Debbie Ramirez (Veneris) wrote a post on her blog about Millers Outpost with pictures. You guys have got to check it out - the one of all of us before church is especially entertaining specifically because Jenn's bangs are so high they could protect a small country. Check it out here:
http://mynunny2.blogspot.com/2010/03/now-dont-get-me-wrong-disneyland-is.html
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Birthday Dinner at the Heber House
The picture of those with March Birthday's was not anywhere as cute as this one of little Lily in her tutu and new shoes.Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Update from our Missionaries
Here is the latest from South Carolina. No one's mission has ever made me laugh harder...
Here's a picture of them doing roadside cleanup (mom won the prize for most trash picked up), and what follows is a letter they sent this morning, asking me to post it to the blog.
Greetings to all!
The end of March is fast approaching and I haven't sent an update for
at least a month. This lag in communication isn't unusual for me.
Just ask my children, especially the former missionaries how many
letters they got from me. I repent, I repent! Now don't make me pay
any consequences for my former transgressions against you. You see, I
am finally understanding the difference between true repentance and
just feeling sorry 'cause I got caught!
Lets see? What to tell you about. Oh, I know. Remember the post
where I mentioned the members in the ward who have 56 dogs in the
house, and how the Lord would have to go there because I wasn't going
to? Well three weeks ago we ask members in the ward if we could go
Home or Visiting teaching with them, then they could introduce us to
people we hadn't been able to meet. One awesome visiting teacher took
us with her to meet a women who we had been led to believe was a DNC
(do not contact) Well we visited four of her sisters, only one who
is active. The second home, the DOGHOUSE! She and her husband met us
in the yard, because the racket from the barking dogs is so loud you
can't be heard unless you are face to face. They invited us in and
mentioned they keep one room where visitors can sit down and dogs
aren't usually allowed. AWESOME PEOPLE, I loved them immediately.
They rescue dogs, nurse them and keep them until they die. They all
live in the house, with dog runs outside for exercise. The dogs all
have names and are known by my friends. Right now they ONLY have 31!
down from a high of 76. As soon as we sat down Elder Garnica ask our
host to show him his yard and they went outside. My friend and I
visited with our hostess for 30 min. or so. She is a convert from
Calif. and when she met her husband insisted he joint he church also.
She is a former Pyshcic and he was a school teacher. Right now they
are unable to attend because they don't have a operable vehicle. We
have visited once since and we took the Elders with us because the
husband fell and broke a rib and needed a blessing. The Elders were
impressed! After the first visit when we got in our truck and took
off to the next appt. Elder Garnica played freeze out and rolled all
the windows down. I was rather offended! (it reminded me of
Margaret's comment when Captain farted when setting next to me on the
couch, "IT SMELLS LIKE YOU" pointing at me.)
We went 25 miles out to an area that was added to the ward recently
(no one seems to know exactly how long ago) when a branch in that area
was closed. VERRRRRRRRRRRY interesting! We took the Elders with us
that day because they had a media referral in the area. A lot of that
area is lake side property and the addresses aren't easy to find,
even with the GPS. (see the picture on the dirt road in the last
post) We visited another active couple that never (sorry seldom)
attend and visited with them for 30 min. or so. They lined up chairs
in a row, single file down the middle of the room so we could visit.
We all sat around a kerosene heater to stay warm, they had run out of
wood for their wood stove. (We told their home teacher and he got them
some more wood, so don't worry) They seemed to be storing a lot of
stuff, maybe food storage? That' s why we had to set in a row. Their
storage filled the whole house. The sister proudly told us it was the
house she was raised in, and her father also, we believe it! They had
a lot of storage in the yard also, and many many cats. The allergy
medicine is coming in handy! They were very nice, so we went back last
week to ask some questions about members of that branch whom we had
found out, that brother is home teaching.
On our first visit to the area we met a group of people living in an
seeming uninhabitable house. As we drove in the driveway I vehemently
stated to all the the elders in the car that there was no way I was
going in! (I know, I know, why don't I ever learn to keep my mouth
shut) One of the elders in the backseat muttered under his breath
"well, at least they don't have to decorate for Halloween!". The
house is actually falling down and partially burnt, BUT there was
smoke coming out of the chimney and chickens running all over the
yard. All the elders were warmly welcomed into the house, the sister
stayed in the truck, watching the beautiful chickens.
One elder (guess who?) came out and insisted I come in. The member
living there has his adult sister and two elderly relatives living
with him. It was raining and everybody was sitting on their beds
watching a black and white TV, keeping warm around their wood stove.
They don't have a running vehicle so the member is unable to attend,
besides the two elderly men are in hospital beds and need care. They
also seemed to be storing a lot of stuff in their house and yard.
Elder Garnica ask about the old Mustang in the yard and our member
said he was saving it to be buried in. On our return we inquired who
the Home teacher was and found it was the brother with the cats that
we met before. When we returned to ask the home teacher about what we
might do assist those living in the collapsing house he said they were
fine and he was aware of them and visiting. At least they are all
into storage!
We were also able on our second visit to locate the home we were
looking for when we took the picture on the dirt road. It was down
another dirt road with many many no trespassing signs. We found a
house and several house trailers and so we couldn't figure out which
door to knock on. We drove back up the road and noticed some
neighbors and Elder Garnica ask them if they knew the member we were
looking for. They did, but mentioned that there seemed to be a lot of
traffic up and down that "remote" dirt road, and that they were pretty
sure it is a brothel. On enquiring about this in ward missionary
meeting last Sunday the members seemed to already be aware! WHY DON'T
THEY PUT THEM ON THE DO NOT CONTACT LIST! When we visited the home
teacher mentioned above, he told us that when he tried to visit
there, the drug pushing, brothel owner was annoyed at the interruption
to his football game. IMAGINE, the nerve of that home teacher, he is
probably the reason the member is offended and not active.
Some times we think we are on a TV show like "Candid Camera" (if you
are old, you remember) or I think there has been one lately called
"punked" that is similar. We have been up and down one rural road
multiple times trying to find an address that doesn't seem to exist.
We made lists of over 100 addresses on the ward list that were
reported as "Do not contact" or we found the member had moved (10
years ago, 7 yrs ago, 2 yrs ago) or we just couldn't find. Ruben took
them to PEC and circulated them around the ward. One of the ward
missionary couples had us to dinner and went thru the list with
us.(they have lived here for ever) We laughed so hard as we went thru
the list and when we came to the afore mentioned address he laughed
even harder, and in his southern accent said " ha, ya aint never gonna
find that address 'cause that house got torn down long time ago." I
wanted to strangle him, but I love him!
We're teaching, right now Ruben just left to find one sister, a recent
convert who has been offended and inactive and she is coming over for
a lesson. Yesterday a man whose wife is bed ridden with alzhiemers
and he can't find a testimony of Joseph Smith. We'll probably teach
him all year since he is home all the time caring for his wife.
Tomorrow a woman who is brilliant but has bi'polar disease and is
struggling with gender confusion. Another is a member, baptized at
eight, but a drug addict for the last 30 years who is coming back.
This work is a heart breaking blessing and we are loving it.
WE MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY, SEND PICTURES, WRITE BLOG POSTS AND PRAY FOR US!
LOVE AND KISSES HONEY AND PAPA
ps Marci, good job, keep it up!
Here's a picture of them doing roadside cleanup (mom won the prize for most trash picked up), and what follows is a letter they sent this morning, asking me to post it to the blog.
Greetings to all!
The end of March is fast approaching and I haven't sent an update for
at least a month. This lag in communication isn't unusual for me.
Just ask my children, especially the former missionaries how many
letters they got from me. I repent, I repent! Now don't make me pay
any consequences for my former transgressions against you. You see, I
am finally understanding the difference between true repentance and
just feeling sorry 'cause I got caught!
Lets see? What to tell you about. Oh, I know. Remember the post
where I mentioned the members in the ward who have 56 dogs in the
house, and how the Lord would have to go there because I wasn't going
to? Well three weeks ago we ask members in the ward if we could go
Home or Visiting teaching with them, then they could introduce us to
people we hadn't been able to meet. One awesome visiting teacher took
us with her to meet a women who we had been led to believe was a DNC
(do not contact) Well we visited four of her sisters, only one who
is active. The second home, the DOGHOUSE! She and her husband met us
in the yard, because the racket from the barking dogs is so loud you
can't be heard unless you are face to face. They invited us in and
mentioned they keep one room where visitors can sit down and dogs
aren't usually allowed. AWESOME PEOPLE, I loved them immediately.
They rescue dogs, nurse them and keep them until they die. They all
live in the house, with dog runs outside for exercise. The dogs all
have names and are known by my friends. Right now they ONLY have 31!
down from a high of 76. As soon as we sat down Elder Garnica ask our
host to show him his yard and they went outside. My friend and I
visited with our hostess for 30 min. or so. She is a convert from
Calif. and when she met her husband insisted he joint he church also.
She is a former Pyshcic and he was a school teacher. Right now they
are unable to attend because they don't have a operable vehicle. We
have visited once since and we took the Elders with us because the
husband fell and broke a rib and needed a blessing. The Elders were
impressed! After the first visit when we got in our truck and took
off to the next appt. Elder Garnica played freeze out and rolled all
the windows down. I was rather offended! (it reminded me of
Margaret's comment when Captain farted when setting next to me on the
couch, "IT SMELLS LIKE YOU" pointing at me.)
We went 25 miles out to an area that was added to the ward recently
(no one seems to know exactly how long ago) when a branch in that area
was closed. VERRRRRRRRRRRY interesting! We took the Elders with us
that day because they had a media referral in the area. A lot of that
area is lake side property and the addresses aren't easy to find,
even with the GPS. (see the picture on the dirt road in the last
post) We visited another active couple that never (sorry seldom)
attend and visited with them for 30 min. or so. They lined up chairs
in a row, single file down the middle of the room so we could visit.
We all sat around a kerosene heater to stay warm, they had run out of
wood for their wood stove. (We told their home teacher and he got them
some more wood, so don't worry) They seemed to be storing a lot of
stuff, maybe food storage? That' s why we had to set in a row. Their
storage filled the whole house. The sister proudly told us it was the
house she was raised in, and her father also, we believe it! They had
a lot of storage in the yard also, and many many cats. The allergy
medicine is coming in handy! They were very nice, so we went back last
week to ask some questions about members of that branch whom we had
found out, that brother is home teaching.
On our first visit to the area we met a group of people living in an
seeming uninhabitable house. As we drove in the driveway I vehemently
stated to all the the elders in the car that there was no way I was
going in! (I know, I know, why don't I ever learn to keep my mouth
shut) One of the elders in the backseat muttered under his breath
"well, at least they don't have to decorate for Halloween!". The
house is actually falling down and partially burnt, BUT there was
smoke coming out of the chimney and chickens running all over the
yard. All the elders were warmly welcomed into the house, the sister
stayed in the truck, watching the beautiful chickens.
One elder (guess who?) came out and insisted I come in. The member
living there has his adult sister and two elderly relatives living
with him. It was raining and everybody was sitting on their beds
watching a black and white TV, keeping warm around their wood stove.
They don't have a running vehicle so the member is unable to attend,
besides the two elderly men are in hospital beds and need care. They
also seemed to be storing a lot of stuff in their house and yard.
Elder Garnica ask about the old Mustang in the yard and our member
said he was saving it to be buried in. On our return we inquired who
the Home teacher was and found it was the brother with the cats that
we met before. When we returned to ask the home teacher about what we
might do assist those living in the collapsing house he said they were
fine and he was aware of them and visiting. At least they are all
into storage!
We were also able on our second visit to locate the home we were
looking for when we took the picture on the dirt road. It was down
another dirt road with many many no trespassing signs. We found a
house and several house trailers and so we couldn't figure out which
door to knock on. We drove back up the road and noticed some
neighbors and Elder Garnica ask them if they knew the member we were
looking for. They did, but mentioned that there seemed to be a lot of
traffic up and down that "remote" dirt road, and that they were pretty
sure it is a brothel. On enquiring about this in ward missionary
meeting last Sunday the members seemed to already be aware! WHY DON'T
THEY PUT THEM ON THE DO NOT CONTACT LIST! When we visited the home
teacher mentioned above, he told us that when he tried to visit
there, the drug pushing, brothel owner was annoyed at the interruption
to his football game. IMAGINE, the nerve of that home teacher, he is
probably the reason the member is offended and not active.
Some times we think we are on a TV show like "Candid Camera" (if you
are old, you remember) or I think there has been one lately called
"punked" that is similar. We have been up and down one rural road
multiple times trying to find an address that doesn't seem to exist.
We made lists of over 100 addresses on the ward list that were
reported as "Do not contact" or we found the member had moved (10
years ago, 7 yrs ago, 2 yrs ago) or we just couldn't find. Ruben took
them to PEC and circulated them around the ward. One of the ward
missionary couples had us to dinner and went thru the list with
us.(they have lived here for ever) We laughed so hard as we went thru
the list and when we came to the afore mentioned address he laughed
even harder, and in his southern accent said " ha, ya aint never gonna
find that address 'cause that house got torn down long time ago." I
wanted to strangle him, but I love him!
We're teaching, right now Ruben just left to find one sister, a recent
convert who has been offended and inactive and she is coming over for
a lesson. Yesterday a man whose wife is bed ridden with alzhiemers
and he can't find a testimony of Joseph Smith. We'll probably teach
him all year since he is home all the time caring for his wife.
Tomorrow a woman who is brilliant but has bi'polar disease and is
struggling with gender confusion. Another is a member, baptized at
eight, but a drug addict for the last 30 years who is coming back.
This work is a heart breaking blessing and we are loving it.
WE MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY, SEND PICTURES, WRITE BLOG POSTS AND PRAY FOR US!
LOVE AND KISSES HONEY AND PAPA
ps Marci, good job, keep it up!
Friday, March 12, 2010
baby tally...
Amber, boy
Bridget, girlChelsea, girl
Noelle, boy
Beth, girl
Jordan, boy
Emily, ?
Marci, ?
3 boys, 3 boys so far. Wish I could be the tie breaker on this list, eventually I will though! All in one year! Kind of hilarious. Anyone else we should know about?? Cahows, you get your turn and then we get ours! If I have a girl and Marci has a boy, we will switch:)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Paige's Princess Party
We had Paige's 3rd birthday party last Saturday. We rescheduled twice to try and accommodate Ben's work schedule and eventually just had to go ahead and have it without him. Since the party was at 11am I prepared everything the night before, after the girls went to bed. The first thing out of Paige's mouth the next morning when she saw the living room and kitchen was, "This looks GREAT! Mom, you planned the PERFECT party for me!" It's so nice that she's appreciative.
It was ALL princess. The girls came dressed as princesses, we had princess music, princess hair glitter, princess coloring, princess bingo, princess gift wrap, princess bracelet making, princess place settings, princess balloons, princess punch, princess cake, princess pinata, and princess goodie bags. You might say that I went princess crazy and as a result I now have princess burnout :) I actually had at least 6 other princess themed ideas for the party that I didn't use (princess: tea party, cake walk, make-up station, story-time with a "real" live princess, inflatable castle, . . .). I had to stop somewhere; after all, the party was for a 3 year old.
Here are some pictures:
It was ALL princess. The girls came dressed as princesses, we had princess music, princess hair glitter, princess coloring, princess bingo, princess gift wrap, princess bracelet making, princess place settings, princess balloons, princess punch, princess cake, princess pinata, and princess goodie bags. You might say that I went princess crazy and as a result I now have princess burnout :) I actually had at least 6 other princess themed ideas for the party that I didn't use (princess: tea party, cake walk, make-up station, story-time with a "real" live princess, inflatable castle, . . .). I had to stop somewhere; after all, the party was for a 3 year old.
Here are some pictures:
Paige's Princess Party
I'm sure Bridget will post pictures, but here's a glimpse of Paige's big day being "Cinderella from the Castle."
Monday, March 1, 2010
"Your Mom the Dog Whisperer"
That headline was the only text in the email I got along with these photos.
Seriously, I am loving their mission probably more than they are. Look at them, changing, growing, expanding their horizons :)....
Seriously, I am loving their mission probably more than they are. Look at them, changing, growing, expanding their horizons :)....
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