Christmas in Young

On Christmas Eve, Jeremy, Lisa, and Ryder loaded up the sleigh (otherwise known as their old faithful Suburban) and picked up Amanda and Wendy from Grandma Mitchell's house. We headed for Young! It was a beautiful trip through a snow-covered forest into our beautiful Pleasant Valley. We arrived at about 8:30 p.m. and were greeted by the sparling lights of our little Christmas tree in the front window. Thankfully, Emily had dug our decorations out of storage and made a beautiful welcome home for us. We were happy to be home and enjoyed some homemade tamales David had ready for us. After the others settled in for the night, I hurried to wrap up our last minute gifts and surprises! On Christmas morning, Ryder woke us up and was ready to check out the gifts under the tree. He excitedly jumped on his new Red Radio Flyer and was off! We enjoyed a traditional prebreakfast of Lucky Charms followed by the big breakfast of biscuits-n-gravy, eggs, bacon, etc.

It was fun to watch Ryder dive into the box for his Big Wheel and try to put it together himself. (Santa, grandparents, and parents were on the same wavelength: Give him wheels!) Later that day we stuffed ourselves on ham and potatoes, salad, and sweet potato pie!

Christmas in Mesa

We started the week in Mesa. A group of our family members gathered at the Mesa Center of the Arts to view a presentation of "Reflections of Christ," a beautiful photo and music display of the life of Christ. It was an amazing and spiritual event despite the huge mingling crowds and pouring rain. It was a wonderful focus on the reason for the season! Then we all met back at Grandma Mitchell's house for yummy treats. We exchanged laughs, memories, and gifts. We dressed up Emma, Eli, and Molly as Mary, a little shepherd, and a little angel, and took our own little Nativity picture.

We had a great time with Great Grandma Mitchell (G-G), Aunt Donna, Lindsay, Wendy, David, Jaime, Shane, Emma, Eli, Molly, Amanda, and Emily. We missed those who couldn't join us; especially Great Grandad Mitchell who is enjoying his first Christmas back in Heaven.

December Happenings with the Whites

A

WHITE CHRISTMAS
Holiday Happenings with

Jaime and Shane and Family

Emma, Molly, and Eli visit with Santa

Touring the Christmas lights at the Mesa temple grounds

The White family Christmas tree in their Mesa home (Jaime, Shane, Emma, Eli, Molly)

Thanksgiving in Young

Thanksgiving this year was lots of fun. The Whites, Amanda, me, Lindsay, Aunt Donna and Grandma all went up to Young and ate some turkey and deviled eggs. There was a great rainstorm and me and Lindsay went on an adventure. Later the weather cleared up and Jeremy and Lisa came into town and some of us went out to shoot a 50. caliber gun! Here's a picture of one of the massive bullets. And I'm passing the responsibility to someone else to get the pictures of the dinner and ornament making and everything else up here!

November Deer Hunt

The Hatch family conspired to meet up during the first week of November 2008 in order to fill four deer tags. The men cleared the path, made camp and managed to fill the first three tags on the first day! We entertained ourselves in the evenings with campfires, storytelling, great food, and guitar playing. During the hot days in between searching the trees for deer, we sat around camp and ate, and, as Emma discovered and told Eli, we "could do whatever we want, we're camping." The hunt was a success, including family bonding and deer in the freezer.

ahh... finals week:)

Ok this week and last week too i guess have been pretty eventful.

First: Craziness because my teachers kept homework assignments coming right up to my finals
Then:My landlord sent me an email saying she wants to sell this place and told me to start looking for a new place to live

The next day: I found some girls who were moving right now and they gave me an application

Later: My roommate rushed into my room with this huge box filled with snacks and treats from my mom and dad to help me through finals!!:)


Two days ago: I was talking on the phone with a classmate trying to figure out this online quiz and my computer battery was dying so I took it into my room to plug it in then I go to walk back out when this bag of clothes, waiting to be given away, grabbed my foot and slammed me onto the tile floor, the phone flew out of my hand and I proceeded to slide until my hand, then arm crashed into the closet door. I quickly grabbed my phone and continued talking, still sitting on the floor, cuz i was in a little pain. I went on with my day, saw the new apartment for the first time, had dinner with my new roommate and a neighbor, came home went to bed and was wondering why my finger was hurting... and kept waking up all night from it, when I remembered I probably hurt it in my little crash.

The next morning: I couldn't even bend my finger, and was wondering how I would be able to fill out my two hour essay questions for my history final. But I taped them together that whole day, and I was able to finish my exam today without hardly even noticing it!! yay!

Yo Emily Jo Lou So, it's been long gone your turn to post something on this page. As well as Jaime consuelo, let's get on that shall we? :)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Back!...by popular demand: Just say yes!

Ok, so my life is basically exciting all the time.
unlike amanda's where she has to go camping and visit historical monuments, i get to go to school, everyday, in tucson no less!

no try not to be jealous, i know its probably hard.

but there are some pretty "epic" moments that sometimes happen during my daily drudgery....like in biology class today.


Let me give you some background on this class. It is seriously the most amazing class you could ever hope to attend, which is good since its not even required for my major haha but anyway, the teacher is new to U of A this year and is actually there to teach the students which is rare and refreshing.

Since the beginning there have been about 8 of us students who all sit in the same corner and laugh and entertain ourselves all hour. In fact most of us even show up half an hour early.

Well last week one of the girls (who also happens to be in my same institute class) told us today would be her birthday, so i proclaimed we would have a party for her in our class.

so today as our group was showing up we sneakily passed a card around for everyone one to sign, and had AJ ask the teacher to announce Laurel's birthday.


So the teacher started the class and said,
"well i was thinking about what we should do today and i decided to do something a little different. There is a very special birthday girl..."
Laurel(beginning to turn red): what?! who told him?
the teacher walks up to our corner
Teacher:"And today i would like to interview her and ask her how it feels to have a birthday..."
Laurel (now bright red and laughing hysterically)
Then the entire class (around 120 students) all sang happy birthday to her and i gave her the card, her favorite candy wrapped in quintessential college wrapping paper: the yellow pages, and a box of hostess cupcakes that i made from scratch.

It was awesome. i love it when people say "yes" and work together. its amazing what can happen.

i knew it meant a lot to her though because she was pretty bummed at the beginning of class but after everyone sang to her she told me thanks and "that was epic"


-Emily :)

New Hampshire Camping, and random site seeing

First campout on east side was in New Hampshire. It was absolutely beautiful. I had a blast canoeing the river and having sacrament the next day along the lake and forest. Some other sites we saw along the way was the Boston Temple, Minute Man-where the first shooting was heard in Lexington, and we also saw the Joseph Smith Birthplace in Vermont. (note: other gal in my pics was my tent buddy I met there. She was from Maine) There were so many spiders there though-literally 3-4 nasty spiders in tent each time we went in, that we ended up in the back of a car. That was one crammed night.

New York Area

Awesome pics of elk Dad! I didn't even hear about that. Connecticut has been a little hectic from finding a place to live to my school adding me back to a class after it has already been going for a month. Hope I can catch up! Well here goes, let's see if I can get some pics added to this. From Niagara Falls, to Palmyra Temple, Sacred Grove, and NYC!

Elk Hunt

Well, a successful hunt... a great elk and some delicious roasts for the freezer! David put this beauty down in Northern Arizona in mid September.

What are you people up to??

Hey there I am just wondering why Amanda or Emily haven't posted yet. I know you have taken some pictures of your new place Amanda and some of the East Coast. Lets see them! And how is school going for you two?

I also want to see a post w/pictures from Dad's hunt.

Jaime-Emma's birthday, Shane's pinata?

Love ya all!

Hope everyone is doing good! We are busy out here! Today is my only down day. Then the rest of the week is crazy! So I will probably not be talking, emailing, or blogging much.

As the sails slip out of sight.....

A message has been told about a ship sailing out of sight on the horizon and we are standing there watching it, longing for its passenger who has left us. The message goes on to remind us of others who are waiting beyond the horizon, anxiously watching and beginning to see the sails come into their sight. And that is how it is with this life. As our loved ones leave us here on earth, others are anxiously awaiting their arrival on the other side of the veil which separates us from this life and the next.

This week my dear father set sail away from us and I could imagine the sails of his ship slipping out of my sight. And at the same moment that I could no longer view the sails, I could visualize his parents and sisters and other dear ones standing on a far away shore watching anxiously for the first glimpse of those sails coming in to harbor ...safely home.

I miss Dad so much. I caught myself looking around the breakfast table this morning as the family sat eating at a nearby restraunt. I wanted to see how he was doing with all the chatter going on and thinking how hard it is for him to hear what people are saying. And then I rememered... he is not sitting with us....But....perhaps already he can hear perfectly. And if not now, then soon.... The promise of Jesus Christ's resurrection is powerful and great.... See Luke Chapter 24:36-53 (Be sure to read from the Original King James Version for the most correct translation available. This is an area which has become unclear and misleading in some modern translations and simplifications.) Here we read that the Savior was truly resurrected from the sepulchre and walked the road to Emmaus appearing with a body of flesh and bones (as he said he is not a spirit: he has flesh and bones which is a resurrected soul...that reunited body and spirit...not of blood which is corruptible but in a form which the apostles could actually see and feel), eats food, testifies of his divinity, and promises the Holy Ghost to his disciples to comfort, guide, and testify of Him that parted from them and ascended up to heaven. See John 20: 24-31 The disciples received the priviledge of seeing the resurrected Savior. Thomas, in his doubting, was given the privilege of seing His wounds and to thrust his finger into the Lord's side and hands. The bible gives us clear assurance of the everlasting plan of life.

During the last few days with Dad at home and then in the hospital, we had some cherished moments that will remain beautiful memories that offer strength and hope as we go on here without him near us. My brother Scott, his dear friend Sheila, my sister Donna, and myself (Wendy) were able to spend the night in his hospital room. We were able to stand at his bedside and hold his hand and pat his hair as we talked, and prayed, and sang, and wept. I will be forever greatful for the great gift we received as a visiting hospital chaplain offered a prayer with us at dad's bedside. As the pastor closed "amen," Dad instantly continued with a beautiful clear strong prayer of his own. He spoke with faith, directly to God with thankfulness and peace. As we all gave our amens, we knew that God's Holy Spirit was attending us. I know that God lives and hears and answers all our prayers and this was an incredible testimony building experience.

Well, it is late and much more could be said. But for now I will leave it with my love and prayers to my family and most especially to my own mother. Mom must now find the courage and the faith to carry on what she and Dad have spent years developing: family. Fifty-eight years of marriage seems like a lot, but it is just few steps along the pathway to eternity.
Remember yesterday, make today count, and reach for tomorrow.....
I love you,
Mom

maybe this will help

This Hatch Family Blog is being made in hopes that those who do not have a blog of their own or who may but still wish to post something to the Families blog can do so. Lisa and myself(Erin) are the only ones so far to try attempting blogging our selves. It is a lot of work to keep up with but worth it. I love to check out families and friends blogs. It is so neat to be able to see what they are up to and see pictures! So Happy Posting! And hope all is well with all of you back in the States!