Remembering Dale Martin

 

Dell Martin passed away a couple of  weeks ago. This is my good buddy Mike Martins dad. Dell left an impression on me. He was good at the things that matter most. He was a patient and kind father and a good husband. He was stalwart and steady in following the Lord. His obituary resume is stacked with all the right things. I don't gather that he sunk much of his life into vain or unnecessary pursuits.  My parents and all of their neighborhood friends are all around the same age. They look after each other as they are all facing these trials you face in your golden years. When my dad went over, he and Ralph Knudson gave the kids and Marilee blessings. Mike told me that when he hugged my dad he felt like his dad was there hugging him. Amazingly my dad told me something similar. He said that when he hugged Mike he felt like he was hugging him for Dell and felt him there. 

FHE

Every once & a while a FHE connects with the boys & is memorable. Jas taught about the Plan of Salvation & the boys loved it! They got to help with drawing the creation, premier so life. Live when we capture the sweet moments.

Spring Break 2017

A little trip to Wolf Creek & the boys were in heaven! They got to play with their cousins Gage, Kelton & Coleson. Night games, tennis, skiing as a family. It was a blast!

AIS Gala

My Dad & Rita came down to Utah to drop Mariah off at the MTC. They stayed w Gpa & let us k ow of an amazing opportunity. Grandpa's American Indian Services was throwing a fundraising gala dinner at Grand America aka $320/plate or over $2,000/table. He had a donor who bought an entire table & couldn't go--would we like to? Heck yes!

Our table was my Dad & Rita, Jas & Kristina, my Uncle John & Aunt Diane, Jas & me. It was amazing--seriously! It has been close to a decade since we'd seen my Great Aunt & Uncle. It was great I catch up with them.

It was honoring Johnny Miller & his service done for AIS. Thoughout the night, several references were made of my Gpa. Johnny Miller called Dale Tinget his second Dad. Governor Herbert said,"It's hard to say no to Dale Tingey. We're all riding his coat tales into heaven. He'll be the front row. He is the best of Utah." 😍

They raised likely 3/4-a million dollars on that night. We sadly didn't win the BYU/U of U tickets, but did take home some cute exercise clothes(wrong size alas).

It was a blessing to see what my Grandoa does on a daily basis. I even spoke with his cute secretary & assistants on how they come to see him daily where he is writing letters, calling people & making contacts. He is a living legend & my hero.

St. Patty's 2017

The boys were insistent in making their leprechaun traps the night before St. Party's. Jas suggested they be nice to him instead & call a truce--Thad & Jonas agreed. They write a sweet letter apologizing for trying to catch him & offered him Girl Scout cookies. 

Keat was against this plan & made a pretty cool trap that was slippery with oil & butter.

The next morning was a riot! The leprechaun said the cookies were dusgusting & spit them out on a dollar billJonas  had gifted them. He left a "surprise" (wet diaper) in Keat's backpack, made a mess of only Keat's stuff (which we of course required he clean up). The best part? Gold coins all over! 31 to be exact. Per the leprechaun's request, we went out to dinner at Warren's last night after riding our bikes there. Good times! Love these memories  

Lavenita and Seonne Kafoa

Lavenita reached out about a month ago to tell me that she and Seonne and their kids would be sealed in the SLC temple. As a ward mission leader in the 26th ward I visited them often with Mike Chambers. Seonne is a big Polynesian guy. He progressed quickly with the missionaries because of how diligent he was at reading the Book of Mormon. He started to dig into the Book of Mormon while in jail. When he got out he continued to feast on its words. Eventually he was baptized. I still have the baptismal program I created for it.

Kneeling across the alter from Lavenita, he had tears flowing down his cheeks. The same occurred when his children were brought in to be sealed. This really was a spiritual setting. The sealer shared some insight for them to understand how important this moment was. He explained how Adam and Eve built an alter after being removed from the garden. They didn't know why except that they were commanded to and they were obeying. Their faith and humility were strong enough that an angel visited them and taught them the purpose of the commandment they were given. He told them that the alter and sacrifices represented the Savior who would come and make it possible for them to return back into the presence of the father again. The sealer taught Seonne and Lavenita that as they joined hands across the alter they were now including the Savior in their marriage covenant. That making covenants with Christ brings power and blessings to our marriage and to our lives.
 

 

Loads happening over at the house

 

  

Tons of progress over at the house. That project is quickly becoming a reality. We are definitely moving this summer. 

Another update 4.6

 

 J