{where in the world is chase going?}

Today the highly anticipated mission call came in the mail.  Our mail usually comes late so when we heard the mailman around lunchtime it was a surprise.  We were in the garage at the time so we saw our mail lady put the mail in the mailbox.  We knew we were looking for a large white envelope so when we only saw regular size mail we knew it wasn't there.  I asked kaidee to go and get the mail as she was looking through it she yelled "Mom it's here!"  We were all so excited.  Chase was supposed to be off of work but someone had called him to work for them so he was at work.  Darian immediately texted him a picture of the envelope and then we began calling everyone to meet at our house at 6pm.  Chase was supposed to get home sometime after 6pm.

Garrett just happened to be flying in at 7:45pm but Darian had to be at work at 8:30pm so we decided to open it as soon as Chase got home from work.  Darian checked work and they moved his train back to 10:30pm.  I called Chase to see if we could move it to 8:30pm so that Garrett could be there.  He wasn't very excited to move it back but he wanted Garrett to be there so we decided to wait.  I texted everyone and told them to come at 8:00pm instead.

The waiting was hard for Chase.  The little boys were so excited, Cole was especially excited.  As soon as someone came over he wanted to know there guesses on where Chase was going.  Chase helped the boys put peoples guesses on the globe.

Chase waiting for everyone to get their phones ready.

It's time.

Everyone's guesses.

Cole was so excited.

He is called to serve in the Salt Lake City Utah Central mission.  He reports on January 7th and will speak the English language.

I was a little surprised to hear he was going to Utah.

Chase was trying hard to be excited but I could tell he was disappointed.  He just kept saying Utah? Really?

That night after everyone left he went to his room and I went to talk to him.  We had a nice talk and he felt a lot better after that.  His mission is the highest baptizing mission.  He will be close to the prophet and church leaders.  On his mission he will need a bike too.  I am so proud of him, Chase will be the first grandchild to serve a mission, what a great example he is to all the other cousins.

{chase's seminary graduation}

Today Chase officially graduated from seminary.  He completed a total of 4 years.  These last four years weren't always easy and he didn't get 100% attendance but he graduated and I am so proud of him.  He had two great teachers, Sis. Land in California and Sis. Stamps here in Texas.

Chase and Sis Stamps

Chase and his best friend Jake

{candy corn cupcakes, activity day girls}

One of my responsibilities at church is working with the 8-11 year old girls it is called activity day girls. Once a month we meet at my house to learn new things and pass off goals. For the month of October we learned to bake cupcakes and then we delivered them to friends. Well we actually "Boo'ed" them. It was hard to hide during the day but the girls had fun trying.  My girls have also been inviting their friends to come to activity days too.

Here is how we made candy corn cupcakes.  We made a plain white cake mix and then divided it in half in two separate bowls.  We then added food coloring to make one orange and the other one yellow.  It was an easy process.

Next we added a small amount of yellow cake batter, then orange  We had to be careful and not mix the colors.  The girls did very well.

We then baked them according to the directions on the package and this is what they looked like when we took them out.  Make sure you get the white cupcake liners so that you can see the different colors through the liner.

We added white frosting to a plastic bag snipped the corner and then piped the frosting onto the cupcakes.  Then you had the three colors to make it look like candy corn.

We put candy and the cupcakes in a Halloween bowl that I picked up in the dollar section at Target.  Last thing we did was to add a cute poem and ghost then we went to deliver our special treats.

The girls had so much fun and when we were all done they wanted to make more so that they could of Boo'ed more people.

{you should smell my house}

Every time conference rolls around my kids put in a request for cinnamon rolls and seminary bread. In the past my mom usually brings everything already assembled but this year she brought everything over and helped me assemble it. Now I know how to make it so I am going to share it with you.

Seminary Bread (I am sure their are other names but this is what we call it)

1 2oz pkg chopped walnuts
1 pkg Bridgford frozen rolls 24 pack ( you can use any brand)
1 small box Jello butterscotch pudding (only use 1/2)
cinnamon

1 stick of butter
1 cup packed brown sugar

Night before:

Spray Bundt Pan with cooking spray, pour walnuts evenly around the bottom of the pan and then add frozen rolls. Sprinkle 1/2 the bag of butterscotch pudding evenly over rolls. Sprinkle with cinnamon (use as much or as little as you would like)cover with towel and let rise overnight.

In a saucepan add butter and brown sugar.
I let this sit out overnight on the stove

In the morning your rolls should look like this. Melt the butter and sugar mixture then pour over rolls. Be careful not to let the mixture roll off onto your counter or stove. Place in a 350* oven and cook for 30 minutes. I placed a baking sheet under it because it will spill over.

The finished product.

Enjoy, I love eating it with a nice cold glass of milk.

{singing for Father's Day}

As many of you know I am the song leader in Primary and every year we are asked to sing for Father's Day. I wanted to do something a little differnt so we changed some of the words around. The first verse was written by a girl named Kara on my Yahoo group. The boys will be singing the first verse. My mom, Syd, and I wrote the second verse and it will be sung by the girls. In singing time tomorrow we will write a third verse and it will be about our Bishop. How does it sound?

Daddy’s Homecoming

I'm so glad when daddy comes home,
He shoots some hoops with me;

He lights the grill and cooks the meal, Then watches some T.V.

We go for walks and have long talks, He's always teaching me.

When I grow up I want to be Just like my dad.

I’m so glad when daddy comes home,
He sometimes tickles me;
He holds the rope so I can jump and plays hopscotch with me;
He blesses me when I am sick
He loves my mother too
When I grow up I want to marry someone just like you

Our New Prophet

Thomas S. Monson is the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was announced today at a news conference in the Church Office Building. President Monson, 80, succeeds President Gordon B. Hinckley, who died 27 January.
The new world leader of the Church has called to serve with him in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the 13-million-member faith, President Henry B. Eyring, 74, first counselor, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 67, second counselor.
President Boyd K. Packer, 83, is the new president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be filled later.

A Must See

I got this in an email from my friend Tasha today and it was the best tribute I have seen so far. I loved this great man and it was so wonderful hearing him speak. I will miss him greatly and I am proud to say that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

President Hinckleys Funeral Services

Funeral services for President Gordon B. Hinckley, leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who died Sunday evening, will be held this Saturday, February 2, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
The proceedings will be broadcast via satellite in 69 languages to over 6,000 Church buildings globally. Brigham Young University’s BYU Television will also broadcast the funeral internationally.

Our Wonderful Prophet

I was looking at my friend Heather's Blog and she had this wonderful tribute posted. I went to You Tube and found it there. This is one of many but I liked this one the best. Sis. Tanner is one of the speakers on this tribute and as many of you know she holds a special place in my heart. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have. What a great man President Hinckley was he will always have special meaning to me.

I was looking at my friend Sophia's blog and she posted President Hinckley's "B"s. I thought that she did a wonderful job explaining what each of them mean. When I think of President Hinckley and all of the wonderful things he did as our prophet the "B"s are what I think of first. Thank you Sophia for posting these.

Be grateful ~ President Hinckley said it best: "The habit of saying thank you is the mark of an educated man or woman. Walk with gratitude in your hearts. Be thankful for the wonderful blessings which are yours. Be grateful for the tremendous opportunities that you have."
Be smart ~ "Train your minds and hands to become an influence for good as you go forward with your lives."
Be clean ~ I'm certain that President Hinckley wasn't talking about housekeeping when he made this statement. Cleanliness in thought and word, being clean and pure in every way... what a different world we would live in if everyone abided by this simple counsel.
Be true ~ true to yourself, true to your faith, true to God.
Be Humble ~ When he gave the "Be" talk, he was speaking to the younger generation, but this reminder touched the hearts of us all. Humility is necessary in every relationship that we have...mostly to our Father in Heaven because by humility, we are obedient to the laws of God, the laws of the land and to the common laws of any relationship.
Be Prayerful ~ Need I say more?
Be Positive ~ When he lost his wife a few years ago, many expected that his life would draw quickly to an end. They were so close and adorable to watch together as they were like newlyweds in their love and respect of each other. Yet, after her passing, he continued to carry on with his cheerful nature and positive attitude. He missed his sweet Marjorie and made no secret of that, yet he kept a cheerful and happy heart. Again, a tremendous example that life isn't always the way we'd like it to be, but we move on, we do it in good cheer and we continue to do our best, rather than give up.
Be involved ~ President Hinckley's life was an example of this counsel. I have been amazed over the past decade watching this man in his nineties as he has traveled the world, mingled with world leaders and has been an ambassador of goodness to the world. I hope that I have his stamina at 60, let alone for the rest of my life!
Be still ~ I think that this "be" is the one I needed to hear the most. I'm always on the run and how I appreciate that reminder to slow down and listen to that still, small voice.

A Very Sad Day.......

I Just got a call that our prophet has died. It is a very sad day.

Here is a link to the news article.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8095453