MARCH 2018

MARCH 2018
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)

WEEK 1 ~ 3/4/2018
It’s tapioca night.  Where are you???

We are in Carlsbad NM planning to explore the caverns tomorrow.  What’s up with you?

1)  A sampling of Louisiana’s ‘finger lickin’ good’ cajun sauces.  Gulf coast of Texas. Port Aransas.  Mustang Island.

2)   Laredo. Nuevo Laredo.

3)  

4)  

Coming soon:

6th - Emeline will be old enough to be a deacon ;o}

7th - Linc & Carrie celebrate 17 years of marriage.

10th - Handsome Robert turns 23

11th - Sweet Sabrina will be 2!!

11th - We should be in St George for a visit with Colleen and Gaylin.

We are happy to be in the MST zone.

WEEK 2 ~ 3/11/2018

Hi favorite folks ~

1)  Last Monday we took a phenomenal self-guided audio tour of THEE world renown Carlsbad Caverns - a spectacular National Park that I never knew I needed to see.  We arrived too early in the season for the night and morning ‘bat flight’ programs.  Maybe next time…but since these speleothems are on the road to nowhere that isn’t likely to happen.  Here are tips if YOU plan to see them someday :  Avoid the elevator and hike down and up the 80 flights.  Stop and listen.  Drip-by-drip the caverns have been decorating themselves over the past million years or so.  And coordinate your visit to coincide with the return of the bats! There is an amphitheater just for this (May to October).

2)  Roswell, New Mexico - Area 51.  Maybe you’ve heard of it.  

Next we ventured into Arizona to Monument Valley.  We took photos with the excavator to excite grandkids.

3)  Come see this!!!  Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is in my top 5 U.S. sites.  

4)    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

5)  We arrived in St George Friday and are currently ‘glamping’ with Aunt Colleen and Uncle Gaylin.  Last night we visited Aunt Phyllis Sue and Uncle Ron.  

6)  I love Patrice Howell.  Who doesn’t?  This girl is an angel, a princess, and a hero to me.  Her parents (Ron & Phyllis Sue) must have done something great to have her now and forever.

She is a 3 year old girl in a full-grown body.  She is dependent on others to feed, dress, bath and change her.  Recently her parents observed her slowly moving from her kitchen chair at the island, across to the sink, along the counter, steadying herself along the wall, crossing the hall and ending up in her bathroom.  All.  By.  Herself.  For the very first time!  Tomorrow she will be 50.  Last night I sat by her in the car as we took a drive.  Patrice was obviously dismayed and perhaps muttered under her breath “I hate you, I hate you”.  I’m not sure, but that’s what it sounded like.  Three year olds say that, right?  I still love her.

This week:

TODAY - Sabrina is TWO

12th - Lane will be 70

14th - Stephanie & Jerel have their 22nd anniversary

17th - wear GREEN

WEEK 3 ~ 3/18/2018

Hello fabulous people!

1) Right now we are driving through Utah County on our way back to SLC.  We will spend one week in the SLC area before leaving for a 2 week get-away to Bali.  Our private tour group consists of friends and family.  We are looking forward to some exciting adventures with Steph, Jerel, Carlie, Cameron, Kim, Anissa, Justin and some friends who traveled with us to India.  (Thank you to Jerel for the advance planning and itinerary!)

2)  This past week was spent with Aunt Colleen and Uncle Gaylin.   They were willing guinea pigs as our first ‘clamping’ guests in CarLa.  

Featuring: Five Crowns & pistachios.  

3)  A zoom-zoom with a view.  (Kolob Canyon)

4)  A stroll in Snow Canyon.  

Colleen was happy to get a change of scene.  Gaylin went along for the ride.  They were both glad to have gone but also glad to get home.  

5)  Each of you should brace yourself.  We hope to have you along on a trip here or there.  Think about it and let us know what might work best for you.       

6) 

And remember it you are falling on your face you are actually moving forward ;o}

4) This coming week:

21st ~ Danika turns 2, with a 'Curious Danika' party.  Think monkeys!

24th ~ Violet will be 4, and is excited for her 'Snow White’ birthday.

Each day we wake up with the potential of a newborn baby.  Go get ‘em!

WEEK 4 ~ 3/25/2018

This will be quick.  Tonight we sit in the LA airport ready to board our flight for a 2 week trip to Bali. 

So, here’s a wrap up from last week. 

1) Lane is now 70!!!  We party’d with the local kids and a few friends at the Spaghetti Factory.  He was SURPRISED and felt the love. Thanks to those who were able to join us. 




2) random events 


3)  Have a great week & a happy Easter. We’ll be back April 8th. (Happy advance birthday to Kaelyn!  Your gift will arrive late...sorry)

We love you forever!

Momma C & Dad Lane

FEBRUARY 2018

FEBRUARY 2018
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)

WEEKS 1,2,3 ~ 2/19/2018

Hey y’all,

If you’re interested in what we are up to then glance at these pics.

1) January 31st, 2018  ~ Sarah’s home from her 1 1/2 year mission to Singapore. 

2) Genevieve is welcomed home!  Genevieve Howell began life on this planet Feb 3rd.

  

3) February 4th, 2018.  The Gerber’s celebrate their shared birthday…born 7 years apart.

4) We left Feb 7th for a nice road trip enroute to visit the Robison’s…(and a nice little hike in Arches National Park on day one.)

5)  This was our second stop to add graffiti here outside Amarillo. The first was in 2013, I think.

6)  We arrived on the 9th in Brookhaven, Mississippi to find the Robison’s settling into their first home. Chris and his dad spent weeks doing some major remodeling and general sprucing up prior to Jami arriving with the kids in January. It’s looking GREAT!

7)  Over the next week we discovered the famous beignets of New Orleans Cafe De Monde, sampled delicious fried green tomatoes, devoured crawfish and shrimp pasta, catfish po-boys and Chris’ delectable homemade gumbo. Even better than the food are the southern folks we spent time with as evidenced in these photos. Jami’s looking after darling Danika and cute Kamden. Chris flies LifeFlight and did a flyover the house on Friday. Britni and Hatcher arrived later in the week to meet Kamden (and add a new state or two to their bucket list.)

We will pass back through Mississippi again next weekend after picking up our new RV in Ft Meyers.  And then show up in St George by March 11th. We’re planning a short RV trip with Colleen and Gaylin.

I hope things are going well for you and your endearing families.  On Valentine’s Day there was a horrific shooting at the HS that Callie and Jami once attended when we lived in Parkland.  I vividly remember my thoughts on the night of the 1999 Columbine school shooting.  The bodies of mortally wounded students lay unidentified inside the school overnight due to suspected undetonated bombs.  I had never been more thankful to know where my children were.  During times of tragedy or hardship it’s sometimes all I can do to get out of bed, stand up and put one foot in front of the other.  I’m getting by because I learned to count my blessings and YOU are always at the top.  I’m still smiling, I remember there is great purpose in life, no matter the length of time we are here.  How are you doing?

Can you handle a tip for improved communication?  I collect quotes, I don’t write them.  My notes record this as a “happiness in marriage tip”:

If there was one key to happiness in love and life and possibly even success it would be to go into each conversation you have with this commandment to yourself front and foremost in you mind, “just listen” and be more interested than interesting, more fascinated than fascinating and more adoring than adorable.

And in case you are wondering:

Feb 6th  Brennan celebrated turning 8!

Feb 12th  Joseph had his 18th birthday!

Feb 22nd  Our RV is ready for pick up in Fort Meyers, Florida.

Feb 24th  Brian must find 35 candles to put on Britni’s cake!

WEEK 4 ~  2/25/2018

Dearest Family ~

1)  We are "on the road again" with CarLa (Carolyn + Lane) or HarRV III.  (Which name do you like?)  I call her my monster palace on wheels.  She’s a beauty but she is H U G E.  

We picked her up in Florida, drove her to Mississippi and are now making our way back west to Utah.   Tonight we are camped in Louisiana.  

2)   Earlier this week we spent 2 days in DisneyWorld, but as we exited Wednesday night I decided to say farewell to the Magic Kingdom.  It’s out of my system.  I’m through.  No need to return.  Long lines, popular rides broken down, monorail out of service, edgy guests, miserable.  However, Disneyland may still hold some intrigue. ;o} 

3)  We’ve attached this scooter to the back of our new house.  AND we’ve had our first visitors.  Thank you Robison’s for the temporary storage and for looking after our car.

4)  I’m trying to be like Jesus.

Coming soon:

Chris has a birthday coming up on the 27th!

Leap day baby Tesila will celebrate her unbirthday on Feb 28th or March 1st.  

I’m just wanting very much to stay in touch and remind you that...

...I love you FOREVER!!!

Scatter smiles & sunshine Ü

Momma, Momma C, Carolyn

haP2Bmi@gmail.com

801 499 7994

JANUARY 2018

JANUARY 2018
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)

WEEK 1 ~ 1/1/2018

Happy New Year and best wishes for a wonderful 2018!!!

Photos from this past week:

1)  All of my siblings were in town.  So we gathered on Wednesday.  Later I popped in on Paden and the girls.  

2)  Thursday we focused on Lincoln’s 40th birthday.  Good times…and great Boston Cream Pie!

3)  Saturday we redeemed a fabulous Christmas gift at the Vivint Arena.  Thanks kids!  The Jazz hung on to beat the Cavs.  

4)  Last night we bumped into everyone that we could while commemorating the seamless transition from 2017 to 2018.

Games, piñata’s, guessing jars, artichoke / clam / sausage dip, soups, supreme mac-n-cheese, Shalaun’s rolls, soda, fondue, prime rib, hot chocolate, crab, roasted potatoes, shrimp, CAKE!

5)  Message from Sunday School yesterday: Hymn #217 has poignant lyrics for the new year.  The lyrics in italics really stood out to me.

Come let us anew our journey pursue,

Roll round with the year, And never stand still till the Master appear.

His adorable will let us gladly fulfill,

And our talents improve By the patience of hope and the labor of love. 

I never considered God’s will to be adorable.  Not once in all my years.  Yet he invites me to adore Him.  And as I keep reaching and improving I’ll be able to adore Him and everything He offers me.  His will included!

This week:

1st  HAPPY NEW YEAR’s DAY!

1st  We leave to pursue a one-month journey.  We will periodically check our email for messages.  Lincoln has a copy of our itinerary.  However, in an emergency you can contact Fun For Less (801)619.1022 or (800)591.2432  Tour: South America to Antarctic Cruise.  Dates: Jan 5 - 30, 2018.   

2nd  Michael will be 26 - yea!

5th  Sadie turns 2 - whoopee!

WEEKS 1-4  January 1st - 30th, 2018

Hello landlovers!!!

We missed you!!!  Your break from ‘check-ins’ is over.  Let’s play a picturesque game of catch-up after our one month cruise.  Destination: Antarctica via Argentina around Cape Horn to Chile...various stops in between.  This was the chance of a lifetime trip that Lane has dreamed of for years and officially started planning last February.  

1) ARGENTINA (8 days)

Iguazu Falls - Buenos Aires Temple - the Tango - Travel with Mac & Pam - Cruise begins - Puerto Madryn - Ushuaia (southern-most city in the world)

Highlights: getting drenched in the falls right ofter this photo.  Tango poses.  Hot weather in January!

2) URUGUAY (1 day)

Montevideo - (Uncle Perry Howell’s mission area) - Temple - Independence Plaza - Old Town tour - Chivito, a traditional sandwich (it really was that colorful!)

Highlight: Setting foot in a new country!  Number 40-something.

3) FALKLAND ISLANDS (1 day)

Stanley - 5 hour round trip jeep tour - Volunteer Point - King, Gentoo & Magellanic penguins 

Highlights: walking among penguins.  When the jeep ride was over!  Making it back to the cruise port in time to sail away on the Zaandam.

4)  ANTARCTICA scenic cruising (4 days)

Wilhelm Archipelago - Danco Coast - King George Island - Hope Sound - Gerlache Strait

We were so fortunate to have good weather for 3 of the days and SPECTACULAR weather 1 day!!!

Highlights:  Being at the end of the world.  Icebergs.  Watching killer and humpback whales.  Stunning scenery mirrored in the Antarctic Sea. 

A new continent for us! 

5) CHILE (6 days)

Punta Arenas - Tierra del Fuego - Patagonia - Puerto Chacabuco - Isla Chiloé - Puerto Montt - Valparaiso - Vina Del Mar - Santiago

Highlights:  Rather ironic to shop for Patagonia wear in Patagonia proper.  Touring a replica of Magellan’s ship.  Another new country for us!

6)  Days at Sea (8 days)

Atlantic Ocean - Drake Passage (2 times, ugh)  - Cape Horn - Strait of Magellan - Tierra Del Fuego - Chilean Fjords - Pacific Ocean

Highlights: bobbing around in the ship pool during the rough seas of the Drake Passage.  

FREE 24 hour room service.  Playing Five Crowns & learning to play Hot Dice.

We disembarked this morning.  Tonight we sleep in Santiago - our last night in South America.  Fingers are crossed that we can catch a flight home tomorrow night.  We should be home Tuesday.

During our absence our beloved prophet President Monson moved on.  Now we whole-heartedly sustain President Nelson and his counselors.  What else did we miss?  Please catch us up on your lives.

While we’ve been traveling:

Jan 9th - Audrey has now reached double digits!

Jan 10th - Darren & Stephanie Hill celebrated 4 years of marriage - XOXO

Jan 11th - Carlie is now 18!

Jan 14th - Cam blew out a ridiculous amount of candles!

Jan 14th - Meredith was eligible for the spanking line ;o}

Jan 21st - Thatcher is TWO!!

Jan 23rd - KC marked the anniversary of his birth!

Jan 26th- Happy 'cake & presents day' to Shalaun!

Jan 26th - Sam & Jamie Howell celebrated 7 years together - XOXO

Jan 28th - Spencer turns 3 today!

Jan 31st - And Sister SARAH Hill comes home!!! 

Chris & Jami Robison are homeowners in Mississippi!!!

Coming this week:

Tom & Shalaun’s baby!???

Jan 29th - Jami makes her annual birthday wish!

Britni and Hatcher come visiting to meet Paden!!!

Feb 4th - Callie is the birthday queen!

Feb 4th - Rayson is the birthday king!

Feb 4th - the Super (SOUPER) Bowl at Bullock's

We love you forever!

Scatter smiles & sunshine Ü

Momma, Momma C, Carolyn & Lane

haP2Bmi@gmail.com

801 499 7994

PS We have plenty of photos if you’d like to see more ;o}

DECEMBER 2017

DECEMBER 2017
(this blog contains my weekly emails to my precious family)

WEEK 1 ~ 12/3/2017

Hello Sweet Graham Cracker Constructionists!

1)  OREGON!  We spent time in Albany and Tigard this past week.  A few days in Albany resulted in homemade tree ornaments, hot-tubin’, Hawaiian and Asian meals and great family time with Cam, Kim, Anissa and Justin.  

Then on to Tigard.  Backstory - Years ago Erin had a bad experience that left her unable to prepare or partake of that childhood favorite ’there’s-always-room-for-more’ ...JELL-O!  I recently lucked into becoming the first source of knox-blox (finger jello) for Kaelyn, Ava and Brennan.  So when I walked into Jerry’s home Wednesday Brennan exclaimed “Can we make Jello?”  I can’t say no to JELL-O.  

We also created candy houses with a few graham crackers strategically placed underneath a mountain of candy.  

2)  Yesterday we gathered in Albany for an early Christmas celebration.  (Anissa and Justin had dates for the Winter Formal at church.)

3)  Earlier in the day we had lunch, played games, saw a matinee, colored, awarded prizes.

(Justin and Anissa with their dance dates)

4)  In Corvalis we were tempted…did not succumb.  But what a way to go!

5)  I like this from Sunday School today:

“…we should use our free agency and be actively engaged in supporting and defending the principles of truth, right, and freedom.”  

Elder L. Tom Perry, 1987

Coming this week:

~  4th  We travel to Lake Stevens to visit the Hansens

~  8th  Roy’s birthday is commemorated

~  8th  We drive back to Utah

~ 10th  Stephen will celebrate being 14 - old enough to be a MiaMaid.  

WEEK 2 ~ 12/11/2017

My December darlings ~

It’s so good to have spent time with all of you in the past several weeks.  Thank you for finding time to be with us.  

A special appreciation to Lincoln and Carrie for opening their home to us (and their garage to our belongings).  

This past week. 

1)  Monday - We left Oregon and drove north to visit the Hansens in Lake Stevens (north of Seattle)

2)  That evening they concocted a glorious shepherd’s dinner for family home evening.  As 21st century shepherds we’ve gotten spoiled by exchanging goat cheese for easy ‘squirt’ cheese and date juice for sparkling cider.  Tesila and Dalia played Christmas hymns on the piano.  Brian read from the gospel of Luke while we took on the parts of the nativity.  

Hmmm.  Those of you in the SL area might like to consider joining us for a shepherd’s dinner.  Here are your choices:  

Sunday, December 17th, 6 pm ~ Kelley’s home  

Wednesday, December 20th, 6 pm ~ Bullock’s home

Consider yourselves invited.  Costumes optional but recommended.  Please let us know if we can expect you and where.

3)  In honor of Dalia’s first junior high band concert we ate tributes to her instrument.  FRENCH toast stix, FRENCH bread, FRENCH fries & FRENCH silk pie.  Britni assured the meal had some balance by tossing in some meatballs.  Dalia performed well and it was a fun evening.  She is also learning the alto saxophone (and piano).

4)  Our kids love playing!  Cam really caught on to SET.  And both the Albany Howells and Hansens enjoyed playing Five Crowns.  Well, maybe not Kim ;o}.

We drove home on clear roads in one fell swoop on Thursday.  Lincoln and Carrie’s kids had their dad’s back until Lane tried cutting in. 

5)  Lingering in my thoughts all week was a talk assignment in our new ward.  The request came as quite a surprise and I stewed over it much too long.  The topic was “Why I believe”.  I referenced Christ as the ultimate avenger.  He is immortal.  He created worlds, the Earth being his footstool.  He is the Great King Immanuel.  He has all power to restore paralyzed limbs, sight and life.  And power to forgive sins.  Because of His ultimate sacrifice we are all immortal beings.  This because He is the Life, the Light, the Hope of the world whose chosen path leads to happiness now and forever.  And HE IS REAL!  

6)  This morning our red eye flight landed us back in Miami for a few meetings and appointments.  I watched ELF in our hotel room.  When it got to the part where the citizens of hard-hearted NYC begin to soften and join in singing Santa Claus is coming to Town and then they start to sing more enthusiastically as they believe again and remember Santa.  That part.  The Clausometer ramps up to 100% and the reindeer fly Santa and sleigh right over the heads of the carolers who now KNOW that Santa is real.  Jaws drop and smiles spread over their faces.  I cried.  Someone else really knows when we are sleeping, He knows where we’re awake.  He knows when we’ve been bad or good…so be good for goodness sake!

Tonight I imagined the sight, the surprise, the glee, the panic, when Christ appears in His full glory.  Every knee bowing.  Every heart knowing.  I will cry again.  It will indeed be glo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-o-ri-ous!!!  

This coming week:

13th ~ Shalaun & Tom celebrate 14 years!

13th ~ we fly back to SLC. 

14th ~ Cameron’s surgery happens.  Spare a prayer.

14th ~ Aunt Colleen’s birthday.  We spoke to her last week and she’s pleased to have Shelley visiting again and co-teaching a candy making class in her home.  She’s hanging on cheerfully.  Perhaps a little discouraged that her custom fitted power wheelchair will take 90 days to arrive.

14th & 15th ~ Gerber girls dance recital.

Save the date:  New Year’s Eve.  Ring in 2018 at the Bullock’s (we’ll miss the Oregonians, Washingtonians, and Ohioans).

WEEK 3 ~ 12/18/2017

Felicitations Festive Family ~

It’s beginning to look a lot like…

SHEPHERDS DINNERS.   One with Hansen's.  One at Kelley’s.  One at Bullock’s (Wednesday).  Gerbers on CHRISTmas eve.

Last week:

1) Meetings in Miami - with my dentist, with MAS, with dear friends

2)  A memorable movie night - with Bullocks, Matthew, Scott & Luke

3)  Gerber girls dance recital - they each performed to perfection! …says an unbiased g’momma.

As of this email, baby boy is being stubborn.

4)  Miscellaneous moments -

5)  A night at Kelley’s - with KC, X, Randi, and Centerville Howells (missed Emeline).  Thanks Tyson and Meredith for hosting.  It was super!

Glory to God for the selfless gift of His son.  Glory to His son for His selfless gift of immortality.  And making possible Eternal life with our glorious family.  All we did to deserve these gifts was to choose God’s plan of happiness.  We continue to choose God’s plan for us.  Hallelujah!  

This coming week:

20th  Shepherd’s dinner at Bullocks, 6 pm

???  Gerber baby!

One week until CHRISTmas.  Have a good one.

WEEK 4 ~ 12/26/2017

Merry CHRISTmas!

To sum up...

1)  I spent much of the week getting familiar with a new grandson, Paden Cole Gerber and his 4 big sisters!  Paden arrived one week late.  A home birth.  The mid-wife arrived with an hour to spare.  He is a cute little man, faint eyelashes, a furrowed brow, fuzzy head, long toes, perfectly formed body.  Very grateful for this boy and his incredible mother.  Congrats Uncle Rayson, Aunt Callie, Raylie, Chloe, Sophie, and Sadie!

2)  The Bullocks co-hosted a shepherd’s dinner on Wednesday.  Thanks to all who participated!!!

3)  Random shots from the week:  

Girls lunch with 2 sisters and my mother.  

Uncle Sam IS the Grand Master Wu at a happy birthday party for 5 year old Lee.  

Our tour of the greenhouse with Uncle Greg.  

Temple Square.  

Christmas morning with Uncle Lincoln, Aunt Carrie, Matthew, Scott, Luke, Maggie, & Isaac.

Is was a quiet day for us.  Let us hear the details about yours...

4)  Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my husband, but rather give thanks to God that he hath manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.  ~ Mormon 9: 31, likened unto us.  (We are on target to complete the Book of Mormon on New Years Eve day.)

This very week!

28th  Uncle Lincoln’s 40th birthday

30th  King James (LeBron that is) and his entourage will hold court Saturday.  G’pa Lane & I will be there!

31st  NEW YEAR’S EVE family gathering - Bullock’s.  INFO FORTHCOMING

We love you forever,

Scatter smiles & sunshine Ü

G'momma & G'pa Howell

haP2Bmi@gmail.com

801 499 7994