November 23 - 29, 2009

November Pictures at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyNovember2009#

Fortie Family Flyer
November 23 – 29, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
Turkey, lurkey, shmurky (I think that was what the Swedish chief said on the Muppet Christmas), it’s all marvelous indeed (except the parsnips we used to have to eat every Thanksgiving at grandma’s – never got used to those). Happy Thanksgiving to one and all; hope your Thanksgiving dinner was delicious and your Thanksgiving Day was enjoyed with family and friends.
I didn’t write this week and now it’s more than a month later and it’s all gone. I do remember on Wednesday Thurl Bailey came in to the store and I sold him a few dozen rolls. He was very personable, we had a nice conversation.
Our thanksgiving meal was great. Part of our chatting at the end of the meal was about memories from Anita Ave. It was fun to talk about the crazy basement I set up for the kids with the fort under the bunk beds and the fireman’s pole down from the top bunk and the secret door in the wall and the train set and the three wheelers hanging from the ceiling and the big whiteboard, etc. – fun times.
At the end of the day the kids wanted to do something besides play cards so I suggested we go to the church and play croquette. The other adults were too full but the kids were all over that so we had grandpa come with us (to unlock it) and he worked in the office while we played. The Loosle’s were in the gym so we set up a course in the hallway ending in the Relief Society room. It was a lot of fun and we decided we should do it every year.
Jennifer and I went shopping at 5:00 a.m. Friday morning and I had a feeling I should stop at Target before going on to Sam’s, our first stop. We found a keyboard for a great door buster price and I felt I should buy it. The lines were long so we left it in the corner of the store and hit a few other stores then came back and got it. We didn’t find much but we enjoyed the day. Michelle went shopping with her friends and they seemed to have fun. Now I have a keyboard that will hook up to the computer so I can play the songs I have made up and the computer will be kind enough to put what I play on paper for me. Marvelous things these computers.
Well, that’s all I can come up with for now. Aren’t turkey’s and mashed potatoes and pies wonderful.
Ken and clan



From Elder Fortie:
Well Transfers have come and I'm still here as ZL in Oakland, which means I get to deal with the crazy holiday sister drama! I am afraid... oh so very afraid... (don't tell any of the sisters I said that....) Which means I will probably be here for a while, because I am one of the youngest zone leaders and most of the other ones are going home soon so I will have to stick around to train new ones, even the one I just trained is going home before me, so he won't even be able to take my spot! How lame is that! But exciting news! (for me at least) my son is already district leader! The elder that I busted my tail training right before I got made ZL, is only in his fourth transfer and he's already a district leader! He is such a fantastic missionary! He's tearing it up, he's probably going to be the one that takes my spot when I go home. Not that it's really anything I did, but still one becomes' strangely attached to the missionaries he trains, so to see one I trained doing so well, makes me proud of him!
So the Christmas lights are up at the temple now, I kinda like it I kinda don't. The Christmas lights in Salt Lake are a lot more classy. The lights here are pretty, yet they are to flashy, it's like Las Vegas. The Salt Lake Temple's lights almost sing Christmas to you with peace and joy and gentleness. These lights are like the cookie monster running around yelling "CHRISTMAS!!!! LIGHTS!!!!! WOOOOW! PRETTY!!! BLUE!!! PURPLE! RED! PINK! WHITE! YAY!!!!!!! CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!" I'm kinda not a fan. I mean, it's really nice, and it draws a lot of people, I just feel like it's not temple conducive... Not that it's bad, if it were any where else it would be great, just not on a temple grounds. I dunno, maybe it's just me.
So Thanksgiving was good. I got good and full, and the food was fine, but it just didn't feel like Thanksgiving. I really miss San Francisco... things just don't feel the same over here... Thanksgiving, and Christmas over there, felt like Thanksgiving and Christmas, they were special, here it was just a day where a few families gave us a lot of food to eat and I taught them about being Thankful... It just didn't feel the same. Haha, most missionaries get trunky for home... no offense I love you all, but I know there are more Christmas's and Thanksgiving's with you all to come, but not having Thanksgiving out there made me trunky for San Francisco! I'm still on my mission and I'm trunky for my mission! Sad... that's some twisted logic... I never thought doing the same service in two different places could be so different. Nothing has changed about me, I still do the same work, teach the same gospel, have the same calling as a missionary, yet something’s just not the same. I dunno what it is, but things just aren't quite the same... lol not that you need to worry about me or anything, I'm just reflecting my thoughts on paper... err... screen... key board?... computer, e-mail, stuff, yeah...
Anyhow, so again, I hate to say these kinds of things because it makes me feel like by mentioning it, it seems like I'm trying to remind people so that they will do something, but I'm really not, it's just an inevitable thing that must be addressed for instances of holidays and birthdays and such. Not that anyone needs to! But if anyone was planning on sending me something for Christmas, don't send me objects. I don't like to admit it, but my days as a missionary are growing short, and I'm to the time when I have to realize all the stuff I want to keep, has to fit in 2 suit cases... so I'm already having to look at what I'm gonna have to cut, so I don't need any more objects that I'm going to want to keep that will take up non-existent room in my suit cases. I love you all, and I appreciate that people want to do something, but when life has to fit in about 5 cubed ft. and not be over 100 lbs. People's kind gestures become rather smooshed... so not that I need anything, but if you are bent on sending me something, don't send objects. IF you are one of those crazy people who plan way to far ahead and have already got something ( I don't think anyone that knows me is that organized...but just in case) then I don't want you to feel bad or that you can't send it. Just don't go getting anything more haha. Once again, I truly am serious when I say I need nothing. Okay, done with that awkward conversation!
So we're shooting for 20 more baptisms by the end of the year for our stake... President Packer, us and the Stake president talked things over and it's a pretty bold goal, in fact, pretty much, it will set some records for the mission, but we think we can do it... We've got 6 of the 20 so far... so we've got 1 month to get another 14... It’s rough, and it will be especially rough because of Christmas time which means a lot of us missionaries spend a lot of time doing stuff for the V.C. and not teaching. So we've got our work cut out for us, but we've been setting records right and left, so we'll see if we can keep it up!Alright I gotta fly! talk to you all later!
Love,
Elder Fortie

November 16 - 22, 2009

November Pictures at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyNovember2009#

Fortie Family Flyer
November 16 – 22, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
Thanksgiving is in the air, I had better make sure my thankfulness is in good working condition. Lets see, what am I thankful for… Several years ago I remember having the kids write their top 50 things they were thankful for, in order and at first it was easy but after a while they had to really start thinking. I wonder what I would write today. Well, since there is not much to speak of in the news department this week perhaps that will be my letter.
Here we go:
Life
Good and evil
Jesus
Salvation
Love
Faith
Hope
The Gospel
Family
Extended Family
Priesthood
Prophets
Scriptures
Temples
America
Founding Fathers
The Constitution
Pioneers
Health
Eyes to see
A Home
Friends
Indoor Plumbing
Electricity
Fruit Trees
Beautiful Scenery
Sunsets
Roses
Song of the Meadowlark
Mountain Streams
Lilacs
Flight of an Eagle
Good Music
Books
Cars
Refrigerator
Computers
A Camera
Internet
Mountain Bike
Beach
Comfortable bed
Camping
Garden Vegetables
Educational Programs – Science, Travel, History, etc.
Scooter
Airplanes
Moon
Stars
Piano

Well, I finished this letter then the power went out and it had saved it up to about number 40 so I had to do the last 10 over again plus the rest of the letter. Hope I remember it all.
Since we had already celebrated Michelle’s birthday this week was a bit more low key. Jennifer and I went and decorated Michelle’s locker at school (I had to get Jennifer out of school to do it) and Jennifer bought Michelle a lunch from Wendy’s. She is nice that way. Michelle came to her locker and we talked for a bit before I had to get Jennifer back to school.
I started work at the American Fork Deseret Book store this week. It sure was strange trying to get used to registers that I used to train people on. For the first day I felt like I was in a foreign country; crazy how quickly I forget things. It is also strange not being the supervisor. I was able to quickly remember the fun little things I used to say to the customers to break the ice. Hope I can fit in with this crowd.
Saturday I worked in the morning as did everyone in our house so I went and picked up the BYU game that grandpa and grandma taped for us so we could watch it that night. The girls worked late so Tami and I watched it. It was a good game.
I taught the genealogy class on Sunday and then Priesthood after that. It is always difficult to switch gears and teach one right after the other. After church we sent Michelle after grandma Talley and grandpa and grandma and Chad came over for dinner and we had a nice time.
Oh, I have been listening to a set of CD’s about the book of Revelation by Draper. It is very interesting. Looks like we are in for some interesting times.
Well, that’s it for this week.
What are you thankful for?
Ken and clan



From Elder Fortie:
Hello everyone, so this morning I had to be up at the temple at 7:00 in the morning to take down one of the exhibits they had up for the California Pioneers as they prepare for all the Christmas exhibits, I love Christmas, but I am not looking forward to being the zone leader here during Christmas time... this place gets insane at Christmas... It's total madness, and they tell me all the sisters, (I have like 18 sister missionaries that I am over) with all the stress of being in the Visitors center during the madness, they get pretty nasty! (You female's, no offense, but you don't usually take stress well, you get all hopped up and crazy!) and with 18 sisters in one building with thousands of people coming through that they are supposed to help... all those hormones packed together under high stress every night for like 45 days... and I am the one that all their problems come to... please, your prayers are appreciated...
Well this week has been pretty good, although I have filed for retirement once again... but president doesn't think he's gonna let me retire from zone leader, he says I'm doing to much work to retire, and I am tempted to be useless so he will retire me, but then there's this nasty little thing called a conscience, and it possesses me and won't let me! Cursed conscience.... Although I rejoice in the fact that I will stay as a zone leader, because that means I won't be an AP BWA HAHAHAHAHA!!! Dodged that bullet! I don't understand all the greenies that come in wanting a leadership position, the joys that come from the simple service, from changing people's lives, from bringing the gospel into someone’s home, that is what our purpose and where the true joy in service comes from! Not from "I'm gonna be the next AP!" (All you future missionaries out there that are reading this, take heed, I'm serious, forget callings and just work, just do your job whatever it is, and do it right. No one cares about callings). Okay, off my soap box.
Thanksgiving is coming up, and one of our recent converts asked us this past week to come over and help him work on his back yard, so we went and dug out about 6 inches down a 15x30 ft. area in his back yard because he's trying to make a patio, then when we got done he told us it was for us because he wants us to come over for thanksgiving and have a thanksgiving picnic! So our efforts appear that they will pay off. My hands are getting soft after so long without any good hard manual labor... so they get pretty worn out swinging a pick for 2 hours, as does my muscles that have slowly turned to gelatin over the course of my mission... but we got the job done right quick, and then had a tasty lunch, (the mom is a chef! hehe) and are looking forward to some thanksgiving yum!
We have been trying to get a few people married recently too! (so we can baptize them!) so it's looking like were gonna shoot for a mid December wedding so we can have a Christmas time baptism! YEAH!!! We have a bunch of people we are teaching, but Satan's trying really hard to throw them off, every possible obstacle imaginable is coming down on us and them, BUT WE WILL RESIST!!! WE WILL OVER COME ALL BARRIERS!!! Satan cannot stop us now! He's mean sometimes, but we're stubborn! (or dumb... one of the two...) But either way it works!
Well I must get going, can't dilly dally you know, lots to do, so little time to do it all. Everyone out here keeps asking me when I'm going home... they seem to think my end is near, they all say it seems like I've been out a long time, yet I still have over 1/4 of the way to go! WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK I'M DYING??!!!! I'm still young yet! I refuse to die! Back off!
Anyhow, keep on going and doing stuff and things like that, and I'll do the same. Chin up, back straight, suck in your gut and slap on a smile!Love,
Elder Fortie

November 9 - 15, 2009

November Pictures at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyNovember2009#

Fortie Family Flyer
November 9 – 15, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
We have six weeks ‘till Christmas, 7 weeks ‘till 2010 and one hundred sixty one weeks (give or take) until December 21, 2012 and the end of the world, so they say (or at least until the end of the Mayan calendar which, when we figure out the truth, probably means it’s time to change the batteries in their calendar). Hum, I guess we better get out and see as much of the world as we can in that one hundred and sixty one weeks (just in case).
Well, as usual, not much to report this week. I did have both the Sandy and the American Fork Deseret Book stores try to hire me. The American Fork Store offered more hours and said they were much more fun to work with so I took that one. I start Monday the 16th (today). Hopefully it will be a positive experience and my ankle will allow me to do a good job.
I decided I didn’t get a very well rounded group of pictures from Wheeler Farm when I went to take family pictures so I went back in the middle of this week but there had been some pretty strong winds for a few days before that and it went from beautiful yellow colors to brown and gray rather quickly so not much success there. I’m not even sure why I take these pictures; I still have to come up with a way to get them to make money - perhaps a calendar with a quote from the scriptures on each page or something.
Nothing fun in the evenings going down all week; just work and girls doing activities for church. I did shop for Tami’s birthday but I am never very good at finding something she likes so I really struggled with it. I finally found something and before she even opened it she told me that she wanted to use her birthday and Christmas money to get a new couch for the family room so I said we might as well not look at what I got since we just have to take it back. She wanted to see it anyway so she opened it and actually liked it and wanted to keep it – shock of the century for me. It was a warm robe since she gets cold in the office down stairs in the winter time. On Saturday we went to dad and mom’s to watch the game. Due to work schedules we were a few minutes late but had a nice time once there. Alicia fixed some soup that really hit the spot so I asked for the recipe. I think we have several soup days coming up with the temperature falling and snow coming down.
It snowed pretty hard Saturday night and Michelle had the truck at work so I went and let her drive the car while I drove the truck home. Even though it was just from 134th (Kneaders) to our house it was very slick and we could see 3 accidents on 134th from the restaurant. The truck had a hard time making it up the slope on Monarch Meadows and Shaggy Peak (not very steep just very slick) but we finally made it home. It’s nice to have a home to come to in weather like that. We got home late and I stayed up a bit to get my lesson for my genealogy class. Our ward is now able to get on to the New Family Search sight (as of Monday) so we will see if I can’t get our ward on it and doing their genealogy. The class went well on Sunday, now I just need to get next weeks lessons for Sunday School and Priesthood earlier in the week so I’m not staying up late on Saturday night working on them. We all slept after church and one home teaching visit for me. Tami ended up making the dessert for the birthday dinner at mom and dads. When Brian came home we took off, the roads had cleared up pretty well so we had no problems. We had a nice dinner and visit and Tami and Michelle blew out candles and we had cake and ice-cream, of course. Mike and Linda and Ashley were there as well.
Well, that is indeed the whole week except all the exciting stuff, but then that would have been a fiction story and I don’t do fiction. Hope all is going well for you and you are thankful for what you have in this season of Thanksgiving.
Ken and clan




From Elder Fortie:
No, I didn't die; the two day delay in my letter is just because I moved our zone's p-day to Wednesday just for this week to let them go to the temple (It's not open on Monday when we have p-day and p-day is the only day were allowed to go). So I moved it for this week so they could have their tri- annual temple trip. So P-day is Wednesday for this week, but we'll be back to Monday next week. My week was again filled with lots of administration but not as much as last week gratefully. Although this upcoming week is looking like I may be doing another long haul... Still smiling though!
Well the temple this morning was great! I'm there almost everyday, but I don't get to do a session. So to actually get to go through it and not just rush around at meetings at it was a nice chance to relax and do some reflecting and stress relief. It was a bit of a frustrating week. I do wish members would better understand their purpose in the mission work and both the good, and bad affects they can have by simple choices. I had to deal with two situations where active members pulled a dumb move with an investigator which is head aches and problems I don't want to have nor does it need to happen! Be good! Be kind and nice and loving to investigators! Okay? All you people out there, treat them well! Both to their faces AND when their not around! That's all I'm gonna say about that.
Well I set 2 baptismal dates this past week! One of them is living with her boy friend and is not married and has a 4 year old kid, she accepted the baptismal date, and our next lesson was going to be on getting her married so she could get baptized. I was worried about it because I didn't think it was going to go over very well with the boy friend, he didn't seem like he wanted to get married, but to my surprise the Lord had a nice blessing up his sleeve. The next day after she set a date to be baptized, before I'd ever told them she couldn't get baptized until she got married, he proposed to her!!! Out of no where! After living together for like 4 years he "randomly" (with a little celestial help...) decided to ask her to marry him! Yeah... coincidence.... I think not! This is so the Lord's work and he prepares those whom are open to change! So that was exciting.
One night this past week, we’re not sure what I got but I had a temperature of 101.7 degrees, and we were supposed to have 4 appointments in the next 4 hours, and I was shaking like a leaf struggling to stand as we knocked on the door of our first of 4 really important appointments. We were looking like we were in trouble! But then our ward mission leader, "tio Ted" (His name is Theodore Fairchild, who's a white guy who was a former professor at BYU and several other prestigious universities who served his mission in Guatemala, but he goes by "Tio Ted" which is Spanish for "uncle Ted") he's a funny little sweet man in his early 60's that does a ton for us and is a great teacher and missionary showed up at the appointment and said I needed to get some rest, so they took me home and left me with another Elder who was sick and he went out with my companion and went to all our appointments for me. He's a great guy and he did a great job, the people love him and he really knows how to get stuff done. I was up and running by the next day, but I was pushin 102 degrees which if I remember right is not good haha. But I'm totally fine and back to norm now. So that was another great help to have him there to take over for us.
Well now I gots to go, no p-day for the wicked hahaha. My p-days usually consist of doing my laundry, writing an e-mail and if I'm really lucky I'll have time to write a letter or two sometime throughout the day to a friend. Its madness and I don't really get a p-day most of the time, more of just it's a day when I'm allowed to clean and write home and friends in between all the other stuff I have to do. My time has run out, stay strong everyone, keep on smiling, happy birthday to Mom and Michelle, and remember... something... because I don't!
Love,
Elder Fortie

November 2 - 8, 2009

November Pictures at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyNovember2009#

Fortie Family Flyer
November 2 – 8, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
What to say about this week. Monday the girls worked but we all went out for a milkshake after they got home.
Tuesday I went to take pictures of Chad, Alicia and Spencer. We went to a little park behind a cemetery near dad and moms house. It was a nice little spot but we didn’t have much time after Chad got off work and the sun went down, daylight savings time is over and it gets dark early.
I had an interview with the Sandy Deseret Book on Tuesday, then one with the American Fork store on Thursday. They both offered me a job, the Sandy store is closer but the American Fork store offered me more hours and said they were much more fun so I took that one. I should be starting soon. Perhaps that will keep us afloat through Christmas.
Brian drove on his scooter for 2 days on a flat tire and didn’t know it so he destroyed the tire and the rim. It is going to really cost him to replace it. I took it in to the shop when I went to the American Fork store for an interview.
Saturday I got up early to get my Sunday School and Priesthood lessons. I don’t feel ready to teach everyone about the New Family Search program but what can you do, they asked me to do it and so we do what we can. I didn’t pay attention to the rest of the family sleeping in and when I came up to get out the door to meet with Chad and Alicia for pictures the rest of the family were just getting up. We rushed everyone and headed out but were about 15 minutes late to Wheeler Farm for pictures. Chad and Alicia were wandering around with Spencer amongst the animals and having fun. I was expecting wind as a storm was supposed to be coming in but it was a nice day and barely needed light jackets with only a slight breeze. We wandered and took pictures and relaxed. The farm was very pretty with many of the leaves down or falling down all around us and some just turning colors in the trees, so the ground was covered and some of the trees had beautiful colors shimmering in the sunlight. I would like to have spent more time there as a family just walking and enjoying the atmosphere but all were busy, busy, busy so after pictures they all rushed off and I walked around by myself for a bit, taking pictures and enjoying the grounds and the music of a bagpipe player there just to play for anyone who wished to listen. Brian came on my scooter after his class so he went with the others back to grandpa and grandma’s and I took the scooter after I was done. We finished watching the BYU game and we really wiped them out. They taped it for us so we could watch it later. After a visit there we headed for home to get a few things done and then go to a Stake Luau. It was a family that someone in our ward knew that put on the show and they did a great job. We thought it was a dinner and show but it was only dessert so we were hungry when we got home and fixed something quick as it was late.
On Sunday I made some last minute preparations for my two classes and we headed for church. I was feeling like we shouldn’t be teaching about the new family search until we actually could get on but they announced in Sacrament meeting that we could get on starting on Monday. That will be good as they can now get on and actually do what we talk about in class. I went over the basics with the new program but still feel like I am only one step ahead of everyone else. The class seemed to go well and then I dashed out for a drink and then to Priesthood to teach the High Priests. My lesson was different as it was just about 9 pages of descriptions of Joseph Smith from people who knew him. That seemed to lack some variety so I approached it in a different way. I first talked about favorite prophets of old that people in the group had (only a few minutes). Then I read a few ancient descriptions of how the people loved their prophet, whether it was Abraham or Moses. There were a few moist eyes in the room as I read some of the descriptions (from a book I have of ancient commentaries of the scriptures called “The Bible as it Was”). We then read about Joseph Smith with each choosing their favorite from a page they were assigned (no time to read them all). We then talked about how the prophets are very close to the Lord and seem to be very good at showing love because they felt it from the Lord (again a few seemed to be affected but the spirit of the message). I then talked about how important it is to love our prophet telling as much about us as it does about him. Both lessons seemed to go well and I enjoyed it.
Well, Sunday night was choir practice and singing at home and watching a DVD about early church history then writing letters.
That’s it in a nutshell.
Keep following the examples of the great prophets and love, love, love.
Ken and clan



From Elder Fortie:
Well, I still am alive by definition, though brain dead may be fitting... it's nap time. I am worn out like a moldy old carpet! I did a zone conference this last week, I prepared it, conducted it, and was asked by president Wade to be the main speaker at the conference, which took me half the day to do, starting at 7 in the morning, then I got home, and did 4 hours of reports for a stake meeting, then I went to the stake meeting and spoke there, and then it was 9 P.M and time to go home, and I realized I hadn't talked to one person that wasn't an active member all day! ugh... Then I had to do 7 hours worth of numbers and reports for Salt Lake, through three other days of the week, then I had to plan some zone works for next week, then the ONLY DAY ALL WEEK I HAD FREE TO WORK IN MY AREA, one of our missionaries got in a car wreck and had to have surgery on his arm so I had to go be with one of the Assistants and his companion to deal with that situation... so I taught one appointment that day. But it was a really cool appointment! I was with one of the Assistants who doesn't speak Spanish, so it was all me I was flying solo, which isn't difficult for me to do as far as me being able to do it, but having a second witness is much more powerful when you teach, so I was up against this die hard old born and raised catholic lady, and I had no companion to testify with me, I told her the moment I met her we were here to help her repent and be baptized, and she just looked at me and said "I've been baptized and I don't need to be baptized again, I've been Catholic my whole life and I'm not going to change. I told her to listen to what I had to say and then she could decide for herself when I was done. I taught her about the restoration of the church, and as I shared Joseph Smith's first vision her eyes filled with tears, and then I stopped, and sat there in silence as she stared at the floor crying. Once she finally made eye contact with me again, I asked her if she would be baptized, she told me "God is in this room, and I know everything you've told me is true, I will pray to God tonight and ask him if he wants me to be baptized, if he tells me yes, then I will do it, but I need to pray first, because this means everything I've believed in my whole life is wrong, and I will be leaving everything I knew behind." Then I gave her a Book of Mormon with Moroni's promise marked for her to read, and told her to get down on her knee's right now and ask God if it was true. She did so right there in front of us and again started to cry, at the end she just looked at me, and said you're right, it is true, but I must ask God if he wants me to leave my church, because the Catholic church is my life. I told her it was true, and I understood that she would have to leave everything behind, but that she could not deny God and pretend she had not felt the truth of our message, I told her we'd be back tomorrow, when she had had a chance to talk to God about it. Then we left. It was not my area, I was out there helping out the Assistants, the only two missionaries in this mission who's lives are even more chaotic then mine haha, so I didn't get to see the results, but I'll be following up with them today on what happened. It was a good experience. I have many like that actually, I just normally don't have time to write them down, I wish I did, because my memory does not hold details as well as I'd like, it all just blurs together and I lose track of precious memories...
This week otherwise has been mostly all hubbub and such. I've been dealing with a lot of stuff all week, I don't think I've gotten more then 6 hours of sleep in a night this week, it's been a rush at every moment, even P-day, I was asked to put on a missionary activity day, so I had like 20 missionaries playing Mofia, while I had like 20 more playing fools bell, which is a game where everyone except one person is blindfolded, and the one who is not blindfolded has a bell that they have to ring non-stop, and all the blindfolded people have to try and catch the one with the bell! Oh it's madness but it's hilarious to watch 20 blindfolded people in a gym chasing the sound of a bell as the bell person dodges about between them trying not to get touched.
Any how, I gots to get going. I hope all is well in the world beyond, I'm still going, and I might just live to see the Christmas lights at the temple here! They are putting them up as we speak! TOODLES!!!Love,Elder Fortie




From Michelle:

Dear ma familia,
Again, we have a quite insignificant week… I worked Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (at Kneaders), so I have no big news for any of those three days. So here we go on an update for everything else that did happen!
Tuesday we had Young Womens in excellence. We displayed a project that we had been working on, mine being my room. Don’t worry, I didn’t attempt to bring my whole room to display, I only brought some of the paints that I used, some pictures that I am hanging on my walls, and some other cute crafts that I’ve made to match my room! I also had to give a talk that night, and I gave one on the prophet Moroni and the life that he lived. I talked about how he had to stand up for the beliefs that he had, and how we can go by his example today. I didn’t quite get in all the things I wished I could have said, but it wasn’t too bad.
On Thursday I had Special Needs Mutual with my little friend Celeste. Most of the night went fairly well with no horrible incidents, until Celeste had to go to the bathroom. As she was closing her stall door, I saw a lighter on the floor in front of her, and tried to quickly stop her, but to no avail. She had locked the door, and seen it. She grabbed it and just wouldn’t let go! I was so worried and afraid that she would get hurt. I couldn’t get it away from her, and tried for at least twenty minutes. Finally, her mom came to pick her up, and I ran to tell her what was happening. She told Celeste very excitedly that someone had been looking so hard for that lighter and that Celeste was now a hero. Celeste got really excited that she was a hero now, and gave up the lighter without a fight. I guess after 16 years of experience you come to know exactly what will get your kid.
Friday I went to UVU with a few friends during the day to watch our school volleyball team play. They made it to state, so we were excused from part of school to go watch their game! We played fairly well, and won one, and lost another. But one of the most exciting parts for me was watching Lone Peak high school’s team. (We didn’t play them, but they were on the court next to us.) They were all amazing and looked like professionals out there! That team is going far, I’ll tell you that!
After we got back to school that day, we had our school Spirit Bowl!!! Our school has a week every year called Spirit Week. Monday-Thursday you all dress up like they tell you. For example, there is Mustache Monday, Twin Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday…etc. Then at lunch, we have lunch time activities that you can participate in to earn points for your grade level. Then on Friday, each grade level is assigned a different set of colors based on the Spirit bowl theme. This year, the theme was medieval times, so the Seniors were in purple and gold for royalty, us juniors were in sky blue and white/silver for knights, the sophomores were in green and brown as peasants, and the teachers and faculty were in red and orange for the dragons. Then we have a giant assembly that is a battle between the classes. Each grade has representatives that compete, and it is SO funny to watch! They have dance offs every year, this year we had a joust, and then they have an obstacle course. For most of the competition, juniors and seniors were neck and neck for the lead (even though seniors always win no matter what.) and on the obstacle course, they were supposed to be climbing up a big, slippery, blow up slide. The senior and junior competing in that event kept pulling each other down and wouldn’t let the other get anywhere. They are good friends and on the football team together, so they were just laughing about it for a while, but finally the junior tackled the senior off the slide onto the gym floor! They were both laughing about it, but because of the event, juniors were disqualified. None of us really cared though. We get out year next year, and it made for a really good story! :]
On Saturday, we went to Wheeler Farm with Chad, Alicia, and Spencer so Dad could take some of their family pictures! It was really fun to see Spencer’s reaction to some of the farm animals and to play with him and try to get him to smile for the camera. I love that little boy so much! He’s just a funny little ball of fun! I don’t know what we’d do without him in our lives!
After Wheeler Farm, we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to watch the BYU game!! We only made it there as halftime was ending, but it was still cool to see the last half! BYU dominated the game and won 54 to 0!! I just love my team!
We left Grandma and Grandpa’s at the end of the game and we were forced by Mom to get… dun dun dun… a swine flu shot. Now, I’m not sure why, but I seem to have a really bad reaction to shots, which has seemed to instill in me a fear of shots. With my Tetanus shot, my arm swelled up where I got the shot and it looked like I had a baseball in my arm. It was hard like a baseball too, so needless to say, I’m not a fan of needles anymore. The shot wasn’t so bad at first because I had people distracting me and I didn’t have him tell me when he was going to do it. The aftermath however, still hurts. Jennifer and Mom can’t even feel theirs today, but mine now hurts worse than it did yesterday. I have slight bruising around the area, it’s really tender, and the pain from it even goes up my neck. I have to keep taking Advil to make the pain a little more dull. Stupid shots.
Then today, they changed my Young Womens leaders. I got really attached to my leaders again this time, and so the tears were flowing all over the place today. I know that these new leaders will be good for me, but it’s still hard to watch my old leaders go. I’m pretty sure I am really terrible at change.
So that has been my week. I hope you are all doing well and that things are going as they should! I love you all and wish you the best of luck!! Goodnight yall!
Love,
Michelle



From Jennifer:

Hello Family and Friends!-
This week the boys were on vacation and I didn’t know what to do with all the time on my hands! I was bored to death mostly but I got a chance to relax from life!
On Thursday night we had young women’s volleyball (P.S. we made it to regional!) I played the first game and then on to the second but while going for the ball I jumped into the air and whacked it over coming back down with a smack and my ankle giving out, usually it just gets better after a while (and yes it is usual) and I just deal with it so I kept playing…but that made it worse. So I was hobbling around that night with some of the cursed young women that I love to death carrying me around, I figured it would be fine tomorrow…but no. I was hobbling around school with annoying pain in my ankle with all my friends trying to carry me. Saturday it was stiff but fairly well and then Sunday it was good again.
So random different thoughts from this week- I hit myself with the car door on accident, it gave me a bruise. I was also a little sick but just the sniffles and after a few days I was good again. Michelle, my mom and I got the H1N1 vaccination, Michelle’s arm still hurts badly but my mom and I are fine, honestly I was fine five minutes later because after my stomach illness and getting so many needles poked in me a little shot isn’t a big deal anymore. Our young women leaders were released and Michelle, Rylie another girl in our ward, and I were all in tears. It was sad to see them leave but exciting to meat new ones. On Saturday we went to Wheeler farms to take pictures of Chad, Alicia and Spencer and a little of me to. It was really fun and such a pretty place! We had a stake luau that night which was cool with all the dancers and delicious cake! I think that covered it for this week! See you all down the road! And remember-when life gets to hard to stand, kneel…in prayer.

Jennifer

October 26 - November 1, 2009

Fortie Family Flyer
October 26 – November 1, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
I missed writing about this week, and am finally sitting down to write a few weeks later. Not much to tell. It should be a week of merriment and family fun for Halloween. Indeed the children were off to parties and activities with friends but I was burdened with money matters to the point of affecting my health and well being. My mood was such that I was not able to get myself to carve pumpkins with the kids on Saturday (a shock to the family as my artistic nature tends to have me doing such things with gusto); better left to them so they wouldn’t have my darkness around them (ah, the mood swings of said artistic personality). Jennifer started carving a rather difficult project and then didn’t have my guidance to help her and the time to finish her modified simplified version so she left it for me to do as she had to go to work (perhaps to help me I don’t know). I finished carving away the sides to make them thin enough for light to shine through leaving a pumpkin face thick in front to stand out against the light background. It turned out fairly well and the carving was actually rather therapeutic. I find that creating something always helps, though when I don’t feel like doing things I don’t think of using it as therapy. Brian carved a jabberwocky that looked very scary (it throwing up on our front porch and all) and Michelle carved one that said Owl City on it (a local group she likes). Chad, Alicia and Spencer came over for a surprise visit Halloween night. They brought dinner with them, which was very nice. We had a few friends of kids here so we put a few things Tami put on the stove for us with their food and were able to feed everyone (Tami worked until 7:00 pm or so). It was nice to see them and it was good for the spirit as well. Of course we took pictures of the little sock monkey they brought along (Spencer). After a while all the kids left and Tami handed out candy while I worked. Last year I got up on the roof with a ghost on a rope that I would swing in to great the kids at the door but I had enough of the parents ask me not to scare their little kiddies that I decided it wasn’t worth it this year (good grief, it’s Halloween), besides I wasn’t quite in the spirit of the holiday (get it – spirit, ghost, haha) so I just went down stairs and worked.
I went to the temple this week and felt a good spirit there that helped me as I grapple with my problems and questions as to what to be, how to overcome fear, etc, etc, etc.
We went to church and they announced that I was starting the Family History class during Sunday School but only one problem, they forgot to tell me this was going down. I raced home a few minutes before sacrament meeting ended, grabbed the manual and a DVD to play and made it back just as it was time to start the class. We watched the DVD and I went through lesson one and faked it fairly well. Our Stake is finally getting on to new.familysearch.org this week. Well see how things go.
Well, that’s it for Halloween week. Perhaps that’s why the demons were after me. Keep the Spirit (the good one).
Ken and clan




From Elder Fortie:
Well World, we go forth, undaunted. I may perish in the dust in the process due to lack of brain tissue to handle all the overloading of brain waves and information being processed there-in, but at least there will be so much on my mind at the time that I probably wont even have realized it's happened yet, I shall just awake in a happy place! Honestly... I have so many meetings this upcoming week that I think I might cry, for my brain shall melt into a pool of grey matter residing within a echoing cavern of emptiness called my head. The only day my companion and I have to work our area is... oh wait... I forgot, I don't get a day to work my area this week! blech! I have no idea when I am even going to prepare half of the firesides, speeches, presentations, conferences, meetings, charts, interviews, reports, exchanges and "fix the dumb people sessions" that I have to do this week. I think half of them I will end up doing off the cuff and just pretending like I know what I'm doing because I just don't have time to prep. for all of them. Wow... Anyhow, I had a meeting with President Packer this past week, that man is amazing, he gets stuff done, he sat me down and said "Elder Fortie, you are the head zone leader, you are the lead representative of the work of the Lord in Oakland, so I want you to tell me, what this stake can do to help you". We had an hour long chat, and I told him what I thought, and in less then a week, things we have been trying to get the stake to do for months happened. It was great, so that was really exciting.Halloween we were on our way home at 6 P.M. because of the madness that happens here at night on Halloween we missionaries aren't allowed out. And even at 6 I was amazed at the things I saw as I drove home... I'm not going to share, but oh how wicked and abominable this world is becoming. I can see why they had us go in at 6. Be grateful for Utah! People may make fun of it as a little bubble. But heck, I say give me the bubble if that's what I have to deal with outside the bubble!Anyhow, sorry I don't have much time again, I hope and pray you are all doing well! I love you all!Love, Elder Fortie



From Michelle:
Dear peeps,
Quick letter for you today, (and I promise it actually will be this time). It’s late and I am sleepy, so I will make this short and sweet.
This week was a lot of work, and some more work, then some school, and some staying up late to do homework, and then more school. I bet you are all just thrilled to delve more into the details of my oh-so-thrilling-and-eventful life, so here goes.
There are really only two big events from this week. The first was Bob the Baker leaving work. Bob is the really strange and old big brother that I never had. (I know, I have 4 strange big brothers, but he’s the oldest.) I worked with him at Kneaders, and he was probably my favorite person to work with. He just made me laugh all the time and I loved to come in to see him! He was a spaz and we got along so well. He’s the guy that let me tie-dye his work shirts. Friday was his last day, and he made us special food and snacks as a goodbye, and when he finally, officially left, I cried. He’s moving to Arizona to finish school, and I’m really sad. He and I talked about how funny it was that we had gotten so close in the short time that I had been there and how much we would miss breaking the rules and defying “the man” together. It was a really sad day.
The other big event of the week was Halloween of course! In the morning, I didn’t work, so Mom, Jennifer, and I went in to Kneaders to have breakfast! I always serve the food, but had never eaten breakfast there before! It was really yummy and we had a fun time! Then we went home, cleaned, and got ready for the rest of Halloween. Spencer, Chad, and Alicia came over for a while and it was really fun to see them and to see little Spencer in his sock monkey outfit! He is so cute, I can’t even stand it. I never thought I could love a little kid quite so much, and he’s not even my kid! I can’t wait to be a mommy and have little kids of my own! :] Don’t worry, I won’t try to speed the process alone or anything! After we had some dinner with them, I headed to my friend Dallin’s house for a Halloween party! We ate more food, played outside, and then went inside to watch a scary movie in his basement! The guys said they were there for comfort after the scary parts, but I think they spent about half of the movie scaring me even worse, and then calming me down just to scare me again! I guess I bring it upon myself with my jumpy nature though. After the movie, it was time to head home, but I was so freaked out, I made my friend Dallin go check my car and make sure that there were no murderers in my backseat or anything. He laughed at me, but did it willingly, and then told me to call him when I got home so that he knew I would be safe. I love my guy friends! As cruel as they can be sometimes, (they remind me a lot of you Jas) they are sweet and super concerned most often. Every little scrape I get, they freak out over, and if I shiver once, all of their jackets fly at me at once, and they insist on me taking them all. They are really funny and gentleman-ly, and I am glad I have them around! When I got back to my house, I was still a little spooked, and everybody here was starting another scary movie! Well, naturally I couldn’t turn it down, so I watched that one as well! We were all up past 2 in the morning watching the movie! It was crazy and we’ve all been super tired today.
Speaking of super tired, I really REALLY am, so I think it’s time to wrap this up! I love you all and hope all is well! Remember the season that’s coming up next and try to keep gratitude in your hearts! It will make a huge difference.
“The key to individuality is to get rid of that I’m-afraid-of-looking-stupid line of thought”
Love,
Michelle

October 19 - 25, 2009

Fortie Family Flyer
October 19 – 25, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
Well, here we are in week number 43 (I think) of 2009 and what do we have to show for it? Well, I picked my last few apples from our apple tree this week; good stuff. We will have to make some applesauce or something. Tami made some apple fritters for Sunday dinner. Perhaps an apple pie would be in order for family home evening; we’ll see.
Let’s see now, what is newsworthy this week? Not sure anything really is but since when has that stopped me from writing about it anyway? I am watching conference over again on BYU.TV, a little here a little there; it is still good.
No I’m serious, there is just nothing beyond the routine for this week so this will be short. I am the only one in my family who hasn’t seen the latest Harry Potter movie and even though I’m not really into Harry Potter I didn’t want to be left out so I went to the dollar theater to see it. Everyone was too busy to go with me so I was all alone in the world. The lady at the window told me to turn right to get to the theater but didn’t tell me there were two of them going at the same time. I walked into the first one I came to and was about 10 minutes late but was surprised that the movie was already going (instead of the previews just finishing up). I sat down and tried to figure out what was going on. About 40 minutes later the movie ended. It then dawned on me that I must have gone into the wrong theater that was on the last third of the movie. After the movie ended I went into the one I was supposed to go to and watched the middle third of the movie, I then waited for about 20 minutes (watching a bit of “Up” that I had already seen) and went back into that first theater to watch the first third of the movie when they played it again. I have to say that I have now determined that watching a movie one third at a time starting with the last third and working my way to the first third is not the best way to watch a movie. I know why the theater doesn’t show it that way and I don’t recommend it to those thinking about doing that anytime in the near future. There were some great special effects but again, I’m not that into the witchcraft movies (good witches or bad witches). Something just bothers me about it. Speaking of bothering me, (and I’m ashamed to admit this but…) after the movie I had a moment of stupidity (they come all too often) and as I was walking out of Harry Potter, the door of another theater was open so I stopped to see what was playing (it was one of the few that you can see the screen from the hallway). Instead of looking up to look at the sign I just watched for a few minutes just because. The spirit soon told me not to stay to watch it. I didn’t pay attention and within a minute of my ignoring that message there was a sudden and fairly graphic murder in the show, though those kinds of scenes happen all the time these days I was really shocked (I suppose because I don’t like those kinds of shows) at how bad it made me feel. I was then angry with myself for ignoring the spirit causing me to now have that scene burned into my brain. I then looked up to find that this was one of those Halloween shows that was rated R for stupid violent content. I couldn’t help but wonder why the people in the theater were not sickened by this trash like I was and just sat there soaking all the junk in; people are very strange. It is interesting how, even though I say to myself that it is all fake blood and special effects, these scenes can still really affect me. No wonder our country is getting so bad. Well, next time I’ll try to pay attention, I am bit old to still be doing stupid things like that (ignoring the Spirit).
On Friday Tami and I went out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We had a gift card for Applebee’s from Scott and Kim for giving them a buddy pass to fly Scott here to help Stacie move. We ordered our usual $10.00 steak and potatoes and it was as good as ever. They both just melt in your mouth, it is just right and the price is good too. We then split a chocolate oozing dessert (can’t remember the name of it) and we loved it.
I did go to three Deseret Books on my scooter to check about jobs. It was a nice ride, going to West Jordan, then Sandy, then American Fork. I enjoyed it. We need some other work to survive but things are a bit slow these days, especially for a 53 year old who likes art but has no other marketable skills.
Saturday brought work for all. I administered the ACT test at Jordan High School, then went to the big library book sale on 35th South and 22nd East. Now most people know that is a very dangerous place for someone like me to go, especially since I am trying to get rid of some of the stuff we have (since our house is bursting at the seams with stuff). Well, I wandered through and fortunately found that most of the books were not to my liking (it had been picked over on Friday and the first half of Saturday). I did fill a box and just as I was deciding that I couldn’t spend that much and started putting some back they announced that for the last hour of the sale it was just $3.00 for each box. I found a fairly large box and tried to fill it up. I didn’t quite find enough stuff that I liked, or that I thought my family would like, to fill it up but I got pretty close. I did get some pretty good church books and non-fiction stuff. I found a good medical book for Brian and some fairly good videos – some old classics.
I brought my camera along for the day to see if I could find some good autumn shots but it was fairly cloudy and somewhat rainy so I didn’t get anything.
After the book sale I went and joined my family who were already at grandpa and grandma’s to watch the football game. We ate and enjoyed one another’s company, even though BYU was beaten badly. I’m sure we will drop out of the top 25 now. Texas Christian was just plain better.
I tried calling Kevin about which of us was teaching the High Priest’s on Sunday (there was some confusion because of General Conference and Stake Conference), we kept missing each other throughout the week, so even though I figured he was going to teach I prepared a lesson just in case. I was happy I did because it made it better for me, as he gave the lesson, to participate and to receive revelation about how to apply the lesson to my own life.
I just got a new home teaching route with Bro. Hutchings as my new partner. They did some switching around because a few boys became old enough to be with their fathers. I was with the Bishop for a few months, then with Bro. Barney for one month and now with Bro. Hutchings. Hopefully things will settle down now.
Well, like I said, that’s a lot of writing to tell very little news. Sorry to waist your time. Hope you listen to that little voice inside better than I did this week,
Ken and clan




From Elder Fortie:
Halloween is near
Hello one and all! I'm not dead yet. Contrary to popular belief. People sure do look at me funny seeing as my companion and I are probably the only white people in Oakland. At least in the ghetto where I live that is, up in the hills is where all the rest of the white people dwell, Elder Buttars and I are left alone to stand out like a veggie on a desert tray. But we sure have fun when all the black or Hispanic people say to us "what are you doing here man? You gotta get out of here, not even we walk these streets!" And we just shrug and keep on workin. No one really seems to bother us. Actually I think a lot of them are afraid of us, they seem to scatter as we come down the roads, because pretty much the only white people in this part of Oakland are the cops, and here we are, late at night, dressed in black suits, wearing black trench coats, walking boldly and defiantly down the streets of Oakland, they assume we must be the cops. I've heard so manypeople say "oh man it's the feds!" (the federals) as they run inside and lock the door. Or the say "la migra!" as they run for their lives, (that's Spanish for the migration). It's kinda funny. I still miss my precious peninsula though... It just doesn't feel the same over here!
OOH!!! I saw my recent converts last night! They came to speak in a fireside at the temple!!! But I was so mad I missed their talks because I was outside dealing with stupid problems! One of our poor sisters got really sick and within less then 24 hours she had to get sent home because of it, which was too bad, so at least it wasn't because someone did something dumb but none the less it was frustrating. But everyone said they did AMAZING!!!! I was so jealous that I didn't get to hear it! :( :( :( frowny faces and sadness! sigh... oh well...
My new companion is just fine, I'm glad to have him, and we're doing well, lots of people to teach and work with. I am trying to cut back on as many meetings as I can so that I can spend more time working. This Halloween though we have to be in by 6:30, we're not allowed to be out, no exceptions because of the madness that exists here in the bay area on Halloween... I won't mention the madness that happened last Halloween, just know it's quite the place to be at night on Halloween. So that's kinda lame, but oh well.
Well I hope all is well in the world beyond. Be grateful for what you have. With every passing day that I spend here, I realize how lucky we are to live where we do, to have the people around us that are around us. Truly, if we lose all else, the mere fact that we are surrounded by kind neighbors and friends and family, is more then many of these people here could ever have laid claim to. Be grateful, I promise you, what ever it is you’re facing, it's really not that bad. Smile, life's not worth the frowns.Love, Elder Fortie



From Jennifer:
Hey Ya’ll!
I know, I know, it’s been forever again. Sorry about that everyone! Life is INSANE!!! Who knew 8th grade could be so hard?!?! There seems to just always be more homework, then just when you think you’re done your friend texts you wondering when some project is due and you realize, Hey! Tomorrow! And your back to…you guessed it! More homework. Then I get dropped off from a long crazy day that somehow still turned out to be fun because of the crazy things I did with those insane people I call my friends!
Then off to another episode of the Arnold boys! What will happen today? Flushing an entire roll of toilet paper down the toilet? Maybe coloring on the walls with Expo markers, or could it be there adorable little giggle as I chase them around the yard playing the part of the “tickle monster” then spinning them in circles when I finally catch them seeing there bright, glowing smile? Nobody knows! (Until it happens at least) tune in next week for a full reprise of the many adventures of Sammy, Adam and Jenn!
Young women’s has been great fun as always! I just love our ward to death! My calling has kept me busy along with ward Volleyball. But I somehow get threw it all and in one piece!
BYU had a sad little game this week, losing badly to TCU but we did have 11 of our players out to the Swine flu so that is VERY possibly why. But Spencer kept us laughing all threw the game that left me scarred for life, him and his piggy, tiger and little oooh’s and uh-oh’s! Cute little guy!
On Friday night my best friend Kenzie and I went to a haunted corn maze with her dad and brother, before we entered her little brother started laughing and both of us puzzlingly asked why he was laughing. He answered saying you to are going to die in there! He continued saying I’ve been to one of these and the people in there go after the teenage girls, already seared to death, hugging each other and screaming there heads off. We both just told him, no way, they go after everyone! Well as we got in there, arms wrapped around each other, scared to death and sure enough every creepy, dressed up person there chased us. One guy with a (fake) chain saw started running at us, we looked around but there was nowhere to go so we crushed against each other with our hands over our eyes and waited, when nothing happened I took my hand away to see his saw an inch away from my conk, I panicky told Kenzie that I was about to die and she just said back, “Don’t worry, I’m going right along with you! Another man sitting on a bail of hay saw us, got up and started hobbling right on over to us then stopped and just pointed at us and followed us with his deep piercing eyes. One other chain saw man crept threw the corn, following us all the way while once in a while sounding his chain saw and making us scream. It was just like the domino affect! My favorite room there was one that had pitch black walls with glowing faces on it and strobe lights flashing, well we were walking threw and all of a sudden a guy that had an outfit on that matched the wall came out from a cut out of a person space in the wall, luckily Kenzie saw him pointed him out and then started screaming, then about eight more came out and started coming at us, and with the strobe lights he looked really creepy and choppy. We both sank down and just sat huddled up on the floor. But we made it out alive and with hurting throats! It was way fun!
Well, The shower is calling! Ta Ta! Just remember the more you know, the less you don’t know.
Jennifer

October 12 - 18, 2009

pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/2009_10_16Zoo#

http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyOctober2009#

Fortie Family Flyer
October 12 – 18, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
Hello, hello, hello to one and all. We are finding that the girls have great jobs, Jennifer, because she is working with a great family in our ward and with kids (she is great with kids) and Michelle was able to get a job where she is dealing with the public and having to use new skills beyond her tutoring job and Kneaders is closed on Sunday, etc., etc. However, we are also finding that both tend to have to work on Monday so we have a rather difficult time having any kind of descent family home evening. It is interesting how that can, even though we have had a strong history of FHE, gradually get set on the back burner until any lame activity gets the name of family home evening so we can still claim we have it but don’t get lessons, singing, prayers, etc. into the picture. So, this week we cried uncle on Monday night and started having the whole shebang of a normal FHE on Sunday night, with song, prayer, lesson, planning, etc. and if we get a chance now and then we will go do some kind of activity on Monday when schedules permit. We started tonight (Sunday the 18th) and it went well; it’s good to sing together again.
As for the rest of the week (besides work) I took the swamp cooler down on Wednesday, that is always a major project to get that heavy thing down from our bedroom window two stories up. I tied weights to the ropes that I had through the rings on the wall that held the cooler up so it would be easy to lower it but I decided to wait until the kids got home so they could help me. Even though I had done all the work except bring it down (panels off, ropes up weights tied on, hoses and motor removed, etc., etc.) some still complained about having to help me, taking time away from their homework. I find it interesting that many of them will, when someone starts playing a monk DVD, end up watching at least part of it pretending to do homework at the same time. Hmmm, it looks like I must spend a few family home evenings on charity and service, two of the most important aspects of the gospel over gratifying selfish pleasures. It’s funny how easy it is to get fooled by the trickster (the name the Native Americans have for the devil).
On Friday Jennifer skipped school and we went with grandpa, grandma, Chad, Alicia and Spencer to the zoo. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. I found when it was over, that I had focused so much on getting some good animal pictures that I didn’t spend very much time with everyone else. I felt bad that I would let pictures get in the way of just some down time with my grandson. Having said that, I did get a few pictures of family along with the pictures of some of the animals (only a few as I found I would really have to go there by myself with the entire day available to use up waiting for those few great moments to get more and better shots than I did). Before I knew it (and that happens to me a lot as I don’t keep track of time well) it was time to head out to get Jennifer to meet up with her friends to go shopping and me off to take family pictures for Brent and Mandy. I ran into two accidents on the freeway going down to American Fork so I was almost a half hour late. I felt bad but they were forgiving. We were at a nice park and we were able to get some good shots in spite of a few of their youngest kids who were not very interested in pictures (which is to be expected). They are a cute family and I enjoyed working with them. I then went to deliver two 20x30 pictures to Repartee Gallery and then went down to the BYU Bookstore to take inventory. I was pretty low on pictures so I have to get more printed up and packaged (my favorite project – NOT).
Saturday everyone went their own way, mostly to work. Chad came over to borrow the truck and in the afternoon most of us were able to break away to go to grandpa and grandma’s to watch the BYU game. It was a good game and we beat San Diego by a few touchdowns but they did a good job of scoring against us as well.
Sunday was stake conference and we mistakenly thought that even though it was at the Conference Center it was going to be broadcast at our stake center (like dad and moms stake). When we got there it wasn’t so we debated about what to do. Should we go to the Conference Center and be very late or to grandpa and grandma’s stake center and be very late or find one around our area. Brian took off on his scooter to find one around us and he found one down on 134th and about 30th West so we all went there. It was a good conference and after the meeting we came home, ate, then played games, decorated for Halloween, had FHE (as I talked about at the beginning) then ate again and wrote letters. I good day all in all.
I finished the book “Biology of Belief” and it was a good thought provoking book with many ideas to help me improve and see things differently; I recommend it. In fact the author goes into great detail about the structure of the human cell and how it works, then talks about life outside the body (spiritual – he used to be an atheist), etc., etc. (way to much and too complex to deal with here (but don’t worry he does a good job of presenting it to the average reader – like myself)). He talks a lot about the membrane of the cell and how it is made of water and oil and how proteins get things in and out of the cell and so on and so forth. It was fascinating to me and while that was fresh on my mind I went to the temple to do some initiatory work and as I was going through that process of hearing the prayers over and over again I was trying to pay close attention to them to learn as much as I could when suddenly, out of the blue, the thought came to me that it was all about washing with water and anointing with oil just as they did in the Old Testament and those two ingredients are what the cell membrane is made of. The membrane of every cell in our body (the thinking part of the cell – according to this book), is made of water and oil. He demonstrates that as he was cloning them at Harvard he found that each cell thinks and actually moves toward food in a dish or away from poison and decides what to bring in and what to expel from the cell. They also communicate with other cells in a dish. The two most important ingredients of the cell membrane, water and oil, are two of the most important items in this important ordinance and are talked about throughout the scriptures. They are critical for life and we learn of their importance throughout life without realizing how basic they are to our existence. The amazing thing is they are two opposites that are necessary to make everything work right. Without them nothing can live. A study of oil and water in the scriptures has some powerful symbolism behind their use. Water and cleansing and anointing with oil representing the anointed one or the Messiah, etc. Well there is a lot to all this and I wish I had time to write all I learned with this little revelation but I’m sure you get the drift of it and understand what I am talking about (for now I must get to bed).
To all you amazing people out there keep studying.
Ken and clan



From Elder Fortie:
Well everyone transfers have come and my companion is out and I am left to train a new zone leader. I find my list of things to do keeps growing every time I say I wish I had more time, so I think I'm gonna try some reverse psychology on myself and maybe on the mission president and tell him I have all the time in the world and I don't know what to do with myself. Maybe then the laws of freaky nature will somehow pan out that I have more time! That seems to be the way things work... Right? Also my room mates are leaving me! I'm the only one staying. I lived with 2 Chinese elders, one of them, Elder Wong from Hong Kong China, cracks me up, he speaks decent English, but he's still got a thick accent and it's not perfect, and he says things that would not be funny at all if an American said them, yet since it's coming from this little gentle happy Chinese kid, it's hilarious! He is my little "Kato" we attack each other randomly in the apartment when we are there. Also we build random towers of plastic cups on each others desks when the other isn't looking, and then knock them over so there's a massive mess everywhere. Yesterday I built a tower on his bed, and then he came into the room to change his sweater, and when he had it up over his head I ran into the room and tackled him into the tower of cups! It was glorious! I'm gonna miss him, he's funny. We also have a little random Frankenstein doll thing that's like 4 feet tall that we had in random places to scare each other. It's been a nice stress relief when I come home from 5 hours of meetings and open the bathroom to see Frankenstein sitting on the toilet in a white shirt and tie... I'll miss that little Chinese Elder.My new companion will be Elder Buttars, who I don't really know so I'll find out how that goes tomorrow when I get him. My companion is being sent out to Half Moon Bay, the far corner of the mission, where I pulled the lady from the ocean, as junior companion. We've had a great week with some of our investigators, were really hoping for them to pick up and go well. But the juggling act is killer. We have been so blessed in finding that we have so many investigators that between all the meetings I have to be in, we can't keep up with all the people we have to teach. If we focus on one we neglect another. So were gonna have to do some weeding and work with the chosen best and put the others on simmer till we can get to them. It's a good problem to have I suppose. We had a baptism last night, and I spoke on the atonement on it, there were a lot of non members there, and the Spirit did its job well, I did not follow what I had planned but found myself drilling one of the most direct testimonies I've given of the Savior that I've given. Like as I was speaking I was surprised at the force and directness of the words that were sneaking out of my mouth! But afterwards, many of those non members came up to me and told me that my "speech" (as they called it) was very powerful and they were amazed at how it had touched their heart. Even the mission president’s wife who does not speak Spanish came up to me and told me she was in tears because of the spirit. Little did they know the whole time I was up there speaking I was thinking "should I be saying that?" haha because I was not planning on it. So I guess the spirit knew (as always) what to do better then I because it had me say things I myself was hesitant to say. Well I gots to get going. Take care one and all. Keep a smile on! -Love Elder Fortie-



From Michelle:
Dear world,
Wow, it sure has been a while since I last wrote… sorry! I will try to remember all that has happened in my life lately, but with my memory, I make no promises!
Life as of late has been nothing really exciting. It is mostly school and work. During the school year, my life gets quite dull and I don’t have much time to do fun or eventful things. But I will do my best to make it short and sweet and not put yall to sleep!
School hasn’t changed much. It does seem to be speeding by though! I can’t believe that we’re already almost done with 1st quarter! Physics is one of my favorite classes this year. It’s not really because of the topic, it’s more because of the friends and fun people in that class and the teacher! Mr. Justis is the teacher and he is a funny, nerdy, 20-something year old who just cracks me up! He’s not nerdy as in a geek, he just loves physics so much that it makes him seem nerdy. He’s really cool and funny though, so all of us students have a great time in there! I also have a few really good friends in there like my dear new best friend Sandra, my trek brother and new best buddy Mckay Wells, and my also new best buddy Adam Painter! We all sit by each other and we have so much fun! It’s a blast and I look forward to that class every day. My other favorite class is my theater class. It’s a really relaxed environment and it’s basically a class of play time where we get to make up and put on skits! Sandra is also in there with me, so we have a grand old time and we crack up and we love to make ourselves look like idiots on the stage as long as we can get everyone else to laugh! Ha ha! So that’s school for ya!
Work isn’t too bad most of the time! Bob the baker is one of my favorite people in the earth now, and I’m so sad that he is leaving in 2 weeks! He cracks me up and I can’t imagine Kneaders without him! I wore a tie-dye shirt the other day as I went to pick up my paycheck, and he commented on how cool he thought it was and asked me if I would tie-dye something for him before he left. I said yeah, and jokingly said that I should tie-dye his work shirts. He looked at me like my plan was the most brilliant he had ever heard. The way his face lit up you would have thought I had just solved global warming! He asked me if I would tie-dye two of his Kneaders shirts if I gave them to him and I said yeah, but wondered if he would get fired for it. He then reminded me that he’s already given his three weeks notice, and Kyle (our boss) isn’t going to fire him or anything. I laughed and told him that I totally would do it, but then asked him why he wanted two instead of just one. He said, and I quote, “So when Kyle sees me wearing one, and says, never wear that shirt again, I can just wear the other one.” I think I almost died laughing then and there. He calls me Barbara, because apparently I look more like a Barbara than a Michelle. (I seem to get renamed quite a bit by the people I know.) So I call him happy Bob because he has a very dry sense of humor, and when you see him, he just sort of looks like Eyore. Sad and lonely! That sounds terrible, but that’s how he looks. So we joke around and tease each other all the time! Other than that, nothing is new with work.
Nathan and Paige came down for a visit the other weekend, and that was a lot of fun! They went to the temple on Friday afternoon/night and Jennifer and I went back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to play with Spencer! When they got back, we had a pizza dinner, and played some games. Saturday morning, I worked and so did Mom, so we went out as soon as we could and we all watched the BYU game and played games and looked at pictures! Then on Sunday, we went to church out at Grandma and Grandpa’s ward with them. When we first got to their ward, Spencer spotted Jennifer and I, and he got excited and squealed really loud! He’s so cute and we love him so much! I can’t wait until Nathan and Paige’s baby comes so we can have two little joys in our lives! After church, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a BIG family dinner! Their house may need to start growing along with the family because things are starting to get pretty crowded in there, and we didn’t have Mounteers or Rauckhorsts there! So if EVERYONE got together, we could have a big problem on our hands. It was good to see them though, and we had fun!
Whit came down with Tyler and her cousin Nathan the weekend before, but we really only got to do something with them Saturday. That night, while the men were all at priesthood, we went shopping! I got four new shirts and a new dress. Funny thing is, we were shopping for Jennifer, not me, but Jennifer hardly ended up getting anything. Thing is, I found some fantastic deals and I couldn’t skip them. Jen, Whit, and I did find some pretty fantastic zebra print jumpsuits though. They were pretty freaking hilariously awesome, and I was tempted to buy one just for laughs!
Well, I think that brings you up to speed on my life… if I forgot anything… that kinda sucks. I love you all and hope you’re doing well! Good luck in the next week yall! Cherish all your happy moments: they make a fine cushion for old age. - Christopher Morley.
Love,
Michelle Fortie!

October 5 - 11, 2009

pics

http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyOctober2009#

Fortie Family Flyer
October 5 – 11, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
It’s the week after general conference and it is already time to take myself in for an end of the week spiritual tune up to see if I actually took to heart some of the things that I felt impressed to do during conference. Have I put forth sufficient effort to change or have I slipped back into the same old same old me? Hopefully I will find that my spark plugs are clean enough to receive a strong impulse from the distributor to keep me running smooth. And hopefully I can scrape off the corrosion that prevents me from getting all fired up, becoming a new me for a new future. As Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “And ah, for a man to arise in me, that the man I am may cease to be.”
Lets see, what did I do this week, oh now I remember, I was supposed to take notes throughout the week so I wouldn’t come to this moment and draw a blank. What in the world did I do this week that is worth writing down? I watched a few genealogy programs on BYU.TV (I mostly listen to them because they are on while I am editing) and they talked of people who found journals of ancestors who wrote every night all their lives and when those journals were found they became a valuable source of information about the community in Scotland where the writer lived more than a century ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of my ancestors were mentioned somewhere in his writings as he didn’t live too far from where they lived at the time. With that and President Eyring’s words about writing daily about what the spirit does to help me each day, makes me think I had better get started.
We do seem to be in a rut that I am not pleased with. Everyone is working each evening and it seems that family time is getting pushed off more and more until we have become typical Americans; hardly speaking to each other as we rush about being so involved in the thick of thin things. I sense the need to change but how to get my family to go along with that is the hard part. How to convince teens and those in their 20’s that family is valued in every culture except ours and that lack of value placed on family must be fought with all our hearts. I miss the days when we often had family singing time and family gospel discussions. Daily scripture study has become stressful moments of lets hurry because I have homework and must get to bed. Contention is on the rise in our country and in our home; my heart hurts as I search for answers to create a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of God. May God bless me in my efforts.
Nothing grand the first half of the week (that I recall). We all looked forward to Nathan and Paige’s visit over the weekend. They came Friday morning, after driving all night. We were there each night having dinner and talking and playing. Friday night several of us went to the temple to do initiatory work and sealings and that was enjoyable. We got a kick out of the looks on the temple worker’s faces as we, four Fortie’s (Curt, Nathan, Brian and myself (too bad Chad was out of town and dad couldn’t come)), walked in to do initiatory work (they just need your last name). One asked if we knew Max (who he knew). After we got to mom and dads we had pizza and sat around and talked.
Saturday we were all busy working and rushing about. I took pictures Saturday night for Facil and his wife, Susan’s family. After that we all got together and had crepes that Tami made and then had Nathan’s birthday cake.
I really had a strong feeling to do something with the pictures I took in the mountains of the snow on the autumn leaves. I discovered how to create a slide show on Picasa so I spent some time learning how to do that. I showed it to the family and they enjoyed it.
Sunday we went to dad and mom’s ward so we could spend more time with the family. Most slept after church then we ate and talked and decided the weekend had gone too fast. I rode the scooter there on Saturday so I left it there Saturday night because of the rain (and went home with the family in the car). Since it was there I took it home Sunday night, it was a cold night but I was bundled up enough to make the ride a pleasant one.
Well, that’s our week. I am behind so I didn’t spend much time telling this tale but you get the picture. Hope your week was a good one.
Don’t fall for all the trappings of our society, keep family number one.
Ken and clan




From Elder Fortie:
Well everyone, I've been gone all day once again running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I have less then 10 minutes... sigh... I'm thinking I'm just gonna do something dumb like drive to San Diego for a p-day so I can get released from zone leader and go back to just getting to work an area haha. Okay obviously that's a joke! I love helping everyone. I keep getting complaints from you all that you wish I had more time to write... well I'm sorry, I wish I did too, but it's just kinda what were gonna have to accept for a while, remember I got called out here to serve these people, getting to e-mail all of you is a luxury, some missions don't get that and we would have to suffice with an even shorter hand written letter, so be happy for e-mail. Sorry my time is so limited, I pity the poor A.P's, if I am this busy, I cannot imagine their poor lives.
So this week me and my companion put on a zone activity, we had the entire zone (40-45 people, somewhere around there) together in a park and we had a pumpkin carving contest, and a bunch of random games I came up with kinda as an early Halloween party, because this is when I could find time to do it haha! It was a lot of fun and people really seemed to enjoy it so we’re glad it went well. My pumpkin actually won an award! My artistic talent is finally blooming (to be honest it was cause the judges were all sister missionaries and mine looked like Wall-E so they thought it was cute (it wasn't meant to look like Wall-E... oops) So, I won even though there were much better pumpkins there).
We have been finding tons of people to teach, we just have no time to teach anyone! So it's frustrating, we lead our zone in every aspect, yet we are flying between cracks to find time to do it all, so it's been madness, but I do enjoy a good bit of madness.
Well Again, sorry to be short, no I am not coming home in January, got that one fixed, whether or not I got the extension I haven't had a chance to talk to president again yet to find out, we shall see!
Take care!
Love,Elder Fortie

September 28 - October 4, 2009

For more pics see:

http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FirstSnowSeptember2009#

Fortie Family Flyer
September 28 – October 4, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,
Tut Tut, it looks like rain and snow and wind and cold. Yes, this week decided that summer was hanging around too long and winter was way past due so it skipped fall. We went from the 80’s to the 40’s and around freezing at night. Something kept nagging me to go up into the mountains to take a few pictures. I finally went so I could have some peace, and it was, as Martha Stewart would say, “a good thing”. I went up to Brighton where I found about 5 inches of snow around Silver Lake. Even though it was quite breathtaking I really didn’t get the pictures I was hoping for. Somehow the beauty escaped my camera, perhaps my promptings were just for me to get up there and enjoy the sights and sounds and smells for myself. If you’re stuck in the city with your normal, stressful grind, don’t wait for pictures from me or anyone else to relieve that stress; get up in the mountains yourself to change your well being. The beauties of God’s creation truly hold the key to changing any darkness that may hold us captive, into joy, love and light. The snow mixed with the beautiful autumn colors really played some tricks on my mind; my eyes seemed to observe everything there as if looking through the eyes of a child seeing something for the first time. Certainly those who miss such opportunities cannot possibly reach their full potential for joy, but those who stop what they are doing to enjoy small but powerful moments like these will expand their souls throughout their lives.
Well, the week was filled with work and play, as usual. Most events are not newsworthy. Editing and getting pictures of families printed up and over to them. I picked up my pictures at the Sandy Library since we had the month of September as our month to display them on the walls of the library. I had a few people tell me on facebook that they were in the Sandy library and saw them and liked them.
On Monday we went to a play Brian told us about because one of his teachers was in it. It was the last night for “Arsenic and Old Lace” in the Sugar Factory Playhouse in South Jordan. The guy who played Marcellus in the Music Man that I was in this past summer was in it. They did a great job and we laughed like crazy. Now we want to get the movie from the library to see how it compares (it has been a while since I have seen it and the kids never have). Michelle needed to go to a play for one of her classes but she couldn’t get off work at Kneaders so she couldn’t go. She will have to catch another play somewhere else.
I checked out a couple of audio books from the library to listen to on the way up the canyon. I spotted a biography of Crazy Horse that seemed to call to me so I got it. It is a very interesting book and helps me see the vast difference between the two realities or belief systems of our cultures; one becoming the conquerors and one the conquered. It is amazing how almost everything the two cultures believe in are in exact opposition to each other after centuries of separation by an ocean. I have some very interesting thoughts of the Native Americans and their future but that is for another letter. I am almost finished with the book “The Wisdom Keepers” about Native American Elders and it has some interesting stories and teachings.
The kids had no school Thursday and Friday but our activities consisted of working and watching Monk (this time it was my fault, I was at the Sandy Library picking up my pictures and saw 4 DVDs of Monk and knew how everyone liked to watch it so I brought all 4 home. Well of course everyone decided they had to watch them before the week is up and we have to take them back so they watched two and three episodes in a row trying to get them all in during their break when they didn’t have homework). Every time someone in our house does something Monk like, someone else points it out and calls them Monk. I think some of them are actually getting to be more and more like Monk as the weeks of watching the show go by; that’s not good. We even say one of his frequent lines – “Here’s the thing” in our own conversation; crazy family. Anyway, mostly it has been work; in fact Jennifer had her biggest day yet by babysitting 4 kids for 10 hours on Friday. She does a good job with those kids and they love her.
On Friday night we went to Mike and Linda’s to celebrate grandma’s birthday, eat chili that Alicia made and watch the BYU game. The food was good, the cake and ice-cream was great and the game was fun. We had a late night but most of us were able to sleep in on Saturday.
Michelle had to work Saturday morning but the rest of us watched conference, ate and did a few things around the house. We went to grandpa and grandmas for dinner and then the guys all headed down town on trax to go to the general priesthood meeting. We left late so I didn’t think we would make it into the conference center but as we arrived about 10 minutes late we were able to get in and take some of the last few seats in the top right balcony. I haven’t been up there since the last time I cleaned the Conference Center (in fact we sat is the very section Chad cleaned) and the view is amazing with all those white shirts and dark suits all focused down on a tiny person speaking from the pulpit. I sat near the front in the center for the Temple Celebration performance that Michelle and Jennifer were a part of and that was of course a great seat to see the stage, but if you want to be impressed with the Conference Center as a whole, sit in the top corner of the building. Tyler and Whitney came down for conference so Tyler and his cousin Nathan went with us (grandpa, Brian and me) to priesthood. I think they enjoyed it and we all went to grandpa and grandmas for, of course, ice-cream, lots of toppings and lots of fun.
Sunday we ate and watched conference then headed to grandpa and grandmas for the last session, dinner, games and of course, ice-cream (I’m detecting a pattern here). Well, we had fun but Brian rode his scooter there on Saturday when the weather was decent, stayed Saturday night and then had to ride home in a cold rain Sunday night, not so fun. I brought some warm stuff for him and a raincoat so he was bundled up pretty well, we followed him and he seemed to do okay. He does need to get a job so he can afford to get his car fixed so it will pass inspection so he can drive this winter. The scooters have been great for the summer but I think that is coming to a close soon. I picked Michelle up from school on Wednesday on the scooter and it rained a bit on us but we were bundled up so it wasn’t too bad. A little cold on the hands with my thin summer gloves, I’ll have to get my winter gloves and coat out for the fall and early winter riding. It’s still fun, even when it’s a bit cold.
Conference was, as usual, very good and there were some powerful talks given this time. I think some crazy things are coming. The protesters were there, as usual, ranting and raving about how terrible we are. Frankly, I am grateful for their presence. I like to pause there for a few moments to feel the darkness they tend to represent and then go inside the Conference Center and feel the exact opposite feeling as I listen to the choir sing a beautiful hymn before the meeting starts. The contrast to me is a testimony in itself. No words need be said, just the opposition is amazing. I keep thinking that if any one of them could step outside his hate and anger and stand with me in both places they would have to agree that they carry with them the wrong spirit. But of course they wouldn’t be able to step outside their little world of belief any more than we can get Al-Qaeda leaders to suddenly convert to Christianity. I see these people as the modern day Pharisees, straining at gnats but swallowing camels. They remind me of the last chapter of Acts, when Paul goes to Rome and calls for the Jews there to come talk to him. They ask him about this strange sect that they have heard so many bad things about, in fact here are their words: (Acts 28:22-28.) “But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Indeed the Christians, which were a new and very strange Jewish sect, were thought of as atheists because they wouldn’t believe in the state religion (kind of like not saluting the flag today) and they were considered cannibals because it was reported that they ate flesh and drank blood in their meetings, and they had all kinds of perverse relationships with members of their congregations because they called each other brother and sister, etc. The rumors were wild and crazy, and of course none of them were true. Some government positions were given to Christians specifically because of their integrity, “in spite of their strange religion.” How many people today say the Mormons are such good people but are just deceived by some strange mind altering religion. Things never change.
I found out about a Utah photo book that is being put together, I’m sure it’s just a way to get people to buy something they put together by saying one of your pictures may be in the book, but I thought I’d put some of my pictures in anyway, just to see what happened. I had several people really like my work and many of them left comments. One guy who is a member of the Wasatch Photography Club said, “Absolutely incredible what can be done with a camera by someone who knows how to put their heart and soul into it!" In a way it was very good to read comments like that but on the other hand it is hard because I do put everything into it but can’t seem to make enough money to make it worthwhile. Artists seem to be wealthy or busted, with the majority busted (especially while they are still alive). What to do.

Well, that’s it from our house. Keep walking the path of beauty and peace.
Ken and clan



From Brian:
Dear family,

Sorry it’s been a while since I wrote. I have had school coming out my ears.

On Monday I was supposed to go to my singles ward family home evening but my family was planning on going to a play without me. So I had someone from the ward fill in for me the part of the lesson I was doing on family history.

So Dad, Mom, Chad, Alicia, Jennifer and I all went to a play my college professor was starring in. It was “arsenic and old lace” and my Government and Politics Professor played the bad guy, a homicidal maniac. The play was so funny, we all laughed pretty hard. They did a great job. My teacher looked like Boris Carlough and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to look at him the same way again.

On Tuesday even though it was my first day of school it was my last as well for the week. We had fall break so I only had classes one day. In my Speech class we finished listening to peoples speeches. Then I tried to finish my homework at home, but dad was gone so I could not print my editorial for English. I e-mailed it to myself in haste and then dashed off for class. I had to stop by the pharmacy on my way to pick up my pills, which made me even more late. I got there and tried to print off my paper from my e-mail to take up to class. First, the computer took forever only to find out it was attached to the color printer that cost way more. So after moving computers it wouldn’t print. I found it was out of paper. They said they were sending someone down to fill it. After waiting a few agonizing minutes I ran up to my class about 10 minutes late. I explained and she said to participate in what was going on now and go down to print it in a while. Later I went back down and they brought a computer guy back who informed me that it wouldn’t print because I had no computer student card. So I went over to the desk, had my picture taken and it took the printer like 5 minutes to warm up and then slowly print my card. I finally was able to turn in the stupid editorial after 20 minutes of hassle.

On Wednesday Chad came over and looked at my car for a while that wouldn’t start. We tried jumping it because it was dead, but after 10 or 15 minutes of jumping it still wouldn’t start. We gave up when it got dark and wet and went to Chad’s house. I missed my institute class that I love, cause we never got it going. We made chili cheese dogs and watched, on a whim, “The Great Mouse Detective” which is an old Disney movie neither of us has seen in over a decade.

On Thursday Chad came over again to my house to try to look at the car. But I had a way bad migraine and we ended up reading some of my stories and then looking at pictures of me as a kid.

On Friday we all went over to Mounteers for a party. It was grandma’s 75th birthday. We had chili, hot dogs and snacks. Also the BYU game was on and we watched that over there. It was a cool game to see, against Utah State. We all got home way late and tired.

On Saturday I woke up early, packed up some stuff and headed for grandpa and grandmas. We all had different schedules and were going out at different times. Rauckhorsts were coming down for conference (The older kids were) and we waited for them. Spencer was a total goof ball. He was running around and making noises and causing minor mayhem. He learned to do this noise where he sucks in air to sound surprised, when I did it. He copied it pretty quick. He also likes making a monkey face and saying “oooohh!” as he points to things that interest him. I was supposed to go to the college at 12:30 to tutor a girl in anatomy; she’s in my class and struggling. But she got bit by something and had to go to the doctor so I got off the hook and got to stay there. Conference was amazing! That first session on Saturday there were some very specific things I realized I needed to do in my life, to become better and more close to the Savior. There were some good specific promptings that I made sure to write down, or we forget.

Tyler, Whitney and Nathan showed up shortly after the first session. We all spent the whole time playing with Spencer and watching him. Nathan and Whitney were building towers out of blocks and Spencer thinks he is Godzilla in Tokyo when he sees block buildings. He runs over and knocks it over, making sure there are not even 2 blocks on top of each other. “Smash! Man Things! Arrgghhh Argh!” He is a total boy. I even had a Godzilla sound effect on my phone and played it right when he went on his rampage so it fit perfectly. We showed him pictures of trucks and he says “Mvmmmmmm!” and makes the noise, or a tiger he says “arrgggg” and the funniest one he learned on Saturday and does it like crazy now is a piggy. He scrunches up his face and puts his hand by his mouth and snorts in and out several times getting louder and louder. We could not stop laughing it was so funny.

He stole my cell phone, and tried to talk on it and push buttons, and did the same with Whitney’s phone. He hides behind a chair to do stuff he knows he shouldn’t, it is so funny. He is a cutie and a riot.

Then we all watched the second session of conference. It was very powerful and I loved the spirit that was like fire in my bones, to the “consuming of my flesh.” I strengthened my testimony of many things. The boys had to change quickly after because we were going to go downtown for Priesthood at the Conference Center. We ate a quick dinner and drove to Trax. I followed the car on my scooter. I scooted.

We got to Trax and bought tickets quickly. We joked about a special Conference Trax train, which, like the Polar Express, would fly up into the air at extremely high speed and then come zooming down at the doors of the Conference Center. So we would not be late; the short cut.

Priesthood was great and so cool to see all those brethren. To think that there are near 6 million all watching it around the world is amazing! As we left there were some crazy protestors outside. One guy was yelling at the top of his lungs something about keeping or not keeping commandments. He reminded me of a Shakespeare monologue or the guy on the Ramiumptum. I felt sorry for the guy, he totally missed the boat, but he’s just getting paid to do that so he doesn’t care. They are getting way desperate. Notice we are never outside their facilities yelling and waving giant signs whose rhetoric seems to be designed by small children. It is because they are not a threat to us. But we sure seem to be a great threat to them. Thanks for proving our point guys, keep it up.

We drove back with Uncle Mike. It took a bit longer, I think, to get out of the parking lot than it did to drive back to the Train on 7200 South. That’s to be expected I guess with 22,000 people getting out on one block.

At home the girls were watching Charlie but all left towards the end, not wanting to see her die. I thought that sort of strange but whatever. We were looking at pictures on grandpa’s computer of all the family. It was cool to see how people look growing up, how we all have changed, and what we did back then. Tyler and Nate and I were talking about the titles of my stories and when I told Tyler the title of one he lost it. “Blanche awakens ‘THE’” Nate and I were wondering what in the world was so funny, then we began wondering when he was going to run out of oxygen. Then we started laughing because he was, and none of us could stop. It was way late, so I just slept out in the front room on a mattress to stay the night.

On Sunday the wind started blowing really bad at about 4 in the morning, and I thought “oh no, Rauckhorsts have to go home in this.” I could hear stuff, big stuff, getting blown around and rain. I woke up at about 6:40 and tried to help those three get ready to go. Tyler, Whitney and Nathan all had tickets to the Sunday Morning session of Conference so they had to leave. And they were going to drive home from there and not come back. So they were scrambling to get ready. Grandpa got up and finished helping me make breakfast. Then we got their stuff in the car and they left kind of sudden like. I wished then that I had had more time to talk and share experiences with, but oh well.

I loved the sessions of Sunday, although for some reason I had a hard time focusing on the morning session, my mind kept drifting to something else, not sure why. I usually am good at focusing on those things. I absolutely loved when Elder Holland added his Apostolic witness, to men and angels to be recorded alongside the Prophet Joseph, and the three Witnesses. That was powerful, that was so “The Bull Dog.”

As usual it was all over way too soon.

We ate dinner all together. Alicia made this really good soup, and we had rolls. Then we all drove home. Dad brought me some water gear to drive home in the rain on my scooter. Well I hope all is ok.

So Jason, what is all this talk of extending, talking about it like 9 months ahead of time? Anyway hope you are well, and your investigators saw Conference. Hope you get this. Love you all so much.



Love

Brian



From Elder Fortie:
And here comes Elder Holland, out of the batting cages and BOOOOMMMM!!!! Knocks it out of the stadium!!! Holy cow how about his talk!!! Ah!!! He is my favorite speaker and Sunday he once again proved why he is my favorite. Good heavens that man speaks with power and authority and he isn't afraid to throw down! Man how we could use him out here in the mission felid! My other two favorite speakers, President Monson and President Uchtdorf also gave wonderful talks! I LOVE conference, it is so exciting! We got 5 people to come to conference, but man it is not the same in Spanish... the translation is very correct, but it is dry, emotionless and monotone. It's hard because you want these people you are teaching to catch the fire that I get when I hear them speak, but they have to hear it through a man that could put a pit bull guard dog to sleep... But it was exciting none the less. I watched it up at the Oakland temple which is like 5 minutes from my apartment, which was cool. One of the talks given was really similar to a talk I had given like 3 days ago in zone leader council! That was kinda cool too, I was like hey! That's what I said! The spirit really must have been trying to drill some thing into my head on that one to make me speak on it and then listen to it right after.Other wise things are going fine. I still miss the West side of the bay, but such is the life of a missionary. Congratulations to Nathan and Paige! When do they find out if it is a boy or a girl? Let me know when it's due! I might just barely be home in time for the baby blessing, we shall see. Well things are going well. Elder Hinckley, (yes the son of the former prophet) who is a 70, was supposed to come out here to our mission this past week to do a visit here, and all us zone leaders were supposed to have a PPI with him, (I was excited!) but he had to cancel on us at the last second, so that was disappointing. Also I forgot to mention every week I have a meeting with just me my companion and brother Packer, the nephew of Elder Packer of the quorum of the 12, he is over missionary work out here and I meet with him once a week. There's all kinds of apostle family like people out here! The other month I ran into Elder Neil A. Anderson of the 12's son who lives here, and Quinton L. Cook used to be the stake Pres. of the stake I used to serve in, so his family has ties there, I think Elder Eyring as well lived out here. It's cool to see all these connections. This place is crazy but it puts out some good leaders, I guess it's a bit of a refiners fire here. Well I gots to get going, hope all is going well on the home front and all the other fronts out there! Keep up a smile!Love, Elder Fortie