Wow....I am way behind...

I knew I was behind on this blog but I didn't realize HOW far behind I have been.  Part was the fact that usually I only work on it on Sunday.  With Jena's mission call, we had two October Sundays busy with missionary stuff---Oct. 11 when she was set apart and Oct. 25 when she spoke in Church and we had an open house for her after our block of meetings (more details to follow).  Another Sunday (Nov. 1) I was just tired after the Hall Halloween Chili and Scones are our house, two more Sundays in November I was in AZ, and one Sunday I tried but I couldn't get the pictures to upload to my computer as I had recently updated to Windows 10---whew....and there you have my whole pile of excuses for not keeping up.  As you can see there has been a bit of stuff going on and although it won't be a rich (and probably long) and impactful for me to write about them a month or so later, it is better than nothing.  I need to keep up with this because I have a goal to start another blog page (it will be private--no worries you won't have to read it) that will update our family history from 1978 when we got married into blog format books as well.  I like the ability to upload pictures and write the posts and then turn it all into print format.  As you can imagine that this is a task for my next 20 years but I hope in the end that it leaves a history that my children, grandchildren, and etc. will love to share.  Pictures and words together are a great medium for sharing family life and stories.

Brief over view of the Hall Family at this time and place--

Although Gary has applied for a couple of jobs, he has been so busy doing other stuff that it is hard to imagine when he had time to work.  Part of that is running Jena to her mission locations on Tuesdays and Wednesday, doing things around the house, indexing batches for family search, going to the temple, working in his calling for Scouts, running two bowling leagues--one special needs on Monday and a league on Wednesday that our brother-in-law Allan bowls on, helping his mom, to name a few.


Jessica and Elessia are busy with their little son Liam who is now 6 months--Jessica continues to work at Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and Elessia works on the weekends at Michaels.  Although Liam is a frequent and big "smiler", I like this serious picture from Thanksgiving.  His eyes are exactly the same as Jessica--blue with green around the middle.  They are great to make the extra effort to bring him up to us to play with him and often do errands etc. up here so that we can babysit

                                                         

                                                           

                                     

Scott and Chantel still live in Layton about 3 miles away. Chantel continues to work part-time as an exercise therapist at Ogden Regional and Scott is still trying to get some type of job within a hospital as he tries to start a career in hospital administration.  It seems to be one of those fields where you need to know someone to get a job.  He is either overqualified or without the required experience.  Not a fun time of life........With my busy life, I haven't been able to watch Scarlett as often as last year and I really miss that weekly time with her.  When we do have time, it is party time with a toddler.  My mom used to say her favorite age of child was toddlers.  I really settled on the ages 6-11 myself, but toddlers and babies are a lot of fun, too (of course the fact that they are my grandchildren could be a factor.)

Scarlett playing with me!

Ben has been dealing with increasing problems with his illness and side effects which has continued to affect his daily living.  He did manage to come with us to Mesa for Thanksgiving which was good.  However this past Tuesday he asked to be admitted to the hospital due to some concerns symptoms.  He is now in UNI in Salt Lake and has started a new medication which was approved this past summer but they have never used it yet.  At least some thing new has the potential of helping in a different way--perhaps we can hope for a little while at least.  Ben said the first day was okay.

Nikki enjoying a cupcake

Tosha and Austen are adjusting to life in Okinawa.  Like overseas posting in general it is wonderful and exciting and they are making some great friends with children, too, but there are also times when they miss family and friends back in the States.  Thank heavens for messenger and Facetime so that we can keep in touch. 

Jena is busy with life as a missionary plus!  She serves two days a week as a missionary and on Sundays.  She goes to school 3 days a week at a post-secondary school program.  Monday evening she volunteers at a local theatre, Tuesday nights is Institute, Wednesday night is Wonderwood-a reading and speech program for individuals with DS-Thursday evening she works at the bowling alley and every other Friday she goes to Friday Friends, a social activity for teens and adults with Down syndrome.

I try to keep up with all of these people.  I am finishing up my service as the president of UDSF although some things will carry over into the new year. This is my last week of my fourth of nine semesters in my graduate program.  One more major assignment to write and some odds and ends to finish up with to complete this week. 

That wraps up the overview.  Now to try to catch up on the details of the past 6 weeks....

Missionaries and Missions....

come in all different shapes and sizes!

I think I have mentioned that Jena wanted to serve a mission when she turned 19.  Many people in her situation don't serve until after they finish school which happens in Utah sometime around age 22. Jena was firm.  She wanted to go when she was 19.  After some praying and thinking and praying on our side, we decided that was the right thing so we began working with her to get her papers put together and submitted.  We had a bit of a delay because of the ward change so our new Bishop had to meet with her and we had to redo some of the paperwork with the new information but it still went fairly smooth.

the picture submitted with her application

The call for a young Church Service Missionaries comes from the Church headquarters through the Stake president.  The Stake President actually serves as her direct mission president although there are also 3 couples called in our region who serve as her group leaders and lead month mission activities for all of the Young Church Service Missionaries in the area.  Friday afternoon he called to say that he had her call in hand and was going to put it in our mail box so that she could get it out of the mailbox herself.  (Can't find the pictures of her getting it out of the mail box!)

We ran around like crazy people to invite the people Jena wanted to be there to share this special moment with her.  We didn't get everyone but it was fun to share it with people who love Jena and who she loves back.

She was called to serve as a young Church Service missionary at the Layton Deseret Industries on Wednesdays starting Oct. 14th and at the Church History Museum on Tuesdays on November 3.  We weren't expecting her to start until November but she is ready to go!

Jena with her call

with Emily Elhen

Fish lips with Brandon Dickson, one of her life long friends

Bishop and Kari Hatch, new Bishop

(Old) Bishop (and home teacher), Tami, Jared Slater

with Grandma Hall

Elessia, Jessica, Liam and Jena

Scarlett and Chantel (Scott was at work)

We faced timed with Tosha and Austen later that night to share the news with them. Then posted the news on Facebook, text and other ways to the rest of the world.

Bishop and Jolie Watson

Meggan, Gregg and Kristy Sparrow

Exciting day (and yes, I did cry a bit!)

Utah Down Syndrome Foundation

I have enjoyed most of my time as the president of UDSF but I have to admit that I am counting the days down until the end of the year when I step down.  There is just so much going on in my life that I don't feel that I can give my best attention to it.

Exciting things have happened over the past  2 1/2 years and I am proud of many of the things which we have accomplished,  We have amazing volunteers who help accomplish the work of the foundation.

Getting back Monday, I spent the next two days at my internship and then headed to Hill Field for a conference where we presented about UDSF and spent the day on October 1.

Our display at Hill Field

When I got home that evening, all I wanted to do was sleep but instead I cleaned my house.  I think it had been almost a month since I did much housework other then vacuuming and keeping the kitchen clean.

That turned out to be a wise move because it turned out that Friday, October 2 was a very special day!

We didn't put the suitcases away....

because after getting home on Sunday, we had to get our laundry done and things packed again to leave Tuesday night to head to Arizona for my nephew, Jordan's birthday.  The plan was for Jena, Ben and I to go but that was uncertain until almost the last minute.  Ben had been having trouble with his medication and had to be put at the CRU (small impatient unit in Layton) for a few days.  His therapist and doctor were still worried about his medication but decided to release him Tuesday evening so that he could travel with us to AZ.  I was so glad it worked out because he had some great times while there and managed the traveling part okay.  Gary stayed home to stay the job hunt and take care of our dogs.

Gary drove the kids to my school and then the three of us drove to Beaver that night and then to Mesa on Wednesday.

Jordan and Sarah chose to get married at the LDS Gilbert Temple.  Watching the temple be built was part of their dating history so it was perfect for them.  It was the first time that I had been there and it is a very beautiful building-inside and out.

Waiting for the bride and groom

Jordan and Sarah Ipson

Ipson nieces and nephews

Gilbert Temple

September 24th is also Jena's 19th birthday so after the wedding and dinner, we had cupcakes and ice cream at the Ipsons.  I think she liked celebrating her birthday in Mesa although she missed the rest of the Halls.

HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY,  JENA !!!

Friday evening was the reception. The best part was the dancing.  I loved watching Jena, Ben and their cousins dancing together and having a fun time.

Morgan Willford, and Max and Sophee Giberson spinning on the floor

Ben and Megan Ipson

Cousins are the best---

Ben, Jena, Megan with Kylie standing up

Jena dancing with Morgan

 Saturday included attending the General Women's broadcast with Valerie, Jena and several of the nieces and niece-in-laws and then afterwards we went to dinner.  That doesn't happened very often. We played some games, enjoyed being together, and talked and talked and played some more games. We also watch the early morning BYU football game.

Jena, Kylie, Kristen, Will, Ben, Megan

It was sad to head home on Sunday night.  I could have stayed another week.  We again did it in two days making a stop at Page, AZ, on Sunday night.

I love the times this month that I was able to spend time with my family on both sides.  We are so lucky to have of these people--Halls and Gibersons in our lives.  Thanks for the memories!