Making new friends

I've been working on making friends in my new ward area.  

Reaching out, texting, complimenting at church, starting conversations, dropping off sourdough bread notes and cookies.   It's a process.  I'm so grateful that last fall in Relief Society I met Bonnie Benedict. I asked her to be my new best friend and she said yes.  We walk 3 times a week and have shared many vulnerable things about ourselves and family...that's what it takes.  Building blocks to friendship. I was happy to put a trip to SLC together and have 3 women who are all very fun, open and interesting, say YES.  

Jane and Kristi Webb, Bonnie Benedict, Me, Tammy Petty at the Church History Museum.

Friendship is a process, and it's going to be worth it.  

I love this pic of Jesus all made out of rocks and shells.  The individual pieces feel like all of us as His children that he sacrificed for.  It's really gorgeous and I'm thinking about adding it to my Jesus Wall.  

Mothers day

 Mother's Day was delightful. I went on a gorgeous walk early in the morning with my Wayne.  The weather is finally wonderful. Then off to Add and Bre's home to get hugs and pictures taken with everyone.  I love demanding this and I remind them that if I die tomorrow they will be so thankful for this one on one pic.  They are all pleasantly agreeable.    

Addison did an ALL ABOUT MY MOM page for me...that they did in his primary....

and I received this lovely note from BRE:

I got a MEEMA shirt that has all of my grandkids names on the sleeves.  Elsie said I need to wear it on grandkid game night. I also received a book ( comedic reading of a mother's day books by Monson) a thumbs up Jesus, a sparkling nails gift card, movie gift card, garden boxes and lots of FLOWERS! I felt very seen and loved.

After church we had a BBQ with Landon and Alex, Tru and Monson and Lexi family.. Wayne smoked delicious ribs and we had all the fixings.  I didn't have to do a thing... not even the dishes.  Love my boys.  Laila FaceTimed in later... she is doing well in California and I miss her sooo much.  She has two weeks left of her first semester of college and I'm really proud of her. 

May Catch up

BYU Women's conference was excellent.  I got to stay and play with Kathleen Blake... we went to see our friend Si Foster present on friendship and we had many other awesome classes as well.    It was fun to see so many people I knew there.  I started counting and came up with 30! We had a riot going to classes and walking the campus, doing service and going to the concert Thursday night of Emma Nissen, the Truman Brothers and Adassa plus more.  We ate cougar ice cream and cougar tails and hamburgers hot off the grill. We stayed overnight at the Springhill Suites and woke up to a rainy Friday morning.   It was good to fill out spiritual cups and be reminded of the doctrines and messages that keep me going in my church. When I attend these type of events, I always ask myself, “okay- what can I do a little better at, what changes can I make to enhance my life, feel more connected to family and friends….??

Kathleen dropped me off to Wayne’s car from women's conference , and we sped out to Wendover for the evening.  We stayed over so we could be at a sunrise wedding on the Salt flats outside of Wendover on Saturday morn.  Wayne performed a ceremony for Johnny Wilson- one of our old YSA’s and Liberdee Probst.  It really was beautiful with an orange sky, white sand..and all of us guests were asked to wear black ( I had to borrow a dress).

We saw Tayla’s show- Finding Nemo at CPT.  It was really well done. Megan Call is in charge of teh 3-6th grade groups.  Tayla was Squirt - a turtle- among other parts.  Tayla is the youngest kid on stage, but doesn’t look it, because she is so tall.  She really loves performing.   She has Carson and Drew Call in her class- ( Marcie’s grand kids ) I cry every time I see these kids on stage because I’m sad Marcie doesn’t get to be earthside with me watching our grands perform.  

I also saw the 7th-8th grade show that Addison directs at CPT of the Wiz, Wizard of Oz and Wicked songs all put together .  Addison did all of these fantastic projections that really “made” the show great.  

While Lexi's mom was in town we went to the LAYTON Temple open house.

It was fun to go through with those little girls and ask them what they liked and how they felt.  Lady said, “ I feel love.”  Elsie said she, “ liked the red Jesus picture best. “ and Tayla said she felt peace..and loved all the Jesus pictures.  

11 years....

 It's my gorgeous momma's birthday.  She's been gone 11 years and I continue to think of her everyday. Sometimes with tears, but mostly now, with smiles.   I like to do one  kind thing for 13 days, between mom's birth and death dates, in her honor  to celebrate. 

Somethings my mom taught me.  

Family matters.   Family relationships aren’t always easy but they are worth it.

God first.  He was always my mom’s north star.  She was never too tired or too busy to follow Him.  Mom was a believer and called upon her “angels” daily.

Live with purpose.  Who you decide to be each day matters.  Love intentionally. “Who do I want to be?”  “How do I want to show up?”  

Be confident.  My mom always assumed we were capable finding solutions and figuring things out.  Because she had confidence in us, we found it in ourselves.

Look for the “one.”  There is always someone out there who could use your love.  Find them.   Mom’s the one who asked for the “hard” people to minister to in her ward.  She just wanted to offer friendship and she was so good at it. 

We all have different talents.. use the ones God gave you.  Her license plate surround read, “I can dance”  as a reminder of this.  

Show up.  For the funeral, for the performance, for the activity.  Life is more meaningful done together.  Be everyone’s biggest cheerleader. 

Look at the world around you.  Enjoy the sunset.  Rhapsodize about the sky and the clouds.  God put this all here for us as a reminder of Him.

Celebrating Lexi and Sophia

 We had a great Cinco de Mayo birthday party brunch to celebrate Sophia turning 15 and Lexi turning 30!  We had unicorn horns, kazoos Mexican burritos and brigadero cake to celebrate. We sand in English and Portuguese--happy birthday.   The Brazillian way  of singing this is so much better 

We all threw tissue paper love bombs at Sophia..she didn't know what to think.

 Sophia is an amazing girl-- Alex and Landon rented a party bus that pulled up outside her house that had fun, games, a video screen and karaoke and dance party all inside.  They loaded 6 of her friends in and drove around having a great time.   Sophia has a lot of friends.  She does good in school, loves choir and loves her time being in shows at CPT academy.  Sophia plays the piano and just started playing a saxaphone so she can join the Viewmont marching band with Andrew this next year. 

Lexi is turning the big 30!   Her mom is in town to help celebrate. We love having Lexi as part of out family.  She is joyous and loving and funny and "all in" our family.   Lexi wants to play 30 hours of games with family and friends.  She loves games--and has plenty of friends to make this happen. Lexi is a giver.. She works and volunteers at her girl's school.  She serves in her ward and she is always helping people.  It's her gift and her curse.  She's a people pleaser to prove her worth-- and she could just say no and everyone would still love and adore her.  It's a thing. 

More band fun

 Garth Obron...our Sidetracked Band Leader... is a hoot.  We have a band van and he loves to put blue tape signs on it each week to hype us up.     He did a Wayne's world one with Wayne and GARTH. "Party on Wayne, party on Garth."

And one to celebrate all of the girl singers.... Kimi, Maren, Angie and Me.  

We traveled all the way to Pocatello, Idaho...and this was on the van.  3 of our band mates, Garth, Nick and Maren all hail from Pocatello so we had many of their friends and family members there.  It was a packed house.  Probably our best audience yet. 

Get to know a wardie...

Our ward is having a weekly get to know you email sent out.  We were featured this week.  We contributed this information about us along with our full family picture taken at Laila's wedding.

___________________GET TO KNOW A WARD MEMBER________

Tell about  your family or household.  Wayne and Melinda Welch are high school sweethearts, and have been married for 41 years.  Melinda lived in Bountiful her whole life and Wayne was born in North Logan, and then moved to Bountiful.  Wayne served a mission to Cordoba, Argentina.     We raised our family in Bountiful.    We have 5 children and 8 grand children.  Moving to Layton gets us closer to 6 of these grandkids.  We have LGBTQ kids and proudly fly a rainbow flag.

Work? Wayne owns his own business called Bountiful Industries, which imports restaurant supply and medical devices. Melinda is an online school teacher and a life coach. 

Hobbies?  Wayne loves to ride his street bike, make sour dough bread and play the guitar.  Melinda also bikes and loves all of the “granny hobbies”- knitting, crocheting, journaling, scrapbooking, cooking, reading, puzzles, card games,  and walking.  Melinda also loves to perform in shows. Melinda and Wayne are in a band that plays weekly for Assisted living type care centers.  Melinda is the lead vocalist and Wayne is the sound guy and plays the bass guitar. 

How long in this ward or member of the church?   Wayne and Melinda Welch moved into the ward August of 2023.  We have been members our whole lives.  We come from pioneers.

Current calling?  Melinda is currently the Primary President and Wayne is a Priest quorum advisor.

Favorite calling? Wayne’s favorite calling was a YSA bishop.  He loves this age group and served with some amazing people.  Melinda’s favorite calling is Relief Society teacher.  

What’s good in your life? What’s hard?  

We love being empty nesters, traveling and moving into a brand new home.  BUT…we are in the process of finishing the basement and putting a yard in and that’s HARD.    

What does it mean to be ALL IN the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Wayne:  It means fully participating in the ward and sustaining the local leaders and doing my best to treat others the way the Savior would treat them, and to see them the way He would see them and love them the way HE would. 

“Why I Believe.” Or….. “Why I stay?”   

Melinda:  I love this gospel.  I love being in a ward and  I believe that’s where we get to practice being Christ like.  We are worshipping and serving  with people who may not be like us, and I believe that’s the point.  I have questioned in the past whether to step away, and I have decided staying is better for me and what I want my day to day life to look like. I like being a believer….I like who I am as a disciple of Jesus Christ….I’m more optimistic and happier. I'm grateful to be here.