BPD affects Chew and show from Jer! Now he will drink Shakeolegy too.

            

BPD creates eating struggles in kids sometimes.
They have to manage secretions and know how to swallow with the food and the mucus that naturally comes to help make it all slide through the throat area. So when Jer feels really great and has no congestion he is a somewhat willing eater within certain limits. Chocolate is his stand by and and he likes it on pretty much anything. He can identify a cocoa container out of all the ones sitting on a shelf and he likes chocolate milk or pretty much anything that has that protein structure.
He will even eat dark dark chocolate the kind that most people have to acquired a taste for.
Its salve to a mothers soul when nutritionists and psychologists at NICU follow up clinics tell you to go for it, let him eat whatever, as long as he is willing to try, get crazy, because with kids that have issues about eating there is no limit of tricks that some days must be tried.
Believe me I try alot of them that are crazy.

Nutella chocolate put on celery, he would not touch it. Next I tried it on the yellow cheese. Score, he did consume and ate all of the five little chunks with the nutella on it that I cut for him. Well that was on 2/25/11 and here we are today posting and the little stink wont try it again so he hasn't eaten any cheese for awhile but he has had a spoonful of chocolate about three different days. Viewable is the chicken nuggets, he only ate one that day without chocolate on it.

See I really am eating it he says. I couldn't believe it when I walked into the room a bit later to find him also licking the chocolate off the celery stick and then eating a part of that stick.

 Finally the Little Guy has branched out and tried something green at least for one day. It may take us another 3 or 4 months but at least he is trying to like a few new tastes, as long as its got a crunch to it that's the key. Eating puddings, or jelly, or runny looking stuff for him that's a big no no rule, it looks to much like a booger with food coloring to disguise it.

Eating is such a chore for him, we say things like do you want to grow big?

"NO I never want to be big like the other boys so I am not hungry"

If you eat then we won't have to give you hungry medicine!

" I already ate at school" The Mom knows this means he only ate the bread or the cracker and not another thing on the plate.

In about 15 min after the above conversation he will ask for a bottle of pedisure because drinking is lots easier then chewing and faster too.

I am going to put a plug in right here for a new shake drink that I have found that helps him get some hidden veggies and he actually likes it alot. If you ever want to try it I can get you some and if you ever want to order it please hit this hate veggies link and get some for yourself. It truly is a life saver at our house now because Jer has no idea he is getting spinach and other good stuff.

Eat your veggies, it is so important.

Volcano hair for Jer.

Jer went on a field trip with his preschool.

He met me at my sisters door where he gets off the bus saying do you like my freaky hair?

"It's red like a volcano cause I didn't want it cut like the others, just scary freaky"! He would not let us wash it out for two days and many people said is his hair just red like that? He loved it and would like to have it stick up and be red again but the Mom isn't to into that at such a young age. Now I just have to talk him into getting his hair cut for real and not have a scream fit about it.

When we care we share so please share after reading this here.

Please I have not many followers but even the few I do could help with just a tiny little bit. We were shareful this year with this little girl and now its your turn to share too.

This girl says it so well even with her very colorfulness, but hey it's truthful, so read her plea and see what we can all do if we but work together to help others just a tiny little bit.

My kids you see this year that's what they did is give to her a bit of their Christmas money just so that she could get her a doggy. They understand that if she chokes and her Mommy is not alerted that her lungs can have major damage. They are sensitive to this because of there own little brother Jer's lung issues. They do not like the idea that she could silently cry without anyone knowing but a doggy could make all the difference and alert her parents to her needs. They have three of their own dogs and can not imagine her having to to be without one either, not when it could mean her very life could be saved by its ability to alert someone of her needs.

So please lets get this doggy with your help

Her Mommy is amazing and tells wonderful things about Chickadees story, she is my friend, read the stories here.

See her cute little face here, like her so you can see when she gets her doggy.

Give here so she can get her doggy its a secure site I promise.

If that isn't to your liking well there are other ways to get it too her I promise I can help you just email me please.

We as Heavenly Fathers family all know that sharing is important and we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints know that we should share. Many a Missionary Mom has shared this year with another missionary besides their own. Now we can share with a family who has a future missionary who is learning as he watches his sister be cared for. Lets help this family to get something that they need to make their life a tiny bit easier. My kids see our neighbors service dog at Church and are in awe that they could be helping another little girl feel better at Church too with her service doggy at her side.

We are so close lets get that doggy soon for her!

POP CAN Christmas!

This is the story of how to teach kids to get their own Christmas presents for their loved ones. Pick up pop cans off the sides of the road.

Run into a whole bunch at a neighbors house that the wind blew everywhere.

Clean up the yard for them and get to keep pop cans.

Turn them in to be recycled.

Make a bank roll of money because the price of recycling them went up and up.

Filling a truck bed above the cab even when half were smashed looks amazing.

Even Jer got in on the action collecting some that the other kids missed in the low lying weeds.
Taking them shopping was the funnest we have ever had, they got to buy two gifts this year for each other.

The weekly doings this week.

Wow that was quite the letter.... anyway

2. Caleb really wants to know after 6 hundred times asking what way do the toilets spin there? Is it the same way as here?
2.Well I think I answered that one a while ago, but I haven't recently checked so I will have to do that with the sink. Anyway the Toilets don't swirl they just drain in a monsoon like fashion. They make them different here?

3. Do you have any tips that you could share to a new missionary who is coming there on what to spiritually prepare to do before coming?
3. Read your scriptures everyday and study Preach my gospel every day. Apply the Christlike attributes from Chapter 6

4. Do You have any tips that you could share to a new missionary on things that you would bring different to there now that you got prepared and are there.
4. I wouldn't have brought as many p-day clothes. You don't really wear them on p-day much unless you are doing something that will mess up your clothes or if you do service throughout the week.

5. Please tell us what its like to attend a branch that is small when going to church.
5. It's very very small. and I'm really trying to wrap my mind around how I feel about it. it's kinda quite but at times small noises are really loud because you are in a tiny room. It's usually nice, but sometimes the sacrament meeting isn't fully prepared in time, so we the missionaries have had to give surprise talks all of the time. It's getting better now that some things have changed around in the presidency and what what.

6. I didn't get money in the bank are you ok still?
6. Yeah I'm fine. the only thing is I find myself paying for investigators transport to church, so I've had a little bit less then I normally have had. But it still works out.

7. Please tell one thing that your Dad does that has helped you to be a better missionary.
7. My dad works hard! I've found myself comparing my mission work to the work that Dad does everyday and I sometimes feel like I need to improve on that. I want to have that same kind of work ethic that Dad has by the time I get home.

8. Have you gotten to see elephants yet?
8.Why yes actually, I saw my first elephant's yesterday. and it was sweet!!! They were about 10 feet from the car. There is a place called Kruger National Park that we went through. You should look it up. And to comment on something you asked a while ago about picking me up from mission. You might want to save up alot of money if you want to do that because, you will want to see a few cool places like Kruger.


9. Please tell one thing that you would want to study now that you never would have wanted to know about but your mission has somehow influenced you.
9. That's a good question. I recently began reading Jesus the Christ. which I probably wouldn't have done so before. That book Blows your Mind!!!

10. Tell one normal day activity that you do.
10......Teach, study, plan, find...etc

Like I said that was a long e-mail. I hope I can reply to alot of that. I'm surprised J didn't say anything about Rosie having a baby. That's some really cool news. I can't believe it was already a year ago that that stuff hap pend with Mkalif. It's weird to hear about how life continues to happen even though I'm not around. The biggest thing that weirds me out is hearing about J and all that boy stuff. It's hard to belive that they are the age they are, because I feel like I was just barely that age. TIME FLYS!!!
Anyway. the most exciting thing that has happened this week is with one of our investigators Lennie. Before I got here he was not progressing and it was frustrating the missionaries because he had so much potential. Now he is one of the best finding tools we have. He is scheduled to be baptized on the 25th of this month and since he started coming to church he has introduced us to 3 of his friends and 2 of them came to church. He is reading his scriptures every day and always has tons of questions to ask us about the Book of Mormon. I can testify that reading the Book of Mormon will keep us on the straight and narrow more then anything. The investigators who always progress to baptism are the ones who read that amazing book. Anyway he is awesome and I strongly believe his friends will progress to baptism because they have the same kind of fire. We are seeing them today so I will update you on how things go. It was exciting to go to Kruger park yesterday and see some wildlife. Because of time I will send pics of it later (which reminds me on the side of money i might need help to get a new card reader if that's ok) I love the work and I'm out of time. I'm proud of you Aunt Bethany for taking the challenge and I know it will make your family strong. I've seen it! (Family Home Evening)

Love Elder Jones

Family side of the weekly doings.

I love this quote found on the mission newsletters.

“How can you expect to have eternal life if you can’t

manage 30 minutes wisely?” –Elder Hawker

This is turning into a what a week again. I am feeling ready to have vacation from school over because the boys are so bored and Dad isn't home enough to keep them farm busy. To make sure you know Emily put a note on our blog and said she had just wrote to you that was the week you went up to Tzaneen so hopefully you got a note since last week if not maybe she emailed and it went to the wrong address can you still check that email? C started football by going to football camp with a new football coach. He has a lot to do to get into shape again. That was Mon. that camp started along with going to watch some fireworks in Richfield that night. There was spread celebrating depending on which town you lived in around here. Tue. early up to go to camp again so I ran on the track its kinda nice to have a smooth run spot once in a while. The young women went swimming and then the football camp went swimming later. J was bummed because she had hoped they could all be there at the same time but the Mom was glad it didn't workout that way. Wed. Scouts and Mc got his first aid merit badge started. Thur I ran out of gas on the way to take C to camp. We were able to coast into the station but he was late and since I was there I ran the track again for 3 miles. By the way thanks for your encouragements it helped me get through this week and I look like I lost 40 pounds not different but whatever you think. I arrived home to find Rosie having a live baby filly and it lived yeah that's nice compared to last summers misshapes. Fri. Today I am not going anywhere except for the laundry room because its overflowing with wet shorts from boys who are changing more then a girl would from water playing. Mc is learning how to bale and haul hay. He loves it and has begged to have Dad get home from work early everyday. It's been fun to watch him be that way. I saw Braden Harrison he said to say Hi! Jer is doing super we have noticed that there has only been one throw up time this week because he was eating steak and didn't chew it up enough. But it wasn't like the past where it wouldn't go down and he would fight hard to keep from having a problem and then lose all that was in his tummy. His voice is a bit higher also not so man sounding in a little boy body. The steri strip is about to come off and it looks like a line on his neck and that's all instead of a hole but we can't see the main pinpoint spot yet with the tape on there.
I am actually glad to hear that you are having a hard time writing e-mail it means that time and space is starting to blend because it means that you are really losing yourself in your mission and the experience that you are having right now. Dad says this is the most important time to write your journal because the days begin to blend together and you can't keep separated and you will want to go back and read at times in your life and when your own children serve missions. Besides I might just spank you if you do not use that amazing journal that I made for you and fill it with all kinds of happy and sad and adventure and discouragement for your posterity to come which you can only remember if you write every single night as a review of your day.
J told me that it's T,T's values that make her really like him. Once when she got sick he lectured her about needing to still go to church even if she was sick. He is already an Eagle scout and plans on going on a mission. C is teased by him continuously so the tables are turned, they did football camp together.
Well I hope you got lost in this week and that is was amazingly full filling to you in every way. Tell me if you are needing anything please. I can't not believe that last year at this time you were working your head off to make enough for the mission clothing and now you wear them everyday. I do hope they are all lasting. And of course I better bring you up to date on the fact that they found the snake or they think they have and its up in the front porch rafters in the birds nest there. C says it's it because it is such a hissy mean blow snake. They are this Sat. trying to get it down and and move it out to the field they have been at it for about an hour or maybe more. Papa came to help fix the closet that the clothing shelves came down twice now once because C thought he could use them to power lift himself up. Ya you get the pic. It is starting to get to where we might just put the swamp cooler in, crazy that it is the middle of July and we are barley in to thinking we might need it. Dad and C watched a bit about the land take back that was going on in Johannesburg where that tower stood back in the year 2007. They saw the tower unless there are alot more of them around that area. It was pretty interesting Dad said about how the white wanted to keep their land and kick blacks off that had been born and always lived there. They called them scwaters (sp?) but how can you say that when they were born there and the guy was like 103 years old. I am sure those are things that you can not really express in your letters that you hear about.

Today I felt lifted up as I heard again the talk by Brother Eyring this part (Many bishops in the Church are inspired to call the strongest people in the ward to serve individual children in the Primary. They realize that if the children are strengthened with faith and testimony, they will be less likely to need rescued as teenagers. They realize that a strong spiritual foundation can make the difference for a lifetime.) I sure hope that I am teaching them right, someways little ears do not sit very still and listen when all they seem to want are fishy crackers and drinks. Jer stayed home today with Mc today supposedly Mc didn't feel good and class was a bit quieter then usual, mostly because I am the Mom and he knows my buttons to push. Shelby was on one though and it was kinda of hard to get her to sit and listen. They are finally starting to sit a bit stiller and answer questions as long as I be a really animated teacher then I can hold their attentions.
On the home front I am not going to lie it is hard to get all these boys to be on the same quiet plan and do any kind of sit down lesson. (Family Home Evening) We are spending lots of time together doing busy activities but there has been a precedent set that sitting and doing a lesson isn't important. There has been lots of arguing on the teens parts that Mom is dumb and really bossy and stupid even sometimes, over well almost anything that isn't going the way they want it to go. I am not trying to complain I just want you to realize that everyone has their free agency to be a willing participant or to not cooperate and it sure can make life rough. There is always lots to learn on everyone parts on how to make the whole family life work together a bit better. Well I better get this sent off since its super late having been trying to get kids to go to bed and not much cooperation on some of their parts. I love you and I hope that you have had a great week.
Love Mom

4 Years and counting more.

He reached a his 4 year mark, Wahoo.

He shared his cake with his cousin Cody.

He had to make sure his candle was lit before we sang or it was not official in his eyes.

He even wore a crazy hat and had a super fun day,

Can't stand the suspence wondering if you are transferred?

1. Camera card fixed? Do you need a new one?
1. The card works but I have to get a new converter thing to send pics with it.

2. What new thing have you seen that you would never see in America?
2. Well, I've seen alot of things now and I've kinda become desensitized to it so I can't think. But you usually see people cooking chicken legs over bry stands on the street alot.

3. What scriptures did you read that made you feel closer to the Lord this week?
3. Well a good one that I read recently that shows the importance of following what you learn in life was Helaman 7: 23-24

4. One crazy thing that your companion did that you were not expecting.
4.I haven't really been with Elder Bakker long enough to say anything crazy has happened but I'll have to tell you some good stories later on.

5. Where is Elder Bakker from and how many in his family?
5.Elder Bakker is from Idaho. He has a mom a dad a twin brother (not identical) and a sister.

6. Did you follow where the Lord wanted you to go at some point this week, after making it a matter of prayer and or fasting?
6.Yeah we have actually done alot of that lately. We have decided to focus our efforts on Braamfischerville and Extention 2 Dobsonville.

7. Tell us one thing that you miss from home that they do not have there.
7. One thing that I miss Hmm........ I don't miss home! J/k well the things that I miss are stuff that you do. Like horse riding and other stuff you can't do on a mission.

8. So what are you doing with the calling card that won't work over there?
8.It's just sitting in my drawer

9. They post the newsletters several months after to the mission page like the one on now is March so tell us about Benjamin Moepudi did he get baptized or what?
9. Well Bro Benjamin is someone that I didn't really teach, but he was baptized when I was there. He was the arch bishop of a church here in South Africa and he realized some things were wrong. He found the church through his son who served a mission in Madagascar but is now living in California. He investigated and found it was the true Church. Wait for the story it's better.

10. How many have you personally taught and then seen through to baptism?
10. Haven't been counting, and don't really want to so stop asking. But I have baptized people I started teaching. (sorry I was trying to clarify as he asked me in the last letter.)

Yeah it's been pretty crazy with world cup going on but it was mostly during the first game between Bafana Bafana and Mexico. I think a tie was a good outcome especially for the missionary work to keep going. (I have some pics. I will send them next week probably)

Well transfer news came on Saturday and I found out I am leaving. But there is a catch... I don't have a clue where I'm going. Know one does. and I won't find out until the day I leave. I was just told to pack and show up to transfers. I was kind of upset to get that news because I don't feel prepared to leave here especially with a lot of baptisms coming up that I personally worked to get while I was working alone with member missionaries. I was especially sad because of the Diseko family.... MAN I LOVE THAT FAMILY!!!! But there is a great story to tell about them. I hope I can describe how awesome it was in a simple letter. Yesterday, My last Sunday, we set an appointment to meet them. The father had come to church finally and I was way excited about that. On our way there we were discussing what we would teach. Our first plans were to teach about Tithing and Fasting, but we felt that wasn't right so we taught Baptism and Confirmation. It was an awesome lesson and we taught in the dark because the power was out as usual. After the lesson I extended a commitment that had been extended many times before. I said "will you prepare to be baptized and confirmed?" To my great surprise The father was the first to say yes.... Right then and there I was so surprised that I didn't know what to say or what had just happened. Elder Bakker eventually repeated the question and Brother Diseko replied " Isn't that the main goal?" I almost fell out of my chair! After hearing this I asked if the family would like to set a goal to be baptized together and they all agreed to August 8. To make it short we took some pics because I was leaving but I'm so glad that I had the chance to be there for that. It helped me feel prepared to leave and I feel like I've done what I was meant to do here. I'm going to have to continue to pray for them but I know they will make it. Man they have helped my testimony to grow so much. I can't really explain how I feel, but I will definitely be sending pictures home.

Because of time I have to go, but I love you all and keep doing what's right.

Elder Jones

Dear Son who is far away and serving the Lord with all his might sacrificing to find and even grow his and others testimony's each and every day.

WORLD CUP crazy stuff, Dad and some of the boys watched the opening ceremonies, then on the news Fri. night we laughed about an elephant that made the US team late to play because it caused a traffic jam. So it must be just wild crazy over there with all the goings on for the Games. One guy is from the Real Salt Lake team lucky guy. Mc has been begging me to get him a new soccer ball. We are trying to decide whether he should play football or soccer since he is in 6th now. Uncle Shane will not be coaching that team because he has been moving with the team that is in 8th now. I finally reached my goal with bonus of 144.0 I got a new dress for the effort and still can't reach 3 miles running yet but it will come I am sure. Rhett will be graduating Marines next week so I am sending the last letters from the past month to him on Mon. He got the highest honorers for rifle shooting and did apply to be a sniper so I guess nobody better mess with a gun around him. The Jones family reunion is this weekend down in the bottoms but I am not sure many will come all the brothers are gone now of Grandpas and his one sister that is alive will be having a surgery so she won't be here. Supposedly on the 29th is the surgery for Jer again. We will see if they go forward again. We went to see his Dr. on Thursday and he thinks we should see the lung Dr. again just to make sure that there is lung tissue growth after the last three years has passed. I know they won't do a CAT scan because he already had two but it sure makes me wonder if they will be able to see changes on that little tiny xray they usually do. On this Dr. chart he could finally see growth where there has not been any over the last year that we had seen him so that's good. Little K is finally off the oxygen in the day but not at night. They are still being really careful. The weather turned off cold again with lots of rain but Sat I made the most of it and did my first 3 mile run in between rain down pours. It felt pretty good to accomplish that and to know that I can. I am thinking the Milk Run might be reachable now. C leaves to go to Timberline really early in the morning and Mc asked if he could go running with me in the morning so we will see if he can get out of bed to go with me. Brent spoke today in sacrament meeting today and told about his Hero Samuel the Lamanite and how he was often teaching alone. You could feel his spirit as he spoke about some people that he was able to touch while teaching the gospel. He comes to our ward most likely because of Tiffany. I forgot to tell you that her whole family went through the temple a few months ago. Nothing really exciting is happening but next week C will be ordained a teacher if Dad isn't called into work. Remember his Birthday. He won't even be here for his birthday so I wonder if they will make a party up there at Timberline for him. He is really getting good at preparing to camp its been fun watching him get ready today. J is doing the driving part now but I keep having to go take her over in the morning and we miss the teacher twice now. Yesterday K about killed the car by catching the charger cords into the fan belt. We were lucky that he hurried to turn it off when it sounded funny and learned a big lesson in not doing something that is for big people to do. Dads work hours started to pick up this last week just when he was wanting to go horse riding. The little boys did peewee 4-H and K did pretty good. Even B took Star and got her to do some of the stuff. Well we are all waiting to hear if you are staying or going to a new place in South Africa the news should be enlightening to us. Have a wonderful week of spreading the light and keep smiling did your card get fixed we need to see some photos of something new.
Love the Family

Even little Z can write the Missionary.

From z
jones tyrell ilikeu iloveu urawosome haveuatetigermeat? tyrell beagood missionary. love z

P.S. Nope I havn't eaten tiger meat

1. Have you eaten hiskabobs, Uncle Tom wants to know, it's a snake with it's head cut off and skinned and then put a stick in it and roast it on the fire?

1. I haven't eaten a Hiskabob No. I actually haven't even heard of that.

2. Do you remember hearing about how people are called to certain places to serve their mission by Brother Rasban in conference this year? I shared that talk with C and he said wow I always wondered how it happened. He to said he would serve were ever the Lord wanted him to go. Chas Hathaway put the talk on his blog and that's how I found it to read to C.

2.Yeah that was a sweet! talk

3.What number are you at on baptising?

3. I haven't been counting. And maybe you could clarify.. Is that people who have been taught by me that have been baptized or is that people who I have actually baptized

4.How are you shoes holding up?

4.My shoes are ok.

5. Did you find a sweater vest to use?

5.Not yet. But I'm not sure I have enough in the account. I would need at least 20 bucks...I think.

6.Now that Elder Forman is in a new spot did you need a backpack sent to you that works better on a bike?

6.He let me keep the back pack. He goes home next month

7. I guess I never answered the question you asked about mission news letters do you want me to keep them? They are put out by your Mission Pres. every month and they post them on the mission home page. I would think that you could print them out at a later date if it is important when you get home.

7.Yeah I think I know what you are talking about. We actually get a copy of those. You should look up a story about Benjamin Moepudi.

8. So what is the name of the ward you are in right now? Do you know any of the kids that will be playing in theWorld Cup that attend your ward?

8.It's just the Dobsonville ward. The name of our area is the same as the ward. I'm not sure what you mean about the world cup thing because that is a national event with professional teams.

9. Did Linet get to be baptized yet? And what is happening with the Diesko family?

9.No she hasn't been baptized yet and she didn't come to church this sunday and we don't know why. The Diseko Family Is SWEET!!! Reneilwe, the sister is now on date and the family has been striving to keep the word of wisdom. They gave us all their tea and Tobacco to take away! but we think the Dad might still smoke every once and a while.

10.Have you found another family that is led by the Father yet?

10.yeah we've found a few. but we haven't met with them enough yet to know how things will go.

Dear Elder Tyrell Jones

This top note from Z was written and sounded out by himself with only a tiny help on the big words. Pretty soon he will be reading to us. Finally we have got the garden all in and today it went from cool to HOT. Hopefully it will cool a little so that the mountains let the water out slowly and we do not flood out. I have gotten more asparagus this year then ever before because of the cool weather. It will soon end now that its getting hot. I have kind had tunnel vision this week with trying to lose the last 3 pounds to my goal of 145 which is still being somewhat elusive. I have been getting up in the morning and walking and running to also get to running 3 miles but I am still only at 2 miles running. The kids are so sleep in and up late that is driving me crazy. I finally laid a threat that if there was anyone up late then on Fri. I would leave them here while I went to the family reunion. So they all believed me and stayed in bed at 11:00pm. We had some adventure of J driving from Scipio all the way to the hotel. She kept not being willing to pull over at Payson when I told her that I would drive now. Till finally I directed her off the ramp and she started to beg to be done cause the traffic was so close to her. I told her to bad now we were almost there. She was shocked when we pulled up to the hotel and she had driven for an hour and half. She even did pretty good through it all. We had hoped to have time to swim before leaving to drive up to Soldier Hollow were Alli Livingstons reception was being held. It was fun the best part was the photo booth that they set up to have your candid photos done and we all did goofy takes and then put one on her book as our signature for attending. I am going to scan them in and put them on our family blog so that we can see all the funny faces of our mini vacation this summer. My cousin Mystalyn's boys were out catching mice and rabbits and so the boys went right out to join up whether they knew them or not. They even saw a porcupine and Jer was so mad that he didn't get to see it cause he was inside with me. After that he was stuck to them like glue. When we got back to the hotel they all went swimming till 1:00 am, sleep and then back at it again at 9:00 am right down to the last 30 min before check out time. Then we went to Aunt Rozan's school and had a big dinner get together.Cody and Jer shared a birthday cake but Cody had to leave because no one would take his work shift. We didn't have a lighter so the candles were not lit so we all just started to sing Happy Birthday. Jer kept yelling not yet he was just about to cry when we ended and then yelled "Not yet there has to be fire on it first" one of my cousins lit it with a lighter and we all sang again. He was thrilled and blew his number 4 out very well. Dad had brought him a motorbike since he had been saying he was getting one for over a week along with a house, car, mustang, four wheeler, and you name it any car item he could think up. We got to see Nana June but Pa did not travel up he just didn't feel well enough to do it. I saw cousins I haven't seen in 19 years at least. It was fun connecting and finding out what they were all doing. Dad even was able to get someone to take his shift for the day and came up in the morning.J of course drove back with him so that she could drive her car back. C did not go with us because he was placed in charge of a scout camp so that he could divide patrols and assign out meals. They went up to the red water falls that you can slide down up in Capitol Reef. he said it was very very fun. I think you once went there with Bro. Howell. Dad said in priesthood today they were asking how you were doing and he told them some of your stories. So what is the total that you have of baptism amounts, have you kept track of that? Well I must be glad and secure that you are loving your mission because someone asked how long you had been gone and I said 6 months and Dad said no 8 and then we both realized it had been 9 time is flying so fast we are not even keeping track very well. Make the most of it of course thats why they say THE BEST TWO YEARS right. Love you tons have a great week and keep smiling. Keep discouragement at bay by saying your prayers all the time under your breath if necessary.

Your super duper great. and we love you lots. The Family

Dear Family

Well it's funny that you mention world cup, because this place has gone crazy!!!! Everyone has been painting the streets with BafanaBafana colors and South Africa flags. And every night you can hear people blowing on their Vuvuzela's (a trumpet like thingy) all over Soweto. Along with that, every person you meet on the street asks "Can you feel it?"

Well the story for this week happened on Sunday. There is a Less active member of the young men's who was recently baptized, and hasn't been coming to church and we found out that he was just sitting at home. So Elder Bakker and I organized the group of young men and we drove to his house to have church with him there. He was a little surprised at that but I think it was good for him. And I think it helped the young men to get a good sense of the importance of fellow shiping in the ward. Overall it's been a pretty good week for us and the area is slowly becoming stronger and stronger. There is rumour that I might be leaving so you'll find out about that next week but with some of the visa problems and the time Elder Bakker and I have been together I might just stay one more transfer, making this a 6 month stay in Soweto....But well just have to see. I wish I could say more now but I'm having trouble thinking of things to say.

Well I guess I can say that since I've come on mission my testimony has really grown, especially about the book of Mormon. That book is great and it will help you in any situation you come across. I Encourage everyone to read it and apply it to your life. I love the Church and I know that it is true. For all of those who are keeping strong... Keep on keeping on. And for all those who are finding it hard to stay the course. Talk to someone who will help, Read, and pray and you will find your way.

Love,

Elder Jones

Jer loves school

Photo shoot of my cute boy at preschool. Learning to wash hands, sit in the circle, waiting his turn, and eating, always done better with peer pressure around him.

I'm a big boy now!

Well a mile stone has been met. Jer went to preschool with only big boy pants on. The box of diapers that I spent twenty bucks on has been sitting there untouched for a week now. Oh how I wish I could have fortold that expenditure. It's a family miles stone too because it means the end of the monthly diaper purchase YEAH YEAH YEAH! (That's the Dad cheering more money for a bill!) So that phase is over in this house and I must admit along with the cheer I am glad. It's been 19 years of an off an on necessary purchase that was never struck off the budgeted list.

Truly THANKFUL

No feeding tube just the oxygen left Sept 2007.Jan. 2007 to Junes Cowboy still watching his sats with the Monitor even while in the car.


Faith and Gratitude We are where they said we would never be.
So maybe I am going back in time a few years but today as I put Jer. on the bus and we had no tubing attached to his little neck, I had a moment of WOW. My memory shot back in time to 3&half years ago sitting in a New Born Intensive Care Unit around this time of year pinning to just go home and be a complete family and be free from the struggle we were facing and remembering that they told me that he would never go to school with out a ventilator and the trach. It was an incredible WOW. So FAITH and GRATITUDE just over took me as he waved goodbye and I went home to write this. I am so blessed by the Lord and realize that. These scripture are so true 3 Ne. 17: 8 , D&C 42: 48, D&C 29: 6 , Heb. 11: 1. I received the most profound promise in a blessing before he was born but I still had to go the whole challenge to see it come to a realization. My Dad had stated in that blessing that everything would be all right after the challenges were over. They are not all over but we don’t have to drag that machine to school that’s for sure. So check out some of the photo progress that we made through the last three years. Notice how we gain kinds of tubing and then slowly lose those kinds of tubing. It took us from Aug 2006 to June 2007 to get rid of all those different kinds of tubing’s and we still to this day at night have the nasal tubing when he sleeps


The size he grew while we lived in the hospital was much bigger then a 10 dollar bill! But he went from having to have a tracheotomy, ventilator, and feeding tubes to freedom.
June 2006, 1lbs 14oz Breathing on his own! He was as big as a 10 dollar bill. Jer.'s starting Story was that he didn't need any help breathing for 24 hours and then assistance with blow by air for a month. Then what they call the NICU rollercoster ride hit and we just hung on tight!