Pioneer Trek 09

Steve and Lorriane Tanner who were one of the other Ma and Pa's. They are the best!










Nathan Kimball. Can't you just tell how much fun he was? Great kid!!!!












Zac Swenson. He will be leaving on a mission next spring. We love this young man.












Nic and the Bishop. I was so proud of my son. He was amazing!!!!!!











Me in all my Pioneerness. At the beginning of the Trek they gave me Twin babies. One of them died on the trail and we had a funeral and buried it. I am holding the remaining baby. This was at the end of the Trek. That is why I am smiling at the camera!!!










Kevin. He was to exhausted to smile! He was great!











This wasn't us but I really liked this picture. It was a great representaion of the Trek experience. We treked about 18 miles. So glad to be on the other side of this experience but grateful for the journey. I decided that the future is in great hands with these amazing teenagers. They are truly the chosen generation.

Happy Family Anniversary!

Just wanted to take a minute and say Happy Anniversary to my family! On this day in 1986, Kevin and I took Jake and Hill to the Provo Temple and sealed our family for all eternity. I know my kids probably have wondered many times, why does mom make us have a family anniversary, especially the younger two (who else does this?). The answer is simple and I think it becomes more clear as they grow up and have kids of their own. There is nothing that you love more than your family and nothing that you could ever want more than to be with them forever. As our family grows, I see that day in the temple 23 years ago gets more and more important, linking the generations together. It guess it is my way of trying to remind my family that eternal families take work here and that it is only as good as we make it by what we are doing. "No empty chairs" is my motto and I want them all filled with the people I love most. Love all of you!!!!

Hey Al Boy...

Kelsey and I were talking yesterday about our favorite missionary and trying to remember how Alan became Al boy here at the Hall's. It is a term of endearment for him for sure, and I think after this long it will probably stick. He is now Elder Al-boy, but Al boy just the same. Hey Al boy we miss you!

Mark

A giant of a man is gone today. Thinking back on many memories of Mark and family and his sweet girls that have been so much a part of our lives. Always full of fun and doing things for others. I met Mark and Lynn a long time ago when they moved into our neighborhood. Heidy and Holly were still very young and the same ages as Jake and Hill. The kids became fast friends and so did we. We served in church callings together, had babies together and played together. He was a great man and I have never met anyone in all the years I have known him that didn't have only great things to say about him. He was an amazing father and my girls got the benefit of that. While he was being a cute dad to his girls, my girls got to enjoy that too. Hill and Kelsey spent many days and nights in Marks company playing games or listening to his crazy stories. He also taught them by example and lived the gospel to its fullest. He had a great re pore with kids and youth and left a lasting impression on all that he came in contact with. We love this great man and his family and we will cherish the many memories we have of him. All our love to the Richardsons.