Hilarious!

We found this on You-Tube. Pretty funny stuff.

And if I was more of a computer whiz, I would figure out how to post a video without lopping off the right side...but I'm not, so it is. o-well. At least you get the general idea.

"LESSONS I LEARNED AS A BOY" by President Hinckley

In Colten's last letter, he told us to watch this video. We did. Even though I've heard this story before, I loved it.

Update on Colten

Colten and his new companion, Elder Franco, in front of another huge cathedral.

I realize that my blog is pretty much about my kids. But, that's just because...well, that's what I really care about. What can I say. I thought that this post I would update everyone on Colten. The best way to do that is to hear it straight from him. He writes:

"Changes came and went. I decided about 3 days before the changes came that I don`t want to go back to Juarez. I`m not in the mood to see all the drugs and death. I`m done with that. So i was really worried when Elder Carnohan told me the results of my district. I got changed. However, I feel really good about it. I`m opening up an area that has been closed for about 4 months. It's called Centro. Its located in the heart of Chihuahua. Yes, I`m in Chihuahua. I`m really loving it. I got a nice surprise though. When i showed up here today i heard that my area doesn't have a house. And that the area had been closed, which I didn`t know. I kept on asking around, and come to find out I`m going to the mission offices. Thats right I`m in the mission offices as the reference secretary. Thats cool and all but that means that my baptisms just all went out the window. Its hard to baptize in the offices because 1/2 the day we spend in the offices doing who knows what. So I`m happy and a little sad. Its possible that i`ll finish my mision here. Usually the Eldere last 8 months in the offices. I have 6 left, so this very well could be my last area. Who knows though.

My comp is Elder Franco. He`s from Mexico City. He has more time than I do, but is junior companion. Also, i`m still district leader. But I`m getting the feeling that this Elder is dead. The presidente pulled him aside and gave him a big warning before we came here to the internet. I think that the pres wants to keep him on a short leash. I don`t know though. Its going to take a great deal of patience. I hope that I can help this guy.

Good new though i`m with Elder Williams again. He`s in the offices as the finance secretary. I`m with my old comp again. I love that guy.

It was great experience leaving Jimenez. I felt so content with the work that I had done. I loved Jimenez. I`m going to miss it a lot. My testimony has grown so much about the reality of revelation. I know that President Flores is truly guiding us by the Holy Ghost. Thats wrong. I know that my Savior is guiding us in His work through the Holy Ghost. We are so blessed.

I am so thankful for this awesome chance I have to serve Him."

Photo Shoot

Thanks to my dear and wonderful friend, Mrs. Erma Rainey...We have these amazing pictures of our children (minus Colten, of course).
Thanks Erm!

Mission Life!

Another great zone conference. The zone "Sur del Estado"

And...another misionary memory...as told by Colten:
"Oh. We about died the other night. We were in divisions. Elder Carnohan, our ZL from San Diego, came to Jimenez to have diviciones with me. Elder Aguilars bike was flat so for the night we rode around on our...devils? They aren´t called devils in english. The things you put on your back tire so that someone can ride with you standing up. They use them to grind and stuff in the X-games. Anyways, he was standing on those things and i was riding the bike. When we came to a crucial moment - a speed bump. I began to slow down so that we would go over it really slow, but Elder Carnohan started to tell me to pick up speed, and told me to do it. So we hit that speed bump pretty fast. Ya we crashed. Elder Carnohan literally flew over my head and landed on the street. I got all tangled up in the bike chain. It was so funny. The amazing thing is that we are both good. We didn´t even have a scratch. I wish we could have snapped a pic of that. It would have been great."
Colten's companion, in their laundry room.

Ryan's eventful week-end; Hadie Sawkins, and being turned down at Burger King.

This was quite an eventful week-end for our Ryan. His first adventure was going horseback riding with a friend of his. I don't know why, but Ryan got the most "active" horse, which isn't good, because Ryan doesn't have a great history with horses. For some reason they thought it would be awesome to go through the drive through at Burger King on horse-back. But turns out, they got turned down, and as Ryan said "We got STERN looks". They are going to try for Wendy's next week. I'll keep you posted.
Also, this Saturday was Hurricane High's "Hadie Sawkins" dance. (Boys ask girls, opposite from Sadie Hawkins). So, of course Ryan took Danielle. Their group day date was going to dinner, and Walmart to get some funky matching outfits. I guess they did pretty good because they won "best dressed", and got their pictures for free. We are so proud.

Danielle, Ryan, Shad, Kenzie - quite a group. They are all such awesome kids!

The church is so true it's ridiculous!

These are all guys from Colten's "generation"...meaning, they all entered the MTC together, and came into the mission field together. They love seeing each other. Colten truly loves these guys.

Colten is doing so awesome. He is so happy. We love to hear his testimony and his excitement for the gospel. Here's is a part of one of his letters:
"I have gained such a testimony of the importance of prayer. I love the fact that nobody has to believe in the words that we tell them. I love telling people who are a lot older than me, and have seen a lot more things, that i dont know everything. I dont know what its like to have a kid, to not have work, or to have to pay bills. im young, and in MANY ways unexperienced in many things, but what i do know is that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is the church of Jesus Christ here on the Earth. The best of our message is that we ALWAYS invite people to act. To pray and ask their Heavenly Father if the things that we are teaching them are true. Our message is amazing. It can get discouraging when so many people reject us, not even knowing what they are rejecting. The Church is true. If i choose to know one thing without doubt, i would choose to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is the restored church of Jesus Christ. I love how our church is EXACTLY the same as the church that Jesus Christ established when he came to the Earth. So many churchs dont even have a clue. Its so important for us to preach this message to everyone. I know this is the true church. There isnt a doubt in my mind.
Our church is so true its ridiculous."