He's Home!

Steven was all smiles at the airport and it was wonderful to see him. The flight came in a bit early so I had to whip out my camera and take a quick shot but gratefully it turned out. He spent some time greeting everyone at the airport and then we went to get pronto pups for dinner since he was starving. From the airport we went to the Verizon store to get him a new cell phone and then on to the Stake President's house. He came out from the house holding his name badges in his hand. He said later that it felt weird not to be a missionary anymore Daniel has him all scheduled out though. Last night they went together to institute. They went afterward with some of Steven's friends to get ice cream. Steven is out tonight celebrating a friend's birthday. He seems to be getting back into the swing of things. It sure is great to be able to yell up the stairs and hear him call back to me. We are glad to have him home.

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Senior Moments

Perhaps you've noticed that I haven't posted in a bit. We have been busy. It is with a multitude of mixed feelings that I chronicle some of Daniel's activities over the last month.

At the Senior Band Concert, Daniel was awarded the John Philip Sousa Award for being the outstanding Senior band student. As such, he was given the conductor's baton and led his classmates in their final piece of music at the concert. He has loved his music experience in high school so much that he plans to minor in music at BYU.


At the final Choir Concert each year the seniors are given the opportunity to perform solo. Anthony and Conner (senior choir students) invited Dalin and Daniel (senior choir wannabes) to assist them in a "boy band" concert. They want everyone to know that they really do like girls. You can see them on youtube by doing a search with the words "vhs boy band choir", or you can just click on the top left corner of my blog. It really is worth a look. He made me so proud!

While you are on youtube take a listen to Daniel performing at the State Solo Festival. He did a fantastic job. I never realized that a trombone could sound so beautiful. He was disqualified on a technicality--unknown to all of us, he needed to present the judges with a letter from the publisher to assure them that the music was out of print. If we had known that, he would have won third at the state contest.

Daniel played men's doubles at the district tennis tournament. He and his partner, Spencer had to be "rushed" from Caldwell to downtown Boise in heavy traffic after they both completed their four hour Statistics AP exam. They then had to play two matches. They won their first but were eliminated from the tournament with their loss in the second match.










Then there was Prom. Daniel took one of his best friends to prom and had a great time. Since they went as friends there wasn't all of the pressure that sometimes accompanies these big events.



Graduation was this past Saturday. Daniel ended the year at #4 in his class and with a GPA well above 4.0. He graduated with 19 college credits and with his scores on his ACT won't have to take many of the Freshman level classes. The Air Force awarded him a certificate as the Top Science Student (his doubles partner was given the Air Force Top Math student award). Daniel loves learning and graduated #4 in part because of the number of classes that he took (it diluted his AP credit GPA). He will be attending BYU this fall for a semester before leaving on his mission.


One of the most exciting days at our house recently happened to be Senior Skip Day. It was also the first day to sign up for housing on campus at BYU. Daniel and 4 friends, plus one of the friends cousins, all want to room together. Derek's mom called down to BYU housing and asked what the possibility was that these 6 young men would end up rooming together and she was told that it would be impossible. So --- bring on the challenge! They swarmed around all the available computers in our house and following an opening prayer and about an hour of fidgeting, whooping, hugging, yelling, typing, phoning, worrying, and stressing they all ended up rooming together this coming fall. Look out BYU here they come!



I really am going to miss all the excitement.

California Dreamin'

It really happened! Carrie and I made our way through the desert to San Diego to enjoy the California sun. We arrived at our motel (like a hotel just crappier) Monday night thanks in large part to the help of Gert our Garmin guidance counselor. The room wasn't quite what we had imagined from the 4 star rating it was given online but the price was right. Tell me---would you be a bit freaked out if you found this list of safety tips posted inside?


For those without eagle eyes the sign reads:

Safety Tips


1. Do NOT answer your door without verifying who it is. If a person claims to be an employee, call the Front Desk and ask if one of their staff has been sent to your room, and for what purpose.
2. Keep the door securely closed when you are in your room and use all of the locking devices provided.
3. Lock windows, sliding glass doors, and connecting room doors.
4. Do not display large amount of cash or expensive jewelry in public.
5. Do not invite strangers to your room.
6. Use the Hotel Entrance when returning to your room late at night. Be observant. Look around the parking lot before exiting the car.
7. Do not leave valuables in vehicles.
8. Be careful about displaying your guest room key in public. Don’t leave it on tables, at the pool, or any other place where it can be easily stolen.
9. Place all valuables in the Hotel’s safe deposit box located at the Front Desk.
10. Immediately report any suspicious activity to the management.

We also found it a bit disturbing that there was about an inch of daylight that came through the top and bottom of the door (remember this is open to the outside and any bug or critter that wanted could come join us in the room).



Is it any wonder that we spent our time away from the hotel room? We spent time basking in the sun at the beach, watching the surfers, enjoying the first 9 innings of the Padres/Rockies 22 inning duel, and just basically taking life easy. It was gorgeous and we really must do it again next year.

You can read Ginger's account of the trip HERE.

Where Has The Time Gone?

This is my first installment of FLASHBACK FRIDAY (just a few hours late). I figured it would be fitting to post this picture of Carrie and myself from way-back-when.

You see--Carrie has just celebrated a significant birthday and for her gift she and I are going on a road trip to San Diego. She has Spring Break off this next week and we are headed to the sunshine. It has been a long winter and the sun will be a welcome break. (That's Carrie in the picture pointing toward San Diego.)

So here's some history. I was born and then two years later my brother was born and then two years after that another brother was born and I prayed and prayed that my next sibling would be a long awaited sister. On April 1st, 1968 my Dad called from the hospital and when I answered he said, "You have a new baby sister." I responded by saying, "April Fool's". There was no way possible that I was going to fall for Dad's cruel joke. He however tried as convincingly as possible to let me know that he was serious. I did in fact have a baby sister (born March 31st) and I am the luckiest girl in the world. My prayers were answered. Happy Birthday, Sis!

Who Knew I Could Be A Princess?

You Are Pocahantas!

Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

I Stand All Amazed

The most wonderful thing happened at church today. The young man assigned to bring the bread for the Sacrament wasn't at church. The Teacher's Quorum President and his mom left to get bread but the roads leading to their house are closed because of construction which meant that there was extra time to prepare for the Sacrament. We sang "There Is A Greenhill Far Away" and then we sang "I Stand All Amazed". During the last verse, the bread arrived. It was decided that we would sing "I Stand All Amazed" again as the Sacrament was prepared. Never before have the words to that song been so powerful. I will count this Easter Sunday as one of my most treasured. I bear testimony that Jesus Christ lives and that because of his atoning sacrifice I will live again. And because of his atoning sacrifice, imperfect and weak as I am, I can be made whole.