Where's Waldo - missionary edition...

Have you heard of the "Where's Waldo" books?

(source unknown)

They're fun picture/puzzle books with a tall skinny guy 

hidden in and amongst a silly scene like the one below.

(source unknown)

The object is to find Waldo on each page. 

Well, today Hunter's awesome Mission President's wife 

and other kind Senior Missionaries posted pictures 

on the mission facebook page

 and I felt like I was enjoying a Where's Waldo book 

as I perused each picture to find our dear missionary. 

=D

With his very blonde hair, 

it's pretty easy to spot that guy. 

Do you want to play along? 

Here you go! 

Where's Waldo - missionary edition!

Picture 1 (Isn't he cute!)

Picture 2 (Can you spot him?)

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Picture 6

Picture 7

Picture 8

Picture 9

How'd you do?? 

Want to check your answers?

Here's the key...

1) front and center!! 2) right side 3) left side 

4) you're right, he's not in this picture but his fantastic Mission President 

and wife ARE and we adore them so I had to throw this picture in ;) 

5) far left edge 6) far right 7) right of center in the front row 

8) left side 9) right of center

Thanks for playing ;)

<3

Celebrating chemistry!!!

Our girlie attends an Early College High School 

and takes college classes for High School credit. 

It's a fantastic program and the tuition is paid with scholarships. 

What an opportunity and blessing! 

She's been loving her college classes 

and had taken High School Chemistry 

so when she needed more science credits we all thought 

the College Chemistry class would be a good choice. 

Oh man were we wrong! 

It was a brutal class 

and had her studying every night till midnight. 

Thank heaven The Mr. is brilliant in all things scientific and mathematical. 

He was the best tutor a girl could have. 

Somehow, she pulled it off, 

comprehensive final, research paper and all. 

Won't sign up for a class like that again 

until she's a "regular" college student. 

She had a 3 day weekend after that class ended 

so it was time to CELEBRATE with skiing,

(The girls on the chairlift)

(Love these girls!)

CELEBRATE with racquetball,

(The dude can jump!)

(Ashley putting her tennis skills to work.)

(High fives!)

and CELEBRATE with ice skating. 

We like celebrating!  

Chemistry...not so much, but celebrating definitely yes!

<3

A second generation Branch-Morris companionship!

October of 1986 in St. Omer France, The Mr. was on a mission 

sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ 

when he was asked to train a new missionary, Elder Morris. 

From The Mr.'s journal, 

"My companion is Elder Morris from CA. 

He's 6'2" with about as dark of hair as mine is light. 

He's almost 20 and used to play University baseball 

with above a .500 hitting average. 

He's very nice and very enthusiastic for the work 

and has a strong spirit about him." 

The Mr. remembers being concerned that Elder Morris was an athlete 

so not wanting to hold him back, 

The Mr. would lead as fast as he could on his bike.

Every time he would look behind him, Elder Morris was right on his back wheel

so he thought he wasn't riding fast enough.

That went on for 3 weeks. 

One time they arrived at their destination both sweating 

from the bike ride and Elder Morris asked 

why they always had to ride so fast everywhere! 

Hahaha...

They rode at a normal pace after that. ;) 

They had good times together in France 

and thanks to facebook are able to stay in touch. 

Just before Thanksgiving we got this message from Elder Morris. 

Is your son serving in the NH mission? 

My son, Joseph, reports on 12/28 at the MTC, then NH. 

Maybe your son could be his trainer? 🤗 

(The Morris Family) 

A guy can't really have a greater companion than a Morris! 

How neat would that be if Hunter got to be Joseph's trainer! 

Yesterday, Patti got a text from an awesome guy in New Hampshire, Matt,

who often goes with the missionaries on teaching appointments 

saying he'd learned that Hunter will not be transferred this week 

but he will be getting a new companion. 

Then today Matt texted that Hunter will be training a new companion!! 

We're all so excited!! 

We'll miss Elder Chappell - he's been a great companion 

but we're hoping the Branch-Morris companionship 

will have a second generation. 

We find out on Tuesday. 

=D

Update...
It happened!    =D
Branch-Morris generation 2!
Thanks Matt for the great picture!

The party's over...

It's been a great few weeks off of school for our oldest twig!

He had lots of adventures with this sweet girl,

and a visit from one of his favorite mission companions. 

They even got in a day of skiing together.

Last semester was sweet. 

It was his first semester back at college 

since sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Carolinas 

and he had a good balance of hard and easy classes. 

The new semester starts tomorrow 

and it's a different ballgame.

There won't be any classes on shootin' pool.

That's okay though. 

He will do well. 

He's a hard worker and the fastest reader I know. 

Gordon B. Hinckley said

“The pattern of study you establish during your formal schooling

will in large measure affect your lifelong thirst for knowledge.”

“You must get all of the education that you possibly can.

… Sacrifice anything that is needed to be sacrificed 

to qualify yourselves to do the work of [this] world.

… Train your minds and hands to become an influence for good

as you go forward with your lives.”

Hugs to all those starting classes tomorrow.

You'll do fantastic!

<3

Merry and Bright...

What a wonderful time of year this is (as long as you have a really warm coat)!

We had lots of rain which flooded the retention basin at the park 

but before all the water could drain away, 

temperatures dropped 

and our neighborhood got it's own little ice skating rink. 

Then came the snow which delighted Rascal!

He loves to catch snow!

There was a joyous visit with our juggling New England missionary 

and there were sweet gifts

given in similitude 

of the greatest gift 

 which was given to us all from our loving Heavenly Father, 

the gift of the Christ Child.

(image from LDS.org)

The sweet Pearsons came to play games with us 

and brought more of their delicious treats with them.

Then we got to see these sweethearts 

kneel at an altar in a holy temple and make covenants 

with each other before their God

so they could be sealed together for time and eternity. 

New Years wouldn't be New Years without the Allred Family. 

We're grateful they somehow made time to celebrate with us

just days after having a wedding. 

Thanks for the smoked ribs, Stephanie, Travis and Rob! 

Thank you everyone, for making this wonderful season merry and bright. 

As Hunter is so fond of saying, 

You're the real deal!

<3