SUMMER IS OVER

August 2009

Jordan has been out eight months…wow time is truly flying. Just like the old people used to say….but wait then that makes me old, because now I am saying it. Ouch!!! That realization hurt.

Jordan aka “Anziano Shill” has moved from Verona to Reggio, Italy. He LLLLOVES the food and is growing up (from his pictures he is not growing out, but staying in good shape). He loves being a missionary and we love the blessings of him being a missionary. He is having some success and learning to depend upon the Lord for everything.

Jake had a motorcycle accident on one of the roads near Brian Head and broke his collarbone. He has had surgery and is recovering. He knows that the doctor is just telling him to keep his arm in a sling and take it easy just because they want to control him and that they all sit around and laugh when someone (someone not as smart as Jake) does what they say. He has them figured out and is going on with normal life to show them that they cannot tell him what to do. He will be attending MCC this fall and is planning to join his brother in the mission field sometime next summer.

McKayla just got back from girls camp where she loved being in the estrogen rich atmosphere of Camp Lo Mia. David and I stopped by for a bit and you could see the words running through her eyes like a Time Square Marquee “What are you doing here? This is GIRLS’ camp and my time away from my little brother…when are you leaving!!” She had a blast with the girls, her mother included.

Marci, of course, was also at girls’ camp and came home with many great experiences and memories and bug bites. The bugs realize that she is the sweetest thing around and take every opportunity to gorge themselves on her sweetness. Marci is so giving in that way!!!

David and I went to Pine while McKayla and Marci were at girls’ camp. We spent one of the days geo-caching and found some beautiful scenic vistas where others had placed a geo-cache. My favorite was one that overlooks the Pine Strawberry area. We could see Grandma Toots house from there and all of Pine. We also took a tour of the Pine Historical Museum and I showed David all the pictures of his ancestors. He said as we left that he thought it was very cool that his ancestors founded a town.

As we looked at the old pictures and relics, I reminisced about the old Pine I knew growing up. Visiting the creek, sliding down the stairs in the Pine House, visiting Uncle Orley at his house or the Ponderosa Market, Playing in the small ditch in front of the Pine House and enjoying visits and food with Grandma. I hope that our children do not lose the heritage we have in Pine.

Sssssseeeeee ya, Ro

Pictures from Italy

THE ITALIAN JOB

It is hard to believe that we are already 1 month plus into this New Year. Time is moving along and I find that trying to write in a blog is pretty unrealistic for me.

I have spent the past 3 Saturdays building a chicken coop. I am modeling it after the one that I remember at my boyhood home. I thought that this would be as easy as pie (although I must admit I don’t make pie and have no clue how hard it would be) and have found otherwise. First off, I think that I was wise to not choose a career as a framer! My first clue was that David, my 10 year old was truly HELPING me. It was great to have him around to do all the mathematical calculations. Secondly, I thought that I would just be using some scrap lumber that was around the house and badda boom badda bing…I have chicken coop. NOPE. My third thought on this (after my second $100 trip to Home Depot) was . . . . . How many dozen eggs can I buy with the cost of a chicken coop? I know that there are other reasons for working towards self sufficiency so that is what I am hanging my hat on, since there is no financial justification here.

Over the past few weeks we have been the puppy pushers. Marci and McKayla have been walking around town in trench coats, approaching strangers in dark parking lots, and with puppies hanging from the liners of their coats, saying “Psssst, hey wanna buy a puppy?” Naw not really, just an ad and some phone calls, and the Puppies are gone. They are wonderful about caring for them and I appreciate their efforts.

McKayla is playing Volleyball and frequently you will see her serving to the volleyball ghosts in the yard. So far they have not been able to return a single one!

Since I am very involved with the Young Men in our ward I must give a little print to them. Priest Quorum Basketball is over. It started out very painful, but there was some great improvement. I think that the Lehi Second Ward had one of the most talented group of ball players in the stake. They just don’t play ball much and did not play as a team. The tremendous improvement seen over the short 4-6 game season is clear evidence of this. We are going to try to change that in the next year with some practice. We have a quorum of diverse interests, sand dunes, rodeo, running, swimming, pole vault, band, guitar, video games (arghh!) and of course school and girls all take time away from the very important pursuit of Basketball excellence. (IMHO)

Jake has been acquiring guitars and guitar equipment. He currently has 5 guitars and just got a “half stack” (no…that is not IHOP terminology) that will literally rock the house.. He seems to have been playing some more blues type music, which is definitely OK with his father, but don’t tell him Dad likes it because then he won’t want to play it anymore. He has a great talent for playing guitar and has written some music too. Jake has earned his Bronze palm in Scouting and made the regional choir. Good job Jake!

We got to talk with Anziano Shill in Salt Lake, a tiny bit in Chicago and again in Frankfurt. The Frankfurt conversation was a bit short too. He was very tired and it was about 11:30pm in Arizona and we were awakened from our slumber for the call. Jordan is now in Verona Italy. Of course, we have done the google earth thing and found where he lives and that he is in a very beautiful place. They have some baptisms scheduled for later this month and possibly some next month. His companion is Elder Aillon from Gilbert, Arizona, so hopefully he has made a friend that he can continue to associate with in the post mission life. Mission Trainers are forever your big brother!

Jordan Goes to Italy

Jordan's group went to Italy today!

2009 - THE BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE

What would you do if you decided to make 2009 the best year of your life? It must be things within your own control…..so while winning the lottery or hitting the jackpot at the casino would be nice it is not in my control. Besides, you can’t win if you don’t play! It is starting out to be a good year. The Cardinals are going to the Superbowl, (huh???) my son is on a mission, my family is healthy, I have a job, a great family, a home, and interest rates are down. Most of these previously mentioned things I have little control over, but none of them are exclusively in my control. So….what will I do to make 2009 the best year of my life. Here are a few thoughts.

• Go to the temple each week
• Read my scriptures every day
• Spend more time with my children
• Spend more time with Marci
• Put more energy into my church calling
• Give up the bad habits that have been hanging on too long

I was able to go to the Supercross races with my 2 younger kids, McKayla and David. The high flying, bar banging, dirt digging, mud, mud, mud was fun and we got to see some good racing courtesy of Josh Grant, Chad Reed and James Stewart.

With all the focus on the economy and watching my 401k become a 201k our family has a renewed interest in becoming more self reliant. A garden, chickens, and trees and bushes that bear fruit have become frequent topics of conversation and are all in the planning stages.

Jordan reports that his Italian is coming along well. You can read his letters through a link on this page. We are blessed that he is serving and are looking forward to taking with him when he leaves for Italy on the 27th of January. He had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with Elder David A. Bednar at a conference on Christmas Eve and was pretty excited about that. Then on Christmas Elder Holland spoke with them also. What an experience that was for him, to be in the same room and taught by 2 Apostles of the Lord.

Jakob was asked to speak in Stake Conference today, a surprise to us all. He was called up out of the audience to bear his testimony. You should have seen the look on his face. He was terrified. He did a great job speaking about prayer and the importance of good friends. He was able to sit on the stand with Elder David A. Bednar and also speak with him afterwards.

McKayla continues to be cute and great. She has enjoyed the patch of puppies at our house. She is so cute with them and she loves being the other mom to them. She is also selling "goodies" to earn money to go to EFY this summer. So give us a call if you need some treats for......well, just about anything.

David rode the XR100 (motorcycle) for the first time. Dad wasn’t even on the back. He did great and is looking forward to more rides. Next time we will get out of first gear. He ALSO got to meet and speak with Elder Bednar after Stake conference. So all three of my boys met Elder Bednar in the last Month....what a great experience it was for each of them.

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all throughout Shillville,
All the creatures were stirring, even Joe, Grant and Jill Shill.
The Roberts were hosting the whole family herd.
With the Elders there also to give the good word

Jakob and Tyler, will each eat their weight,
And Mitchell will too, but mostly in cake.
David, McKayla, and Morgan will all dig in quick,
And Grant will entertain with his latest new trick

We’ll eat yummy stuff and then talk for a while,
Sing a few songs and do it with style
Flip through the channels and then walk the looong way,
Back to the homestead to await Santa’s Sleigh,

The cousins will soon be all huddled in bed.
And they’ll sleep for awhile, at least that's what they said.
“Dad, Mom, Santa Claus came” They’ll say.
When 30 minutes earlier we’d just hit the hay.

Jordan is in training and will sorely be missed.
But he’s been a good boy and is on Santa’s list.
No phone call to the family is a small price to pay,
For the honor of serving Him whom we honor this day.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

AN “AWFUL” BEGINNING TO THE WEEK

This week was an awesome Lehi Tradition that we all love. The Connolly Awful Waffle Eat and Run. The Connolly Family has been doing this for over 30 years. Anybody who shows up at the Connolly’s house gets Green and Red waffles and sausage. We love going and seeing old friends and neighbors that we don’t see often enough. The line stretched out their front door and down the walkway and into the street. This is one of the reasons that Lehi Living is the best.

For mutual this week the youth went around singing to elderly, widow and homebound people in our ward. McKayla and the younger kids went on a hay ride and stopped at several places in the ward where they sang carols and gave out cinnamon rolls. The Priests and Laurels went to some other homes in cars doing the same thing. They had a little smaller group and were able to go inside most of the homes and spend a little time there. Jake played his guitar for the group. It was wonderful to see the happiness that the Young Men and Women brought into the homes of the people they visited. Afterwards we hung out around the fire and had hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls.

Jake was also in Westwood High Schools Christmas program and did a great job. He played the guitar for one song, the drum on a second and the cymbals on a third. He has a great talent for music. You can see the choir perform on Christmas morning on channel 10.

Jordan reports that he is working hard to learn Italian and loves being at the MTC. We miss him, especially at this time of year, but know the gifts he will be giving over the next two years are the most important. His letters and pictures can be found at http://www.missionsite.net/elderjordanshill/letters

David was able to go Christmas Caroling with the youth and then again with the Cub Scouts the next night. He is growing like a weed and eating like a horse. He had his Birthday this week and is now a Weblo. He got a compound bow for his birthday and has been getting to be a pretty good shot. (I am not ready to stand in front of him with an apple on my head, but he can hit the target).

Of course McKayla and David had Christmas concerts too and at the same time. I am sure that it takes careful planning to get all the concerts on the same night!

My brother Joe has decorated a large mesquite tree in the field in green and red lights. From the Mesa drive it looks like a lone tree in all lit up with nothing around it. The strand of lights leading down the fence line toward the tree makes the scene reminiscent of Lehi’s Dream in the Book of Mormon.

Merrrrrry Christmas, Ro Ro Ro