BLOG 36 - JUN 12 - JUN 18, 2023
GARDEN INSPIRATION
It’s so fascinating to
see the floral art that’s continually being designed in Parc de la Tête d’Or.
It changes up periodically and it is so fun to watch them if we hit it just
right!
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| The ducks taking over! |
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| The art in the park! |
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| The designing was fascinating to watch. |
TOULOUSE STAKE ZOOM – ONWARD AND FORWARD
President Silberman,
Stake President of the France Toulouse Stake reached out to have to have a zoom
meeting to discuss next steps and share his own updates. President Silberman is
retired, so he puts all his time as a full time Stake President, out of choice,
not because he gets paid a cent, but loves giving all he can in his efforts.
He’s forward thinking and grateful for any help that we can give him with the
efforts of Sharing Church Resources. We are quite inspired by him.
He had already organized
all the classes for the Stake building which will all be in person, and then
all outlying buildings in the Stake will have their courses virtually.
He called us again the
following day with further updates. The mission has a new couple that we’ve
been training as they head to the Toulouse Stake to help him move this work
ahead next month.
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| Meeting with President Silberman (Toulouse Stake President) |
WOOD SIBS ZOOM CHAT
Because of travels that some of my sibs have made in the last month, we finally met back together via zoom this last Monday. It was wonderful seeing everyone and getting an update from each of them.
Claire, my sister just
younger than me, moved to St. George this last Wednesday. She’s been in Syracuse
with me for many years and she and Steve will be missed so much!
My sister Ann had a
recent cancer scare but was able to confirm that it was isolated and had not
spread and that they will begin radiation very soon. We had been praying for
some time to hopefully hear this was the case. She’s a strong and brave woman!
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| Wood sibs chat - love and miss them all! |
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| Check out the link above to see what this is all about! |
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| These are 3 of the 7 Gibbon Children singing from an old New Era Magazine front cover, but this image is on the Church's front Webpage. Check it out why! |
SOCIAL MEDIA MEETING WITH JOSHUA BOSWELL
Wednesday afternoon, we
had a fabulous meeting with President and Sister Léporé, Joshua Boswell, the
APs, and the social media Sisters. At this meeting, Joshua Boswell shared with
everyone the plans that he, Steve and I had discussed to move forward. It was
exciting to hear everyone’s enthusiasm and the need for zone wide training very
soon and then a mission wide training sometime afterwards.
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| Social Media meeting with Joshua Boswell |
DINNER HERE WITH ZL’S AND VAL DE SAÔNE SISTERS
Before next week’s transfers,
which was happening a week earlier than normal, we invited some of our
missionaries over for dinner. Only the sisters from Val de Saône could come,
but we also invited the ZL’s. They were very happy to join us.
We made our famous
Belgium Spaghetti dish and Vietnamese Nems (I know, a strange duo, but their
favorites). With it being Sister Emery’s birthday, in her honor I made the
Invisible Apple Cake – slightly cooked too long.
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| Elders Johnson and Candland and Sisters Buysse and Emery - having our most favored Famous Belgium Spaghetti and Nems. |
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| We will miss some of these dear missionaries who are leaving our ward. |
1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY MOTHER’S PASSING
My Social Media post:
One year ago on this day,
June 14th, 2022, marks the passing of my dear mother! Her legacy lives on
stronger than ever with each of her precious posterity! There isn’t a day that
I don’t think of her with gratitude for all she blessed me with! I have no doubt
that she and my father are busier than ever in heaven!
I could flood social
media with more photos, than any dare go through, but instead I’ll share these
two that are rare photos of me with my dear mother, and one with my dear
father, as they served as mission leaders in The West Indies Mission (I was 7
months pregnant with #8 at the time)! We
love you Mom!
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| Honoring my dear mother's 1 year passing. This is me with my mother in 1961 (I was almost 4 years old). |
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| This photo was taken in the West Indies in 1992 while my parents served as Mission Leaders. I went to visit them, as did other siblings. I was 7 months pregnant with # 8 child. |
JOHANN AND BETTY CHUPIN PLANNING MEETING
Johann and Betty Chupin
have been called as the Lyon Stake coordinators overseeing Sharing Church
Resources. This was just what was needed. We met together to start training
them and then to fulfill an assignment given to us by President Jubault (the
Stake President), to help put together the beginnings of a proposal for a Center in Lyon.
We were grateful to come
to their home for this critical discussion, and gratefully, they both speak
English. We enjoyed our time with them and have much work ahead.
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| Betty and Johann Chupin in their home. |
ELDER AND SISTER SMITH IN MONT-DE-MARSAN, FRANCE
We had a lovely zoom visit
with Elder and Sister Smith in Mont-de-Marsan. They are in a small Branch (in
the Bordeaux Stake), helping in magnificent ways. Sister Smith is teaching 12 students
using the Harmon Grant theory, which is helping many students all over the
world learn to play the piano, all free of charge, plus the church sends them a
small digital piano keyboard, which they get to keep if they complete the
program.
In addition, they are
teaching English Connect Classes and making a difference. We love learning form
them about what works best! They were also grateful for updates on our end that
could help their efforts as well.
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| Elder and Sister Smith in Mont-de-Marsan |
FATHER’S DAY DATE NIGHT AT FIVE GUYS
Thursday evening, Steve
and I celebrated with a date for Father’s Day, our only free evening. For
dinner he wanted to go to Five Guys at the Mall, which he knew might sound a
bit weird, when one is living in France and could eat at any restaurant, but
this was his choice. We enjoyed a bun-less hamburger, and then their famous
fries. We then enjoyed a wonderful evening together to celebrate him.
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| Steve's Father's Day choice of restaurants! FIVE GUYS! |
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| Back to our apartment for the rest of our date night! |
DISTRICT COUNCIL ZOOM MEETING
We had a wonderful
District Council on Friday morning, and we are inspired by their enthusiasm,
love and continued great efforts. We will miss those who are soon departing or
transferred.
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| District Council - 2nd to last one before transfers. |
LYON SENIOR COUPLE GATHERING
We enjoyed a lovely
evening with two of the 3 other senior couples here in Lyon. The Gannaway's were
unable to join us, but Elders and Sisters Hardy and McNevin joined us for an
evening of snacks and our Strawberry Cream Pie and a fun evening just visiting.
We are hoping to get these started more regularly at each other’s apartment, as
it’s just needed to get out and visit with one another. They have all become
such dear and lasting friends.
It was Sister Hardy’s birthday
the very next day, and I forgot to put the candle on the pie till later, but it
was important for us to honor her for her special day!
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| The beloved Strawberry Cream Pie - but we forgot to get the birthday candle out till after it was served! |
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| Sister Hardy's special birthday treat! |
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| Elders and Sisters Hardy, Packer and McNevin |
ZOOM MEETING WITH BROTHER AND SISTER HERZOG
Saturday, we had a zoom
meeting with Brother and Sister Herzog, who are anxious to get their mission
papers in and had several questions to ask us. We remember needing the same help
as we prepared for our Paris mission. We hope all goes well for them and that
they will be able to join us in the Lyon Mission.
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| Brother and Sister Herzog - preparing to submit their mission papers. |
FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND CHATS WITH FAMILY
Saturday and Sunday, we
were able to speak to all 8 of our children, to honor their dear dad! It does
both our hearts good to see them and express our love for them and they with us.
Our prayers and thoughts are with them each and every day and we are so proud
of the wonderful spouses and parents they are. We love you Packer Clan!
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| The 4 oldest children during our messenger chats for Father's Day! LOVED every minute of it! Nate, Camille, Janine and Jaron and some of the families. |
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| The 4 youngest children of our messenger chat for Father's Day! Jordan, Brent, Becca and Austin and some families. |
SUNDAY WORSHIP – FATHER’S DAY IN CHALONS
Sunday morning, we drove
to Chalons to speak in the Branch there. We loved our visit with them and also
stayed for the second hour. We were so warmly greeted by its members. Our stake
president, President Jubault, was in attendance and gave a wonderful message. We
were so proud of the three Elders who serve in that branch, as Elder Johnson
was a counselor in the Branch Presidency, but now going home, so Elder Roberts was
called and sustained to take his place.
We then drove to Elder
and Sister Reneer’s home for lunch afterwards, as they had graciously invited
us earlier in the week to join them for a Father’s Day lunch. Elder and Sister
Reneer are doing magnificent work in Chalons. It’s not easy, as the Branch is quite
small, and everyone lives far away. We’ve so enjoyed getting to know them and
look forward to our continued relationship with them, even once we return home.
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| Steve giving his talk in the Chalons branch. I was so proud of him!!! I then followed after him. We will be finished speaking in the Stake's Sacrament meetings next week. |
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| Relief Society - which normally this week would be Sunday School, but for certain circumstances the order was changed. Sister Catherine Grenier Catogni was the teacher, and she was amazing! |
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| Some of the RS Sisters in class. |
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| Elders Roberts, Johnson and Gellespie, the awesome Three Amigos, plus Steve in Chalons. |
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| Diana Lopez - she is such a dear and faithful woman, who has gone through so many trials, yet continues with a smile. She had requested a copy of our talks to get the quotes and references. |
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| Catherine Grenier Catogni - a woman one could easily be dear friends with! |
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| Elder and Sister Reneer, the Senior Couple assigned to the Chalons Branch. They have made a tremendous difference. |
CHILDREN AND GRAND CHILDREN MOMENTS
Nathan’s 44th birthday – A Father’s
Day Gift to us
Our oldest child/son, Nathan, turned 44 on June 15th, 1979. We will never forget when he was born, while living in Poway, CA, not far from San Diego. Steve was scheduled to speak on Father’s Day in Sacrament meeting on June 17th of that year, and it was on that day he brought Nathan and me home from the hospital. While Nate and I stayed home, Steve went ahead to church to give his talk. He was feeling extra tender emotions on that Father’s Day, especially since I was not due for another few weeks. We love you Nate and grateful for the good, kind and honorable man you are.
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| This was a photo taken to honor Nathan for his Birthday in 2004 with all the children present, plus two in-laws, I was taking the photo. |
Maliyah’s mission in Missouri update
Maliyah’s latest news is
that she is now giving tours on her own and loving it! We loved how the people
she took through, would periodically text Maliyah’s mom with a photo to tell her
how awesome her daughter is doing. Perhaps someday soon she can take us on a virtual
tour with her, like they do in Nauvoo.
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| Sister Maliyah Duckworth on left with her Stanger friends. |
Lydia Packer’s birthday celebration
Lydia and her family went
to an amazing fun center in Parker for her family birthday celebration and then
her awesome watermelon cake afterwards at home. Happy Birthday Lydia and we
love you!!!
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| Lydia and her Watermelon Birthday cake made by her mom! |
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| Lydia jumping for joy |
Lincoln tested this last
week to advance to become a solid brown belt, which is level 2 brown belt. He’s
done amazing and has been thriving.
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| This was part of his routine to pass to the next level. |
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| He was pretty amazing. |
Jaron and several others regularly sing with a small
group each time a group of 10 hymns are formatted they've been working on, to
ready for final review for the new hymn book. Within this group, one of them
was my sister Lucie’s brother in-law, Lee Gibbons.
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| Lee Gibbons (on left) and our Jaron Packer. (I used to serve as a Senior Service Missionary on the 23rd floor of the Church Office Building, and my cubical was the corner desk on the left). |
GOSPEL STUDY REVIEW
Book of Mormon
- Walk in the ways of the Lord.
- Put my trust in God.
- Increase our faith in Him.
- Look for the good in others.
- Be favored of the Lord.
- Be willing to stand up for truth as Abinadi did.
- Always turn my heart towards the Savior.
Come Follow Me
- Conversion is an ongoing process.
- I must always be about strengthening others.
- Let us never forget that the Savior suffered for us in Gethsemane.
- The Lord’s Kingdom will be one where He reigns with glory, perfectness, peace, love and joy.
- Put my focus always on the Savior.
- If we know and love Him, we will see Him in everything we do.
- Our words and actions in every opportunity should be to testify of Jesus Christ.
- Pay attention to the voice of the Savior through His words, scriptures, our personal impressions and through our prophets and apostles.
As I think of Father’s
Day, I can’t help but think of the many fathers in my life, that have
influenced me in tremendous and remarkable ways. My Father in Heaven is a
constant and immeasurable presence for good in my life for which I am grateful each
day, and whom I can always count on no matter! My own father has been a
tremendous light and example of loving devotion to the Lord and his family and whom
I miss deeply every day. I am grateful for my own brother and brothers-in-law. I
have great admiration for each of them. I also feel so blessed with each of our
sons and sons in law that have graced our home with nobleness and goodness to
the core. I love them deeply. My dear husband, Steve, has been my rock and daily
support and constant loving devotion to the Lord first and then to me and
family. I will forever be grateful for his tender goodness, his love and the
love that we share with one another. I am blessed beyond and grateful for each
of you!
With all our love,
Elder et Sœur
Packer Grandpère et Mémé
801-336-6153
(Steve’s)
801-564-1332
(Renée’s)
Address below: Please include the name and address as stated
Les Missionaires – PACKERS
59 rue Bossuet
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