Matthew turned 12 on May 3. We stayed the night at Melissa's May 5th so Chuck could participate in his ordination on Sunday, May 6th. We had a family dinner celebration afterward. The Kelly Grandparents were as proud of their first grandchild, as were the Lees!
May 11th, we had a huge Spring Clean-Up project. We had about 100 volunteers that came to help us. We worked from sun-up to sun-down...so, I forgot to take pictures! Chuck and Jonathan Katz cut down trees for about 12 hours the day before in preparation. The week after, Chuck was left with a lot of felled trees that still needed to have their limbs trimmed off. The limbs have to be fed into a chipper. He also had to cut the trunks into 10 foot sections (which we are not aloud to use for fire wood). In addition, he has had a lot of left over wood to split! What a hard worker! His setting apart blessing stated that "with every physical labor, he would become spiritually stronger." Carol is a witness of that blessing coming to pass!
Steve Sainsbury, the High Councilman from Yakima Stake who is over Camp "Z", came up to help Chuck. He put in two 12 hour days, alongside of Chuck, digging up 8 septic tanks! They dug them up, put collars on, and then covered them up after they were pumped. The pumping was STINKY!! Unfortunately, we had a truck with 13 tons of gravel come up the next day and burst the three in the parking lot by the lodge wide open! I guess the risers were not such a great idea...they had to re-dig, remove the collars, and bury them all over again!
Mothers' Day was a great day! Melissa gave me a beautiful ivy geranium hanging pot...she also did my nails when we were in Connell! I received very special cards from David, from Anna and from Andrea. When Mothers' Day arrived, the children all called. Chuck bought me a beautiful pot for our steps and two beautiful hanging pots for the porch. He also gave me this gorgeous orchid which will continue to be amazing into June and maybe July. I also got a haircut which is fast and easy to style. I love Mothers' Day!
The following Wednesday found us in Bellevue at a Camp Missionary Conference. It could not have been scheduled for a more beautiful day! The Rhodis were in full bloom! Seeing the Seattle Temple brought back so many beautiful memories. After I was called to be Relief Society President in Cheney, I fasted for seven consecutive days (breaking each day with a meal)...I was in such a state of shock and fear! I needed revelation from Heaven! The Saturday before I was sustained, I went through three consecutive sessions fasting, in this memorable temple. On that day, the Windows of Heaven were opened! I experienced an over whelming presence of the Holy Ghost and continuous revelation for about two weeks. The endowment meant more than ever to me after this experience! For days, I received physical waves of revelation, instructing me as to the meaning of temple signs. Many years later when I was fasting for Anna, and was led to make a revealed sacrifice, I again experienced physical waves of revelation, but this time, I was given to understand the tokens of the temple. The indelible impressions of the Holy Ghost upon every fiber of my being at this time would qualify a man to be a Son of Perdition!...as I understand the doctrine, women will not or cannot become Sons of Perdition.
Brother Westergard "dropped" by to show us the edible mushrooms he had been hunting in the hills nearby. He is an expert on mushrooms, birds, wildlife in general, and extremely interesting to listen to ...a unique gem of a man!...a storybook character to be sure!
Memorial Day Weekend...the camp was crawling with people!..the cabins, lodge, and girls camp walled tents were all full! We offered a walled tent to Wylie (a retired electrician who has come up on several occasions to help us) and his grandsons, so they could go fishing in their little fishing boat with a trolling motor. He took Chuck out at 5:45 am the first morning...they each caught their limit the first hour, and then threw back another 5-10! Chuck was thrilled!
The highlight of the month of May: Rockwell Linden Lee!...Born May
19th! Megan had a difficult time to say the least! The doctors finally
had to take him C-section. He weighed in at 9lbs 3ozs!..Our David
weighed 3 more ounces. Rockwell did not take his first breath for 41/2
minutes. Megan was out, but Tony prayed in desperation for him until he
finally took his first breath. He is alert, healthy and eating constantly
now! Apparently, Tony has it in his dreams for Rocky to be an avid golfer! What a sweet Daddy! And Megan will be such a sweet and nurturing mother!
