Goodbye Cartagena

William was transferred this week. With only two more transfers left in his mission and the last one being his transfer to Texas, most likely Monteria will be is last area. I looked up the city on our map of Colombia and have to admit that I wasn't thrilled with what I saw. I haven't worried about William's safety while he has been in Colombia...he's been fortunate to serve mainly in the coastal areas where there are a fair amount of tourists. Monteria is a more interior region...Grant asked if William was near the "forest". It's no secret that the jungles of Colombia are the problem areas. He is equal distance from both the mission home in Barranquilla and Medellin (the once infamous drug capitol of Colombia). Nevertheless, I am certain that William will continue to be kept safe. He has spent much of the past several months with only Latins so serving with a gringo will be a change of pace for him. He mentioned to Christine that he was going to an area "where the sun always shines and it's HOT". Sounds like heaven to me :) We are counting the days until we see our Sweet William again...83 to be exact!

The Big 2-1...

21 years ago today William joined our family. Although he came into the world with a few complications, he has been nothing but a pleasure. We are hoping that someone in Colombia is making the day a little bit special for him...not that he is focusing on himself today, but a "happy birthday" is always nice to hear. I deposited some $ into his account and told him to buy something he's been wanting...he thought he might buy a hammock or a Colombian sombrero! No big surprise...I did tell him to think about it first...really, how in the world is he going to transport a sombrero? I can just see him now getting off the plane wearing a huge sombrero...ugh...some things never change :) And about the hammock...we don't have a couple of big trees to tie the thing to...maybe re-think that too and just take your companion to lunch! I did "cave" and send him a box with a few things...you know, it cost $56 to send $20 worth of crap...actually I did find a pair of shoes on sale, so the value was a little more, but you get the idea...I tucked some little bottles of Dr Pepper in the shoes...hopefully the DP didn't explode...he will be most excited about his beloved Dr Pepper :) Happy Birthday Elder Casper...see you in 3 1/2 months!

Marching on...

Like they say..."everything is bigger in Texas", especially when you are talking marching bands. This was Garrett's first marching competition this season and, as you can see, I had to take two pictures to get the entire band...we are "end zone to end zone". We were one of the last bands to perform but the spectators hung around to watch "us" march...the mere presence of the band, some 680 strong, is a sight to behold! "The best band in the land"...we were awarded a #1 ranking (the highest) #1 drum line and 4th overall....way to go kids!


The band is seated, awaiting the results from the judges...there is a band sitting above them also...gives a perspective on the size of our band.

Texas/OU Weekend

Grant and Dad had a great time at the Texas/Oklahoma "Red River Shoot-Out"! They arrived at the fair grounds early enough to ride some rides and eat a healthy lunch of Texas fried food! Kickoff was at 2:30 and the crowds were massive! It was perfect football weather. Reid, Grant's uncle from Austin, enjoyed the game with Bill and Grant. Although Texas choked at the end...the game was awesome. The fans stand for most of the game, and the bands give a great half time show. This is Texas football at it's finest. If you are a football fan, THIS is the game for you! Thanks, Grandpa McClintic, for sharing your coveted tickets...Bill and Grant had a blast!

Having fun on the rides at the State Fair of Texas before the big game!

Grant wants to be a football player!

Texas Proud!

Reid-Grant-Bill (Check out the fans...Texas "burnt orange" and OU red)

Blast from the Past

A short 29 years ago, Shauna Vander Meide (Swenson back then) and I were roommates at BYU...we lived in Stover Hall-Helaman Halls and had many great times together...we shared a love for Barry Manilow and a genuine appreciation for each other. We got along great and although Shauna was only at BYU for our freshman year, we have always tried to stay in touch, usually through yearly Christmas cards. She came to Dallas a couple of weeks ago with her husband, who had business here. (why else would anyone come to Dallas...I mean really?) Anyway, we sat in a comfy booth, sipping Diet Pepsi---wishing it were Diet Coke:(--and talked and talked. Picking up just where we had left off so many years ago...aren't friends a great thing? I am blessed.

Cruisin'

The back of the ship somewhere in the middle of the ocean...with the wind in our hair and not a care in the world :)

Outside our hotel with Biscayne Bay Miami Florida in the background.

I just returned from my annual "girl's weekend" with my bestest college friend Jennie. We typically head for a few days to Hilton Head, SC. This year I had the bright idea that a little cruise to the Bahamas would be fun...and it was...but, we both agreed that cruises are for couples. We enjoyed the sun, water, food, conversation, entertainment, etc, but we really missed our husbands. We sailed on the Norwegian Sky and loved sitting on the balcony of our room to read or chat...our time away from the responsibilities of motherhood is always rejuvenating...we saw a couple of old ladies standing on the sidewalk as we were leaving the ship...Jennie said, "there we are in 30 years, still doing our girl's weekends" :) I like this tradition and hope it does last another 30 years... Can I just say that I love my life...I have a lot to be grateful for, and this little get-away was evidence of my blessed life...thanks to my supportive husband.

Cartagena Colombia

I haven't been very good about posting info on William. He is doing great! He was transferred about 7 weeks ago back to Cartagena. He loves that city! He is training a new missionary from Ecuador. He only has about 5 months left as a full-time missionary. The time really is flying by! Here is a recent letter from him:

hey there mom
first of all, im great!
what, youre with college friends? sounds like a ton o fun,
wow jess is getting married. to quote napoleon dynomite when his brother ran over the
tupperware "dang it".jk. hey tell them i said hola y que mas, y claro que si, felicitaciones a jessica. (translation...basically just congratulations to Jess :)
mom i am the one who feels older. im almost 21 :O
cartagena.....bacanisimo!!!! thats colombian talk for totally awesome. im sweating
everyday but im happy.well im glad that yall liked the pics, hardrock cafe is everywhere, and the food is so good, i felt at home i kid you not. of course that lunch almost made me broke but that was worth it. there is a gift shop there ill see what i can do about the t-shirts.
well the new pres is awesome, i think its because hes young and says that he wants to put trust in his missionaries more than anything... i smell cellphones :D
he even took the no coke or pepsi thing away.... so we're free.by the way, could you send some DP this way?.....i want it, i am sure that this is my blessing for being patient and obedient to the mission rules. there is hope and there is DR PEPPER :P
me im just tired.... 3 days of a conference for the dls and trainers to learn how to
teach better and teach better guided by the spirit.WOW what a 3 days it was. we really are gonna turn the mission around and help even more people feel the spirit and lead them to covenants with their heavenly father and really be happy forever.
we were watching the training videos from a new dvd of preach my gospel and it wasnt in spanish cause its so new..... so elder backman, mortenson, call and miller all translated for the rest of us.... i got lucky and didnt have to do it, its kinda hard to translate the general authorities for their use of such big and complicated words :P
well i am so excited to just get out there and really push myself to really help the
people that im teaching more than i have been. well we're now teaching a family that are really excited about getting baptized and getting married and all that good stuff. its really cool cause my comp will get to have a baptism in his first transfer...4 of them...
the dad (Ruber)
the mom(LuzMeri)
and a son(Nafer)
the other is a young man that was a reference from a ward member... his aunt.
his name is Jaido and hes my age and has a great desire to be baptized. it is soooooo cool that we have these people and i know we will find a ton more.
well i love you guys and i always pray for yall
ps
fotos porfavor
thanks mom for the shirt and pants those things got here fast
and the bubba gump shrimp shirt really got me quoting forest gump in his voice to the other gringo in the house :P tell my friends to write through my email i am not sure what to ask them cause i havent heard from any of them in forever.

Hopefully I'll figure out how to post a picture from his email...keeping my fingers crossed :)