"Thank you for sharing your son."

Although I've set up a new mission blog and will put our son's letters home there, I will still occasionally post a picture or two on the family blog.....

On our answering machine this evening, we discovered a message left by a man with a soothing Texas drawl.  He said he was the bishop in College Station and that he had a picture to share with us.  I called him back immediately and he said that the missionaries recently ate dinner at his home.  "Your son taught a lesson that evening and I'm impressed with him.  He's a wonderful elder, working hard here in Texas, and he's a blessing to our ward.  I just wanted to call and thank you for sharing him with us."

Aww, shucks. The whole conversation lasted maybe a minute, but I'll tell you what..... it made me happy as a hog in mud and soft as a two-minute egg.  (Something's inspired me to read up on Texas sayings.)

And this phone call also inspired me to take more pictures of our local missionaries and let their parents know that they're doing them proud.  I have a feeling it just might make their day.

New Mission Blog

After lots of thought on the subject, we've decided to do a separate private blog for our son's mission.  It's a hard call because I think that sharing his experiences is a missionary tool in and of itself, but I'd also hate to put something on the internet that maybe shouldn't be available for everyone to see.  I found myself altering names and places so much (to protect identities) that I realized our own son wouldn't recognize the stories once he gets home from his mission.

Sooo, if y'all are interested in following along at "Howdy Elder",  just let me know and I'll send an invite to your email!

Introducing.....

Some lovely long-necked arrivals to our barnyard.

This is Sugar.

 Look past her stunning beauty and to-die-for eyelashes.

She's not just eye candy; she has a job to do.

She's watching, always watching.

If we've learned anything in the past 6 days of llama ownership it's this:

You cannot sneak up on a llama.

Will. Not. Happen.

Even sweet Satin, who seems less of the guarding mentality,

is on the lookout.

Nothing comes near their pasture without them taking notice.

Satin covers the Eastern front

and Sugar the Western.

Our chickens can rest easy.