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