A Few Incidents from our Missionary Activity

We are still serving our mission, but I must admit, it feels good to know that we can take a little break now and again for such things a s our little family get-together of the a week ago.  One of the more memorable days was a week ago Wednesday.  This is the day we have a scheduled /English Class for Chinese nationals living in the area.  We have a small group and on this day we were in competition with the Ward Relief Society who was having their annual summer salad social,  When the class started we just had the few regulars and then we go a visit from to Chinese women who were totally new to us.  The one, Yan, just had a baby boy and her mother , a teacher in China, has come to see her new grandson and be with her daughter for a couple of moths.  They came to social an seamed to enjoy it and the the next week they came for the English /class.  They are wonderful people and we have struck up strong a good friendship with each of them and with their families,  It is rather difficult ti teach people of such ages and experiences and to accommodate them and their challenges and different interests, personalities and  differences and abilities to accommodate the different desires and abilities,  I think we making  litte head way,  They also came again this week ,so I guess that's a good sign.

Another Mssionary

Several weeks ago Addison put in his mission papers.  His call came from the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and he will be serving in the New York Rochester Mission.  This will be a wonderful experience for him and we have every reason to believe he will be a successful missionary and help many people come to an understanding of the true gospel of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness for his children.  This area of New York is rich in Church History.  Such sites at the Sacred Grove, the Hill Cummorh , Palmyra, and many others important in the history of the restored Church are in the area.  He will no doubt get to see many of them and walk where Joseph Smith walked and  where the Angle Moroni came to him in vision.  Addison's testimony of the restored gospel will become even stronger and the many of the people he meets will have been prepared to listen to the message he bears and receive of the gospel blessings.  Addison has been preparing for this day almost since he was born.  He has worked hard and saved his money for this very purpose.  He has been a very good student, not only at school but of the gospel.  He has read the Book of Mormon and studied the scriptures.  He has been obedient to his Father in Heaven and also his parents,who love him so very much.  They will, no doubt, miss him, but he will probably be so busy that he wont have much time to miss anything.  That is what happens when missionaries are anxiously engaged in the work.  They know they are where they should be at this time of their lives and are doing what Heavenly Father wants them to do.  Addison will find great joy in the service of the Lord as he presses forward with faith, being strictly obedient to his Mission President and other mission leaders.

We attended his "Farewell" in the Spring Creek Ward yesterday. We were very proud of Addison and his whole family.  Addison spoke confidently and humbly as he bore his testimony and taught of the Restoration of the gospel in this dispensation.  His testimony is already firm and powerful, but he will find it growing rapidly as he serves faithfully in his mission.  Most of our immediate family came to support Addison, express their love for him and spend some quality time with him be for he leaves on July 30th.Below are just a few pictures of Elder Daugs and his family and some of the extended family who also love him and will be praying for him as the days of his mission go by.  We love you Addison and are so very pleased with your decision to serve.  We are happy to be a part of your life and you a part of ours.  We will always include you in our prayers and you can expect that your family will keep you posted about what is going on at home.  I hope letters from your Grandpa Eborn will not be a distraction, but rather, a token of our love for you, and a word of encouragement when it is needed from time to time.

Addison with his parents in front of the Logan Temple on the night when he received his Endowment.

I'm pretty sure Alison is going to be missing her firstborn.  It doesn't seem possible that she is old enough to have a missionary going out into the mission field.  She will be 40 the week Addison leaves for his mission.

Addison's adoring little sister, Ada, and a couple of loving cousins, Annika, and Gabrielle.  anyone doubt that they have fun when they get together?  All so happy and all so beautiful.

Avery will take your spot on the MC Cross Conty team.  He's already eating more to gain strength for the races.

When Addison get's back home from his mission, Neveah will be a "big girl" already.  She is the youngest in our family and a great blessing to all of us.  So sweet and pretty.

There is beauty all around in this family.  Megan, Chalisa and in the background our newest Cache Valleyites. Stephen and Candice.  We are so happy to have them close and love all of our family so much.

Doctor Eborn and Doctor Eborn.  One with a MD and the other with a lot of successful practical experience.  We love them both and would know quite what to do with out them.  Grabdma Iris is a fulltime missionary too right now along with Grandpa Bart.  Fortunately we get to "stand where we are, and lift where we stand."

Ethan and Hayden, a couple of loving brothers, who will most likely be doing what Addison is doing someday.

Samuel, the son of Jared.  He might get to serve a mission someday in China.  He is already learning Chinese in school, a Chinese language immersion program.

Justin and Chalisa's sweet Kate getting prettier by the hour.  Knowing her mom and dad, what were we expecting?

While addison is out on his mission, Maddie will be preparing for her own, by persevering and avoiding "perserverors".  She know what I'm talking about.

These girls will need to change their ways, or is that just "Root Beer" and some minor league acting?

A proud Grandpa, with his missionary grandson.  May God be with you always!

I have many more pictures, all of them good, but I've got to make an end to this  sometime, so I guess this is a good spot.  The real joy come in knowing that families are forever, and there really is never a stopping point.

FORTY-EIGHT YEARS

FORTY-EIGHT YEARS- Yes, that is right. Forty-eight years ago today Iris and I were in the Logan Temple. We knelt across the alter and exchanged sacred vows. We became husband and wife pledged to honor our covenants for eternity. Today has been a wonderful day for us. We attended the same temple where we made those sacred promises to one another and to our Father in Heaven. We have been here on this date probably 40 out of the forty-eight years. It has added strength to our marriage and our life together. There were a few years when our anniversary fell on a Sunday or a Monday when the Temple was not open, and then there was the one year which I so vividly remember, primarily because I felt so bad and so small (so very small) and unappreciative. I had planned a week long backpacking trip into the Wind River Mountains with some of my sons. It was a wonderful and beautiful experience to witness the majesty of that rugged mountain range in the company of some of my sons who were able to get away and whose company I cherish, especially if we can be together in such a beautiful and peaceful setting. The trip began about the 26th of July. On July 29th, we were camped near a beautiful mountain lake called Clear Lake. I remember the stillness of the morning and the perfect reflection of Haystack Mountain in the lake waters. We cooked up a good camp breakfast and sat around the fire and started to eat. Everything tasted so good. About this time one of my sons (I can't remember which one) came over to where I was sitting and enjoying my breakfast in the cool mountain air and handed me an envelope. I opened it. Inside I read these words, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. Instantly my heart sank and my six foot two inch frame seemed to shrink to about a quarter of an inch. It is the only time I've ever forgotten our anniversary, and I pray I never do it again, not that Iris was very upset about it. She had actually encouraged me to go on the trip and take the boys with me, but I had forgotten a date which changed my life and has led to so much of what is good in my life. I love my wife, IRIS, I always have since we met through the tender mercies of the Lord those many years ago. Our life together has been blessed in so many ways. We've had our ups and downs like most marriages do, but we have tried to work together to solve our problems and challenges. We have never doubted the eternal nature of our relationship and it has given us hope and faith, that in spite of trials and personal challenges, with the Lord's help our union and our family will be eternal. Our problems will only make us stronger and better as we prayerfully seek to be better parents and better eternal; companions. One thing we have discovered is, that the more we remember and keep the covenants we made to one another and the Lord in the Logan Temple forty-eight years ago today, the happier we are. May we never forget this day nor it's significance. Not ever.

A Day with Family at Bear Lake

When it was learned that a reservation at the Bear Lake State Park East Beach was about to go unused on July 11 our reaction was: Not gonna happen. Calls were made to all of the immediate and extended family and all were invited to come and spend some quality time together. Of course, Friday is a work day and that is fully understood. Nonetheless, many were able to juggle their schedules and make time to get together. I hope, I speak for all of you when I say, it as wonderful to be together again, to see your smiles, to hear your voices, to visit, to play, to reminisce, and to feel the caring attitude we have for one another. It was a great reminder, that families, can and should be together forever. Below are just a few of the pictures we took. We hope they will serve as a reminder that we are a family and that we will love one another forever. I know, I missed a lot of faces with the camera, but never forget, we love you all and each of you have a special place in our hearts.

Megan and Maddie arrive.  Let the fun begin!

It never ceases to amaze me how much fun a little white ball and a yellow plastic bat can generate in the Eborn family.  Wiffleball.

My little bother,Mark.  Sixty years old today.  Hard to believe.  Time flies by so fast.  We couldn't help remember the day he was born in Montpelier sixty years ago today 11 July 1954..  Dad went to be with mom at the hospital and dropped all of us kids off at the Rich Theater/now Centre Theater in Montpelier while he went down to see mom and the the baby who arrived about the same time as he got there.  I can still remember the movie, "River of No Return" with Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum.  Mark has been a great little brother and he and Gail have raised a wonderful family.  No great reward can be had.

Halle and Neveah.  I think their smiles represent the joy we all felt being together as a family.  Neveah is the youngest of our immediate family.

Alyssa's husband, Ben showing Mason how to fly a big three meter kite.  So fun!!  I appreciated Stephen and Mason making the special trip from the Hinckley Scout Ranch in the Uintas so that they could be with us, even if it was for just a couple of hours.  That is pretty typical of Stephen, always going the extra mile, as do so many of you in your own ways.  We appreciate and love the effort and thought put into this little get-together, even if you were unable to be there.  We know you were in your mind and heart.

I got a lot more pictures, of course, but due to space restrictions, we'll have o leave most of them to your personal recollection.  We do love our family and it brings us the greates t joy to know that we all love one another.