JEFF'S LONG AWAITED DAY CAME!
The family all gathered at Joe and Allison's that evening to watch him open his mission call. Jeff opened the envelope, saw where he was going and then wrote names of missions on a paper, one of which was his mission. As we guessed which one we thought is was, he'd cross off names of missions. It was pretty exciting! Finally, he got down to where Leeds, England, Tirana, Albania and Buenos Aires, Argentina were left....He crossed off England,
and then Albania to show us HIS mission...Argentina! He is excited to go overseas and now happy he took those two years of Spanish in high school. He enters the MTC in Provo on July 1st. 
CONGRADULATIONS JEFF!!!
We stopped by Joe and Allison's to show the grandkids the new horse. He liked all the attention.
and were very happy to arrive at Harold's safely. He and Sandra treated us so great and we had sooo much fun! It was wonderful to go to church with Harold the next day and to be able to practice with the choir he directs and sing in church with them. Leslie and family came over for supper that evening. 
Jean and Boots came in each day and while the ladies shopped, Boots and Joe visited farm equipment stores. While at the Missionary Mall, we met four girls that were also going to the Temple Square mission. Fun!
Angela got her name tag and parents were to put it on...she's official!
We had a few minutes to visit and then Boots and Jean said their goodbyes.
Angela will do just great. We have recieved a letter from her already and she is very happy. She loves her companion and is feeling ready to focus and learn all she can. She certainly was sent off with tons of love and fun times from her Utah family. Thanks everyone! U R the Best!!! 
Grampa was the donkey and Jennabee was a lovely Mary.
Close friends of ours, Mary and Kayla Hoffman dropped in and enjoyed the party too!
Angela getting her mission call. It was so fun. She opened her big white envelope, saw where her call was to and then wrote five places on a white board, one of which was where she was going. She wrote Australia, Wisconsin, Uraguay, Temple Square and Paris, France. It was exciting to think that one of those places was actually where she would be going! We'd guess and then she'd cross one off that wasn't where her call was to. Then we'd all guess again. Finally, Temple Square and Paris were left. She crossed off Paris...Temple Square is her mission and she reports Feb. 18th. We are all so happy for her!
It was great to have Jana and family share the day before Thanksgiving with us. We loved having them here even if it was just for a day. It was so sweet to go out the next day to the tree Lindsey had been playing in and see a doll with the doll clothes hung from a tree branch. I couldn't take it down for a few days it was so cute. 
Thanksgiving was pleasant with Harold and Trish, Margaret and Nathan here. 
Our pasture was the setting for the Primary's picture taking for the ward's Christmas party's slide show. We had angels, shepherds. wisemen and of course baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph gracing our fields. It was pretty special and the kids were all so good.
Geronimo provided some side entertainment which the boys thought was real cool: catching and eating a mouse.
Joe is really enjoying a couple of additions to our family. Abbie is a two year old, hopefully pregnant, guernsey cow.
And, Big Red, who is really big at 16+ hands, is a eight year old Tennessee Walker. Growing up, every Christmas Joe would ask for a horse. Finally....he has got his horse for Christmas! 
We miss Darren though, who left for Texas a couple of weeks ago. He was a tremendous help getting farm life going. We are happy for Grant as he finished up his student teaching a week ago and was fortunate to immediately start a full-time job teaching eighth grade science. Julie should be home for Christmas....She reports that Seattle has a foot of snow. We hope that won't keep her from being able to fly home ! 
