Preston for the Weekend - 08-05-09

William,

I am so glad to hear about Brent, Brandon, and Nicole, we have been praying for them. I think that it is cool that you got to feel what it is like to be the senior companion. I would bet that it isn't as easy as it looks.

We went to Preston, Idaho this weekend to visit a carnival that one of Mary Ann's team works at. The carnival was your typical small town rides, but we did genealogy on the way up, and on the way back. I got about 300 new names off of headstones. We even went to the Wellsville cemetery to get some headstone shots, and found out that Regina and Mary Ann are cousins. So we may see you at the next Maughan Family reunion.

Anneke went with Mom to Disneyland last week. I don't know why she didn't invite Benson. I think that he would have really enjoyed getting out of the house. I hope Anneke had a good time.

Sharon is coming up for Education week at BYU, and we are so excited to see her for an entire week. We had a great time visiting with her while we were in Arizona, but there never seems to be enough time.

Also, Garth and his friend are coming up this week. Mary Ann is excited to see him one more time before school starts.

Mary Ann and I are back on the diet again, and I am down 8 pounds in 10 days, and Mary Ann is down 6 pounds. We are excited to get back to the shape of real human beings and not the shape of beachballs. haha.

Benson is looking forward to school starting up, because he is just so bored. He is doing all sorts of odd jobs around the house, just to keep busy. I saw the picture of your fast Sunday meal. Good job! I see all of the basic food groups are covered. Hamburger helper, Mash potatoes and gravy, green beans, and Tony's. You can't go wrong with Tony's.

I have been making meals ahead of time and freezing them, to help stay on our diet. I made stuffed cabbage, Meatloaf, Cabbage wraps, and even invented some new recipes for taco soup, and green onion soup. The Taco soup is delicious, the green onion soup needs some more work.

Well, that's about it for this week. I love you and we pray for you everyday. talk to you soon

Love Dad, Mary ann, and Benson

2 Baptisms and one on the way - 08-05-09

Hello,

I can't believe that it is already August, it seems like such a short time ago summer started and now it is almost over. Although I wont miss the humidity, the summer has been pretty nice.

We have baptisms this week, Brent Johnson and Brandon McCollum are getting baptized and I am really excited for them. They have made so much progress these past few weeks and it all comes down to this weekend.

I found out that Nicole Foust is getting baptized on the 13th and we are going to try to have someone go down there and see it (we get to go to). We had zone conference this past weekend and it was really good. I learned alot about how to teach and how to help the members here.

One of the members here (Robert Husted) got his call to Las Vegas, NV. which is really funny because the missionary that just left this area, Elder keller, lives in Vegas and is home now so they might get a little reunion from one mission to another.

Yesterday, I got to be senior companion for a day. Going on exchanges with my district leaders greeny, and that was really cool. I got the chance to be the leader and be the old companion for a change, and I don't think I did to bad. I was really nervous, but I know that it was a test that will help me grow a lot. I know that the time will come that I will be the senior comp. and so I might as well get as ready as I can.

Love Elder Boy

P.S. On Fast Sunday our dinner appointment cancelled and so we ate at home, I cooked the food.

Virginia ROCK! the church is true, and I love you. read mosiah 3

Wendelboe Family Reunion - 7-29-09

Hi Son,

I am hoping to talk with you on IM, but I don't want to miss you like I did last week.

We went down to Las Vegas for the Wendelboe Family Reunion. We had a great time getting to know all the relatives. Of course I was in genealogy heaven with new names and relations to record. Several people brought birth, death, and marriage certificates. and photo of old dead people. I took pictures with the camera but with limited success. Then I met Leslie Waite (a cousin) and found out that she brought a scanner and her laptop. I spend a couple hours scanning in everything in sight.

Wes, Garth, and Trish were up here last week, so Mary Ann got to spend a lot of time with them. Sharon is coming up next month and will be here for an entire week. We are excited to spend time with here. I don't think that I told you but the computer that I bought for here, never got used. I just added some memory to her machine and it runs fast as lightning. So I am going to move into the machine I got for her as my new machine.

Things have been going great at work. I am getting a lot done and the system is running smoothly. Congratulations on your baptism. I am glad to hear that you are having so much success. You have really taken your task to heart and will receive the blessings that the Lord has instore for you because of your faithfulness.

I hope that you are still reading "Jesus, the Christ" and I hope that you are learning alot from it.

We love you and we pray for you always.
Dad, Mary Ann, and Benson

P.S. I hope I get to IM with you later.

Driving a BMW (Not!) - 7-29-09

Hello,

Well this week was fast, we set Brent for baptism and Brandon will be baptized on the 7 of Aug. Jason (a another investigator) got married to Ceria (a member) and so we will be working with him in about a week again.

I finally took some pictures of my new S&K suits.

This week we met a guy that invited us over to his house, we went over the next day and helped him do some yard work, then he wanted to take us for a ride in his BMW, but it only has two seats and we can't separate. We told him (sadly I really wanted to ride in it), so he gave me the keys and said to take it around the block (after I pulled my jaw off the ground we told him we are not allowed to drive anything other then mission vehicles, so in the name of obedience I denied driving a BMW coop (two seat).

Later we when out and I found the really nice tie with salt water fish on it so I got it and then realized I can’t wear it out here, so I will save it until I get home.

I also tried to make a stuffed tomato and it was ok, it was a try and I probably won’t make one again, but it was fun.

That was about it for the week and so I will talk to you all later.

Love Elder boy

Virginia ROCK! the church is true, and I love you. read mosiah 3