Wagon Roundup

Spencer got his mission call on May 18! We thought we’d share some pictures and let him post about the experience himself.

Yesterday I (Rebekah) was filling out some scholarship applications and while doing so I decided to look at MyFinancial Center on Route Y, in an attempt to find a phone number I needed. I saw that I had a message. I checked it, expecting it to be something unimportant. Much to my surprise it was notification that I received a full tuition scholarship from BYU for next fall and winter! I was in disbelief until this morning when I called the Financial Center to ask what the President’s Leadership Council Scholarship was (aka to find out if these scholarships we real). Well, I really did get them.
I feel so much gratitude! I never in five billion year expected getting any money from BYU. This is truly a miracle and I don’t expect to use it lightly!

Adam Thomas Arnesen and Sarah Michelle Huggard were married and sealed yesterday in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. Von Packard, our patriarch, sealed them in a spirit-filled session. It is times like this, when mortality yields to eternity and heaven comes down to earth and gives a glimpse of the promises ahead of us. It was a beautiful day.

Yesterday was a wonderful day in our home. Sarah, who is planning on starting a master’s program at the University of Utah, has worried about having the finances to do so. She has been searching for the last week for a job with no success. Even if she works full time, she will not have enough money to get through school. Yesterday, she found out she had an assistantship that will pay half her tuition and a generous stipend as well.
We were informed that Hyrum won first place in this year’s freedom festival–a fifth win for him in that contest.
But the most eternal blessing was being with Adam in the temple with his bride to be, Sarah Huggard, while she received her endowments. Both she and Adam were glowing with happiness, and Adam had tears running from his eyes. There are not words to accurately describe such an experience. We have not the vocabulary. Suffice it to say that was one of those moments in which time stands still and eternity seems very near.

We had a pretty cool experience this week.  Hyrum and Joseph were both advanced in the Aaronic Priesthood this Sunday.  Joseph was advanced from the office of Deacon to Teacher and Hyrum advanced from the Teacher’s Quorum and was ordained a Priest.  It was especially good because Hyrum was ordained first and Spencer got to stand in the circle.  Because he is a Priest, he can help to ordain others to offices in the Aaronic Priesthood. He helped Dad, Adam, Grandpa Thomas, and Bishop Francis to ordain Hyrum first. As soon as Hyrum was ordained, he was then able to join the circle and help us to ordain Joseph. It is an amazing thing that we are getting more and more priesthood in the family!