Missionary Farewell

Daniel was set apart by our Stake President, Ken Ross, on Tuesday, May 24th.

Return with honor, Elder.

All set to go - 4:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25th

Elder Daniel Drake is on his way!

Jessie's High School Graduation

On May 15th, we attended the high school graduation for our baby girl, Jessie. She's been attending BYU for the past semester, but returned home to walk with her class at commencement exercises. Congratulations, Jessie! We love you!

It was a cold and rainy morning...just like the day he was born. On Saturday, May 14th, Daniel received his endowments at the St. Louis Temple in preparation for his mission. We are so proud of this worthy young man and his righteous decisions.

Mother and Son

Father and Son

Twins?

Our handsome missionary

May Visiting Teaching Gift

Like I've said before, I like to take a little something to

each of the Sisters I visit teach.

For the month of May, I'm giving them a little bookmark

made from this printable I found here:

The cute vintage kids at the bottom are the early years "Campbell Soup Kids".

Adorable!

With these "Mothers' Day" and "SOUP" themed bookmarks,

I'm going to give them each a copy of Chicken Soup for the Mothers' Soul.

Shhh...I found NEW hardback copies on Amazon.com for around $2.00 each!

(Suggested retail was $24.00)

Gift du jour!

Whatdaya think?

Itinerary

Tomorrow, Jessie and I leave for a mother-daughter trip to the Western Caribbean aboard the Crown Princess. I'm just a little excited about our itinerary.

4/29/11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

4/30/11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

5/1/11 At Sea

5/2/11 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

5/3/11 Island of Roatan, Honduras

5/4/11 Island of Cozumel, Mexico

5/5/11 At Sea

5/6/11 Princess Cays, Bahamas

5/7/11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

5/8/11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Get off your keister; it's time for EASTER!

Easter weekend brought our four college kids home from Utah and my niece and her family down from Omaha. It was wonderful to have a house full of family and all that comes with it.

Friday night we enjoyed dinner together (grilled Italian chicken breasts, rice pilaf, oven-roasted vegies, homemade french bread, and ice cream) and then played Cranium for hours. It was so fun having the family together again.

Jennie and Jess with the Easter Bunny (Daniel)

Crazy Easter Bunny jumped right into David's arms.

Everyone was a huge help in pulling off the big Easter egg hunt and picnic on Saturday. We ended up having about 150 people in attendance with around 60 (under age 12) kids participating in the hunt. It took a chunk of the morning to hide the 750 plus eggs; no way I could have done it alone. Daniel did a fabulous job as the Easter bunny...skipping across the field, hiding behind a tree, and just totally playing up the part. Dana entertained the youth (12 to 17 year olds) with a pinata busting.

The Easter Bunny takes a swing.

James' turn.

Candy, cash, and gift cards!

There was plenty of good food and fun. The only thing I would have changed was the weather. Thankfully, it didn't rain, but the wind was kicking and made for chilly temperatures. Who would have thought that this late in April we'd need to wear winter parkas?!!?

Baylie and my blanket keeping me warm.

Saturday afternoon, "the girls" and I went on a shopping spree, while the guys hung out, watched, sports, played ultimate frisbee, and did what guys do. For dinner, we whipped up some burgers, fries, and fresh fruit salad with homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

Charlotte in her Easter outfit.

Charlotte with Mommy...all ready for church.

Charlotte with Daddy

Easter Sunday was perfect! We all attended a wonderful church meeting together filled with inspiring music and words. Afterwards, we sat down as a family for an Easter feast including glazed ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, carrots, homemade rolls, and Easter chocolates. Candice, Craig, and little Charlotte had to head back to Omaha shortly after and we were sad to see them go.

Watching Craig, Candice, and Charlotte drive off.

I love spring time and the newness of life associated with this time of year. I love baby chicks, egg hunts, colorful blossoms, soft bunnies, jelly beans, rain showers, cute baskets, chocolate bunnies, and all the rest. Most of all, I love knowing that death has been conquered; that Jesus Christ overcame temporal death and that He lives. Knowing that I will once again be with those I love and miss gives me a great feeling of hope, joy, and happiness.

Happy Easter everyone!

Two weeks and a day

They say that if you live in Utah, it takes two weeks to receive your mission call and it always arrives on Wednesday. What a disappointment it was when the mail never showed up yesterday.

But today; it came!

It was perfect timing too, because Daniel had already planned on attending a "cousin get-together" this evening with his sibs and cousins from both sides of the family. Mom and Dad were skyped in on one computer while Uncle Craig and Aunt Carolyn were skyped in on another. Grandparents were conferenced in. (It's kind of a big deal.)

When everyone was ready and all was silent, he opened the letter and read aloud:

"Dear Elder Drake, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Texas Houston South Mission....You will prepare to teach the gospel in the Spanish language."

Daniel reports to the Mission Training Center on May 25th, so there is much to do in six weeks.

More information was sent including a bio on his mission president, a map of the mission, a list of items to purchase/pack and a check list of what he needs to get done in the next six weeks as he prepares to report.

This is his young mission president and wife. They are parents of six children (she's expecting number seven) and are from North Salt Lake. Their current home and the mission office are both in Craig and Carolyn's ward (my brother and sister-in-law) in Sugarland, Texas. President and Sister Saylin are native Californians--my kind of people!

Gregory Mark Saylin, 40, and Jennifer Ashleigh Hilbig Saylin, six children, Texas Houston South Mission; Woodbriar Ward, North Salt Lake Utah Stake. Brother Saylin is a counselor in the stake presidency and a former high councilor, elders quorum president, ward executive secretary, ward mission leader and missionary in the Argentina Rosario Mission. Partner, Double G Development, Inc. Born in Torrance, Calif., to Brian Geoffrey and Rose Marie Saylin. Sister Saylin is a ward Young Women adviser and a former ward Relief Society president and teacher, counselor in ward Young Women presidencies, Primary music leader and missionary in the England Bristol Mission. Born in Duarte, Calif., to Keith Karlton and Susan Rae Hilbig.

CONGRATULATIONS, Daniel!

We love you!!!

Left to right: (Back row) Chris Drake, Rachel Drake, Rebecca Ricks, David Drake, Jonathan Cheney, Daniel Drake; (middle row) Jen Drake, Kristi Cheney Teshima, Lisa Cheney, Dana & Colleen Drake on Skype, Ashley Cheney, Jessie Cheney Smith; (front row) Jessie Drake, Kelly Cheney, Evan Teshima, Carolyn & Craig Cheney on Skype.

Becca, David, Daniel, Jen, Jessie