We're back from our Hols, aren't we cute?

Family Song - Whispering Hope

I heard this song at many a family gathering and watched my aunts and uncles often close to tears as they sang it. Never realised the great message it contained until I sang it at my aunts funeral last year. It talks to me of the spirit or Holy Ghost that whispers softly of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the hope it brings into our lives. The words are profound. (excuse the video, it was the best voice I could find, the rest were really old).

Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.


Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.


If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.


Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.


Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart.


Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

I heart you Auntie Kitty

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the passing on of my dear great auntie Kitty. She was a second mother to my mum, therefore a 2nd granny to us kids. I have the best of memories of her and my great uncle Alfie. My favourite thing was going once a month on Saturdays, and in the later days Sundays to their house for dinner. It was always so yummy and no one could mash potatoes like my uncle Alfie. Auntie Kitty was a great cook and baker, I loved her German biscuits, current squares, homemade strawberry jam, and home grown tomatoes. She loved to spread butter real thick on bread and always had c&c lemonade in her fridge. As far a chocolate goes she always seemed to have club biscuits in the house, orange, mint, and fruit & nut. Funny how a lot of my memories revolve around food???? That must be why she nicknamed me "the bin" - my appetite was never ending (still is)! Once a year she would take us shopping for our B-days and we would meet her in Belfast, have an Ulster fry for breakfast, then usually head to M&S to buy an outfit. I missed seeing her when I left to live in the USA, she was always up there on the top of my list of people to see when I was home to visit, and I enjoyed taking the girls to visit her monthly until last July. Can't believe a year has gone by already. Mum, Rachael, and I sang a family song called Whispering Hope at her funeral which had a lot of meaning to her and the whole Parkes side of the family. Hopefully I can find it online and post it, if not I'll post the words. Just mindful and grateful today for such a special person - my auntie Kitty.

Happy Reunion

Probably the most influential leader in my youth would have to be Jennifer Hutchinson. She was the young women president in my ward when I was aged 14-16, then she immigrated to the United States. We as young women were all devastated when she left. She is still one of my greatest heroes to this day and I just admire her so much. I was lucky enough to be able to spend time with at her home in Taylorsville when I was a BYU student, and it was always a comfort to know she was there if I needed her. She is home for 2 weeks so she came to our ward on Sunday and came back to our home with her family for Sunday lunch. It was so wonderful to catch up and renew our friendship.

Who, What, When, Where, and Why

Here's a few pics from Saturday when we took the girls to W5 - a children's museum in Belfast. The weather has been MISERABLE here, you would hardly know it was summer. It just downpours everyday so we thought this would be a good indoor activity. They seemed to have a fun time checking everything out.

It's the 4th of July!!!

This song gives me the chills everytime I hear it, and yes in my current pregnant state makes me want to cry. I first heard this song nearly 9 years ago on a date at a homecoming event at BYU. I have to admit I found the line "where at least I know I'm free" a bit annoying initially as I have always felt just as free as any American throughout my life. But, I loved this song from the day I heard it, and over the years have come to embrace how patriotic Americans are. I think they have a lot to be grateful and proud of. I have a great love for the United States and all my friends and family that live there. So to you all, Deldon, Samantha, and Sophie - Happy Independence Day and God Bless the USA. Five days and counting until we touch down on US soil again, can't wait!!

Farewell to the Hartford Connecticut Mission

It's July 1st 2008 so the day has finally come for President and Sister Johnson to say goodbye to 60 Pioneer drive - their home for the past 3 years. We visited 3 times during their mission, the mission home and mission life is all Samantha and Sophie know of Grandma's and Papa Van's lives. We feel so blessed and proud (in a good sense of the word, I hope) to have had Deldon's dad serve as mission president. We know they have devoted themselves 110% to their work there. How blessed have been the missionaries that have had the privilege of serving under them. We loved all our visits, and enjoyed the mission spirit, it reminded us of our own missions and of the need to do better in our missionary efforts back home. Last time we visited we attended a stake conference for Rhode Island just 48 hours after we flew in. We both didn't care much for the drive and staying in a hotel with 2 jet lagged kids, only to then sit through a 2 hour meeting trying to keep them quiet. We figured it's not our stake conference, we don't need to hear what they have to say - oh how wrong we were!!! Amazingly Samantha did really well and Sophie slept so we were able to hear the talks....unbelievable! Every talk seemed especially tailored to us. I have read many of Van's talks through email and have been really touch and impressed by his understanding of gospel principles and how they apply to our lives. But this day I was able to sit in the hall and listen over the speaker system when he spoke of a man (his father, Deldon's grandfather, and my children's great grandfather) and his dedication to doing his home teaching. I was so thankful to realize the kind of family they are descended from. We came away from that Thanksgiving visit to Connecticut spiritually filled. Congratulations Van and Barbara, rest up well for the next week because things are about to get get really crazy when the Johnson clan descends on Palmyra. Thank you so much for this church history tour, it is a wonderful gift for all the family and we can hardly stand the wait!