December 2011

This was definately a different year with Bridger serving in Honduras. However it was awesome to get to talk with him. He was able to talk for about three hours that came and went all too quickly. He sounds awesome. Has an accent and spoke to us in Spanish we sounds amazing. It is a testimony to me how blessed he is to learn the language so quickly and be doing well. Here's a few of the pictures of the happenings that took place this month, most of the pictures are from my phone so they may be a little blurry, but my camera was having issues...

There's a picture or two of me as I'm never in any of them and so Caleb helped me out, and also the one of Zoie talking to Bridger on the phone. She didn't say much but her tail was sure wagging. She is still waiting for him after all...

Christmas Card Colliage

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is gettting the mail. I love sending Christmas cards and I love even more going to the mailbox each day and receiving them from our family and friends. I know with technology the way it is, so many are doing email or blogging their lives and foregoing cards...not me! I will always send them. It helps me to say thank you and let those people who are dear and close to our hearts know we are thinking of them, not just at Christmas but all year long. If I forgot to send you one this year, let me know as we are so blessed to have you in our lives. It wasn't intended...I promise.

Feliz Navidad

Sister Veirs posted some pictures on the mission blog and I was so excited to see a Christmas greeting with Bridger in the group. He looks so great and so very happy. Can't wait to talk to him...won't be long now. My chain is really, really short.

Christmas Tunes

Seriously is there anything better than they are. When I need to deep clean, need a pick me up or just to make me smile. Be it July or the day after Halloween, I love to listen to them. And come to find out Bridger is exactly the same. Enjoy the new playlist. Who knows it may be up for awhile.

He did get a few things from me after all. Some days I just miss him more than ever. Today is one of them...

A Family Photo...minus 1

I love to send out Christmas cards, it truly is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. In fact, I love to receive them. I put them on our door so as we come and go we can see our family and friends who have always meant so much to us. Love them!!!

This year I had a difficult time doing one. I have always done the boys together or a family pic, but I knew it would be different. Our ward put together a fun board at the Christmas breakfast and in preparation for this a family picture was taken. I am posting it just to have for my posterity and journaling sake, but still feels not quite complete.

I did get our card done, it's individual pictures of the boys, Stetson in NYC, Caleb with the catch of the day, and Bridger, Elder Clayton now in Honduras. It will be a couple of years before a real family Christmas photo is taken, but for now life is just as it should be. Elder Clayton blessing the lives of those he meets on his mission and us having the faith to pray and wait for his safe return.

Merry Christmas. I am off to make a countdown chain for Bridger's call...I'm such a nerd.

Happy Holidays from most of the Clayton Family!

Something Wicked this way Blows

Holy Cow! This week we had a real windstorm. Schools were cancelled, 30+ year trees were uprooted and if that's not enough, we are preparing for another one to hit this evening. We went to church this morning and our bishop read a letter to hold Sacrament meeting and then allow all to go home and batan down the hatches for the next one. Here are a few pictures of what took place at some of the areas around town. Some were without power for hours or even a few days. A great time to realize we all can be better prepared for if something big hits. We are very grateful to be protected and safe and able to help out our friends and neighbors with devastation that happened to them.

A Thanksgiving Blessing

This was going to be a different holiday with only the four of us, however my sister, Cindy called me and invited us to go to her house. It was so much fun. All of her kids were there and it was so much better to spend with our loved ones. When we came home there was a message on the phone from a long distance number. After listening to the message it was Elder Richardson from Manti who was Bridger's 2nd companion in Honduras. He had a package that Bridger had sent home with him and he was coming to bring it to us. So, on Friday morning he came with his dad. It was awesome to meet him and talk with him to find out what things happened while they served together. He told us of 5-6 feet iguanas that run on their roof while they sleep and also the large rat that came up from the drain. Hmmmm, maybe it's wise he didn't mention that in his emails. Anyway, truly a blessing as I was thinking we wouldn't hear from him and yet in a different way, we actually did. Thanks so much Elder Richardson, you truly made our holiday something to be grateful for.

Finally Some New Pics

Seems like it's been forever since I've seen his face, but finally he sent some pictures with last week's email. Here he is...so glad he hasn't lost that fun loving personality. Sure love and miss him, but so proud of him too...

UEA & Too Many Fish to Count

Wayne and Caleb went to Bear Lake for UEA while Stetson and I stayed home due to Stetson working and I was content to just "chill" for a few days. Here's a few pics of their adventures...

Catching Up...

I know it seems like I haven't had a post for a really long time. No excuses. Funny how time seems to be crawling and yet when I look back at these pictures, it has really gone faster than I care to admit. We are truly being blessed from Bridger's service as a missionary. We love and miss him so much, but know that he is being watched over and protected as he shares his love of the gospel with the people of Honduras.

Here's what's been happening in the meantime...

These always remind us of school starting and cooler days ahead. This is such an awesome plant and low maintenance which we love.

Tearing up the old to make way for the new tile and carpet coming.

Amazing what a few seeds from the local birds bring up on their own. This year we had so many sunflowers. They were awesome.

New carpet, it looks like a new room. We love it!
We are truly blessed and are looking forward to what November brings. Hopefully, I can be better about updating our blog, this is supposed to be my journal after all. Come on...it could happen.

Being a Mom

I remember when I was younger and people asking what I wanted to be when I grew up and the answer was always a mom. I sometimes would think that maybe being a school teacher, or a nurse would be awesome too, but deep down inside all I wanted to do was stay home and raise kids and be a fun mom. I was blessed to be able to do that for so many years. I was also able to have others children in our home as their moms needed to work outside the home and I always welcomed them into my home and loved them as my own.

Who knew that one day those little boys would one day grow up and not need me as much as they used to. And, I'm not going to lie, it's hard. For so many years I was always "needed" for almost everything and now, not so much.

However, I have been paid back in so many ways as I have witnessed my boy on a mission. It is hard to explain how difficult it is to send him off into the big world and hope that we have taught him everything he needs to know and pray for his success and safety. But, I am learning so much about the power of faith and prayer as his letters and emails come in.

You can always read how he's doing on his personal missionary blog which you can link on the side bar, Come What May and Love it, but for my journaling and records, here's a little for my blog.

A few weeks ago my dear sweet Grandma passed away. I guess we always thought she would live forever. We went over to see Grandma Duke before Bridger left and we both talked about how perhaps she would not be here when he returned. Little did we realize just how quickly it would indeed happen that she would be called home. On this particular day as Wayne came into the house from work he had an handwritten letter from Bridger. A true tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father who knew I was wondering how we would tell him of this event and with this letter I knew he would be ok with the news. His letter was a wonderful answer to prayers. I knew he was struggling a little with some things and I had asked in faith to please whisper to his heart that I was with him as he was there. I will not type all his letter but wanted to document this. It was exactly what I need to hear and realized all my dreams and wishes of being just a mom was "paid in full".

In his words, This past couple of weeks I have thought a lot about you and our family and mom, man I love you. The past couple of weeks have been hard physically and mentally, like I am not complaining cause I figured out that does nothing and just makes me sound like an idiot, but somedays I am listening to my Ipod and I think about you and you are honestly what gets me through my days. When I feel bad honestly I just think about you and if you were there with me walking the streets and after I have that in my mind I want to work harder and talk to more people because you know the saying, "be the missionary your mom thinks you are" And that's what I do. I swear at times you are with me. I know that probably sounds so weird but really it's true. Thank you for being the greatest mom in the world! I'm not going to lie, I have never prayed this much in my life. There are some way fun times, here but also hard, frustrating ones as well and we learned that wenever I need to talk to someone whether it be in teh streets, church, lesson, etc., etc., I can say a prayer in my heart and talk to somebody, somebody that will be my friend and listen and help me. And at times my prayers aren't answered in a second or for the moment but I can feel comfort and know that things will be taken care of in the end. Thanks for your prayers, they help me a ton. I know that.

That is an answer to a worried mom's prayer. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful son who gets it. Come What May and Love It!!! and he does.

First Day of School and Changes

It's the most wonderful time of the year...yeah right? School seemed to start early this year. Perhaps it is that it took Summer forever to get here and with the start of school, Summer is officially over. No more late night/sleep in mornings. To be perfectly honest I really enjoy being on a schedule and routine. However this year it came much more quickly than I wanted it to and I wasn't ready to go back.

This year is Caleb's 7th grade year at South Davis Jr. High. When did he grow up. I can hardly believe that I will no longer be entering the elementary schoolany more. I have to say I'm a bit sad. I have spent many hours there on the PTA boards and in the classroom. And I loved it! My boys thought it was awesome that I was involved in many aspects of their elementary experience. In the JR. High and High School it isn't so accepted and "cool" to be at the school. To be honest, not walking someone to school this last Monday doesn't really seem like school has started. But, it has. Stetson is a Senior at WX and so far enjoying it. He is a great student and has some hard classes, but hoping to get a scholarship and so it is necessary to plunge in and getter done. He has become quite fluent in Spanish and I appreciate him translating Bridger's letters.

If forever had a season it would have to be Fall. I do love the cooler weather, the amazing colors and jacket weatherthat this season will bring. Go Wildcats and Spartans. This year has only just begun...

Stetson on his way. Driving himself and being a Senior...unbelievable

Feel like I'm sending him into the lions den. Jr. High is such a growing and learning experience. I hope he and we survive.

Our Annual Neighborhood Campout

We seriously live in the best neighborhood. Each year several of our friends and neighbors load up our trailers, tents and river rat tubes to go to our annual campout. It is held at Perception Park which if East of Pineview resevoir on the way to Monte Cristo. It is a great place where there is a covered pavillion, plenty of room for several families and a great river for all who want can run it on tubes. It's a blast. This year did not disappoint. With the wet winter we had, the river ran faster and I think a little colder than in years past. We had so much fun. It's wonderful to just sit back, relax and laugh with good friends and just enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.

We cook breakfast together and a great Dutch oven meal that some will come up from home and spend an evening with us to just eat. Scones have become a tradition and this year as it was one of our friends b-days we did a huge spice cake with apples in the DO. We travel with the STP's (same 10 people) so everyone steps in and works to make it so easy and fun. In fact, one of our cute friends said to me that it is his favorite day of the year, that's what makes it all worth while. That's awesome pal, because we are already looking forward to next year and it's been booked!!!