OH MY HECK!

Ok, so I know that saying may be very annoying, but it is so apropos. It snowed. How lovely is that? We had a perfect night. We took our activity day girls to carol and hand out cards at a nursing home. It was fairly cold when we went in, and kind of sleeting. Inside, the girls sang beautifully. The spirit was so strong, I started to cry. I looked over at my music leader, and she was as well. It was very touching. And then to top it off, when we came out, SNOW. My heaven, you would have thought it was snowing Susan B. Anthony's. The girls were elated. (of course, no camera-but we came home and took pics!) YEAH. What a great Christmas gift.

Love, Love, Love the fall. Especially in the mountains. (Real ones!) Cheryl and Dan couldn't have picked a more beautiful time to get hitched.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I have been chastised repeatedly about not updating since IKE, sooo.... here we go. We have been CRAZY busy, and I kept thinking to myself, "Self, after your sister's wedding, things will go back to normal." I can apparently lie to my self. Speaking of the wedding, it was fabulous. The absolute perfect fall day in Idaho. It wasn't cold, the sun was shining, and it was beautiful. The ceremony was certainly one of the best ceremonies I have ever been too. My sister, Cheryl, and her new husband, Dan, were sealed by the Rexburg Temple president. I will have to have an entry dedicated to the wedding. After we returned to Texas, mom and dad came for the reception here, then the week immediately following that we had our primary program. (The primary kid were wonderful) After that, we have been trying to get the house back in order, (another entry). Which apparently will take longer than we had hoped because the mortgage company will only give us our money in thirds. AAAGGGG!! I hate insurance and mortgage companies. This quickly brings us up to the Thanksgiving holiday. Jason and Lacey, Jared's brother and his wife, came down for the weekend. We are so excited to see the baby!! And now on to Christmas. I do love this relaxing time of year.

The picture of mannequin says "what surge"
The boat was on Nasa Rd 1 and the rest were in our neighborhood.

Ike's Bytes

Wow! This has been quite the last couple of weeks. I have defiantly been humbled. The Lord had a plan for us, and if we forget this, He, in His infinite wisdom has a way of reminding us. It is our job to accept this His plan, and live in His glory. I have seen His hand in miracles around us everyday. Some are small, others are beyond comprehension. There seems to be devastation all around us, but yet we have been so very blessed to have our family and friends all safe and sound. Here are just a few of the blessings our family has experienced.

We have been so blessed to be able to get to know our neighbors better. We have had both families on each side of us move in the last year and we have really missed them. And, in our fault, not taken the opportunity to get to know our new neighbors. Well, there's nothin' like a hurricane to make fast friends. The day before the hurricane, Jared was very busy getting his subdivision ready and trying to pacify some of his anal homeowners. I thought I would help him out by getting the wood cut for the windows before he got home. After I got the wood and saw out and all ready to go, I noticed my neighbor was trying to cut 3/4 in. plywood with a battery-powered hand saw. Well, I offered my table saw and had to help him feed his wood because it was so heavy. After we got finished, he helped me get all of my windows measured and we were just getting the last piece cut when Jared pulled up. I was very grateful. He then gave his left over hurricane clips. Another neighbor graciously let us use his big ladder to put up the second story boards. Then we were able to return the favor with a piece of plywood he needed for his last window. One neighbor gave us ice and we had wood left over we shared with him. When one neighbor got a generator, he so kindly let us plug in our deep freeze. It would have been a huge expense if we had lost all of the food in freezer. Then when we got power, and they still didn't, we let them plug into our electricity. These are just the examples in our little lives. I witnessed God's children pulling together all over the community. Do you think this was part of his plan? Don't have to think about it too long do you? We appreciated all of our friends and neighbors who helped us out. Lynette and Jack, thanks for the offer to let us bring a freezer over, and storing our stuff in the interim. (also, thanks for the bread.)

Dan and Cheryl. you guys were very patient with us and our laundry episode. (We had every towel in the house wet from trying to keep the wind driven rain out. Cheryl helped me hand wash literally a ton of them. Finally Dan got water and we were able to wash them at his apartment...and have a place to sleep. Another great evacuation story with my great sis.)
Janine and Kyle, coming to check on us.
And to those I'm sure I forgot.

Next, when else can a mom have such a great opportunity to teach her children about serving other children of God. The girls were so excited to tell Jared where they had worked each day. They were troopers and worked so hard. Kayla was working right along with those boys we worked with one day. (Thanks, Mel, for the great lunch!) I was very proud of all of them.

And lastly, how could we have made it through the last week if the Lord had not blessed us with exceptional weather. When is it ever in the low eighties and low sixties in September? Never, except when it is part of the Lord's plan to help us get through this trying time. Please remind me of this when I start to complain about the Texas weather. I get so grouchy when it is hot and humid. I really don't know how we could have made it without the power and no AC. Not to mention, it would have made it so difficult to get the work done outside we needed to. It was beautiful weather.

It has been so uplifting to ponder and reflect all that our family has experienced and hopefully I will integrate what I have learned into my life.

Interesting Pics

Check out this link.
The pictures are incredible and unimaginable.

http://www.tpicks.com/hurricane_ike_damage_3.htm

We Don't Like Ike

Take a hike Ike.
We don't like Ike.
Go home on
your trike Ike.
Go fly a kite Ike.
........

Well we stayed. It's 6:30 and the storm is coming. We just make pork chops and funeral potatoes. I'm wondering if I shouldn't have made funeral potatoes. Yesterday we got all boarded up. I can barely lift my arms above my head because I am so sore. The girls are going stir crazy. I think I'll go get a game started with them to keep them occupied. It's going to be a long night!

Palin for V.P.

I get very emotional about politics. I don't know why. Like my opinion is going to matter. When Bush made really irresponsible decisions, I took it really personally because I liked him. I believed he could make a difference. But we are at a crossroads where the county is so divided, the wrong choices might be made because we need a change. (Just my opinion.) But, there's HOPE. Hope in Palin. Did ya'll watch her last night? It is about time someone tells it like it is. And leave it to gal who was born in Idaho, and went to college in Idaho. There's hope afterall for the Republicans. Let's hope they get it right this time. (BTW, did you see her seven year old daughter holding the baby and licking her hand and wiping the babies' hair down with spit? Too cute.

Teton Valley

OK, so the other day I was talking with some friends about Idaho. At some point you might think I may be cured from Teton Valley disease, or that I might be able to cut the apron strings. I would if I could, but as of yet, I know of no cure. My, friend, or rather the friends husband was asking about the actual view from where I grew up. I'll admit, a lot of south eastern Idaho is not that beautiful. This is obviously the exception!



I love this picture of my girls, my mom, and my Tetons. Three of my favorite things.
Every time I go home, it takes my breath away. I am grateful that I live here, and can now really appreciate the valley. I love driving into the valley and coming through the wheat fields and dropping down into the valley from Harrops Hill. I have thing about the wheat fields. I love when they turn a golden color in August. The waterfall is one of my favorite places. So,...I post this for Todd., in response to the actuality of MAJESTLY of Teton Valley.

Hurricane Rita

We have people in our ward who are evacuating. It's probably when you're not worried or as prepared as you should be when the storm will take a crazy turn and head strait for you. (And oh yeah, when you have let the flood insurance lapse.) This is what out house looked like three years ago.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Random thoughts

Gustav. Need I say more? We are staying. Because of that, it will probably turn this way. It's a great welcome back to the good ol' state of Texas. The girls all started school. This makes me sad. We (at least, I) have much more fun when they are home with me. So far, Kayla loves j.h. She in drill and had her first game today. Five hours in the 96 degree heat and 100% humidity. I just sat there the whole time, but I am tired! Get over it, right? Melanie had pictures on her blog of Cheryl and Dan. Check them out. She is beautiful. I love her. I'll post one. (Hope Mel does't mind.) Wish us luck for the upcoming week!

Greetings from the greatest state in the nation. Oh, don't tell my husband it's

not is fatherland, Texas. Truthfully, everything is bigger and better in Idaho. Everytime I come home (yes, it's still home) I am awestruck about how

beautiful it is. I think it's hard for some of my friends to comprehend the majesty.

We have had a great week so far. Travis came with his family. We have been geocaching in the valley, gone to the Alpine Slide in Jackson Hole, done the 24th of July parade, dinner, and roadshow. The girls have been horseback riding and 4-wheeling. But most of all, we are loving the weather and the real grass! Monday, Dad, Bailey, Emma and I all went to North Leigh for a horseback ride. Emma rode Lou all by herself. She did great. The only part she was scared about was going through the creeks. (pronounced "cricks") And guess what? We forgot the camera. Aargh. The next day, Dad took Kayla, Ashlyn, and Reiley. The went to North Leigh. They took the camera. It looked like the had a great day.