Last Week....Looked Like This...

The Boy's missionary documents arrived about two weeks before he left for England...

Within the packet was his name plate/missionary tag....they don't usually get those until they enter the MTC....but since he would be traveling a long distance, they sent one for him to wear on the plane.

I have to admit...seeing that tag was both amazing and overwhelming...it took my breath away,

and left a pit in my stomach....it made this whole experience very real.  Also within the packet

were very clear instructions both for the missionary and the parents...

....here are the instructions for the parents..."Once your missionary has boarded the plane...

DO NOT CALL THE MTC TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ARRIVED......just assume that they have, no news is good new."  I thought that was pretty funny at the moment....but didn't think it was too funny after The Boy had left...and we had nearly a week without any news from him....and

then I understood the instructions....and understood even more why they were all in capital letters!

But...if I can add my parental "two cents".....I really do wish we had gotten a quick email from the

Preston MTC...letting us know he had arrived, safe and sound;)

While getting The Boy all packed...we had his suitcases in the living room...
As I was packing his things, I thought about how this would be the last time for
two years that I would wash his clothes...

make sure his shirts were ironed....and make sure he had all he needed to meet his
physical needs.  I thought many times during the packing process...

how grateful I was to be able to do these

things for him. 

Many nights I layed awake at night...going over his list...to make sure nothing had been forgotten.

Hopefully everything he needs was well packed in those two suitcases.

We...PreShie, The Rooster and I....spent the month before The Boy left,
making little notes to put in his suitcase, pockets...scriptrues....eveywhere you could imagine,
so that he would find them little by little.  PreShie even placed a few inside his socks...he
could be finding those for quite a while....the little notes written by
 PreShie and The Rooster were so tender,
and full of love.  Some said how much they loved The Boy...others said how proud they were of
him for serving a mission.  Other were stained with tear drops....from the Mom for sure...and many
from The Rooster....he even placed a little stuffed animal...a Rooster, that even made a crowing sound...deep within The Boy's suitcase with a sweet note tied around it's neck.
 I would have loved to see The Boy's face when he found that;)

This picture I found...after the fact...I am not sure who took it...but most likely it was PreShie.

This was taken after The Boy was set apart as a missionary....he placed his missionary tag on and had

come into the kitchen where alot of the family had gathered for cake......the tender part of this

picture for me, are the words above his head, on the wall in our kitchen.....

"There's no place like home...."

I don't think he even realized where he was standing....We are missing The Boy terribly...

but there is no place we would rather have him be!

Raising An Ebenezer Stone...

Grandma Christine called the whole family together...it was FHE.

..She decided awhile back, that she

wanted to raise an Ebenezer stone in her yard to represent our commitment as a family

to Heavenly Father.  She selected the location...a place that everyone passes by, so that

it would be seen very often.  She had some large rocks brought to her home...and selected just

the perfect one....then had a little pad of cement poured, the rock placed in the center,

and it was about then...that the family arrived.

When we "arrive"...it is most often in a variety of off road vehicles...and this was no

different.  Grandma C. gathered the family around...and that is not an easy thing to do;)...

and she taught everyone what an Ebenezer Stone was and why it was important to our family.

History of the Ebenezer Stone;

The name Ebenezer is taken from 1Samuel 7:12, and translated means "the stone of help". According to the Biblical account, Samuel exclaimed "Thus far, the Lord has helped us" when he erected a stone, and named it Ebenezer. The Ebenezer Stone served as a memorial, to the children of Israel, of all the ways the Lord had helped them - routing their enemies, protecting their borders,

returning the Ark of the Covenant.       

Every person present placed their hands in the wet cement, and wrote their name below the

handprint....commiting to the words that Grandma C. also wrote in the wet cement...

"We will stand for right...even if we stand alone"

The family had a great time finding the perfect location for their hands...

All the while this was going on a big storm was looming above.  While some were still writing

in the cement...rain began to fall.  The Stone was quickly covered with a tarp and it

began to pour!  It was quite a storm...one that left alot of rain behind.

Even the littlest people...Gavin....put their small hands into the cement!

We were so happy that it was able to get done before The Boy left for his mission...there

is his hand above...and man are we missing him!!!

I appreciate so much, the efforts of a beloved Grandma who is always thinking of ways to

strengthen her posterity.  She offers counsel, writed sweet notes...and most of all

offers unconditional love.  This was a great unifying experience for our family!  As I have read

about Ebenezer Stones...what I have come to understand about them is that although raising a

literal stone is wonderful...it really is about offering thanks and recognition to a Heavenly

Father who has blessed us so much!  Our offering....is Our Boy...who left us this week

to serve his mission.  He is our Ebenezer Stone for the next two years...and he will be a

constant reminder of how blessed we are as a family!

Soaking It All Up....

Chicago....that is where I am today.

The Farmer has that conference thing again that he speaks at....and when he committed to speak, we really didn't have any idea when The Boy would be leaving for his mission.  So we packed The Boy along for the trip since he will be leaving us one week from today....

FOR TWO YEARS!!!

When I realized how close this trip was to his departure date...I asked him if he would like to go in my place and spend some one on one with The Farmer...without much thought he answered YES!

When I suggested my plan to The Farmer...he thought it would be great for me to come along...after all he says....he wouldn't do this conference thing if I didn't enjoy Chicgao so much.   Awwww...

I like that Farmer. The Farmer and I were counting the years that we have been luck enough to attend this conference...and experience this city...and realized that he gave his first presentation in 2001....wow....11 years ago.  We missed a couple of years...but for the most part we have been have had the great blessing of attending.  We learned to love this city when we lived in Cincinnati...Chigago was our temple..and we would travel 5-6 hours on temple trips with the youth and
 other members of our ward.  Those are some great memories! 
 We arrived yesterday...and will spend the next few days enjoying

our Boy...and enjoying this wonderful city.

Sunday was The Boy's "farwell"....the Skinner Uncles arrived in force...cooked some great steaks...sang a song....and headed back to Mesa.  Their visit was just toooo short, but it was wonderful to have them with us.  I prayed for alot of strength...and not too many tears...and my prayers

were answered!  I don't want to upset The Boy with my tears....so I try really hard to keep them to

myself.  Sunday was a great day...we enjoyed a wonderful family dinner following church...Brisket with all the fixings...Uncle Dave did an amazing job on the meat!  We ate...we visited...we laughed...and ate more.  It was a great celebration of family, who have all helped raise

The Missionary Boy.  I appreciate so much the way this family supports

 each other...it is a great blessing!  Tuesday, The Boy visited the Colonia Juarez Temple...again a wonderful experience...again it was great to have the support of family and friends.

Our days are busy.....busier than I can ever remember being...but it is a great busy!

I am soooo far behind on blogging...my hope is that once The Boy is in the mission field...my

life will settle a bit and I can catch up....we will see...but for now...The Farmer and I are

enjoying our Missionary Boy....soaking him up!!!

Joe's Cafe

While in Utah...The Rooster golfed nearly everyday.  So that meant I was driving him from one course

to another...to another....so he could practice his "skills."  While driving I found myself

looking around...checking out the sights....One morning...before The Farmer joined us....I noticed

a little "hole in the wall" a place called Joe's Cafe.  It is very near to University Mall....it is located in

a little strip mall where in one stop you can get yourself a very fancy prom dress....buy a little insurance that you might need and plan your funeral....now that is one stop shopping!  Right in the middle of that strip mall is Joe's Cafe.  I noticed it because, painted on the window were the words...

"Best Biscuits and Gravy In Utah!!!"  Now, if you know The Farmer...you know that he LOVES

biscuits and gravy.  I mean LOVES!!!  Through the years I have tested many recipes, on the search

for the perfect biscuits and gravy.  We do have a favorite..and I have been making it for the family for a very long time.  Anyway....I made a mental note, that when The Farmer arrived we would try

Joe's Cafe and see if his claim to fame was really true.

One morning, after The Farmer joined us.....we carefully slipped away from The Darlings...and headed to Joe's for breakfast.  I don't thing Those Darlings even noticed we were gone...untile we arrived home and they said something like...."where did you go?"  We walked into Joe's and were greeted by

Joe himself...with a huge smile...and fun jokes.  We ordered...aside from our order, he brough us a bowl of his grits to try...and we were in heaven!  I mentioned to The Farmer that I felt like we had

been transported back to Cincinnati Ohio...where we spent a few great years.  Joe came and sat at our table and told us "his story" and how he ended up in Utah....of all places.  It was some great fun!

Our breakfast order arrived....The Farmer's eyes rolled to the back of his head, when he layed that first bite of those famous biscuits and gravy...on his tongue.  He announced that they were truly the best he had tasted....and he has tasted ALOT....I made the big mistake of asking him if they were better than my recipe that I make at home...and without hesitation he answered....YES!!!

Oh wow!  I told Joe I wan't sure our marriage would last after that comment...and he just laughed and laughed.  The cafe was filled with a very diverse group of people...some families...some bikers...some local athletes...some businessmen....they were all there for the yummy food...but also becuase they

love Joe!  He moved from table to table visiting with every guest, making them feel like they were a long lost friend.  When our meal was done....Joe took our picture to place on his wall....that is covered with most every customer that has walked through his doors. We left happy....very satisfied...and vowing to return with The Darlings...knowing very well that they would love Joe's as much as we had.

I few days later....we headed out on a trip to Martin's Cove Wyoming.  The Farmer suggested a stop at Joe's before we began our drive.  The Darlings were amused by Joe.  He treated them really well...

he again served us up some tasty food....and finally took more pictures for his wall. They loved the place....and the loved Joe!  We have since recommended it to several people...and they have each

enjoyed Joe's....and have promised to make it a regular stop.

The BEST Biscuits and Gravy in Utah!!!

PreShie, getting ready to dig into her yummy breakfast!

The Farmer's amazing "Joe's Burger"  It was so amazing that he had to eat it with a fork!

Joe really took to The Boy...they became dear friends instantly!  He made sure that I took this picture....just like it is!  If you are close to University Mall...stop in and visit Joe....

You will be glad you did!!

It's All Over....And Why Are All The Flies In Mexico????

(Llamafest....you can be sure I will be blogging about this a little later!)

We are home....our Summer adventure in Utah is done.

It was GREAT!  We couldn't have asked for anything more.  We saw lots of family....

spent time with great friends....made new friends....arranged a few marriages (The Darlings, of course), ate way too much....saw beautiful sights....laughed harder than I have laughed in a long long time.....shopped for our missionary.....hung out with Auntie...and much much more.

I had hoped to blog my way through our Summer fun, but almost a soon as we arrived in Utah...

my computer went on strike.  It went to the shop...they lost a ton of my pictures....said they repaired it,

and I brough it home.  I fired it up...and it almost immediately died....ugh!  Back to the shop it went...

a new hard drive was installed.....in the meantime....I found another computer....brought it home....The Farmer scowled at me....and I said..."I MUST have this computer so I can blog!"....The Darlings

all agreed....The Farmer said "fine" and we all moved on.  He is such a great sport!

Our trip home was a little crazy....it always is....The Farmer finds great deals in Utah on items that he really needs here in Mexico...and so we end up hauling alot of stuff home.  This year...among other things....he purchased a bunch of used drinking fountains for the chili plant.  Super idea...but the Border Agents, just couldn't wrap their minds around the drinking fountains....they gave us alot of grief over 4 fountains that cost $20 each.  They finally gave in....and we completed our

journey home.  Many things made the trip eventful...and I will write about them later...but for now...I thought I should make a few proper good-byes to Provo....

*Dear Luis and Cami at Sonic.....thank you for making it "your pleasure to serve me" day after day

when I arrived for my large cup of amazing sonic ice.  Thank you also for wishing me a "super Sonic day" EVERYDAY....as I pulled away with my ice.  Who knew it could be such  a happy place to work!  Is it sad/scary... that I know your names?????

I have since started searching the internet to find myself a pellet ice maker...but Auntie says it would

be easier to just get myself a Sonic franchise....hummm...now there is an idea;)

*Dear Nie Nie.....Let me begin this note to you by saying that I am not a creeper!  I had the good

fortune of coming upon your house one afternoon...ACCIDENTALLY.....as I was coming off

the hill, from visiting the home where I spent my early married days.  What a treat it was to see your

lovely home!  Your beautiful children were playing in the yard....was I tempted to stop and say hello, you ask????  Why yes I was!  When I proposed the idea to The Darlings they said no way....she will think you are a creeper.   I am pretty sure you wouldn't think that...but anyway...it was fun to see your home, and maybe next year I will stop by and say Hi!

*Dear People Of Provo....you are some happy folks!  Thanks for having such great manners...smiling all the time....keeping your yards beautiful....you inspire me!  Thank you for the cool evenings...and for making sure there were no flies while we were in town.  I didn't know what a gift that was....
until I came home;)

While The Darlings Were Away.....

I haven't had a week, like last week...for a very long time!

The Darlings attended EFY...and The Farmer is still at home working...so that left me ALL ALONE!!

So this is how it went....

After I dropped off The Darlings, I spent the day doing errands and cleaning our home

away from home....The evening was spent with great friends and great cousins..at the

ever fantastic 4th of July party held every year at Uncle Tom's house.  The food was great...

Uncle Tom's "band" played some fun music..and we just visited and visited until the rain started.

Delightful!!

In our neighborhood..the fireworks went on late into the night.....

In the days that followed...

Shared lunch with a dear friend...ate yummy food...and caught up...

Grandma Vicki and Auntie arrived...

Made a "few" trips to Sundance...

Celebrated Auntie's birthday with the most amazing lunch at Sundance...

and then a little shopping..

(above is the herb garden at Sundance.  I thought it was so great!)

Uncle Ben and family arrived....

spent the day at Thanksgiving Point...with the farm animals and nieces and nephews

Sooooo fun!

Had a wonderful lunch at The Harvest....

(Uncle Ben and Grandma Vicki)

The Farm animals enjoyed the attention...some even posed for photos!

 

The kids loved the water fountain!

The adults LOVED...visiting and just being together!

After a great lunch....the kids discovered the most darling soda fountain known to man!

They really enjoyed the ice cream cones!

And the adults enjoyed amazing Sunday's.

The week ended with dinner at The Brick Oven with all the Family...and an amazing

Balloon man...(more on that later).

Saturday morning....EARLY....we picked up The Darlings...it is great to have them back.

They all had wonderful experiences...and made lots of new friends.

It was a great week for everyone!!

Check'n In At EFY....and Cousin Love!

After a funfilled 4th of July weekend....came EFY check-in which fell exactly on the 4th!

The cousins arrived the night before and we all loaded up Monday morning and headed for BYU.

We had cousins from Mexico....cousins from Mesa...and a great group of friends that also

came from Mexico to attend EFY.

Aunt Shauna took a moment to say a little prayer...that Niki would be able to "walk-on" to EFY since she

was not able to get in earlier....and her prayers were answered!

A whole load of teenage energy was dropped off at one time...the kids were happy...and

the parents were pretty happy too!!

PreShie returned Saturday from 2 1/2 weeks of touring in Europe...and was thrilled to be

reunited with her cousins!

They were all happy to see The Boy....

The Boy hasn't seen his cousins for a few weeks...and it was a very happy reunion!

Lots of cousin love!!

This was The Rooster's first experience at EFY.  The Boy took him shopping the week earlier...to make sure

The Rooster was "ready" for EFY.  He looked pretty cute when I dropped him off.  The Rooster isn't always

up for new experiences..in fact...he avoids them like the plague...but after many pep talks...he was ready to

go.  He told someone he wasn't too happy that his Mom had paid $$ for him to go to church for

a whole week!  I thought that was pretty funny.  The Boy quickly said that there would be alot of

"hot chicks".....tons of fun...and he would get to be spiritual!  What more could a 14 year old boy ask for??

I thought he would have a hard time when I dropped him off...but NO....he grabbed his suitcase from the car, and headed for the dorms.  When I started to follow his...he said..."what are YOU doing here???"  and even though I was really there to make sure he was ok....I told him I just wanted to snap a few last

pictures and then I would go.  It was fantastic to see him soooo excited!!

PreShie....well....she started with week tired.  She was suffering from jet lag and wasn't sure how

she would make it through the week.  She was excited to be there...just a little worried about being so

tired.  She is in the same group as The Rooster...just to keep an eye out for him.  She will make the best

of the week...I know she will....that is the kind of girl she is!!

The Boy is attending for the last time!

He was super excited to go...but really mad at me for taking too many pictures!

He will thank me someday...YES....he will!

He said he felt old...but he didn't care...he really loves the EFY experience.

And me....well I dropped them off...and drove away with a big smile on my face.

I am so grateful that they are having this experience...I too...love EFY. 

I will be a great week for The Darlings.....and for their Mother;)

Manti

Saturday evening we headed to Manti to see the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

We had never seen that pageant...and who can pass up a trip to that amazing temple!

We arrived early enough to secure ourselves a good seat....

The weather was great...nice and warm until the sun went down...and then it was time for jackets.

We took a little picnic lunch along with us....straight from Kneaders...our FAVORITE!!

The Rooster enjoyed a bread bowl with yummy soup...and The Boy demolished a

Turkey and Avocado on Sourdough Bread....oh yum!!

and I ended up with a Navajo Taco...I didn't bring that along...The Rooster actually didn't order

anything from Kneaders...but found himself starving once he saw that bread bowl

pulled from the picnic bag.  Oh well....

So the Navajo Taco was yummy...there was alot of food to choose from at the Pageant...

Funnel Cakes...Snowcones...everything you could imagine....

As always....there are a few "special" folks who like to follow those Mormons around..

this guy brought his own step ladder and stood on top of it yelling...not sure about what....

The fantastic thing about this guy is that we could literally not hear a word he was yelling, once we stepped

onto the temple grounds.  Pretty great!  I never will understand why people feel the need to bash

the way that others choose to worship.  Side story...when we arrived at our cute little townhouse last

week...we were locked out and weren't sure if the managers had left the key with the neighbors...so

we knocked, and the nicest lady answered.  We quickly determined that no key had been left...and so

we began to unload the car while we waited for the managers.  The Boy walked to the nearest garbage

can to throw a few items away, and was met by another one of the neighbors....he told The Boy

that he appreciated us being so friendly and kind to them....and that they too were visiting for just a few

days....they were Jehovah's Witnesses and they came to spend a week knocking on doors.

He then told The Boy...that he had heard that alot of Mormons lived in the area :)....and did The Boy

know anything about that....The Boy smiled and said "yes...ALOT....of Mormons live here...

good luck with your missionary work...I am sure they will all be really nice to you."

They stayed around for a couple of days....and then left....several days before they had planned...

I hope they were treated well while they were here.

Ok....back to the Manti Pagaent..

We had a great time walking the streets of Manti....

visiting...laughing...eating...

The Rooster made himself a bed on the ground...and played

some games on his iPod...to pass the time

Once the Sun set....the Pageant began...it was so nice!

That it was set on the side of a hill...made it all that more special...I loved it!

It was a treat...something I have wanted to do for a very long time!