In Honor of Kenzie

We got a letter this week from Quinn and he had a special surprise for Kenzie. He survived transfers and stays in Tanna for another six weeks. He got a new companion, a white kid from California who speaks English. His last three companions have been native to Vanuatu and don't speak English so this was exciting for him. He was called on this week to give a ride to a lady who was in labor and quite distraught. Quinn and his companion got her safely to the clinic and then went home. The next morning they went back to check on her and to make sure everything was okay. She had a beautiful baby girl and wanted Quinn to name her. Quinn named her Kenzie. I thought that was pretty sweet. Just when you think your kids don't like each other at all, they do something totally unexpected that reminds you that they do.....(they just forget to show it sometimes.)

'Come What May, and Love It....'

I have been thinking a lot lately about my niece Brittany and her two beautiful children Cambree and Gage. They are going through a rough time right now, and I know it isn't easy. This morning I was reading the November Ensign and Elder Wirthlin gave a beautiful talk entitled, 'Come What May, and Love it.' This advice was given to him by his mother when he was feeling discouraged and alone. He said that every life has its peaks and shadows and times can be very tough. He gives some great advice on how to life through days that are filled with sorrow, because there will be those for all of us. But he reminds us that if we approach adversity wisely, our hardest times can be our times of greatest growth. Never would we ask for the trials or want them, but as we get through them we realize how strong we are and how many blessings we have. Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering and sorrow is part of our trials here on earth. Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome. And most importantly Elder Wirthlin reminds us that the Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.

Brittany I know these days are not easy. And the months and years ahead maybe difficult as well. But I know you will be blessed and watched over and protected. You are an amazing, beautiful, spiritual women. You are a wonderful, loving, caring mother. I'm so proud of you Brittany and your faithfulness to what you know is right. You are loved and admired and we are all here to help. You are not alone. Your parents, your grandma's, your sister, your brothers, your sister-in-law's, your aunts and uncles, and friends will all be there when you need us. And most importantly your Heavenly Father will be there with you always.

It's A Small World

Our son Jordan served a mission in San Paulo, Interlagos Mission, Brazil three years ago. He loved the area and he loved the people. One young man he baptized was named Reinaldo Rosa. This young man has gone on to serve a mission in the Brazil Fortalera mission. He is serving with two elders from Moses Lake. Elder Kofoed and Elder Hopkinson, (whose family has now moved to Tri-cities). Elder Rosa just sent Jordan these pictures and a thank you letter for bringing the gospel to him and his family. It's a small word.....

It's Not What You Know, It's WHO You Know.....

So there has been alot of hype surrounding the 'Twilight' books.... Have you read them? Edward and Bella? I have read two, one on each of my last two vacations. Their an easy read and very clean. They are entertaining and creative and the storyline is very imaginative. They are directed at teenage girls and Edward is the kind of boy that every teenage girl would like to meet. He's unbelievably handsome and wealthy and sensitive, yet mysterious. He lives in a big beautiful home and drives several amazingly fast, cool cars. He's not interested in any other girls but Bella. He's protective, yet dangerous. He does have a few drawbacks, he doesn't eat or drink, or sleep, and his skin is ice cold. He will live forever at this age and Bella will not. And the smell of Bella can sometimes make him sick...(but hey, all boys have faults.)

The movie 'Twilight' opens in theatres across the country today and my daughter Kenzie and all her friends have been talking about it for months. The theatre decided to have a midnight showing so the girls were frantically getting tickets and talking about standing in lines for hours in the cold to be the first in. Somehow David and Peggy Earl arranged a private showing for Kylie (for her 17th birthday) and the drill team and sisters and mothers last night at 8:00 p.m. The girls came to practice at 7:00 p.m. and about 7:45 p.m. a boy came in with a big box and a letter for Kylie. The letter was from 'Edward' inviting her and all her friends to join him for the evening. There was a very loud scream and more screams, and yells and jumping up and down and running to get bags, and sweatshirt and shoes. Everyone loaded into their cars and drove to the theatre where we were ushered into the theatre to see the very first showing of 'TWILIGHT'. It lived up to the hype...It was PERFECT! and the girls giggled and yelled and screamed during the movie. My favorite part was seeing Edwards skin glisten in the sunlight and for a very short moment last night we all felt very COOL (and young)! Thanks David and Peggy.

GO DAWGS!!

I have to admit I'm a BYU Cougar fan but at certain times I'm all for the Gonzaga DAWGS!!! The Gonzaga Men's Basketball team is rated 9th in the nation (so my son tells me) and two nights ago the Molahiettes got to perform at half-time in what the Gonzaga fans loving call 'the kennel'. It was a sold out crowd of 6,000 and the girls did a great job. While waiting to go on you feel scared and excited all at the same time, and giving the girls opportunities like these is the reason I love coaching.

The Ultimate Compliment

I got a call the other day from my sister-in-law Lila. She was inviting our family to have Thanksgiving dinner at her house. I was very excited. I love Thanksgiving and the more family the better. I asked what I could bring. She had not really planned the menu yet, but she knew she wanted me to make the GRAVY. I learned how to make gravy from my father. He was an expert. He made the gravy for every roast and every turkey and delicious hamburger gravy. Holidays were especially delicious and we all couldn't wait to have our potatoes with 'dad's gravy'. My father died of cancer on January 2, 1996. We celebrated our last Thanksgiving together as a family in Idaho all together with my dad. He made the gravy--he was very weak and thin, and without saying it we all knew this would be the LAST gravy made by dad. Just as he finished, and was bringing the gravy to the table, it slipped out of his hands and spilled. He was so sad, he felt defeated. WE all acted like it was no big deal and we ate the delicious meal with a few drops of the best gravy we had ever had. My gravy does not taste like my dad's, but I'm trying and EVERY TIME I make it I think of my father. It is a good memory. I love you dad and this year I will again think of you at Thanksgiving time as I'm making YOUR gravy.

A Pictures Worth A Thousand Words

Quinn recently sent home so pictures and I thought it would be fun to share. The first group of pictures are of Reuben's baptism.


Quinn in his white Lava Lava...


The beautiful area in the ocean where Reuben will be baptized....



Quinn and Reuben....


Climbing into the ocean...


The members of Reuben's branch...



D & C 18:10 "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."



At Port Vila for Zone Conference with some of the other missionaries serving in Vanuatu!


Quinn's home on Tanna.



The next three are his bathroom, the toilet and the shower....seperate rooms, pretty nice huh?






This is what his area of Tanna looks like, and some of the housing...


Quinn and his companion teaching a discussion.