Ron & Karen Update

I think Old Rog's "Blog" idea is worth trying, so I'll back that statement up with an attempt. This may NOT be what he had in mind, but nevertheless, here goes a stab at "keeping up with" Ron & Karen's crew a little better. Roger, I hope this entry of mine does not kill any momentum or impetus your blogging idea might have acquired if the family had only had a better first impression!

Karen: works occasionally (after viewings & funerals) cleaning nearby Lindquist Mortuary; works constantly (after arising & until going to bed) cleaning up after Ron & Blake; works full-time keeping in touch w/ each of our 4 married daughters, and in adding crafts & clever touches to "this old house" we still call home; serves as 1st Counselor in our ward's Relief Society.

Ron: enjoying more than he thought he would his recent assignment change from classroom teaching to teacher observation & training in what CES calls "The Area Office"; he & Karen even enjoyed an all-expenses paid trip to exotic Rock Springs, Wyoming for a day as part of his new assignment; serves at 1st Counselor in stake presidency-6 years down, likely 3 more to go.

Stephanie & Jonathan Hale & Jaycee & Tyler: Steph stays busy juggling working a couple days a week as an orthodontic assistant and being a dutiful wife to Jonathan & mother to Jaycee (almost 9 years old, 3rd grade) & Tyler (6 1/2 yrs. old, 1st grade). Jonathan is going to Weber State full-time and working full-time as well, so he puts in long, long days. Jon is secretary in the Elders Quorum Presidency, and Steph teaches in Relief Society.

Jennifer & Chad Jensen, & Carson, Bennett, & Eden: Jennifer gets more than a full cardio-workout each day trying to keep up with two LIVELY little boys, Carson (5 yrs. old) & Bennett (2 1/2 yrs. old), and a very sweet & precious recent addition, Eden (4 months); Chad, who is in his 2nd year of Family Practice Residency at Mckay-Dee Hospital, seems to enjoy his work, though he spends many, many hours a week at the hospital. Jen is in the Primary Presidency, and I think Chad is still "flying under the radar" due to his having to miss church a few Sundays a month due to his work.

Heidi & Kyle Eliason: Heidi is approaching her final month of teaching in 2nd grade in Richmond, Virginia, as she is expecting their first child (a girl) in early February; she has a very diverse clientele, as you might expect ; Kyle is doing well in and really loving his 2nd year of medical school at Virginia Commonwealth; he serves in the stake sunday school presidency, and Heidi is serves in the Primary Presidency; Karen is planning to fly out and spend a couple weeks with Heidi when she has her baby, and so expect Blake & I to be at your door around supper time for a couple weeks.

Jessica & Josh Francis: Jessica and Josh are both graduating from Weber State with their bachelors degrees this coming May, and a month or two later, they will be heading to Omaha, Nebraska, where Josh has been accepted to dental schoolat Creighton University. Jessica works as an office manager & receptionist for a local dentist, & Josh works at a dental lab, so neither will enter Josh's dental school without some prior exposure. Jessica is in the Young Women's Presidency, and Josh is in the Young Men's Presidency.

Blake: Blake (turns 18 in August) is a senior at Weber High. his recovery from the 3 surgeries he had 3 years ago is nothing short of miraculous; he absolutely CRAVES anything and everything about farming, and nothing seems to tickle him more than when he sees a huge tractor, combine, swather, herd of cattle, etc.; one of his favorite activities is to go up to the farm in Huntsville; he'd prefer to fire up the Roberts' tractors & drive them around, but I've discouraged him from doing that, so at times he settles instead for riding a motorcycle or 4-wheeler; he's been begging me to ask Uncle Verlin if he could work for him up in Cherry Creek this summer, but he may not have to travel that far to get his "farming fix", as recently a local farmer here in No. Ogden has told Blake he would like to hire him in the spring. Blake can hardly wait, an attitude much like his father & his uncles, who would only leave the farm in the event of extreme emergencies during their late teenage years.

Pictures

Pictures can be added to the blog. It slows things down a little, but it can be done. Not available for Fatboy's 1,000,000 shots.

Experiment

This is my first attempt to blog. Let's see if it works.

A START

OK, we can now start exchanging trivial information that may be of interest to members of the family. For years, most of us have depended upon Helen to keep us updated about what is going on with the family. Two problems have arisen: Too many people to keep track of, and diminished memory- by Mom and us. As I put together the calendar for 2007, I realized how many things had happened within the family without my being aware of it. I want to know more and I'm sure you are all laying awake at night wondering what I'm doing.
Now, we have the chance to keep up-to-date. Each of you the way you can post updates on this blog about what is happening in your family. It must be short (most of us are ADD) and "semi-important". Example: Lou, you can't post everytime one of your grandkids want to hear the "bull story". You can tell us when you exceed the 1,000,000th picture taken mark. Or 2,000,000th.
OK, let's start.