Hanging with the Bishop

The Bishop and Sister Beazer invited a few folks over for an evening of getting to know you and games. Kind of a Family Home Evening. They really need to do it more often. There were more invited but they had other commitments, something about packing and moving. Natie and Kate, Barry and Audra, Blake and Lynn (the newest ward members), Sister Beazer and Bishop
The bishop is setting a new years goal, and that is to have more of the ward in our home, more frequently. Let us know if you would be willing to make the trip to the big city of Rigby.

Happy New Year to all!

Out with the old, In with the new

For the last two years, the bishop has used a manilla folder to keep himself organized. He wrote notes on it, doodled on it, and wore them out on a regular basis. But someone felt sorry for him and decided it was time to move up in the world, he now has a five star folder. No excuses for not being neatly organized now.

*****

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...

I'm posting these for all those who have decided to spend Christmas someplace warm and green. Today we ran up to Island Park to do a quick job. We have snow and bitter cold down here in the lower elevations but they have a ton of it up north. It was beyond beautiful. The tree looked lik snow soldiers marching proudly down the sides of the road.

The elegant swans and geese didn't seem to mind the cold. They spent their time preening and eating.

It was Christmas card perfect, even the fence posts wore caps of snow.

So for those of you who have to spend the break golfing and sun bathing, we here in the land of snow will be enjoying a truly white Christmas and loving every snow flake.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a great New Year.

Some changes

The only constant in life is change. Our ward is no different. Due to graduating and moving on with life, this last Sunday there were a few changes.
Old--- New:
1st Counselor Jared --Jake
Executive sec Jake --Greg
RS Pres Jelinda --Andrea
RS 1st Andrea-- Abbie
RS 2nd Celeste --Ashley
Sec Anne --Allison
SS Pres Ethan-- Eric
SS 1st Blake --Cody
SS 2nd Eric --Adam
SS Sec Cody --Jared

Hopefully I will be able to post a few pictures of the new organization changes soon.

The Ward Christmas Party, were you there?

It was a lovely evening and hopefully enjoyed by all. There was food a plenty, with each table singing for their supper followed by an excellent program of talent from the ward.

The lighting was not conducive for good picture taking with my basic camera, so I am posting only a few of the better ones. The choir sang

A quartet sang an original song by Brother Haws

Mabes

Bundersons

Tyson and Julie

Barry and Audra

Seagraves

Jensens

Billy and Alesa

Jelinda and Savannah, showing off her new Christmas dress

Will we be able to fill Jared up?

Sunshine and Jordyn

Cait and Malena, "Are we having fun yet?"

Twitchells

Thanks to our activities committee for a wonderful evening.

Joy to everyone

This is a wonderful Christmas Message. http://www.joytoeveryone.com/ Watch to understand what "everyone" truly is.

Rob's Cheesy Surpise

Slice some zucchini, (you may also use yellow crookneck squash) season with salt to taste, put a little water on it, cover and microwave till soft, but not mushy. Doesn't take long, so watch carefully. Pour water off and sprinkle grated cheese over top stirring clockwise at least 3 stirs. Cover and let cheese melt. Serve and enjoy.
Rebecca and Kent say you can fry the squash in a little butter also and it is equally as yummy, but then anything cooked in butter is yummy.
Try it you and you'll be surprised at how good and easy to make it is.

How the Bishop does Thanksgiving

Just in case you wondered what the Bishop does on Thanksgiving here are a few pictures.

First we begin with the pre-dinner nap. This is critical so you have plenty of energy to tackle all that turkey.

Then there is the post dinner nap. Even the dog, Pugsy, is worn out by eating dinner (he loves brussel sprouts and marshmellows).
While the rest of the family is playing games he is ever focused. Work, work, work.
Then he tackles his talk. Yes, he is scheduled to talk on Sunday along with the Jared and Marc. I will be there, hope you will also.

Happy Thanksgiving

We feel so blessed to serve in the BYU-I 67th ward. It is one of our greatest joys to be with you each Sunday. We love to hang out in the complex and watch you come and go. You are the cream of the crop. So many of you have touched us in ways you will never know. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives.

We hope everyone has a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.

Talent Show

An evening of fun, We met at the church for donuts and hot chocolate, conversation and a few moments of role playing. We divided into 2 groups and using props that various people brought (the bishop brought a plumbers helper) you had to figure out what they were doing.

One group used props to display emotions, such as joy, frustration etc.

The other group gave the props emotions and of course you had to guess what the emotion was.
Billy demostrate the joy of a warm hat.

Steven uses a the confidence scarf.

Although not a lot of people came we had a good time and plenty of food.

Another great social by the activities committee.

Can you eat a rack?

When the Elders Quorum parties they do it right and without a lot of fluff.

The occasion: BYU vs U of U football. The menu: Baby back ribs and trimmings

First they had to unload the grill, which Brother Broulim so kindly brought. Brother Trevino tried orchestrating the process but then realized that man power was need for this big boy grill. The bishop had been to the temple a little earlier and was still in his suit so he didn't assist.

The big question of the day was how do we light this thing?

Brother Broulim gives them some pointer on how it all works,
Then the men take over.

While some patiently waited, others discussed which team they were for and who should win and why. Putting the finishing touches on the ribs.
Will they every get done?

Others avoided the chilly fall air and took advantage of staking out a place at the tables.
Finally it's chow time. Brother Broulim filled their plates high with ribs.

(I think Jesse is excited.)

Bishop dons a chefs coat to enjoy the meal.

Another satisfied customer/Elder.

What more could he ask for that Ribs, beans and a cold Jones soda. A finger-licking delicious meal.

After they ate and cleaned up, they headed to the Rex to watch the game on a big screen. U of U won, yeah for their fans, Boo for the BYU fans. This was such a big event that the news media came and several of them made the news.

Thanks Brother Broulim for a delicious set of racks and trimmings and to the Elders Quorum Presidency for a news worthy activity.

Newest member

Welcome to the ward this last week,

Brooklyn Laine,

beautiful daughter of Cassie and Jacob.

What do think, is dad proud or what?

Another hidden talent

When the Bishop isn't being bishop, boss, husband, father, son, set designer, train engineer, uncle, and basically a jack of all trades and a master of none, he is helping the neighbors with their projects. Tonight he was a busy setting up for a wedding.

The wedding reception should be beautiful, done in orange and browns, a rustic house complete with picket fence and wishing well. Besides being our neighbor the bride is Sister Beazer's visiting teacher.

Just another side to the bishop

The Bishop and singing cowboys

another side of the bishop: SET DESIGNER

About 10 years ago our neighbor, who is a member of the city Chamber of Commerce, asked the bishop to help him with the backdrop/set for the Bar J Wranglers, which the chamber sponsors each year. After the first couple of years the neighbor just turned it over to us and the Bishop runs with it. For those of you who are not from this area or are not familiar with the Bar J, they are a group of singing cowboys. They spend 2 hours entertaining with lots of jokes and the old cowboy classics, such as "Tumbling tumbleweed" and "Ghost riders in the sky" The set we have used for the last three years.

The first week in November we go in late the night before, after the students have left and things settle down at the local high school, and hang the scrims (big white sheets), starch them and lay out the set. Then they next morning he goes in and stands up the rest of the set, working around the students and with the studio A team to get the lighting correct. Just as school gets out the cowboys show up and set up their instruments and sound system.

Show time: Donny "The Smurf" who plays the steel guitar and several other stringed instruments , Tim a champion fiddler, Scott the lead tenor and oldest of the original Bar J, Dan who sings deep, deep, deep and of course Brian who hangs on to the bass fiddle/cello and keeps everyone on their toes with his antics. A favorite of the show is Granny, who comes out and sings a mixed up song.

After the show it's time to tear down the set. We work side by side with the cowboys while they pack up their instruments and take down the set, sweep the floor (that's my special job) and turn out the lights. Despite the hard work and late nights this is something we enjoy.