Farewell

Wow - what a week!

First there was..

Preparing. Shopping. Cleaning. Cooking. Song practicing. Talk writing. Temple attending. Snow removing. Planning. Organizing. Worrying. Phone calls.

Then...

Sacrament meeting. Singing. Speaking. Food...lots of food. Family. Friends. Support. Laughing. Smiling. Hugging. Picture taking. Love.

A week of stress dissipated yesterday as friends and family joined us for Darren's farewell. Feelings of worry and thoughts of "did I remember everything" were slowly replaced with love and gratitude as support and smiles were flung abundantly in my direction.

Elora and Larissa did a beautiful job on their musical number - nervous, but not showing it! Elora received her Young Womanhood Recognition Award and was pleased that her mother was there to see it.

Todd spoke as a loving father giving tribute to Darren's decision in serving the Lord, bestowing advice as only a father can. Darren spoke with confidence, conviction, and excitement for his future.

All in all it was a wonderful day. There were small glitches, but nothing that detracted from the day. Even the snow cooperated and only began to fall as people were leaving to head home.

Last night I crawled into bed and breathed a sigh of relief. A realization then hit me that the hard part has yet to come and saying goodbye to Darren on Wednesday will not be easy.

Darren's Video

Darren's You Tube video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3BXjVopdgMM

Driving Lessons

As the Watson family has had multiple crashes lately, I thought it a good idea to post a reminder of basic driving skills. You two good children who are eagerly anticipating driver's licenses in the very near future - this is for you! Ahem.

1. When pulling out of the garage, please make doubly sure that you look behind you to see if there is a car parked in the driveway. Sometimes mirrors help - but not always. You may actually have to twist your body to get a full view of what is behind you. I know this is inconvenient, but it will save you plentiful lectures from your father and torturous silent spells from your mother in the event that you forget.

2. Avoid at all costs the following scenario: "I was following behind a friend that was 'driving crazy', and even though it was cold and dark (perfect conditions for black ice) I didn't expect him to stop so suddenly and I swerved to miss him, hit ice, and ran into a tree." Please, good younger children - don't let me ever hear those words again.

3. When realizing that you missed your turn, and making a strange U-turn from the middle of the road - please notice if you are coming upon a guardrail. Avoid the guardrail at all costs. Use your brakes if you have to.

4. Finally, if you happen to be driving closely behind other vehicles and you just happen to realize that you need gas and want to see the gas price on the billboard of the gas station that you are passing - quickly dart your eyes away from the road, look at the sign, and then hurry and put your eyes to the road again. If your eyes linger from the road for a long period of time while driving and you forget to hurry and look at the road again - sometimes there can be disastrous consequences. So, in short - quickly look at the gas sign, then really really quickly - look back at the road again. It almost feels like a simultaneous reflex.

Glad we had this chat.

Love,
Mom

My husband's morbid sense of humor

Todd is paranoid and brutish.

He thinks that the emails that people make up that ask personal questions about you are just a ploy to find out where you live and what your habits are so they can take the time to fly across country to your house and then commence raping, plundering, stealing, and all other manner of unspeakable evils.

I tried to explain that I get these fun emails from friends that I know and I only send them to friends that I know. Alas - he is still paranoid. But, he did fill one out just to humor me.

Read on. This is the man I live with.

1. Do you like blue cheese?
The Marine Corp taught me to eat anything.
2. Have you ever been to Yellowstone Park?
Yes, That’s where I killed the fugitive
3. Do you own a gun?
Several
4. What are Your ALL TIME favorite songs?
Live and Let Die. The Marine Corp Hell Night Chant
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
No, but the doctors do.
6. What do you think about hot dogs?
They don’t have enough crap in them.
7. Favorite Christmas song?
Grandma got run over by a reindeer
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Anything that doesn’t knock me down.
9. Can you do push ups?
Drop and give me 50 four counts
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
That’s private
12. Favorite hobby?
Shooting, cleaning guns, concealing weapons, what else is there?
13. Secret weapon to get the opposite sex?
Any weapon can get the opposite sex.
14. Do you have ADD?
No, that’s the mild one. I suffer with the really bad one.
15. What one trait do you hate about yourself?
I sometimes have to smile
16. What's your middle name?
Death
17. Name 3 thoughts you are thinking at this exact moment...
Kill Pillage Burn
18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday!
I used cash so you can’t trace my card by my purchases
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
Water, Gasoline, Rocket Fuel
20. Current worry right now?
How fast I can cock my gun and take aim
21. Current hate right now?
Filling this out for some ID Thief to read
22. Favorite place to be?
In Jail
23. How did you bring in the New Year?
That’s personal
24. Where would you like to go?
Iraq
25. Name three people who will complete this?
My other personalities
26. Do you own slippers?
I sleep with my boots on
27. What shirt are you wearing?
My “Kill them all and let God sort them out” shirt
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
Sure, whatever.
29. Can you whistle?
Very well
30. Favorite color?
Black and the color of blood
31. Would you be a pirate?
I am what I am
32. What songs do you sing in the shower?
Live and Let Die and the Marine Corp Midnight Chant
33. Favorite girl's name?
Corella DeVille It’s evil
34. Favorite boy's name?
Octavio
35. What's in your pocket right now?
Besides the weapons and ammo…… Nothing
36. What made you laugh last?
Nothing… I don’t laugh
38. Worst injury you've ever had?
Knife fight…. I Won
39. Do you like it where you live?
No. Not enough crime
40. How many t.v.'s in your house?
Several, come steal one.
41. Who is your loudest friend?
My Drill Instructor
42. How many dogs do you have?
Besides the guard dog
43. Does someone have a crush on you?
I hope not
44. What would you do if you hit a deer while driving?
Get out, cut his head off and then eat him.
45. What is your favorite book?
How to kill without feeling
46. What is your favorite candy?
My sweet candy A_ _
47. Favorite sports team?
None. They never kill anyone
48. What songs do you want played at your funeral?
Live and Let Die and the Marine Corp Midnight Chant
49. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Killing something
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
I wondered if it survived…. It didn’t

Run of Bad Luck - Part II

The Watson's have been having such a jolly good time these days that I thought I would share our good fortune with you.

If you recall my blog entry on December 12, titled "Run of Bad Luck", you will clearly see as you read on that our bad luck has gained momentum and is now running at full speed.


This is our latest car crash. This car crash happened 2 days after we fixed the car from the last car crash. Repeat - 2 DAYS! If you look closely, you will see that the bumper looks like it could have been brand new. That's because IT WAS! Pfft.

The teenage offender will unfortunately remain anonymous.

Pfft.









Then....




Sicko Connor = Pneumonia, 103.5 fever, and flu.

The next three photos are of our front entryway. Apparently there was an ice dam that formed on our roof above our entryway. The water/ice backed up and got under the shingles and seeped into our house causing the damage you see below. True joy.

You may be enticed into feeling a little sorry for us and our rampant misfortune. After all, since November, we have wrecked all four of our vehicles (one of them twice), dealt with 2 surgeries, thyroid cancer, a mission call, pneumonia, ferocious snow storms that have left us stranded and buried, and now a house that is falling apart.

I was actually going to launch into a sarcastic tyrade, as is my habit, and can be so much fun. But, I really can't today.

I have to say that our little family has grown closer and has had more wonderful experiences than I can even communicate on this blog. Sending Darren to a foreign country next week and knowing that we won't be able to speak with him for 2 years, has humbled us all and has put things into perspective. The minor inconveniences that have beset our family are temporary and fixable. Whereas in the past I have had a strong tendency to feel completely sorry for the misery bestowed on me - I am now inclined to recognize the good.

Prepare yourself for more sap to follow in the next few days as I think I'm just getting started. I'm sure you can't wait. (See? I can't get rid of the sarcasm completely - that would be just weird)!

Darren's Farewell

Darren's Missionary farewell is this Sunday. Please send me an email for directions and times if you would like to join us!

Melancholy - a good thing?

According to this author, melancholy shouldn't be avoided.

An interesting perspective...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18885211