Provo, Utah - What a Great Place To Be

Have I ever mentioned that I lived in the Celestial Kingdom of neighborhoods? We not only have AMAZING people living (and used to live) on our street, we are being watch out for! Let me expound.
Paul's cousin, Alan Bliss, just moved back in with us. He just finished Basic Training and is a MEAN, LEAN, FIGHTING MACHINE!!! We're very proud of him!
Yesterday at about 9:30 - 10:00 am-ish, he came home to find out garage door open. Not taking any chances, he took out his knife and searched the home for intruders. Finding no one there, he proceeded to dress for his next appointment. On his way out, he was pulled over by Provo Police and questioned. They told him that there was a report of someone carrying a knife and going through our home. When he explained the situation, they let him go. Paul just happen to be coming home from his monthly blood draw, when he saw 3 squad cars at our home. The police asked him for identification and explained the situation. He assured them that Alan was just protecting us and that it was all good!
After a good laugh, he asked who we should thank for the added security. They told him that the garbage men had reported it! WOW! Guardian angels are EVERYWHERE when you live in the Celestial Kingdom of neighborhoods!

Halloween 2009

I love Halloween! I love the opportunity for one day to pretend! I love the candy! I love the decorations! I love that we get to make fun of scary things! But mostly, I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE- the Trick-or-Treaters! Here are some of the highlights of the day!
First of all, my Cowboy and Indian, Haley and Graden! Look at that belt buckle! That IS the size of Texas!
Here are Carl and Ellie from Up! OK, it's JoRyan and Michelle. No, the costumes didn't come from DI, they came from OUR closets! (Mine and Paul) I don't know if I am proud or embarrassed!

Well, not everyone loves Halloween. Give it a couple of years and I'll be Ben will be like the rest of us. But as for this year, he HATED being a hot dog!

Here is Anna Bug and her beautiful mom, Chardell. She was so cute. She jumped and jumped! Then she'd share her candy and jump some more. She helped me with some of my Trick-or-Treaters. She made my evening!

Here was my midnight (OK, 10:00) surprise! Shalin, Marshall and friends. Marshall claimed that Shalin stole his costume. I don't know-he looks like he is having fun being an UGLY girl!

Tess and Adam not only came Trick-or-Treating, they came to visit the sick. Paul was in bed with the flu, so they went to the door and wished him well. It worked! He doing much better!

We All Miss Alec

They say when your pet acts up, they are not happy! Do you think Jack misses Alec? Yeah, that would be Jacks OWN bed that he ripped up!

But don't worry! He and Paul are really bonding!

Words to Live by Alec - He's There!

He is serving in Eureka, Montana. It's in the Northwest region of the state and is only about 10 miles from the Canadian border. His address is:
P.O. Box 1872
425 Koocanusa Estates Drive North
Eureka, Montana 59917

He wrote:
I just spent my first night in my place. It took 3 days to get here. I was the last person to get to my zone. Guess what! I'm the driver. My companion rolled a truck, so he can't drive anymore. When I was in Kalispell, we went tracting. The first person that answered said, "No thanks" and slammed the door. The next person was a member and so we went inside and talked for a while. The next person that opened th door was gay. He asked what the church thinks of gays and we said that marriage should be with a man and a woman. He said, "Ok" and shut the door. The next person was my first door that I did and the person who opened the door was a big guy with tats all over his arms, big earrings, and he looked mean. I said who I was and what we were doing there and he was super nice. He said that he didn't have time right then but we could come back sometime. I taught my first real lesson. It was to a 94 year old lady. She is a Great-Great Grandmother.
The first day that I was in Eureka, we got 2 new investigators and they both seem to like it a lot. They really want to learn more. The next day, we set up a baptism date with somebody. Last night, we set up another and tonight we plan on setting up one more. So far, the dates are 10/10 and 10/24.
People tell me that they feel bad for me because I am have the best companion and live in the best and most beautiful place in the mission (we are leading in baptisms right now), so it can only go downhill from here!
Did you know that if you wash your garments with jeans they turn blue?
Write back soon on paper because letters make me feel cool when I get them!

Love, Elder Alec Matthews
I sure miss him! But there is no where else that I would rather him be!

Words to Live by Alec-You're Going To Kill Me, But I Am Proud

Yeah! What would you think if you read those words from your missionary!?! That is what my last letter said. He said he would tell me in my next letter!

I thought, "He's not been sent home, so it wasn't immoral or illegal.

I don't know how he could have gotton fireworks into or out of the MTC, so we could rule that out.

He already told me he won and eating contest!

Today, he flew out to Montana, so he called us from the airport. That's when I got the story.

He said he was playing bloody knuckles and BROKE ELDER BROWN'S HAND!!!

OH MY GOSH!!!! I asked, "Didn't you get in trouble?" He said, "No, Elder Brown just told people he shut his hand in the door!"

What a way to start your mission!