Silver who?

I got a funny phone call today. Just to preface this: we get all sorts of pronunciations of our last name. Boos, Be-us, Boosie, you name it. But who would have thought that someone could mispronounce SILVER BUTTE HOLSTEINS????
Well, today I answered the phone and was asked, "Is this Silver Boo-tay Hol-stines?"

Silver BOO-TAY???? "Hol-stines"??? I laughed and laughed at the poor lady.

Merry Christmas!

Our Missionary

This nice picture was taken of Douglas and his dad before he entered the temple for the first time. Pretty handsome, don't you think? and the kid ain't bad either!

Happy New Year!

This will be a year of changes. We will have a missionary in the field, we will have Bethany home while she does her student teaching and Mike is flirting with the idea of moving out. Lots of changes, but lots of blessings.
Here is a sampling of Christmas day with the angel-babies...aka grandkids...all eight of them!
(and a daughter and grandpa thrown in)

Beth with Briggs
Grandpa with Eli

Johnny

the 3 amigos...Bellamie, Katelyn and Brooklyn

Cache and Cutter...the 2 banditos

You would think it would get easier.....

Last night I returned from Rexburg where I dropped Doug off for a short summer session. He drove Jeff and Joanna's car (wow, how generous can a brother and sister-in-law be?) and I followed behind in the trusty Suburban.

It was hard. Mom's just can't bear to hear, "I don't think I want to stay, Mom". No matter how much I know this experience will help him, it is still hard to muster a smile, encourage him on his new "adventure" and then drive away!

I cried most of the way home.

I was thinking about how I wished I could turn back the clock for just a day. I would be in the stands in the Melba High School gym and I would be watching one of the "big" kids playing basketball. Doug and Mark would be running between the concession stand and the gym, tripping referees, setting off fire alarms and just having fun. Beth and Mike would be sitting on the bench with John Hackler and I would be cheering for my Mustang! We would then hash the game over all the way home, have a bowl of ice cream and diss on the referees for a while before going to bed. All 8 kids under the same roof. Our roof. Man, those were the good ol' days! I don't think I appreciated those times enough!

But IF I could turn back the clock I would miss knowing my beautiful daughters-in-law, my awesome sons-in-law and my 8 amazing grandchildren. I would miss knowing my children as adults and loving the way they take care of their families and love the Lord.

This morning, just as I was missing Doug, Cutter came in the back door with a flower for me (some hay with the bloom still on). I was reminded that I still have lots of boys and girls to love and even though my own kids are leaving home and moving on, I am still loved and needed.

It is still hard.

State Tournament

Mark's basketball team qualified for the State Tournament by winning the District Championship. They had a great season, and stayed perfect in League play. (their only losses were to non-league teams) The boys started their State Tournament at Capital High School with a loss which put them in the consolation bracket. They won their next two games and received the Consolation trophy which is 4th place. Here are a few pictures of Mark and his teammates.

Family Reunion!

On Monday, March 2, all of Shane's brothers, sisters and their spouses got together at our house to celebrate his mom's 85th birthday. We sure had a great time together. We are so proud of each of them. These 6 kids have produced 39 grandchildren, 100-something great-grand children and 3 great-great grandchildren! I hope I am not boasting when I say that our family is the BEST!