A JOB at last

After several months of searching, Bill has landed a job that will keep us here in the Dallas area for a little bit longer. I have to say how proud I am of his diligence and tirelessness these past months. Looking for a job can be an overwhelming prospect, yet Bill never flinched and remained steady in his search. Although he has been working consistently since November doing "project" work, this new position is permanent...well, as permanent as a job can be these days. So the Caspers will breathe a sigh of relief and settle in for a little while longer in the great state of Texas! Garrett and Grant are thrilled to be staying, Christine is leaving in August anyway, so is indifferent, Bill is just happy to be using his brain again, and I have learned to adapt to the "whatevers" of life...Texas is fine with me too. We mentioned staying to William in our weekly letter but he didn't comment on the matter. I guess he's busy with more important matters.

A Year of Service

It's been a year since we dropped our missionary off at the Provo MTC. I never thought the time would pass so quickly. Many prayers have been offered in his behalf...for growth as he learns a new language, for safety as he traipses around an uncertain area of the globe and for an increased knowledge of who he is and who his Savior is.

Colombia is a place William now loves. He has been loved by companions and members and investigators. He has helped to bring many people to an understanding of "Where they came from, why they're here on earth and where they will go after this life."

William is happy, healthy and "anxiously engaged in a good cause."

What more could we ask for.

Life is good.

We are blessed.

Barranquilla

William is LOVING Barranquilla. He is now serving with his 3rd companion since being transferred to the city a few short months ago. His new comp. is from Ecuador. We received the nicest email from a family in his area. They expressed their love for Elder Casper and William's love for them and the missionary work in Colombia. What a blessing and a comfort to hear from people who have physical contact with our sweet son. Life is good. We are blessed.

THANK YOU!!!

A HUGE thank you to Christine for taking the time to figure out our messed up blog! She focused for about 3 minutes and ta-dah! It is so fun to see a cleaned up, easy-to-read blog. She is a gem and I am glad that she is smarter than I... (not too hard to do).

Our songbird...

Just sitting here checking my email listening to our resident songbird! All of the Caspers enjoy singing...but Grant wins the prize here. He is in the shower right now singing "How Firm A Foundation"! Crack me up! His reportire is quite extensive. Everything from Paul McCartney to Beyonce to Lady GaGa to Michael Jackson to MoTab to...well, you get the idea. I am ashamed to say we sometimes have to ask him to "Please stop singing." (Oh...there he goes with Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen...I'm telling ya...) Anyway, our house is definitely filled with music...isn't life grand!?

Driving and the Holidays...

We left Dec. 18th for St. George (Bill's parents house) and the Las Vegas Bowl (BYU). It is about a 20 hour drive. Thank goodness we are use to driving long distances...our kids have been good car-travelers for many years. We were gone for 10days and spent a portion of 8 of those days, on the road! The details are too complicated to explain...just know that we needed a vacation from our vacation when we landed back in Texas on Sunday night!
It was great spending Christmas with family. We love Papa and Grandma so much. They are the best. We have to admit that the best part of Christmas was speaking to our missionary! We only had 40 minutes. But they were the best! We (I) talked fast...not wanting to waste a single minute. I was strong and didn't cry until the very end! William sounded great and even had a bit of an accent...the cadence in his voice is a bit different too. What joy he brings to us all!
We did miss a White Christmas though. It actually snowed here in Texas while we were in Utah! Go figure! Enjoy some of the highlights of our trip as you look at the pictures below...we do love to be together. We are in the business of making memories.

The Las Vegas Bowl...Enjoying some pre-game fun with Cosmo.


The kids FREEZING at the game!


Garrett hanging in Las Vegas with everyone's buddy, Peyton!


Grant and Christine snuggling up in their "Snuggies".


We enjoyed some time with Bill's ailing grandmother. Certainly we gained more from visiting her than she did. Her mind is going fast. We were grateful for some cherished moments.


Christine had fun playing with her little cousin Marra...You are never too old to play "Princesses."


Before we left Bill's parent's house in St. George, we had a family prayer. Bill's mom offered it. She prayed that our trip home would be part of our vacation and that we would enjoy ourselves. As the following pictures will show, we had a great ride home. We followed our handy-dandy GPS and it took us on a beautiful drive through Zion's National Park. It wasn't the most direct, but it was the most awesome!


Snowy mountains all around us in Zion's National Park.


It was SO cold driving through Zion's...as you can tell from the temperature gauge...-4 degrees!


Christine is giving a "thumbs up" to the ice that is building up on the INSIDE of her back window!


Garrett, our tuba player, had to take a picture by this "fitting" sign...too funny.


Here we are at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.


Most of the family at the Canyon.


Christine rocking her cool Letterman's Jacket at the Canyon!


Inside a cool tower at the South Rim of the Canyon.


Garrett catching up on his beauty sleep! :)

No Pictures....Just Catching Up

I always hesitate posting something if I don't have a picture to include...but really, it's been a while since I updated this and thought I would take a moment this early (6:15) December morning. I was pretty heavily involved with the massive Nativity Exhibit at church last weekend...not the actual nativities, but rounding up musical numbers to be performed during the exhibit...20 hours of live music. It was a job that my partner and I started back in the beginning of September. Everything turned out amazingly good. We were on our feet for two days straight...and running the entire time. Such a rewarding experience...service is a good thing. No regrets here.

I spent this week getting "Christmas" bought and partially wrapped and packages sent to a few family and friends. Our decorations this year are minimal. Outside lights, Christmas tree and several nativities...the banisters aren't wrapped, the mantle isn't done...heck I haven't even found the stocking holders so I can hang the stockings...no time or energy. I do have a reason for not going all out this year. We have decided to drive to St. George/Las Vegas to be with family and to see BYU play. We rarely leave at Christmas...but because it was just us for a very quiet Thanksgiving...we have decided that we need to make more of an effort to be with family. It is more work, but never something we would ever regret....the kids are excited to be with family!

Bill continues his job hunt. He's got lots of prospects and has had some interviews...we're just waiting for something to "stick". And it will. We have faith. In the meantime, he continues to do contract work, which is great! We want a permanent position, but know that there are people who do contract work forever...they like the flexibility...I can't see that being us. We like stability and someone else who will pay our benefits...:)

William is doing well. Getting ready to spend his first Christmas in the mission field. I loved being a missionary in Chile for Christmas. We joined with some elders and visited an orphanage. We served them lunch and sang some Christmas Hymns...lots of fond memories. William did say that in Colombia in his area of Barranquilla, the people totally deck their houses out with lights and decorations! The blow-up Santas and reindeer that have moving heads and music that plays if you clap your hands and tons of lights...he said it's crazy. That was not my experience in Chile. We can't wait to speak to him on Christmas Day!!!

Merry Christmas to ALL! Be safe and enjoy your family and friends and eat some really yummy food! And Cindy...if you are reading this...enjoy Hawaii for the Caspers, who are on an exotic-travel hiatus.