Jason and Austin December 2005
Elder Sam Schull and Ashlyn
I wish I had captured more of his first minutes off the plane, but I had my hands full! ;-) I'm going to have to get copies from Danale and Mindy!
We hung out at the airport for ever! It was so exciting to see him that nobody wanted to leave! I think everyone had sore cheeks from smiling when we finally left.
Sam, Steven, Ashlyn, Jason, Danale, Colton and Justina.jpg)
Colton and Ashlyn
Welcome home Sam! We missed you!
Lauren as a cheerleader, Jessica as a cat, Austin as a "motorcross guy",
and Ashlyn as a lady bug.
This kids had so much fun at the party! They had a cake walk, face painting, cookie decorating and that fishing game that every carnival seems to have. You know, where they throw the line over and "catch" some plastic toy that usually finds its way to your garbage can...
Grandpa (Bill Hurd) and Ashlyn
At the end of the night, the kids got to go "trunk or treating". If you haven't heard of it, trunk or treating is where our friends decorate their trunks or back of a truck or van with Halloween decor and park in the church parking lot. The kids go "trunk" to trunk and trick or treat. It is always fun to see what people come up with!
We had a good time. I can't believe it's almost Halloween!
I loved the idea so much, I decided to host a party in a couple of weeks! Want to come? I can't wait!
Here are the ladies who took such good care of us
Kristie Finley, Massage Therapist & Lori Leist, Esthetician
(559) 940-2126 .... (559)392-0467
I put up a sign in my front yard. I know to many of you this was a no brainer, but I have been struggling for weeks!
As soon as I learn about Proposition 8 and the effects this will have on our children if it doesn't pass, I was completely in support of it. At church, we have been urged to support this in any way that we can. They had signs and bumper stickers we could pick up to display and show our support and raise awareness.
As soon as I thought about putting a sign in my front yard, I became a little troubled. Okay, a lot troubled. I couldn't stop thinking about it. My next door neighbors are a same sex couple. I wasn't sure how they would take it. Some people see this as a hate issue and I didn't want to offend them.
A few days went by and I received an email from someone saying a group was going to be going door to door to raise awareness of Proposition 8. I wasn't able to go, but once again, I felt troubled and this time even more guilty.
At church the next Sunday, my home teacher asked if I wanted him to put a bumper sticker on my car. I had quick flashes in my mind of pulling into the parking lot of my hair salon (my hair dresser is gay), and to Jessica's soccer practice (one of the little girls on her team was adopted by a same sex couple). I'm not really a bumper sticker person anyway, but I felt really guilty when I declined.
I know this is an important cause. Wasn't it enough if I just vote "Yes"? Do I have to offend my friends? Am I offending God by not putting a sign in my front yard? Will my one sign make a difference? Will my friends understand that I am just trying to protect my right to teach my children what I believe?
The answer came to me. I do support Proposition 8 and I need to stand up for what I believe. The sign is up in my front yard. I'm glad it is yellow and blue. It's kind of a happy sign and it makes me feel good to see it there.
motorcycles,
bikes... He can fix the closet door that doesn't want to stay on track or the drawer to my desk that just gave up. He can fix my vacuum when it makes more of a mess than it was supposed to clean.
If it has wires, he can make it work. He put a timer on the kids bathroom light so it would turn off and scare them out of their hour long showers! He rewired the chandelier in the babies room so I don't have to run a cord down the wall. He set up my computer so I have two screens that work together! He drilled holes in my ceiling to wire his projector through the attic so I don't have to see the wires. 
the projector in our bedroom
He wired speakers through my whole house so I can play music while I clean. He wired the TV in the RV to run the the stereo speakers, put lights in my garage, hung new ceiling fans- should I keep going? This wiring list could be very long! I'll move on. I'm sure you get the point.
He is the first to jump out of bed in the middle of the night to check on the unknown sound. (Sometimes in the complete buff, much to my amusement!) The one who's eyes become more alert, and who's back straightens as he tightens his hold on my hand when he thinks there may be danger near by... I always feel safe when he is around.
Then there is that incredibly smart and capable side that I admire so much.
Hanging on my office wall are several certificates and diplomas that he worked hard to achieve: a degree in finance, a masters in business, law school, state bar certificate and now, his brokers license. I am in awe of his hard work and dedication. He loves to learn! He loves the history channel, the "How It's Made" and "Mythbusters" shows. He is like a sponge for knowledge.
He can answer any question the kids have. "How do they make the bridges over the water?" "Where does the rain come from?" "What is gravity anyway?" "What makes that rocket fly?" I often laugh at the random knowledge he has in his head. He can answer all the question that I have. "How is it that when I talk into a cell phone in the US, someone in Italy can hear me? I know the words to that answer, but I don't get how that works." Somehow, he always knows the answers. He has an amazing ability to explain things in a way that makes it really easy to understand.
There is the side of him that is still just a big kid! He loves to play! He is always looking at "toys" online. He loves to ride his motorcycle,
spend the day out on the lake,
play sports with the kids and with his friends.
He loves comedy and often has to pause the TV to finish laughing! He has the best sense of humor!
I could go on forever, but tonight, it was the gentle father in him that had my attention.
Jason and Ashlyn October 2007
I was downstairs and I thought I heard Ashlyn crying. I had put her to sleep about 20 minutes earlier. I picked up the video baby monitor to see if she was okay. A grin spread across my face as I saw Jason's strong hand reach down to pat her back. I watched and listened as he whispered, "Papa's here... it's okay... Papa's here" as he stroked her hair and back. Time seemed to stand still around me and I was drawn in to the tenderness in his voice. Her cry turned into a complaint, and then contentment as she felt herself surrounded by his love. After a few minutes, I heard her protest as he started to leave. His gentle voice soothed and quieted her again. After a small rustling noise, I saw him place his shirt next to her in the crib and sneak out.
I didn't think it was possible, but in that moment, I fell even deeper in love.
Mike, Jason and Matt
Tyler and Aaron
Margaret, Tara and Jodie
Top: Kyle, Kale, Angie and Jason. Bottom: Margaret, Tara and Jodie
Of course, by then end of the game, we shuffled seats so the girls could hang out and talk! We had a great night!
Happy Birthday Jason! I love you!
This year, the kids are older and more responsible, so we were able to let them go to the various activities without having to all stay together. They loved the freedom of being able to run around with their friends.
Jason and Ashlyn danced to the music in the quad area.Ashlyn loves music! It was a fun night and it finally felt like fall!
