I can't explain how much Amber means to me and the joy she brings me everyday! You all have children of your own, so I know you all know. It's just so real to me lately! It's amazing! I love you all so much and am so excited about Palm Springs. See you soon!
Love, Crys
Just a quick note to tell each of you how very blessed we feel we are to have you for our family & thank each of you for being the special spirits that you are. I read recently that you can always tell the importance of anything by the amount of direct opposition to its accomplishment. Well, each of you are sooooo very important & need to know that. You need to know that we need each of you to make our family all that it can be. We seem to have our share of challenges, don't we but we are always loved & cared for by our Father in Heaven. He will give each of us the strength we need, when we need it. Each of you have always been a blessing to each member of your family in a million ways. We wouldn't be complete without every single one of you!
I just couldn't go into bed without letting you know that you give my life meaning & I'm both proud & grateful to be your Mother & Grandmother & yes, Mother-in-law!! Guess I need to crash as I have a lesson to teach the YW tomorrow on extended families & how special they are & why they/we should cultivate an on-going association to bring us memories to last throughout our lives. It's a perfect lesson & you can believe I am going to bring up our Family Reunion!
Sweet Dreams!
Your Mom
P.S. Garry sends his love & prayers, too!
Dan and I decided that our family needed some family time, without friends. So we decided to go on a hike to Silly Mountain. It was the first hike with all of us. We figured we needed to start finding things that really don't cost that much. :)
This was the beginning of our adventure. Everyone had a buddy. Jacob and Elijah, Dan and Joseph, and Isaac and Michael were with me. Obviously I stepped back to take the picture. 
This picture is of me with all the boys when we got to the top. Superstition Mountain is in the back. Everyone still doing great and happy!
Joseph took this picture of Dan, Michael, and I. My boys are getting pretty good at getting us in the pictures. Maybe I'll start having more of me with Dan. :)
And of course, what do all boys do out in the wilderness.......pee. (I hope I don't offend anyone with this picture. I just thought I'd share my boys in all their glory.)
Then we stopped and had the lunches we all carried in. We were in clean-up mode at this point. Yes, Dan used the end of a golf club for his walking stick.
Everyone had a good time. In fact, Joseph and Jacob commented on the way back, that they thought it was going to be boring, but it was fun. That is what every parent wants to hear after they force their children to do something they initially don't want too. We hiked for about 2 hrs. and went about 3 miles. You can only go as fast as the slowest person. :)) Isaac did awesome!!!
I'm not really interested in going hiking until the fall. I just assume leave the snakes be.
Love you guys!
Dori
Hi family!
Just thinking about everyone and was hoping you were all having a good weekend. Things are ok here. We woke up to 5 inches of snow again. Man...they really weren't kidding when they said not to put your plants out until after Memorial Day. "In case" of snow. And from what we're told, it starts getting cold and snowing in September. So...good thing we don't have to be here forever. Can't wait to be by our family and friends. ( And preferably the beach! ) :) Anyway, I love you all. Looking forward to seeing you this summer. Have a great weekend!
Love, Crys
As I'm sure most of you have spoken with Mom, you all know about how the blog was open for anyone to read. I had it set up that way so our family who had not yet joined the blog as authors, could read it. I had completely forgotten that it was considered an open blog. After speaking with Mom, I came right into the blog and made our site private. That way NO ONE can even read it, let alone post comments or add posts themselves. I just wanted you all to know. I'm sorry I put our privacy in jeopardy. I love you all and apologize.
Crys
Hi Sweet Family,
Hope you are all doing very well with your sweet families. Just a brief day here on the home front. We had 3 hits today on credit thru Home Depot. Because Citicorp Credit was on top of things & I had not used my card since 2003 to do the floors in the kitchen, they called to see if I had charged anything today. Of course, we had not, so they put a block on it; got out the videos of the two Asian men who used the acct. to buy 2 $500 gift cards , a barbeque, work gloves, a screwdriver & some cement ($1266.66). That was down at the Fairmount & Mission Gorge area & then they went up to the Lemon Grove Home Depot ($1500.00) but the information didn't seem to jive & by that time there was a block on it from an email saying it was a stolen card (the Fairmount store jumped right on it to its 20 local Home Depots). There was some additional information obtained that will be released to the police & low & behold, since that hadn't worked to their liking, they called in to have their closed acct/card reopened over the phone. The man couldn't answer all the necessary questions - which is a wonder since he had all the information - but the fraud alert was already in place & so they were unsuccessful. We are hopeful that the videos they have of them - Sammy Ung & friend - that real progress will start to come forth from the police dept. We have to wait until our Officer comes back on duty Sat. pm. to see where he takes it from there. We even have a cell # that was used to call & verify that Sammy was an authorized user on our card. I tell you , these guys were really something! Let's us know that we sure aren't the first with this scam!
We have been truly blessed, we realize, & pray that you will all be the same!
Much Love,
Mom & Garry
Hi Everyone!
I love these pictures! They just make me happy. I wanted to share the joy. Hope everyone had a good weekend. I love you gals! :)
These pictures were taken at Jacob's Birthday Party last year. Don't they look like they're having fun? YUM! YUM! :) Love you guys! I just thought I'd help with your morning!
Love-
Dori
Dear Family,
We really appreciate your kind words & show of support for our recent dilema. It has been devastationg to say the least & we have really felt vulnerable. I can't really explain how sorry I am for exposing all of you all to any possible problems re: your SSN#. There have been so many times when I needed them for various & sundry things - legal especially -that I have just carried them with me for ages. I never realized what could happen if they got in the wrong hands. I just don't think that way but obviously will have to from now on. We discover each day, more & more things. Today, I realized they got my old passport, my original birth certificate with my feet prints on the side & some of my Dad's papers from when he came over from Scotland. Also, a few other things of his. We have told the neighbors so that they can be on the look out, too. Kids walk up & down this street all the time as well as drivers that don't live down here - maybe they really were checking the place out.
In any event, please know that we are thinking of each of you & sending our love your way. Please keep us in your prayers. We are convinced that the multitude of things that keep going wrong in our lives right now, are Adversarial driven. Especially since we have accepted the Mission Call.
XOXOXO to each daughter, son in law, & grandchild. We miss you all!
Mom & Garry
Hi guys! In regards to the identity theft stuff: I found that you should call one of the top credit reporting agencies and report a possible identity theft. I called Equifax at 888-766-0008 and did it right over the phone. They will forward the alert on to the other two, Transunion and something like Exteria or however its spelled. Anyhow, I'm going to be looking into what other things can be done, but thought I'd share that if no one else was aware of it.
c ya!
Cheryl
Hi everyone!
I had a few pictures I wanted to share of Amber. It's been so much warmer than it was last week. It's funny! The evening it snowed so much, the snow melted by that afternoon. A miracle!!! And it's been pretty warm, especially for North Dakota. Amber and I have been wearing our summer clothes. I even dared to put some shorts on, which never happens 'cause my legs are neon white!!! But since EVERYONE here has the same issue, I figured it's ok. I fit in!!! But I thought the pictures of Amber in her summer outfit were so cute! I just had to post a few. Love you all. Hope things are going well for all of you! Hey, thanks Dori and Dan for wishing Nick a Happy Birthday! He appreciated it. Talk to ya later!
Love, Crys
As you know by now, Mom and Garry had a break in, and Mom's day-planner was stolen. Inside the planner were each of the girls' SSN's, with their first name only. Garry's bank has already contacted him regarding attempted new lines of credit under his name...these crooks know what they're doing, and they work fast! ID theft is the #1 crime in the nation, and it is the most difficult to track the crooks because they have gotten the $ and moved on weeks or months before you know what even happened.
To be clear: anyone who has a SSN, and a connection with access a credit checking system (a friend at a bank, credit card collection company, insurance company, or a host of others), can enter the SSN and immediately access credit records with the person's full name, date of birth, address, etc., and then steal their identity. We just wanted to pass this information along so everyone can take the necessary precautions (or in this case, now that your information has been floating around for a couple of days), defensive actions to protect their identity, as well as their spouse's, since a credit check may also include the name and SSN of a listed spouse.
We went on line and signed up for LifeLock (www.lifelock.com). We are not saying that everyone should sign up, but it may be worth looking into. It costs $110/year, per adult in the same household, but includes a $1 Million guarantee that your identity will be kept safe. Here's how it works:
1) drug addict goes to Best Buy with your name and SSN to open a line of credit to purchase a computer to steal more identities.
2) your credit is flagged, and ANY company or bank, etc. desiring to open a new line of credit, or a purchase based on your credit, must contact you first.
3) no contact with you, or unsatisfactory answers to security questions = denial of credit.
4) there is a $1 Million guarantee that your identity will be protected.
Good luck, and may you all be safe (your credit included). Nick, thanks for doing what you do for our country!! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Dan and Dori
Hi Guys,
Greetings All,
Wouldn't do it. Here they are typed out!!!
Hi Guys,
I thought it would be fun to have some pictures of cousins!! This is when Amber was here a week after Michael was born. Lexi and Cole were here right after Christmas. Chris was here for Michael's Blessing. (This was the only picture I had where you could see his face a little bit. :) ) My boys absolutely LOVE their cousins. They're always asking when they will get to see them again. I'm so glad we get to be with each other as much as we do. Wish it was more. Hopefully, we will get some good pictures of them this July. :))))))))))
Love you!
Dori
Ok...so this is what I wake up to this morning!!! Mind you YESTERDAY, last night in fact, we all went for a walk. It was chilly but there was NO SNOW!!! Now there is at least six inches of snow. We saw a thing on tv last night for blizzard warning, but it wasn't for our county. So we didn't think anything about it. I went to check on Amber at 5am and saw, to my horror...THIS! UGGHHH!!! So much for it getting better. Anyway, at least I still think it's pretty. Love you all...enjoy your warm sun. :(
Apparently there was a blizzard...whouda thought?!!!
Last night I went to show Dan the pictures from the blog, since he hasn't had a chance to see them. I also planned to copy some of the pictures from the blog and paste them to a separate file. But I noticed some of the pictures are gone. Like Chris and his girlfriend, the picture of Cheryl and Michael, and Crys and I holding the babies. By some chance is someone cutting and pasting the pictures, instead of copying? I don't know if there is a way to paste those pictures back up or not. Crys, do you know? I know we all want these pictures. :)
Love-
Dori
I get "daily gems" from my mother-in-law usually everyday through email. Todays' was really awesome and I thought I'd share it with you all. Love you!!!
Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She did n't mention anything about the reason
for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining
Silver
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire
and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then
she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and
purifier of silver' ;;; She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed
The woman was silent for a moment Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered,
'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
'Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.'
Hi guys, sorry for not joining with all of you sooner. I don't get on the computer half as much as I use to. too bad we didn't have this when I spent most of my day on line. Oh well, I'll just have to try and do what I can when I can. I have been reading once in a while and love the pictures. I've printed them out to have on my frig. Their all growing up tooo... fast! Heck! Christopher is going to be 17 soon enough. Now that's CraZy!!! I will work on getting some pictures on here. I will have to figure out how to do, that, next!
Take care of ya all!
Cheryl
Man, you guys are being so sweet to me today. I think you guys are all inspired to lift my spirits. Thanks for the sweet comments, pictures, and compliments. They almost makes me feel like I might be doing something right. (At least I have good intentions. :))
Utahna, I think about you almost everytime I have a fresh smoothie or see the Golden Graham box. You're so good to make the kids fresh, healthy smoothies almost everyday, (I wanted to say everyday, but I thought I'd make rrom for the one time the blender broke). The reason I think about you with Golden Grahams is because I remember talking to you once after you made those treats on the box. I can't even tell you how many times I intend to make them, but never get to it. So don't sell yourself short. :)
Crys, I'm so glad I get to talk to you about formula, water, diaper size, baby food, and suggestions for meals. Did everyone know, Crys actually tries different recipies in cookbooks. BRAVE!! She's given me several suggestions. And I think she is doing an awesome job being a mom.
This morning I was remembering how one year I woke up really early to make Cheryl some Coffee Cake for her birthday, before Seminary. I clearly was asleep because I added something like 1 1/4 c. of milk instead of the 1/4 c. milk it called for. I panicked when I saw the consistency. So I went and woke mom up for help. I remember she said let's just add bisquick to thicken it. And it worked. Thanks again for the rescue. Funny how sometimes out of the blue you remember things. Thought I'd just share a couple of them lately. :)
I really enjoy this communication. I get to kind of have a conversation without the constant interruptions. Well, at least none that interfere with all of us and you don't have to hear any of it. :)
Cheryl is really missing out. She needs to get on!!!!
Love you guys!
Dori
Ok......... "big sis" to the rescue! I will post some great pics of you, Dori, that you've already seen but since you said you don't have as many pics of you and Dan as you'd like...... here are two great ones for everyone ELSE to see!
I just had to post this picture of Dori and Michael. I love it!!! You gotta love how little Michael was smiling with Dori's touch. He knows who his Mommy is. :) Hope you all have a great day. Love you!
Love, Crys
So...Seeing all these pictures of everyone is so awesome. It's crazy to think that we are all living separate lives and have missed out on so much. But I'm glad we have this now and are able to stay in contact more and see each other, even if it's pictures! I went through some old pictures that I don't think you all have seen. Most of them are when Nick and I lived in Monterey. Seems like a lifetime ago. We miss it!!! :( But we are liking it here a lot more. It's starting to warm up a lot. So it's so much better!!! :) Anyway, here are a few of the pictures. Love you guys! Can't wait to see you!!!
Love, Crys
Christmas time in Utah 2006
Our 2nd Anniversary
May 28, 2007
Halloween 2006 ( Harry Potter and Hermione Granger)
Halloween party at our house
When I first moved to Monterey
Hi All,
Argh! Just when I think I've got it, it freezes! What can I say? Two more and then I'll take a break with Atwell family pictures for a while!
It seems like I am the busiest one on the blog!!! Oh well! A few more pictures of the family from our cruise that you probably never got to see! A bit old..... but still fun!
I started this in comments but figured I wanted it for everyone so I went back to New Post......anyway....
Thanks, Dori! Glad you picked a picture of me with my face covered!! I had to enlarge it to see if it was me. I don't even remember taking that picture! :)
Anyway, I was glad to make the calls. I hope I wasn't overbearing or pressuring in any way, either. I was just trying to coordinate schedules with 4 busy families--no big deal!! :)
I've marked that date on our calendar, too. On a side note, after I got off the phone with everyone, Tom tells me, "You know, Hon, that's the weekend I am in LA for a tournament on Sat. and Sunday." I could just scream! I was worried about coordinating 3 other families, and my own one had an issue! No worries... he'll be around Friday and Monday so we can work out some "seeing time" of him--if not, he won't be missed! hee hee This is all about the girls reuniting anyways!!:):) Right? Right? Can I get an "Amen, Sista!?"
So, I don't want that minor conflict to change our plan of the 11th thru 14th. If that works for Cheryl, it seems to be the one that works best for everyone else, too. We'll wait to hear from Cheryl for confirmation. :)
So, I'll see if I can post some pictures tomorrow from work. We'll see! Dori's were really good. Great picture of Mom and Garry! :)
Miss you all. Love you all!
xoxox
Utahna
Thanks Utahna for calling around to find out the best dates for our family reunion. I didn't want to be overbearing about the whole thing, so I'm glad you called. I marked our calander for the 11th thru14th. If we need to change it, just let me know. I'm glad to know of a date that I'll get to see and be with my sisters again. I really do appreciate our friendships!! Love ya-
Here's a few more of Amber...I just can't help taking pictures of her. She's so cute! Anyway...love you!
Hello! :)
I just got off the phone with Chris a little bit ago. He is planning on joining the blog too, so that's exciting. Anyway, he sent me a picture of his girlfriend Jordon and himself. I thought it was a great picture, so I'm posting it! (Don't worry, I asked him!) Anyway, talk with ya'll later! Love you!
Crys
