LifeVantage TrueTV - Watch. Learn. Share.

Just thought I'd share a little about the new side business I'm doing. Enjoy.

LifeVantage TrueTV - Watch. Learn. Share.

devastatingly beautiful

Ok, so some of you heard that we lost our power during the ice storm. It hit KY pretty hard, and there are still people in Western KY without power, who may not get it back for another month. Yikes.

Of course, I couldn't resist taking some photos of the world transformed. I wish I could have gotten some more. It was amazing, despite the huge amount of damage it did. The poor trees just snapped under the weight. It was equally as beautiful as it was destructive.

Lavender popsicle

Tangles-a-glitter

Oran + spoils of winter

I think Mom wanted me to write about what we learned. Well, we learned that we're not well prepared. But, we also learned first hand what we already knew -the prophets give wise council. What we had was very very helpful. But, we still have more work to do while the harvest is plenty.

A butane stove would be helpful (you can use them inside), and maybe better sleeping bags? But, out here, we'd have fared better if we'd had a wood burning stove. The gas fireplace just doesn't put out a lot of heat - it goes up the chimney. Candles are great - we used the 100 hour candles, and whatever I had around. We also have an oil lamp. The kids really liked playing games by lamp light.

I also personally learned that I like the quiet - no buzz of computers, refrigerators, etc. Of course, those things are wonderful, but it was nice to be without them for a while. It also helped me realize how much time I waste on the computer - I had a lot more time. Some of it had to be spent on getting things ready for later, but if I'd applied myself, I probably could have cleaned out a few closets, etc.

I have also been thinking a lot about how important the "law of the harvest" is - when you have no instant gratification (trips to the grocery store, or a light switch or instant heat). You have to prepare ahead. You have to gather the wood, can the foods, prepare everything ahead of time. So, that's something I'm going to work towards - learning how to better prepare things ahead of time.

Happy preparing! Love you all.

Video Message from Anziano Porter

You need to watch this until the very end!

More Pictures from the MTC

Rusty sent these pictures that I thought were good. Enjoy!

Italian Nametag

Patriotic Moroni - Provo Temple

Italian language lesson - practical application

Rusty at MTC

Rusty is having a great time at the MTC. His companion is Elder Haslam from Ogden, Utah. He reports the food is good, the elders are awesome and the language is going well. He has sent a few video clips about life in the MTC and a couple with messages for the family. I'll see if I can upload them so you can watch them. He especially wants mail from home. If you get a chance at FHE, you could have the kids write him a note or two.

His address: Anziano Porter, MTC Mailbox #123, ITA-ROM 0120, 2005 N. 900 E., Provo, UT 84604-1793

Also, you can email him at anzianoporter@myldsmail.net
He is able to check his email on his P-day, which is Tuesday.

Or, log into www.dearelder.com and email a letter to the website. They will print and deliver it free to the MTC the same day (depending on the time you send it to them).

Welcome McKinlee!

McKinlee Porter was born October 29, 2008 to Justin and Brittney at Banner Baywood Hospital in Mesa. She weighed in at 10 lbs. 11 oz. and was 21 inches long. She is such a cutie and both mom and baby are SOOO glad she is here! As soon as she was born she stretched out and hasn't been seen in fetal position since then. Rumor has it she walked back to the nursery from the delivery room :-) We are so glad the birth went well and both Brittney and McKinlee are doing well. Now if she will just learn to sleep through the night . . .



Madasin is such a great big sister. She loves McKinlee and helps mom as much as she can.

Congratulations JP & Brittney -- we are so proud of your choice to bring one of Heavenly Father's most precious spirits into the world. We know you are great parents and can't wait to see this little one as she grows up.

And so it begins...

I just loved this picture of Rusty and Carolyn. Rusty, we'll miss you! We're sorry

that we can't see you today or off at the airport tomorrow!

Take a good look Rusty, they're going to change so much while

you're in Italy! You may not recognize them when you get home!

Hee hee! Had to sneak a funny one in!

Rusty,

We will miss you but know that you'll be on the Lord's errand. Good luck and remember to always have faith in the Lord's plan. Have a great two years in ROME!!! We love you so much!

Alissa, Joe and the gang

Halloween fun

So we finally signed in so that we can post here. We had fun this Halloween. I recycled a couple of costumes... Allen was Spiderman for the second year in a row, Carolyn was Shirley Temple (Cami's old costume). Brian, a vampire, Jaci a 50's girl, Robert a scarecrow (Could he even scare a fly??), and Cami was a little Dutch girl, with real wooden shoes (gotta love ebay). That's the costume I made this year. I had a ton of fun making hers! I decided at the last minute to be a cave woman... I can rat my hair really well! Joe went as the invisible man... or at least he wished he could, he really didn't want to go or dress up!

SO WE MADE IT 2 WEEKS SO FAR, AND LIFE IS GREAT. THINKING BACK TO WHEN MADDIE WAS A NEWBORN, THIS TIME AROUND IS ALOT DIFFERENT. SHE SLEEPS ALL THE TIME ONLY CRYS WHEN SHE'S HUNGRY. THATS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU HAVE A 10 POUNDER. MADASIN IS THE BEST BIG SISTER EVER. LIFE IS GOOD

~BRITTNEY

A Finder Halloween

Ok - here are our costumes. Basically, I had little motivation this year, so I didn't do ANY sewing (which is unlike me). I didn't spend as much either... most of it is recycled costumes.

Kael, of course is Spider-Man black suit (thanks, Mom for that costume), Oran is a "Vampirate", Ethan is a regular pirate (we couldn't do the make-up due to his face being swollen and rashy from poison ivy!), Hana is an elf.

They had a lot of fun, as usual. Too much candy, as usual. And, out too late, as usual -- but it was a good time - we went to Sonic after all the trick-or-treating, and that was an even better treat for them. And, it wasn't TOO cold, either. :-)

Halloween Fun

I thought it would be fun if everyone posted their Halloween pictures on the family blog so we can enjoy all of the fun costumes. TJ suggested that we dress up as the Scooby-Doo gang this year. I thought it was a great idea and we had a lot of fun putting the costumes together.

Our Trunk-or-Treat party was lots of fun and we came away with way too much candy. Afterwards, we visited our Grandparents and didn't get home until 10:30. For our family of early-to-bedders, that was super late, but we really had a great time! Thankfully Halloween was Friday night this year!

We ran out of Scooby-Doo characters so I had to be the monster. The kids didn't like mom as a mummy but I had fun!

Opening the Call

We thought you might enjoy watching Rusty open his mission call with the BIG hunting knife dad made for him. The knife was presented to him at the Val Vista Ward's "Enos Journey" for the priests, a spiritual journey in the mountains where the young men have an opportunity to experience a testimony-building experience alone in the woods, similar to Enos.

We wanted all of you to be here when he opened the call, but since that wasn't possible, we hope you enjoy listening as he reads the call he received from President Monson.

Called to Serve

On August 29th, Rusty received his call to serve in the Rome, Italy Mission!

He is so honored to be called as a missionary and is so excited to be travelling to Europe to teach the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. He leaves November 19th for the MTC and will leave approximately January 19th for Italy.

We are now getting all the preparations complete to send him on his way. This week we purchased a new suit, a few shirts, etc. and he is working on the paperwork for his visa. He still needs to get an extra pair of glasses, complete the immunizations needed for overseas, and buy luggage.

He is excited to learn Italian and got a head start by taking a semester of Italian earlier this year. Hopefully he will continue to increase his vocabulary and begin reading the Book of Mormon before he leaves.


We've done a little research on the Rome area and find the climate to be mild -- it gets up to the low 90's in the summer and the winter is similar to Phoenix. The food, obviously, is supposed to be fabuloso -- and frankly, the food will most likely be a highlight of his mission, since his mother is not well-known for her cooking prowess.

We understand there has been property set aside (not sure if it's dedicated) for a temple in Italy. We also understand the work is slow -- and understandably so. It will be like trying to convert the LDS population in SLC to Judaism. But, the Lord loves and understands the people and blesses his faithful servants. Go Rusty!

Milestones

Kael lost his first baby tooth.

The first year ALL my children are in school full-time (sorry the photo is blurry). Notice it is still dark outside. This was right before Hana went to the bus stop to catch her 6:27am bus.

I am also in the process, in addition to working on building my business now that I have more time, re-starting my art pursuits. I can't express how much I want this, and now as I get closer to it, it is very exciting. The plan is to purchase some encaustic (beeswax-based paints) and supplies and self-teach for now, until I can afford to go to a workshop. This is going to be fun!

We're still trying to figure out where Rich is going to go to school, but feel it is the right thing for our family, and are determined to make it work *somehow*.

a camping we will go

Can you fit eight jumbo mallows in your mouth and still say "chubby bunny"? Lee, Amanda, and Laura can!



T.J. stalking his prey...


Ice cream making fun.





It wouldn't be camping without a little dirt =)

Four wheeling at its best.

We had a really great time at the campout. It is so nice to be in the mountains with the rain and cooler weather and to just be. The kids had a super time playing with cousins. I was touched by what a nice, good family we have. It is easy to take for granted how blessed we are because of good parents and grand parents. It's amazing. Thanks Mom & Dad! We love you.

2008 Family Campout Fun

We had a cool (and wet) time at the family campout last weekend. About 50 members of the family headed up to Long Valley to enjoy the cool weather and catch up with everyone. The little cousins played and played, had fun in the rain, got dirty - then muddy, painted t-shirts and rocks, roasted marshmallows, caught bugs & butterflies, hiked and glided down the Rigg's zipline.

The older cousins visited, played fun games, helped with the cooking, ate & laughed alot. The five schnauzers played and ate so much they slept right through the coyotes howling at night!
Thanks to all who came, brought food, helped set up & take down camp, cooked, washed dishes, organized crafts, activities and games, hauled equipment, reserved the camp (and don't forget the j-johns).

Too bad the temperature was 35 degrees hotter when we got home :-( Here are some of the cute photos we took! Enjoy! (P.S. Please post your own photos, too)

WE LOVE YOU!