Stone Family Reunion

This past weekend we held the Stone Family Reunion.  I worked hard all year organizing it.  I designed a family tree with pictures for our T-shirts.

 

That was my first design before I added the spouses and kids.

I wanted to go one more generation but the pictures would have been too small and I didn't have photos of everyone's kids.

I was lucky to find all the photos I needed of our ancestors to complete this tree.  Some of the photos were found in answer to prayer.

I think it turned out really nice, if I do say so myself.  :-)

Friday we had the talent show.  I was hoping more people would participate.  But it was still fun.

Cute poster Lisa made for the talent show.  Too bad a few of the acts canceled.  :-(

Lisa read some cowboy poetry.  She even wrote a poem called "The Ranch" about our childhood visits to our grandparents ranch.  I think some tears were shed.  She did an awesome job!

Spectators watching the talent show.

   

Elijah and Cody sharing their guitar playing talent.

My talent was a disaster.  I tried sharing some family history information.  But it was a fiasco.  I wasn't prepared.  To save my energy I had Aunt Alice read the history of Newell Elbert Stone that I asked him to write and send to me back in 1997. It was way too long and boring.  Mistakes have been made.

And to top it off, I forgot to display the family tree chart that I had Lisa help me make.  She did an awesome job putting it together and I can't believe I forgot it!  Below is a picture of it.

 It would've been nice to have this displayed for people to look at.  What a disaster.

Lisa and Rex sang a beautiful song about resurrection while Lisa displayed photos of family members who have died.  It was a beautiful testimony that we will one day be reunited with our resurrected loved ones.  It was very powerful and the Spirit was strong.

Other talent shared were Kylee showing her artwork.  Cora showing double-jointedness.  And we ended with Stephanie's talent (even though she couldn't be there).  Stephanie made a video of Dad's running career.  It was amazing!  We all watched it in the theater. 

The kids loved swimming and the never ending all-you-can-eat softserve ice cream.

Saturday we had the second annual Myron Hampton Stone 2 mile Memorial run.  Which started out as a fiasco with the gates being locked to the track at Graham Kapowsin High school.  After I went to all the trouble of going through Bethel school district facility use request.  It was approved and I paid insurance.  Just to have it locked when we all got there for the race Saturday morning.

We ended up going to Eatonville high school -- like we did last year.  And we had a nice fun race.  I already posted about the race.

Afterwards we came back home for hoagies.  Elijah and Cody set up their guitars to play a short concert for us.  It was fun.  Wish it would have been longer.  Maybe next year after the race they will play a full concert.  :-)

Elijah

Cody

Rex and Uncle Ron sporting their race shirts.

Elijah and Cody playing music after the race.

Jason, Rex, and Miley

Everybody enjoying the concert by Elijah and Cody.

It was a fun couple of days.  I hope everybody had an enjoyable time.

That's my two cents.

Myron Hampton Stone Memorial Two-Mile 2021

At the starting line.

Elijah and Preston look serious about this.  They are ready for the competition.  Runners to your mark, set, go!   

Our two overall winners.  Elijah and Juliet with their trophies.

Our top three male winners -- Preston second, Elijah first, Uncle Tim third

The top three female winners: Abby 3rd place, Cora second place, Juliet first place

Female participants

Abby, Cora, Austyn, Kylee, Juliet, Maddie, Amelia, and Aunt Jeanne

All participants

Cora, Juliet, Kylee, Uncle Ron, Preston, Maddie, Amelia, Elijah, Aunt Jeanne, Uncle Tim, Cody, Jason, Austyn, Hudson, Wade, Abby, Kingston, Brandon

The whole gang

Crowd cheering as Jason gets his award

Brandon receiving his award

Second cousins in the foreground checking out the drawing prizes during awards ceremony.

Juliet receiving her trophy

Shaking hands after receiving the trophy

   

Second cousins

Kylee, Amelia, Cora

Uncle Ron, Ryan and Austyn

We started out with a fiasco.  The Graham Kapowsin high school track was locked.  Despite the fact that they approve my request to use the track.  And even charged me insurance.  But we ended up going to Eatonville -- which is where we held last year's race because the GK track was torn up.

From now on, we will hold all future Myron Hampton Stone Memorial 2 mile races in Eatonville.  It's a nice track and we don't have to deal with cheesebags at the school district.

It was an enjoyable morning and exciting race.  Elijah was the overall winner. I am happy he won.  I know he has been working hard training for this race.  And it paid off! 

Everybody did a good job and I'm sure Dad was smiling down from heaven.  Last year Dallas led the whole race, until Aaron overtook him at the finish.  Dallas was proud to honor his grandpa.  And I'm sure they were both watching the race, cheering on the competitors from above.

Can't wait for next year's race!

That's my two cents.

Final Results -- Myron Hampton Stone Memorial 2 Mile 2021

Male

1 -- Elijah        12:24

2 -- Preston     13:11

3 -- Uncle Tim  14:21

4 -- Wade         15:53

5 -- Cody         16:15

6 -- Uncle Ron 29:38

7 -- Hudson      29:45

8 -- Jason         30:03

9 -- Kingston    DNF Completed 2.5 laps

10 -- Brandon   DNF Completed 2 laps

Top three male winners
Preston second-place, Elijah first-place, Uncle Tim third-place

All male participants
Uncle Ron, Preston, Elijah, Uncle Tim, Cody, Jason, Hudson, Wade, Kingston, Brandon

Female

1 -- Juliet            16: 55

2 -- Cora             18:56

3 -- Abby            22:44

4 -- Kylee           26:30

5 --Maddie         29:09

6 -- Aunt Jeanne 29:14

7 -- Amelia          DNF Completed 6 laps

8 -- Austyn          DNF Completed 3 laps

Top three female winners
Abby third-place, Cora second-place, Juliet first-place

All-female participants
Abby, Cora, Austyn, Kylee, Juliet, Maddie, Amelia, Aunt Jeanne

I know some of you are eager to see the results of the second annual Myron Hampton Stone 2 mile Memorial run.  So I wanted to get this posted ASAP.

More pictures of the race and reunion to follow.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2 mile run/walk.  And thanks to those who came to support the race.

Special congratulations to Elijah and Juliet, our overall winners.

Fun was had by all!

Mark your calendars for next year's race -- which will be on the third anniversary of Dad's death, Saturday, July 23, 2022. 

Hope to see you all there!

That's my two cents.

Stone Family Reunion

Today is the much-anticipated Stone Family Reunion.  It is also the second anniversary of my dad's death.  We will be honoring my dad and Dallas today.  Tomorrow is the also much-anticipated Myron Hampton Stone Memorial 2 mile run.  It's been a super busy week with two major events this week. 

I'm sure Dad and Dallas will be with us today and tomorrow as we enjoy family togetherness. 

I can't believe it's been two years since Dad graduated from mortality.  RIP Dad.  Love you and miss you.

That's my two cents.

Dallas Isaiah Stone Funeral Program

It was a very sad day yesterday.  My sweet nephew, Dallas Isaiah Stone, was laid to rest.  It was an exhausting day but Dallas had a lot of people at his funeral to support him.

Here is a copy of the funeral program:

Dallas was laid to rest next to his grandpa.  I know Dallas is happy about this. He and Dad are together now on the other side of the veil.  And together, side by side, on earth, until the resurrection.

God be with you till we meet again, my sweet nephew!

RIP Dallas.

Zoom Link for Dallas' Funeral

If any of you are interested in watching Dallas' funeral on zoom, here is the login information:

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Jul 19, 2021 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Topic: Dallas Stone Funeral

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://zoom.us/j/97053160908

Or One tap mobile :

    US: +12532158782,,97053160908#  or +13462487799,,97053160908#

Or Telephone:

    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

        US: +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 669 900 6833  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 929 205 6099

Webinar ID: 970 5316 0908

Dallas Isaiah Stone Obituary

Dallas Isaiah Stone, 19, of Shoreline, Washington graduated from mortality and returned to his heavenly home on July 13, 2021.  Dallas was born in American Fork, Utah on September 16, 2001 to Michael Adam Stone and Derrinda Jo Stone (Brandis).

Dallas attended school in Orting, Puyallup, Graham, Spanaway and Lynnwood.  Dallas was active in music, playing everything from the drums and guitar to the trombone and eventually the tuba.  He also loved to sing when he was younger and enjoyed writing lyrics.  Dallas won an award in school for a rap that he had composed.

Dallas enjoyed playing football (and any sports) at school and with his brothers and Dad.  He especially enjoyed watching his favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers, play.  In high school, he followed his father’s and grandfather’s  examples  and excelled in cross country running, with a natural talent.

Dallas always loved to read and was a quick learner from an early age.  He was always very inquisitive and wanted to learn how things work.  Dallas also loved to skateboard, ride bikes, play video games and ride quads. Dallas loved animals, especially his dogs, Willie and Dakota. 

He loved both of his grandmas’ cooking and going to family gatherings. 

In Dallas’ short life, he was a very caring and loving young man and was always thinking of others.  He had a very likable personality and was quick to make someone laugh with his witty sense of humor.

Dallas loved being around his family and anyone who knew Dallas is sure going to miss him.  Dallas had special bonds with everyone who knew him.

Dallas is survived by his father, Michael Stone of Lynnwood, WA;  mother, Derrinda Stone-Brandis (Che) of Spanaway, WA;  brothers, Cody, Elijah, and Brandon Stone of Spanaway, WA;  grandparents, Darleen Stone of Graham, WA, Dennis and Debbie Cooper of Pendleton, Oregon;  many aunts, uncles and cousins;  and girlfriend, Hope Steenfott of Shoreline, WA. 

Dallas is predeceased by his grandfather, Myron Hampton Stone. 

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Graham Washington Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 13612 224th St E., Graham WA 98338.  Interment will be at Fir Lane Memorial Park in Spanaway, Washington.

God be with you till we meet again.

Do unto Others

"It is never wise to seek or wish for another's misfortune.  If malice or envy were tangible and had a shape, it would be the shape of a boomerang." —Charley Reese

I read this quote today and liked it so much I decided to post it.  I don't know who the guy is who said it, but I agree with him.

I have never understood how or why people take pleasure in someone else's misfortune.  I am always happy when good things happen to others.  I don't enjoy seeing others sad or miserable.  I want everyone to be happy and have joy in their life. 

This is the main reason I served a full-time mission for the Church.  Because true joy is found in living the Gospel and obeying God's commandments.  I wanted to share that joy and happiness with others.

Those who wish misery upon others are usually miserable themselves.  So Charley's boomerang analogy is fairly accurate.  Perhaps that is why someone would wish for others' misfortune and misery.  Because, like Satan, misery loves company. 

And when you delight in others' misery, you are just reinforcing your own misery.  Like a boomerang, it comes back to you.

So instead, may I suggest, take delight in the good and happiness of others. Follow the Golden rule. 

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."  -- Matthew 7:12

Treat others the way that you would want to be treated.  If you do, you will find that your own happiness and joy will increase.

That's my two cents.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Dad!

   I miss you!

The Dance

I'm not usually one to like covers as well as the original.  But this is gorgeous.  Kelly Clarkson in tribute to Garth Brooks sings this heartfelt version of "The Dance".

Beautiful version of a beautiful song.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Gospel Thought

“The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.” -- Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Joints for Jabs

What kind of insane world do we live in?  I saw a commercial on TV yesterday, while watching Jeopardy, that said that the Washington State government has approved an incentive program for COVID vaccinations.  The incentive program called "joints for jabs" gives marijuana joints to people getting the COVID vaccine.

The State of Washington is now giving harmful drugs to its citizens as bribery?! 

This world we live in has gone mad!  Absolutely insane.  Reality is more unbelievable than most fantasy stories.  Nothing surprises me anymore.  But I do often have to quote John McEnroe, "You cannot be serious."  But unfortunately they are serious.  Dead serious.

How much crazier can mortality get?  

That's my two cents.

A Moment More of Difficulty

“To exercise faith is to trust that the Lord knows what He is doing with you and that He can accomplish it for your eternal good even though you cannot understand how He can possibly do it. … When you pass through trials for His purposes, as you trust Him, exercise faith in Him, He will help you. That support will generally come step by step, a portion at a time. While you are passing through each phase, the pain and difficulty that comes from being enlarged will continue. If all matters were immediately resolved at your first petition, you could not grow. Your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love.” -- Elder Richard G. Scott, Trust in the Lord, October 1995 General Conference

I love this quote.  It's an oldie but a goodie.  Mortality is hard. In fact, mortality is a mess.  When we get discouraged with life and with our trials, this is a good quote to recall.  To know that we should exercise faith and put our trust in the Lord because in his infinite wisdom, He understands what we are going through and why we are going through it much better than us.

The trials of mortality are for our benefit to help us grow and progress towards becoming more like our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  Like Elder Scott says, They love us perfectly.

I love the last line, it's worth repeating.  "They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love."

So when your trials seem unbearable, remember that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would not require us to go through a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely necessary for our benefit or for the benefit of our loved ones.  This knowledge is what gets me through the hard times of mortality.

That's my two cents.

Thought of the Day

 "I testify that bad days come to an end, that faith always triumphs, and that heavenly promises are always kept." — Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

Happy Birthday Mom!

 Happy birthday today, Mom.  You made it another year.  I hope you have a wonderful day today.  I love you!

Thanks for being the best mom!  Happy birthday.