Arlington Wreath Project-Washington DC Trip

Evan and I were able to chaperone the 6th grade trip this year with Abby. It was another amazing experience visiting our nation's capital! This was Abby's first experience flying in an airplane. We were able to see Mount Vernon, Ford's Theatre, all the memorials, Smithsonian, Natural History Museum, Nat'l Archives, White House, and Capitol. While in the Capitol Bldg, we watched a session of Congress. (The teachers in our group wanted to teach them some classroom management skills.) Abby liked watching the friendly squirrels that were seen everywhere we went. Thank goodness for digital cameras or we might have only had pictures of squirrels! The highlight of this trip is laying wreaths at Arlington and honoring those who gave their lives for our country; it is certainly hallowed ground. There were nearly 20,000 wreaths placed this year by volunteers. It is a site to behold looking across the hills seeing row after row of headstones with wreaths all lovingly placed with honor. We rode the metro and walked a lot every day taking in as much as we could. We came home exhausted, but are so glad we were able to experience all of this with Abby!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

After church today, we put our favorite Christmas CDs in and decorated our tree and house with all of our traditional ornaments and decor. Watching Evan and Taylor decorate and rearrange is like watching Martha Stewart herself with a little less organization, but the result is always so beautiful! We are all sentimental about different things and so we have a lot of memories and meanings behind all our decorations. It's like an early Christmas as we open up each box and bin. It's always an evening we all look forward to each year. Here's a glimpse around the house for those not close enough to come in and visit in person!

GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST

It's time to get out all the Christmas music and decorations! I love this time of year, I absolutely love this song and I think Michael Buble sings it the best of all. I must be getting old because this Christmas list would be the perfect gift for me. Click on my playlist below if you'd like to listen or sing along with him!

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown-up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child, but my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal our hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end

This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list

Taylor's 14th Birthday Celebration

Taylor chose to have dinner at Samarai 21 again this year. Since everyone was in town for mom's wedding and Thanksgiving, we were able to get together again to celebrate. Samurai 21 is always good for food with lots of entertainment and laughter. Sushi, potstickers, steak, shrimp, chicken, vegetables, and rice. The chef made us laugh and really made a special dinner for Chicka by throwing shrimp at her, trying to get her to eat raw chicken on her plate, imitating everyone, and singing to her. A great time was had by all!

Mom's Wedding

Black Friday has new meaning for the Wilkinson siblings. It marks the day of mom's third marriage. This is another on-line selection with a fast courtship and quick marriage. We met Doug two days prior to the wedding. We are hopeful that mom will find the happiness she so desperately wishes for. The best part was that we were all together again as siblings and really enjoyed one another's company this holiday!

Halloween 2009

It is fun to celebrate Halloween in a small town where the school puts on the annual Halloween carnival, kids are safe to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood, and when all the candy is gone, we can turn the lights out and not have our pumpkins smashed in the road! Our girls are more interested in hanging out with friends rather than door to door knocking for treats. Chicka was a flapper girl and Abby was a blue witch (whatever that is). Whitney came home and did hair and makeup. Check out their eye lashes! Ooo-la-la!

TIME OUT FOR WOMEN

I spent a wonderful weekend with Whitney and Linda (mom-in-law)at Time Out For Women (TOFW). It was inspirational, uplifting, humorous, and the very thing I need from time to time. I highly recommend this to any woman, whether of the LDS faith or not, it brings hope and peace in a world of uncertainty, wickedness, and many other challenges that often cloud our vision of what life is really all about. The theme was "Sweet Assurance". It certainly gave me that sweet assurance of knowing certain truths that help me through life as a wife, mother, teacher, friend, and church member. The schedule is already out for next year's tour. They're coming to Las Vegas on October 22-23. Mark your calendars now and join me for this annual event!

Thanksgiving Acrostic

T-Together for Thanksgiving Day, even Todd.
H-Hoping Mom's new marriage will bring her happiness.
A-All we can do is hope for the best.
N-Nevermind the NFL, napping after dinner.
K-Kids love to get together.
S-Shawn & Sue coming from California.
G-Going shopping for sales.
I-Indulging our appetites.
V-Vegetables, vitamins, and volume.
I-I love Grandma's pumpkin pie.
N-Nothing beats family time.
G-Gonna get started on that diet tomorrow.

Looking Back at Halloween Past

Deer Hunt

Taylor drew her first deer tag this year, so we've been out scouting deer a few times. She had her eye on several big bucks near some fields outside of Pioche. Yesterday after school, she and Evan went for another practice at the gun range and then off to their area to look again. She located a herd of bucks in a hay field and picked one to harvest. She shot it with a 243 rifle at about 250-300 yards, killing it with her first and only shot. Dad is still on cloud nine!

The buck is a 4 x 4, approximately 25" wide, and weighing around 200 lbs. field-dressed. It was hay fed and should be good eating when Evan works his magic on the meat.
Home just after dark to show it off to everyone. I'm glad she's well-rounded...she was sewing a quilt over the weekend and now providing meat for the family. Way to go, Chicka!!

General Conference Weekend

I always look forward to conference weekends. In the fall, the weather is cool, autumn colors are brilliant, and I love wearing my warm pj's to listen. In the spring, flowers are blossoming, birds are chirping, and I wear my cool pj's. It's a nice break from the usual Sunday meetings to be spiritually uplifted and inspired to be better. It's the shot in the arm I need...too bad it's only twice a year. I have always loved the way Pres. Monson tells stories and recites poetry that really brings home the messages we can all benefit from.

Three weeks ago was the Panaca Stake Conference. We were honored and blessed to have President Holland here in our presence to teach us. It was a remarkable weekend. Evan had a special assignment from our Stake President to act as protective services...he got to pack "heat" to the meetings and be up close and personal with this wonderful man. One of Evan's mission companions married Pres. Holland's oldest daughter, so they chatted about that and commanalities from both being from Southern Utah. He loved every minute of it...first conference he didn't snooze through!

And who doesn't love President Bednar? One of my favorite talks by him was the "Tender Mercies" topic. I've often thought of that and have been more aware of the multiple tender mercies in my own life. They are truly men who are mouthpieces for a loving Heavenly Father! Well, I better go get my favorite seat on the couch! I hope you get to enjoy conference with your family as well!

Then there's M Russell Ballard who took the time to call my mother a few days after dad's tragic plane accident to console and assure her of God's love. It was his grandson who was the student pilot flying with dad on that fatal day in January 2005. He spoke briefly of this incident and the atonement in the April 2005 conference that year. He always speaks directly and eloquently in all matters.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pres. Uchtdorf. Perhaps it's his German accent, the special pilot "air" about him, or just that he's so simply grounded in the gospel and sees it from the perspective of the outside world and knows how to delicately address the things we so need to "hear with our ears and feel with our hearts."

I could go on and on about different Prophets and disciples who have touched my life throughout the years, but these are some favorites at this present time. They are all men of God; I enjoy hearing them, reading their words, and trying to apply them in my life.

Hippy Day

This past week was Lincoln County High School's 100th Year Celebration. It was a huge event for our little neck of the woods. Each day all the schools dressed up to show school spirit. We enjoyed "Hippy Day" the most and since I woke up later than usual, I simply went all natural for the day. No make up, threw a headband in my hair, put on jeans and my "Hug a Tree" t-shirt. (No biggie as we went on a field trip to the Apple Orchard that day.) Taylor and Abby, however, dressed pretty much their normal selves except for the added headband accessories. P.S. For the record...Taylor wants everyone to know that she IS taller than Abby...not by much though!

Good-Bye for Two Years, Trent

Looking happy, glowing and in love! Trent and Whitney have been sweethearts for nearly three years. Only 24 fast sundays until they can see each other again! Hang in there, Whitee!

Back to School

Taylor going to 8th grade. Abby going to 6th grade.

Slip-n-Slide with Tibbitts

The girls went to Tibbitts' backyard for a giant slip-n-slide. They had a lot of fun sliding down their grassy hills.

Fun with Cousins

Shawn and the kids stayed for a few days after picking Hannah up from EFY. We enjoyed their musical talents, cooking skills, and Nertz card games. It was our last get together before school began.

Trent's Day at St. George Temple

This was an exciting day for the Tibbitts family as Trent went through the temple for the first time. He leaves for the MTC on Sept. 16th and will serve in Raleigh, North Carolina. Whitney got to babysit kids while we attended...happy to hug him later!
Talen and Trent looking like Joseph and Hyrum.
Tibbitts men in their shades looking handsome.

Grandma & Grandpa McCrosky, Trent, Lisa & Brent, Talen...Proud Kodak moment!