Don't bite your fingernails!!!!!!

I don't know how many times I've told both of my kids.....quit biting your fingernails! What can I say? I have the same disgusting habit that both of my boys do. I bite my fingernails too. However, I don't munch them down quite as far as Rory and Kade do. This disgusting habit came and bit Kade back this week(pun intended).
Last Tuesday I received two phone calls from a number that I didn't recognize on my caller ID so I didn't answer the phone (I figured if someone needed me bad enough they would leave a message). A few minutes later my mom called and said, "Lisa you need to answer your phone. Kade is at the ER at the Utah Valley Hospital and he needs to talk to you about insurance information." Well, immediately you start to panic and it was actually about 15 minutes before he tried called back again. During that time all kinds of terrible thoughts about what could have happened to Kade that he was in the ER went through my mind.
This is what had happened. Apparently, two days after we left Kade at the MTC his hand started to swell up. He went and visited the Dr. in the MTC who gave him a prescription for antibiotic because he said Kade had infection in his hand. He told Kade take the pills for a couple of days and then come back and see him again. Well I guess on Tuesday morning when Kade woke up the swelling had moved clear up his arm into his bicep and the arm was covered with big red blotches. He said he went right into the Dr. and the Dr. said, "Elder Bell you and your companion need to be out in front of the MTC in 10 minutes. A van will take you to the Emergency Room. This infection has gotten out of hand and I can't treat it here." Kade and his companion spent about 3-4 hours one day in the ER where Kade received intravenous antibiotic for the infection. They then returned the next day for another round of intravenous treatment. In the meantime, I receive this phone call from Kade requesting insurance information for the hospital. It turns out Kade had bitten one of his fingernails down just a little bit too far and the finger had become infected. I remember now him telling me before we left for the MTC that his hand was sore but I honestly didn't even stop to check it out. I'm such a great mother :( I asked Kade on the phone......are you going to stop biting your fingernails now? He said yes so hopefully he has learned his lesson.
They took this photo of Kade's hands when we went to get his missionary photos taken. I didn't like the photo much because his fingernails looked so horrible. Who knew I'd be using it to illustrate my blog a few months later. Hahahaha!!!!!!

All About Elder Bell

Its official Kade is now Elder Bell....a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Brian and I took Kade to Kemmerer last Tuesday night so that President Deardon could set him apart. President Deardon did such a great job and gave Kade the most beautiful blessing. What a spiritual experience for us!
President Deardon and Elder Bell after being set apart
The next morning we woke up early in order to get Elder Bell to the MTC in Provo by 11:30. Rory and Abby were able to go with us. We stopped in Provo Canyon by the river to take a family photo of all of us. I don't think it turned out too bad for using the tripod and making the photographer (Brian) run back and forth to get into the picture with us.
Rory, Abby, Elder Bell, Lisa and Brian
We arrived at the MTC just a little bit early. They asked the Elders to take their luggage and store it before the orientation meeting. I snapped this shot of the current Elder Bell being lead through the ropes by the old Elder Bell.
Its great to have an older brother to help show you the way!
And finally, I was able to put Kade's missionary name tag on him! What an experience! This is a moment you pray for all of your life. You want your son to serve a mission. That name tag is special! You know that once your son puts it on he will never be the same little boy again. I thought to myself.....have I taught him enough? Is he ready for this? How am I going to get through the next two years without him? What could I have done different to make sure he was more prepared? Is this how the mothers of the stripling warriors felt as their sons went off to fight? This was truly one of those moments that I will remember forever.

Abby's Graduation

Our family traveled to Logan on May 2nd to attend Abby's graduation. She graduated with a B.S. in Sociology. Now we have two college graduates in our family to mess with the minds of the less educated in the family. Congrats Abby! We are proud of you!

And now you know the rest of the story........

Wow, I hadn't posted on my blog for about four weeks. Something in my life had to go.....and I guess it was the blog. So for those of you who want to know why I haven't posted for the past four weeks read on.

So long.....farewell...and I love my little village!!!!

I know we aren't supposed to call them "Missionary Farewell" anymore, but for lack of a better word, Kade and one of his friends, Matt Hutchinson had theirs this past Sunday. I don't remember having two farewells in the same ward since.....well probably since Kade's dad and Russell Thomson left on their missions in 1979. They split the Randolph Ward into two wards when Brian and Russell left and made Randolph 1st and 2nd ward. Brian was the first missionary to leave from Randolph 1st and Russell was the first missionary to leave from Randolph 2nd.
Anyway, Sunday was a great day!So many family members and friends coming to wish these two young men well as they leave for their missions. We had a lovely dinner at the town hall after sacrament meeting. Kade was able to visit with family members and friends that he won't see again for two years.
Thanks to all of his friends and family members for being such great examples to Kade through the years. I'm definitely not a Hilary Clinton fan at all....but I do have to agree with her on one thing.....it does take a village to raise a child.
I am so blessed to live in this community. Recently, when I was in Seattle, Abby's family was asking me about the little town I live in. When I told them how small it was one cousin asked me, "But doesn't everyone know everyone else's business?" Rory quickly remarked, "Oh yeah, I couldn't do anything wrong because my mom always knew about it when I got home." Hahahahaha I said yes my friends do know what is happening in my life, but you know what, we are all family in Woodruff. When something happens to one of us it happens to all of us. I know that no matter what happens in my life....good or bad.....I can call any one of my friends and get help and support in an instant. What a blessing it is to know that I have that many people behind me to buoy me up when I'm down or to celebrate with me when I'm happy. You have been there for me when one son was diagnosed with leukemia and you are still here for me as my youngest son leaves on his mission. I was overwhelmed with the out pouring of love that was shown to our family on Sunday. Please know that I love all of you and I'm very proud to tell anyone that I'm from Woodruff. It might be one of the coldest places temperature wise....but the people do have the biggest warmest hearts of anyone around.

Kade and the new Draper Temple

I have been asking Kade since he received his mission call in January which temple he wanted to go to for his endowment. He would always tell me St. George (just because that is close to where Baylee lives). I told him that really wasn't feasible because it was so far away. Finally, after watching the segment KSL did on the new Draper Temple after conference he decided he would like to go to the Draper Temple.
I called and made reservations to take him on April 17th. Because of the date we chose (a Friday morning....but I thought it was important for him to go before his farewell on April 19th) not many people were able to go with us. Brian and I and Grandpa Jack and Aunt Betty all made the trek down to attend with him. It was a beautiful day and a very emotional one for me. Aunt Betty made the remark that there were lots of family members that weren't there with him that day....but that she knew there were family members that were definitely there in spirit. I have to agree with her. I felt the presence of my Dad and Brian's mother there so strongly and I know they were so happy for Kade and the choices he has made in his life.
The Draper Temple is beautiful (just like all temples) and will always hold a special place in my heart as I'm sure it will in Kade's.

Total Knee Replacement

On April 3, my mom went in and had a total knee replacement done on her left knee. She has been in quite a bit of pain for several years now and finally decided she needed to do something to get rid of the pain. She decided to have the surgery done in Evanston because she had heard such great things about Dr. Olsen the orthopedic surgeon there. Everything went well and I have to say I was pretty impressed with the care she received from the Evanston hospital.

This isn't her knee. She would have killed me if I had actually taken a picture of it. However, this is just what it looked like....staples and all. She had a bruise on the side of her leg about the size of her head at first. I've never seen such a big bruise in my life. Laurie and I have taken turns staying with her since she had the surgery. However, she is doing well enough now that I think she can be on her own once again. I just hope that the new knee will take care of the pain she had before the surgery.