Family Letter September 9, 2007

Time is sure flying by. We are almost half way through September and I do not know where the time is going.

I think a lot has happened so lets see how this goes.

The best part is that Jill and Randy and their kids are here for the week. They needed a break and we are glad they are here. They came in yesterday afternoon and will be here through next Saturday. It will be fun. I am going to take some time off and we will go to the Zoo here and some other fun things. Their kids are growing up and they are really cute kids. Jill works really hard with them and Randy is so kind and patient with them, they are a good example.

Yesterday we had all the family together at Kristine’s house and had Family Home Evening. It was a lot of confusion with all those little bodies, but it was completely worth it. They had a large lot of more than an acre and so the kids could get out and run. I think the highlight for the kids was the tractor ride. Jeff and Kristine have a riding lawn mower and so we got on the mower and took the little ones for a ride. There was a little hesitance for some of them at first but when they got on and it started to move it was all smiles. So around the yard bumpity bump we went and the smiles and giggles started. We had Family Home evening, short and sweet, but it was really good. Dinner was also good with spaghetti and the fixings. Next month is Scot and Carrie’s turn so we will see what we do.

I have been asked to coach the Young Men in volleyball this year and yesterday was the first game. I had the boys to the house earlier in the day for a little practice. There is a lot of improvement to go. I think they had some fun but it will be a struggle for them. The good part is they come. In Young Men if you show up you will win a lot of games. This week the other team did not show up so we could practice and get a lot of bad shot out. We made so many bad shots that next week we should be perfect. I don’t think there are more that can be made. But we will have fun and I hope the boys learn.

This weekend will be lots of fun and playing of games for me. Friday one of the wholesalers took us out to play golf and the Cowboy Club. Jerry Jones who owns the Dallas Cowboys has built a resort Golf course relatively close to the airport. It is really nice. It is very centrally located and does a lot of business. It is a very interesting concept. The price is similar to a resort course in Hawaii, but with the green fee you get:
breakfast in the morning
play your round of golf
any drinks or eats you want on the course while playing
complete lunch following
It is a good deal and the course is one of the best in the Metroplex.

So that was Friday during the day. In the evening we had a dinner sponsored by one of the wholesalers with whom we work. It is an annual appreciation dinner to thank the producers for their business. The dinner was at the Four Seasons Resort, so you know it was good. After the dinner they had an entertainment group named Cavalcade of Stars. This was an impersonator group that sang songs from various popular stars. John Lennon and George Harrison, Reba Macintyre, Elvis Presley, Blues Brothers, and Cher, were the singers and Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe, and Powers were the hosts. It was funny and very entertaining. We had fun. Scott and Carrie, Eric and Sheena, and Mom and I went.

Sunday is always a good day and we are looking forward to the day. Tomorrow I will have to do a lot of work in the Morning but in the afternoon we have the Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament. We have invited a few clients to go and we will have a good time with them. So it is play, play, play. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do? Almost all of this is free and so I think it is a good deal.

We talked to Marianne and Kimball this week and they are canning up a storm. I am really proud of them for the preparation they are doing. I am sure they are involving the kids in the projects, whether they want to or not but it is a fun project and they are teaching their kids how fun the family can be. It is really good. We are excited because we are going to spend Christmas with them in Washington. We will see the other kids here for thanksgiving but we will be going there for a week or so for Christmas. I am sure Santa will come and visit them and we will play in the snow. It will be a great time. Kimball is doing really well in his work and their practice is growing.

We have decided to go to Italy next summer to get Kevin when he has completed his mission. We wrote him and asked if he would like that and he said yes. So we are going. We have to make the arrangements to go now and that will be a chore.

In case you are wondering we are working and working hard. The business is growing and we are having success with some new clients. I know Eric doesn’t think he is contributing much but he is doing really well. He has put together a binder for each of our clients that will hold all their financial information in one place. He developed the idea and has put it together for us. It looks really nice and makes a wonderful presentation for our clients. Scott has been working hard in a networking group and it is now starting to pay off. We have had some referrals lately and it is paying of good dividends. We have one important case that is renewing at this time and it looks like we will be able to get it to renew successfully. I will know more tomorrow. Wish us well.

Mark is in the middle of his classes now and feels he is doing well. He will have his first status check in a week or so, when he has his first test on lecture material. Keep him in your prayers. Michelle is looking for substitute teaching opportunities to supplement their income. If she gets 2 a week it will be great for them. We will all share some baby sitting to help her.

Brian and Mandie are doing well. She is trying to get some voice students. She wants to have about 10 students to teach each week. Again we will be sharing baby sitting to help her. But they are doing well.

Kevin is really excited with his new area. It is a larger city with a complete ward. It makes it easier for them to proselyte and contact people so the work is really fun for him. He is doing well and he will enjoy success and progress because of what he is doing.

I really cannot think of much else to say. We love you all. We did not post this to our blog site because we are concerned with some security. We have asked Brian and Jeff to explorer the Blog site to see how to make it secure. We are concerned that putting family pictures and history information out there is available for all kinds of “other people” to see and take advantage of. So we will be exploring security and then continue with the blog site.

That is all for now. We love you.