and serve.

(Tip: Put the shelled pomegranate seeds in a bowl of water. The skin that is left on them will come off.)

Serves 12

November 2008 - Header Picture

This picture is of Erma and Milton Earl at the St. George, UT temple. They were in the temple presidency at this time. This picture is from 1960.

October 2008 Header Picture

This picture was taken on April 26, 1990. Tyler Earl (Clair Earl Family) and Bridget Earl (Gary Earl Family) graduated from BYU on the same day! If you look closely you can see Bryce & Mauri Earl (Clair Earl family) in the background!

Who is that cute little girl that Tyler is holding? It is Aubree Earl, Tyler & Deb's daughter. The reason for this header picture is to introduce you to a new section of our Earl family blog. If you look on the sidebar, you will see our Earl Family Missionaries section. It is hard to believe but Aubree Earl is one of those 7 missionaries now!

Please remember these faithful family missionaries in your prayers. We are all so proud of each of you! Go Earl family missionaries!

Recipe - Quick Caramel Corn

Fall is in the air, so here is an autumn-time recipe for caramel corn.

Uncle Paul Judd's Caramel Corn

2 C. brown sugar, packed
1/2 C. (1 cube) margarine or butter
1/2 C. light corn syrup
5 qt. popped corn

Combine sugar, margarine or butter and corn syrup in heavy saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture boils. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; pour over popped corn, stirring until all corn is coated. Turn out onto lightly buttered cookie sheet or onto clean, cool surface; spread out. When thoroughly cooled, break into pieces. Delicious.

Taken from Winnifred C. Jardine's book "Mormon Country Cooking".

AND THEN THE MISSION CALL

Here is continuation of Grandpa Milton Earl's story after the army and on to his mission.

I hadn't been home very long when Bishop Edward I. Cox asked me if I'd go on a mission, and though I was nearly 25 years old, I told him I would be glad to. I then received my mission call to the Southern States Mission, and departed on 10 July 1919 by train for Salt Lake City. Eldon Leavitt from Bunkerville also went into the mission field at the same time that I did and I was glad to have his company. I was in the mission home in Salt Lake for a few days and went through the Salt Lake Temple where I received my endowments. The group of missionaries going to the Southern States went by railroad to Chicago, then on to Chattanooga where the mission headquarters were located.

The story will continue in November's blog with a special story about how Milton Earl received the call of where to serve in the Southern States Mission.

September's Header Picture

These beautiful pictures were taken from the Owen Ken Earl book. "Descendants of Joseph Ira, Calista and Viola Earl -- Southern Nevada Pioneers, Volume II", 1988 pgs. 398 - 399. They did not have a year posted, but here is the story line that was written underneath these pictures.

MISSION CALL - DRAFT CALL - WHICH TO ANSWER?

"World War I was going on then and many of the fellows my age were being drafted or going into one of the branches of the service. The year was 1917, my senior year in high school. in the spring of 1917 when I was about ready to graduate from high school, I received a draft call and also a mission call to the Central States Mission. Father told me that President Joseph F. Smith would be in St. George for stake conference on a certain date shortly thereafter and suggested that I should go and talk to him because the mission date was set before the draft date. I went up to conference in a small black-top buggy and Erma went with me. We stayed with my sister, Elethra Earl Cox and Uncle Frank. On Sunday we went to the morning session of conference and afterwards we worked our way to the front and asked to speak to President Smith. He knew father, listened to my story and told me to answer the call of our country, and said, "I promise you that if you will live a good life and do your duty, you will live and get a call to go on a mission when you return home."

This was a great blessing and also a comfort to have such a promise from the Prophet of the Lord. Erma and I came home very pleased. On 17 June 1918, Marion and Erma took me to Moapa where I caught a train and left for Las Vegas to join the Army. I was sent to Tucson, AZ, for three months of training at the University of Arizona. Then I was shipped to Camp Sheridan in Alabama near Montgomery. I was pleased to find that Alvin Reber (Erma's uncle) was in the same company with me for a while and we were able to see each other on special occasions.

WWI ended on 11 Nov. 1918 and I returned home on 28 Jan. 1919. While I was still in the Army, I received another call to the Central States Mission and father just sent work back that I was in the army."

To find out what Grandpa Milton Earl decided to do next, come back to October's blog posts! :)

Recipe - Pizza Dough

My mom is a really good cook. A favorite in our family is her homemade pizza. She has a good recipe for her crust. She makes a thin crust and it does turn out crispy (something that is difficult to achieve in the home oven).

So here it is!

Aunt Diane's Pizza Dough

3 cups flour
1 pkg. yeast
1 1/4 cups warm water
2 T. sugar
2 T. shortening (I use olive oil)
1 tsp. salt

Dissolve yeast in water. Add sugar, salt and oil. I then put it in my Kitchen Aid and add the 3 cups of flour gradually. After mixing it in the Kitchen Aid, I put it in a greased bowl and cover it with a dish towel.

I let it rise for at least one hour, (sometimes it takes a little longer.) Half way through the rising, I punch it down and let it start rising again. I make sure that it gets to the top of the bowl.

I divide it in half so I can make two pizzas with the dough.

August's Header Picture

One of the staples of knowledge of the Milton Earl family was Grandpa's knowledge of gardening. He was a master in the garden. Lynn Mills, a well known horticulturist in the Las Vegas area, used to come to "Milt" (as he called him) to ask him gardening questions.

Uncle Lee had a huge garden in the back of their house. He would say that he mainly kept the garden so that Grandpa Earl would have lots to do!

One of my favorite stories that Grandpa Earl told me one time was about some people that were back in the garden stealing tomatoes. Grandpa caught them picking away. He called everyone Brother or Sister, so he said, "Brother, you can take those tomatoes but I would suggest that you come back another day when the tomatoes are fully ripe. They will taste a lot better." That was our Grandpa! He would treat everyone with kindness (even when they didn't deserve it) and teach them a little lesson in the process. :)

This picture shows tomatoes that my brother-in-law, Chad Van Buskirk grew in his garden this year. I was the happy recipient of these tomatoes! When you eat a homegrown tomato this year, be sure to pause a bit and think of our Grandpa Milton Earl!

Recipe - Million Dollar Relish

Here is a great recipe to use up the garden vegetables!

MILLION DOLLAR RELISH
Aunt Eula Mae Judd

2 qt. cucumbers, ground
1 qt. onions, ground
2 qt. cabbage, ground
4 green peppers, seeds removed and ground
3/4 C. salt

Pour salt over all and let stand overnight. Next morning, heat to boiling and drain well.

Add:

5 C. vinegar (I like 4 C. vinegar and 2 C. water better)
5 C. sugar
3 Tb. mustard seed
2 Tb. celery seed

Bring to boiling point and boil about 2 to 3 minutes.

Add paste made of:

1/2 C. flour
1 Tb. turmeric
1 Tb. dry mustard
1 pt. vinegar (1/2 water is better)

Boil 10 minutes and seal. I always cold pack for 10 minutes. Makes 11 pints.

(If you want to print this recipe; just click on this post title.)

A Good Question about July's Header Picture! - Grandma Erma Earl's family

Cousin Mauri Earl asked a great question! Where is Grandma Erma Earl in the Frehner family picture? Well, Grandma Earl was not born yet!

She was born on May 9, 1899 in Littlefield, Arizona (about 30 minutes away from St. George, UT). My dad (Gary) would tell me that Grandma really liked that she was born in one century and lived in another!

Also, Grandma Erma Earl was a twin! Her twin was Ervin and he died the first summer of the "summer complaint". Grandma Earl talks about this in her life history. (I will put her history on our blog in the future.) Grandma said, "No one at that time had any way to keep food cold. This was a great trial to parents, in those days, to help save their babies from heat."

Grandma also expressed her feelings about losing her twin. She said, "I then longed so much for my twin, Ervin, thinking how wonderful it would have been for me to have had him to go places with. But dying at four months old we never knew anything about each other or knew the joy of being together."

Grandma Earl was the ninth child of nine children. Five of the children passed away before they reached adulthood. She says in history that she was called "the baby".

July's Header Picture - Henry & Henrietta Frehner Family

This is a very special picture for July for Pioneer Day! This picture is of the Henry and Henrietta (Reber) Frehner family. This is Grandma Erma Earl's parents and siblings!

The children are:

Henry - b. 1885 / d. 1902
Joseph - b. 1886
Alfred - b. 1888
Minnie - b. 4 April 1891 / d. Oct. 1908
Millie - b. 4 April 1891 / d. Mar. 1908

If you would like more information about the Henry Frehner family be sure to visit with Uncle Gary! His e-mail is jge1935@embarqmail.com

Uncle Gary was able to borrow this picture a few months ago for us to scan from his cousin, Phyllis McConnell. Thank you, Phyllis! This is a treasure!

Let's be sure to celebrate our amazing pioneer heritage this month!

Recipe - Quick Root Beer

This recipe will be great for the hot summer months that can be full of parties!

Quick Root Beer
Recipe by Stan Judd (Aunt Eula Mae's Son)

Mix 1 bottle of root beer extract,
5 pounds sugar,
and water,
to make 5 gallons.

Stir as you add water to dissolve sugar.
Add 5 pounds dry ice
and cover loosely.

Make sure you leave water down in the container to allow for bubbling.
Let stand for at least 1/2 hour to and hour before serving.

This is so easy and tastes great!

(If you want to print this recipe; just click on this post title.)

Recipe - Peach Raspberry Jam

Summer is the perfect time to make jam, although this recipe looks like it could be made anytime of the year.

This recipe was from Aunt Eula Mae who got it from her mother, Erma Earl.

Peach Raspberry Jam

6 C. peaches, ground
7 1/2 C. sugar
1 box MCP pectin
2 boxes frozen raspberries, thawed
1 box frozen strawberries, thawed
1 pkg. raspberry Kool-Aid
1 pkg. (3 oz.) raspberry jello

Boil 10-15 minutes, stirring most of the time; add 1 package (3 ounces) raspberry jello. Let set a few minutes; skim and put in hot jars. Makes approximately 14 jars (1/2 pint size). Sure makes a few peaches taste good.

(If you want to print this recipe; just click on this post title.)

June Header Picture

The header picture for June 2008 is from May 17, 1975. It was Grandpa Earl's 80th birthday party. It was held at Uncle Lee and Aunt Doris's home in Las Vegas, NV.



From left to right: Diane Nelson Earl (Uncle Gary Earl's wife), Grandpa Milton Earl, Janice Earl Whipple (Grandpa Earl's daughter).

Grandma Earl's Carrot Cake Recipe

To celebrate all of the May 2008 Earl birthdays and anniversaries, I thought that I would post a fitting recipe.

The secret in this recipe is the pineapple. It makes the cake really moist. Click on the title below for a treasured recipe from Grandma Erma Earl. It will open in a Word document for you to print.

Grandma Earl's Carrot Cake Recipe

Aunt Doris Swapp Earl - Funeral and Obituary

(Double-click on images to enlarge)

 

 

 

Obituary

 

Doris Swapp Earl, longtime Nevadan, passed away peacefully Feb. 28, 2008, in Mesa, Arizona.  She was born Doris Swapp, in Overton, in 1925.  She later attended Moapa Valley High School and Las Vegas High School.  Doris married Lee M. Earl in 1947.  Her husband, Lee, preceded her in death in 1994.  She is survived by her children, Kathleen (Max) Rosenhan, Daniel (Lorna) Earl, Marilyn (Thomas) Butler, and Elizabeth (Bruce) Green; 15 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.  Doris assisted during World War II in several defense factories in San Diego and Monterey, California.  Shortly after the war, she married her husband, Lee.  They owned and operated a dairy farm outside of Las Vegas at the Warm Springs Ranch in Moapa for 10 years.  Lee and Doris moved into Las Vegas in 1956, where they lived continuously until Lee’s passing.  Doris was a homemaker who served in many LDS church leadership positions over the years.  She moved to Mesa, Arizona in 2000, due to health reasons and to be nearer to her two eldest daughters.  A family gathering and informal viewing will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, with services following at 2 p.m., both at the LDS Temple View Chapel, 827 Temple View Drive, next door to the Las Vegas LDS Temple.  Arrangements will be performed through La Paloma Funeral Services, 5450 Stephanie Street.

I Will Miss You Aunt Doris! - Saturday, March 8, 2008

I was able to attend the funeral of
my Aunt Doris Earl. She was the
wife of my Dad's oldest brother, Lee.

The funeral was a wonderful one
because she was wonderful. She was
a woman of service and commitment
and unyielding faith in the good times
and in the bad.

I remember going to their cool tri-level
house on 9th Street (Downtown LV)
for family get togethers. Their family
sang everytime we would gather and
they had amazing family harmony.

Her granddaughters and grandsons
sang at her funeral and it was the same
sounds all over again, many years later.



Earl Family Get Together in 1975:
Her son, Danny - her daughter Marilyn,
me and my mom.

My sister's best friend, Alayna Winder,
happened to have my Aunt Doris as her
visiting teacher when she was 1st married
(she did not know my sister then). Alayna
said that Aunt Doris would sometimes
show up with a casserole for their visiting
teaching appointment and put it in her
oven to cook for her dinner that night
while they visited. No other reason than
just to let her know that she cared about
her.


Me, my Grandpa Milton Earl and my
sister, Barbara - 1975.


Aunt Doris and Uncle Lee had my
Grandpa Earl live with them for 17 years
after my Grandma Earl passed away. I
remember going to visit even in high
school and Aunt Doris would be in cooking
(and I mean cooking!) Grandpa breakfast
or lunch while Uncle Lee was at work.


The things that I learned from my Aunt
Doris were:

• Be interested in other people
• Don't complain
• Serve other people
• Express your talents
• Love your family
• Keep a smile on your face
• (Even if you don't feel like it!)

I don't know if I do these things, but
I have seen them mentored by my
Aunt Doris. Thank you & I love you.

Earl Family Temple Sessions are Starting!

When I was coming home from Aunt Doris's funeral, I was thinking about what a wonderful family we have. I was wondering how we could get together often without the issues of trying to plan a big event.

Maybe I have inherited my Dad's "family gathering" gene or the Lord is just passing it down to the next generation. :) But, the Spirit told me to set up a Earl Family Temple Session, just like a Ward Temple Night. I think that this is a great idea! Whoever can make it, it will be wonderful to see each other in the temple.

Grandma and Grandpa Earl loved the temple. So, in honor of them, I thought that we could start in a very important month to them, May. Their anniversary is May 2nd, Grandma Earl's birthday is May 9th and Grandpa Earl's birthday is May 17th.

I was a bit concerned about how to pick a day and time. Nights are so full for everyone and I didn't want to take the whole day on Saturday. Then, I spoke with Aunt Eula Mae and I brought up my idea to her. Her ward temple night is on the 3rd Saturday at 5:00 p.m. I think that that will be a great time for us. It doesn't take up your whole Saturday and leaves the evening free if you have a reception or something on Saturday night. I also think that it shouldn't be as crowded as trying to make an evening session together.

I am going to notify all of our family of our new plan, so in case you are traveling and happen to be in Vegas on the 3rd Saturday of the month, you could see some of the family at the temple.

So, our new tradition has started! We will have the 1st Earl Family Temple Session on Grandpa Earl's birthday! -- Saturday, May 17th at 5:00 p.m. We will celebrate Grandma and Grandpa style...at the temple!