It seems that in order to accomplish anything, we have to
schedule time for it. Sadly to say,
writing in our blog has been rather far down on the list. But we will begin to catch up by noting
several important events here which we want to remember.
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| Grant is checking out one of the computers in the FHC | . |
In September, after returning from our last scheduled trip
to visit family (in Alaska that time), we began to learn what we are to do in
our new calling in our church. We were
called to be the directors of the Columbus Ohio South Stake Family History
Center (FHC). The FHC is located in our
stake center building (in Reynoldsburg) and is open four days a week for 6
shifts a week. We are to keep the center
open and running with about 20 staff members and direct them to training sites
online at the FamilySearch web site.
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| Three patrons are working online in the FHC |
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| 4 of the 7 microfilm readers in the FHC |
There are many different duties in our calling, such as
helping patrons, making sure the computers and internet connection are up and running,
helping with microfilm readers, preparing calendars, reports, logging in
microfilms, answering the phone, taking in finances for minor supplies,
etc.
Also making sure the shifts are all
staffed or come in ourselves to cover them.
Thankfully all microfilms and microfiche are ordered and paid for by the
patrons themselves using their own credit cards online.
We no longer have to order those and take
money for them, but we have to log the microfilms and microfiche in when they arrive
at our home by FedEx and send them back when they are due, etc.
We also can take time to do
some of our own family history work if the center is not busy, so Pat really
enjoys doing that while Grant is able to do a lot of the technical work.
It keeps us pretty busy but we are happy we can
serve.
It is interesting that most of
our patrons are non-LDS people of the surrounding community.
The Spirit of Elijah is touching many people
and exciting them to look up their family histories.
It’s wonderful!
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| The Bishop's Storehouse truck Grant drives |
We also have our ward callings.
Both of us have teaching assignments in
addition to home/visiting teaching.
We really enjoy serving in the Columbus Ohio LDS Temple.
And we like to serve in the Groveport Bishop’s Store House (BSH) almost
every Monday “shopping” for the needy people and then driving the Storehouse
delivery truck once a month to make delivery runs to take food and commodities
to needy LDS families in the 9 stake radius that the Groveport, Ohio BSH serves
in Central and Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky.
Pat usually goes along as the rider helping
with the paper work and navigation to the three or four stops at ward or stake
buildings on each run.
It is another fun thing to do together and we
always enjoy a meal out after we are finished delivering the goods.
So we are keeping busy and happy.
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| Eliza was baptized by her brother, Karlton |
On
18 November 2012, we were able to attend the baptism of one of our
granddaughters. Eliza Maria Howlett is
the youngest child of our oldest son, Eric Howlett and his wife Chris. Eliza was born in Guatemala but Eric and Chris
were able to adopt her when she was a tiny toddler and she has become a very
important part of our family.
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| Corey was baptized by his father, Adam |
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Then
nearly a week later on 24 November 2012 our grandson, Corwin Jacob Howlett, was baptized. Corey is the third child of our fourth son,
Adam Howlett and his wife Missi. We were
able to attend that too, and that gave us the opportunity to meet with several
of his mother’s family who were in town.
It is very special to know our grandchildren want to be members of the
true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the first step on the road back to our
Heavenly Father.
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| L-R: Pat, Dean Schulz, John Oberting, Emma O, Grant |
Our
Thanksgiving Day dinner was very nice.
Most of our children here in Central Ohio had their in-laws' families to
visit on Thanksgiving day, so we had a very nice meal with our daughter Emma
and her husband John, who live with us, and also a long-time friend named Dean
Schulz. Grant used to Home Teach Dean
and his parents, Merrill and Angie Schultz, for several years before Dean’s
parents died, and now we take time to talk on the phone or visit him when we
can. Dean is mentally retarded, but a
very special spirit and we like to spend time with him when we can.**************
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| It was fun to gather several of Howletts for Thanksgiving |
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The
Sunday after Thanksgiving Day was the time when all the Ohio Howletts got
together for a big “Thanksgiving Day” meal and celebration at Eric and Chris’
house. Our house is too little to host
our large family any more, so we usually meet at one of our children's homes. What fun to
visit with all of our children and grandchildren that live here in Central
Ohio! It is very surprising to see how
much all of our grandchildren have grown since we’ve been away on missions, but
that is what we want them to
do.
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| Grant as HP in Temple |
At the beginning of the Christmas season, every other year,
the Canal Winchester Ward, which we used to be a part of, puts on a special
nativity called “Prophecy Unfolds – A Nativity Enactment”.
It was written by a special friend of Pat and
Grant who was in the Canal Winchester ward with them about 8 years ago.
Elizabeth (Betzy) Distelhorst is a very
talented sister and a great friend.
Her
play is a live nativity and portrays a market place where the decree to be
taxed is announced by a Roman Centurion.
It then continues on to Mary and Joseph’s road (around the outside of
the church) to Bethlehem, the Inn where there was no room, the visit of the
angel to the shepherds, the manger scene and lastly the visit of Joseph and
Mary to the temple to have Jesus blessed.
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| Eric as Roman Centurion |
All of Eric and Chris’ family, Emma’s husband, John Oberting
and Grant and Pat were part of the nativity.
Grant portrayed the high priest in the temple scene and Eric portrayed
the Centurion who gave the decree in the market place.
Chris and Pat were in the angel choir by the
manger scene and most of the rest were in the shepherds’ scene or the market
place.
There were over a hundred people
in all the nativity enactment and all the priests in the temple scene had to
grow beards, so Grant spent several months trying to grow his and did a pretty
good job of it.
Over 500 people come to
view the enactment and enjoy the live animals and colorful costumes and scenery.
We enjoy being a part of the ten or more
shows over the 3 day period of the enactment.
It takes a lot of dedication, but it is worth gaining the spiritual
feeling of the Lord to all the participants and those who come to see the
presentations.
We really feel this
portrays the gift of our Heavenly Father in sending his precious son, Jesus
Christ, to the earth to be our savior.
**************
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| Pat and Grant at Eric and Chris' home during Christmastime |
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Christmas is always a very special time to feel the spirit
of the Lord. Each year we try to go
caroling on Christmas Eve with some of our family members to a few special
people in our wards. This year we got to
join mostly with the Armstrong family, who are shirt-tail relatives to us. Our son Eric married Christina Armstrong and
we have been close friends and neighbors with her family for 20+ years. Her parents are in our ward, but most of her
family lived in the Canal Winchester ward with us until the ward was divided. Now they are close around and still gather to
go caroling on Christmas Eve. We had
started that tradition years ago and the Armstrongs came along with us. Now they are the ones who carry it on since
we have been going on missions and most of our Ohio Howletts are now too involved
with other activities on Christmas Eve. However, our son Wayne and his children,
usually join in with the group singing that evening too. We still
love being a part of it. Christmas day
was also very special where we gathered with all the Ohio Howletts and enjoyed
a dinner and gift exchange time. It’s so
good to have family gatherings to feel loved. *********
After Christmas and with New Year’s coming upon us we had a
special experience at Eric and Chris Howlett’s home. Their oldest son Karlton was 18 years old and
his girlfriend was getting ready to leave for BYU – Idaho the next week. He wanted her to be with him when he received
the Melchizedek Priesthood and was ordained to the office of Elder. So on December 30, 2012 his parents invited
several MP holders and family and friends to be at their home when Karlton
would be able to do that. It is all
right for a Priest to be able to be ordained before he is sustained in a stake
conference to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. That could be done after the fact with
permission from the Stake President.
Well, it was received and Sunday evening, 30 December he was ordained
an Elder.
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| Melchizedek Priesthood group who were in the circle to ordain Karlton to the MP and office of Elder |
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There were thirteen Melchizedek Priesthood holders in the
circle that surrounded him for the ordination.
His father Eric was the voice, and then there were his 2 grandfathers, 2 uncles, some friends, a former bishop, his current bishop and the first
counselor in the Columbus Ohio South Stake (COSS) presidency in the circle. The names of the men in the picture above from L to R are: uncle Tom Hatch, grandfather Grant Howlett, friend Dave Tyler, grandfather Bob Armstrong, friend Jesse Codling, friend Wesley Call, Karlton Howlett, father Eric Howlett, friend Brad Wilson, former Bishop Jon Hay, uncle John Oberting, current bishop Kevin Connors, President Gary Madden who is the first counselor in the COSS Presidency. It was a very special group. Karlton plans on turning in his papers to
become a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints after he finishes Eastland Career Center and graduates from high school
in May 2013. He could be out on his
mission by June or July 2013. He is
excited to go and serve the Lord for two years.
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