Raymond and the Big 5-0!

I'm sure Raymond is going to love this post. Yup! He's 50 but can still beat anyone up the mountain. HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAYMOND!!

A Day on the "New" "Old" Boat

We went up to Pine View Dam last Saturday to test out the new, old boat. It has been in storage down at Rick's shop for a few years. Rick discovered that racoons had destroyed the inside of the boat and had been nesting there. They had ripped and chewed through the seats and had stripped the covering off the walls of the boat. They also chewed up the ski ropes and left lots of surprises. Rick has cleaned and cleaned and cleaned the boat. He also has worked and worked and worked to get it running. It's not the same boat that we have loved and spent so many wonderful hours on but we had fun!

Merri

Anne

Elaine

Rick

Rick is there somewhere!

Maddi, Merri & Lexie

E, F & A

It's Salsa Making Time

Most people equate autumn with the falling of leaves and cooler temperatures. We think of the autumn time and know that salsa making time is here. Every couple of years we buy enough supplies (tomatoes, onions, peppers) to brew our own home made batch (or more) or salsa by Kirk. This has become his project as he loves, loves salsa. He tweaks it this way and that to make it just the way that he likes it. I especially love that this has become his project from beginning to end. It's great to see his finished project.

Kirk's Kids



Salsa ingredients

Braden

Ashleigh


Justin

Nannie + 3 = Fun

The Game of Life

Justin, the littlest slugger

One Friday evening recently we all went to a St. Paul Saints baseball game. This is a minor league team, a "farm" team where they try hard to entertain the small crowd gathered. We have just a couple of memorable photos of what turned out to be an unusually chilly night (we left early!). Even though we were all there, it seems as the two littlest sluggers had the most fun!

Leigh and Lindsey

A Day in the Life

Hello all! Everyday this week seemed to just blaze by. But by last night, I realized that somehow the week still seemed long and I was worn out! We had a very full week. Monday we pretty much just got our basic p-day things done really fast then spend the day cleaning our apartment. A couple of girls from the singles ward and Sister Chriswell and Sister Nekesi came and helped us clean. We found out this apartment had missionaries living in it for 5 years. I did almost a year in it myself! We got everything packed up and thrown away and organized and we moved on Thursday. We have elders who are also the "mechanics." They drive a truck so they can help missionaries move and drive around all the luggage when missionaries come/go.

And now we are in our new apartment. I will have to take some pictures. I think we live in the best deal in the mission aside from living with members. We have a washer/dryer in our apartment, granite countertops, all new appliances, very beautiful pool (oh wait, that doesn't effect us) and computers/internet to use on the main floor. They also have a nice little gym here, but we're not allowed to use the gyms as missionaries. Anyway, living here is definitely a perk. We'll see if I end up finishing my mission here! Moving took up a large chunk of our time on Thursday, but we actually were able to visit more people and teach more people this week than our first two weeks. Yeah! It was a very busy week! And we got a bunch of referrals from missionaries, members and other random sources. Even though not all of those are really going anywhere, it's still a blessing to receive referrals! I will try to share some of the highlights from the week.

We continue to teach Raven. He is doing so well! We had to explain to him that his baptismal date will be on hold until he's off probation. But he's reading everything we give him, and more. He came to stake conference on Sunday, and really, he is progressing. I've already seen the changes in him. He was a little more unkempt when we first met him, but he's cleaned up, got a haircut, wears the closest thing he has to a suit to church. I only pray that the branch will really just continue to fellowship him because he's on probation for at least a year, so this is a long term thing. But so far so good!

Right before I got to this area, the sisters received a media referral. A guy was referring his girlfriend to have the lessons. He even called the sisters. But other than that little contact, we had never been able to meet him or her or get in any more contact. After multiple calls this week, we finally talked to him, and he's down in Irvine, but her official home is here in Anaheim so he thought we could teach her.

We met with Raichel on Saturday. Her boyfriend couldn't come, but it all worked out. I have never in my mission met anyone who was sooooo incredibly prepared to just be baptized. She's 27, has always lived in Orange County, is really smart and has her own skin care/waxing business. She was raised Christian/Pentecostal; but she always felt something was missing. After ending a 2 year sort of destructive relationship she just wanted to do her own thing for a while. Lots of people kept saying she would meet someone soon who would change everything for her. A couple of days later she went to a club with a friend and saw this guy in line and told her friend "that's my husband." She knew it sounded crazy, but she just felt it. Later that night she finally saw him again and she was just thrilled to have met a "nice Christian boy." When he told her he was a Mormon it was no problem.

They've been dating 6 months and she says he's a little less active actually, but she's gone to church with him a couple of times and has a Book of Mormon and has read various chapters and she just knows it all makes sense. She had a couple of doubts/questions about the trinity, Satan, why we focus on the Book of Mormon, etc., and we talked about them, but after she said her questions were completely answered. She really really wanted to be baptized, but she just wasn't sure. And her dad's a little anti. It was amazing because I feel like we only had to be there to officially invite her to be baptized. As we taught her the Restoration she said she knew it was all true and she cried as we shared the first vision. I don't know that I've ever taught the Restoration where the spirit has been so strong or when the other person has made me want to cry too! Raichel is just incredible. She says she knows it sounds lame but all she really wants is to be a mom and have kids and she feels like that will fulfill her. Yeah! She went to some type of fireside where Elder Scott spoke and she just knew he was an apostle and she's so impressed with everything. She accepted the invitation to be baptized and is so excited and thrilled with everything. She's just so driven by a desire to do what is right. So that's my really long story about Raichel.

Sisters Sanders & Fatkin after a "P" day bike ride (borrowed member's bikes)

The only downside to the story is that we feel like because her boyfriend is in Irvine, and she'd really be going to church there, that the best thing for her would be to be taught by the elders there. Sad! But I'm so excited for her. I have no doubt that she'll be baptized and as long as this Cody, her boyfriend, is right for her, then they will be married in the temple. In fact she'll probably be the driving force for him to become fully active. That's my best story of the week!

Another interesting teaching experience was one we had yesterday. One of the counselors in our branch presidency has 2 Danish exchange students living with him. One is the daughter of a mission companion he had and the other girl isn't a member. And they've come to church together the last couple of weeks. So we thought, “Hey, why not go visit them?” They're both around 21ish: Pia (non member) and Sarah (member).

We talked with them for a little while about all their plans while they're here, and talked about Denmark (now I have someone to go stay with there!) and they had us try black Danish licorice. And I asked them about Ebbleskivers. We asked Pia a little about her religious background. She doesn't really have one. Kind of believes in God, but just figures people believe in whatever makes them feel good and she just doesn't have a belief in much. We asked if we could share a message. Pia was a little surprised, because obviously she doesn't know too much about missionaries. But Sarah wasn't surprised! We watched that video "Finding Happiness" and put it in Danish because though Pia speaks very good English, we figured it would be easier. It seemed perfect because it just talks about the basics, talks about there being a God.

Afterwards she really didn't have much to say. We all bore our testimonies on God and prayer. I invited her to try praying. Her response was kind of like "not to be rude, but is this what you do?" Wondering if that's what we do as missionaries. Yes. It was interesting. She really didn't respond much to the idea of praying or anything. But it's okay. We thought we'd try. Plus now she knows us so maybe if she gets a desire to learn more, she won't be afraid to ask. And I know the family they're staying with does FHE and family prayer together and everything. And they're really good to these girls, so that's a good impression. It was different though to teach someone who really was kind of ambivalent to the idea of God and though she said she's prayed before she never really felt like someone was listening. Hmmm. That was our Danish experience!

We had a really great week! Everything is going really well! We still aren't sure who is going to be baptized this transfer, but it will happen! The weather has been pretty nice, and I'm getting used to the ward/branch. I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and love and support!

Love,
Emily

Sisters Sanders, Fatkin and Dutson

Jordan Ryan Sanders

Here's a littlest boy: Jordan Ryan Sanders who was born June 17, 2009. This is the day that his daddy, Ryan, blessed him and gave him his name (well, actually, he's always known his name just like the rest of us!). We just think he's quite the boy and can't wait to meet him.

Melanie & Ryan on Jordan's Blessing Day
August 23 (duh!), 2009
Austin, Texas

Supercalifragilisticxpalidocious

Last night Kirk and I were at the opening night here in Minneapolis of the "Mary Poppins" Broadway production. It was charming and magical and marvelous for all ages. There were lots of children in the audience. It holds a bit truer to the original book with a wicked nanny in it for just a bit. The special effects are incredible; the energy of the production wonderful; the cast exceeded our expectations. We were delighted by this production and would highly recommend your going to see it when it comes to a "city near you."
Even though this youtube video is not what we saw, it is from the classic Disney "Mary Poppins" movie and will remind everyone of what a wonderful movie this is!

Ashleigh's Shopping Day

It's that time of the year again: back to school shopping. Each year since Ashleigh was a mere kindergartener (this being our third outing), we've spent a little time together as she gets to choose something for school. This year we were searching for a "hoody," an essential part of any person's wardrobe both young and old and in between I think. When she spotted this "Nike" sweatshirt she was "in love." It was only after chatting with her wise Momma that this hoody will be returned and exchanged for a bright pink, zipper hoody (more practical for keeping hair where it belongs). I tried to use my wisdom with her, trying to persuade her that it was the better choice, but then again it is not for me to make that decision (it's her Mom's!). We just enjoy the little time that just the two of us have together creating memories and traditions.

Holllywood here I come!

HEAVEN!

PEACHES!! Peaches from Manning Orchards are my absolute favorite fruit in the whole world. It doesn't matter if it is eaten cut in half or peeled and sliced with milk and sugar. There are so many fresh fruits that I love: watermelon, cantaloupe, nectarines, plums and any kind of berry. But the best has to be Gleason Elberta peaches. With summer ending and the kids back in school, I am always a little sad but then I realize it is peach time. YEA!!!!

And you can't think of peaches and not think of mom. I think that is where we all have gotten our love of peaches from. I know we 6 Handy kids all have wonderful childhood memories of coming home from school and seeing and smelling the bushels and bushels of peaches that mom was putting up. And that for sure has been passed down to the next generation.

A 1/2 bushel today costs $20. I can't remember what mom was paying back in the day for a full bushel. Maybe $6-10. Does anyone remember?

So for those of you not fortunate enough to have some Manning peaches this year, I guess I'll have to have some for you! YUM!!!