Emily's Temple Day

My Mom and I had the opportunity to go through the temple with my best friend Emily. I got to spend the day with Mom shopping and playing around and we also got to have lunch with Amy...it was a great day and such a neat day for Emily. I love the Salt Lake Temple, I really should get there more. It's funny that it and so many other temples are so close and yet are so dang hard to find time to go in, silly really. I defintely need to work on that! I did find time to squeeze in a pedicure, and now I am totally ready for summer and flip flops.

Cousins

One of my favorite things as a child was when my Aunt Linda and my cousins came and stayed. The friendships that were built in my youth are still carried today and have strong bonds. We have many memories of building forts in the big trees behind our grandparent's house, sneaking out in the hills on the 4-wheeler, throwing each other off the 4 wheelers and the list is endless. I don't have a picture with all my cousins but here is a picture of a few people that I love and care about dearly, which leads me into Kennedy's cousins coming to Woodruff. Kennedy does not have any cousins on the Kennedy side (but there are 2 on the way..yea) and she doesn't see her other cousins as often as we would like, but none the less when they come up a great time is had by all!

Back in Control

I have been out of commission for a while because Kennedy fell down the stairs with my computer and she was o.k. but it ruined the hard drive on the computer so...here I am with trying to catch up on the events for the past 2 months. It doesn't seem like there has been to many exciting things but I am documenting the every day things so we remember them, so here it goes. My friend, Marcy and I, went to Logan to a Meet and Greet at the Golden Corral to meet some contestants fromt the Biggest Loser-(crazy place to have a Meet and Greet for people batteling their weight) but nobody asked my opinion. We were able to meet and talk individually to a few people and also their trainer, Brett, (hotter than a firecracker) but mostly got inspired and motivated to keep on the journey I started a year ago with my own weight loss battle; and it is a battle. Here are a few of the pictures from that day.

Jeramy

We have had a fun week this week; Kennedy has been writing letters and sending treats to a soldier in Afghanistan and he is home on leave until the 30. Jeramy called and asked if he could come to our house and meet and surprise Kennedy on Tuesday night and personally thank her. It was such a neat experience for both of us. There was a knock on the door and I answered and there was Jeramy in his military uniform-Kenndy and Savhanna just looked up at him but Kennedy knew who he was from his pictures. We invited him and his mother in and got to talk and learn about the war and the brave men and women who are serving. Wednesday we were able to hold an assembly for the elementary where the kids got to see a slide show and ask questions about life as a medic in Afghanistan. It was touching and also so awesome to see how much the kids were interested and respectful. Today (Saturday) there was an open house held in Evanston where again we got to go be a part of something so special and touching-Kennedy's cards and the other kids from her classes cards were displayed on a table for everyone to see. Kennedy was treated like royalty from Jeramy and his family. We have just started a new friendship with an amazing person and family and have learned so much. I am so grateful for the people serving in our military, what unbelievable sacrifice them and their families make for our freedoms.

Afghan veteran visits South Rich Elementary

I am going to put this article up because it was such a fun day.
Afghani veteran visits south Rich Elementary
Posted: Friday, Mar 18th, 2011
BY: FAE DALKE, Rich County Reporter




Army Specialist Jeramy Bills poses with Kennedy Eastman and the second graders at South Rich Elementary. The class corresponded with Bills while he was deployed in Afghanistan over the past year. Eastman (standing in the center in front of Bills) started writing to the serviceman and then got her class involved. Bills is flanked by second grade teacher Renee Hoffman, his mother Gayla Bills on the right and his grandmother Raeoma Tingey on his left. HERALD PHOTO/Fae Dalke





Army Medic Jeramy Bills visited South Rich Elementary on Wednesday to meet some of the students who communicated with him while he was deployed in Afghanistan. Second grader Kennedy Eastman began writing to Bills and soon had her whole class sending him letters.

Bills showed the students slides of his unit’s base camp as well as souvenirs of his deployment. The slides demonstrated the primitive conditions that his unit endured, including no running water or indoor plumbing.

He said he likes the army and re-enlisted while serving in Afghanistan. He expects to go to Honduras at the end of May. He also expressed his appreciation for the letters and support he received from the students.

Jeramy is the son of Craig and Gayla Bills of Evanston and grandson of Fred and Raeoma Tingey of Woodruff.

Lauren's 22nd Birthday Party

My sweet littlest sister had her 22nd birthday party. I love when all the family gets together and laughs and jokes and laughs so more. I did not get a picture of the whole gang but we were all there. I love Lauren and am so proud of her, she is a terrific Aunt and Sister and I am so lucky to have her as my sister and example. Lauren graduates from USU next winter after she finishes her student teaching. She has a strong testimony and is a great example. As I get older, I really appreciate the times we get to spend together. Our family has expanded by 3 people in the past 2 years and it's amazing how we all fit together and get along, I now cannot imagine our lives withouth them. We are so lucky to have Bret, Hilary and Nate added and more hopefully on the way. Thanks Dad and Mom for making a home that we all love to come home too and so far are all close enough to do it often. Happy Birthday Lauren, I love you very much and thanks for wanting a birthday party at home.

Church History Museum

We went and stayed for a couple of days in Salt Lake this week, Darren had to get his truck worked on so we met him there. We love staying at the hotels at the airport because it is less crowded and we have never been disappointed with our rooms. The first night we stayed at the Hilton-Kennedy and I went and ate supper in the restaraunt and it was about one of the best meals ever, afterwards of course we swam and swam and swam and when Darren arrived we swam some more. The next day we went to breakfast, shopping at the gateway (Justice and Sur La Table) are the greatest stores on earth and then went to the Children's Discovery Center. I have to say, Kennedy is to old for the Discovery Center so that was a bust. We then decided to do a little church history museum tour and it was incredible. We had so much fun there-something there for everyone. Darren and I loved the old letters written from the prophets and other church authorities and it was incredible to see the items that crossed the plains and learn the history behind them. The death masks of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Hryum were in the museum, so that is what Darren and Kennedy are standing in front of. Also Kennedy got to lay in a bunk bed that was a replica of one that was on a ship from England. Kennedy was able to draw and color a picture downstaris that is displayed on their tv and then upstairs the children got to try tons of different things from dancing to a toritlla toss. We had a wonderful time. Later that night we headed back out to the Hyatt and ate pizza, swam and watched movies. Thanks Darren for the little get away!

Roller Skating and Swimming

We decided to take Kennedy Roller Skating and we found the funnest place in Layton. We went in the middle of the day on a MOnday and we were the only ones there. We had the whole skating floor to oursleves, the bowling alley, all the games and bounces and the rock wall. We had a blast and to top it off we stayed down and went swimming.

Dr. for Dad euqls mini vacation for us!

Darren has suffered from terrible leg pain for years and since August it has been unbearable. We have been to several Dr.'s,had test after test done and never found an answer. The first time it happened was 11 years ago when we were moving our friend from Garden City to Logan; we thought he had just stepped on his ankle wrong. The pain has been inconsistent and tolerable up until this August when it has been steady and excruciating. My sister, Jill, is in the advertising business and one her clients is a cardiologist that specializes in pain in the lower extremities (Utah Cardiovascular Center, Dr. Aguala). It truly is an answer to our prayers. Darren has a disease in the lower half of his legs where his "shut-off" valves don't work so blood doesn't pump back up to his heart; blood pools in the bottom part of his legs and his veins are double the size of what they should be. It is treatable and hopefully he will get surgery on his first leg next month. Dr. Aguala says it is a treatable disease and the procedure is easy. We are so thankful to have found him and are hoping for a leg pain free future.

Kennedy Cheerleading Feb. 2011

Kennedy was a little Rebelette cheerleader at the last home game, she also got to be their flyer. They did a great job, practiced hard and had an outstanding time.

Valentines

Darren and I don't really get to excited about Valentines but Kennedy gets way stoked for every holiday. I didn't get a picture of what we got her but she made us the cutest card in the world, she has such a big heart. There was also a chocolate festival in Garden City that I thought would be way to attend, but both Kennedy and I got sick so we couldn't go. Kennedy brought the chocolate festival to us; she drew pictures and made signs and spread out all her Valentines candy so we would feel like we were there. It was so much fun...bless her heart for showing us how the small and simple things mean the most. I have been very upset with Rufus lately because when he gets mad at me he will find a place and go to the bathroom in the house, I have been furious (still am) but I went into Kennedy's room to check on her and she had rufus snuggled up on the bed with her tucked under her arm. I guess we will be keeping him.

Eastman Family Pictures

We decided to have family pictures taken when Mark and Vicki were here in December, it was a fabulous idea and we were excited about getting them. I got so sick the week before we were supposed to take the pictures and it just went from bad to worse. I went to the Dr. and was diagnosed with pneumonia so I got a big shot in my bumb a few prescriptions and came home to sleep it off. I wasn't getting any better but knew for sure I couldn't miss the pictures-so I threw on a hat and off we went. I was not crazy about the pictures but when we got them it made we glad we did it. They look better in persona and I am so glad that we got them. I also did not have them framed and Darren's sweet parents surprised us and framed them and picked them up for us. Lola did a great job picking out frames and they look beautiful in our home.

Letter from Specialist Jeramy Bills

Kennedy's 2nd grade class has been writing to a Soldier in Afghanistan and they received their first letter from him this week. Jeramy is awesome and took the time to answer each child's question in their letter. I wish I could fit the entire thing on here and maybe will try to do that later.

Normal Life Events

We have had a pretty busy week running around, here are a few of the highlights. Darren has been in North Dakota for 2 weeks and it has been a long 2 weeks without him. He went up there to do a field job last Monday and was finished it by Friday but then they had him turn around Saturday for another one...we miss him but so appreciate what he does for our family. Darren takes great care of us and sacrifices being able to be home every night. Darren and I choose to live here and we so that Kennedy to go to school here and also be raised on the ranch, it is definitely not without sacrifice; but we love the lifestyle of our little town and the opportunity's we can give her here. All that being said, being gone 2 weeks seems like a long time! Enough of that. Kennedy had her first basketball this week and it was so fun to watch, the kids have just been learning the fundamentals so they haven't actually played a game. They had a great time and everyone left happy, at this age I think that's the most important. Kennedy also had started talking on the phone a little more, I snapped a picture of her getting ready for bed and talking on the phone T. Darren doesn't want to miss anything going on so Kennedy Skype's him; she made a little puppet show and had to show him. The weather here this past week has been so cold. I help my brother feed in the mornings and the cows had so much frost on them that I felt bad for them...(usually not that sentimental about them). It has been a great week with 5 trips to Evanston and a couple to Logan so we are keep the road warm with our travels. I am not enjoying my math class but just keep telling myself it is a means to an end!

Friendship

My brother Matt and I were best friends growing up, we did everything together. Dad had us out chasing cows and doing everything with him so we learned to have fun with each other. Somewhere along the way, however, our friendship became distant, we lived in the same house but weren't very connected in each other's lives. I am so so glad that it didn't last forever and so happy to say that we have a great friendship that continues to grow. I am so glad for the strong influence that Matt has in our daughter's life and for the active role that he plays in it. These are a few pictures of Matt and I growing up. I have been helping him feed in the mornings and have looked forwar to our morning discussions. Matt doesn't love his picture taken but I was able to snap a few. Thanks Matt for the great friend that you are to Darren and I, and for the outstanding example you are to Kennedy.