ANGELA'S MISSION TIME CAME!
She finished up her packing ....
and she, her dad and I headed for Utah early Saturday morning, Feb. 14th. We had three bad snow storms to drive through... 
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!
We got to see Diana and Janet and kids...We all met at lunchtime during a shopping break.
We shared more good times at Harold's, took in a BYU basketball game and thanks to Sandra's loaning Angela a great suitcase and Jean's talent for packing it, got Angela all ready to go.
Angela was to be at the MTC at 12 noon, Feb. 18th. It was hard to believe we were actually there! So many emotions to feel!
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.
Joe and I went with Angela to a chapel where a short program was given to the missionaries and families. It was soon time to say our last goodbyes. My goodness...such a tender time! It was hard and wonderful all at the same time.
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!!! Joe and I left and drove to Heber and spent a couple of hours enjoying Jean and Boots' company, farm and a delicious meal before heading up the road. It was such a treat to stop in Hoytsville and see Uncle Donald and Aunt Louise. Her yummy cookies filled out tummies and all our warm memories of our trip warmed our hearts as we headed for home!
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 ! 
Gramma Harris had made Jeff his graduation afghan before she passed away. What a special gift to get.
The 4th of July was such a great day. 
And of the course the Johnson Parade was fun as usual. 
One of the best "floats" was the Retired John Deere farmer...
It was another great day when Darren arrived! He came to spend the summer working for a farmer and for us.
We found all kinds of stuff in a couple of old out buildings. Some were fun antiques but most was just dump worthy. Derek and Aubree moved to Pullman just to help us move...well, maybe not just to help us move but we couldn't have done it without them. Derek painted bedrooms while Jeff had his own style of painting.
We adopted a couple of cats from an animal shelter. Izzie, Wild Bill and our previous cat, Geronimo have all learned to be great friends and are great mousers.
We have had some great FUN times this summer too. Grant took Joe and I to some neat places on Moscow Mountain. I had no idea that on the other side of that mountain was a continuous range of mountains that go up into Montana. He and Jeff spent several Saturdays riding on the mountain bike trails that are there before he left for Tri-Cites to do his student teaching.
We were able to go to the Tri-Cites to see our niece, Tamsin Campbell marry Dave Jolley. It's a small world...Dave grew up in the same ward I did in Richland and his dad was Bishop when Joe and I were dating.
Angela has such fun with Margaret.
Joe and I were also able to go to Prosser to my brother James' wedding.
It was so special to share their day with them.
Plans worked out so all the family could be together for a very fun weekend the last of July. 
We had a bear hunt,
and rode motorcycles,
had tractor rides,
and girl fun...
hiked up to Kamiak Butte and even
had a 23rd birthday party for Angela,
Harvest started...it is such a beautiful time of year around here.
We decided to celebrate fall with a barnyard party. We danced to country music
and took a fun hay ride.
Derek passed out "tickets" for the hayride: some straw to put in our mouths. We sang "Home on the Range" and Grant led us in "I Saw a Bear" while Joe drove us around the pasture. Joey told scary stories and after the little ones went home to bed, the older kids made smores. It was the BEST evening!
Halloween was fun. Jeff and Ayana went to the Insitute Halloween party as "smores".
