The Chambers and Daines got together and had a fun day of making season blocks and we wanted to show you how fun they turned out. We also had fun with the pineapple glasses. Look at Brooklyn, Braden and Christina!!!
July 2, 2008
June 21, 2008
Melissa & Creighton's reception at Mack Park
I am trying to get better at learning how to post these. It seems I can't do it until my daughter, Melanie comes over. She walks me through step by step. Maybe when I have done it 10 more times I will remember how. I had to show you one of the pictures from Melissa's wedding reception. It is a bit dark so I will print some more when I have downloaded the latest ones from our photographer. This was such a special day and the rainy day turned out beautiful. This was May 27, 2008. The wedding was the following day. Her reception was in Pocatello, Idaho on May 28, 2008. I will have to include a picture from that reception as well.
May 10, 2008
Hi everyone. Sorry that I've taken so much time but I did try to post a blog a couple of weeks ago. My bad. I am just writing a few of the highlights of DC. #1 The Tidal Basin. This walk was gorgeous!There were cool paddle boats floating in there and that looked fun but I am glad we didn't do that. Sorry that these pictures are messing up but at least you can see them right? #2 Mermaid Man. There was a way cool statue in one of the bridges we walked across. It was the coolest and ugliest thing I've ever seen. #3 Air Force Memorial. As you can see, we have Melanie, Devin, and Dad with the three pillars and the moon in the background. These puppies were massive. #658 The Smithsonian Castle. Wow it was pretty and I was in love. I swore to myself that I am going to live in a castle! I would show more and or tell more but these pictures are being crappy on me. Ha ha so I think I'll go before I punch the wall or something. -Jo (p.s. don't comment on my poor picture inserting. I can do it another route but that takes too long so you can just call me crazy)April 19, 2008
World War II Memorial
Back to Thursday. The WWII Memorial was the most impressive. 
It sits between the Washington and Lincoln Memorials, but is unobtrusive because of an elliptical shape, sunken in the middle with a large pool with facing fountains. At either end, there is a tower representing a theater of war (Atlantic in this picture ==>). Each of the campaigns is engraved in stone around a smaller fountain at the base of each tower. Here I am standing at the base of the Pacific tower, with a quote from Gen. 
MacArthur behind, and some of the later campaigns (Iwo) below to my left (<==). Flanking each tower are several (54 or 56) smaller towers, each with a metal garland, and engraved with the name of a State or Territory. Here is Utah's share of the monument. 
In the middle of the monument, as you face the Lincoln Memorial, there was a semi-circular granite wall with lots of gold stars mounted on it. Each star represented 5,000 U.S. Soldiers who lost their lives in that war. At the foot of the fountain below, the large engraving reads "MARK THE PRICE OF FREEDOM"
On both sides of the stars were more waterfalls. Here is a shot, looking away from the Washington Monument, that gives you a better overall view.
It sits between the Washington and Lincoln Memorials, but is unobtrusive because of an elliptical shape, sunken in the middle with a large pool with facing fountains. At either end, there is a tower representing a theater of war (Atlantic in this picture ==>). Each of the campaigns is engraved in stone around a smaller fountain at the base of each tower. Here I am standing at the base of the Pacific tower, with a quote from Gen. 
MacArthur behind, and some of the later campaigns (Iwo) below to my left (<==). Flanking each tower are several (54 or 56) smaller towers, each with a metal garland, and engraved with the name of a State or Territory. Here is Utah's share of the monument. In the middle of the monument, as you face the Lincoln Memorial, there was a semi-circular granite wall with lots of gold stars mounted on it. Each star represented 5,000 U.S. Soldiers who lost their lives in that war. At the foot of the fountain below, the large engraving reads "MARK THE PRICE OF FREEDOM"On both sides of the stars were more waterfalls. Here is a shot, looking away from the Washington Monument, that gives you a better overall view.
Can you tell we were impressed? From this Memorial, Devin led us toward the tidal basin to see the cherry blossoms, and walk through the FDR Memorial en route to the Jefferson Memorial. Before we could get across the street, though, I was overwhelmed with emotion, and sobbed as I had received a small glimpse and reminder of the tremendous individual sacrifices made by those in military service. The personal losses, like the cumulative good they have done and are still doing for America in particular and the whole earth, cannot be exaggerated.April 15, 2008
Great time with Devin and Melanie
Our time with Devin and Melanie was Capitol! We will only do a few highlights, but it will take several blogs, partly because the pics are coming in one installment at a time since we are so rusty at blogging. On Thursday morning, we did a walking tour of the monuments, starting at Iwo Jima, right outside Devin and Melanie's apartment. Here's Devin, "flats" & Iwo =>(Melanie was working that morning)
The monument itself is huge! Check it out. <= From there, we hiked a loop past the Netherlands Carillion, past Teddy Roosevelt Island, and on to Memorial Bridge. Here is a shot on that leg.
We next went to the Vietnam Memorial after crossing the Potomac. The names etched in granite
were sobering. Here are Devin and Joanna (reflected in the stone).
We next went to the Vietnam Memorial after crossing the Potomac. The names etched in granite
were sobering. Here are Devin and Joanna (reflected in the stone).We then doubled back to the Lincoln Memorial. 
It was wonderful having Devin as a guide. He knew quite a bit about the monuments that made it more interesting and meaningful, like why Lincoln is sitting down.
It was wonderful having Devin as a guide. He knew quite a bit about the monuments that made it more interesting and meaningful, like why Lincoln is sitting down. We walked down to the Korean War Memorial. At this point, our (brand new) camera came down with a case of "lazy eye" (the lens didn't open all the way). So on our next posting we will catch you up on the other happenings, captured on Joanna's and Devin and Melanie's cameras.
We saw the inspiring World War II Memorial, then circled around the Tidal Basin, roamed the sprawling Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, and ended with the majestic Thomas Jefferson Memorial. And that was just the first part of the day! From there, we went to Alexandria where Melanie picked us up for the short trip and fabulous experience at Mount Vernon.
It is impossible to boil this experience down to one or two highlights, even daily ones. Our perspective was elevated, our respect and admiration was deepened for the founders and preservers of this nation and our shared ideals and freedoms, our faith in God and the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was confirmed, and the bonds of our love and affection for Devin and Melanie were strengthened, along with the bright prospect of a new grandchild. It is hard to imagine a better family situation than the one Devin and Melanie are creating.
February 17, 2008
SnoWork
Can you have too much of a good thing? Well, this last month, we 
have confirmed that you can have more good stuff than you can handle. Take snow, for instance . . . please. The white stuff kept falling and falling and falling. For a week running, my shoveling average was twice per day. Sometimes generous neighbors with four-wheelers helped out, but our walks demand handiwork. Snow accumulated to such a point that there was no where else to put it. In some of the later snowfalls, I would have to walk with a shovel-full to a plac
e where I could drop it, or launch it over my head to have it land on the top of a six-foot-high pile. There is a picket fence to the north of us that is now buried completely. But every time I am tempted to complain, I remember that we are in the fifth or sixth year of a drought. Really, I hear no-one griping about the volume, probably for the same reason. The snow also gives us a better chance to serve and be served. And for a while I enjoyed the illusion that I was lifting weights as much as Michelle does. Last, but certainly not least, Cache Valley has managed to get through the worst season for inversions with only one pollution red day. All in all, the snow is a really good thing. We have just run out of places to put it.
Work! While the snow has been piling up, so has my work. Six-day work-weeks are standard now, peppered with wee-hour marathons. There is not time enough to fit it all in, but while it lasts, I am swinging that sickle! Trying to shoehorn my output into a limited timeframe has helped me be more efficient and better at setting and holding to priorities. My clients are happier, and so am I. The downpour has given me (and Michelle) the confidence to hire more help, namely Jeff and Melissa, and there is a whole new treasure of good things inherent in that situation (potential challenges too, but we'll take them along with the blessings!) And like the snowpack promises overflowing canals and a full harvest, so all of this work bodes well for our cash flow, meeting current needs and retiring debt.
Work is truly a blessing. Snow is truly a blessing. Blessings so voluminous are being poured out, that there is not room enough, nor time enough, to receive them. Thank God!
have confirmed that you can have more good stuff than you can handle. Take snow, for instance . . . please. The white stuff kept falling and falling and falling. For a week running, my shoveling average was twice per day. Sometimes generous neighbors with four-wheelers helped out, but our walks demand handiwork. Snow accumulated to such a point that there was no where else to put it. In some of the later snowfalls, I would have to walk with a shovel-full to a plac
e where I could drop it, or launch it over my head to have it land on the top of a six-foot-high pile. There is a picket fence to the north of us that is now buried completely. But every time I am tempted to complain, I remember that we are in the fifth or sixth year of a drought. Really, I hear no-one griping about the volume, probably for the same reason. The snow also gives us a better chance to serve and be served. And for a while I enjoyed the illusion that I was lifting weights as much as Michelle does. Last, but certainly not least, Cache Valley has managed to get through the worst season for inversions with only one pollution red day. All in all, the snow is a really good thing. We have just run out of places to put it.
Work! While the snow has been piling up, so has my work. Six-day work-weeks are standard now, peppered with wee-hour marathons. There is not time enough to fit it all in, but while it lasts, I am swinging that sickle! Trying to shoehorn my output into a limited timeframe has helped me be more efficient and better at setting and holding to priorities. My clients are happier, and so am I. The downpour has given me (and Michelle) the confidence to hire more help, namely Jeff and Melissa, and there is a whole new treasure of good things inherent in that situation (potential challenges too, but we'll take them along with the blessings!) And like the snowpack promises overflowing canals and a full harvest, so all of this work bodes well for our cash flow, meeting current needs and retiring debt.
Work is truly a blessing. Snow is truly a blessing. Blessings so voluminous are being poured out, that there is not room enough, nor time enough, to receive them. Thank God!
February 10, 2008
Mission Reunion
This is Melissa, and I figured I'd give a little update from this week. So, last night Creighton and I went to Salt Lake and went out to dinner with a couple of his mission buddies and their fiances. It was really fun to see that they were all getting ready to get married within two and a half weeks that we are. It was fun and I know Creighton enjoyed seeing those guys again. Here's a picture of all of us. On the left is Jesse Nichol and his fiance Brittany, then Creighton and I (the best looking ones there obviously), the Shadd Christensen and his fiance Kate.
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