May Memories

 Welcome back!!  I hope you are all ready for today's blog post because I wasn't kidding when I said it would be a big photo dump today.  Well, this lovely morning, we will be looking at what happened for the Davis family in May 2024, so let's talk about it shall we?

Me, Jaina, and Jacen made a trip to see the Layton Temple open house and I was getting even more excited for it to open so I could start working as an Ordinance Worker.

Cocoa Bean being especially cute as always.

Me, Meow-meow, and Nathan went to see the Taylorsville Temple open house.  That temple is beautiful!!

We got more snow.

Yuck!

Driving in it was not fun either.

And more snuggles.

Okay, now is the time to sit back and get comfy.  Take a potty break and get a snack because here comes the photo dump.  May was a very exciting month because for the first time in forever, well, I'm sure it's happened before, but not in my lifetime, the Northern Lights could be seen in Utah and Idaho.  I have never seen the Northern lights and have always wanted to see them, but in order to see them, it would mean I would have to travel way up north to where it's really really cold, and as much as I want to see the Northern lights, I really don't want to go where it's that cold.  So, when we heard that we would be able to see the Northern Lights down this far, we jumped on the chance.  The first night, we traveled up into the middle of nowhere Idaho with Nathan's sister and her family, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!!  Picking a favorite picture would be like picking a favorite child, which is next to impossible, so sit back and enjoy the ride.....

At first you could only see the lights by taking pictures with your camera.  To the naked eye, it would look like any other regular night sky.  But when you took a picture, you would see things like this

and this

and this, minus Nathan looking at the pictures he took on his phone

and this

and this

and this

and this

and this

and this

and this

But then it got more intense and you could start seeing things with the naked eye, but still you got the best show through taking random pictures of the night sky.

I love this one 

But this one is probably one of my favorites, that is if I had favorites.

The colors went in and out of intensity for a while.

But most often we got vibrant colors like this

and this

and this

It's not blurry, the sky was actually moving.  This is about when it really became visible to the naked eye and you could just see the colors swirling and moving across the sky.  It was really cool

It looks like it's raining colors

The show went on for a couple of hours at least.

So pretty

I'm quite proud of my photo skills.

The sky was really moving at this point

I got some pretty good videos of it, but they don't seem to like to upload to my blog.

Those colors are just so amazing!!

Still with me?

I'll shut up and let you enjoy the photos

Eilee and her cousin

I think that is me

Meow-meow and his cousin

Eilee

The show still wasn't done, but it was getting really late, we were all very cold, and very tired and so we had to head for home, but I got this excellent shot from the car.

Well my friends, that was just day ONE of the Northern lights.  We heard that we would be able to see them again the next night, but we really didn't want to have to go clear back up into Idaho, but then we heard that we would be able to see them clear down into Utah.  Well, after what we saw the first night, we wanted to see another round of it and so we made plans to go up into the mountains.  It was predicted that the show would start well after midnight, but being the overachievers that we are, we wanted to get up there extra early to find a good spot and beat the traffic.  Well, our overachieving paid off because if you went up the canyon to watch the lights when the news said to go, you would have missed it.  The Northern lights apparently decided to show up early, stick around for about only 15 minutes before leaving.  I am very glad that we went up as early as we did, because we were able to see it, and we arrived barely in time to see it.   I've heard from several other people who went up later and they didn't get to see a single thing.  So, anyway if you thought we were done, just kidding, we aren't.  Here is day two of Northern lights.  

The sky started to have green and blue hues to it.

The unfortunate part about this round of Northern lights is that you could only see the colors by taking pictures.  With the naked eye, it just looked like any regular night sky.

Here's where it started.

We didn't see any of the movement that we had seen the night before.

We heard that the lights were much better in Idaho and that they were better than the night before.

I  hind sight, we should have just gone back up to Idaho, we had thought about it, but reports said that we would get an epic show that would last for hours.  They were wrong.

It was still very pretty

I think this is one of my top favorite pictures, not that I have favorites.

And as quickly as it began, it started to fade away.

Pretty much ended.

We stuck around for several hours after because the reports were that it was going to come back and be more epic than before, but nothing happened, and we eventually gave up and went home because we were cold and tired.  From what we heard, it never came back.

Well, that's all of the Northern lights pictures I have, and I didn't even share all of them, I only shared less than half!!  But we aren't quite done with May 2024 yet.

Let's talk about what else went on in May 2024....

So, I did a thing.  I was out tilling the garden when the tiller ran out of gas.  I refilled the tank, but then had to restart the silly thing.  Well, while I was fiddling around with the choke, I wasn't paying attention to where I put my hand....Yeah it was painful and left scars on my hand.  They've faded now, but if you look closely enough and know what you are looking for, you can see them.  Let me tell you, it hurt like HE-double hockey sticks!!  And that was my first Urgent Care visit of the season.

This is Scoot.  He is my other barn cat.  We call him Scoot because he is a skittsh kitty and will run away if you get near him.  So, I call him Scoot because he Scoots away when you approach.  I had been being very patient with him, and trying to make him my friend, so when he got this close to me, I was very excited.  He wouldn't let me touch him....yet....

Grignard and Scoot taking a break with me in the barn.  They were my buddies because as I was mixing up the compost pile, I would unearth mice, and they would make short work of them.

Poor little Meow-meow.  The night before the last day of school, he made himself a bowl of ramen soup and then accidentally spilled it all over his leg when he went to sit down.  He got some pretty bad second degree burns and a trip to the Emergency Room.  He still insisted on going to the last day of school the next day.  He's quite the trooper. 

If you thought I was done with the photo dump, you would be wrong.  You see, Meow-meow was in another play at OPPA (On Pitch Performing Arts).  This time he was in Guys and Dolls Jr., and he played the Roll of Big Jule.  The funny thing is that his sore leg gave his character more character.  Everyone thought he was hamming it up (in a good way, not a bad way)....until he showed them his leg. He got lots of sympathy and support, but they all think that it added to how he portrayed Big Jule.  So, here are the photos from his play.

At the Blue Carpet event (it's their version of the Red Carpet)

He did not tell any of us that he would be pulling out a stage gun during one of his scenes and he kept it from us when he would practice at home!!  Silly boy let us all be surprised by it.  It was awesome!!  He did such a good job and it was very comedic, as it was supposed to be.  Good job for keeping it a secret for all those weeks of practice!!

Well, here we are, we finally made it to the end of May 2024!!  Thanks for sticking to the end with me....

But......but what about Jimmy?

Shall we see what kinds of shenanigans Jimmy got up to in May 2024?

Well, that certainly is one way of stacking chairs....

We were extra special and got three emails for Jimmy in the month of May!!

The first is from May 7th

It's been a little while since i sent an email. Sorey aboot that. Well it's been joyful being a missionary out here in Vegas. There's been a lot going on with me and Elder Barker. Elder Barker is great first of all. He is hard working, diligent, and a funny elder, sometimes he can be a little silly. He did crashed on his bike like the second day in the area. It wasn't too rough. He just hit an electrical box that juts out of the side walk. But he luckily had a soft landing of a pile of rocks. And his injuries were fatal. It was a small scratch on his pinky, and nothing else. All jokes aside it was crazy that he's big crash gave him a tiny scratch on his pinky. He's been breaking in his body to the biking. The heat is kicking up like always. We caught a lizard and then he escaped into our house. But we found him. Nearly died when biking to our dinner. We were at the bottom of our area, and our dinner was at the top. And we had about 7 minutes to get there. So elder Barker went crazy on his bike. I mean like crazy. He started zooming and would barley watch out for cars. Most of the ride back was on the sidewalk and crossing at street lights. But then we made it to a point in the road where we needed to cross a busy street thar has no streetlights and he glanced back, to see a line of cars coming and he didnt even hesitate to cross. Elder just hoped off the curb and kicked it. I, however, was a little behind him because I knew we were going to be late and didn't want use all my energy. But when I saw him cross the road with such confidence, I was almost certain, by the look in his face of confidence and hunger, that the road was clear. So I started to cross. My mistake, because when I hoped into the road and looked behind me I saw the load of cars hauling towards me. So I got some honks at me. But that's not it. We still had to cross another road thar also dont got a street light. One that was less busy but at the same time really busy. Cause the busy road turns left onto this road. So there would be little cars then all of a sudden a lot of cars. And Elder Barker. Being blinded by hunger, kept going and crossed the road none stop. Didn't even bother to see if there was a line of cars turning left. He was 4' from a car and then finally look at the car. I waved sorry to the car that he had just cut off. I was still behind and was then trapped on the wrong side of the road. With a line of cars of the side of the road I needed to get into. And a line of cars going toward me. Thankful there were dirt roads on the side of the road. So I pulled off the the side and just started biking on this rocky Terrain. Eventually I yelled, with little too much angry, Elder! And he stopped and finally noticed that I was trapped, on a dirt road and a good distance behind him. Eventually the road cleared up and I crossed, and took the lead while saying "WHAT ARE YOU DOING". by the grace and hand of the lord we were spared. and we made it to dinner late anyways. I did apologize while we were washing our hands in the bathroom for raising my voice. The dinner was pretty good. Other than that and the usual strange person we meet every other day it's been good. We had stake conference in which elder Dushku of the seventy, the one who talked in general conference about rays and pillars of light, was there. That was fun. Did some service with an elderly food pantry thing. They caught us putting an extra can in every once and a while. Oops. Caught a spider in the Hamptons. Went to the temple which was really great. Had a relaxing time there. Then got some canes where our zone leader spilled ketchup on his new shirt. My companion tried to roast me over a tie pin. Eventually he said "email president then" silly goose didn't even realize there's an image on the dressing and grooming standards with the exact tie pin. So I showed it to my mission pres. And he said "looks like an apoved tie pin to me". That was a little silly. Along with stake conference, we also had zone conference. Learned some great powerful things. Love my mission president. It was sone hot stuff. Some of us got flamed. Then today we got some pickle ball in, fun stuff. Other than that. Things are going good. 

In zone conference we read about the stripling warriors. Which takes place in alma chapters 56-58. It says in amla 57:21

 "21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them."

 

So here we have a group of young men. We're thinking 14-20 year-olds give or take. And they were obeying every command. They were righteous. When we dive deeper. They must have had food for strength and energy. And they had been given supplies. But what held these supplies. Presumably wagons. And when they slept, who watched their over their camp. These aren't in the scriptures but yet the must have been there and not written down. So because of that, the must have been watch guards. There must have been men preparing and dealing food, they must have hand mechanics, taking good care of the wagons so they don't break down. There must have been much more. And like the scripture says, they obeyed with exactness. However in verse 25 it says

"25 And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds."

So they were exact with their commands. But yet they still all got hurt. And some even enough to faint. But yet they still were happy. Why is that. They could have complained saying "we were perfect, we did everything right" but instead they were astonished at the goodness of God. And filled with joy. Why?

Here's what i personally think. There is receiving trials, and accepting trials. After they were good in keeping the commandments, this received a trial. But not only that but they accepted it. They even turned it into a blessing. Instead of complaining, they rejoiced because of what they were spared, which was every life that was spared.

It's up to us to obey the commandments, and also up to us to accept trials. As we decide to do both, we will see the many many blessings we are given. Mosiah 2:41 explains what we gain perfectly 

"41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

I love you all and hope you all may accept these trails. I can promise you all that if you do,  you will see the temporal and spiritual blessings

Elder davis out

The second is from May 21st

Hello everybody, it's elder davis. Back at it again. We's got a great week that we just had. The earth is beautiful, hitting mid 90s this week nothing much happend except prophesy being fulfilled. Oh yeah  we's got in a bash. Weren't the best bash. They pretty much quoted verse 6. We shared Ezekiel 37: 19-21, didn't faze her tho. So she grabbed our hands and said let's pray. She said to us that she doesn't move during prayer. But then proceeds to move in circles and raising our hands. We gave her a bom and she said she'll use it for English study. That was that. Pretty much just had a regularity week with that. Until Saturday when we went on an exchange with some mighty elders. I which I went to the other elders area and we taught a lesson with yet another bash. The exact same thing. 2 nephi 29:6 quoted from the book again. This time we had fellowship there to back us up. People love the book of revelations where it says no adding or taking away from THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS. And when you tell them that they say " john knew the Bible would become the Bible so he was talking about the whole bible" although the second bash said "he was talking about the word of God. He was talking about scriptures" if that where the case he would probably also know about the book of Mormon. Thankfully we were able to plant the bom. And tell him "look, if you read and pray" you'll know" so it's I'm their hands and the spirit will bare itself to them at the right time. Other than that we had a regular fruitful amazing week being a missionary.  Enjoying the peace and blessings. Now we've been on bikes for a minute. This would be my 3rd transfer on a bike. At first I loved it, then I disliked all the flat tires and bike swapping, then I got a decent bike that didn't get a flat until Sunday. So I started to like biking. It burns off the member meals which get pretty tough. But on sunday we's was in a neighborhood right across the street from our apartment. It was our last stop. We locked up and then walked around. We come back and Elder Barker has a flat in his back tire. Welp that's too darn bad. So we walk back to our apartment which is close by. Get back and my back tire also be flat . I'm not saying we did but, maybe we got our tires slashed. Oh well because we get back and go to bed. Wake up and Elder Barker starts patching his tire. I didn't cause we had an extra bike. And as soon as he fixed his bike, we got a call from Elder call from the mission office saying "elders come to the mission office now you got a car." It was pretty funny. But we are grateful. Now we actually got to work out harder. Some lady gave us totinos chips from Mexico, they're really good. Went golfing for the first time it was fun. Went on an exchange with the zone leadas. And also got to go to the temple with our recent converts. Felt such an amazing spirit there and met a recently released area 70 there aswell who just got called to serve as a mission president in Arkansas. Hit 1/4th. Saw a guy on a horse on nellis(a very busy road). Anyways love ya, keep on rollin. 

Now as much as verse 6 in 2 nephi 29 is good, the verse that follows is even better. 

" Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?" 

God loves us all! And because of that infinite love he has for us. We will always gain knowledge from him. Enough knowledge to remove road blocks. Everyone will have the opportunity to get this knowledge. I love the knowledge we are given and the prophets and apostles we are also given to learn from. And that knowledge also comes from the book of Mormon aswell as the bible. I know that with that knowledge we can be exalted on high.

And the third is from May 28th

Hey how's it going. It's been good out here. Transfers are today so news at the end because I'm writing this and dinner the day before because my bagel bites are cooking. Anyways nothing really new except those trivial circumstances you get in as a missionary. The car has been a blessing sense the weather shot up to 100s and don't look like going down anytime soon. But it's okay because when the spirit of the lord is upon me it mattereth not what I suffer. Not much really has happened these last couple weeks. The work has just continued and my legs have stopped aching every night in bed. We are teaching this cool lady named Barbara. She wants to go to the temple so we said "I'm sure something along the lines of that could be arranged" we went golfing again, this time only the driving range. Then went to inn and out and went to bath and body works to. 

I just love to see how much he is growing in his testimony!!  

Okay, now we are done with May 2024.  No more photo dumps, I promise.  I will see you all tomorrow for June 2024!