'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

DAVE “THE INTIMIDATOR” AND COUSINS ROCK!!!

Thanksgiving was great. We are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for the great blessings of life, liberty, religion, home, family, and friends and on and on and on.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and spent time with family. Dana’s family came to Shillville for the weekend and the kids had a blast just playing with their cousins. We took them all to the go kart track on Friday. David, who is 9, was “racing” solo for the first time. He did great and was quite an aggressive driver. Dale Earnhardt would have been proud. Perhaps the reason for his aggressive driving style was that he didn’t know where the brake was!! When the officials stopped the race midway, Dave looked like a renegade pinball bouncing off cars. He was therefore banned from the track for the remainder of the day. Dad was so proud!! His Uncle Rich took the gang back the next day for more racing action. In the meantime we had taught David where the brake was. He did great and wasn’t banned!

We received our first couple of letters from Jordan. He sounds like they are being immersed in Italian and reports that he can pray and bear his testimony in his new language. His letters have been short, but at least we know he is alive and well and enjoying himself.

Jake has been engineering a toothpick bridge for his Physics class and getting ready for Westwood Choir’s annual Canticle of Carols. We always look forward to this performance.

McKayla loves spending time with her cousins. They drove go karts, rode her motorcycle, went to the movies, and even made a movie. The movie was pretty funny.

David also enjoyed spending time with cousins. When they are here they are constantly going and running and playing. The minute they leave Shillville is back to dulls-villle. (well… according to the kids)

SHILLVILLE SENDS OFF A SOLDIER

All is well in Shillville and Jordan has entered the Army of the Lord as a infantryman to bring souls to Christ.

The family is adjusting to the absence of one of us. Jordan left for the MTC earlier this week where he will spend 9-10 weeks learning Italian and studying the gospel. He will then depart for Milan Italy. He gave his talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday and did a great job discussing “Why we should have Standards in our lives”. He also sang with his Aunt Shana, Brother Jakob and mother Marci. The talk was great and the song was wonderful.

Our Stake President gave him a wonderful blessing when he was set apart on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, my sister Brenda picked him up at the Salt Lake Airport, took him to lunch and then to the MTC where they had a short meeting and said goodbye. We very much appreciated Jordan being able to be looked after by his Aunt for those several hours. Cousin Clay also spent some time with Jordan before he had to leave. I am sure that snow, slopes and Clay nearby would be a temptation for a snowboard or snowmobile excursion if Jordan was not totally committed to his new job.

It is clear to me that Jordan knows what he is doing and has some fear of the unknown and some fear of the known too! He is very conscious of the sacrifices he is making and still willing to do so. It is wonderful to see him challenged by leaving his home, family and friends.
We all miss Jordan. Even Jake has said how much he misses his older brother.

Jake, McKayla and David are looking forward to playing musical rooms. We have been cleaning out Jordan’s room for the anticipated moves and finding many treasures and surprises. The next few weeks should be full of kids moving rooms and dividing up Jordan’s clothes and other treasures that he left behind. Saturday while doing some of the laundry Jordan left behind, Marci discovered a treasure trove stash of socks. We are now set for the next several decades in the sock department! All these years we thought that we had a whole family of the sock eating monsters that most families only have one of.

As the Father of this gang I am feeling extremely blessed to have a family who loves the Lord.

CHANGE IS COMING . . . .

The time seems to be flying by and it is now less than 2 weeks until Jordan leaves for the MTC. The instant change will be strange for us especially right before the holidays. We are grateful for the blessings that are coming to him through his choices and are all excited for the growth and evolution that will occur over the next two years…..and that is CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!

Marci is finding many old friends and some new on Facebook. She loves catching up. Many conversations these days start out. ”Oh, guess who I found today…..!”

Rolland had surgery on his knee a few weeks ago and has recovered quickly.

Jordan is in the final two weeks of carefree, civilian life. He has quit his job so he has time to get everything ready and have plenty of time to hang out with friends. He has enjoyed his friends getting their mission calls too. Kind of reminds me of Alma the younger and the Sons of Mosiah when they were going off to serve missions to the Lamanites. It will be a great reunion coming home in two years and seeing the growth and strength of your buddies and knowing that they love the work and the Lord just as you do. He has been able to go to the Temple with his friends too.

Jakob is recovering from his Football injury. His clavicle is healed enough to begin Physical Therapy next week. Oh fun!!!! Last week was Homecoming for Westwood. Jake was the protector extraordinaire as he and his buddies sacrificed life, limb, cell phone and driving privileges to protect all their hard work and sweat from the evil Sophomore and Junior classes. He came home very late each night with stories of defense and conquest that scared his old folks into less hair or gray hair. (less for Ro, gray for Marci). Thankfully no one was permanently injured and those incarcerated have now been set at liberty. As a side note…if you are trying to reach Jake please call his home phone and if you own a car he could always use a ride!


McKayla is like, doing great in school. She like, loves being with her friends, they like, hang out and like, totally paint their toenails and do hair and stuff. She like, totally has the best friends evvvver and like, Poston Panthers are the best! Totally!!!


David continues to astound us with his love of science and space. He shows us a diagrams of the generator he is building. Apparently Jordan has been showing him the workings of a car alternator and so he is ready to build one. He loves the Discovery Channel and especially Mythbusters, Planet Earth and Time Warp TV shows. David is playing the Violin in orchestra and doing very well learning to play the Piano.

Bla Bla Blog….

Here is the week in a nut shell.

Jakob broke his collar bone playing football. It is his right side of course and he is learning to be left handed in some of the daily necessities. Like putting on shirts, combing his hair, shaving his face and his wiping his ….nose. He is bummed to be out for the season and especially the week before the Mountain View game. Oh well… more time for school.
Rolland is having his knee scoped on Thursday. Torn meniscus! He should bounce back and be leaping tall buildings in no time.
Jordan went through the temple on Friday. It was a great experience for his parents and for Jordan too. For his Dad and Mom it is truly “Living the Dream”.
McKayla thinks that nothing good is going to happen until she gets a cell phone. So nothing good has happened. She is doing well in school, but that doesn’t count because …she doesn’t have a cell phone.
David did great in the primary program
…and Marci has discovered Facebook and loves to “chat” with her friends. She is a true tech head.

SHILLVILLE KING & QUEEN RETURN

Shillville continues to have some happenings. Ma and Pa Shill came back to the farm from their mission at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. I think they miss the spirit and the people, but are glad to be home in Lehi. They truly have a very tender place in their hearts for the people, place and time they served, but are also glad to be back among family and friends and in their own home. They reported on Sunday and both did a great job in their talk. The family sang “Oh Fairest Land of Adam-Ondi-Ahman” for the closing song in sacrament meeting. David says that this is now his favorite song.

It was great to have the family here for mom and dads report. We thought everyone was coming except Brenda, but she surprised us all and brought Clay and Robbie too. Dale was not able to make it and we missed him and his family.

Jordan is busily preparing for his departure. Shirts, shoes, socks, pants, passport, luggage, temple prep class, mission training class, the list is long, the time is short…..and so is his hair. It was announced this week that Italy will host the 2009 Motocross of Nations (often referred to as the Olympics of Motocross). The location is about an hour northeast of Milan. We may have to warn the mission president that the temptation will be there for Jordan and to keep a close eye on him during that time. (just kidding!) There was some big news today from President Monson today that a temple will be built in Rome, Italy. This will be a great time to serve in Italy. The excitement among the members and the spirit the will descend on the country will be tremendous. This is great news for a newly called missionary and we are all excited.

Jakob is doing his best to balance football and school. The football team is struggling this year and Jake hates to lose. He has taken some pretty hefty classes, but should be able to pull good grades because he works hard. He is singing in the Honor Choir at school, serving on the Stake Youth Committee and playing his guitar whenever possible. He grew his hair really long so that he could get a whine, moan and complaint out of his Grandpa Shill. After that he cut it short so he could hear all the compliments and pats on the back from his Grandpa.

McKayla enjoyed having her cousins around this past weekend for Grandma and Grandpas homecoming. She, McCall, Meagan, and Madeline make quite a gang. I must say it is the best looking gang I have ever seen! They all seem to love being with each other. The house was sure quiet on Sunday night. McKayla is palying her flute in the Poston Band and doing well in school.

David loves the BBC series we have been watching, “Robin Hood”. Frank and Ronda’s family turned us onto this. He has been shooting the bow and arrows at targets and started to run outside to shoot at a stray dog before we caught him. We are glad that the Robin Hood in this series (and David) one does not wear tights.

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO LABOR IN THE.....

There have been some great happenings in Shillville in the past few weeks. On Friday, August 29th Jordan received his mission call to the Milan Italy Mission. He enters the MTC on November 19th, where he will spend 9 weeks. We are so grateful for Jordan’s choice to serve a mission and for all the good choices he has made to enable him to serve the Lord. He will be a great missionary.

The morning after Jordan received his call he and I and Marci headed for Missouri. We went to Adam-Ondi-Ahman, Nauvoo, Carthage, Liberty and Independence. It was a great trip. We got to spend some wonderful times in some of the most significant areas in church history. (and world history when you really think about it)

Jakob has been working hard in school and in football. He has some tough classes and spends a lot of time working to keep good grades. He comes home with sore muscles and bruises, but is learning how to work hard and be a part of a team.

McKayla……has a great group of friends. Most of them are in the ward and others in neighboring wards. I think that they would all be ok with some sort of communal living arrangement where they could be together all the time.

David has started writing a book. He has the first two chapters done. He is a smart boy and has recently expressed his frustration with not being able to learn in school. He says that everything is review AND THAT IS NOT LEARNING!

Saturday, September 13th, we welcomed home my Mother and Father from their mission at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. They loved their mission and their family has been greatly blessed by there service. It is good to have them home. They report September 28th at our Sacrament Meeting at 2pm.

SCHOOL IS IN SESSION!!!!!!!!!!

All the kids are in school again, except Jordan. He is enjoying the freedom I am sure. We enjoyed going to California, spending time with cousins and listening to Dana, Rich and Collin speak in church.

We have been enjoying the Olympics and are amazed at the skill, speed and strength of men and women (and children in the case of the Chinese female gymnasts) who dedicate their lives to the Olympic dream.

Jordan –His mission application is in. He had his final interview with the Stake President. He finished the Book of Mormon in very short order. From what he said in his testimony on Sunday he had a great experience in reading the last half very fast. A few Saturdays ago he went riding with Joe at ET Motopark, he showed me a video of him clearing a 90 foot tabletop! Jordan has also been going out with the Full-Time Elders. They did service and visited members and just did missionary stuff. He will be a great missionary. He was made an Elder last night.

Jakob – I think that he is anxious to hit someone. He comes home tired and goes to bed early. They had a inner squad scrimmage last week and have a scrimmage with Hamilton High on Wednesday. His first real game is August 29th and then games are almost every Friday until November. He is having a good time and learning a lot. He plays Tight End and is number 82. He is taking a lot of accelerated classes this semester and should be quite busy. He was also called to be the Stake Youth Committee representative.

McKayla went to Brian Head/Las Vegas and stayed with McCall and then McCall stayed with us. They had a great time together. Life is all about friends now and she has some great friends. McKayla was also called to be the Beehive class 2nd counselor.

David – Is running for historian at Franklin Elementary. He brought me the speech he wrote all by himself. Here is an unedited excerpt. “Go Davy. Go! The light is green now. Now it is night. Night is not a time for play. It is a time for sleep….Now it is day. Time to finish the race….They are going fast in those cars? Who will win? Vote for David Shill and you’ll find out.” He has decided to play the violin in orchestra this year. He has been filling the house with music (sort of!) He is making a video with McKayla and her friend.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes....

Ro – I feel like the past few weeks have caused me to age 10 years. It must because I had a birthday. I guess 47 is the age that you are officially old, time to sell the motorcycle and get a quad or electric scooter. You know the song “Head, Shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes, knees and toes, head, shoulders knees and toes, eyes, ears, mouth and nose.” It is not a primary song but a list of what hurts and doesn’t work! I have also learned why the jokes about fiber, BM’s and a healthy colon are so funny. They are so true! TMI?

Marci – She is a ROCKSTAR on the guitar (rockband that is) She misses her daughter. I had to talk long and hard to convince her that McKayla had only been gone 3 days and not a week and 3 days.

Jordan – is looking to change jobs. It will be nice for him to not have to work Sundays and be able to attend the stake mission prep class on Sunday mornings.
He spent a lot of time putting his bike back together and now has it over to Gary’s shop for the fine tuning. Jetting and fork oil levels. I, for one, was very impressed with his mechanical ability.

Jakob – Jake got home from football camp on Saturday. He has some great stories of putting people on their butt and catching passes for touchdowns. The first thing he wanted was two Carl’s Jr. Burgers. He seemed happy to be home to sleep in his own bed, eat real food and shower alone! We missed him.

McKayla – went to Franks on Thursday. Jordan was great to take her there and then turn around and come right back. What a guy! She sounds like she is having a good time with cousins. They were up at Brian Head until Sunday and now they are back in Vegas.

David – He has become the ROCKBAND drummer of the family, but his mom cut his hair so now he doesn’t look the part!

It has been a good week. Jordan and I are trying hard to finish the Book of Mormon before the other does. This week I was reading about Christ’s visit to the Americas. It is real! My week has been great because of the amount of time I have spent reading and the subject matter of my text. I know that my feelings will not come through in text, but the words of the Book of Mormon are true and the more I study the simple words of Christ the more I see the brilliance of the light he offers.

SSsssssssssssssssssssseeee ya, Ro

THE REEK IN WEVIEW

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
For mutual this week we took the kids canoeing down the Verde River in canoes. They all seemed to have a good time, but it was sure miserable staying out of the water in the humid heat.

Saturday was a good day. Early in the morning I went with Joe, Tyler Boyle and a few others riding at the new Grindingstone Motocross Track. It is just past the river on the Beeline Highway. We had a good time and I am sure sore. I just need to do it more.

Marci and Jordan came up with this scheme where I thought that the Colemans had borrowed my truck, Jordan had to work for Kara’s Dad and I was completely oblivious of them putting a new stereo in my truck. It sounds great and is what I have been wanting for a long time.

The biggest news for Jake was that we got a video game called “Rock Band”. You can play the drums or the guitar that it comes with or sing. You have to set it on one of the levels from beginner to expert and then it scores you on how well you play the notes. It is quite hard for an uncoordinated guy like me, but Jake is king of this game. Jake loves it. McKayla and David and even Marci have played a lot too. (Aunt Edna has to have her hands over her ears or watch with ear plugs in)

David went to day camp this week. Friday night they did a 2.4 mile hike in the Superstition Mountains and then Saturday went swimming.

I dropped Jakob off for Football camp this morning. I think that he is a little afraid how hard it is going to be. He will do great and will hopefully have a great time this year. First game is August 29th. WAR EAGLE!!

Jordan is working, but hates working on Sunday. He is always off around 10 or 11, but he misses mission prep class and just doesn’t like the working on Sunday part. He has gotten to be a pretty good mechanic. He replaced the fork seals on his dirt bike, pulled out the motor and is rebuilding the top end. This week it goes back together.

McKayla is helping her mom around the house and spending time with friends.

Oh, I also sent a picture of Grandpa Joe and some narrative to PaysonRimCountry.Com. They had a space for him, but no picture. I fixed that. You can see it at http://www.paysonrimcountry.com/WesternHeritage/FamousCowboys/tabid/106/Default.aspx
They didn’t use exactly what I wrote and got some facts wrong but hey it’ll fly.

Have a good week. Love ya’ll. Ro

Love ya'll

RO'S FIRST BLOG

This is a first for Rolland. I blog, therefore I am. This is a slightly edited letter to my parents serving a mission in Missouri.

We spent the weekend at the Toot House in Pine. We watched the fireworks in Payson in a light rain and then lounged around, playing games, watching movies and looking at the crafts down town. We had a nice time.

Well here is the week (or the weak) in review. Mesa has had a lot of rain this week, about 2.5 inches in a few hours on Wednesday and the same today (Sunday). The lawn is looking great. Irrigation on Tuesday, 2.5 inches of rain on Wednesday and 2+ inches on Sunday.

Ro – I am been cleaning the garage and have that as my project this week. Jordan and I are having a contest to see who can finish the Book of Mormon first. The winner gets a dinner from the loser. All he lacks for putting in his papers is finishing the Book or Mormon. He won’t tell me where he is, but I think that I am ahead.

Marci – is doing what Marci does. She is helping to plan a party for Edna’s 90th birthday party for the women in the ward. We are also going to have something that night for the family.

Jordan - Jordan had a solo in Church today and he sounded great. he sang "Come though fount". Kara played the Violin and her Mom accompanied him on the piano.
He has also completely torn down his motorcycle. Pulled the forks off and changed the fork seals, pulled the motor out and is waiting for the parts to rebuild the top end.

Jakob - Jake finished his class in summer school. We hope that he did well. He now just has football in the morning and can do some work around here this week. He had his Senior pictures this week. If you go to this website http://www.timelinephotography.photoreflect.com/ and use the password Shill20844 you can see them. It was wierd seeing him with an 09 in the picture and knowing that I was there only 30 years ago!!! Holy Canoli!!

Jake also starts Football camp on the 21st. He will be in Snowflake for a week getting in shape.

McKayla – Mckayla went to Lake Powell with the Schwans for a week and has a great tan. She is pretty bored now, but loves to be with her friends. She loves being in Young Women’s. The class of girls that she is in there with is all great girls from great families.

David – is very excited for Cub Scout Day Camp this week. He competed in the YMCA Triathalon (swim 3 laps, ride a stationary bike 2 miles and run 2/3rds of a mile). That was Friday and we don’t know what place he got yet. He is also excited about the presentation on missionary work that his class is doing for sharing time next week.



RO