Today's Letter from our Missionaries

Here's the letter they wanted me to post today! Enjoy...

Dear family and friends,

We are on a steep learning curve here! We are getting a little more settled everyday. Today the big event was the delivery of our new mattress. We have decided to just put it on the floor and thus avoid the extra expense of a frame and box spring...very high class. But we now have moved the blowup bed to the guest room! hint hint

We had a baptism in our district last Sat. The elders were very happy! In the two weeks before they baptized a whole family. Our district leader has been here for six months and those five baptisms are the only ones here in the past 6 mos. He goes home this Sunday so it has been satisfying for him. Another fellow committed to be baptized this Sat. but has now backed out. We went with the elders to teach him last night. Personally I think he was wise to, but of course I didn't tell the elders that.

For the first time last night we went out alone contacting part member and inactive members. We even made an appt. to teach a lesson to Javier next tues. evening. His wife is a member and they have a 5 week old baby. He is working here in a pork packing plant and he and elder garnica had fun talking about how the dirty deeds are done, all in spanish. But I caught the drift as I sat there smiling like fool who doesn't speak spanish. This could be a very weird mission if all I have to do is sit and smile.

My admiration for the elders has grown. Yesterday we had a district meeting, us and four elders whom we have so far spent lots of time with. I think they felt a little weird presenting training to us senior missionaries but they have been invaluable to us in helping us figure out what we are doing here. We decided to let the elders teach any lessons to prospective members so that if one does get baptized they can do it. So when we teach Javier on Tues. one of them will go with elder garnica. Papa will have to teach because it needs to be done in Spanish. Only two people can go cause the apt. is to small for more.

We were charged by Pres. McConkie to support and strengthen the ward and it has taken time to figure out how w
e might do that without offending the Bishop, ward missionaries, elders and home teachers. We think we may be getting a clue now but our district leaders leaves Sunday and we're getting a new bishop next week! So we will probably have to adjust. Ha!

We managed to get two easy chairs this week, now all we need is a table to eat at and some chairs. The members are great, we have visited with lots of them. I've never had to write so many thankyou notes. Many of them are willing to go with us to teach and they feed all six of us in the district 5 nights a week.

I had to give in and reveal that I can barely play the piano in RS last Sun. I had hoped to avoid that but I did promise the Lord I would do anything required while I am here! It actually turned out better than singing acapella.

Our air card hasn't arrived yet so we are in a McDonalds again using the internet. Lots of good people watching here!

Please e-mail, write and post on the blogs. Noelle put some great pictures up so can the rest of you. Keep having fun and pray for us we really need it. HAPPY NEW YEAR

LOVE, HONEY AND PAPA

Greetings from SC

Here's the email Mom & Ruben sent on Christmas Eve:

Hi Family,

We want to wish everybody MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The last couple of days have been as action packed as the first two. But today is our p-day and we are taking it easy and getting some chores done.

Right now we have purchased two hours of internet at a McDonalds near our house. We notice that with the season being so busy and all there are very few updates on any of the blogs. Remember the missionaries please. We know many of you talk to us frequently but we especially NEED pictures of Christmas festivities and childhood merriment also decorations. In our house we have a tiny chrech scene and two cards. I sound like Kru in the nursery "Whaa,
Whaa!

Monday it took all day to get a place to live,
But is nice and new, one story with nice neighbors so far. One knows wer're Mormons and is still very friendly! Monday night we went to a family named the Satterfields for dinner, they have 5 children under 7 with no twins. FUN, FROLIC AND PANDEMONIUM! We felt right at home. After dinner we went with them to take neighbor gifts and carol.
Tuesday we drove to Columbia to meet the mission president. We visited in his office for an hour and then traveled to his home for lunch with he and his wife and one son who is home for Christmas. Then we hurried back to Greenwood for dinner at another member family the Whites. They have 3 sons, one 2 so Papa told his best stories to 2 yr. old Ethan and we had dinner and visited. We were supposed to go teach a partmember family (our speciality) but they canceled til next week. Our usual bedtime has become 8:30 so we really didn't mind the cancelation. We're tired
Wens. morning we picked up the four elders in our district and went 60 mi. to Greenville for a Zone meeting. Very interesting and informative. 2 Zones were there so we met lots of elders. The President and his wife (who live in Manhattan Beach for 10 years) were there. This was a unschedualed zone conf. and the elders were on edge. They all have GREAT RESPECT!!!!!!!!!! for the Pres. He delivered their presents from home and then got down to business of calling them to account for 3 elders who were sent home last week. Elder Garnica and I will work very hard and try to stay on his good side. A very nice man!
After the conference we took the elders to lunch and went to Costco. On the way I got them all talking about their favorite breakfast cereals and when I went in and they were distracted bought them all big Costco boxes of cereal for their Christmas presents. It was fun! They were surprised. I also purchase a gps and that thing is awesome!

We are on a fast learning curve with the tech. devices now!

We love you, Pray for and and we will for you HONEY AND PAPA

Here's the 2nd email

I replied to their first email below congratulating them on setting up wireless, and here's the reply I just received - Honey asked me to post both this letter and the one below to the blog and I expect you can expect most of their letters to be posted here by one of us...

"We're here safe and sound. Took the four elders in our district out to dinner tonight. FUN

They showed us were the church is and we have ward missionary meeting at 8 am then correlation and pec whatever that is. Only one ward in a lovely building and Sacrament meeting is at 10 am. Sounds good

We had a call from the mission home with info on apts. so Mon. we will try to find a place to live, then go to Columbia to meet the Pres. (who the elders seem verrrrrrrry respectful of) and see if the couch they have waiting for us is clean enough for me to sit on!

It's all good, we love you all, Honey and Papa

PS set it up all by myself tonight! HA"

First Missionary Email from Honey and Papa

Here's the email they sent this morning! Sounds like things are off to a good start!

"Hi Family immediate and extended,

Tonight we are staying in Dechard Tenn. the birthplace of my paternal grandfather. Our trip has been fairly uneventful, that's alright with us! After leaving L.V. on Monday we went to Kingman AZ were we decided to go ahead and follow interstate 40 most of the way across the U.S. Mostly very boring from AZ to Arkansas. Fields and fields and fields and fields...you get the picture. Yesterday however as we entered Arkansas I remembered I knew two different families that live in that state. I called grandpa miller and he called Beth Paullin and thru the miracle of cell phones I had Jeff and Jan Jacksons' phone number, an offer for a yummy dinner, a place to stay and a great visit. We even found out that Jeffs nephew and his family live in our home ward in Ivins! I also got to talk to Linda Valliere today although we had already passed their place of residence yesterday. FUN!

Today when we got to Memphis Tenn. we took off on a two lane road that brought us to Dechard after only five hours. But the scenery was lots better than on the interstate. We even witnessed a one car accident right in front of us. We stopped and Ruben checked the lady out, someone else stopped who actually knew where we were and offered to call the tow truck and police. So we took off.

After looking around here in the morning we are going on to Greenwood S.C. where we have been assigned to live and labor. I spoke to the mission president today and we are to go Greenwood contact our district leader, find a place to live, settle in, and then perhaps go to Columbia to meet him. So that's what we will do!

Please be reasonably impressed.. We hooked up to wireless internet this evening and all it took was one phone call to trusty Bridget on the cell phone to talk me thru it. Aren't I smart! And that Noelle calls me a techno peasant. HA!

For us this all counts as high adventure! WE LOVE AND MISS ALL OF YOU ALREADY! LISTEN! BLOGS ARE GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO US THIS YEAR - BLOG MORE! Consider it as service to us missionarys.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL - HONEY AND PAPA"

Family Fast on Sunday!

We are going back to the childrens hospital on Thursday for Hallie's angiogram. We are supposed to meet with the neurologists soon after the test and they will have a better idea of what is going on.

She has been doing really good! Her eye is slowly making progress, it is looking a lot more normal which is such a relief. She still has to wear an eye patch for 2 hours every day, she doesn't mind it so much as long as she gets a yummy treat or 5:)

I will do my best to post an update by the end of the week, but wanted to let you all know that we will be fasting for her this Sunday. Please join in if you can! Love you.

UPDATE: So, after spending hours on the phone with our insurance company yesterday, I couldn't get a straight answer about whether or not they would pay for it so I had to cancel the procedure for now.... frustrating. We should have full coverage by the 1st of the year, so it looks like we'll have to wait a little longer.

Claire's Baby Blessing

YOU'RE INVITED!

yes. . . . YOU!

Sunday, November 29th (Thanksgiving weekend) @ 9:00 am

Hillcrest Stake Center
1450 S 800 E
Orem, UT

Breakfast at our house immediately following Sacrament meeting :)

New Address

I received a letter from Chris this week. His address has changed slightly. It is:

Christopher Cahow
PCF ID# 215209 Location I 15
Purgatory Correctional Facility
750 South 5300 West
Hurricane, Utah 84737

The only things you are allowed to send to him through the mail are letters and pictures. He can also receive paperback books and magazines, but they must come directly from the distributors.

2010 Calendar

It is time for me to start rushing around making calendars for the family! I need 10-15 pictures from everyone (if you want your kids in it)! Four ways to get them to me-

1. You can send them back with Honey when she comes back from helping Bridget.

2. You can give them to someone who will be driving back from Thanksgiving (chelsea/amber).

3. Mail them-how archaic!

4. Download them to www.wphoto.com (walgreens). This is easy and fast. You can use my account and I will pick them up and pay for them. This week until the 7th prints are $.10 so that would save me some money.

*My account username is majbergen@msn.com and my password is 6736140g. Send them to the St. George Blvd store. The discount code is TENEACH don't forget this!

The sooner I get them the better! Thanks and I hope you are all well!

Love you, Jen

Honey & Papa's Farewell

Mom and Ruben will be speaking in their ward on November 15th. Their meeting starts at 1:00 pm.

After their meetings Jen has graciously volunteered to have everyone over for dinner.

If you are going to be able to make it, please leave a comment so she can prepare enough food.

Mission Call

Mom and Ruben received their mission call today.

They have been called to serve in the Columbia, South Carolina mission. And they will report to the MTC on December 7.

Although we will all miss them, we are happy for them. We know they will do a great job and bless the lives of a lot of people.

Hallie

As of two days ago Hallie's left eye is dilated and unresponsive with a droopy eyelid. We are at the Denver Children's Hospital and after a CT and an MRI they think she may have Moyamoya. It is extremely rare and neurosurgery is almost inevitable to fix the way the blood flows to her brain. They have to run some additional tests on her to see what exactly is going on, but either way it is not good. Please remember her in your prayers...

Chris

Dear family and friends,

I received this letter on Tues. when I returned home from Calif. and the quilt show. I had seen Chris and taken him out to lunch the day previous to leaving for the BYU vs UNLV game on Oct. 4th. He told me he was afraid the judge was going to be angry at him for not holding on to his last job for more than a week. He had goals and marks to meet while assigned to the drug court. I have no idea why he is in jail, and no desire to know. Ignorance is bliss as far as I am concerned. As he says in the letter he has not used in over a year and he was subject to weekly random testing before being put back in jail so that must not be the reason. Obviously Chris being in jail is not good news, but he seems to be resigned to it.

Honestly, as Ruben and I get ready to leave on a mission at least I know where Chris is, that he has a place to sleep, food to eat and medical care. After so many years I'm really thankful for the peace that brings me.

This letter speaks for itself. If any of you wish to contact Chris his address is:

Chris Cahow
PCF ID #215209 Location U Cot 1
Purgatory Correctional Facility
750 South 5300 West
Hurricane, Ut. 84737

"Dear Mom, Oct. 17
I got kicked out of drug court last week. I am now in jail, waiting to see what happens. Hopefully, I'll be put on probation. If I get probation, I should be out of jail within the next three months. There is a slight possibility that I'll be sentenced to prison. I'll just have to wait and see. The 'lawyers' in my block seem to think I'll get out on probation. I'm hoping they're right.

Anyway, I've been clean for one year, as of today. I take pride in that, and feel pretty good about the changes I have made. I have never been clean for this long. I plan on keeping my streak alive, one day at a time.

I have decided to make the best of the time I have to spend in jail. I am going to attend three 12-step meetings per week, take a life skills course, go to Institute as well as church on Sundays. I also plan on beginning to exercise on a daily basis. I plan on writing at least 2 letters a week, cuz I want to know whats going on in the world. Letters from family members would definitely help me pass the time as well as keep my spirits up. PLEASE WRITE TO ME. Please have any willing family members do so as well. Pictures would also be nice.

Today I am of the opinion that everything happens for a reason, and that I am right where I am supposed to be. I didn't make it through drug court which is somewhat disappointing, but I did get clean by participating in drug court, and that is a great accomplishment, in and of itself. I've never done very well handling life, and that's why I'm here. I've decided to learn how to do things differently, rather than dwell on the previous mistakes that I've made.

Well, I don't have much more to say. Please write me and let me know what's going on. Hopefully I'll able to see you before you leave."

Sincerely,

Chris

Most of the stuff on the family blog makes us all smile, I'm glad for that. Before he died Dr. Suess wrote a book for adults, It's title is "Oh,The Places You'll Go". When I got Chris's letter that was my thought! Oh, the places I've gone. I really had to chuckle. But now that I'm getting older I realize that some of the WORST THINGS that have happened are the BIGGEST BLESSINGS!

By the way, all kinks with our mission application seem to be ironed out and we should get our call very soon! We'll let you know.

Love to all, Kathy

Who Is This Man

Ruben had to shave for a picture for their mission papers to go in. He did it at our house and the kids got to help.

Family Resemblence

Wana Lee Mills, one of the girls who babysat for us when we were little, sent me this picture today, and the little blonde in the pigtails looks strikingly familiar to another little blonde in pigtails I know (and birthed). Check it out....

October River Trip

Group photo: Brown's, Emmett's & McEuen's

John sking

J boarding

Nick boarding

Nick sking



The river in October is perfect! 90 degree weather, schools in and we get the river practically all to ourselves. A week of relaxing in the sun is the best. Who's up for next year???

Some highlights of the trip...
Tony catches Fishy & puts him on a leash for Nick. Nick takes Fishy for walks and feeds him bread.
Three days later Fishy grows into a large catfish. ;)
John stops shaving and proceeds to grow a mexi stach. Go to Beth & John's blog and vote.
Nick gets up on the wakeboard & stays up.
In & Out for lunch.
Jack gets comfortable with the water on the last day.
Jason does a 360 on the surf board.
Sara's salsa for dinner 3 times (best salsa ever!).
Lily is just so stinkin cute.
Favorite Jack quote: "Me no Jose, you Jose".
Beth loses her innocence.
Heidi gets her biggest air on the wakeboard ever.
On the way back home we stop in Vegas for BYU football game & Will's blessing.

G&G, McEuen's, & Bergen's Have Rooms

You all have non-smoking kings reserved for you at Southpoint Hotel & Casino. If you didn't get an email confirmation please let me know.

Ann, you and Scott will have to check in with Grandpa because your room is attached to their credit card. The room is under Scott's name though. I had to book the rooms with the same card that would be presented at check-in and since I don't keep a list of family credit cards laying around I had to do what I could. So there you go.

Oh, and the rooms ended up being a little cheaper than $90 a night so there was an added bonus to waiting even longer. You also get 2 for 1 breakfast or lunch buffet with the rate code I used so make sure not to let them rip you off :).

Hope you all have fun!

Hotel rooms for Will's blessing/UNLV game

So Steve and I still aren't sure if we are going to Vegas this weekend, but I have been looking into hotel rooms as I seem to be the family's designated travel agent. After looking at various discount travel sites, I think the South Point is our best bet as far as price, location and amenities are concerned.

The rate is $90 a night and I've heard great things about the hotel. Honey and Papa have stayed there - it's where all the cowboys go. They have a bowling alley and movie theater and it's right off I-15 on the very south part of the strip. It's fairly new and you can check it out here: http://www.southpointcasino.com/hotel/index.php. If I'm guessing right I think it's about 15 minutes from Amber & Matt's.

It's about as cheap as anything you could get in Vegas that weekend and while not super close to Amber and Matt's, there aren't very many hotels that are super close to Amber and Matt's.

Let me know who needs rooms and I'll call about a group rate if we have enough people to qualify!


Thanks!
Noelle

Sister Zhao

Thought most of you would enjoy this profile by the New York Times about a Chinese sister missionary there: http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html#naisi_zhao

Will's Blessing

We are going to be blessing William in our ward on October 11. Our ward meets at 9:00. This is the same weekend as the BYU vs UNLV game, so we are hoping that lots of family will be here. We are going to have brunch at my in-laws home immediately following sacrament meeting.

Also, for the game, if you are coming and need childcare, please let me know. I thought I could get a couple babysitters and let the kids run wild here. Or one babysitter here and one at Chelsea's...just to split the craziness up. FYI, the game is at 5:00 on Saturday night.

And if you need a place to stay (Matt is going to throttle me for offering, not really) we have a little floor space for blow up mattresses and two couches (one of which you may have to share with Captain). Sound enticing? Bruce and Carole may also have some extra room. And Chelsea and Eddie too?

So, let me know. It should be a fun weekend.

We're moving (again)

So I think everyone knows we bought a new house, right? I'm sure it's hard to keep track as we move so much, but I think we will FINALLY stay in this one for a long time. We're really excited about it and look forward to moving in in a couple of weeks. Here are a few pictures - it's obviously very modern but hopefully the way we decorate will soften it just a little. I am already working on Steve to open his heart and soul to another family dinner (the backyard will be great for all the kids) - please pray for him.

Miller Fantasy Time

Alright come one and come all and sign up for Miller Time 2009. The instructions are below. Same basic scoring as last year. You get points based on how your players do that week and each week you play against another member of the league. I figure we can have the automatic draft in a few weeks but everyone needs to sign up now so you don't forget. You can adjust your player rankings to try and draft different players earlier or later. Or you can just leave the default rankings which are pretty good. I for one am going to move Austin Collie into my top 10.

Invitation:

You have been invited to join a custom league in Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football, Miller Time 2009.

In order to join the league, follow the link above or go to game front page, click the "Sign Up Now" or "Get Another Team" button and follow the links to "Join a Custom League". When prompted, enter the League ID# and password below.

League ID#: 506591
Password: johniscute

We will send you a confirmation with further details once you have completed the registration process.

--Fantasy Football Commissioner
http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1

William Paul Teeples

William Paul Teeples

08/07/09

4:46 am

7 lb. 11 oz.

19 inches

I'm going to post more pictures at:

www.teeplestrails.blogspot.com

Family Fantasy Football

Are we doing a family league again this year? John, aren't you our Commissioner?

Happy Birthday, Tori!

Today is Tori's 16th birthday! Look for her on the road in the coming weeks :)

This kid REALLY didn't want to go church

 

Young Women "Camp"

The Bountiful 28th ward young women had a great time at the Heber house. Thank you so much for letting us stay there for our camp this year. We love you Grandma & Grandpa!

More from the reunion

BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.

Wyatt Reunion

I have had complaints (mainly from the gopher in the bottom picture) that no one posts to this blog much (and Noelle doesn't post to any blog)...so here it it. Wyatt family reunion pictures. I wish I had taken more, but most of my energy was spent climbing the hill to the bathroom. Thank goodness for uncle Grant and his 5th wheel. That trek to the bathroom would have been too much for me in the middle of the night.

60th Wedding Anniversary

Tomorrow is Grandma and Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary. We are having a celebration at Tommy's Barbecue in the Old Heber Village. Dinner is at 5:30 and after dinner we are having dessert at Miller's Outpost.  

Website for Oakley Ranch

Here's the website for Oakley Ranch where we'll be having the Family Reunion this weekend. There are directions, photos, and a map, as well as instruction that we are not allowed to smoke while on the property so Marci, you'll have to leave your Kools at home. See you all there!

http://bigo.byu.edu:8085/MRP-IDAHO/Camps.jsp?menuSelect=about&campSelect=55

Noelle's Landing

Click here to get to the video of Noelle and her graceful ski landing.

Reunion?

Could someone post info about the Wyatt reunion?

When are we supposed to be there?

What do we need to bring?

What are the exact dates?

Is there water, do the kids need bathing suits, etc.?

Showers?

Do we need campfire stuff?

Any other pertinent information?

Thanks...and if you don't know how to post, please call me. I will add it to the blog.

Amber

Friends and Family Day

May 30th, 2009

We all had a great time! Greg's last day on the ship, our last day in Virginia, a truly amazing experience. We're so glad that mom & dad and grandma & grandpa could come and go with us.