The Tate Update

The Wedding Day!

2012-01-07T23:55:00.002-07:00

The Wedding Day was amazing, so many tender
mercies from my Heavenly Father.
In some instances we had to buck up and do the
best we could, in others, we had to smile and let
it happen....but overall a fairytale day and ending
for the bride!

We flew in on Thursday so we could be at the temple with Kiersten when she went for the first time! She chose the Bountiful Temple, which is my favorite!

After the temple session, Sean, Zack, and I picked up Tommy from the airport and the four of us hung out all evening! We went to the movies and splurged and ate TOP NOTCH Steaks at Ruth Chris!!

Saturday morning, we woke up to beautiful snow all over the ground! I was worried Kiersten would be upset, but it was so pretty, I was EXCITED!!! After all, snowy white trees are prettier then dead brown ones, right? I took this outside the hotel window!

So around 10:00, Sean drove 45 minutes to Kiersten's house in Layton, to pick up Daniel so he could get ready and go with us to the temple!! He was getting ready while Tommy was doing my hair! I loved it, and cherished these 2 hours as the last before yet another change in the Tate Household, one that will change us forever....a good change....but still change....

Even time for a quick cat nap!

I have THE most amazing family. They support me NO MATTER WHAT. All of my brothers, their wives, and 9 of my 17 nieces and nephews all traveled to Utah for this special day. This is not the greatest picture of us, a snapshot someone quickly took, but it's all I have until the professional ones are posted!

I had just yelled..."WHO IS FREEZING???"

I am so proud to be a Ferrin.

I'm so blessed I can call each of them my friend

After the wedding, I took my family to Olive Garden. Besides the sealing itself, this was my personal highlight of Utah. My family, laughing, talking, and eating together....what we do best...spend time together having fun, no matter where we are.

I invited my adopted kids too...Lacey, Monte, and 'V' - wouldn't be the same without them with us!

Forever Families is what it's all about......

Florida Missionary Moms Spring Luncheon 2011

2011-03-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ferrin Family Christmas Talent Show & White Elephant Gift Party!

2010-12-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

The evening begins with a yummy ham & potatoes dinner!

Then next is the talent show where most of the grand kids perform for everyone!

Becca just learned how to play the violin a few weeks ago, and did

just AMAZING!!!

Chloe and Timmy sang the cutest song, along with animation!!!

Love the duet sang by Sara and Hannah...can't believe how old these girls are getting!!

Chloe was the duet princess! Here she is singing with Anney!

And Chase, singing his solo....he's just growing up so fast!

Emmalee playing her awesome piano solo!

The 3 'big boys' put on a hilarious play for us...Travis sang, "I caught mommy kissing Santa Claus" as Blake and Spencer acted the parts.....yes...even the kissing!

Kaybree, Chase, and Emmalee singing "Gethsemane"

they also sang this in Sacrament meeting a few months ago..

love the song, they did great!

Ashlee & Kaybree sang "Where are you Christmas"... loved it!

Chase is hysterical!

and Chloe sings again!!

Hannah & Taylor performing their duet! I think the others joined in to sing!
good job girls!

Our family brings the talent of "The 12 Days of Christmas" haha

I hand out the parts to everyone and we sing the whole thing together...

it's a crack up!!

Taylor & Becca wanted to be the Partridge this time!

Hannah and Emmee showing their gold rings!

Rob & Jen .... 4 calling birds!

The boys love the 'maids a milking' .... even with sound effects!

Bill & Julie, swans a swimmin

Kaybree, Chase, and Ashlee....geese a laying..... haha

Pipers Piping

Then the best for last....the while elephant gift exchange!! Julie started it off great opening a barbie!!

What the heck is it, Chase???

Taylor opened my "Dinner and a movie with Aunt Shari", Meredith stole it, then Emmee ended up with it!! Emmee got it last year too!!

Not sure what Meredith's reaction is to her doll! haha

Hannah was our gift opener this year...I think she must have had 10 stolen from her... and yet she kept on opening!!!

The grand prize of the night....a blown up picture of uncle randy!!

And dessert was birthday cake for our Nov/Dec birthdays....minus Elder Tate....

This Christmas----

2010-12-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

I taught the Relief Society Lesson today and based it on President Monson's Christmas Devotional Talk last year, "The Spirit of the Season".

First Presidency Christmas Devotional

The Spirit of the Season
December 6, 2009

President Thomas S. Monson

With the Spirit of Christ in our lives, we will have goodwill and love toward all mankind, not only during this season, but throughout the year as well.
My beloved brothers and sisters, how grateful I am to be here with you this evening. I, with you, have been inspired and edified by the messages of President Eyring and President Uchtdorf, as well as by the glorious music provided by the choir and the orchestra.
Truth is found in a phrase we sing in one of our hymns: “Time flies on wings of lightning.”¹ Another year has flown by, bringing us once again to the Christmas season.
Recently, as I’ve reminisced concerning past Christmases, I’ve realized that probably no other time of the year yields as many poignant memories as does Christmas. The Christmases we remember best generally have little to do with worldly goods, but a lot to do with families, with love, and with compassion and caring. This thought provides hope for those of us who fear that the simple meaning of the holiday is diluted by commercialism, or by opposition from those with differing religious views, or just by getting so caught up in the pressures of the season that we lose that special spirit we could otherwise experience.
For many people, “overdoing it” is especially common at this time of the year. We may take on too much for the time and energy we have. Perhaps we don’t have enough money to spend for those things we feel we must purchase. Often our efforts at Christmastime result in feeling stressed out, wrung out, and worn out during a time when instead we should feel the simple joys of commemorating the birth of the Babe in Bethlehem.
Usually, however, the special spirit of the season somehow finds its way into our hearts and into our lives despite the difficulties and distractions which may occupy our time and energy.
Many years ago I read of an experience at Christmastime which took place when thousands of weary travelers were stranded in the congested Atlanta, Georgia, airport. An ice storm had seriously delayed air travel as these people were trying to get wherever they most wanted to be for Christmas—most likely home.
It happened in December of 1970. As the midnight hour tolled, unhappy passengers clustered around ticket counters, conferring anxiously with agents whose cheerfulness had long since evaporated. They, too, wanted to be home. A few people managed to doze in uncomfortable seats. Others gathered at the newsstands to thumb silently through paperback books.
If there was a common bond among this diverse throng, it was loneliness—pervasive, inescapable, suffocating loneliness. But airport decorum required that each traveler maintain his invisible barrier against all the others. Better to be lonely than to be involved, which inevitably meant listening to the complaints of gloomy and disheartened fellow travelers.
The fact of the matter was that there were more passengers than there were available seats on any of the planes. When an occasional plane managed to break out, more travelers stayed behind than made it aboard. The words “Standby,” “Reservation confirmed,” and “First-class passenger” settled priorities and bespoke money, power, influence, foresight—or the lack thereof.
Gate 67 in Atlanta was a microcosm of the whole cavernous airport. Scarcely more than a glassed-in cubicle, it was jammed with travelers hoping to fly to New Orleans, Dallas, and points west. Except for the fortunate few traveling in pairs, there was little conversation at Gate 67. A salesman stared absently into space, as if resigned. A young mother cradled an infant in her arms, gently rocking in a vain effort to soothe the soft whimpering.
Then there was a man in a finely tailored grey flannel suit who somehow seemed impervious to the collective suffering. There was a certain indifference about his manner. He was absorbed in paperwork—figuring the year-end corporate profits, perhaps. A nerve-frayed traveler sitting nearby, observing this busy man, might have identified him as an Ebenezer Scrooge.
Suddenly, the relative silence was broken by a commotion. A young man in military uniform, no more than 19 years old, was in animated conversation with the desk agent. The boy held a low-priority ticket. He pleaded with the agent to help him get to New Orleans so that he could take the bus to the obscure Louisiana village he called home.
The agent wearily told him the prospects were poor for the next 24 hours, maybe longer. The boy grew frantic. Immediately after Christmas his unit was to be sent to Vietnam—where at that time war was raging—and if he didn’t make this flight, he might never again spend Christmas at home. Even the businessman looked up from his cryptic computations to show a guarded interest. The agent clearly was moved, even a bit embarrassed. But he could only offer sympathy—not hope. The boy stood at the departure desk, casting anxious looks around the crowded room as if seeking just one friendly face.
Finally the agent announced that the flight was ready for boarding. The travelers, who had been waiting long hours, heaved themselves up, gathered their belongings, and shuffled down the small corridor to the waiting aircraft: twenty, thirty, a hundred—until there were no more seats. The agent turned to the frantic young soldier and shrugged.
Inexplicably, the businessman had lingered behind. Now he stepped forward. “I have a confirmed ticket,” he quietly told the agent. “I’d like to give my seat to this young man.” The agent stared incredulously; then he motioned to the soldier. Unable to speak, tears streaming down his face, the boy in olive drab shook hands with the man in the gray flannel suit, who simply murmured, “Good luck. Have a fine Christmas. Good luck.”
As the plane door closed and the engines began their rising whine, the businessman turned away, clutching his briefcase, and trudged toward the all-night restaurant.
No more than a few among the thousands stranded there at the Atlanta airport witnessed the drama at Gate 67. But for those who did, the sullenness, the frustration, the hostility—all dissolved into a glow. That act of love and kindness between strangers had brought the spirit of Christmas into their hearts.
The lights of the departing plane blinked, starlike, as the craft moved off into the darkness. The infant slept silently now in the lap of the young mother. Perhaps another flight would be leaving before many more hours. But those who witnessed the interchange were less impatient. The glow lingered, gently and pervasively, in that small glass and plastic stable at Gate 67.²
My brothers and sisters, finding the real joy of the season comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done or in the purchasing of obligatory gifts. Real joy comes as we show the love and compassion inspired by the Savior of the World, who said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ... ye have done it unto me.”³
At this joyous season, may personal discords be forgotten and animosities healed. May enjoyment of the season include remembrance of the needy and afflicted. May our forgiveness reach out to those who have wronged us, even as we hope to be forgiven. May goodness abound in our hearts and love prevail in our homes.
As we contemplate how we’re going to spend our money to buy gifts this holiday season, let us plan also for how we will spend our time in order to help bring the true spirit of Christmas into the lives of others.
The Savior gave freely to all, and His gifts were of value beyond measure. Throughout His ministry, He blessed the sick, restored sight to the blind, made the deaf to hear, and the halt and lame to walk. He gave cleanliness to the unclean. He restored breath to the lifeless. He gave hope to the despairing and bestowed light in the darkness.
He gave us His love, His service, and His life.
What is the spirit we feel at Christmastime? It is His spirit—the Spirit of Christ.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.⁴

With the pure love of Christ, let us walk in His footsteps as we approach the season celebrating His birth. As we do so, let us remember that He still lives and continues to be the Light of the World, who promised, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”⁵
To each of you, my brothers and sisters, I extend my love and blessing. May you have a wonderful Christmas. May there be love and kindness and peace within your hearts and homes. May even those whose hearts are heavy rise with the healing which comes alone from Him who comforts and assures.
With the Spirit of Christ in our lives, we will have goodwill and love toward all mankind, not only during this season, but throughout the year as well.
May this be our experience and our blessing, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, amen.

I showed this video as well,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN2VS2BVBI4

And closed with my favorite poem by President Hunter called "This Christmas" and also gave each sister a laminated copy for her fridge during each December

This Christmas…

Mend a quarrel ~ Seek out a forgotten friend ~ Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust ~ Write a letter ~ Give a soft answer ~ Encourage youth ~ Manifest your loyalty in word and deed ~ Keep a promise ~ Forego a grudge ~ Forgive an enemy ~ Apologize ~ Try to understand ~ Examine your demands on others ~ Think First of someone else ~ Be kind ~ Be gentle ~ Laugh a little more ~ Express your gratitude ~ Welcome a stranger ~ Gladden the heart of a child ~ Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth ~ Speak your love and then speak it again

President Howard W. Hunter

~1994~

Transfer Day 10-26-10

2010-10-29T21:59:00.001-07:00

Well, Daniel has been transferred back to Lake City Stake....Branford to be exact! He's happy to be back in the country near his old area of Starke, (an hour away). But the area is known to be 'slow', his president told him he's sending him there to do some major re-activating!
He says there's no grocery store, no wal-mart, no a/c, partially working showers... should be interesting....there IS a dollar store though!!! haha

Elder Fergus (on the right) is Daniel's new companion!

Hawaii 2010 Day 7

2010-10-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

Well, we leave tomorrow at 1 pm, so today is really our last day to get out and do whatever it is we need to do before we leave!
We headed to the South Shore again and snorkeled at the Sheraton Resort one last time (near Poi'Pu Beach). It was pretty rough waters, but we enjoyed it!
Then we laid out at the beach for about 2 hours just relaxing to THE T!!! It was wonderful to just sit and read, nap, watch the water and do it in paradise! Here is a picture of this awesome resort....I looked it up online, cheapest room, $225, all the way up to $800 bucks a night! OUCH!! it's ok....I'm fine just poaching on their beach, I don't need to stay there!!

We left around 2:00, pretty hungry, so of course for our last lunch Sean chose the very first steak and shrimp truck we found in Kaapa...YUMMY!

Then we went to the room to clean up, we were covered in sand .... it was so dang choppy out there today!

Lastly, we went SHOPPING!!! Sean and I have an adult Halloween Party to attend on Saturday and I had the awesome idea to dress up in hawaiian gear....so we went out to shop for our costumes, along with some souvenirs and gifts to bring home! We went to the ABC Store... you see them at every tourist city, they have everything at a great price!

So here are our costumes, what do you think? Matching shirts and I'm wearing a sarong, and Sean has board shorts! We were pretty happy with how they turned out!

On our way back to the resort from shopping, we passed by Waipouli Beach and noticed how awesome the waves looked in the rough water....we had to pull over and watch the surfers. Then noticed there was a few guys kite surfing...had to take some pictures!

Tonight we stayed in....lots of leftovers in the fridge to eat and we'd had a big shrimp lunch anyhow! Sean actually did laundry too! So we went home with clean clothes!!

We had 6 cans left to drink before morning....oh man....140 calories a piece....and each time I drank one, I'd hear Bob from Biggest Loser say.....'DON'T DRINK YOUR CALORIES!!!!!!!!!!'
oh well, I'll go back to water when I get home!!!

So, the last 7 days has been just awesome! Worked very minimal hours, generally just the mornings, then left the phones at the resort. (Sean's at least).
Thanks mom and dad for inviting us! When dad texted me a few months ago, asking if we wanted to go, I told him only if we could fly free...and I made it work with my Discover Card rebates....then with their time share....all we paid for was snorkel gear, food, and rental car! I'm ready to go to a different island next time......or a cruise around ALL the islands is my dream!!

Hawaii 2010 Day 6

2010-10-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

Today is our non-snorkel day.....after 3 beaches yesterday, we needed a break!

We headed to Wameia for golf and shrimp!!

Kukuiolono Golf Course

the view from the course.....little hard to see as it was cloudy and rainy, but a breathtaking view!All the sudden....it started POURING RAIN!! It was so funny to watch my mom drive the golf cart almost into a tree she was getting so wet!!

The chickens even got smart, taking cover!!

ok, this was a crack up. The t-box is right behind Sean to the right. He hit his ball from a complete different tee....to this one.....when we drove over there and saw where it was .... other golfers were there and limping, pretending to have been hit by his ball....we were all laughing so hard! Needless to say it's been a LONG TIME since Sean has golfed!

Things didn't get better! After this horrible shot into the trees, he almost got hit by a ball my dad hit right towards him, that ricocheted off a tree heading straight for Sean!!!

at least he had a straight shot to the flag!! Can you see it?

So after golfing, it was time for lunch...and there's only one place we will stop in Wameia... SHRIMP STATION!!! Found it 2 years ago......yummy coconut shrimp!!

Sean ordered the same ol garlic butter shrimp!Mom, VERY ANXIOUS to eat her coconut shrimp!!
oh I can just TASTE IT!!!Had to order the new shrimp burger, just so we could all try it....
it was good!

So EVENTHOUGH we were all completely stuffed full of shrimp.....very yummy shrimp, my mom insisted we stop at Jo-Jo's for shaved ice.....but this isn't just any shaved ice.....holy cow. So we got Triple Colada or something like that.... 1st layer, macadamia nut ice cream; 2nd layer, shaved ice; 3rd layer, strawberry colada, banana colada, pina colada syrup; 4th layer, cream topping....homemade with eagle brand condensed milk.....YA...don't want to know the calories! I totally blew it and over did it with this thing.....so dumb, but so good! I hadn't eaten dessert on this trip yet (other then the SMALL scoop of ice cream at Poi'Pu on Day 2) so anyhow, I was so full and so sick!! I didn't even eat dinner tonight....was it worth it???? YES!

Hawaii 2010 Day 5

2010-10-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

Day 5 - North Shore (Princeville area)
So eventhough the weather wasn't too great when we woke up, we stayed with our plan to head north today, just in case we wanted a second day, we'd have plenty of time left in the week!
Besides, you can't golf in the rain...to Plan B was scratched quickly!

Two years ago when we were hear, we only had an hour at Princeville while mom and dad were at a stupid time share presentation....we were told the best snorkeling was at this Tunnels Beach but it was hard to find. So we dropped them off in Princeville and headed north to see what we could find. We had 90 minutes or so, but once we got almost there, realized we were on 1/4 tank which made us nervous as we had no clue where or how far we were going! So we found everything AROUND Tunnels Beach...but could never find the access....it's a dirt road the locals kinda hide, hoping to keep it to themselves for surfing! So we left last time feeling jipped we never found or got to snorkel at Tunnels.
So this time, we left early on Monday morning...it rained on us most of the way up so we were concerned about the water conditions, as it's already known as the ADVANCED snorkel reef.
This picture is what we saw when we pulled up........GREAT!!

We didn't let it scare us away though, we just entered very carefully. I hadn't ever snorkeled in water with a strong current before, so I was cautious!

Sean likes to pretend he's a beached whale when it's time to head to shore!We thought we were done for a bit, pretty tired, so we were at least ready for a break, then some ladies told us they'd just seen a turtle, and mom said she'd seen it to while walking up the beach...so we hurried and headed up to the east point when they were spotted...it was quite the walk, but at least we'd be swimming with the current on our way back to the beach!
Below we are about to go in, in hopes of finding the turtle!

Swimmin out.....YAY we found one!!! But he headed out to sea when I started following him, so I got as far as the dark water you can see in front of me...then I stopped when I could feel the current. Sean kept following him and got all the way out where you see the waves breaking. That turtle led him to 4 others! I was so jealous....but once I realized how hard it was swimming back, I was very grateful I listened to my gut, telling me to stop following him, it was pretty scary to realize I'm swimming as hard as I can and only moving an inch at a time, and sometimes getting pushed back 3! When Sean finally made it back, 20 minutes later, he was SO TIRED. He said he wished I could have seen the 5 turtles, but was so glad I didn't follow him out there, he couldn't have gotten us both back!Isn't is gorgeous!! The sun finally came out, and we loved how it was reflecting off the rocks in this picture below!

Snorkeling makes us hungry for some reason, as soon as we opened the cheetos we were joined by tons of birds! It was fun feeding them!

The red heads loved the cheeto's, the others would only eat the funyons!

Kee Beach was a first for us, sometimes known as "The end of the road" it was further west of Tunnels Beach...the current was wicked scary since it was pulling hard core west which was around some rocks, and you are done...out to sea!!! They wouldn't let us snorkel on the big reef, we had to stay on the beach side of it....kind of a bummer...but I took the lifeguards concerns seriously after just leaving Tunnels and feeling how strong the current was.....at least at Tunnels, if it swept us away....we'd end up at Kee Beach....we didn't have that safety guard at Kee...there was nothin but ocean! The water was beautiful though, I took tons of pictures of Sean out between the two reefs...he saw his biggest fish of the week out there...but I didn't feel comfortable going that far out....I could definitely feel where the current was and when I should stop or turn around! In one area it was fun as the current was pushing us toward the beach, so we'd plant our feet on these huge rocks and hold on trying to see these big fish below before the current would sweep us away!

Before heading to Hanea to find Kee Beach, we decided to head back to Hanalei for lunch at Bubba's Burgers. They tasted good, we were just disappointed in the size....when you order a burger at a place called Bubba's, you think you are getting a HUGE piece of meat...not the case, but by adding the pineapple they were yummy! Kinda reminded me of In & Out as far as taste.
The guys insisted on stopping for a diet coke WITH ICE, so I found this cute fruit stand and indulged in a frozen banana, and bought this yummy Papaya Bread for breakfast tomorrow! The middle was literally SOAKED in juice ... .... .... VERY VERY GOOD!!

OK, on to our 2nd beach to snorkel some more!!

First picture below is Sean carrying all of our snorkel gear, heading to Kee Beach, Haena, (not great parking right up close)

I think my dad read 4 books this week!

That's Sean and I headed to the right...the current was so strong heading out west, we walked quite a ways east so it would be easy just letting the current take us west til we ended up at the big reef again!Finally got mom out in the water again! First time wasn't so great...so we stayed RIGHT BY HER this time! It was funny,.....Sean and I had been out for quite some time...and all the sudden I must have felt my dad staring me down....so I looked up and took off my mask to see him standing up, staring in the water....I quickly found mom.....it was like he was saying.....KEEP HER CLOSE! haha When I told mom about it on the way home, he said, "Those that can't take care of themselves don't belong in the water" lol lol

Sean just HAD to go back out and try to find these BIG BIG fish...he was right inbetween both reefs (further then they wanted us to be) I loved the waves crashing down on the reef right in front of him,......took too many pictures!

The drive out of Kee Beach

This is the wet cave.....they used to allow swimming back in there... no thanks!

So pretty....you just come across these beautiful spots of nature everywhere you drive!

Our 3rd beach of the day ..... Anini Beach ..... we stopped here 2 years ago, but it was a horrible reef, only ankle deep for 1/4 mile til you get out to the deeper water....and we gave up after about 30 minutes of fighting it with our fingernails, and came out with bloody knees! We were determined to find the better snorkeling spot at this popular beach.....but I still don't think we did. It was raining when we got there, so I didn't take any pictures, stole the two below off the web....it was pretty, but hardly any fish at all....I was about to get out and call it a day, then Sean found a better reef. All I found was a very cool pink round reef, the size of a lazyboy chair... so I followed him a ways out and we saw a baby eel which was fun to watch for awhile! So dad came out (his first time in the water) and us three had fun out there another 30 minutes or so...mom stayed in the car outta the rain! When finding these pictures below, the site says how GREAT this 3 mile reef is....I'm like...WHAT? So I think next time we might have to try this one again... we obviously still haven't found THE REEF yet!!

Sean has been eating everything in site since the day we stepped off the plane...and since we have been eating late lunches, we haven't been all that hungry at dinner time. Well, Sean has been dying to go to the Bull Shed...this awesome steak place we found 2 years ago...but it's huge portions and price haven't made sense when we haven't been too hungry. So we all made a deal with him......you stop eating by 2:00 pm, and we'll go to the Bull Shed tonight! I know, I know, you think I'm so mean....but keep in mind, he ate a TRIPLE cheese burger at Bubba's Burgers at 1:30, along with fries AND almost an entire bag of chips....so don't feel bad for him! So when we finished snorkeling at Anini, it was dark...and of course we were all getting hungry and had a 3o minute drive back....then shower, etc...so it would be over an hour...he had an apple left in the car, but felt he should ask permission before eating it.....no chance of spoiling his Fred Flinstone size prime rib he wanted tonight! Of course you can eat your stupid apple!!!

So here is a picture of this enourmous steak...he ate probably 3/4 of it, after the salad bar and bread.....took the bone home for a midnight snack!another AWESOME DAY!!

Sacrament Meeting in Lihue, Hawaii

2010-10-24T14:39:00.006-07:00

Church was so touching today. We almost didn't make it, as we left a little late and forgot the address of the building, so mom and I tried it from memory! We got there at 9:11, but apparently they started late cuz we got there just in time!
We walked into this very unique looking meeting house, white with blue trim. You can tell the cultural hall and class rooms were added on later.

We were welcomed by two sharp looking elders.....I immediately lose it... ok this is ridiculous... what the heck? A missionary shakes my hand and I lose it, thinking of my son, probably doing the same thing right now in Florida. I'm thinking of him alot today anyhow, knowing transfers are coming up and he is hoping for a change, he knows right now if he is involved in transfers, but IF it involves him or his comp, he won't know where until Thursday.

So anyhow, my heart is tender, then it was their Primary Program which was so cute...this small primary of probably 20 children, all dressed very modestly, hair uncombed, but strong in the spirit, doing their best. You can tell alot of their members haven't had the opportunity to go through the temple. A sister was called to be the "Enrichment Leader" (That calling name was changed over a year ago to R.S. Meeting Coordinator), so just little things. The spirit was strong though.

The Chapel was a stand alone building, the overflow was the primary room, which we could tell was also used as a seminary building.... OH YA, I loved this quote that was on the wall.... "Attitudes are contagious, is yours catching?"

Then, after the closing prayer, they asked all of us visitors to stand and all the ward members went up front and sang "Aloha" to us, it was amazing...then the sisters walked around and put a crocheted lei on each of our shoulders with a note that said Welcome to the Lihue Ward. I thought that was so neat for them to take the time and money to give each of us a piece of them, what a selfless act of service.
I was thinking I would send them a big box of yarn with a thank you note when I get home, so they know their efforts are worth it!

PS-Had to share this tender mercy....As I stated above, I've been thinking about Daniel so much today, hoping all is well.....I get home, log in to Facebook to post a picture of church today, and there is a message from Gina, from Starke Florida (she is the member there in his old area that updates me periodically when she runs into Daniel)

So anyhow, here is her message

Elder Tate came to Starke today for our Kailtyn's baptism. He spoke on the Holy Ghost he did an amazing job as usual.. While he was here he informed me that they received transfer calls last night and that he and Elder Huntsman were both being transferred. They are not sure where they are going and will find out on Tuesday. He asked me to Fb you and let you know that he will not be emailing you until Tuesday that will be his P day for the week since that is the day they will be moving... If you need me to get any messages to him let me know.. Take care and enjoy Hawaii I am sooo jealous I wish I was there.

Gina

This just made me cry as I read it.....I needed to know he was ok, and I would have seriously been FREAKING OUT when he email didn't come tomorrow........what a loving Heavenly Father we have.....especially when it's the little things!
And to top it off, Gina was still on FB, so we got to chat for about a 1/2 hour! She is going thru the temple for her first time on Daniel's Bday, Nov. 13th, and being sealed to her siblings and parents! SO EXCITING!

Nancy's Baptism!!

2010-10-23T23:40:00.000-07:00

Nancy was Elder Tate's last baptism in Gainesville right before he transferred to Brandford!

Hawaii 2010 Day 3

2010-10-23T22:20:00.017-07:00

Today was a GREAT DAY!!!

We headed to The South Shore with some awesome snorkeling at Poi'pu Beach!

We learned that what we THOUGHT was Poi'Pu, 2 years ago when we were here, actually was Lawai....funny, cuz I wasn't that impressed with the snorkeling last time, but everyone told us we had to go to Poi'Pu, so we did, and when we pulled up we had been at the wrong place last time! We did have some trouble finding it too, so we stopped here first, "Sheraton Caverns Resort/Beach" and I wasn't that thrilled about getting in as it was really rough water, but Sean talked me into it and I'm so glad, when we finished about 2 hours in the water, I'd declared that was my favorite snorkeling site in both trips to Kauai! Perfect depth, tons of fish, not to choppy, and we went out FAR withough anxiety at all....LOVED IT! (The white break below, that's how far we got out!)

Showing off our new hats!!

Ok, we were starvin when we got done snorkeling...so of course, Sean insists on shrimp for lunch, after all, we were pretty excited to find this same truck here from 2008!!!

Yes, Sean ordered 2 plates......

Below is a map of Kauai! Today we were south, from one side to the other basically!

Spouting Horn was pretty cool...the sound it made was incredible! I could have stood there for hours watching and listening to it!

THEN, Sean spotted some turtles below!!! I was so excited to see them as I never did on our last trip to Hawaii.....my biggest hope for this trip is to snorkel with one! Poi'Pu is known for them showing up, so I'm crossing my fingers!

Of course, after lunch and our stop at the Spouting Horn, it was time for a treat! We visited the same stop from last time ....Koloa Mill!

The bottom kind of cut off, but Sean has TWO empty cups.....a mango pineapple shake, then a cup of Rocky Road.....he said he is on vacation and does NOT want to hear about his eating habits all week!!

So it was about 2:30 and everyone was tired...but I INSISTED we go and find Poi'Pu Beach while we were so close....and thank goodness it was just down the street! I can't wait to get my underwater pictures developed...I might need to drop them off at Wal-Mart tomorrow...too impatient to wait....we had another awesome time snorkeling.....I think this beach topped the last one.....

Unfortunately mom didn't enjoy herself. She took in ALOT of water....all the way in the lungs, so she was DONE after just a few minutes in the water......

So Sean and I were done....so tired, after about an hour in the water....we get out, start walking back to where mom and dad are and he noticed everyone staring at something in the water and says.....TURTLE!!! I bout died from excitement! We run back into the water...throw our fins on while swimming out...then I realize my film is gone in my camera....so what...I'm not missing this! So we finally find it after worrying we were too late.....I ABOUT CHOKED when I almost swam right into it...it was the same size as me.....amazing! I had no idea they were that big...until it's right in front of you, it's hard to imagine! First time all day I'd taken in water.....it scared me so bad! So finally Sean says...you STAY WITH IT, and swam back for the camera! Thank goodness it swam towards shore, so we were really shallow when he threw me the camera, and I literally swam with it back out to sea taking picture after picture after picture! I was in complete awe of this creature.....hard to describe! After about 20 minutes I realized I was way past the 'no snorkeling beyong this point' sign....oops...and had to turn around. Obviously below aren't my pictures....I found them online....but they look the same as he did!

This one below shows how big he was....AMAZING!

Had to add this one for fun.....cuz when we were at the Spouting Horn, the turtle I kept trying to get would poke his head up, then dive right before I could get the picture!!

So we hung out at the beach just relaxing and watching our surroundings for awhile, then headed back to the resort. After showering and relaxing for awhile, Sean announced he was hungry! So we took off and ended up at a mexican place...HAHAHA....(not Sean's favorite) but it was actually VERY VERY GOOD! Gotta have my mexican at least once a week!

Hawaii 2010 Day 2

2010-10-22T20:57:00.005-07:00

Ok, it's day two, we wake up early to get some work done via email for back home.....the 3 hour difference will kill us in this respect.....7am is 10am at home!
Errands, and time share orientation breakfast meeting all morning telling us all of the hints and tips for the island! Then we go rent our snorkel gear and head to Lydgate Beach, a close by 'beginner snorkel area' they say!

This beach park is pretty neat....lifeguard, resort type, not too crowded, a place for overnight camping, rocks surrounding the kiddy pool and snorkel area (above) blocked off from the waves as it was pretty rough waters.

Oh how I want to do this cruise so bad......see the cruise ship?!!? You fly to Hawaii and cruise a week around each Island! Some day.........Sean would rather do the 14 day cruise that leaves from LA, and cruises to HA.....no thanks....I like to see land more then once every 5 days!

Right as we get there, this local guy gets outta the water, he'd been spear fishing. Sean used to do this as a kid in Australia, where he grew up...so he gave it a try and look what he caught!!!!!

Yes, that is an octopus!!!!!!!!! woohoo great job!!!

But then....they local grabbed his leg and took a bite outta it.....I thought I would throw up... then he handed it to Sean...and he HAD to 'man-up' and do the same!

I asked him how it tasted and he said 'fishy and chewy'.... so I passed.....and gagged several times watching him try to chew it in small enough pieces to swallow....EEWWWW, no thanks!

So we get outta the water from snorkeling around 3 and are starving of course.....we find this SCORE!!! We loved the 'shrimp trucks' last time we were here and hoped to find them again! This one said "Steak" outside, but still stopped! The locals are so friendly....we watched them cook our lunch and got some inside tips from them of places to and not to snorkel!

So nice and friendly! I KNOW we'll be back tomorrow, and again next week....the food was amazing! He said they are open every day but Monday.....cuz Monday is surf day!!

Our kind of menu! We LOVE the local shops!

This one is the garlic butter shrimp....my personal favorite!

So it's only 6:30 pm (9:30 at home) Sean's been asleep for almost 2 hours!

Guess it will be a late night....I know I'm not even hungry yet since we had that yummy late lunch!

~Mahalo~

Hawaii 2010 - Day 1

2010-10-21T23:29:00.001-07:00

So, we got to Hawaii today!!

It was a LONG not so perfect day, but we made the best of it and can't wait to wake up tomorrow in paradise!!

Oh, was that not enough details? Ok...I'll tell you my drama......

So, first things first, mom and dad get the bags, Sean and I get a cab to go pick up the rental car.

Note to self......when a family member suggests a CHEAP car rental place in Hawaii, and he says, "they aren't NEW cars, but they are work fine" IGNORE...SAY THANK YOU, THEN RENT FROM THE RELIABLE COMPANY YOU ALWAYS USE.... PRICELINE.....

But, IF after checking priceline and the cheapest 'NEW CAR' rental is $400 bucks a week so you decided to give the cheap $150 place a try.......and IF after getting in the cab and telling the driver where to take you, he LAUGHS and says.....HOPEFULLY YOUR CAR WILL WORK OK......turn around...QUICKLY....BUT, if you DIDN'T tell Mr. Cab Drive to turn around......and IF when you arrive at the CHEAP car rental place, THIS is what you see......RUN....and RUN FAST.....

and IF after ALL OF THOSE THING fail you, and against your better judgement, you STILL decide to rent this car (2nd car, gold, yes that's a black dent, much smaller then the one on the front) because it's the "ONLY ONE on the lot in working condition" and if, your husband says... do you think that was a real rental car place? So IF you decide to check title on the car, watch your toes, because the glove box cover might fall in pieces and land on them! YES THAT HAPPENED!!!...and if after driving the 4 miles back to the resort, you haven't turned around yet......SURELY if a TIRE IS FLAT by the time you get to your resort, you now have the right to.....YELL....and YELL LOUD.. and when the guy answers the phone, he says, "You must have run over a nail"......leave the guns at home when you drive the car back to the CHEAP CAR RENTAL.....because......at this point you may be ready to kill somebody.

Keep in mind, I'd gone to bed at 3:30 am, got up at 5:30 am was on a plane from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, had a horrible kink in my neck, was hungry, and hot...and I wanted FREAKING CAR in good working order.

So Sean drops me off at the airport, (there are multiple reasons why I was not allowed to go back to this 'car rental place) and drives FAST back to this place before the tire goes flat again (oh, I forgot to mention it almost didn't start back up at the resort).

I go from desk to desk... "Sorry ma'm we are sold out....I am near tears and TICKED OFF......then I just get on a shuttle hoping I will find someone to take pity on me....at this point I'm walking up and down the street, one car rental location to another..the LAST ONE ... nicest lady ever, takes pity on me while also laughing at me after I tell her my story, but she still rents me a car eventhough they were all sold out....NO, I'M NOT TELLING YOU how much it cost me. I rented it for ONE NIGHT knowing I could rent for the week online for 1/2 this price....I get the last car on the lot.....a wonderful chevy midnight blue impala....feeling in luxury at this point from the filthy piece of crap we've just been driving (my mom later tells me she was scared to touch ANYTHING in the back seat it was soooo disgusting and dirty)

So almost an hour later, Sean and I arrive back to the resort......isn't it beautiful???
(Yes, trying to calm myself)

We open up.....get the a/c cranked as it's record highs here today!!!

Then, I get my official "Welcome to Hawaii Lei & Kiss"

Sean falls asleep on the couch in like, 5 minutes.....so of course I unpack the bags....feel moved in, and cozy, lay down to read, and I wake up 2 hours later.....I think we needed that!

So we all head out to eat dinner and find this yummy local place, House of Noodles....we all order something different and share...

I have a rule, you NEVER eat franchise places when on vacation.....try the local stuff!

Then we head to Safeway, stock up on breakfast stuff and snacks....come to play cards, and in bed pretty early........whew......we survived it! Tomorrow will be better...I PROMISE!!!

Missionary Halloween Candy Box!

2010-10-20T23:39:00.002-07:00

Halloween Candy Riddles Game

Each item below is a type of candy, you need to solve the riddle to guess the right candy.

I taped the answer to the back of each candy, answer face down. I told them to spread all the candy out on the floor or table. I put all the hints in a Ziploc baggie so they could take turns picking one at a time, and trying to match up the hint to the candy (don't forget to cut the answers off before putting the hints in the baggie). If they are right, they get the candy, if they are wrong, the candy goes back and the hint goes back in the baggie. Could be played for FHE or with investigators kids, etc!!! And there's PLENTY of candy to share and trade once the game is over!

A famous swashbuckling trio of old - Three Musketeers Bar

An anthill - Mounds Bar

A guy who works out at the Gym - A big Hunk

An Exploding Star - Star Bursts

Not laughing out loud - Snickers

Slippery Hands - Butterfingers

Former baseball player - Babe Ruth

Sound snow makes under your feet- Nestlé's Crunch

A favorite day for working people - Pay Day

A Happy Nut - Almond Joy

Pleasingly plump - Chunky Bar

Two female pronouns - Hershey's

A feline - Kit Kat

A Good Man - Mr. Goodbar

Round floatation devices - Lifesavers

A Relaxed Automobile- Carmello

Cows that can't lactate - Milk Duds

Flexible cubs - Gummy Bears

Opposite of Dum Dums - Smarties

Lots of Benevolence - Good n' Plenty

Good to do during a soccer game -Skor

Preemie - Runts

Break -Take 5

I can't remember the Name- Whatchamacallit

Sweet Infants- Sugar Babies

Elmer Fudd's Clever Pranks- Twix

Our Galaxy - Milky Way

A little smooch - Hershey's Kiss

Annual Income - Hundred Grand

Boys' names - Mike & Ike

A-Maize-ing Kernels - Candy Corn

Alphabet repeaters - M&Ms

What a dog does for 'tweets' - Twix

I am on the menu at BK - Whopper

A place that Sponge Bob & Patrick like to frequent Goobers

Sucker- Someone easily duped

Laffy Taffy- Jokes on you

Skittles- Taste the rainbow

Reeses Pieces- ET's favorite snack

Dots- The end of a sentence

Gum- A sticky situation

Jolly Rancher- A happy farmer

York Peppermint Patty- A friend of Charlie Brown

Rolos- What would you do with your last one?

Nerds- We get our revenge

Twizzlers- Makes mouths happy

NECCO- America's oldest candy

Hot Tamales- A Mexican dish

Candy box level 1

Candy box level 2

Candy box filled to the rim!

Yes, he is a spoiled kid!

Quick & Easy Cinmamon Rolls

2010-10-17T12:25:00.003-07:00

By default, Rachel and I did a cinnamon roll demo at our RS Fall Fun Day yesterday. It was seriously the 3rd time I've EVER made them! I borrowed my friend Kelli's recipe and was amazed how easy it was! And here's the best news.....only 15-20 minute raise time! We made 4 different kinds... white, 1/2 white 1/2 wheat, 100% whole wheat, and apple filled with caramel sauce! And everyone says they were yummy.....WHEW that was stressful!!

Put below ingredients in medium bowl and let sit until the yeast has risen at least double:

1 c. sugar, 3 T. yeast, 1 c. luke warm water

In sauce pan, combine:
4 c. milk, 2 c. water, 2 T salt, 3/4 c. potato flakes/pearls, 3 T shortening
Heat until luke warm and shortening melts, stirring occasionally but do NOT let it boil or get too hot as it will kill the yeast in the next step! (if it does, just let it sit and cool down)

In your Bosch or mixer, combine:
5 c. flour (white or wheat), yeast mixture, and milk mixture and mix on low until well combined.
Gradually add in another 6-8 cups of flour (white or wheat), one cup at a time, mixing well after each.
You want the dough pulling off the sides of the bowl while mixing and a LITTLE sticky, bot NOT uncontrollable sticky!

Rise & Roll Instructions:
Put dough in large greased bowl to rise for 15-20 minutes and cover with dish towel.

When dough is ready, separate into two half's and leave one in the bowl as you work with the other.

Flatten the dough in a rectangle shape, about 1/4" thick.

Using a pastry brush, spread dough with melted butter, then in small bowl make your cinnamon/sugar recipe (1 c. sugar to 2 T cinnamon) and sprinkle 1/2 on top of butter.
Variations: diced apple pie filling, raisins, nuts, chocolate chips

Roll up dough length wise, then cut into 18 slices which will fill up one greased jelly roll pan

Repeat above for 2nd half of dough

Recipe yields 36 good size cinnamon rolls!

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes (lightly browned and not doughy in the middle)

Frosting

1 cube butter, 8 oz cream cheese, 1/2 c. milk, 1 t. vanilla, 4 c. powdered sugar

Called To Serve

2010-10-16T23:46:00.002-07:00

Sister Barry posted this picture on the Jacksonville Mission Blog! Love seeing pictures of my missionary!!

Sis Barry: "When we arrived in this mission I wrote a third verse to "Called to Serve" as our mission song. The missionaries like to sing it.
Called to be a 'chosen generation',
'Preach my gospel' is a sacred call.
JAX is white and ready now to harvest,
We go forth to gather all.
Onward, ever onward. Teach and baptize in His name.
Onward, ever onward. Every member we retain.
GO...(voice and arm glissandos up to the next note)Forward, pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing.
God our strength will be, press forward, Ever called to serve our King.

Celebrating 12 years of BLISS!!

2010-10-08T23:49:00.000-07:00

Tonight Sean surprised me with reservations at The Melting Pot! I LOVE THIS PLACE! Generally he takes me there for my birthday, so it was great to go a 2nd time this year! When he asked me what I wanted for our anniversary I said TIME, and I meant it....we are just so dang busy, working way too many hours, I wanted the day to ourselves, no phones, just time! He hasn't been feeling very well either AND we are going to Hawaii in 2 weeks, so I didn't think we should go out of town. Of course 2 days before, he TRIES to plan a mini-cruise, but fall break...not happening! But I was perfectly fine staying home, spending the 3 day weekend together!
We went to lunch at The California Pizza Kitchen, 2 movies, and dinner, then came home and watched movies for 2 straight days! Just what we needed!!
Beware looking at the below pictures...they may surprise you how silly and playful we get at this place....it is an AMAZING TIME and we take it to the extreme! Reserve the curtain booth and play play play with our fondue!!

If you think I was letting ONE DROP of that lucious turtle fudge chocolate go to waste you are wrong! I licked the bowl clean!!

I feel like the luckiest and happiest girl alive.....if you know our story, you know we were guided to each other while living in different states! You know my sweetheart NEW the first time we met, that I was ' THE ONE ' , even though it took him 9 months of long distance dating to admit it cuz it scared him so bad! You know it's a fairy tale ending to a a girl that's made lots of mistakes in her life, but never gave up on the dream of an eternal marriage...and even better it's to her best friend.....I love you...and YES, it's seems like an ETERNITY! And I'm ok with that!

Florida Missionary Moms Luncheon 2010

2010-09-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

I had SO MUCH FUN at the Florida Missionary Mom's Luncheon! I flew in and out of Utah in the same day! My old jr. high friend, Michelle Martin Maughn picked me up at the airport so we had a great chat to South Jordan where the luncheon was! It's so funny that both of us have missionaries serving in Florida right now!!!
So we were asked to bring pictures of our missionaries, and scrapbooks if we had them! And OH YA did I have one ready! I actually am already on to Daniel's SECOND Mission Album...but I put all the good pictures in one album and then had a really hard time fitting it into a bag that would fit on the plane.....(Didn't want to check it obviously)......so this is what I found!!! So perfect! I've never even used it before....Chatterbox, one of my old brands we used to carry in the store, came out with this exclusive luggage edition one year...and I loved them..sold out of them so fast, but saved one for myself! And it's all decorated with Scrapbooking pictures....perfect again, since the only thing in there is the scrapbook, my camera, and Daniel's picture!!

Here's the Jacksonville Scrapbook Table!

And the Jacksonville picture table!

I couldn't believe it when I found my table setting...not only was I lucky enough to sit by my 2 favorite mom's that I email OFTEN....Jacksonville ended up winning the head tables as we had 14 mom's show up!!! (50 total Florida mom's were there from the 5 missions)
And LOOK at this adorable table......It was amazing! Tons of cute ideas, handouts, sayings, gifts, snacks...not a detail spared! SO IMPRESSED!!!

I was SO EXCITED and SHOCKED to see Elder Chadburn there! He just got home from Florida on Monday!!! Daniel mentioned him often....couldn't wait to get home and write Daniel to let him know! He told me "HI" from my son...had just seen him last week!!!

Debbie is OUR Missionary Mom Mother Hen.....this lady is truly amazing. I don't know how she gets done everything she needs to...so much energy, and positive upbeat personality! I feel like I've known her for years....can't believe it's only been a little over a year! She started these luncheons last year....this is #3...can't believe I didn't come to the other two...wish I would have, but glad she didn't give me a choice this time!

Cute centerpieces designed by Michele! (Daniel's MTC Companions mother)

Debbie made these "Green Eggs & Ham" books into a very cute missionary version for her whole committee! I'm definitely making one for Daniel's SLUMP DAY Box next week!

The yummy food.....I was on a self imposed very strict diet and so nervous about an all you can eat mexican fiesta!! It looked and smelled fantastic!!!

Thank goodness for the fajita bar!!! Chicken lettuce, tomato, covered it in salsa!! Never missed the tortilla, toppings, and chips & Salsa!! YUMMY!!!

This incredible door prize, everyone was drooling over! Debbie made this with the cutest Florida tropical fabric she had to mail order in from a million different store!!!

And guess who won it???????????????????

They surprised Debbie with some gifts too! She IS our MMom's site mother after all!

Michele and I both won the "SLUMP DAY" award!!!

Michele Cloward and I -our sons were MTC Companions, and are lucky to both be serving in Gainesville right now!

The Jacksonville Missionary Mom's

Debbie Blair, me, and Krista Bass
Daniel was Elder Bass' trainer, then he was passed off to Elder Blair!
There's something to be said about a mom, pulling me aside to thank me for preparing my son and raising him right.....a mom truly grateful her son was trained by mine. Brought tears to my eyes. Makes it all worth it.

Our guest speaker was President Summerhays....he was just released in July. He brought the spirit into the room so quickly. His talk really struck me hard and reminded me of some things I need to work on in my life. He talked about P.R.O.S.-Active! Pray;Read;Obey;Serve-Actively.
Not a dry eye in the room...we were spiritually fed and now KNOW our mission presidents truly KNOW and LOVE our boys as much as we do....all with the help of the spirit.

The put Elder Chadburn on the spot as well, and he also made us all cry! Very inspirational and touching testimony!

My childhood friend, Michele Martin Maughn...she moved to Utah in 9th grade and we hadn't seen each other since!

Kim made this quilt for Elder Cundick out of his old boxers!!!! LOVE IT!!

So many cute ideas for care packages were given... amazing creativity!

Dinner in a bag ideas!

Where all of our Jacksonville Missionaries are currently serving!

WOOHOO It's Daniel's writing!! I found this is Elder Clowards scrapbook!

Afterwards, 4 of us hung out until I flew out. We went to Chili's and just talked for hours! Love these girls!

Debbie and I....time to say goodbye for 6 months.....

Tate Cousins Party 2010

2010-09-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

I look forward to this party each year! I think this is our 5th year getting together the weekend of the Relief Society Broadcast! It's my mom, her two sisters and all of their daughters and daughter in laws....and even some granddaughters if they are over 12 or babies!

This is my Aunt Jolene and one of her adorable granddaughters!

I always tease my mom, telling her to OPEN HER EYES cuz she always squints when she smiles! Now I have proof!!!

My fun niece Ellie! I was there for her birth! Love this little one! Isn't she cute?!?

She decided she wanted to be the center of attention!!

Ok, done eating...now on to the fun part!! Our traditional white elephant gift exchange!! Wendi is up first!!

Stacy was THRILLED with her scarecrow!!

UNTIL.................Lanie stole it from her!!

Yes, we all laugh when gifts get stolen...ESPECIALLY if someone is upset about it!

OH MAN....she GOT IT BACK and now it's DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my gosh we were all laughing so hard.....I was so worried Shelbi would go into labor!

MORE gift stealing and laughing!

WHAT did you just say to me?????

The Gang!!

Yes, we can be silly too!!!

Daniel's Broken Foot Drama!

2010-09-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

I receive this Facebook message from a member that lives in his old area one day, outta the blue.....

Good Morning Sister Tate...

I just wanted to drop you a few lines. I just talked with Elder Tate and he wanted me to let you know that he has broken his foot.. He is ok and not in any pain. He was at the Institute building on campus walking on a rail and fell. He feels pretty crazy about doing that.. He has been to the doctor and is currently on crutches and is going to the doctor today and hoping to get off the crutches and get a boot. I told him if he needs anything to call me I am minutes away and a phone call away.. I will do my best to help keep your missionary comforted and what you would do as a mom.... He wants it stressed to you though he really is ok and he will be fine.He is such an awesome man.If you have any questions or need anything let me know.. He just didn't want to shock you he said on Monday.. Call me if you'd like to!

Shari Ferrin Tate September 9 at 3:48pm

OH MY GOSH! What am I going to do with that kid!!!! I'm just glad he wasn't on that treadmill being stupid! Did you see that video he sent me....I could've killed him!! So was he messing around on a hand rail? Maybe this will teach him!

Regina Harrell Gainey September 9 at 7:34pm

Yes he was.. He said he feels real dumb for it.. He cracks me up though.. No I havent seen the video. I will have to take a peek at it!!!LOL.

Shari Ferrin Tate September 11 at 12:46am

Any news/update from Elder Tate today???

Regina Harrell Gainey September 12 at 10:22am

I talked to Elder Bass this morning after sacrament meeting he said Elder Tate is wearing a Boot and has been told by the doctor that he has to wear it. If he does not he will have to have surgery.. elder Bass stressed that he is still in no pain and he is wearing his boot and doing what he needs to do so he does not have to come home for surgery... If you have any other questions call me or FB me.. TTYL.

Shari Ferrin Tate September 12 at 1:03pm

oh geesh. Glad the Dr. was direct with him....can't wait for his email tomorrow morning! Have a great day, thanks so much!

We'll let Elder Tate tell us what happened!

so it was p-day, and we were at the institute buiilding waiting for the campus elders to open the building so we could go inside and mess around with the table tennis, pianos.etc.
while we were waiting for them, i had the bright idea to go walk on a handrail, mind you that one side was about a 3ft drop, easy to jump up and off of, and the other... was like a 7-8ft drop because of the sunken in parking lot under the institute building.
well everytime i got on to balance and walk at the same time, i would always face myself the 3-4ft drop direction, so that at anytime that i lost balance, i would just quit the act and jump off.
well i got so good at walking on the bar sideways that i decided that it was time to walk on foot after another, kinda like a trapeze, with both my arms stretched out for balance.
well, i was doing really good until i got into my 10th step that i started leaning toward the right side, meaning the parking garage. well, i did what came to my mind, and that was Bail.
so i jumped out into the garage and landed my feet flat and perfect, BUT my falling momentum was going diagonally downward, meaning that my perfectly planted right foot was now being rolled to the right. i did roll out of the fall with as much grace as a total biff would allow, but it wasnt that much of pain. it just felt like a sprain which i could still walk on, if not limp.
then the night came on and it was killing me, so we got some ace bandage and wrapped it up, iced it and looked into the missionary medical book to find that if i was having such and such pain, it was because i had either bruised, fractured, or broken the 5th metatarsal of my right foot.
i called sis barry, she reffered me to a radiologist and i found out through xrays that it was busted clean in half.
THE GOOD THING is that its not misplaced in the break, its like braking a pretzel stick and then lining up the two pieces perfectly together so you couldnt really tell that it was broken.
they said that it was set up for perfect healing, but that i wasnt to walk too much on it, and none at all with out the boot.
the 5th metatarsal is hooked up to a muscle all the way up my calf, so every time i stand on that foot, that muscle flexes, and if it flexes, it pulls that gap farther and farther which will constitute the pretzel to become disarrayed, meaning surgery, meaning 6 months off the foot, meaning time to peace out florida :(

i am no longer in pain, im not allowed to tract anymore, its just an awkward boot that nathan could surely inform you about if you had questions.

other than that, everythings going good, im not getting transfered, and they are keeping us ZLs.

the first couple are just my foot and where it broke, then the temporary cast while it was swollen, and the last is the best

FREAKING DAD IS AWESOME
i was having a crappy day, my foot was hurting bad, long day on crutches, everything and then i get this package in the mail with a freaking broncos jersey with Tebow's name and number on it!!
completely made my day!
and I'm wearing it today for p-day also, that's that last picture.
pretty much the best gift.
ever. THANKS DAD

Justin's Trip to Arizona!!

2010-09-08T17:03:00.000-07:00

So I met Justin about 5 years ago at my first Scrapbook Convention in Anaheim! He was a rep for Chatterbox which soon became one of my favorite collections to both sell and use personally on my scrapbook layouts! He lives in Idaho, but has many friends here and came for a week or so! Justin and I hit it off right from the beginning...he's like a little brother to me! We take him to lunch at each convention and love catching up and spending time with him!

We ended up taking him to Joe's Farm Grill.....it was perfect! The food was YUMMY!!

We felt like we got one of everything!!! Ribs, BBQ Pork, hot dogs, and pizza!

We had all ordered....and I realized Joe's has this amazing pizza they actually cook on the grill, so we had to order one to share as an appetizer!! OH MAN!! SO GOOD!

Then we stopped at YogurtJungle on the way home!!!

He had to take the tour of my store before he left (I mean our basement!!)
He was very impressed!!

My Wonderful Aunt Elva Brown!

2010-09-08T15:13:00.001-07:00

I had the honor of eating lunch with my dear Great Aunt Elva today for her 94th Birthday!! I just love and admire this lady more then I can describe! She doesn't get out anymore, so I picked up lunch at our favorite Mexican Food Place, Matta's and we ate it together while talking for over 4 hours! I could have stayed all night! Just catching up, laughing, crying, hugging, eating, it was just heaven! She reminds me so much of my Gramma Tate I just cling to her! I vowed to go visit her each month and it will be my pleasure to do so....just love you Aunt Elva!

Just a little history on Aunt Elva, her husband was Bert Brown, THE original owner of Brown and Brown Chevy. Her and my gramma were close close sisters that talked on the phone daily probably their entire married lives. They used to live next to each other when my mom was growing up. Uncle Bert was a mission president, so we've had so many good conversations about missionaries too! She's amazing! A year or so ago she gave me one of her hard bound autobiography's and I just love reading it....someone that's been alive for 94 years has so many wonderful stories to share and great advice to give! Love her!!

Mom's 65th Birthday!!

2010-09-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

Mom turned 65 today! WOW...that's old!!!

The grandkids had a blast YELLING Happy Birthday to her!!

My mom is my best friend. We always didn't get along so good when I was growing up....I know she has OFTEN said she would do all 5 of my brothers over before she would me! It's ok...we got over it and now truly have the best relationship ever! We go out with them at least once each week...enjoy playing cards, going to dinner, movies, and lots of traveling together! Sean said the other night....let's call mom and dad...they are our best friends, right?..... absolutely!

My Missionary attempts to kill himself!!!

2010-09-07T00:40:00.002-07:00

Travis' B-day Lunch & Shopping 2010

2010-09-04T15:00:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I love this kid! We figured out (or he did) that we started this tradition of b-day spoiling by his favorite aunt 6 years ago when he was 6 at the old Toys R Us by Fiesta Mall!!! And now, 17 nieces & nephews later..it's quite the adventure for me. I don't do a very good job taking them the WEEK of their birthday like I used to...but I get it done!

Travis ALWAYS picks Red Robin....which is fine with me! Eventhough I had just been there the night before with one of my girlfriends....I ordered the same Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich and all you can eat fries AGAIN! And loved it like I hadn't been there in months!

Seriously, the BEST fries EVER!!!!
So we walk in, and Travis immediatly says....I wonder who won the Burger Challenge last year. What? Oh yeah.... we created the perfect burger, so we thought...and fully expected it to win! Now, a year later, the cute little 8 year old that won is there for us to stare at....what's so great about THAT burger??? So we spend quite a while reading about it, and he almost orders it...but decides against it!

A 12 year old boy no longer wishes to shop at Toys R Us! Now, it's the mall!!!
We went to "Just Sports", cuz that is Travis' life....SPORTS. I have no doubt he will work at this place at 16! His brain is a wealth of sports trivia.....just walking in that store with him....I'm amazed! He will try on 20 hats....touch and feel numerous jersy's, make comments like.... look at this....I can't believe it....and noticing my blank stare will say, "You don't get it, do you?" "Get what" "This jersey is the WRONG COLOR......geesh!" "OH....gosh...of course it's not!!! It's all wrong!" SO FUNNY!

So he gets a ASU Hat, so he can wear it to the football game his grandpa is taking him to, tonight. He points out SEVERAL hats in this store he already owns...various teams as he likes so many different teams! And a Bronco's Lanyard, stating the one his dad gave him just won't due at school any longer. (The jersey he is sporting in the pictures is actually for Daniel. Sean has wanted to find him a jersey for the new Bronco's QB that hails from Gainesville where Daniel is serving again right now.....of course, I can't remember his name..... Travis..."oh, Tebow?" "of course....Tebow is his name!" Thanks Mr. Trivia! You sure come in handy!)

Then, another tradition, we take a treat to the siblings so they don't get left out.....

Love ya Travis......thank's for 6 fantasic years of birthday fun!

Elder Tate at the temple???

2010-08-30T14:44:00.001-07:00

Ok, wish I new the story here....all he said was....temple trip with Chris Green. Ummm.... HELLO? The temple is outside his mission, he said he'd probably never get to go there.... so HOW? WHY? I don't know about this Chris Green, I don't know about a temple trip.....hopefully he answers my questions in next weeks email.....very exciting news!!!

You'd think they got married while there or something??!!!!

Cabin Trip

2010-08-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

We have several "adoptive kids"....that either work for us, have worked for us, our boys friends....or both! So Trent, one of the lucky above, is leaving for his mission in a few weeks and we wanted to take him on a fun trip and decided on the cabin! We brought along Lacey & Brittney too (other adoptees)

I warned the kids up front....we don't allow cell phones on family vacations!
Nothing worse then trying to spend quality time when everyone's nose is burid in text messaging and work!

Can you find the little chipmunk???
The two dish washers! Holy cow Trent whined like a baby...but he still did the dishes!!!The WII was popular this weekend too!We surprised Sean with the NEW Madden Game!!
Sean & Trent went fishing on Friday....see what a good boy Trent is, putting on sun screen!

I was just waiting for Sean to tip the boat.....

And....they're off!! See ya in 5 hours......well, it was actually 6!!!

Brittney was so sick....such a trooper for making it all weekend with her tonsils all swollen!

Happy Girl Lacey - love her!

This is who we saw on the lake when we came back at 5:30 to pick them up........

NOBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRENT........................WHERE ARE YOU???????????????

So, we left at 6:01....frustrated.....no boats in site....it started getting really dark and cloudy, so being the wonderful, loving, but not so patient wife....I prayed for RAIN! And lots of it, to teach them a lesson....AND to get their butts off the lake quicker!!!

And my prayers were answered!!!
Below they are loading the boat on the trailer in a LITERAL DOWNPOUR!!!

Looking for their 'so called fish'

Here they are!! ALL 2 of them!!!

Trent would rather play with them then eat them!

I planned STEAK for dinner....forget the fish!!!

Zack de-boned them.....and said they were yummy trout!

Ward Campout 2010

2010-08-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

So, Cortina 1st Ward Campout.....hate to say it, but not that much fun this year and we don't have the energy to do anything about it like we did in our last ward!!

My complaints.....Date: August.... Location: 10 minutes outside of Payson...... Temperature: 90 DEGREES....Agenda: nothing planned for Saturday..... but, we made the best of it!

Sean and I had a crazy week, so were up until 3 am last night so we could take off work today to go. We traveled with the Ferguson's as they were short one seat belt for their family to ride in one car. (keep in mind if we hadn't had this prior arrangement, with the week Sean and I had...we would have bailed!!)

So, Friday we arrive around 3, it's seriously 90 degrees.....Sean wanted to keep on driving up the rim and stay at the cabin....we knew it would be a good 10 degrees cooler there...AT LEAST! I tell him to suck it up! So, we get to camp, set up our 'tent'...the back of the Tahoe! Then I'm just exhausted...so I take a great, much needed nap!

I wake up to find dinner DONE! WOOHOO.. oh wait.... I must share this story! On Wednesday, I get a text from Jason Filley asking if we want to plan a joint dutch oven dinner with them...SURE! So get this.....the MEN go to Village Inn and plan this feast for almost 3 hours over pie! Sean gets home at 11:00 pm! NICE...I have ZERO responsibilities other then a VERY SHORT list of 3 items to bring!! So then men make this chicken and potatoes dinner....good, but needed a woman's touch (salt, pepper, butter)!! haha, it was good though! Then, the cobbler...yummy yummy... a strawberry apple I'll be sure to try next time! To date my favorite is pineapple peach, with chocolate cherry a close second! We have enough food to feed 4 families
AFTER all of us have eaten! haha

So then, there is a great evening fireside...sun has gone down, it's not hot anymore thank goodness! Then my favorite part of camping...S'MORES!! I'm stuffed at this point, but a s'more is a must....so I had to make me one of those!

So I turn in early....still tired.....read myself to sleep by 10. The rest stay up talking....not me!

Then, we wake up, with the sun...UUGGHH not our thing....but if you want breakfast.... gotta get it early! So I drag Sean to breakfast which is yummy....it's probably 8:00ish.. then I pick up my book again....then..everyone starts taking down their tents before it gets hot...and by 10:00 am, 1/2 the families are gone!! NO WAY!! So we put a table up and deal cards... no way are we leaving... it gets HOT.....by 10:30, we are sweating....I'm like...this isn't fun. Sean says..let's go to the cabin. I call his bluff....we look at the Ferguson's....they are game....we are outta there by 11:00 SWEATING! We drive another 30 minutes, UP THE RIM....oh ya...cool weather here we come! We arrive around 11:30....YES this is camping weather!
We walk into the chilly cabin.....stock up on food at the expensive grocery store up the street..we are set for another 24 hours of bliss!

At 4:00 it starts raining....cooler weather!!! It rains off and on all night....LOVE IT!! I sit on the front porch wrapped in a blanket finishing my book....can we stay all week please?

Ferguson's setting up their overnight mansion!

Be patient dads....let the scout start the fire!!

Offering just a LITTLE bit of help!

The feast!!

YUMMY!!!

So I'm done venting about ward campouts, and we'll probably go again next year....saying the whole way up....we should have volunteered to do the Saturday Games!! It was a great tradition we started in our old ward.....The Amazing Race! Ah the memories.... Getting grumpy with old age I guess!!! OHMYGOSH, I just had an awesome idea......we drive up Friday, we leave after the program and head for the cabin for the rest of the weekend....PERFECT!!!

Zone Leaders - Jacksonville Mission 8-2010

2010-08-11T14:35:00.001-07:00

Daniel has been so excited for President Barry to arrive as he knew change would come with a new President! Well, one thing he wasn't counting on, that he would be so much a part of this change! President Barry called Daniel to be a new Zone Leader at the first transfer meeting after arriving in Jacksonville! Daniel has resisted leadership his entire life! He hasn't recognized he is a born leader, that his peers like to be around him and that he has alot to offer.
I think he FINALLY gets it!

He is growing so much, learning he has alot to offer and teach!
Below the zone leaders are at a big training seminar learning some new techniques and policies they will be responsible to teach all the missinaries in the mission the following week.

Jacksonville Zone Leaders 8-2010

From left to right: Elders VanGenderen, Pelo, Osborn, McFarland, Brandon, Atherton, Failner, Maxwell, Johnson, Call, Tate, Kasper, Huntsman, Perrez, Taft and Pres. Barry

(Several past companions of Daniels are in this picture:

Elder Call, his trainer, Elder V, his second trainer and best friend in the field, and Elder Kasper, his companion from Arlington

Good bunch of boys right there! )

Emmalee & Sara's Bday lunch and shopping trip!

2010-08-06T00:15:00.000-07:00

First stop .... Mi Amigos!

Last stop ..... The Mall! Yes, they are growing up!

Toys R Us won't do anymore for this girls!!

Chip Chip, Horray!!! Chip Chip, Horray!!!

Missionary Work Can Be Scary Stuff!!

2010-08-02T15:34:00.000-07:00

Date Night!!

2010-07-31T00:44:00.000-07:00

We have some great friends out here in Cortina!

This is one date night with the Ferguson's!

We hit it off one night at dinner groups and now date nights area a regular thing each month!
(and some times lunch dates too!)Too bad I didn't get pictures of our crazy NERTZ games....cuz they are VICIOUS!!!

Tonight we took them to Buca De Peppa, their first time....we reserved the Kitchen Table and it was amazing!
Sean and Fergie were eyeing the seafood special, but Cathy is deathly allergic to shellfish, so we rarely order it...and it was VERY PRICY!! So....all the sudden the manager brings it over....we could NOT believe it! Perks of sitting in the kitchen! We got the mistakes, and boy did we ever! After the free $30.00 appetizer, they made one of our entree's a large instead of a small....ya, we took home enough food for another meal....YUMMY!!!

Yes, Sean went and sat by Fergie so they could dig in together...can't you tell they are in HEAVEN!!!

Historic Cemetery & Visitors Center Courtyard

2010-07-26T02:06:00.000-07:00

Historic Nauvoo

2010-07-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

We dared Sean to try to jump on the oxen's backs....he was too afraid of the electric fence!!

Sean was fascinated by this rope making machine! He JUST made a MUCH smaller version to let the scouts use to make ropes last month!!

Nauvoo Bakery - gave us yummy gingerbread cookies!

Red Brick Store

Upstairs where he announced to the sisters about the new Relief Society Group!!

Nauvoo Temple on Pioneer Day 2010

2010-07-24T01:07:00.000-07:00

I just loved the Nauvoo Temple. We were lucky to get to do sealings. I had one last stack of family names to complete, so it was perfect! I took all the below pictures and wore my family out cuz I kept wanting to take more and more! It was real cloudy one day, so had to get different scenery pictures! SO BEAUTIFUL!!

I just HAD to add this picture....my MOM going to the temple in FLIP FLOPS and my DAD with no SUIT COAT....ya...I would NEVER hear the end of it if we did this at home!!! Talk about vacation!!

The below pictures I obviously did not take, but was so excited to find on the internet so you could see this amazing spiral staircase! There are 3 inside this temple. All the lockers are this same color wood! Breathtaking!! For some reason it wasn't such a chore to walk up THESE stairs!

Sealing Room

Famous assembly room

Carthage Jail Tour 2010

2010-07-23T01:26:00.000-07:00

Window he fell threw after he was shot

Actual gun shot

Update on Elder Tate!!

2010-07-18T23:05:00.004-07:00

Happenings in Starke, Florida!!

Asa & Sienna Carver Baptism

Tasha Morton Baptism

Shaytron Cotton Baptism

I'm so proud of my missionary son. He is loving the small farm town of Starke, Florida!! He lives on a farm, calls his apartment a tool shed and loves every minute! He has gotten really close the The Barber Family (the bishop) which I am so grateful for.

Daniel has been serving in Starke since February, his longest time in one area so far! He is still a District Leader and has learned so much through this experience of leading by example. His last letter, he told us how so many missionaries are caught up in numbers....how many baptisms they have.....but he has realized that retention rate is so much more important. He says he wants to be judged on how many of his converts grandkids are active years down the road....not how many he baptizes.

With transfers last week, he is training a greenie again, Elder Bass, who has brought a breath of fresh air to Starke, Daniel loves him already! His Zone Leader is one of his closest friends/past companions, Elder V...so life is good....

15 months down, 9 months to go.....not that I'm counting yet!!!

PS - The NEW Mission President arrived too!
I've spoken to them and just love them already!!
(they are the couple in the middle)

Family Date Night!!

2010-07-16T22:50:00.003-07:00

I'm so blessed to have all of my siblings AND my parents live so close! Not only do we all meet at my parents house most Sunday nights...quite often we do date nights together too....but this was a special treat....all at one house for date night!
We splurged on some YUMMY steaks that were grilled perfectly by Sean.....great games of water volleyball, then awesome homemade double chocolate cake! Fun Fun Night!!

Becca & Megan Bday Trip!!

2010-07-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

These girls were so silly! No time for dinner, they spent all of their time shopping and could not find what they wanted at Toys R Us, so had to also take on Target!
FUN TIME!!

July 4th, 2010

2010-07-04T23:36:00.000-07:00

Annual pool party & BBQ was at our house this year!

Watermelon Bomb was a big hit as usual!!!

We watched two movies!!

Then at dark we hit the pool again for a vicious game of water volleyball!

ECLIPSE PREMIERE!!!!

2010-06-29T23:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, so yes, totally love the Twilight Saga!! VERY excited for the Eclipse Premiere tonight!
My friend reserved 2 theaters so Ashlee and I got 25 tickets between the two of us and invited are very favorite Twilight friends!!

We met at Chili's for dinner!!!!

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!

Now WHEN is Breaking Dawn coming to the movies??????
NOT quick enough!!

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

Father's Day for Grandpa Ferrin 2010

WHAT do you get the grampa that already has everything????

So this year the plan was to buy small denomination gift cards to all of Grampa's favorite places!!

Below the grandkids are all lined up outside, in age order, to walk in for their grand presentation!!
(2 babies and 1 missionary excluded)

Each child had something to present their grampa! The little kids brought them up to him to read together......

The older kids, however, would read the slogan to where the gift card was to, making grampa guess where it was!!! For instance......who has the freshest fish in the world??? NOT
hahaha...it was Pete's!!!

No, this one isn't Hooters.....it's Home Depot!!!

You can't really tell, but below they are singing the McDonald's song....
da da da da daaaaaaaaaaaaa, I'm lovin' it!!
It wasn't on the list of his favorites, but when the kids thought of this idea...they couldn't resist, so we had to add it! The girls sang the first part, the boys jumped up from the back yelling "I'm loving it!!!"

Dad and his kids......we sure love and appreciate all you do for each of us....
you are the best ever!

Happy Father's Day to the father of my boys!!

2010-06-20T17:44:00.001-07:00

Tradition is the boys ALWAYS make dad breakfast in bed.....
but.....8:00 am church prevents this .....
we are NOT morning people in this house!!
So AFTER church we cooked omelets!

Then he opened his presents......a mango slicer (Sean LOVES mango's)

I love Zack's intense watching skills!!!

no way, it's really gonna work?

never doubt.....simply AMAZING!!!

and of course a much needed NEW Pete's tee & coupon for a free MoNsTeR bUrGeR!!!

Then my turn!!! Dinner is always steak and crab!!!

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!

well fed, well relaxed = successful Father's Day

I'm one lucky girl to have met this man 13 years ago, I know he was led to my boys and I, without a doubt. Thank you to my loving Heavenly Father for blessing me with so much happiness. I love you Sean!

Scrapbooking Day with my nieces!!!

2010-06-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

With Sean at Scout Camp, the girls get to play!!

Each of my nieces have their very own scrapbook and we get together a few times a year to scrap!!

It was Megan and Becca's first time and they did just great!!

Hannah show's off her layout!!

Kaybree in deep concentration.....

Taylor and Emmee are ol' pro's!!!

Megan had so much fun and did a really good job!!

They got so much accomplished!! SO PROUD they love such a healthy hobby!!!

McDonald's & Taco Bell for dinner!! So nutrious.....

after scrapbooking and dinner, we worked on Father's Day gifts!!
Then night swimming to end our fun day!!!

I sure love these girls!! Ashlee and Sara were at camp so missed out dang it....but we'll do another one with just us 3!!
Amazing this party could end up being VERY LARGE in the next few years with Ashlee and Sara joining in would make 8; then little Anney and Chloe will be old enough soon, making 10; and last but not least.....babies Ellie and Zoey!!! WOW, scrapbooking with 12 girls??!!???
Sounds like perfect heaven to me!!

Dad's 65th Birthday Party!!

2010-06-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!
(65 IS REALLY OLD)

Started the night with yummy ribs!! A BIG HIT!!
Anney & Chloe are so funny to watch. Both are used to being the baby of their family, but now have NEW baby siblings to play with!
The grand kids played fun games outside!!

Travis is getting a little big for the kiddie chairs!

Anney & Chloe helped Grampa blow out his candles

Then is was Chase's turn to blow out his b-day candles!
*9 beautiful girls*
Chloe, Anney, Becca, Sara, Hannah, Emmalee, Taylor, Megan, Kaybree, and then the ONLY boy at the table, CHASE!

4 OF US 5 kids were there! We love our dad!!

One of my favorites!

2010-05-31T11:53:00.001-07:00

Had to post this one, just love it! He always takes great thought in his pictures knowing how much I appreciate them!
MISS THIS KID!!
10 more months

Boston Trip 2010

2010-05-23T10:26:00.011-07:00

So here's the story....for those of you that don't know Sadi, she was a young woman in my old stake that I am super close to. She was one of my 1st year YCL's at girls camp when I was over certification, same age/grade as Daniel. About 3 years ago she answered an add I was running in on the church employment email list and started working for me....we became very close during those year and is now considered one of my 'adoptive' daughters! So a year and a half ago she decided she was going to school at BU...of course we all freaked out, but supported her 100% in her decision knowing she'd prayed very hard over the tough decision! My biggest fear was that she would fall in love with a Boston dude, get married and we'd hardly ever see her again! So....SHE DID meet that wonderful RM Harvard dude...but thank goodness he was from Utah..so we have high hopes they will return 'home' after graduation next year! We flew out last year to go through the temple with her, and I can't believe her 1 year wedding anniversary is already next week!!! amazing!!
So, that's the background!!
Last week she calls me.....HEY! So...what are you doing next weekend?? I'm like...hhmmmm. .... she must be coming home for something!! I said, "nothing...I have no plans, miraculously enough!" She said, "REALLY!!???!! Cuz Morgan is going to Florida for a wedding and I want you and my mom to fly here and spend the weekend with me!" hahaha I'm like....ya right!! How about I fly YOU, HOME for the weekend!! But she had something on Sat she needed to be at... so, I told her I'd think about it and get back to her. So I went back and forth all day..then late that night, Kelli, her mom texts me, "Are you even considering the Boston trip?" and I said, "I go back and forth" "So am I" so we text for about an hour....look up flights and such....cuz I was using award travel, and her stand by which makes it tricky!! So we sleep on it....both wake up and have found flights and figure it must be meant to be!
So here we are.....below is a wonderful trip!! OH, and I forgot to mention Sadi it prego!!! She is due in November!!

Here is morning #1, on our way to pick up the rental car and head to Cape Cod for the day!!

WOOHOO cool car, right?!!? hahaPulling out of the rental car lot, we follow this truck for awhile hoping it would take us right to our destination!!!

Kelli thought this sign was so funny she is sending it to Ellen!!

One of the MANY Cape Cod Docks!

We stopped NUMEROUS times along the road....this cute Salt Water Taffy Stand was alot of fun! I made a assortment box and they shipped it to Daniel!!

Kelli peeking around the post!!

Great map of Cape Cod in the creamery! We only made it to Chathum, I definitely want to come back and take the ferry to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard someday!

Ok, you know the Ferrin's LOVE their ice cream....but I might have to admit Cape Cod has THE BEST I've EVER tasted! EVER!!

It was the cutest creamery cottage! Everyone sat in the wonderful weather enjoying!

Sadi got pretty car sick on the way! So she was enjoying being OUT of the car!!

We fell in love with the scenery...SO GREEN! Put's AZ to shame!

Chathum was the furthest east we could drive before driving in the ocean! Going up north to Provincetown would have been another hour, so we called it a day! The lighthouses were amazing!

When we got back, I looked up some of these amazing water front homes, and HOLY COW.....they started at 5.9 million!!!

Kelli just loves this picture! Of course it's not quite fair, she just got home from Hawaii and Sadi lives in Boston!!!

We went to a movie before heading back from Cape Cod... Back Up Plan.
Definitely a CHIC FLICK...girls....do NOT take a date, boyfriend, or husband, just too many childbirth info and images they don't need to see.....taken a bit too far. We liked it, it was really fun, but didn't love it cuz of all the bad language, but it was good!

Day 2 was spent at Harvard Square which is so fun! Everyone is outside enjoying the wonderful weather! It's so different then AZ......eating outside, walking everywhere, relaxing and hanging out!
First stop of the day, Bartley's for lunch! Sean and I saw this burger joint featured on the Food Channel, Diner's, Drive-in's, and Dives and Sean's eyes just lit up!! So when I told him I was going to Boston again, he said I HAD TO GO TO BARTLEYS!!! And I'm glad we listened...cuz it was YUMMY!!!

Sadi and I deciding what we wanted...the menu was great! All different types of burgers with famous names beside them!This is Mrs. Bartley!! They've opened this place in 1960!!

Great menu!!

This is Mr. Bartley himself!!! Kind of a grumpy ol man, but we got some smiles outta him! He said he would put this picture up on the wall inside if we mailed it to him!

We finally got inside! They are so busy, they make you sit family style, next to strangers, but it was all good...no big deal! It was alot of fun and CRAZY in there!!! The Bartley's grandson was our server!

Kelli and Sadi are enjoying the "Elvis Frappe".....I guess only the regulars know about this awesome find!!! Chocolate, banana, and Reese's!!!! YUMMMMMM

The burgers.....to die for!!! Can you find them hiding under the PILE of onion rings??? SO GOOD!!! I ordered the FACEBOOK and Kelli got the MIT ROMNEY!!

Next stop.....Harvard College!!

The famous Harvard Library Steps!

The Class of Engineering Flag!
(Morgan's degree...he will graduate next year!)

I was fascinated by this flower bush! Or it could be a tree!! I saw them anywhere from 2 ft tall to 7 ft. tall....wish I new the name!!!

This arch is a 'Perfect Acoustical Arch' You can CLEARLY hear every whisper...it was fun!!

Statue of John Harvard, but it really doesn't look a thing like him I guess! I guess you are supposed to touch his foot for luck...so we watched all these tourists get their pictures taken touching this foot, but Sadi warned us NOT to touch the foot as the students pee on it as a funny joke!!!

They were setting up for next weeks graduation! 6000 graduates and 21000 chairs! It was so pretty in the courtyard though....amazing scene!

Each flag represents a different 'class'

Next stop....YES, ANOTHER MOVIE!!!
After the movie, Sadi took us to this awesome Mexican Food Place last year when we were here and I was so glad we got to go back! SO SO SO YUMMY!!!!!

It was TWICE as loud as Texas Roadhouse on the main level....thank goodness we got to sit downstairs!

So after dinner, we are stuffed...it's only 6:30-7:00, but we are DONE! So tired and decided turning in early sounded wonderful! BUT, on the way home Kelli reminded us we HAD to stop and see her good friend Mike!!! haha

She's just a little excited, don't ya think??!!!

OK so this might be beyond excited!
We watched a movie tonight and each downed an entire Eclair!!!

Day 3, Sunday, we went to church, then Kelli fixed us a very unique lunch with whatever she could find in Sadi's pantry/freezer! Then we relaxed for a bit before it was time to head to the airport....the flight was oversold, so Kelli new she probably wouldn't get on. I, on the other hand was upgraded to 1st Class as no cost which was awesome since I didn't even pay for my ticket, it was a reward travel ticket!! So, long story short, she stayed until the very last minute, they gave out TWO $500 vouchers to customers to ask them to switch flights....so we new it was hopeless. Everyone is on board.....and they announce the Captain has had a flat tire on his way, and ended up having a 35 minute delay! So Kelli texts me and says one lady still hasn't boarded....she has checked in, she is there somewhere, but isn't getting on board for some reason! So all the sudden the pilot boards, Kelli boards, and we are on our way home!!!

Thanks Sadi, for inviting me....it was a great time! So excited for you to be a new mommy in November!! Love this girl!

Gila Valley Temple Open House

2010-05-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

We had a fun time driving to Thatcher with the Ferguson's, and stopped at Casa Manana before heading back home! Brings back so many memories being in the Gila Valley again! Dad was born in Pima....LOTS of Ferrin's everywhere! Loved my good ol' college days at EAC!!!

Happy Mother's Day to MY MOM!!

2010-05-09T23:47:00.000-07:00

I know everyone THINKS they have the best mom ever.....but I win, hands down, don't care whatcha say!

Above picture is mom at CHA (scrapbook convention for store owners)...she just LOVES to go with me each year! BUT, if she goes, she wants to be let free to wander and do all the make and takes she can possibly fit in!!!

Below is mom at Ghirardelli's in Chicago....it's NEVER dark enough chocolate for her!

In Hawaii, the zip lines! Her screams were heard for miles away!!!

Mom and dad eating breakfast in Hawaii

Don't mess with mom and her ice cream!! (Prescott girls only weekend!)

Mom taught Julie how to tie a quilt and even hem the edges!

Mother's Day 2005

Modeling the jewelry she made!

Planting me a tomato plant even though she knew the chance of it living at my house were slim to none!

Mom and Dad at the Annual Tate Picnic

Her Grandkids ALL believe she loves THEM the most!

Singing Gramma Happy Birthday at the TOP OF THEIR LUNGS!!!

I'm still looking for the picture I WANTED to put in here....but in 2008, all of us girls did the IronGirl Triathlon. I quit probably 10 times before the day finally came. I think secretly mom wanted me to quit because I know she was more nervous for me to do this then I was. The Ferrin kids were NOT raised to be tri-athletes...we were raised in sports, yes, but at the same time LOVE TO EAT and generally DON'T love to exercise! So one by one my brothers have become athletes....3 just finished a REAL IRONMAN last month. So their wives are somewhat as stupid as they are.....but not quite! haha j/k!
So one by one, they all signed up for the Irongirl...then Bill found out I wasn't doing it. I barely know how to swim, let alone competitively!!! So he worked with me for months, teaching me. THEN came swimming in open water....a complete different challenge.

So our whole family would spend Monday nights at the lake, so us girls could practice swimming in the open water...the week before race day, I almost quit, so mom took me out to the lake again and floated in the water next to me while I practiced swimming.

Up until the night before, I new in the back of my mind I could quit. The night before, in the hotel I cried myself to sleep I was so scared, and so MAD at myself for falling to peer pressure and doing something I knew I wasn't physically ready for.

So the day came, and I did it....with my mom on the sidelines cheering me all the way, probably one of the worst days of her life.....kept calling Sean to ask if I was out of the water yet...knowing I'd be find if I could get through the swim!

So anyhow, this support is the perfect way to describe my mom. No matter what I was doing....little league, church ball, volleyball, High School tennis matches every week in the spring for 4 solid years....she was there, cheering me on. If I was hurting, she was hurting more, if I was happy, she was ECSTATIC!!! But no matter what, I knew then, and know now she will always be my best friend, cheering me on through thick and thin, loving me along the way.

Thanks for all you've done for me, I KNOW I wasn't the easiest child to raise, but I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world!!
Survived the swim.......

Modeling my bloody knees from the bike crash!