Drum roll please.....Ashley Gates

Let us turn our thoughts to our sister Ashley Gates.

Thank you. I appreciate you turning.

You know what I enjoyed about having Ashley? Week after week, there were service opportunities in Elders Quorum to help with moves. And week after week, I just shook my head and said, “oh shucks, that just doesn’t fit with Ashley.” And so, you ask, what does ring true with Ashley?

The environment. I am not sure who drives who or if they are just made for each other but Ashley and Chuck are both great examples of living green. So I decided I needed to do something in this space. We recently had a big time developer construct a monstrously huge high rise in the forest in front of our house. This was done without any permission from the city. Unfortunately, this development attracted some messy residents. Trash was strewn along the path to the high rise and spread out in all directions at the high rise. So I took Connor and Tara into the forest to clean up the area around the tree house that Ed built. We spent quite a bit of time not only cleaning that area but many other areas in front and behind our house. Even found an old bike frame. Tara was a trooper and I really enjoyed spending a chilly afternoon with her talking while beautifying the forest. Thanks Ashley for being an example in loving and preserving this earth.

Ashley works in the primary presidency in her ward. This was a slam dunk for me considering my wife works in the presidency as well. I needed to find some way to assist my wife. This may surprise some of you but my wife decided to craft a gift for each of the primary children. Side note: I found out my wife subscribes to a “craft of the month” club. I love crafts. Anyway, this craft for the primary children required some assistance and using my mad crafting skills,  I centered and glued many pictures of the temple to wood blocks. Some of you know that I have worked extensively with wood blocks under my pseudonym, Robot, so I was well prepared for this task. It was a great way to serve my wife and the primary and I was happy to associate the service with Ashley.

As I thought about what else I could do for Ashley, I again turned to the primary. I am blessed to be a primary teacher. I decided that I would take this past week to really magnify my calling. I just assume that all primary presidencies would want their teachers to magnify their callings so they would have nothing to worry about. That is what I did. Now, from this point, the sisters may not think too much of this particular service. The brothers, however, will be astounded.

First, I would like you to notice how I am dressed. This is not Sunday dress. That is right, I prepared my lesson before Sunday, before Sacrament meeting. Ladies, don’t worry if you don’t understand the significance of this…just ask your husband later. Magnification power of 10x.

Second, it may be hard to tell what I am doing here but I am actually using a Stampin Up product to cut out stars. I then put a message on each star to give to each student. Each star also had a scripture on the back. The brothers are now speechless. Shock and awe. That is how I roll. Magnification 100x.

Lastly, I had a table display. This is rarely attempted by brethren and for good reason. It is generally a total failure. I can hear the brothers saying, “oh no you didn’t!”.But yes, yes I carried it off almost perfectly right down to the requisite vegetation. Not only that but I had a take home treat and message. Magnification 1000x.

I am thankful I had the opportunity to serve Ashley in some way. Ashley is a fantastic mother. I know this because I see how her children respect others and love each other. I know she works hard outside of the home as well. She does a great job of balancing all her roles. I am grateful to have her as a sister in law.