Dorothy

September 13, 2009
Dear Family,
We’ve had a wonderful two months since the last Lingo. Most of that time the focus has been on the temple! Kevin, Penny, Marcus, Ariane, Alan, and I were able to participate in one way or another during the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house until the end of July. I put together a large binder of our stake’s experiences with the temple and the open house for the stake. I really enjoyed that project. To top it all off, five (of the 15 in the Alan Tomlinson family) were able to attend the Saturday morning session of the dedication in August, in the temple. That was an extra special, spiritual experience for us.
Since Penny received her endowments in the Jordan River Temple, we have gone to 9 different temples. It is so great to have so many in Utah to go to. It has been good missionary preparation for Penny and has opened up extra opportunities to get together with our children even more so as we share this spiritually strengthening time together. Penny had her “farewell” August 30 and gave a very good talk in church. Many friends and family members came that day showing their love and support, which was so appreciated.
This week Penny will be set apart by our stake president and then we’ll “drop her off at the curb” of the MTC. Someone told me it will be like dropping her off at school… like the first day of kindergarten. We’ll miss her, but know that she will become a better person because of this experience and will certainly do much good for the Lord’s Kingdom. We think often of you who have gone through this experience yourself, either as the parent or the missionary. Thank you for your example.

Her general MTC address is: Sister Penny Sue Tomlinson
Provo Missionary Training Center
Canada Calgary Mission
2005 North 900 East
Provo, Utah 84604
We won’t know her P.O. Box # until after she arrives at the MTC. She’ll be there for about 2 or 3 weeks. The mission home address where you may correspond with her beginning in October will be: Sister Penny Sue Tomlinson
Canada Calgary Mission
7044 Farrrell Rd. SE
Calgary, Alberta, T2H 0T2
Canada
With anything you would like to write or send to her during her mission, they’ve asked that you write her full name. Particular instructions for packages they suggest you keep them small, and send by regular mail (not UPS or FED X) and be sure to mark it “GIFT” in addition to “personal Clothing” or “used items” or “Missionary supplies” etc. so she won’t have to pay expensive duty or brokerage fees in addition to custom fees.

In July some of us helped Heather move the books from the library on the first floor of her school, upstairs to the second floor where there are some large windows.
Ariane attended YW camp which was held at the LDS Heber Valley girls camp… they were able to sleep in cabins and enjoyed other advantages over camps in the past.
Marcus had his 3 wisdom teeth extracted. He’s glad the last of the major dental work is finally in the past!
In August our family attended the annual Tomlinson family reunion, held in Island Park, Idaho this year.
Following the reunion, I got to spend 4 days with my mother and four sisters in St. George. What fabulous time we had together…. It was a good thing we didn’t plan many activities because we filled the time very quickly just talking around the table!! I’m really glad we take time out to do this together once in awhile.
Ariane and Alan went to the ward youth conference at Camp Williams where they went through some interesting challenge courses.
Alan and I saw the “Scarlet Pimpernel” again at the Hail Center Theater.
Ariane, Marcus, Daniel, Jason (and Heather) went back to school, and Penny quit work and moved home.
The last Saturday of the month and the first Saturday in September we worked with Jason and his family in their large yard and got paid in peaches, onions, and zucchini, besides the fun we have being together anyway. It was the perfect payment for our efforts.
After encouragement from her acting-loving siblings, Ariane tried out for the high school’s musical. Now she finds herself extra busy with play rehearsals before and after school as she learns her part with the chorus and dancers for “South Pacific,” to be performed the first part of November. Daniel is also in a musical in Provo, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and Becky is directing the play, “Wait Until Dark,” at the Barn. These two Halloween plays will be performed appropriately in October.
We look forward to reading your letters and getting caught up on your news.
Love, Dorothy and family