Called to Serve in...

ARMENIA!!!

You may wonder where that is (so did I) but I think you could consider it part of the Middle East, Europe, or Asia. I will be reporting on May 28th and speaking Armenian. I am quite excited and can't wait to start my new and challenging adventure.

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission

You heard it right - Katie wants to go on a mission. Her first interview is tonight and doctor appointments are set. She is SO excited and knows that is what she is suppose to be doing right now. Stay tuned...

Winter Scenes

A December snowstorm that dumped 4 inches in a couple of hours.

Ben making snow angels

How much snow we have now and have had for 3 weeks.

Somewhere is this snowbank is my cell phone.

As the thermometer dips into the single digits for the high in Idaho Falls, I have to remind myself how beautiful winter wonderlands can be. This winter has been the snowiest and coldest. We've had a foot of snow since December 24 and I don't think it's going to melt soon. Because I'm not a winter-sport person, I have a tendency to complain about the drab winter days, but then I remind myself of the holidays, the fireplace, and time spent indoors with my family playing games, eating popcorn, watching movies, and how good hot chocolate tastes and feels after being outside for awhile.

Todd and his family know how to enjoy the snow!

A winter from the past.

Fager Conference Weekend

This weekend, Ben and I went to Provo to see "the girls" (Jenn, Mel, and Katie), husband and boyfriend. We had a great time! First we went to see Melanie at her office. She's worked for Craig Ainge, a CPA, for the past year and couple months. Ben endured shopping for a baby quilt. Melanie is so cute with her "tummy." Being 6-foot can no longer hide her protruding stomach. Dave affectionately refers to her as fatso.

Next we went to Katie's botany class and literally chased her 70-year old professor around BYU campus as he identified 15 new plants, and quizzed his students on another couple of dozen plants and trees they had previously learned. Her final will consist of knowing the common name, genus, species, and family of 240 plants. She is examining the Dawn Redwood, meta sequioa glypto stoboides genus and species of the taxonaceae family.

We spent Saturday and Sunday watching conference and playing lots in between. Jenn likes to watch conference like I do. It is much easier to clean the house, cook, or do my semi-annual ironing session to stay better focused. Katie likes to take notes on her computer. Saturday afternoon we crowded onto Melanie's couch to watch the 2nd session.

Between the morning and afternoon session on Saturday, Jenn and I went to Spanish Fork Canyon to visit with Richard's parents. It was absolutely gorgeous with beautiful fall colors. They live on a 5-acre lot in a small gated community. These pictures were taken just up the road from Richard's house.