Happy Day! Kate's graduation from BYU!

We had a fun time in Utah attending the graduation for Kate on Thursday and Friday! Hip, hip hurrah!! Great job Kate Lorraine! Congratulations!!!! There is only one picture because Kate has the rest!

50th Year Celebration for the Dodgers at Hollywood Bowl

On our bus ride to the Hollywood Bowl Kate shared her mini IPod with me and I watched a movie. Wow what technology! Corrine and Alisa purchased the tickets and Kate and I joined them. It was a great program and we enjoyed our evening! Great music and review of some of the history of the Dodgers.

Mom's Birthday

Mom's new carpet--looks great!
An evening out for dinner
On Saturday we cleaned the garage!
Wow, that is looking so good!
Just a few of us!

My siblings and their spouses enjoyed three days together for Mom's 89th birthday. We attended the SL Temple--that was great!--had wonderful dinner--cleared out the garage (which meant a trip to DI and a couple to the dump) and even mopped the floor! Went to church together and enjoyed just being together!

Grandma's 89th Birthday Party

We gathered at a park and enjoyed seeing and visiting with all the children and grandchildren that live in Utah. Just a few pictures of our gathering...

Surprise! A day full of surprises for Rachel!

Summer and Julie kidnapped Rachel on the morning of her birthday for breakfast!

Rachel was in her "normal" deep sleep and they graciously woke her up!

Birthday girl on her way to WORK! This was graduation day for the high schools so that meant the BUSIEST day of the year at work!

The nieces and nephews planned a surprise party for Rachel. They were hiding and waiting for her to arrive! Hello she was so slow--because she was busy at work!

Everyone enjoying the wait for Rachel...

Ty's baseball game!

David checking in on his phone for messages and Bryn and Lori happy to be at the park!




Two sisters to cheer at their brothers ballgame.

Lori having more fun staying cool and and spraying the water from her mother's mist spraying camel back!! It did feel good on this 95+ degrees outside!

Now, there is the Ty man catching at his game! And this was me, Lorraine, taking the picture and I didn't cut his head off!! Oh, yes, I have the help of a digital camera!!
Ty at bat! He played a great game! His team made a great come back with lots of runs but not quite enough!! It was fun to be there and see him play his game! Good job TY!

Grandpa's Birthday

I took David away for his birthday! We went to Yucaipa to see Tina on Friday and then on to Temecula to visit with Uncle Denny and Aunt Connie. I forgot to take a picture of them :(! We had a great visit and enjoyed a yummy lunch at one of their favorite Mexican restaurants! So FUN!

Next to Palmdale where we enjoyed our stay at the Residence Inn. As we entered our room--there was a Happy Birthday poster for Grandpa and some yummy treats including his favorite See's Candy!! Thanks to the Bird Family!

Saturday we had Grandpa's favorite cake-lemon cake--and he blew out his candles! Wow, 62 years young!! Thanks Michelle and family!

I took Ty and Lori to the pool at the hotel after Ty's baseball game. Do you like my hair style after getting it wet at the pool?? David enjoyed his new book he got from McKay and Rachel while we were swimming with the other guest at the hotel!! FUN!

My Dad's birthday--our visit to the gravesite.

Rachel asked me if we could go to the cemetery for my Dad's birthday this year.

What a great idea! We had a great visit!

Rachel bought the balloon and flowers

David wrote some of his memories of Dad and had me read it to Rachel. That was very special and appreciated by both of us!

Mother's Day Phone Call from Elder Barlow

It has been a wonderful Mother's Day. Corrine & Alisa fixed a great dinner. I was blessed to talk with all the children which is a real treat. We enjoyed the Mother's Day missionary phone call. With modern technology, Brock has a message for all. (We were spoiled and got to talk for an hour!).


Grandma Jex -- Brock said he does get your letters. They used to come in bunches, but now he is in the mission home he will get them regularly. Thanks for writing!

For those who were not here to listen -- a few updates we heard from him

1 -- His current companion is from Guatemala and they have been in the mission about the same time
2-- His MTC companion is currently serving in Belize on a small island with about 40 members in the branch
3-- In response to "working with the people" of the stake his response was-- they went to the leadership of the wards and stakes and got the missionary program going the way the handbook states -- with meetings in PEC, Ward Missionary Council, etc. They were able to get each investigator discussed and find ways to help meet their specific needs etc. When the leadership of the ward/stake caught on, so did the rest of the membership. There is a lot of follow up with priesthood leaders. They follow Preach My Gospel exactly. The key to the success is when the bishop trusts/likes the missionaries. If this isn't their, nothing happens.
4-- The new temple will be in the West (his) mission. It will be built (this is for Garrett who can picture the area) near a mall close to the mission president's house. They will be building a stake center (like the area has never seen before - American style with a/c & full indoor court) in the area. Brock's current ward will be meeting in that building.
5-- Brock and his companion meet with his mission president once a week to get information and 'key indicators'. They use this information to then decide who/where they need to go meet/train. They split up and one of them goes to that area and the other stays (on a companion swap) and so they can continue to work in their own area as well
6-- Brock has not been to Belize yet. However, there is a chance he will go before President Call leaves the mission field so he will be familiar with it for the new president. He is excited about that possibility.
7-- He will find out what his P-day is on Monday after they meet with the President. He said if we write on Saturday we should be safe.
8-- He hasn't played soccer with the East mission the way Garrett did, but Garrett told him about it and so he will see what he can find out about it. Their mission president goes home with President Call.
9--President Call's son is at BYU and has put in his mission papers. One of their daughters is getting married two days after they are released and is marrying one of 'their' missionaries.
10-- Brock was happy to get updates about his friends/family members who are serving missions. "Shout out" to all of them from Brock!
11--Brock was jazzed to hear about Ty & TJ playing baseball and he said "that is what I'm talking about". He asked about TJ starting football because he thought Todd & Chelsea had mentioned it. We told him we thought TJ was starting in the fall. Of course, he was way excited about that.
12--"Shout out" to TJ from Brock on his award at school. Go TJ.
13-- Brock wanted Ty, TJ, Anna, Lori, Carly, Jared, Mac, Bryn & Hallie to know he loves you!
14-- Brock said he is ready to have two or three bricks placed on Ty's head because he looks like he is getting too tall too quick. He will soon pass up Rachel & Grandma
15-- We asked him who trains him to be the AP. He said he had one week of an elder showing him how to do reports, etc. but his training is by experience as he goes about the work.
16-- He does not have a driver's license yet. The visa he gets is for one year at a time. He has his second year visa now and after three months (in June) he is eligible to get a driver's license which he plans to do. He pointed out he will get his driver's license on June 5th which is the same day he received his patriarchal blessing
17-- He talked about how they do transfers. They rent a large bus and then go throughout the mission from zone to zone on transfer day taking people to their new areas. This is a fairly new procedure and according to Garrett's comments, really a smart way of doing it for the area. The pictures he just sent on Saturday show the bus. This change in procedure was because of a request form 'high up' leadership.
18--BTW his voice sounds just like a missionary has he has a sing-songy voice and elevates his voice at the end of sentences, etc. His Spanish sounds great to all of us Gringos. He struggled speaking in English a bit
19-- He has mama Con cooking for him like Garrett and he said he loves it.
20--Sister Call's 'cook' is Hermana Blanco (this is info for Garrett)

Having problems uploading the video of Brock speaking so try back later....

Seeing the Elephant Seals

We drove to San Simeon to visit the Elephant Seals. Yeah, it was windy!

Pretty good picture of the seals fighting...
Nap time!

We had a good time and enjoyed reading more about the seals. Yeah, it was windy and very cold!

No Longer "In Harm's Way"

Our Todd has arrived home safely back to Beale AFB in Yuba City! We are grateful he is home and back with his family. We are looking forward to seeing him in March.

Today, Dad removed the "In Harm's Way" flag from the office. We proudly displayed it, but we are grateful Todd has returned home.

Elder Barlow!

We received some pictures from Brock this week and thought we would post them so all could enjoy! We are sure proud of our Brock!

Elder Brock "The Rock" Barlow

This is the Molino Zone

Our annual visit to Mom's

These are pictures from our "annual" visit to Mom's. It was the first week of February this year! This was our 10th year and the most snow we have had during our visits. Marilyn and I went out to take some pictures and to our surprise it was snowing!! Makes for some fun pictures!






Of course, the BIG pile of snow behind us was from the snow plow which made a perfect background!