Lost

This past week a 14 year old boy went missing here in the valley.  Rumors were rampant about why he ran away but regardless it was a mother's worst nightmare.  After the boy had been missing for 24 hours they called out Search and Rescue from Las Vegas.  I went over to the command center set up at our church parking lot to volunteer to help look for him.  I had found out earlier in the day that the boy was our insurance agent's grandson.  The Search and Rescue team divided up groups and sent them out to look in their predetermined fashion which was not conducive to our valley and the issue at hand.  They had our group start at the boys house and walk in a wide line through the subdivision's empty lots looking in yards, in bushes and under tumble weeds.  This seemed very futile especially because that neighborhood had been searching and watching for the previous 24 hours and so I went off with another gal into some actual neighborhoods where there were houses with yards, and numerous hiding places.  I had Abby Morgan watch the boys and I had to have her bring me some shoes as my decision to go help look was pretty spontaneous and I was not dressed for hiking through the bushes. I looked for about and hour and then they moved us over by the river because they said they had a credible siting.  We looked there for an hour but by 8:00 I had to get home.  This is my one souvenir left in my shoe for all my desert walking.  The boy was finally found the next morning out in Moapa.  It hadn't been him that they thought they saw after all even though they called off the search because they said he was running away from searchers.  I had a rough night sleeping Wednesday night even though I had never laid eyes on the kid other than the missing picture they were circulating.  I was just sick about all the things that could have happened to him and was so worried for his family.  I was impressed how the town came together and so many people helped.  Connor stood watch at the reservoir with Joe Perez most of the day and even went out after dark with Chris Zundel and Luke Minogue to look in the fields where they thought he was hiding after the official search got called off.   I took dinner to the family the evening after he had gotten home and gave him a big big hug and told him that I was so glad that he was home safe.  I found quite a few similarities with our Savior and how he searches and waits and hopes to find us and how he will be saying to us that he is so glad that we are home.  I even bore my testimony on Sunday because of the parallels.

May the 4th Be With You

We like to celebrate obscure holidays.  Today was Star Wars Day where we celebrated with our Star Wars shirts. Kyle had his friend Johnny over and he had a Star Wars backpack so we had to get a picture.

T-Ball

Kyle started t-ball a few weeks ago and his first game was Saturday, March 12.  He has been to 2 practices at the park and his game was at the ball fields.  His team is the Pirates and he got a full uniform.  He was quite excited to play even though he still doesn't have the full grasp of the game.  He was first at bat during the game and he when he hit the ball he skipped to first base.  Then when it was time to run again he skipped to second and third base.  He did finally run to home base after a little hollering and from mom.  10 4-5 year olds are quite entertaining to watch but they need alot of assistance.  I stayed in the dug out and helped them get ready when it was each of their turns to bat.  Then when it was time for them to go back out to the field I had to help them find their ball caps and their mitts and steer them out to find where they were supposed to play.  Kyle played sort of short stop the first inning and was a little distressed that he didn't ever get the ball.  Most of the kids were barely able to hit the ball a few feet out from home plate so most of the kids in the outfield didn't see much action.  Kyle sat down a few times and dug around in the dirt to entertain himself.  The second inning he played catcher and got to get the ball when the first baseman threw it toward home plate and then he was able to put the ball on the tee.  He was getting hungry toward the end and when it was a little challenging to get him to finish.  We were in charge of  snacks for the first game and we took chips and Kool-aid Jammers and Halo clementines.  They have a small snack bar and Kyle's coach gave him a dollar to buy a snow cone and I bought him a hot dog.  We don't have a game for 2 weeks because of Spring Break.  Hopefully we can have a little time to practice and get him a little more familiar with the game.

Blessings From Heaven

Today was another example of how when I look for the Lord's hand in my life and ask Him to make Himself known to me, He does.  I was busy this morning cleaning and cooking and doing laundry like every other day of my life.  Kyle was busy playing with his toys and making a mess in every room he could.  He has been playing quite animatedly with his Star Wars and has been missing Han Solo for several days.  He asked me to help him look for it and after I had sent him looking in several locations he couldn't find it.  I started looking for it with him in his room and then I had a thought.  This was a perfect opportunity to teach Kyle about prayer. I asked him if he waned to say a prayer. Of course he asked me why.  I said that sometimes we need to ask Heavenly Father to help us when we can't find something.  We said our prayer and continued our search.  He looked in the Lego box and I looked in the other toy bins and the big toy box.  He was perplexed that we didn't find it immediately but I told him that sometimes we still have to work in order for Heavenly Father to answer our prayers.  We didn't find it in his room so we went to look in my room.  I got a flashlight and looked under my bed and under the treadmill but we didn't find it.  I said a silent prayer that Heavenly Father would answer this little boy's prayer so he could understand a little more how prayer works but also that He would answer my prayer and increase m faith.  I looked under the dressers and then under the night stand on the other side of the bed and there he was.  We had found Han Solo.  I showed Kyle and he was all smiles.  I told him that we needed to thank Heavenly Father for answering our prayer.  I am grateful for these little opportunities to teach m children these principles of the gospel.  I hope to be able to realize when I have these opportunities.

Birthday Boy

Connor Mckay turned 19 on Monday January 11.  We celebrated with his favorite meal of grilled Diet Coke chicken, rice pilaf, salad and little biscuits.  I think that he wanted this last year too.  He has always asked for a Skor cake so he got that again too.  We gave him a mini fridge for his shed but I think the picture is on Don's phone.  Gifts aren't much of surprise when we put them in the garage but where do you hide a mini fridge?  He was happy about it even though he saw it earlier in the week.  Just like all adults he had to work on his birthday.  Oh well that's what happens when you grow up!

CTR Monkey Boy

The first Sunday in January Kyle went to his new CTR Primary class.  He was a little concerned because there were no snacks but I think he survived.  He loved showing us his CTR sign and his CTR ring.  

 Whenever Don leans over for any reason Kyle jumps on his back.  It doesn't matter what time of day or night or where it is Kyle will jump on top dad!  Kyle loves it, dad just has to make sure he's prepared for it.  We called him monkey boy before he was even born and the name still fits.  

Gessel Christmas

We recovered from Christmas on Saturday and got ready to go to Provo.  We left on Sunday so that Cody and Jason would be able to be at the family party because they had to work late the rest of the week.  We packed up and headed out Sunday morning.  While we were packing the truck Kyle found the sidewalk chalk and proceeded to practically roll in it.  I had to change his pants and wash his hands and face before we could leave.  Cayden rode up with Cody and Smokey so we would have a little more room in the truck because Connor came with us to Provo on condition that we would only be there until Wednesday and then we would come home. 

 Kyle and Ella were thrilled to see each other and they were rolling around and kicking their arms and legs in unison.  When we got there we had our dinner and our family party.  The kids drew names this year of their cousins and they were each excited to see the reactions of each other as they opened their gifts.

 All the Gessel grandkids except Brady and Jessica and Cody-he stayed for dinner and presents but because Smokey was locked up in his cage in the basement and howled most of the evening he wanted to get home.

 Mawmaw did good on the gifts this year.  The men got ties and tie tacks and the girls got a really lovely statue of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus and the big boys got $20 in rolled quarters.  For some reason they thought it was quite funny but I thought it was a great gift and it is amazing that Mawmaw remembers and is able to buy Christmas for 12 of her grandkids and 10 of their spouses and 29 great grandchildren.

 This is the Owen necklace.

 Calley and Jason were in charge of Jeopardy.  They did a good job and our family won Gnomeholio.  Laurel and Jim's family could not come up so Don decided that we would send them Gnomeholio for them missing out.  Grandma Penny will take it down to them when they go to Texas in a few weeks.

 On Monday we went out to Aunt Suzanna's house so the kids could play and of course that meant play in the snow.

 Before the kids got in the snow her backyard was pristine so I definitely needed a picture.

 The little kids played Candyland and made a mess in the downstairs and Suzanna, Ryan, Anne and I and Abby and Owie a little played some bigger games like Ticket to Ride, Cover Your Assets, Qwarkle.  Don and Chris are poos and won't play games but we had fun anyway.  Ryan had a really hard puzzle out that we worked on too.  We took JCW's over for lunch and then since we stayed until dinner time we ordered Costa Vida.  The kids had a great time playing and we enjoyed chatting and playing games.

 Miss Henley wanted the See's candy.

 Connor and Caleb stayed up at Grandma's.  Caleb because he wouldn't get out of bed and Connor because he wanted to shovel snow and help Grandma put away her Christmas decorations.

When it was snowing the flakes were falling lightly on to the widnshield and they were all in such beautiful different intricate shapes that I wanted to get a picture of them but I all I got was the wet window.  

We babysat Miss Henley so Chris and Anne could go see Star Wars late Tuesday night.  The little stinker woke up 10 minutes after her parents left and stayed awake until 15 minutes before the got back.  It took the whole family to keep  her happy because she sure loves her momma!  Before we left on Wednesday we had to snap a classic pose with the groovy Cousin Eddie hat.  It was a quick trip but always fun.  We came home a little earlier than we normally would because the boys wanted to celebrate New ears Eve with their friends this year.