Where has the time gone?

I am wondering what happens to the time when you are not documenting you every waking moment as do Mormon missionaries.
After returning from a full-time mission for the LDS church you are sort of lost without your daily planner; which is your life.
I cannot honestly tell you what I have done in this past year that actually amounts to something. Nothing is as satisfying as living the Gospel to a "T" w/o the influences of Satan and the world. And now you are thrust back into 'real' life expected to know what to do and how to do it. They make you spend anywhere from 3-12 weeks training how to become a missionary, but ZERO (0) weeks or even minutes on how to 'UN'become a missionary.




Anyway I was able to visit with some great people from Lynchburg, VA where I spent a total of 7 1/2 months. The Mays family was visiting Utah.
Carolyn- the one in front of me all the way on the right has a major crush on me. Every week at church she'd stand by me as we passed out programs and slyling slip he hand in mine until I YANKED it away.

They had "no idear" I'd been gone for over 1 year!









Oh how I miss the great states of West Virginia and Virginia. One day I will return.

Welcome to the World Max

So yesterday at 7:25pm my little nephew Max Alexander Stoker was born into this world.
He weighed a whopping 8lbs 15oz and measured 22" long. He was a big baby for little Tara's body.
No wonder she couldn't move for the last few weeks.

It is amazing what God can create. Looking at this little person squirm and coo just makes
you think what else God can do.

Little Max is going to have a great life with a big family who will love him to death.

He's a healthy little kid with only squished ears. Fat rolls downn his legs and beautiful
long hair.

We're excited Max finally decided to come even after a little coaxing of the doctors and
nurses he reluctantly entered into the world.

Welcome Max Alexander Stoker

Preston's back!

We are SO glad he made it home safely. And we're so grateful for his valiant service.
Way to go Preston!

Support Local Artists

Salt Lake is a wonderful place to live. There are so many different things to do here. One thing for example is attending local art shows. Tonight my Brother, Sister-in-law, and I went to a local art show just off 2300 E and 3500 S in Holladay. It was in an old antique building that back in the 1920s was used as an assembly line producing TVs and headphones.
We particularly went to see one of Alex's friend, Greg White. He is an amazing painter.
The painting pictured here is one that he painted and Alex is now the proud owner. I told him he needs to put it above Max's crib. That would surely make him sleep the entire night.

Aren't Blogs Great?

Don't you think that Blogs are just the most wonderful thing in the world? They keep everyone up to date. I mean all of my family lives within close proximity of me yet I have to read their blogs in order to find out what is going on in their lives.
I have to read one my cousin's to find out that they actually have personalities.
I have to read my sister-in-law's to find out they're going to Las Vegas...and having a baby boy.
I have to read some other family member's to realize their true opinions on life.
And this is all so amazing because I see all of these people at least once a week. What is going on here? Have we solely resorted to communicating through mass media and done away with the good old fashioned phone call or face-to-face communication? It sure seems like it. I think these Blog things are a good way to communicate to family across the miles, but across the street. Come on!

George Washington.
Who is this man? The first President of the United States you say?
Well do I have news for you. He was actually the 9th President of our grand country.
There were actually 8 men ahead of him.
I have been searching helplessly for the book I read this in, but have been unsuccessful. I read it at a Kohl's department store in West Valley City. This book contained many other facts that were only part true. And the feature story was Mr. Washington. He was, in fact, the 1st President under the new (current) constitution.
Take my word for it or you can go hunt for this book next to the Hallmark cards.

Also today is my parent's 28th wedding anniversary. WOW!! That is older than I am... hopefully. Way to go parentals.

Chrstmas has come and gone...Now what?

Well as most of you have known, Christmas has come and gone not without leaving some wonderful memories behind.

Wednesday we invited our friends, The Proctors, over to frost sugar cookies and eat them too. They are a great family who help us stay sane in this crazy world. Denise supplies us with plenty of Diet Coke to soothe the soul.

We ate and talked for nearly 2 hours. Then we split for our respective family parties.


Ours began with eating homemade goodness at G-ma and G-pa's home.

The after dinner entertainment included the usual musical performances, this year included some different arrangements consisting of Geneil and Cindy (Flute & Piano). It was quite enjoyable and I wished they could have gone on longer.

It was a great Christmas. Now we are spending the weekend digging ourselves out of our snow tunnels. Today I measured on our Grill (7in) and a few spots in the grass (15-17in). CRAZY!! But i am loving every minute of it. :)