WE HAD TWINS!

I arrived home in a major hurry last Thursday - wonding how I would ever get everything done I needed to get done.  Work is just sucking the life out of my life - but never the less - grateful to have a job.  I ran downstairs to grab something and slid across the wet floor.  Now there's something wrong with that sentence, no - it's not the running downstairs part.  I stepped into water and nearly died.  I called Del and said - "Remember those water heaters that you were going to replace?"  (Only in a shrill high angry voice) Well - he came home in a hurry with 2 new water heaters in the back of his truck - and I went to the temple because I knew that the Lord would never forgive me for killing him.  When I returned home he wanted me to see something - (I love it when he shows me stuff) - and he told me to stand in a certain spot of the basement and that he would be right back.  Right before me was a wall of gushing water - from the faucet - from out side.  A tsunami rushed across the floor and over everything in it's path.  Small whales washed past me, a cruise ship went by with a couple on the front with their arms stretched out wide as Celine Deon sang in the background.... we now have a sand bar.  Del had washed his truck previously in the week and had (as usual) left the hose undrained.  (......last count, over 26 years in Utah....) dur dur dur, needless to say it had been filling up our basement for 45 minutes while he washed, and washed and washed his truck.  I was livid, I used my angry voice out loud, very loud, I did not swear (because I had just come from the temple remember), I was pointing fingers, 2 main fingers, and I was putting on my hip boots, I was not a nice person.  Needless to say - for the next 72 hours we have moved, dried, replaced, dries, reboxed, bit our lips, and gathered all the strength we could to put our lives back into shallower waters.  Del had never put water heaters in before - I asked him how he was going to do it.  This is a guy that designs Rockets ok - but hey - water heaters might pose a challenge. Not for this guy.  He was amazing.  Interestingly enough - a month ago - I felt a strong impression to put a few important things in plastic totes because of a great sale on them at the time.  Items that would have been totally destroyed, floated happily by me dry as a bone, and asking me if I had any sunscreen.  My friend suggested that we freeze it over and have  an ice skating rink - might have to charge for that one - but I did find my ice skates!  (The box they were in is currently destroyed though).  Fun new additions to the family include 2 new water heaters - heaven only knows how long he could have milked those for!  Here are our new babies - and incidentally all of the Christmas gifts, and food, and most of our bills are now tied up in these kids sorry!  So come on over for some sandwiches on Christmas day and we'll just play in the boxes they came in! (:

and here is the decorations around the tree.... and the kitchen,

and the front room, and the washroom and the bathrooms and the garage.....

I told Del how much I appreciated his hard work.

I really did.  He knew I was ticked off.

I also said that this particular 'dur dur dur' award

should take away at least 2 of the vehicles I've wrecked.

Ok, so much for that suggestion....

I will end on a positive note:

THINGS I FOUND

The bra that my brother sewed 2 stockings on the front for my 30th birthday, I in return gave him a nail studded jock strap for his 40th birthday.  A punchbowl - complete with 6 dead bugs.  Several toxic poisonously hugeness spiders, that are now deceased (note to self:  find offspring).   A warm place for little mice to live - and die.  (again, find offspring)  Applesauce from 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1989 - all years when my children were born - scrapbook material no doubt.  Unfinished crafts dating back to caveman years from Homemaking Nights (I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this one), and my costumes from my years of dancing with Moveta Carden from Logan.  Fortunately for me - the only pictures that were destroyed were of my mother in law - (can you feel the love) Rock on - everyone should have a good flood - right Noah?

And to all a good night....you hosers

Eat your hearts out, she's ours!

In a moment of very smart choices - my son Matt married his high school sweetheart - bringing huge smiles and sighs of relief - because I have ALWAYS loved this girl.  It was wonderful watching them fall in love - and see Matt's life come together so beautifully.  She brings class and comments to our family - Ryan M is really glad for that - because I'm not sure he can follow the conversations of Mandy and Ashley.... Bethany brings to our family noteworthy items - I thought of of few of my favorites....

She married a hottie, almost as hot as her!

She gave me my first grandchild - and I loved that one so much - she's giving me another one!

She lives what she believes, and you know it's good.

She is always looking for something to do for someone else.

She is a riot in a line at Disneyland - 'I'm thinking of an object....'

She gave us another set of parents, 2 more sisters, Mory, and an awesome Grandma that we love.

She calls me mom - and it melts my heart.

She's brilliant AND cute - she beats me on both of those.

She's a great mom and wife and Speech Pathologist, yep - she would need a Masters to put up with both of those boys some days!

She's a true Blue BYU with a Masters in Communication Disorders - the latter being how our family teases her on 'name that lisp'.

She's creative - she headed up a committee to find 49 things about me last year for my birthday - on

the fridge still. We still need to come up with one more....

She has my total respect - I don't give that one easily!

She loves the Lord and she is making sure that their home is

always a place he can dwell.

She teaches Andy about Nanna, and a-one, prayers,

and sorry - important things.

She is multitalented - music, school, sewing, entertaining, singing,

amazing job, and doing it all while being a mom.

She is my friend, AND my daughter in law.

She puts up with Matt, and a motorcycle - a full time job.

She is a great example to me.

She represents the terrific threes - my 3 in a week birthday celebrations!

She's coming to town and bringing my son and grandson, and 1/2 baby to

PLAY WITH NANNA!

Happy Birthday Bethany - we are SO lucky to have you,

and I'm lucky to share "Mrs. Hillary" with you!

WE LOVE YOU!

My Natural Born Child...

Freaky but true - this is my only natural born child.  The others required many wonderful drugs.  But Mandy entered the world with an agenda.  Her birth certificate almost said - Elevator, between floors 3 and 4.  She came screaming out and has never stopped.  When God said good bye to her - he said, "My child, Heaven will be darker, quieter, and less crazy... darn we'll miss you" and then he tossed her down to me, and commented on how he didn't know if the world was ready for this kid yet....  It was fun to have Mandy because I already had a boy and girl, so I was excited to see what was in store next.  I was not then, nor ever have been disappointed- except her Senior year.... there's always one year you know... (:  In a world of overachieving siblings, she created her own nitch.  She creates music - and performs it so that every single time she plays - Heavenly Father does look down and see who is playing more beautiful than his angels can sing.  I wanted to start out with the nice stuff.  It kinda changes gears from here on out..... hold on.  Well I'm thinkin' that I'll just show you Mandy - from pictures stolen from her facebook page - just in case you think I'm making all of this up!

Just in case you might be thinking that we don't love and adore her - think again.  Mandy can walk into a room and light it up with her smile and her laugh.  She usually enters bearing gifts of an amazingly decorated cake or some piece of music you just need to hear.  She loves to bring joy into the day - even on her worst day, she makes everyone around her feel like the sun is shining on them.  When she's not doing homework (Senior at BYU), or working (at work), or Playing music (Wind Symphony), or even serving others (Primary secretary), she's still laughing, or making the world a better place - one crazy thing at a time.  You can't drive in a car with Mandy in the passengers seat without locking the windows.  She'll yell at cars, call out "Look there's Jaffar!", or hang something from the car out the window.  Sometimes she'll yell out something and then duck and you are sitting there while people look over at you like - what?  She's brutal about people walking slow in front of her - BYU girls that are tramps and dress like tramps, and people that sing off key.  She's totally in love with her hubby Ryan, and she drives him crazy every single day - the poor guy.  She's scared of spiders, thunderstorms, darkness, and testing days.  She can cook up a storm and feed an army on 72 cents, seriously folks.  She made us proud when she was the Main Soloist for The Utah Symphony, held the first chair and/or lead in the All State Jazz Band, Wind Symphony, and Super Band (Jazz).  She's an amazing performer - so why not get a Degree in Music Performance eh?  Mostly she loves her family.  She was born closest to Ryan her little brother in the calendar year - always sharing birthdays, cakes and attention.  She can call at just the right time - right when you think you can't go on another minute - and she assures you that you can.  We all love her so much - and we are amazed as we sit around and remember some of the crazy things she's pulled off and actually was not arrested.... So - Happy Birthday Beep - you make the sun in the morning look pale.  Thanks for touching all of our lives with your laughter.  22 is my favorite number - make it a great year!

Elder Hillary - Happy Birthday!

December 13

The day you were born - my world became complete.

You were the most valiant to wait the longest to come

to earth.  It must have been difficult waiting so long,

watching everyone leave one at a time.  But you came to earth

with a great purpose - and great challenges

You came well equipped  to fulfill both...

(Darn - I wanted to post the picture of him laying

on a dentist chair they found on the side of the road,

but it's no where to be found - I'll find it - it's worth posting)

So... it's time to throw those teenage years to the wind.

This will be the first birthday away from the Hillary Family.

We all miss this punker - he's the quiet member of the family,

anyone that knows our family would agree he's quiet, timid,

and thoughtful. So on his 347th day on his mission - he turns 20.

I wish I could have the pirate birthday party, or the cowboy one,

or some circus theme like years gone by - those days are

just found in the scrapbooks of time.  The party I celebrate with him

this year is that of service, and devotion, and true to the heart

testimony of Christ.  I think of the many gifts he's be given throughout

this past year - I'll share a few with you on HIS day.

Gifts of family and friends supporting him, teaching

him and encouraging him to go out into the world

and teach the gospel.

Gifts of courage, faith and endurance in the MTC.

The gift of gifted doctors that pieced him together,

and although not of our faith - gave him faith

that he was unique and special and that they felt

something amazing when they were around him.

Gifts of a Bishop and Stake President, and an

MTC Branch President that never let him give up hope.

Companions that endured the tough times with him.

The opportunity to actually serve his mission,

with part of his lung missing - the gift of being

able to become the missionary he'd dreamed of.

The gifts of new adventures, in a new mission,

with companions that stood by him.  The ability

to stand by companions when they made

life difficult... and endured with the hand of'

the Lord.  The gift of believing in those that

gave him a chance to share the message of the church.

The gifts of investigators, becoming members, becoming

lifelong memories.  The gifts of finding amazing human

beings that cared for him and took him into their

lives and loved him as their own.  (Loved you guys!)

The gift of Elizabeth, and Jessica and Lucy. and Mr. Brooks.

The gift of comfort on lonely, uncertain nights

when the dawn was very far away.

The gift of debit cards - that leave traces

of where he's been transferred for his mom.

The ability to read IM but not touch the keys... (:

The gift of knowing that he has a family here

that loves him and prays for him daily.

The gift of a future free from anyone that would

hold him back from his dreams.  What the?

The promise that comes from a new

companion, in a new place, with new challenges.

The gift of accepting the Lord's will in all things

The gift of being a Warrior - the world needs

more Warriors.  In return for all of these gifts?

He gives it all back every single day.

Happy 20th birthday son!

We all love you SO much!

Dream Big!!  Eat Cake!!

Add Ice Cream!

CELEBRATE!

Partae...

e-mail your mom...

Partae

 The story goes kinda like this..... Del planned a party for me and had the girls & hubbies and the baby pistachio (Mike and Ashley's inner preggie child) over.  Matt, Bethany and Andy are in Washington, and Elder Hillary is kinda busy elsewhere.  So the girls are stuck with me - and their respective spouses.  Here they all all cute and lovely.  I love them....Lee Lee, Pistachio, Mikhole, Beep and Ryan mmmmm.... not to be confused with Ryan hhhhhhhh.

 

Mandy made one of her amazing creations - it was seriously this cute and hard to make - and much appreciated.  I'm not kidding folks - you need to hire her - she's a freak of nature when it comes to decorating cakes!  Later on, we learned that fondant can be burned in the candles located on the table - which we cannot have anymore on the table because my children are pyros.....

 

We set the table up all nicety nice and civilized and then we played with fire some more.

 There are a lot of candles to deal with at a 50th Birthday Party eh?!

 
Del is a seriously serious Steak griller, like he's on grilling crack I swear.  (I'm lovin' the hair baby...) He's an excellent Harley man, Rocket Scientist, and Grillin' Freak - a perfect combination....  He was out in the snowstorm grilling just for me - I'm feelin' the love baby.  Now this next picture might scare you - but we don't have any steak knives - somehow they get broken or thrown away - so we just pulled out all of my butcher knives, and bread cutting knives and meat cleavers - all with 12 inch blades - I put them out just for fun and then I looked over and my sweet son in law Ryan is hacking up his steak with the bread loaf knife and not complaining or saying anything - I know we scare him so he probably wouldn't have said anything - we are a strange family, indeed.
 
Ashley and Mike brought flowers and balloons and yummy salads and rolls and then we pulled out the matches again and burn baby burned those candles.  I received a great CD from Mandy and Ryan that makes me cry, and 4 extra special messages on my phone where she sings Happy Birthday to me in Spanish, Korean, Jumbalia, and British, all complete with bleeps where she has to swear on a couple.  This is unique because Mandy doesn't speak any of those languages, even British!  Those are treasures, seriously folks, you might pee if your heard them...she took up 4 slots on the message machine.... Ashley and Mike gave me a book called "My Grandma Drives a Harley" that they picked up in Vegas on their last trip there - it's SO funny and I can't wait to read it to not only Andrew, but his little sister and his cousin Tommy Hawker Pistachio Doxstader!  Del was a total sweetheart and planned the party and pulled it off complete with doing the dishes afterward.  Later on I received a call from Washington with the funniest attempt to get Andy to say Happy Birthday Nanna - but he kept inserting the word "Cars" then NANNA really loud - I laughed and cried!  It was followed by a wonderful card from My Missionary Man - something about actually listening to my nagging - that kid better count his blessings that he's far away  on my birthday or I'd put him on dish patrol or wipe-o for a month - right Matt? (:  Thanks for all of the wonderful face book well wishes!  My favorite was:  "Can you hear the death march yet?"  Obviously from an 'older' friend of mine.....  I noticed that I didn't get one from
Mikenzie Reeder Wade - WHF?

Happy day - we had a blast - and I am totally blessed with amazing family and fun friends.
Thanks for making it special!

Here's yer sign...

...and there you go...
comments to come...later

Hillary Family - Put it on the Calendar!

Shocking but true - Your dad helped trim the tree.  Yep - I know - 26 years of marriage = 26 trees.  He put them up one by one.  I believe this event occured due to a melt down after my 300 hour graveyard shift last week.... oh, and also due to the fact that I commented on how I didn't even want to put up the 'Holly Jolly' this year and suggested a place he 'put the ornaments'.  He chose option #2 - actually putting the ornaments on the tree instead.  He chose wisely.  I didn't even mind that he had several Mechanical Engineering Structural Analysis comments on the simple ornament hook and suggested that we do a power point presentation on geographically placing the ornaments on the tree.  I love yer dad... there might not be anything under our tree this year but by darn - there's a lot of love around it.... ew.... naughty....

Get Your BYU Key Chains Here!

Here is where Utah can purchase their BYU Keys to the Rivalry Game.  Must 'drive you all nuts' heading home tonight right?  From what I noticed there isn't enough red to cover that scoreboard!  I personally am an Aggie - but for my BYU kids I'll celebrate with a big WWWAAAHHHOOOOO!! just for you.

Matt - Masters 
Bethany - Masters
Ashley - Masters
Mandy - Bachelors in Spring
Ryan M - Bachelors in Spring
Ryan H - BYU Student

In the movie 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' my favorite line is in the room with all of the cups to choose from - the final Knight says, "You Chose Wisely' and kids - so did you.  Wear your blue proudly!

In thinkin for dinner tomorrow - anyone from the U can come over for some humble pie - we'll be serving it on blue plates with a little Wahoo on the side. Now - let me check the scoreboard for the Aggies.... oh well....


RETRACTION:  DEl IS A CAL POLY MAN... BUT RECIEVED HIS MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERIN FROM THE U OF U - HE'LL BE EATING ON THE BLUE PLATE TOMORROW.... BUT WE STILL LOVE HIM.  ASHLEY IS CURRENTLY WEARING RED SO SHE'S KINDA A BYUER!  (BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS STAYS IN VEGAS RIGHT LEE LEE?)

Ashley? What's in there?

I

heart

Lee Lee's

preggie

Pee Stick!

(Is is legal to post a preggie

post and a missionary post

on the same day?)

YESSSS!

"MOM"umental Day

400

DAYS

LEFT,

TO THE

RIGHT

YOU'LL

SEE.
(Love you Elder H)

Count your many blessings - but please do it before 5 AM on Friday...

Yep - it's my yearly personalized ranting post on Black Friday

If you are a fan of Black Friday - please forgive...

I personally - am not - I work retail,

Actually graveyard week proceeds Black Friday.

I sign my life away on secret ads,

I give my holiday away working Thanksgiving Eve,

Thanksgiving day, and Thanksgiving night

for Black Friday Freaks.
(See later post for Christmas Eve, Day and day after)

Friends I haven't seen for years

come out of the woodwork to try to get out

of me where to run to first in the store,
or if I can 'hold something for them'.
(PLEEAASSSEEE).

Which look like great things to buy,

until the Visa bill comes....

I make sure that I am walking out of the store

15 minutes before the mayhem begins.

You know how cold it is outside by the amount
of Starbucks cups littering our parking lot...
I pray for a blizzard that morning...

As I drive away from the store - I watch the doors open

and I remind myself that there's only $22.50 in my checking
account for the rest of the year probably....

I look at our beautifully decorated, filled to the brim

musically saturated store, that has been wrapped and

ready since the 4th of July, and listen to the

calm before the storm.
Please be kind to the employees in the stores,
they've given up more than you know to make
sure that your adventure in insanity and brutality
is a happy snowglobe dream come true.
Thank them, be patient with them,
they are working on about 2 hours of sleep,
and have been advised to smile...
Use your nice voices, remember that
strollers can be weapons of war, and that
if you have to knock someone to the floor
for the animated fuzzy toy - there is therapy
available for you through Obama's
new health care plan...or not....

Last year - the store did 225,000 in 6 hours...

I didn't get an increase this year,

my benefits were cut,

and I'm watching them bring in new

holiday employees...

Forgive me for my attitude.

I'm grateful for the Holiday 24 hours before Black Friday

Thanksgiving - although I won't get to enjoy any of it...
Get off work at 7:30 am... drive 1 1/2 hours - see family
drive 1 1/2 hours back to be at work by 8:00 PM for the
ever so exciting nightmare before Christmas
Don't get me wrong - I love the celebration of the Holidays.

I'm thankful that our family enjoys the lights, the sounds,

the food and the spirit of Christmas, that we

draw for a name - buy one gift - receive one gift and

remember that it's all about the Christ Child and
serving those around us who never ever ever get to
shop Black Friday - because there isn't even any
food in their home, let alone a tree or 2 or 3...
It's about a phone call from my Missionary,

and a visit from sweet loved family,

and another year that I get to love my parents on this earth.
And above all - being with my children and the most
beautiful 1 1/2 grandchildren in the world.

It's about the tears that well up when "I'll be home for Christmas"

comes on the loud speaker (on Halloween night) and I know

that it's the first Thanksgiving and Christmas that
I've been apart from my Missionary Man
and I'm praying that there's room around

a table for him where ever he is.  And how grateful I am

that there's some mother out there that will take him under

her wing and love him for me.

This year on Thanksgiving - all of my children are
celebrating with their amazing in laws or
they are far away with a new roof!

I will miss them - and yet I am proud of the

amazing human beings they are - and that

they always remember....

"What happens in Vegas - Stays in Vegas"

Never the less, our hearts will be celebrating our love
for each other,and singing
"There's a Big Fat Turkey Down at Grandpa's Farm"

even though - Grandpa never had a farm - but
he did have turkeys and I thought they were
awful, smelly, noisy animals..... random thought...

So - Kids - Bob loves you - dad and I are on our own this year,

so.... knock first.

See.... if I distract you with shiny keys you forget all about

the rush at 5:00 on Black Friday.

....please pass the pumpkin pie...

PS - We put out Valentine Socks this week....

We interupt this New Moon for some (Heart) Breaking News....

 OH NOPRAH?

You can't be leaving us!

You said you were checking out

after 2 more years...

 Who will tell me about

Monkey Ladys,

share their Favorite Christmas things with me,

find another Dr Oz & Dr Phil,

try to kill Gayle on a roadtrip,

help me lose weight,

show me Tina Turner,

and make me brave enought to say

VaJayJay?

Leaving us will KILL us

one at a time Oprah!

See!  It's already started!!!

NO!!!

I haven't been on your show yet,

it was my life long dream!

I wanted a house and a car

and  Michael Bolton CD!

THAT'S IT - I'm changing the channel....

...come to momma...

25 Smackers.... oh ya....

Ryan is our other Ryan that we love.

Today is his birthday.

Some would say he just dies when you make

  a big deal over him in any way, but we do anyway.

Some may define him as an amazing runner, which he is for BYU.

Some may define him as an amazing son, which he is.

Some may define him as one of 4 Ninja Turtles, which he is.

Some have said he has a beautiful bunch of in-law
sisters and brothers, which he does (on both sides!)

Some may say that he is a brilliant up and coming Law Student,
which he is.
Some may call him to move 4 familes on a weekend because
he's in the Elders Quorum Presidency, which he is, and he does...

Some may say that he is tall and hairy, which he is.

Some may say that he has to pry Mandy off of
the ceiling during a thunderstorm,

which he does....

Some have mentioned that he can eat
more food than he actually weighs, and he can.

Some may say that he gets ill if you say Obama, which he does.

Some may say that he is brave to be married to Mandy, which he is.

Some may say that his wife is hot, which she is.

Some may say that his mom in law
embarrasses him every chance she gets,

which she does.

But I'm here to set the record straight.

LUCKY US - We have Ryan in our life and in our family,

and he even agreed to marry Mandy.

Which we're glad he did!

Happy Birthday Ryan who kisses Mandy,

(Not to be confused with Ryan on the Mission)

We love you, and we are looking forward to seeing all of the

great successes coming your way, because....

I know they will.

Men who stare at Fish, the younger years...

The grandson on the right is now 21 months,
the grand daughter on the left

is comfortably resting in her momma's tummy.

The grandson on the right's momma
posted a cute blog about her 21

month old son.

The momma said that the grandson on the right
likes to sit really

close to the other kids
in the nursery so

that when they are not looking

he can

steal

their

fishy fishy

crackers

and eat them quick.

I love the grandson on the right.

I love the grand daughter on the left

I love the mommy

I'm still thinking about their daddy

wait,

he's my son

I love my son....

Have a happy freakin' day everyone.

Eat your heart out....

or fishy fish if you prefer...

Don't Ever Forget

Some people will never get to tell their Veteran that they love them.  After the events of Ft Hood - I realize that I need not wait for a special day to tell them.  But since it's Veteran's Day - I didn't want to miss the chance to leave a comment.  Over time I've honored my Father, a proud Marine. My Uncle, Col Jay M. Hill, and this year I thought I'd add another amazing person to that list....

First time I ever laid eyes on Michael Doxstader at the airport - I stood there in awe.  He was just returning home for a short leave from his first of 2 Tours to Iraq.  He was tall, handsome, and dressed in his military gear.  He stood there larger than life.  I watched his mother hold back the tears of relief and joy.  I watched his family wrap their arms around him - and decorate him with red, white and blue leis.  I watched his little nephew Grant look up at 'Gikey' and seen in his eyes the word 'hero'.  Today - after being his mom in law for well, forever it seems (because I can't remember life without Mike in our family), I want him to know how much I honor him, and absolute adore him, and even well, kinda love him  just a bit.  There is the Mike that comes and eats my Sunday roasts and never complains.  Then there's the Mike, the Soldier, that laces up those size 13 1/2 boots in a perfect form and straps on his gear.  He is fierce on the outside - but so tender underneath it all.  When I look at his eyes - I can only imagine all that they've had to see.  When I see him tenderly holding my daughter's hand all these years, I can only imagine them holding those that didn't make it home in those strong hands.  When I see those huge shoulders - I can only imagine the weight they 've had to bear.  Today - I honor you.  All that you are, all that you have become, and all that you represent.  You are a Warrior, you are my daughter's forever love, and you are always, one of my sons.  Thanks for all you do to keep the world a safer place. Love, Bob

*Lee Lee - thanks for bringing home such an adorable, stray dog, grillin' machine, pervert, gentleman, dirty tongue, motorcycle dawg, muscle maniac, chick flick seeing, MILF fan, handsome dork.... we all love him.

Don't forget to tell your favorite Veteran that YOU love them today!

Ode to Pinkish

So

Since I have a beautiful

Grandson,

God smiled

and said,

let's send her

a beautiful

Granddaughter....

(to Matt and Bethany

in April...)

Lucky me!

I hope Elder Hillary develops a wonderful Drawl...

OH!  There you are!

(Whew - because I was just loading the

Cheetos and Rock Stars in the car to

go and find him)

Rattle off that Spanish son...

6 new shootings in Juarez.... I believe

God hears the prayers of Missionary Moms...

Yep - eets da full moon tonight

Beware...

Swinekin Flu

Pack your bags Elder Hillary... you're hittin' the dusty trail... (please pass the chips and salsa...)

Well, news from my Texas Informant Friend...

indicated that "Bashful transferred, and the Green

Giant stayed"  Meaning - Elder Hillary packed up and

Elder Carter will remain in Horizon.  News from the

underground indicated that the transferring Bashful was booking

it on over to another area in El Paso.  (I LOVE my informant)

Other than the fact that after checking his debit card and it

actually has a total amount of $.74 (that's cents folks) I worry

that he had to have both flu shots, and then had enough for

one package of top ramen.  Note to self...

"Start the Elder Hillary fund quickly"

Just a note on the Green Giant... (Elder Carter)

These two had some battles to work on personally and

each came fully prepared with their own personalities.

It proved to be a great lesson of compatibility,

and acceptance of personal attributes.  It was a task

they actually took to heart and created a wonderful

friendship over time.  But never ever did they battle

over their testimonies - they were strong with the Lord

and in the Lord's work.  After being together for 2 transfers,

they found common ground, lots of laughs, and wonderful

reasons to rejoice with priceless baptisms.

We were able to learn about his wonderful talented

family and wow - are they amazing...

 Thank you to the wonderful people of

Horizon City - especially the many families that made sure that

they were fed and loved and comforted.  Special thanks to Elizabeth,

for giving her light and her joy and her heart to these two.

(And gallons and gallons of Ice Cream and toppings galore)

She is the reason Elder Hillary said, "Now I know why I'm here"

You'll find her on our family tree - she is loved very much by

our family - and always will be.  Gila Valley Temple eh?!

Also special thanks to Lucy & Ronnie - your

washing machine and stove - are Elder Hillary's favorite

appliances - one provided wonderful food and the other,

cleaned up whatever food he spilled on his white shirt!

Thank you! (:  I love all 4'9" of you) Gracias...

There was also a wonderful family that made sure

that every Friday night - they were welcomed

at their dinner table - some of which I cannot

mention their names - but please know of my great

appreciation to you in every way.  (and I'll need those recipes...)

Mostly Elder Carter - thank you for your patience

and your love. I cannot wait to hear you sing one day.

Until then - stay strong - and keep on servin'!

You'll always be in my prayers.  (All 6'5" of you!)

As for Elder Hillary.... we won't know until next Monday's

e-mail the exact place he's headed - There are many

places around El Paso that the 'word' is needed.  I'm

looking forward to hearing about his new companion

and about their adventures that will take Elder Hillary

into the 1st year mark of his mission.  I know he's

looking forward to many more miracles.

Drop him a line if you all feel like you

need to do a random act of kindness eh?

(Address is at the right!)

I love you son - I miss you beyond words.

I pray for you.

I talk to your picture.... it helps a tiny bit.

I feel your love back.

You are my Warrior...

Grown Men in Costumes - "It's a Thriller Night" (Whew Hew!)

I can't stand how stinkin' funny this picture is.

I swiped it from my daughter in laws blog

which is private - but perhaps I could share just

this one picture? (thanks!)

It is actually the Elders Quorum President

(AKA: Jack from Jack in the Box) and

Matt - my son (The Grim Reaper).

Bethany commented that they only scored

3 points each because they couldn't see the

fooseball game through their masks very well.

I believe they win the official

"Best Halloween Pictures of 2009"

Any other takers?

Dare ya...

To Witch I say - You Nose I Love Ya... (That snot even funny)

Yerp - you can pick your friends,
you can pick your neighbors
and if you really want to you can pick
your families noses to wear...
(Can you only imagine where these
noses have been?)

Witch brings me to a level of joy.
'Tis almost the Haunting Night...