Dearest Family

I cannot imagine what the world does without a living Prophet to guide them and them and a personal testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for my membership in His true Church and for the knowledge that I have been blessed with that we are true sons and daughters of our loving heavenly parents as well as our mortal parents.  I was a wonderful two days, and went by much too fast. 

I have continued to marvel this week at the changes that have so quickly been dumped in our lives by the passing of Dad.  Only two weeks since his diagnosis and we are dealing with his loss and the aftermath of dividing his personal and real property.  It can be a very trying time physically and emotionally on all of us, and requires that more than perhaps any other time that we be sensitive to the promptings of the spirit and to the needs of each other.  I love you all so much, and pray that the family bonds of love that have been forged in our lives will continue to be strengthened throughout this process.  None of us are in positions that we have to have any of the material goods of Dad’s, but the division of those goods is necessary.  May we all apply in our hearts the counsel received during conference and make sure that we are in harmony with the spirit in all that we do.  I for one have a lot of repenting to do, and I pray that where I have wronged or said things that have hurt, that I may be forgiven for those transgressions.  Never would I willingly or knowingly say or do something that would cause any harm to any of you.  I just need to express my love and ask for your forgiveness for anything I have done in the past 60+ years.  It is wonderful to have conference semiannually to allow us to be reminded of the things that we need  to do in our personal lives, and I’m afraid that I came away with a bucketful of things I need to work on.

We have continued to enjoy such wonderful weather that I don’t look forward to the prediction of cold wet weather by the mid-week.  It was especially nice to have good weather for those attending conference in SL.  I have wondered about the reason that President Monson didn’t arrive at conference until half of the morning session was completed.  We usually hear opening remarks from him at the beginning as well as the closing of conference.  It sounds like Sister Monson is not doing too well.

I realize that last week I omitted the birthday wishes and missed expressing our love and best wishes to both Millie Jo Smith and Andrew Israelsen and Robert Tischner.  Millie Jo has shared a birthday with Grandpa, and I know that made this birthday a little difficult for her.  It was fun to meet with family at the cemetery and be able to sing Happy Birthday to Dad and to decorate the Grandma’s graves as well as Dad’s.  Thanks to those that we able to join us for that celebration.  This week, we celebrate the birthday of Jeanne Hagman and there are also anniversary celebrations and we hope that each and every one has a very special time.

Our household is still under the weather from colds.  I am feeling some better, but Kathy has come down with a real doozer of a cold and whenever she gets an infection anywhere, it complicates her leg.  We were scheduled to go to SLC for an evaluation of her leg and the U of U Hospital, but we are going to have to reschedule since she is so sick.  Because of the bug at our house, it probably wouldn’t be good to quilt on Wednesday and expose any of you to it.  I promise that we will get back on schedule soon.

Mom used to not let us sew in Sunday’s with the exception of Conference Sunday.  She always used that as a way to stay awake as we sat and listened.  I must admit that it helps.  I was able to put 3 quilt tops together during the sessions.  They of course are very simple tops, but none-the-less, it was fun to work on them. 

Better close.  Love you all soooo much.   Carol and Kathy

Tischner Family

Hello Family,
I can't believe how quickly this past week flew by!  We were just in Logan for the funeral and it was already the next Saturday yesterday.  Thanks for all you're doing up there to attend to the details of all that needs doing.  I'm happy to know that we can get together during UEA to attend to the house and will stay through Sunday if necessary.  It's Brent's birthday on the 22nd but he insists that I be up there instead so we'll play it by ear.    So glad you could get together for his birthday at the cemetery.  Wish we could have been there.  When I went walking that morning, I was totally amazed at the gazillion stars that were in the sky that morning so I took opportunity to wish him a happy birthday in that heavenly setting.

I'm thinking that if anyone up there wants to turn the names around on the totem pole in front of the house, they could put their own names on it and use it in their yard now.  I have another one here that I've used in the garden that someone could have as well.

Wow! What exciting news to know that the Provo Tabernacle will now be another temple.  That will make 4 in the valley so we're feeling very blessed.  The groundbreaking for the Payson Temple is Saturday so we're looking forward to that.  I start my temple shift on Tuesday and Brent the following Tuesday.  We're on different shifts for now but can hopefully be on the same one soon.  It's been fun to get our clothes and we're ready to get started.  I went to the temple on Wednesday in honor of John's passing that evening 30 years ago. 

Conference was incredible and it's always sad when Pres. Monson gives his closing remarks because we want it to keep going a while longer.  He's such a delight to watch and listen to and we're so blessed to have him at the helm in our world today.

Brent and Micah went hunting on Wednesday and came home with a no-deer demeanor.  They'll all be hunting again tomorrow and return on Wednesday, except for Brent since it's our anniversary tomorrow and we're celebrating over dinner.  We've had Robert here tonight for his birthday and enjoyed our time with him.  We finally had a call on our house yesterday from a family from Las Vegas so we're very hopeful that it's the house they're looking for.  Time will tell.

I told you earlier about the monarch caterpillars that we found and have been waiting to hatch.  One had hatched in my classroom Friday morning and I brought the cage home over the weekend since it was apparent that 3 more would arrive and we watched that happen yesterday and what an amazing experience that was.  They are so beautiful and it was so fun to watch them fly away once they'd dried off their wings and flown around the cage for a while.  Chad's kids were here and they were fascinated as were each of us adults.  There are still 3 more to hatch so I'll take the cage back to school for those to arrive.  My students have loved watching them.

Cody has had a great week since returning back to base and goes to the doctor on Tuesday.  He's had some discomfort in his leg the past few days and hopes he doesn't have anything serious going on.  We're so glad he could be here for the funeral.

Troy and Chrystal are trying to decide when to have Boone blessed and may possibly do it on Sunday but haven't decided for sure.  We'll let you know but we don't expect anyone coming this far with all that's going on up there right now.

Time to sign off for this week.  Love you all and thank you again for all you're doing to finalize the details of dad's passing.  Have a great week!

Clarks Letter

Dear Israelsen Family Members

Another busy week with demands from every direction.  We are grateful for the near perfect weather that allowed us to complete baling and hauling hay for the season.  We also enjoyed the sessions of General Conference.  My o my, the summer passed quickly.

 It is very lonely to walk in the lane each morning and pass Dad's dark house.  Every time I walk by, coming or going, I want to step inside for a short visit.  I am grateful for all the days when I could do that.  My gratutide for great parents continues to grow. 

I am grateful that Carol is the Successor Trustee of the family estate.  She is wise and capable.  It appears Dad and Mom had things planned out pretty well, but the whole process still takes alot of time.  I will help where ever I can, Carol.

 We continue to enjoy warm visits and receive kind cards from those who knew Dad.  What a blessing to have so many friends.  Most of that comes because of membership in the church.  I am reminded of President Hinckleys quote (perhaps not quoted exactly) "Everything good that has ever happened to me comes as a result of my membership in the church."  

 We send much love to all of you.                        Clark, Marsha and family

Maples Letter

                                                                                                October 2, 2011

Dear Family,

                What a beautiful conference weekend.  I still can’t believe we haven’t had a frost yet.  The farmers are harvesting the corn they were worried would never mature, and they are still hauling hay.  What a blessing from the Lord.

                We certainly enjoyed General Conference.  We watched it on our computer on Saturday and then at Tom and Megan’s today.  It was hard to realize we couldn’t spend the day with dad watching it with him like we always did.  We will just cherish the memories of when we could—and did!

                I especially enjoyed Elder Bednar’s talk and how he said that family history is not just for “old people”.  I liked how he explained that the young people are the ones who know technology and how to use it, much more than the “old people”.  I expect great things from the younger generation in our family now!

                Last night while the men went to the priesthood session, we girls got together.  I took the grandkids to the park and we went down the slippery slides and went high on the swings.  Little KyAnne doesn’t let any dust grow under her feet as she tries to keep up with Aden and Amara.  We had our semi-annual ice cream party and it was fun. 

                Emma is officially moving out into an apartment this week and she is excited to be on her own.  She will be fairly close to Millie and Jenny which will be good.  We are proud of her and the decisions that she is making.  I couldn’t believe it at work however when she did a job for the meat lab and came back with a package of bacon.  I just don’t know how she does it!

                This is the last week for Dallin at the Bar T Five in Jackson.  Their last show was last night. Now they just have to take down the pavilion and put everything away for winter.  He has certainly enjoyed it this year and has gained a lot of confidence. He has especially enjoyed a new friend, Jeremy Butler—a relative, from Salt Lake.

                Rachael is back to teaching music at the elementary school and loves it.  She enjoys helping Bobby haul hay and do work around the ranch while Bobby’s dad has been helping with a wild fire up by Salmon, Idaho. 

                Dale and I stay busy with work, but we enjoy riding back and forth to Logan together.  We have been reading the 4^th volume of Prelude to Glory by Ron Carter about the Revolutionary War.  It is very interesting and teaches a lot about history.  We just finished the book so now we need to get the next volume. Our TV hasn’t been on for so long, and since we can only watch videos, we find that reading a book together is a lot more fun than watching rerun after rerun.

                Have a great week.  We love you.  It has been an uneventful week for which we are grateful!

                                                                                                Love,     The Maples

Thorne’s Letter

I have had time to feel lonely this week for Dad.  On my way home from town, I can't drop in to see him.  I can't share my raspberries with him and he hasn't called to ask me to pick something up in town or to take him to a funeral.  I hope he's having a better time up there than I am having down here.

Bruce returned home from a successful business trip to California. He went anticipating that he'd have to fire someone but then didn't.  I can't imagine that would be a fun activity.

I've been picking lots of raspberries from our little patch.  Our pumpkins are ripe and we keep eating any corn that the raccoon haven't already taken.

It was fun to take Dixie and Burke to the regional cross country meet in Preston and watch Benson take second place and JD came in a bit later.  He's getting faster.  It was fun to be there with Clark's family too.  I also enjoyed Cari's YW  Evening in Excellence. I counted up that night that I've been attending YW New Beginnings and Evenings in Excellences  for 14 years now - more than I attended Cub Scout Pack meetings.  My daughters were spread out more than my sons.  

We got 12 of the  34 fire hydrants painted for JD"s eagle project on Friday afternoon.  He didn't have a great attendance of his fellow teachers quorum. Hopefully he'd get better participation this week. 

We appreciated Carol getting us together at the cemetery to celebrate Dad's birthday.  Reta would be proud of how the graves are decorated.  We love you all.  Happy Autumn.

Love, The Thornes

Kalene’s Letter

Hello everyone! 

Well another week has flown by and here I am again checking my email. It´s starting to get hot here in Santa Elena, not sure if I will survive another summer here in Argentina, I may melt! But atleast I won´t be complaining about being cold haha. 

Tomorrow is transfers and the assistants called us last night to tell us where we were going. My companion Hermana Miranda is going to a different area, Venado Tuerto, and will be with Hermana Gossen. Hna Miranda is now senior comp (she´s so ready for it). She´s nervous but I know that she will do great. 

And guess what!!?? I am going to be training a new missionary!!!! Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!! I can´t believe it and I am super super nervous about it. I don´t feel prepared in the least bit, but I´m hoping that everything will turn out okay. I don´t know who my companion is yet, not until tomorrw, but I do know that she is from the states. So I´m hoping that I can help her transition into the life of a missionary, and that we get along good. Because if a companionship gets along and trusts eachother, everything else seems to fall into place. 

Got the news today that my Grandpa Israelsen passed away last Tuesday. It wasn´t a surprise but it´s still hard news to take. I know that he had a lot of health problems recently and he had mentioned to me, and everyone I think, for quite some time now that he has been ready to leave this life. It´s hard not to be there with my dear family, but at the same time I know that everything will be okay. I know that death is not the end, it´s just a step in this grand journey that we have embarked on. We accepted our Heavenly Father´s plan to come here to earth, receive a body, endure every trial and hardship and enjoy every happiness and joy that this life has to offer. Then when it´s our turn to leave this mortal existence we go to a place where we can rest from all pain, affliction, and worry while we wait for the glorious return of our Savior and the resurrection. I know that God has a plan for each and every one of us and that this plan is eternal. It didn´t start with our birth and it doesn´t end with our death. God is eternal and so are we. I know that He lives and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and our Redeemer. 

I love you all so much and I hope that you each can find the joy in your life and that you can remember the things that are important in this life and throughout eternity. 

Have a fantastic day! 

Be happy- Hermana Israelsen

Brett’s Letter

Hey guys, how are you all doing? I was sad to hear that Grandpa is not doing so well. We thought his time would come when jake was still on his mission but somehow he kept on. I am hoping for that same miracle but I also know that he is very ready to go. He has lived a good life and has reached his potential here on earth. I was a little shocked to hear about celeste and the dance. I thought Dad wouldn't let her date until she was 18 or so. Anyway that is way cool that you got asked, just have fun. Order very expensive things on the menu when you all go out to dinner. Guys love girls like that.
Well I have got some exciting news for next month, Jeffery R Holland will be coming to our mission to speak to the missionaries. It will be on Oct. 20th so I am pritty excited. That will help me get through that very difficult week. I am expecting a transfer this next week and I think that it will be off island as well so I was relieved to hear that they are inviting all of the missionaries, even the off island ones to come. That usually dosen't happen when we have something like this. Well the work is going good, the time is going faster and it is almost transfers. Our area has struggled a little this last week. Our very progressing investigators who have a baptismal date next week didn't come to church this last Sunday. Some problem came up and now she has to work. They want to be baptized so bad but just can't seem to find a way out of this situation. We had a appointment last night where we followed up a investigator of ours who didn't come to church. Her concern was not new, in fact most all of our investigators use the excuse that they don't have any money to get there or to feed there families. I brought out the scripture in 3rd Nephi about not worrying what you should eat or drink but seek first the kingdom of God. I had her read it and after the first sentence she just starting crying, she couldn't even finish it. The faith that these people have to exercise to not know where they will get the money for their families is so much greater than anything I have ever had to experience. But only after her trail of faith will the miracle happen. The sacrifices these people have to go through are only things that we just take for granted. It takes a lot of faith and trust in God to rely on that promise. It is easily said but when it comes to doing with 7 hungery kids that is a test to your faith.
Well I actually did receive that email from Paul but only after I sent that letter to you guys. I can't believe that you guys have already gotten your corn done. I miss that so bad, they have corn here but it is not the same. They mash it up and cook it like you would rice. It is more healthy for you but does not taste near as good. I am really missing American foods. I have not been feeling to well latley and I feel it is because I have not been eating very well. I eat rice, pig and chicken just about every meal. I am trying to cut down on the pop but everyone gives it to you. I am scared to go to any members houses because that is a for sure pop and candy bar. I have gotten very fat while on my mission, I am trying to do better with my excersizing in the mornings. I think it will take some time to get this beer gut I have got  to go away. I have just got over 8 months to prepare for swim suite season.  Well I love you all. Keep the letters coming.

Elder Allen

Hey guys, thats really to bad about Grandpa. At least now he is now in a better place. I know he left a great legacy for us. I have been inspired to do better because of his example. I wish I could be there for the funeral but I know he would rather have me here.

Hello Family, It sounds like that was a very successful funeral. I figured there would be a lot of people who attended. I can't believe that he is actually gone. He is defiantly in a better place now, how blessed we are to know the Plan of Salvation. That makes death so much easier to deal with.  I was just starting to realize yesterday how many blessings I have received from a family who has and follows the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday was a very hard day, our investigators are going through struggles I can't even imagine going through. One of my favorite investigators husband has not come home for 5 days now, she has 6 kids all under 10 years old. She went to her mothers place yesterday and will probably move there. Her husband is a very nice man and a great father but he has a weakness as well. He has a addiction to drugs and so when he gets his pay he spends to much on his drugs not leaving enough for his family to get by on. This investigator wants so bad for her family to be baptized, she has great fellow shippers right next door. I am hoping and praying for a miracle so she doesn't have to move. We found a new family yesterday, there house is not in good shape at all, one of there kids has a growth on his back the size of a football. They haven't had it checked up because they have no money. It is so humbling to see what people here have to go through. Another family is also struggling, there baptismal date was this Saturday but because they have no money sister had to take a job on sunday. Her husband can't support the family alone, they want so bad to be baptized as well. Another investigator whose baptismal date was also Saturday needs to be postponed because the place he works won't let him stay the full 3 hours of church. The sad thing is he works for members who are endowed at the temple. I feel so close to the members and investigators in this area it is hard to leave it. We got the transfer calls just barely, I am transferring to a island called Comotes. I am stepping up to Zone leader, there are 4 missionaries in my zone including me and my companion. We are the only missionaries on this entire island, I now get to drive. I think it is a small truck, my companion does not have his license so I will be doing all the driving. I am scared to drive here because it is a place with no traffic laws. If there are any laws they are defiantly not enforced.
A missionary who went home last transfer may be stopping by there, he was my zone leader. He is the hardest working missionary I have ever met.  He lives up in IDAHO some wheres. Hopefully he can find the house. It is hard to explain how to get there. Well I love you all, keep the letters coming. Have fun hunting this fall.

Elder Allen

From: Jill Israelsen [mailto:vaji10@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 10:19 AM
To: Carol Hogan
Subject: Jill

Family...Please know that you are welcome to the apples and tomatoes and eggs and whatever else. Clark please enjoy many more.  KayDawn please let Todd and Dixie know they can pick apples, probably the sooner the better as they are falling.  There aren't a lot on the lower branches so may need to bring ladders to pick from the tops.  I am feeding the chickens those that have fallen.  FYI I plan on selling most of the chickens so please let me know if you hear of anyone interested.  As I have been doing it for Dad there was joy in service and that has now left, leaving me feeling like this is one way I can simplify.  But until then I do need egg cartons and would appreciate you saving any you have, especially the dozen ones. 

We are planning a baby shower for Ester on Sat. Oct. 15th around 11 am.  At this point we are thinking it will be in the church, perhaps the primary or young women's room as there is a wedding there at 2.  But will get more information to you soon.   

It has been a busy week and we are trying to get used to not having Grandpa here.  James had a dream about him.  He was so excited to tell me how happy Grandpa was, how young he looked and how easy it was for him to get around.  We are grateful for family and as Lee said, "The plan of salvation becomes so much more real when someone passes whom you are close to."  Thanks for your patience with us, your love and support.

Love, Jill