New Mission President

     We had officially been on our mission for 1 whole year on July 5, 2011.  Our wonderful Mission President, John Lee Robison and his sweetheart of a wife Joan left to return home in Bountiful, Utah after 3 years as president of the Texas Lubbock Mission.  We will really miss them.  They had a warmth and love about them that made being a Senior Missionary (or any other missionary for that matter) easy, rewarding and enjoyable.  They really made us feel loved and appreciated.  There wasn't hardly a day that went by without them telling you how much they appreciated you and how you were needed.

We will always be grateful for the friendship that grew and the honor it was to serve with them.

Enter new Mission President and wife:

President Arnold R. Augustin and his wife Kathee

President and Sister Augustin come to us from Bountiful, Utah.  He worked in the public relations department of the church.  And at one time was a news reporter and anchor man for Chanel 2 news.  Has many wonderful stories to tell.

Now it is official -

We presented them with the new 

Texas Lubbock Mission Blanket and they are now

IN CHARGE!

Flat Tire - Elders to the Rescue

     On our way home from one of our Zone Conferences - May 2011 - to be exact, we encountered a very large piece of re-tread laying in the middle of the road.  Normally, in our own car, Eugene, who was the driver, would have just swerved to miss it.  However, he was driving a large van, pulling a large enclosed utility trailer and...  he didn't see it until just before he HIT IT!  Bam!  Shhhhhhhh!  Thump, thump, thump! Ding - ding - ding - ding - ding!  

DANG!!!!!!!!!!

YEP...  IT'S FLAT!  In fact, it knocked it right off the rim!

Sure glad the Vehicle Coordinator, Elder Stoker (left) is with us.  He'll know what to do. 

"Hey Donkey!  Looks like we have company."

Elder Wittwer jacks up the van while Elder Stoker and Elder Bradshaw supervise.

There's got to be a way to get this spare out of here so we can change the tire!  But how?

Sister Carbine says,  "May I suggest you find the manual and see what it says?"

Ahh Haaaa!  Now that's tricky!

OK - now take off all of the lug nuts and...  


"Hey guys!  Look at this..."

  

New tire on - Lug nuts on...

Make sure they're tight Elder Carbine

Let down the jack Elder Stoker...

Done!

And we're on our way again!

Buy...  Nice watchen' ya!

Our trip to Las Cruces via Ruidoso NM

We took a trip to Las Cruces to be with Eugene's brother Merv and other family members on May 13, 2011.  On our way, we went through the beautiful mountains at Ruidodo, New Mexico.  We spent the night with our Senior Missionaries there.  Elder William Lee and his wife Sister Cheryl Lee from West Bountiful.  The next morning they took us on a tour of the area.

 

The Mescalero Branch attends church in this smaller chapel on the Mescalero Apache Resurvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The Lees took us out to dinner an a very nice buffet, complete with paintings and sculptures of many of the Apache Indian in the area.  Costumes and traditions were displayed throughout the building.

In Texas EVERY Dairy Queen proudly displays their state flag.  Some on the ceiling, some on the seats, some on the tables, some on the walls.  Texans are mighty proud of their state and their flag.  When we got to NM - the interior decorating was GONE!

 

 

The missile was small for a missile.  Reminded you of a toy.   However, the "toy" train was huge!  Remarkably the size of a real train...

Boots and Hats

One thing we noticed right off the bat when we came to Texas, is that boots and hats are worn by a very large portion of the population down here.  So this blog is dedicated to all the fine cowboys and cowgirls. 

                                           

Guess we'd better get us a pair of boots and a nice hat before we come home!  (I think mine will be pink!  Then my grandsons won't ask to borrow them when their feet are as big as mine!  Wait...  It's my granddaughters that like to play dress up in grandma's shoes!  Hmmmm.)

A Few Texas Oddities

 SINGING COWS...

TOWNS WITH INTERESTING NAMES...

THREE STORIES HIGH COWBOYS WITH AN ITCH...

SPRAYING THE GRASS GREEN IN THE WINTER...

CAMEL RIDES IN THE PARKING LOT...

SPURS IN A RESTURANT...

THINGS FOR SALE...

 HORSES HITCHED TO THE PARKING SIGN - ON MAIN STREET...

MORE TO FOLLOW...  I'M SURE

Thank Heaven for Skype

Our first Christmas away from our family would have been really hard, but...  

Thank Heaven for Skype!

We have been able to share special events with our children and grandchildren even though we are a thousand miles away!

Our traditional Christmas family home evening for 2010 was held in our daughter's home in Ogden.  Heather and Steve had their computerr set up in the front room and we were able to "join" them!!!

Everyone enjoyed the usual visiting.

Lilly plays a Christmas Carol on the piano.

Carols were played...

Granddaughter's Lilly and Sydney

Songs were sung...  

This one should be "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"





          

 Stories were told... 

Greyson

Faces were pulled...

             

Colten & dad James    

   

Visits with grand kids...

New                                    

Kenzie and mom Holly

  
Newest

Boston, Ethan & Terrence

                    

                  

  


and Old...

                                   

Isaac, Boston, Addisyn and Terrence

 






Laughs, smiles and giggles were had by everyone.

THEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY..... 

Skype came through for us again in the form of a

CONFERENCE CALL

JON and girls, Kaylee, Kenzie & Abby  

Janene and girls, Sydney & Addi

Heather and girls Lilly & Ashley

We were able to visit with ALL 7 of our granddaughters at once!  Not sure where the 11 grandsons were at this point - probably off playing with all their new Christmas toys!