Benjamin's New calling February 23rd

The morning of the last day of trek Benjamin was asked to come in for an interview with Elder Gay who is in the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Lythgoe an area Seventy.  He went home and showered. He was asked to come with three names that he could recommend for the next Stake President.  He had a heartwarming and introspect interview. He was asked what he learned most when he was a Bishop, he said he had no idea of the under current of love and service in the ward. He got to see upclose all the private acts of goodness.  One of the names he recommended was his brother, Scott. He said full disclosure the next name I'm going to give you is my brother. Then they asked him what makes your brother a good recommendation? He said he understands the operation of things and makes them run smoothly and he is guided by the Spirit. Benjamin said he got emotional talking about his brothers best qualities. After the interview he came back to the Trek campsite. Benjamin then told Scott who was also helping at track that he recommended him. Scott laughed and said well you don't have to worry about being called because they're not going to call somebody who only recommends their family ☺️

Trek ended at 11 am. Got sweaty Weand dirty cleaning up and left the Trek campsite at 1:30. We got ice cream in Benson at 2:00 and got a call at 2:30 on our drive home from President Lewis asking us to come to the Church as soon as possible. We explained we were coming home from Trek and asked if he would like us there quick and dirty or late and clean? They said late and clean. Pheww we got to shower.

When we got to the interview, I was interviewed first. They asked me if Benjamin was a good husband and if he treated his family right. They asked me if I had any doctrinal questions or concerns. I explained that I don't know everything but I have faith that it'll all work out in the end and it's line upon line with understanding. They then called Benjamin in with me and extended the call of second counselor in the stake presidency. We were so relieved it wasn't president!!! They told us that during the previous interviews they learned that we were a very respected couple in the stake and then Elder Gay corrected and said no I would say they are a very beloved couple in the stake. It was a very generous and kind moment.

The next morning we attended a training session before Stake conference at 8 a.m. It was great to learn of the other presidency members all of whom speak Spanish. President Judd Curtis and first counselor Lois Figueroa. At Stake conference the previous Stake presidency bore thier testimonies and the old Stake Presidency as well as Sister Curtis and Sister Lewis. President Curtis also bore his testimony in Spanish. I could see the Spanish members who had headsets on take them off smile and get very excited that the new Stake President could speak directly to them.

After the meeting the new Stake presidency were set apart. Benjamin was set apart by Elder Gay. Benjamin felt like Elder Gay almost had his patriarchal blessing in his hand and quoted it directly. There  were many similarities and confirmations to Benjamin that these leaders were called of God.  Elder Gay and Elder Lythgoe were both very excited to meet Benjamin's brother Scott. Scott and Benjamin hugged after the blessing which lasted for quite some time, there were many tears in the room.

It was a very beautiful and spiritually draining weekend ♥️

Trek baby February 20-22 2020

We survived Trek!!! We did it! Benjamin and I were the Trek leaders for two Stakes. Which consisted of 11 wards and around 180 youth. It was probably the most stressful calling Benjamin and I have done. It was certainly the hardest calling we both worked together on. It all came together by the skin of our teeth. Many months of planning, but not enough months. The last two weeks were intense! It felt like a truck of responsibility was parked on my chest. We met the Saturday before Trek having fasted for guidance to put the youth in the best family possible. We knelt as a committee and prayed....a kneeling prayer. We meant business. I had color coded note cards that signified age and gender, as well as information about each youth provided by their parents. It took hours to complete. The following day on Sunday we had our last meeting with all the Ma and Pa's and gave them their family assignments. All i's were dotted and all t's were crossed....then the phone calls came in. So and so can't come, so and so wants to come...just like a real family when one family member leaves there is a ripple effect. So many additional changes. The night before we get a call that  a Ma and Pa couldn't make it.. All our plans changed. Life. Plan B or rather plan Z went into effect. Luckily we had an amazing crew, flexibility was our middle name. We had many meetings with the focus of attitude is everything, a key working with youth or really anyone.  The Ma's and Pa's were truly amazing.

The youth trekked 10 1/2 miles on the first day. It was a young group. We had 11 year olds on the Trek so the carts were heavy. The ranch owners Shane and Jolyn Smith (they are so generous) suggested lightening the carts, they started dropping items on the trail to be picked up later by a truck. The youth came into camp exhausted. 

That evening they had a talk by Burt Dover about the pioneers and how out of the 650 people that died crossing the plains about 180 of them were youth their age. They each were giving a close pin with a youth name and age that they had died on the trail. They were supposed to bury their doubts, fears, grudges on the trail. That would be their sacrifice.

Plan Z.. The next day we woke up to rain and a rainbow. We thought it was a sign of good things to come. The ranch owners suggested all able adults to be out on the trail to help these young trekkers. I was able to check with a family whose mom got hurt the day before it was a blast I got to pull a hand cart! I had a ton of fun and the group I was with was super fun too. We had to go up steep hills and pull with all our might. We stopped for lunch which ended up being a long rest stop. We heard from a speaker which was awesome and then we hit the trail again

 We started back home making our way back to the trail. Using our phones we found out that there was a hundred percent chance of rain the next day and an 80% chance that the rain would start at around 11 pm. We knew we couldn't have the kids stay in their tents because even though they were supposed to have rain shields to protect them from the elements a lot of people had borrowed tents and we couldn't guarantee that they would be safe from the elements. So we began to come up with another plan. Luckily the ranch owner had a large barn and they were able to clear out the barn and move all the girls inside the barn and the boys slept under the awnings away from the elements. The kids were very relieved and excited that the last day of trek would not consist of trekking.  The ranch owners told us if they have to Trek in the rain the kids would be miserable. So the last day we had a cozy day in the barn. Sister Beth Rustand and Meridon Figueroa spoke. Beth spoke of how each of us are hauling invisible carts some full of anxieties, a bad home life, depression, spiritual doubts, difficult schools etc and how we need to put our trust in the Savior and to let Him help us with our loads. Meridon asked the youth to help make their families loads easier by treating your siblings kindly and how her brother treated the family like they were beneath him and how he added weight to the family cart. Both talked were very inspirational and a perfect ending to our Trek.

With the help of Robin and John we made 23 family flags. Robin cut all the vinyl and we attached them. Later Bella helped me paint over the vinyl and then peel the vinyl off. Each family had their own color and matching buffs.

I didn't get a picture of Benjamin and I together, bummer but this is me.

When trek was finished we got ice cream in Benson and got a phone call for Benjamin to meet with President Lewis as soon as possible...no rest for the wicked.

Benjamin is Prime.. February 1st

Benjamin turns 43....43 is a prime number...so Benjamin is Prime!

For the last 7 months Benjamin and I have been serving together as the Trek leaders for the Tucson and East Stake. It's a gigantic responsibility. So many details and balls to juggle. Two Stake Presidencies, 11 Bishops, 24 Ma's and Pa's and over 100 families. It's big. We have never worked this closely on a calling before. It's been fun to see his leadership skills up close. He is fun, and a great speaker and his computer talents really came in handy!

His birthday is the 1st of February. We had pizza, his parents and my parents over. Liv made a carrot cake from scratch..it wàs delicious.

I love you babe. You have gotten better with age. You are loving, hardworking, and have a ton of talents. Thanks for loving me unconditionally and being my biggest fan, cause I'm your biggest fan 💕

Mother daughter photo shoot 2020

It was pajama day at Kokopelli Kids Preschool...one of the best days of the year. My mom humored me with photos at recces..this was hysterical 😂!! She bought a Care Bear pajama onesie it was beyond awesome!

Every kid brought their favorite stuffed animal so of course I brought my cabbage patch babies. I'm such a big girl that I share my dolls with the class. They love them too. Toys and dress ups are meant to be played with!

I picked Anna up from school, Benjamin and had dropped her off  and she wore a sweater in the morning, we had no idea we were twinning it all day.

Dad turns 71!

John Albert Holman turned 71! Mom the ultimate party planner hosted a great party. They rented a church building, bought a ton of pizza and set up a projector for playing games on. The cousins ran a muck, explored the old building and made a play. I love having family close even better family that I love. The Smiths obviously couldn't be there, which stinks because Mom and Lindsey are definitely the two biggest party animals. John's family bought dad the old "Mr. Bill" videos and doll..it was a blast from the past. We watched some episodes the kids were very amused. The girls bought dad a medal detector which seems appropriate for retirement. It was a grand nigh for a grand Dad ♥️

Two races complete in the first 4 days of the new year!

We had our annual Howe famly 5K on New Years day. Danny and Pete designed a new course which involved circling the neighborhood park, 4 laps around. This made it easy for little kids not to get lost in the neighborhood and for spectators to see more of the runners. This year a miracle happened... I won the race!! So what if some of the families serious runners were jogging with their kids...I won! My speech was incredible, it spoke of my journey towards the podium.. 

Then on Saturday Benjamin and I ran in The Run Around Tucson Relay. The relay consists of 8 members. There was us, Mike and Katie Walston, her brother Jeff, and Katie's friend Kashmir, and a father son team Brett and Aiden Omadal. It was a fun team each runner had a leg that was anywhere form 5 to 8 miles. Benjamin did the longest leg of 8 miles which was basically all up hill. My leg was mostly on the south side of town in the city. It was 7 miles. It was cool because I have never run in that area of town. I was frustrated because at mile 3 I had to stop for a traffic light and it killed my mojo. My foot had been acting up the last couple of days and I was worried I wouldn't be able to physically do it but my foot felt great. Mentally at mile 5 I was donezo. It was a complete mental battle the last 3 miles of the race. But I finished! All in all it was a great race and we got cool medals, a t-shirt and a free lunch. I use the word "free" loosely because you do have to pay to do the run :)

For Christmas Benjamin and I got new running shoes for each other. We went to the Fleet Feet store. Its a shoe place that scans your foot to check your arch, posture and foot measurements and pulls shoes that work best for your physical frame. The shoes have taken a bit getting used to but it felt good running in new shoes.

Family Photos 2019

I was so grateful Carlie and Seth came to town for New Years, because Carlie could take our family pictures in 2019! She is an excellent photographer, who knows how to pose people and who also is extremely speedy! We took the pictures by Sabino creek that's next to our place. We go to the creek several times a week during winter break and usually weekly during normal weeks.

 Isabella Jules 18

 Olivia Jane 17

Holman Jackson 15

Parkin Joshua 12

Adrianna Joyce 10

 Benjamin and Lesley 42 and 41

 Going on 22 years of marriage!