We spent a great Thanksgiving in Star Valley. Here is our feast. We never want to go hungry so we make sure there is plenty. Needless to say, those kids keep eating and all this food slowing disappears. I got to make the ham...glaze and all; the stuffing...which I had to slave over as I opened that box; the cranberry relish...which is always delish; and the mustard ring...which actually turned out to be mustard soup. I don't think that I'll do that one again! Anyway, Grandpa Call gave us the greatest compliment he could imagine. He said, "This is as good as Golden Corral!" We all knew that we could not aspire for something greater than that :)
About a year ago Mariah had wanted to send a story in the the Friend magazine. So, she wrote it up and we got a picture and sent it in. I didn't give it a thought after that. But, I think she did. When the October Friend came, she opened the front cover and there she was. It was so neat. It has been especially fun for her as friends, relatives and people she doesn't even know, recognize her!
WE love cup towers at our house. Here is yet another cup tower that Mariah and Emily built. Instead of homework hiding inside, they put Mariah inside. You know that there is only one way out of this tower!
Well since Cado's could see that his store might not make the money he needs, he went to earning money the old fashioned way...by working. Kind of "ANTI OBAMA" to say the least!
He's spent the last two Saturdays chopping wood in hopes that he can put a dent in the $400.00 dollars he needs to earn to go on the Orchestra Trip to California this spring. He went to the school board and presented to them last Wednesday. He is the orchestra president. Go Cado. He's also selling cookbooks.
So, if you need wood chopped, something from his store, or some new recipes...call him. He most likely will be a willing worker!
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionaries focus on helping others
Mormon missionaries, serving the Victoria area, visit with the Rippa family Wednesday evening for prayer and faith sharing. Elder Justin Jager and Colton Tidwell discuss scripture and elaborate on the teachings of Joseph Smith.
By ERICA RODRIGUEZ - ERODRIGUEZ@VICAD.COM
Originally published November 4, 2009 at midnight, updated November 6, 2009 at 4:40 p.m.
For more information on the missionaries or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contact the Texas Houston South Mission at 281-565-7117.
Mission Victoria is what they call it, and their title, elder, is a bit deceiving for the youthful group of 20-something-year-old missionaries in town.
"Victoria is awesome," said Elder Johnathon Cobabe, a 19-year-old Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary from Washington. He's been in the city for little more than a month teaching and training.
"Victoria is the best place in Texas, and dare I say the world," added Elder Dayton Law, his 20-year-old trainer, flashing a bright smile. Law gave up a cabinet-making business in Utah to become a missionary.
"This is the good life out here doing this kind of stuff," he said.
The two wear short-sleeved, white shirts and ties, the basic uniform for their line of work. They carry small knapsacks filled with Bibles and several copies of the Book of Mormon.
In regular clothes, you could probably mistake the former high school athletes for fraternity members or college freshman. But their purpose here is different.
Six missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach in the Crossroads area, and about 150 in the Texas Houston South Mission, a region from Houston to the Crossroads area. The youths serve two-year assignments, mostly right after high school graduation and at their own expense.
"People think we get paid to do this," said Elder Colton Tidwell, 20, who's been in Victoria for a little more than a month. "They don't realize that we pay to do this."
Tidwell and his trainer Elder Justin Jager, 20, chatted about life as a missionary while knocking on doors and leaving tracts. The day is gorgeous, but most people respectfully decline to hear more.
"Hopefully, we don't get too many doors slammed," Tidwell said with a soft smile after ringing a doorbell.
"Knocking on doors we get that," Jager said. "A lot of people respect us, but a lot of times just those 30 seconds is not enough."
Door knocking is not the preferred way of meeting people, but when the going gets tough the missionaries hit the streets to drum up new interests. The process is worthwhile, they'll say, but often discouraging.
"There's just a lot of people that refuse to listen no matter what," Tidwell said. "You want to help them, but sometimes they just won't listen to you. That's just one of those things."
The four young men lead disciplined lives. They awaken at 6:30 a.m., prepare for their day with prayer and devotionals, then work from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with sparse breaks between for lunch and dinner. They share everything and travel together everywhere.
"Missionary work is the only place where you can put two strangers together with one goal in mind," Law said. "To reap the success of your labor."
Life is simple as a missionary. The young men receive a $135 monthly stipend and a church-issued vehicle with limited mileage. They ride their bikes more when they're out of miles.
TV or computers with Internet are not allowed. E-mails and written letters only once a week, and phone calls to family twice a year at Christmas and Mothers Day. Girlfriends or friends are not allowed at their apartments. But the restrictions are purposeful and help keep them focused on their mission.
"Family's just an amazing thing. It's one of the greatest things that we have on this earth," Jagar said. "But having that constant contact with your family down here - that would be a distraction because we're not here to talk with our family, we're here to help others out."
Corbabe agreed. "We have eternity with our families," he said. "We have two years without them."
As for the future, the missionaries have the same plans as any other young men. They hope someday to have families, go to college. Law hopes eventually to return to his business, and Tidwell, a dirt bike he used to ride. For now, the sacrifices are well worth it.
"The scripture teaches us over and over again if we put God first, He's going to take care of us and bless us with the things that we need," Law said.
Cobabe added his thoughts. "It comes together no matter what, because it's God's will."
Well we have had a week full of fund raising for Pennies By the Inch and for "Cayden is Poor." Yep, Cado decided that those hurt and sickly children weren't the only needy ones. In fact, we soon heard about how needy Cado was and soon we saw that a collection jar had been made with a sign that said, "Cado is Poor." It was put directly on the kitchen counter so that everyone could easily make donations.
Mariah continued to have nightly raffles at her store each evening and there was always a happy winner. Then she had me buy some more candy to add to her store. By this time, Cado had another idea! Yep, he decided to open his own store. First, he tried to sell a giant summer sausage. Then, when that didn't go very well, he found the rest of our hidden candy and is now selling it for 1 cent less than Mariah charges for hers. Of course he set HIS store up in her bedroom as well! I really can't believe the Mariah hasn't protested this more. In fact, she is buying things from HIS store.
Last night, Mariah had a Pirate sale at her store with games and all. Hum, I'm thinking that Cado will be having one of those sales soon too....
I discovered the key to a decent picture. Turn on the sephia hue and then make it a little fuzzy. That way you don't see any wrinkles or imperfections. It more or less makes you look "ageless!" HA HA
Dave is getting smarter as these years are going by. Instead of just making our poor boys haul the hay for those hungry lambs all by themselves, he enlisted the help of Jayce and Gavin. That way, they will feel more a part of the 4-H team. I'm thinking that it will probably create some blue ribbon lambs as well.
Mariah had a much better Halloween this year. We have discovered that we just need to find other "last children" who don't have any brothers and sisters to trick or treat with either. So, here are Mariah and Zoe. They had a very successful night.
We went to the trunk or treat first that was held at the church. We gave out about 300 glow sticks and finally had to tell those little kids that we were out of goodies. They looked very disappointed, but if you looked into their baskets you readily saw that those things were filled to the brim!
But, we still took them out for some house to house trick or treating. Mariah found a twin at the trunk or treating.
Mariah came home from church with a Pennies By the Inch jar. All the money that she gets from donations will get to go to Primary Children's Medical Center to help sick children. She came up with a great idea to raise money. She decided to create a store using her Halloween candy. She made everyone an invitation to her store. It didn't take more than two minutes for the boys to be there with pennies in hand! Here are Cado and Bo deciding what to buy. There is a great selection to choose from. Thank goodness for trunk or treating! Anyone who made purchases at the store we given this great thank you note and raffle ticket. We were told that when we hear the "banging pan" that it will be time for the raffle. Cado purchased extra raffle tickes for 4 cents each. Whoever wins will get to choose an 11 cent candy. What a deal. There was even a "Thanks for coming" note for everyone. There is still plenty of merchandise left in the store. Everyone is invited to come :)
We spent a great Thanksgiving in Star Valley. Here is our feast. We never want to go hungry so we make sure there is plenty. Needless to say, those kids keep eating and all this food slowing disappears. I got to make the ham...glaze and all; the stuffing...which I had to slave over as I opened that box; the cranberry relish...which is always delish; and the mustard ring...which actually turned out to be mustard soup. I don't think that I'll do that one again! Anyway, Grandpa Call gave us the greatest compliment he could imagine. He said, "This is as good as Golden Corral!" We all knew that we could not aspire for something greater than that :)
