Marriage

This past week Rick has been in Las Vegas for training for his work. This is his 4th year going and it has always been the same time each year, right after Thanksgiving. I am usually, emotional with tears; I toss and turn in bed where I can't sleep. I will usually, putter about the house getting this done that has been left undone, just in hope that tonight I will sleep. This year it has been different, I still miss my husband very much; but have realized that he misses his family just as much as we miss him. It doesn't help him knowing that I am crying and upset with him gone. So I have decided to be a big girl.

I also have a friend that has confided in me about her marriage and has really made me take a step back and look at my marriage. Do we put Heavenly Father first in our marriage? Do we take advantage attending the temple regularly? We have family prayer, but do we have couples prayer? Just because you don't do certain thing doesn't mean you will have problems, even the best marriages still have issues. As I was talking to Rick the other night we got to talking about this and realized that yes; we have things we can change and do better. That we don't do things that we really should be doing to help our marriage, not only will it help our marriage, but it will help us as a family. I am so Thankful for my husband and know that he works very hard for his family. I know that I get on him for not doing things or not knowing what I am thinking or feeling. We need to work on communication a little more; more on my part I think for letting him know how I am feeling. He can't read my mind (even though I wish he could at times and then glad he can't as the same time.) Sometimes it takes hearing of others hard times to make us take inventory on our own lives.

I hope that my friend can get through this hard time and be able to get back to the place where they need to be. It takes one day at a time, with lots of prayer, faith and forgiveness. It takes having good family to lean on and to keep the communication line free with your partner and our Heavenly Father. I love this dear friend very much and wish them the very best.

Thanksgiving Dinner

This year we decide to share Thanksgiving with my parents. I was noisy and crazy, but lots of fun. Craig's family was there, Kristen's family Grandma Moore and then us. We visited when we got there and then had dinner, after dinner we cleaned up and played games, dessert and visited some more. It's always fun being with family.

Chris was tired after dinner.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

Note from Dad

Hello everyone...

Just dropping a note to wish everyone of you a Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Hope that all of you are enjoying friends or family on this day. Be grateful for all your blessings, for the love of your families and this great country that we live in. Diana and I love you all and are grateful for each one of you...LOVE!!!!!!

Turkey Bowl

This morning the guys had an "unofficial" Elders Q Turkey bowl. Lots of guys showed up to play and have fun inter acting with eachother. Matthew was able to play for his first time and had a blast. It was fun to watch even though I could have stayed in bed and slept.

Tyler Christensen hurt his knee about 3 plays in the game

Seminary Food Drive

Richland and Hanford Seminary had a competition collecting food for the Salvation Army. Richland collected the most food, but averaged the weight where Hanford won. So that meant that the Richland Seminary Council were going to have a pie thrown in their faces. I followed everyone out to Hanford's Seminary building for this event. Hanford takes this very serious and the kids love it. You could feel the excitement in the air, even the teacher Brother Poter got into. It was so fun to watch and be there. With both Seminaries they raised close to 4000 lb. of canned food.

Gathered around talking about what was going to take place
The pile of canned food from Hanford, Richland had already taken theirs
to the truck.

Leisha Volmer

Sarah Rex getting covered really good with pie.

Brother Peck after getting pied, by Brother Porter

Chris was excited about getting pied. He said it was cold, and

after the shock from that things were good.

Brother Porter enjoying this a little to much.

the whole Seminary Council and Brother Peck after

getting pied.

Thanksgiving

What does Thanksgiving me to me? Thanks...kindly or grateful thoughts: Gratitude, expression. Giving...to the power to act on. In the dictionary putting the two words together means a prayer of expressing gratitude, a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness. I am Thankful for so many wonderful things that are in my life...Here are just a few things that I am Thankful for.

1. Temple Marriage

2. My Family

3. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

4. My extended Family

5. The Missionaries

6. Temples

7. Good music

8. The four seasons (Summer,Spring,Fall, and Winter)

9. The Country we live in

10. The Freedoms we have

11. My Visiting teachers

12. Being a Visiting teacher

13. The example my boys are to me

14. Friends

15. My Husbands job

16. A home to live in

17. Education

18. The Prophet

19. Grandparents

20. Being a Daughter of our Heavenly Father

New Moon

So tonight is a showing for New Moon the second book of Twilight. I loved the books and couldn't put them down. I read all 4 of them within one month if not shorter. I would be reading as I fixed dinner, house work didn't get down, and I would stay up late reading (those that know me, I go to bed early) I just couldn't put the books down. A friend of mine from Church found out some how that there was an early showing and was able to get tickets. So I was able to go with a lot of friends and their girls. Rheinhearts, Jensens, Showwalters, Hunsakers and then the Kogans. It was so much fun to get out of the house with friends and watch a movie. I loved it! Going to an early show I was home by 9:00 pm, where my sister and her friend went to the mid-night show and didn't get home until 3:00 am. I am now excited for the next movie to come out.

Matthew loves going to 11 yr. old Scouts, he has been learning so much. He has some really cool leaders that want to be there and love the boys.

The mutual were able to learn how to swing dance tonight. The youth seemed to have had a fun evening and the boys had lots of fun. They both came home all excited about what they learned and how much fun they had. Abby Stevens parents taught the class and were very good with the youth.

Dennis and Nicole Jensen

Chris and Katie Houck

Dennis and Alysa Dick

Chris and one of the young

women leaders Heather Lee

Here comes Basketball

When football is over and the holidays start to roll around you know that Church basketball is going to start...teachers and priest are the ones that get to play. We have a blast watching the games, they are very fast paced and very entertaining. The boys are very competitive and aggressive when playing basketball, usually, Chris will foul out before the half; if not sometime before the game is over. He gets so frustrated at times..it's quit funny. Good luck boys!

Last Varsity game

What a wonderful evening to spend watching Chris and Dennis with the last Varsity game. It's always sad when a sports season comes to an end. The best way to end the season though is with a WIN and that is just what they did. What a great game!! In the locker room a lot of the guys that are Seniors realized that was there last game ever in High School. Chris was very emotional even when he got home. I think it hit him finally, that he will be graduating soon.

Thank you Veteran's

Today the 5Th graders at Lewis and Clark, put on a little concert singing songs about American and Veteran's. He invited Grandpa Crook to come and be honored. I am so Thankful for those men and women that have given of themselves to keep our country free. I am Thankful to the families that have had to go without and even lose a loved one for this precious and loving gift of freedom. If it weren't for those that have and are serving we wouldn't have the things that we sometimes take for granted; religion, education, freedom of speech, the right to vote, and the ones that sometimes are forgotten. Thank you to all those that have given so much so I can live in a free world.

Sometimes I think about America.

About her struggles through the years.

I think of people who did what they had to do

withthe strength to act throught their fears.

Sometimes I think about America.

About her future and her past.

I know I'm blessed to be living in liberty

in a land where freedom will last.

For the heroes. For the patriots.

for the soldiers. For all the pioneers.

I will always be an American.

And I'll always cry American tears.

Sometimes I think about America.

Abjout her people's legacy.

I wonder if they knew that what they had to do

would be known thoughtout history.

Sometimes I think about American.

About her pain along the way.

I know it had to be for our democracy,

for the world we live in today.

For the heroes. For the patriots.

For the soldiers. For all the pioneers.

I will always be an American.

And I'll always cry American tears.

For the heroes. For the patriots.

For the soldiers. for all the pioneers.

I will always be an American.

And I'll always cry American tears.

Yes, I will always be an American!

And I'll always cry American tears.

JV Bombers take on the Lions

Tonight on a very chilly evening Dennis had his last JV football game. This season seems like it went fast. We have enjoyed him play and the growth he has shown. This last game he played the whole game, boy was he tired after. The game was very exciting and close; needless to say we lost by one point. I know losing is hard, but by one point is not good. Good job guys!

Birthday Wishes

from Heather

My family is the best! Over the weekend Rick and the boys have been sneaking around and being all hush hush...I know it had something to do with my birthday coming up on Sunday, but had NO idea what was planned. I was very curious as to what was up. Sunday was a wonderful day, I had a early morning church meeting and when I walked in the house after there was 2 diet Pepsi's, candy, lotion and a balloon sitting on the top step wrapped in a big bow. I thought to myself, mmmm... someone's been in my house. It had been Kristen. When your older it's not like you are in school so everyone can wish you a happy birthday, but on a Sunday everyone can that knows. So needless to say I had a lot of birthday wishes. Heather called and Jolene sang "happy birthday" to me, we visited then Raychel sang. Then I received a gift the next day from them.
Back to Sunday, after church the boys dropped me off at home and headed back out, to do the "birthday" thing. About two hours later everyone was home and I was presented with my gift. Rick and each of the boys were holding a piece of paper say, " Happy" "Birthday" "Carey" "We Love you" each of them made and decorated their paper; and then a picture frame with a picture of them holding the papers. It was so sweet and thoughtful. It meant a lot that they put more thought in to my present then buying me something. My birthday was GREAT! Turning "41" wasn't so bad.

Thank you!!

Court of Honor

Tonight is a special night, Dennis will be receiving some Merit Badges, pins and his Varsity Scout letter. We are so proud of him, he has really worked hard and so close in working on his Eagle project. Our bishop also handed out some certificates for the boys accomplishing their Duty to God in the different parts of the priesthood. Chris was at he girls' powder puff so he missed his picture. We didn't know he was getting these.

Dennis has made these in his class, I have had the opportunity

to display them in my livingroom and enjoy his creative.