Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Elder Jared Gibby - December 30, 2009


Britney's Christmas Present


Britney opened her Christmas present before we took her and her brother, Jonathan, to the airport to fly home for Christmas. I think she liked it.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 22, 2009

From Jordan Mission

From Jordan Mission

From Jordan Mission

Grandma Gibby Funeral - December 29



Today I attended the funeral service for my Grandma Gibby. She had just turned 94 at the end of September this year. She had been in relatively good health for her age until she fell and broke her ankle the day after Thanksgiving. She passed away peacefully in her home where she had lived for almost 75 years. It was a beautiful service on a cold and blustery winter day. I felt bad for my sister, Rachelle, and her family that were unable to attend the funeral because of bad weather. I am grateful that I was able to know my Grandmother for so many years. It was good to see so many friends and relatives from my father's and mother's families.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 22, 2009

From Jordan Mission

Elder Gibby finally receives all his packages!

From Jordan Mission

Reeses - a candy you can't get in Brazil - the Holy Grail of Candy for missionaries.

From Jordan Mission

Not sure what this is, but it looks fun.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Sunday, December 13, 2009

MOTAB Christmas Concert


WOW! What an incredible concert. The choir, the orchestra, the dancers, the bell ringers and the guest artists - it was a night to remember. I am so grateful that we received tickets. Even the weather was nice (much warmer than the Devotional last Sunday).

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 7, 2009



The guy in the hat is our one of our wards mission leaders, he hunts wild pigs for fun and has 7 dogs that help him. its pretty crazy haha.


Jordan had his first transfer this week. It sounded like he was staying in his area and getting a new companion. He likes his area and is making progress with the language.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

First Presidency Devotional - December 6, 2009




Wow, we had the great experience of attending the First Presidency Devotional in the Conference Center tonight. We had seats just 8 rows back from the stage. The talks given by the First Presidency were wonderful. The choir sounded angelic. It was just the right event to put me in the Christmas spirit. Britney and Lizzy came up from Provo. It was a cold walk to from the parking garage, but it was so worth it. THe family sitting behind us was from Richland. David Volmer, who I knew growing up, is the Bishop of their ward. They flew down for the First Presidency Devotional. She told Sherrie that they have been trying to get tickets for 10 years. I guess there are advantages to living close to the Conference Center. While I haven't gotten them every year, we have gone twice and had seats close to the front both times. This coming Saturday we get to go to the Conference Center again for the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert with Natalie Cole as the guest artist. I am so excited for that concert. I was able to get tickets to tall the events this year that I wanted to attend on Temple Square. I guess it must be a blessing from having 2 sons serving missions this Christmas season.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 1, 2009


A long way from home


Elder Gibby being attacked by a dinosaur on p-day


Helping a Church member build a brick addition on his house


Elder Gibby met the real Santa Claus and he speaks Portuguese!

Elder Gibby is really enjoying his mission in Brazil. Last week a lightning storm zapped his battery charger. I was trying to figure out how to buy one online in Brazil and have it shipped to him inside the country. It is astronomically expensive to ship things from here. He let us know this week, "Asfor the batteries one of the elders here had an extra battery charger! Woo, I am so happy that he did because he said I can have it." So his camera is up and operating again.

The language is progressing. "I heard that 6 months is pretty much the normal time for people to understand the language." That is pretty much what I have heard from missionaries who have served around the world - give it six months and you are speaking and understanding well. Elder Gibby wrote, "One thing that is kind of hard is saying everything backwards. I practice by thinking that I am speaking like Yoda, it seems to work for a lot of the phrases. I write down words I don't know all day and study them throughout the day."

Elder Gibby is coming up on his first transfer, "We have transfers in 6 days, crazy hu? I will be getting new comp. My comp right now is named Elder Miranda, he has the same time left as Jared."

Feliz Natal!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Elder Jordan Gibby - November 17, 2009

From Jordan Nov 2009

From Jordan Nov 2009

From Jordan Nov 2009


"Things are going pretty well here in Brasil. ... I had my first dream in Portuguese about a week ago. I was pretty happy about it. It was kinda funny because I would have thought that if I was dreaming in Portuguese I would understand it but it still made no sense in my dream haha."

Elder Gibby is still enjoying his mission. I always look forward to his weekly not (albiet short - they have to pay for internet time and he tries to write everybody a personal letter). I looks like from the pictures they might have had a missionary conference and lunch.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

3-D Origami



Jonathan learned this origama technique on You-Tube. His pieces of artwork turned out really nice (it takes a lot of little triangles to make one of these).

Halloween Pictures - Better Late Than Never





Jonathan decorated our yard for Halloween. I am so behind because of this illness I've been battling I never posted the pictures he took of his decorations. They looked really good at night. He had purple lights on the lawn.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Bad Blogger - Bad Blogger

Oh, what a bad blogger I've become. I posted the boys missionaries photos, but didn't even write about what has gone on in the last few weeks. I caught this cold (I think it is the H1N1 virus from my youngest son - but I am too cheap to go into the doctor just to have it confirmed) and it has just taken the wind out of my sails. I've made it to work everyday - but barely. For a whole week I wore a heavy duty dust mask respirator to avoid spreading my germs around the office. I didn't go to the gym for a whole week. I've been back three days this week, but only a fast walk on the treadmill. I have my Halloween photos, but I never got them posted and now it is almost Thanksgiving. I feel a little worse today because last night I had to go recover the Explorer from the high school parking lot. Sarah left the headlights on all day and we've long since lost the door key (which is different from the ignition key). We rely on the electric locks to unlock the doors, but when there is no battery they don't work. And if you can't get the car opened, you can't pop the hood the jump the car. I did eventually get the hood opened and as soon as I connected up the battery to jump I was able to get the car unlocked. All that "work" left me exhausted and feeling slightly more ill today. Happily, we didn't have to engage the services of a locksmith (happily for us, not him). I watched my show, So You Think You Can Dance, tonight. I actually didn't even feel well enough to enjoy it. I have the muscle aches and pains back. I really just feel like whining, which is what a blog entry is good for - then the rest of my family members don't have to listen to me.

I am happy to say that both my boys are enjoying their missions and doing well. Everyday is a great experience for Jordan. He loves being in Brazil. His language skills are improving day by day. Jared is going to have all of eastern Alabama baptized before he comes home. Every email we receive from him has news of new baptismal commitments or baptisms executed. He has such a positive attitude and so much faith that he has gone into several "difficult" areas and found incredible success. It is hard to believe that he will be coming home in less than 6 months (on a positive note that means I get to go on a vacation with my wife in less than 6 months back to our old stomping grounds, well close).

Sarah did very well on her ACT so she is looking as some good scholarships to state colleges. She just needs to figure out which one she wants to attend. She is, and always has been, an academic child. Jonathan played in his first band concert of the year. He has become so accomplished on the saxophone that he should really be playing with the high school band - I guess that will happen next year. He keeps up with his sister gradewise also.

I've been sitting at the computer for too long and now my neck is starting to hurt bad. The dryer is starting to beep that the load is done. I can hear the washer on the final rinse cycle and there are three laundry baskets with close waiting to be put away. I guess those are all indicators that I need to close this blog entry and move onto to more mundane tasks demanding my attention.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Elder Jordan Gibby - November 9, 2009

From Jordan Nov 2009

Elder Gibby with his little guitar (mission authorized)

From Jordan Nov 2009

Elder Gibby in the Brazilian jungle.

From Jordan Nov 2009

Enjoying a delicious meal in Brazil (thank you family feeding him!)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Alabama Fall


Brother Frye sent us this picture of the Elders walking along a trail. Jared can be seen from the back holding up his camera to take a picture of the Elders ahead of him.

Elder Jordan Gibby - November 3, 2009

From Jordan Nov 2009

From Jordan Nov 2009

From Jordan Nov 2009


Jordan says that it is getting really hot in Brasil. Monday it was up in the 90s! He has been sweating so much that in one week i lost 1.5 kilos. I wrote back and told him to make sure that he is drinking enough. He says, "The city here is really pretty. I have been working really hard this week. My trainer walks the same pace as a fast jog. To say the least I have some pretty crazy shin splints and my feet are one big blister haha. I use lots of gold bond."

Last week the Porto Alegre Mission had the priviledge to hear from Elder Scott. Jordan wrote, "It was pretty cool, we all got to shake his hand. The only problem I had was that I had no idea what he was saying because he was speaking in portuguese. So I was basically writing down notes that other people had next to me in portuguese. Im still not sure what he said but it was pretty cool." I keep telling him the language will come (it takes more than just two months). I'm sure he understands more than he implies. Jordan is a perfectionist and will want to speak and understand is perfectly.

He enjoys p-day. "Our pdays are pretty sweet. We walk about 5 miles into the city and then play soccer with our district. I found out pretty quickly that I am not so good at soccer. I am still getting used to not being able to have any contact while playing. Lacrosse was a bit different."

Jordan write that he is working hard and loving Brazil. I am really proud of him.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Hint of What's to Come

When I woke up this morning the snow was still here. I guess I was subconsciously hoping that I would wake up to warmer weather with all the snow melted off (the Richland Chinook). Well, I got to scrape 6 inches of snow off my car this morning and, of course, I didn't have my gloves or my snow brush in the car yet. This weekend I guess I will be getting all the cars winter ready.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Winter Arrives in Tooele County



Winter came early this year. I don't know that I ever remember snow before Halloween. I remember it on Halloween, but not like this...

Happy Halloween

Elder Jordan Gibby - October 27, 2009


Elder Jordan Gibby's apartment


Elder Jordan Gibby's companion


Jordan on the plane to Porto Alegre


The new group of missionaries reporting to the Porto Alegre North Mission

I was pleasantly surprised this morning to receive an email from Jordan. We received an email from the mission president yesterday so I guess that I figured we wouldn't receive one today. "I am now in my first area. ...My trainer is Brazilian and he dosen't speak English so that poses a slight problem. However I think I am getting a little better at speaking. ... I am happy to actually be working now. ... The food here is really good, they members feed us a lot. I think you would love to see the area I am in, it is called Caxias. It is an agricultural city that is really pretty. ... We had church on Sunday and it was pretty nuts, I had to give an entire talk without being able to prepare, I basically said a few things about where I was from and how long I have been here and that the church is good."