Mom's birthday, Memorial day, end of school activities

Hi sweetie,

It made my day to be able to talk to you today on my birthday. And yesterday for your p-day! Two days in a row! Dad and I are so happy that you are doing well serving the Lord. We are counting down the days until we can hug you again (59 days!)

I had a great birthday today. I woke up at 6:30am so I could practice the organ at church from 7-8 before the 9:00 ward started to come. It was really peaceful. I enjoy the hymns and playing the organ. I was stressed about playing for the ward today but after dad gave me a blessing my nerves were calmed a bit and I felt much better. Sara made me breakfast and then I studied my scriptures for a bit. We arrived at church at 11:30 so I could play prelude before sacrament meeting started at noon. After church we had dinner (dad grilled me some chicken and made me a broccoli salad and a chocolate cake). We visited the wasatch lawn cemetery in honor of memorial day tomorrow and then we visited Grandpa and grandma Orton at their house. Dad set apart a missionary at 6:30 and then we did a come follow me lesson at home and went on a walk. I’m really grateful that Michael is able to stay overnight tonight so we can celebrate memorial day together tomorrow. I got an iPhone 15 pro max for my birthday. I mostly upgraded for the camera so we can have great pictures on our cruise.

Luke finished a really cool globe ceramics project in his ceramics class this week.
Mary received a scholarship and the miner medallion at the Senior awards night. We are very happy for her.
Mary performed with Ballroom in the Bingham closing assembly and Luke was inaugurated as Junior class secretary this week. We also had the parent/student government lunch which was nice. Sara had a 7th grade girls choir concert. School is winding down and we are excited (and sad) for Mary’s graduation this week. Change is hard for me as you kids grow up but you are doing great things and I love to watch you all develop and grow.

Mary had ballroom formal last night and Luke had stud gov formal. They both had a great time.

I love you dearly. We are praying for you and your friends.
Have a great week!
Love you,
Mom

Dance recital

Hi sweetie,

We had a great week. Dad traveled to New Orleans for work- thankfully it was only for one night. There was bad weather over much of the southern USA that day so Dad’s flight was delayed coming home but the pilot flew around the bad weather and everything worked out great and he got home around midnight.

Dad and I attended Carter Boswell’s homecoming today. He gave an amazing talk about the Savior and the power of the Book of Mormon. Dad wore a suit to the girls dance recital on Saturday because he went straight to the stake center to release Carter after the recital.

Luke was assigned as secretary of the Junior class next year. He was a little sad to not be President or Vice-President but it’s ok. He will have a great year next year.

I’ve been practicing the organ everyday so that I can be prepared to play in sacrament meeting next Sunday, May 26. Can you believe I get to play the organ for the first time on my 49th birthday? I like a quote from Henry Ford that says, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” Learning to play the organ is definitely keeping me young!

The girls had their last dance recital on Saturday. Mary was really sick with a cold and throwing up the day before the recital so we experienced a miracle that she was well enough to perform on Saturday. Both girls did an amazing job on their dances. Mary only took ballet classes at the studio this year because she was so busy with ballroom, so she was in two dances. Sara performed in 8 dances and she was really fun to watch too. Their studio is closing now so we are looking for a new dance studio for Sara. We think she will go to the studio across the street from Bingham. 

We had dinner and played games with the Lovelands tonight after Dad and Luke attended Stake Priesthood meeting. Anna is starting a new clinical trial this Thursday to try and help shrink her tumor again. Please remember her in your prayers.

We are sending out Mary’s graduation announcements and we received the graduation sign for our front yard. It is becoming so real and I’m sad that our third child is growing up and leaving home. At the same time, I’m excited for the great adventures that are ahead.

It was wonderful to talk to you on Saturday. We love you dearly and you are always in our thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Mom

Temple, banquet, AP tests

Hi sweetie,

I was so touched by your kind words about me in your e-mail and the sweet words you said about me that were read over the pulpit on Mothers Day. I feel so blessed to be your mama. I have 5 of the greatest kids ever! More than anything else, I’m grateful that you are all developing your own relationship with Jesus Christ. That is the most important life lesson that I could ever teach you all. I had such a great Mother's Day. It was so great to be able to talk to you on Saturday and Sunday!

We are praying that your zone conferences will go well this week. We pray for your safety in your travels and that you will have the Spirit to be with you throughout these important conferences. I hope the missionaries feel God’s love for them and the people they teach.

We’ve had a good week. I met Brian and Nancy Watson at the church last Monday and Brian taught me some things about how to play the organ. He gave me the 4 hymns that have been selected for Sunday the 19th and I’ve been practicing at the church every chance I get. I’m a little nervous about it but also kind of excited too. I’ve always wanted to learn to play the organ and this is a great opportunity for me. I’m praying that I can help people feel the spirit through music— especially during the sacrament hymn.

Luke applied for and was selected to serve on the South Jordan City youth council. He was sworn in at the city hall last week. It is going to be great for his resume. I’m a little concerned because he will be really busy already with student government, AP classes, mountain biking and track during his junior year. However, I really think this community service will be good for his college applications. Especially since he doesn’t have an eagle scout to list.

Dad and I did a parent panel in Mr. Jensen’s Math of personal finance class this week. Mr. Jensen asked about you and told us how he thinks the world of you and Michael. I promised I’d tell you hi from him. He hopes you’ll come to visit him when you return.

I attended the temple and had lunch with Dad’s counselors’ wives this week. I feel such a sisterhood with them. They are amazing sisters and it is fun to get to know them better. Sister Jenson is having surgery this week to remove some cancer so please remember her in your prayers.

Mary has taken 2 AP tests already and both Mary and Luke have AP tests this week. Sara also has RISE testing. It’s a crazy testing week around here. But hopefully after that things will slow down a bit academically.

Mary had her ballroom banquet this week as well as senior sunset and senior dinner dance. Her high school experience is coming to an end and we feel all the emotions about it. Change is sometimes sad but also really exciting at the same time. She is going to miss her good friends from ballroom. Some of her ballroom friends came with her to our ward adult activity this week to teach swing dancing and the waltz. It was so much fun. 

We attended the Taylorsville Utah temple open house this week. It is so beautiful and as always it was wonderful to pause in the celestial room with our family and think about the blessings of our covenants. As hard as it will be for me to have you all grown up, it will also be wonderful when we can gather in the celestial room and enjoy the peace of the temple together.

I love you dearly and hope you have a wonderful week. 
With love forever and ever,
Mom

Ward organist, formal dance

Hi sweetie,

We didn’t get much snow all winter but it is snowing like crazy today. On May 5! I’m afraid we won’t have any peaches from our tree this year.

And guess what else? Brian Watson was our ward organist and he was called to serve in the bishopric last week. So now I was asked to play the organ for sacrament meeting on May 19th. Brian and Nancy Watson will meet me at the church to teach me how to play the organ and I have 2 weeks to practice really hard. I’m nervous but with the help of the Lord I can do this. I think this will be a trial run to see if they should extend the calling to me. I read my patriarchal blessing and it says that as I use my talents for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God then I will be blessed with additional talents. I am counting on the additional talent I will need to help people feel the spirit in sacrament meeting through music.

Luke took Mary to regional student government formal on Friday night. They had a great time together. Luke even treated his sister to a concrete mixer from Culvers after the dance. It made my momma heart happy.

Yesterday was a busy day. I took Sara to a dance competition at Cyprus High. Then later, I went with grandma Orton to a play at Hale Center Theatre in the afternoon. We saw “May we all” which is a country musical. It was really cute. Mary had dance and babysitting for the Nelsons and then she went to the Bingham play in the evening. Luke had a walk with Hope squad (for student government) and then hung out with friends in the evening. Sara had her dance competition and then went swimming with friends. Dad was home doing yard work, running to Costco and cleaning the house. We all were going separate ways and it felt busy. 

I am loving our come follow me Book of Mormon study this year. Mosiah 4 was so great to study this week. I was struck by v.11 when King Benjamin tells us that if we remember and always retain in remembrance the greatness of God, if we are humble, call on the name of the Lord daily and stand steadfastly in the faith, THEN we shall always rejoice and be filled with the love of God and… many powerful promises are listed throughout verses 12-16. I am so grateful for the scriptures that give us guidance for this life. My goal is to always remember the greatness of God, be humble, pray daily and stand steadfast in the faith.

I love you dearly. I hope you had a nice MLC yesterday. We missed talking to you but hope you have had a great week and we look forward to talking to you tomorrow.
Love you forever and ever,
Mom

Dad and Sara filled this out from the Friend magazine this morning. I thought it was sweet.

Do you think Luke is 6'.2" yet? It's pretty close...

Mother's Day email

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Benjamin Stepan 

To: Benjamin Pack 

Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 at 04:35:19 AM MDT

Subject: Re: Mother's Day Help

Hey Brother Pack it's good to hear from you. I'd love to answer these questions for you! 

1. I'll try not to make this too long because it would take all day to list all the amazing characteristics my mom has. The thing I admire most about my mom is her testimony and love for the Savior Jesus Christ. She was the testimony of the Savior I leaned on until I had my own. She shows Christlike love to all and loves the Lord more than anything else.

2. I still haven't finished my mission yet ;) but the most important characteristic I would look for in a wife would be the same characteristics my mom has. I would want to know she loves God more than she loves me or anything else. 

3. I think she is full of love for all of God's children just like our heavenly father. 

4. These characteristics are important to me because the world will not glide smoothly to the second coming of the Savior and we need Christ like attributes to be his faithful disciples. 

Thank you for the opportunity! 

Love,

ELDER STEPAN

El dom, 5 may 2024, 4:02 p. m., Benjamin Pack  escribió:

Hey Ben,

 Guess who was just asked to speak on Mother’s Day? That’s right…. yours truly!

 I need some help as I write my talk this week. Please answer these questions and send back to me on P-Day.

 1- What do you love and admire more now your mother (this can be a characteristic or anything that comes to mind)?

 2- What is the most important characteristic you would look for in your wife?

 3- What characteristics would you think Heavenly Mother has?

 4- why are these characteristics so important for you?

 Tough questions, I know. I really do appreciate your help and willingness to share your answers with me. I hope you're doing great out there serving our Heavenly Father.

-Ben Pack