Alyssa mission email 1

Hi Mom and Dad! I love you so much and miss you. I guess my P-day will be Friday for this week and next week but I'm not sure what it will be in Washington. The first day I got here, I was super stressed and frustrated. It is a big adjustment for sure. I can't really explain what its like to be in the MTC, you just have to come to know what it is like. They keep you really busy! I love my district though and my teachers. My companions name is Sister Thompson and she is super sweet and obedient. It has been hard already because I'm so used to being alone but now I have to keep a companion with me at all times. It's nice to have a friend though. I have already had to take dads advice about looking at things through my companions eyes, I have become frustrated and annoyed at times. Anyway, the first day here is really tough, I went to bed with a heavy heart but each day has been better. I have felt the spirit here and getting great information on how to teach the gospel more efficiently. Oh hey I have also seen Elder Lyon a few times already. I only talked to him once at breakfast yesterday other than that we just wave at each other in the hallway. He seems like he is doing great and is excited about the gospel. I've also ran into Sister Flake (Molly Flake from EAC. I played the piano for her!) She is actually in my zone and we say good morning to each other in the bathroom. On accident, I have called her by her first name a couple of times...whoops. Something to get used to. I want to let you know I am doing a lot better now. I had a bad last couple of nights trying to understand the gospel. I know it's true but so many times I doubt and get caught up in little things. I guess I am easily influenced by others and especially investigator's doubts definitely not good for a missionary. So I made new goals to protect myself from those negative thoughts. I am loving personal and companion study! That is where i feel peace the most. Only the third day at the MTC and i am learning so much. I miss you, dad, and Spencer. Tell me how Spencer is doing and if anything cool is happening at home. I love you and will pray for you! I will also try to send a picture of my companion and I next week to you. Love, Sister Murphy

We went to Delores Colorado for the Murphy's reunion, then we headed up to Colorado Springs, CO for a week of camping. We went to the Garden of the Gods Park. One of the last parks that is free to go too. The owner made that condition that it would always remain free to the public.(Yeah!) I brought my climbing monkey's along! We then took a day and went white water rafting, I was a little scared, my last experience was the boat completely tipping over! I survived and maybe I would do it again? The next day we went to the top of Pikes Peak on the tram on the way up, I spotted a mother bear and her two babies. It was the first time I have ever seen a mother and her cubs out in nature!

Chrismas letter

We missed sending out a Christmas letter last year due to the fact that we were planning a wedding! Tara was engaged last October to the boy next door (well really 6 doors down) but they decided to move the wedding up to December. We talked her into January 2nd during Trent’s vacation. After being one of Santa elves for the long month of December we usually take the week off after Christmas for a good rest for him. You can guess last year was not a rest, but we are happy to say that the wedding was beautiful! We sure appreciate all the help from family and friends. We couldn’t ask for a better son-in-law. They are both attending Pima College, they’re also team Primary teachers in their ward (how fun except they have like 12 kids ) Evan works part-time as a manager at a pizza place and Tara works part-time at the YMCA as a life guard. Also for two afternoons she comes and teaches piano in our home. Mom was tired and was very grateful for a talented daughter who could take over some.
Trent taught seminary for 3 years and was planning a well deserved break, well that lasted about two weeks before they nabbed him up as Ward Missionary Leader for our ward. Trent has now been with UPS for 20 years. He has a goal to make a huge man cave in the back yard this year. (Really it’s just a bigger shed). Lisa is still filling her days up with car pools, teaching piano one day a week, working with the webelos , going to kids swim meets , gardening, cooking and enjoying her family! We were so grateful to have been able to go to Nauvoo, IL and many of the early church sites with Tara before she got married. We took two weeks and ended up in Utah for a family reunion. This year we also had a nice visit with Trent’s parents in Morgan UT, took the kids on a camping trip with our new used travel trailer up to the White Mountains, for some fishing, boating, and relaxing in the cooler weather.
Brianne is now a Jr. in high school and a very busy one at that. She’s always takes the hardest classes, joins in almost every club, was on her school swim team and received the top junior swimming award. She was also a life guard over the summer, got her drivers license and is saving for her own car. She is now being a nanny a few hrs. every week to a two month old baby. She is still keeping up on her swimming and piano lessons. Alyssa our baby girl in now in high school too. That’s kind of bittersweet. Alyssa is a freshman and attending seminary, guitar lessons, piano lessons, swim team, voice class, she also still enjoys basketball. Spencer especially missed her after she left his school at Carden . She also received the prestigious Curtis award for top student there. Spencer is now in 4th grade and doing well in school and especially P.E. His mom has been his den leader for Wolf’s, Bears and now Webelos. Both he and mom enjoy it! He is also taking piano lessons from Tara, on swim team and still loves to play with our dogs. He goes out every day to give them some attention . He’s also great at teasing his sisters. What would we do with out a little brother?

We send our love and wish your family a happy and healthy new year.

Alyssa's girls camp pictures

Well this year is going by too fast. I can't believe its September! Just a few things to keep you updated; back in May 2010 Alyssa graduated 8th grade from Carden of Tucson. She also received the Curtis Award. (It is the school's most prestigious award for the best 8th grader and it also comes with a savings bond and plaque.) She also won the Presidential Fitness Award for getting 100% in everything. Go Alyssa! We are so proud of you and your achievements. It was also a bittersweet moment that our baby girl will be in high school.
The very next week Spencer and Mom went up to day camp on Mt. Lemmon with the very energetic Cub Scouts. The picture of him shooting his bow is his favorite! He really enjoys Day Camp and can't wait for the time he can spend the night.

RISE UP - For GLENN BECK'S RESTORING HONOR RALLY - Jeremy Hoop (song fr...

Tara & Evan's Wedding

Thank you for all your support and for everything you did to help with the wedding, the pictures are great! All download more when I get time.

Brianne sweet 16

Tara and Evan our hired profession-al waiters

Brianne's sweet 16



Well we sent Tara off to school in August and then in September we partied. Well we actually invited 20 teenagers over to Brianne's 16th birthday party. Her favorite dinner is spaghetti so we had spaghetti under the stars theme with Italian music and had some very professional waiters hired to serve these 20 teenagers.
They served in courses and of course spaghetti and bread sticks were served. We played sing for your dinner (a game where every one sings one part to a song and they had to find the other person who is singing the other half to their song. We also played how well do you know Brianne with prizes. It started thundering and lightning and so took desert inside and then watched a movie on Trent's new projector. It was a fun night!

Independence MO, July 7th

Commu-nity of Christ Temple



The original Flournoy home where the temple land was bought for $130

Jackson County's first court house 1827. Mary Elizabeth lived here who saved Book of Commandments

The First Log Court House in Indepe-ndence made of black walnut

Peace Pavilion from the Commu-nity of Christ Puppet show


After driving 10 1/2 hrs the first day and 8 1/2 hrs the second day we arrived in Indepen-dence Mo. After checking in our hotel we stopped to an all you can eat place. That's the kids favorite restaurant, just ask. We came back to our hotel and realized we couldn't turn off the air conditioning and our hotel was reading 60 degrees. So for any Arizonan in the middle of summer we froze. We asked the front office after it got down to 55 degrees if there was something they could do. They said they would send some one over, but he wasn't coming until after we would be gone. So we took out our sleeping bags and opened windows and asked for extra blankets. Most of the next day we were running around Independence going to the Mormon Visitor Center, The Community of Christ Temple(They have women in their 12 apostles) and the Peace Pavilion also owned by them. We went to the Temple Lot owned by the Church of Christ. They broke off, but they would tell you we broke off and that Joseph was a fallen prophet. You could really feel their contention for our church and it gave you a feeling of what the saint went through when they had dissenters break off and persecute Joseph Smith. You could also really feel the difference in spirit between all three places, It was amazing! Later in the afternoon we took the kids down to a water park it had slides, lazy rivers,and pools. We all enjoyed getting wet and playing.

Liberty, Far West and Adam-ondi Ahman

Liberty Jail, the entrance

Far West Temple lot

At Adam-ondi Ahman, Brianne found a good spot


Wed. after visiting Liberty Jail we stopped at Far West and had a picnic. It is so beautiful there and you really feel the sacredness of the temple grounds. We also have relatives that lived there, before they were kicked out. Adam-ondi Ahman was also beautiful but I would of liked it to have been less crowded, well it wasn't like Disney Land but I guess I wanted the entire place to myself. So selfish of me.