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.