The eyes.. Not natural

When did he turn into wolf man?

the state pen outfit?

I've been asked to see or repair lots of different things. Baby blankets, costumes, hem pants, fix rips, baby blessing gown, quilts, matching dresses for my three little girls, and a Christmas tree storage bag. Yesterday I was asked to repair a prison inmates jumper. I'm hoping its the last one I encounter. Actually this ones nor so bad. It's a costume, not a daily worn outfit. Jacob is using it for his job at corn bellies. I'm not thrilled with this job-- I'm not thrilled with Halloween... But he likes it and it will be over on Tuesday! For the job Jacob also has colored contacts which are too weird. Sometimes when he comes in at night I can't even look at him. He gets his face painted and I can't even recognize my own kid.
Time is slipping away we have Halloween, then a short trip to Houston with David. My birthday :) then the election.... Yikes ... Then Jacobs show, thanksgiving, another trip for David to Germany-- then... Then... Yep. AJ gets back!! We may have a missionary leave in there too!!
So we have a lot going on to be sure.


Connie

Here it is

My most recent talk

A few days before we went to Cali Brother Gardner called and asked if I would give a little report on Aubrey.  I thought it would be just a casual little talk before most of the meeting got started.  I had seen other missionary moms give a little talk like that too.  So I pulled together some thoughts, but I wasn't too worried or stressed about it.  I was kind of scattered (imagine that) between traveling and such, plus a primary lesson to prepare for.  I was so scattered I forgot some essential packing items--- lets just say I was rinsing out a few items every night, and sleeping in my husbands jammies--- silly connie. Anyway when I got to church yesterday, my name was between the youth speakers and the last speaker!  They all thought I was a real speaker--- oy.  oh well.... the last speaker is an awesome SS teacher so I knew he could clean up any mess or use any time I left for him.



Here's my talk


Some of you have never met my missionary daughter. When we moved into the ward about 2 years ago, she was going to the singles ward. She then moved to an apartment in Provo where she studied Theater at uvu. Aubrey is our third child, our third daughter and our first missionary. She was very much into musical theater in high school and she didn't know any foreign language.  She didn't talk about a mission until 2009, about 1 1/2 years before she was eligible.

She has been serving in the Bahia Blanca Argentina mission. She went into the mtc may 25, 2011. That's  508 days. This is equal to exactly 1 year, 4 months, and 19 days.
Her official 18 months date is November 25, but we expect her back around December 12.
She has met and served with the Hendershotts granddaughter Hermana Baker
She is experiencing spring time there now and in December will be flying home from an Argentinian summer to a Utah winter.

Some of my favorite quotes from her letters home
"oh dear, if there's one thing I have a much bigger testimony of from the mission its going to church.  We need to study the scriptures, pray always and go to church.  That's part of the enduring to the end bit of the plan. Go to church! Like really!"
"The ward mission leader told us to prepare a musical number the day before.  We ended up singing come thou fount in English and Spanish and I was elected to sing the first verse solo and the last line of the song too.  Yeah, but it was good and I got a  lot of members shocked faces telling me how good I sounded and they didn't know i could sing like that. It was a good feeling"
"After we got to the house that night, we got a text from her saying thank you for the peace we brought.  We decided that in this work we don't do anything. Its all the Lord and we just open our mouths and walk and stuff like that"
"I keep working and praying and walking and talking and hope I can be a tool somehow in the hands of God.  He really does guide this work and we are nothing without Him.  Look to me in every thought, doubt not fear not. This is so great a work and if the gospel wasn't true the missionaries would have messed it up a long time ago.  I love this so much."
"Yes, I am very happy right now, which is super weird  because we didn't have a lot of exito this week.  We were pretty much trying to find the ground beneath our feet, only to discover that we were waling on water out to Christ.  Yea, that was a bit scary and I felt like I was sinking for about a day, then I realized that all I need to do is ask for help, c all out and ask for help, and straightway the Savior reached out and pulled me from the water.  I am so thankful for that right now.  I have a testimony of the power and reality of the Gospel. People may think that we're disillusioned, (Like this lady at the beginning of this week) but its so reassuring to have that testimony of Christ, to know that at the base of all our beliefs is Jesus Christ.  Wow.  Yah, I'm feeling good and I'm not dis animated.  I've been feeling the forces of satan working on me this week, it was intense.  Satan used all he can to cause us to fear or to lose faith.  Be we know that God gives love and power and a sound mind.  its when we adjust our focus that we, o por la menos mi see that if we give our burden to Christ, He will carry it for us, His yoke is light and His burden easy.  He loves me and I know that my Father in Heaven is mindful of everything that happens on this planet If I share the Gospel with someone who maybe isnt ready for it right now, I know that God doesn't forget them  This is a huge comfort to my heart."

I asked my family to tell me how Aubrey's mission has blessed their life.  I wont identify the sources, but you can probably tell who said what.

"she has let me think from a different stand point. It really gives me a perspective on how i should live my life now so i can prepare that much more for my mission coming up in a few months. It really helps me live a preparatory life"

"Having Aubrey on her mission has given me the unlikely opportunity to have one of my siblings to look up to in regards to serving a mission. I did not expect anyone would be a missionary until me, and I know I am struggling to go on mine, but just the thought of her being the excellent missionary she is gives me hope. She has also expressed her pride and confidence in me."

"She always says things that help me feel like I can accomplish whatever I set out to do, especially when i'm discouraged. In vermont, she was a strength to me and helped reinforce that God uses each one of to make a difference in others lives even if it may seem insignificant to us"

"Aubrey being on a mission has blessed my and my families life. It strengthens my testimony to hear of the spiritual experiences she and those she serves receive. She also is a great example to my little boy who is just starting to understand what missionaries are and do."

"It's quite evident that she is much more spiritually mature and she freely speaks of her Heavenly Fathers goodness. And bears her testimony by speaking of her father in heaven in these ways. It builds faith within our family. Her serving has blessed my life by blessing my family's life's. she's steady she's positive."

"For me, her serving has blessed me personally in my faith. Sometimes my faith is really strong, and other times I wonder if I really was born for such a time as this, if I can truly endure.  Unforeseen waves have hit our family this year. Aubrey's faith and service and happiness have often been a very gentle and a very soft comfort to my worried heart."

Name that place!

Before we got soaked

UEA at Disneyland

For a couple of reasons we decided to make the quick trip to Disneyland for the UEA break. It just happened to be during a time that sil Steve would be traveling so that meant that Laura and her littles could join us. We also were honored to have Kim's friend Aaron join us. He hasn't been since he was really little. We really wanted to help him have a good time. We all laughed a lot and made some great memories. Dave and I spent most of our time with Laura and company while the other 4 ran around at their own silly pace. The World of Color was so beautiful and rather nostalgic.
I realized the reason I like color is because there are so many colors. Pink wouldn't be so awesome by itself- its because there is green and yellow and orange and red and all the other colors as well. I don't know if I said that right. But it was great. I honestly don't know if I could do this quick 4 day trip many more times. I certainly feel my age when I'm on my feet for two days straight. Kaylee and Jack made the experience really awesome. Both littles danced all the way through Small World. It was awesome.
David took such good care of us all and arranged great accommodations. Now it's time to be home and rest up for a bit. Laura will be here awhile longer then Dave will be traveling for work. October is going to slip right through my hands. In some ways that's ok. :)



Connie

A new favorite

I switched on the tv just in time to see the end of Apollo 13.
I heard a line I'd heard and liked before, but this time- amid some personal worries it really brought the tears-
"with all due respect sir, I believe this to be our finest hour"

May it be so!
Our Father in heaven has sustained me and my loved ones my whole life. I am so thankful for that

Hello, my name is Connie

The other day I saw a post by an awesome blogger named Jillee

things-you-probably-own-too-many-of-and-what-to-do-with-them.html

She wrote of several things that "I probably have too many of.."  The list included 

towels

glasses and mugs

makeup

books

vases

plastic containers

kitchen tools

grooming and cleaning products

reusable shopping bags- ya know, the ones with a handle

travel sized soaps, lotions, shampoo...

though I am guilty only on 4 or 5 of these things, books are certainly an addiction of mine.  (DI/Books is like a liquor store/alcohol.)

Maybe it started when i was 5 and "rewarded" in going to school happily with a new book.  I like them a lot!  And to add to the madness, I have the kindle application and have gone too crazy on there too.  There are too many free or less expensive kindle books!

These books were just the ones under my bed that I just pulled out to organize.  I'm not sure why I do this-- there are worse things.....

Pinterest idea. Does it work

I've seen the mixer way to shred chicken on pinterest so today I decided to try it. We're having Pixtons, all kinds, over for dinner tomorrow. I slow cooked chicken until it hit 165 degrees, then cooled it a bit. I broke it up a bit and put 3 pieces in at a time. I used the whipping blade, not the bread Kneaders one. It worked like a charm. The shredded chicken is now snuggled in BBQ sauce in the fridge. I'm glad I know this trick. Wonder if it would work with pork. We love to serve the cafe rio pork burritos when we have folks over ad well. I'll let ya know when I find out.

It does!

This is the "Prince Harry" thing I was referring to

This is in the Utah valley magazine for this month. Awesome hua?

Bad timing

Awhile ago I set something up that compared Jacob to prince Harry. Several strangers have commented on Jacob looking like him. Now it comes out that Harry has been misbehaving. My little something will be posted here in the next few weeks, and I'm bummed that the England Harry hasn't been a good boy. Hope this something doesn't turn into something negative for my kid. We'll see...

The rain

After a week of being virtually beat up for some of the political things I've posted on fb, Dave took me out for a very nice evening. We went to see the Piano Guys at Thanksgiving point. The concert was outdoors, and the sky was cloudy and dark- and it rained on us, and it was awesome. David had set us up with a tarp and some blankets and a poncho so we stayed pretty dry. The piano guys are so talented and though we couldn't see their hands they sounded great. It was a greak little get away.

Under the tarp

Had to share this one

What a doll!! Love this boy. Laura, wisely, has been keeping Jack from his nap so he will go to bed easier. That makes between 3-6 very dangerous, we called it the bewitching hours. No Nap Zone! My favorite gramma trick was to take him out back to water the plants. He'd skinny down ago his diaper and have a great time.

My summer party is ending

Catching up---
Stephanie married Spencer, and oddly enough we don't see them much anymore. Kim moved back to Provo, so we only see her and Aaron on the weekends. Laura went back home, Joseph enrolled in a few institute classes, (which is so good!!) and Jacob is now in school. It's really different around here. It's good and sad too. It was so great to have a houseful for a little bit. I love love love my family and am so thankful that David still is home!!

ToyStory 3

Laura put the movie on for Jack and both big boys came in to join us. I was sewing but it warmed my heart to have them with me.

Laura and her littles had to go home

Sorry about the blur- action shot

First day of school

But I didn't take the picture till the third day. Poor last child. Can you tell he's a drama guy? Sorry. It should be "theater" guy.