Mystery reader for the day...

Arnold paid a special visit to Jessica's 2nd grade class last month and played the part of mystery reader. We checked in at the front office and the Asst. Principal Mrs. Whinston called down to the class with the intercom to let Jessica's class know that the mystery reader was on his way down! You could hear the screams and giggles! Jessica's teacher had all the kids put their heads down on the desk and when she turned on the lights they looked up to see Arnold sitting in the 'reading' chair with one of our favorite books! The Icky Sticky frog!

Jessica's Thanksgiving program...

Jessica participated in her first ever Thanksgiving Day Program at school. With a packed gymnasium with many, many proud parents the program went off without a hitch and the students all did wonderfully! I, having had the job of being in charge of everything that day from refreshments, to seating, to costumes, forgot my camera so this is the only picture I have from a friend who forwarded it to me via email. Great job Jessica! We are so proud of you!

Wishes sometimes do come true...

For about five years now Kenny has tried every year in September to get us to buy him a snake for his birthday. We were able to get by a few years in Utah when our neighbors (The Bielstein's) would bring us the garden snakes they would find while weeding their amazing garden, but since moving to Alabama we haven't been so 'lucky'! Then one day someone at work mentioned to Arnold that their teenage son had outgrown his snake and was looking for someone to take it off his hands. Great! Just what I needed. So the Saturday before Kenny's birthday we drove down to Pascagoula, MS and picked up a three year old California King Snake for Kenny's tenth birthday. Kenny couldn't stop smiling. He also couldn't stop saying, "I can't believe he's really mine!" Two months, four frozen dead rats, and many, many hugs later....we now can officially say we have a new addition to our family. His name is Taz and he's a snake. Future visitor's beware...

Small miracles...

On any given day after the kids are sent off to school I would follow a normal routine of cleaning the house, organizing my files, paying some bills and watching a little tv while folding some laundry. On this particular day however our satellite went out for no apparent reason. A little annoyed but not particularly devastated I went about my day until the phone rang. One of our Stake Presidency members was on the line asking if Arnold were home. I immediately thought....hmmmm I wonder if its for a new calling in our Ward? Odd that the Bishop didn't call. And then after relaying that Arnold was at work that day President Emertson proceeded to ask if I had watched any tv that morning. Another odd question and then I remembered how the satelitte had gone out and I had turned it off hours ago. He then asked me to call Arnold and to make sure that he was okay. Pres. Emertson had gotten a call from someone who worked across from the Pascagoula refinery telling him that they were all being evacuated because of a fire in one of the plants. My heart dropped and the tears began to flow. I thanked Pres. Emertson and hung up the phone. I knew I couldn't call. I knew there would be 1000 other wives probably phoning in for the same reason. So I waited and waited some more. Until finally a call came from Arnold's supervisor's wife, Christine. She said that her husband, Johnny, had called her and talked for only a few seconds. Basically his message to her was....There's been a fire...I'm okay....call Lisa and tell her Arnold is okay too. I could finally breath! Three hours later Arnold came home and the hug I got from him as he walked through the door was a little tighter, his smile a little brighter, his "I love you" a little sweeter and our dinner together that night as a family a little more divine.

A first for everything...

In July after we got back from our long summer trip Lisa and I went to Troy State University for three days to attend Lisa's first Five Stake Youth Conference! Mobile Alabama stake joins each year with Panama City Florida, Ft. Walton Beach Florida, Tallahassee Florida, and Pensacola Florida stakes for our annual Youth Conference. There are over 500 youth involved with the three day conference and the Young Men and Young Women (ages 14 to 18 years) stay in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, attend workshops, participate in service projects and have nightly dinner/dances!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Some may say this day is all about the fried turkey, the sweet potato casserole, the homemade rolls or grandma's pumpkin pie. But we think there's nothing better than spending Thanksgiving with our family! (Even if its a few days early!) Arnold's brother, Aaron and his family spent a week with us this month and before they left we made sure to celebrate by having a Thanksgiving dinner together. Who could've asked for anything more? We're certainly grateful for our family! We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!