Leavell Wilderness Area

Sunday Church

2009-07-24T10:14:00.002-07:00

Church is not where worship happens but where worshipers gather.

Leavell Update

2009-07-13T09:32:00.002-07:00

It has been a while since we’ve posted, and really this site has not received the attention it deserves. We have been extremely busy lately and so we will fill you in on all the happenings of the Leavell household.

Yesterday, I resigned as Pastor of Berean Baptist in Ashton. This was not a surprise to our church family. We have been as open as possible with them about the situation. I think our church family is taking it better than I am. We will spare you all the details but we are leaving under excellent conditions. We do not want to go and the church does not want us to leave, but God has made His will plain. The church in Ashton has been wonderful to us and we love them dearly!

Ministry in a rural LDS community is extremely difficult; but with those difficulties, come enormous blessings. Yesterday, I tried to share those blessings with the church family and could not even get through my first point. Some of those blessings would include a love for truth, genuine Christian maturity, meaningful worship, and wonderful Christian fellowship.

After several months of being in contact with Grace Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ, I officially candidated at the end of June. On July 1, they voted unanimously to call me as their Pastor. We will be starting the first Sunday in September. We are excited about the ministry there and God’s working in the church.

Ministering in the Valley of the Sun with over 4 million people will be quite an adjustment from our community of around 1,500. However, people are still people, and God is still God.

Please pray for the sale of our house in Ashton.
Also, please pray for the ministry in Ashton and Tempe.

Blog for the Website

2009-04-01T10:57:00.002-07:00

This last week I forfeited a night of sleep and added a new blog to www.leavellphoto.com. You know it is bad when you start dreaming in HTML and CSS.

One cool feature I learned was how to place a picture in a blog and have it link back to the website.

Click on this picture to see.

Passing the Winter

2009-01-26T16:14:00.005-07:00

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T16:54:00.006-07:00

Dear Friends and Family

We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Chris has been preaching through Romans and to think that this little child who came, was here for one purpose: to pay the penalty for sin. What wondrous love of God the Father. This truly is the greatest gift.

We are settling in for another long winter and already have a lot of snow. Last winter seemed brutal: the worst part was not being able to go anywhere for three of four days at a time. The kids loved going out and playing in the snow, and since we live at the end of the street, the city piles all the snow from our street in front of our house, and the kids can sled down it. The last of the snow finally melted on May 14. So here we sit, with a long winter ahead of us.

This year was another uneventful year, for which we are thankful. With gas prices so high, we did not make any long family trips, and kept mainly to home and Idaho Falls to see Grandma and Grandpa Scott, which the kids love to do.

The kids are growing like weeds. It seems as if every month they come to me and want me to measure them on our wall, and every time, it seems as if they grow. I keep seeing the marks get closer and closer to mine. In a few years, I will be the shortest one in the family. I’ll treasure the time between then and now.

Josie turned 6 on December 16. She is doing first grade work in homeschool and is very imaginative and creative. She loves to play the piano, sing and draw/paint/color. She wants to learn to play the flute, but I want her to have a least a year of piano lessons before we start her on a band instrument. This last summer, she played soccer and had a lot of fun. Josie is full of life and enjoys everything to the fullest. She is joy to all those around her.
Scott is 4 ½. He is in the tough spot of being between two sisters. Josie loves to pick on him, like any big sister does, and Colette loves to take the toy he is playing with and run away. He is all boy. He loves trains, planes, cars, and trucks and anything with wheels or wings. His favorite is to go outside and help daddy with yard work. He will use his little mower and trail Chris while he mows the whole yard. It is the sweetest thing. Now he helps daddy shovel snow.

Colette just turned 2 in September. With that, have come a few phrases that she especially loves to say: “Mine”, “Where’s mine?”, “That’s mine”, “No, mine.” This does not sit well with brother and sister (or Mommy and Daddy). We will survive. Colette loves to make people laugh and makes lots of silly faces. She has no fear of heights and will do anything her brother and sister do, especially when it comes to climbing.

Josie and Colette both love to wear dresses and look like princesses. Scott is very sweet and says they look pretty.

I am still giving piano/voice lessons when weather permits. I keep my days busy with teaching, housework, mediating fights, and teaching S.S. I do manage to find time for Sudoku, reading, and the occasional sewing.

Chris is still working on his photography. This last year, an ad agency used one of his photos for their client Subaru, in an ad they ran in USA Today. They purchased additional use of the photo for worldwide campaign. Chris also won “Best of Show” at the Eastern Idaho Photographic Society’s annual judged show. There have been a few opportunities. He has a website for selling some of his pictures.

Mostly, Chris is busy with ministry. December 1st, marked our fifth year of ministry here in Ashton. We look back and see how God has challenged us and the ministry. We are truly thankful for the opportunity God has given us to serve here. We can say with all our hearts that we have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

We think of each of you often and you are all in our prayers.

May the Lord give you grace this Christmas,

Love,
Michelle

Handel Visits Idaho

2008-11-17T19:41:00.005-07:00

This past Sunday night, Michelle and I were able to take Josie to Anam Cara perform Georg F. Handel's great "Dixit Dominus". It was composed in 1707 when Handel was 22 and was his first great work. It is based on Psalm 110

The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."
The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.
The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.
He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries.
He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.

We love the music of Handel, Chopin, Bach and listen to them often, but it was special to hear this performed live. Wonderful!!!

One of the greatest challenges I personally face as a Christian living in such a beautiful place, is that I am daily confronted with the work of a great and majestic God. I stand in the pulpit each Sunday and proclaim that I believe and have my faith in this great and wonderful creator. I am continually reminded through God's creation of what that confession demands. How is my confession reflected in my daily life and in my worship?

Each Sunday at sunrise, I take a short drive outside of Ashton on my way to turn on the heat at our church building. Oh, the amazing sights that I have seen as I watch the sun rise behind the Tetons or beautiful crisp breezes blowing off early morning fog on the Henry's Fork river. This is the work of the hands of the great God we gather to worship each Sunday. What great works, elaborate harmonies, from gifted musicians this God deserves. I have never heard with my longing ears worship worthy of our Saviour. Handel's "Dixit Dominus" is close and it makes me long for, with all my being, that day when all the hosts of heaven lift their voices to the Lamb and Him who sits on the thrown. I LONG for that day.

So when our small church fellowship gathers on Sunday morning and I have finished with my Sunday morning drive, people will probably not hear Handel or Bach but I hope they will hear worship through song and prayer offered in deep humility, reverence and godly fear, along with great Joy for the privilege that God has given us through His Son Jesus Christ to sing His praises as a church family each Sunday. It is also why there are tears of joy in our eyes as we sing songs like...

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
by Charles Wesley

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your savior come,
and leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
shall feel your sins forgiven;
anticipate your heaven below,
and own that love is heaven.

2008-11-01T22:18:00.001-07:00

"The true province of landscape art is the work of God in the visible creation, independent of man"

Asher Brown Durand

Farnum Cemetery

2008-10-13T15:36:00.002-07:00

Several Sundays ago, Ellis mentioned going to find a cemetery he had heard about near Drummond. Ellis is the mayor of Drummond Idaho.

Conant Creek
Neither of us knew the name of the cemetery nor the exact location, but we decided to try to find it. After a short search, we found it off of Old Hog Hallow Road. The road to the cemetery had long been plowed under, and the cemetery itself, sits on top of a hill, surrounded by plowed under grain fields, overlooking the valley. The cemetery turned out to be Farnum Cemetery with only a handful of gravestones dating from 1906 - 1950’s and looks to not have been maintained for many years.

One message on a gravestone caught our eye. It was from a woman born in 1842 and died in the early 1900’s.

Remember me

as you pass by.

As you are now

so once was I.

As I am now

so you may be.

Prepare for death

and follow me.

This saying was a common poem placed of grave stones throughout the old west. It is a sober reminder of

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

I also thought it was interesting that all of the other times I have seen this poem on grave stones it has read “As I am now so you must (or shall) be” rather than “As I am now so you may be“. I can’t help but wonder if this change is a reference to…

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Either way it is a timely reminder of eternity and the reality that we must all face.

Also: check out our new church blog.

Fall has Arrived

2008-09-29T20:00:00.003-07:00

Fall has arrived here in Ashton. We are enjoying a warm fall this year.

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."
C.S. Lewis

Busy Summer

2008-09-10T08:38:00.003-07:00

We have had a busy summer this year.
Fall in is the air with snow already on the Tetons.

Moon throught Aspens

2008-07-17T10:39:00.005-07:00

We enjoyed having the New Life team with us and had the opportunity to take them to Mesa Falls and Yellowstone Park. Word of advice... Don't invite a team of college students to stay with you the same week you turn thirty. Wow do I feel old! Where has the last ten years gone?
Lets see...
I started my twenty's in Zambia, Africa overlooking Victoria Falls.
The next summer I met Michelle and did an internship in Washington.
The next summer we were married and the following summer moved to Arizona.
Josie was born in December and the following December we started here in Ashton.
Scott was born in June and we moved into our first house a year later. Colette was born the following September and here we are... Life comes fast and it goes fast too.

Thanks New Life for a great two days! I never knew we could learn so much about roasting marshmallows from a bunch of Midwesterners.

Invitation: “New Life” Comes to Ashton, Idaho

2008-07-08T10:48:00.002-07:00

We are excited to have the team "New Life" minister in song and testimony at 7:00 pm on Friday, July 11, at the Ashton City Park. Michelle traveled on this team when she was in college and has fond memories of her time as a "New Lifer." As they leave, I will have to hold back Michelle from taking off with the group to tour the country. I'll have to remind her that she has a husband and three children to take care of now. It will be hard enough to get her to not sing during the concert.

If you are free Friday evening, please come.

Upgrade

2008-06-30T08:53:00.003-07:00

Over the last few months the need to upgrade my camera equipment has become more apparent.
I am a firm believer that cameras don’t take nice pictures, photographers do, and that the quality of the camera is not as important as the skill of the photographer. Even though this is all true, I have been pushing the capabilities of my Panasonic DMC-FZ7 point-and-shoot for some time now.

Thanks to the stimulus check from Pres. Bush, I was able to upgrade my camera. After months of research I decided to go with the Nikon D80 body with the Tamron 2.8 17-50 lens. It did not take much research to realize I wanted to avoid the kit lenses and go for more fast glass. The other lens that I am getting with the D80 is the Nikon 50mm 1.8 (the nifty fifty).

Here are a few of the first images from the D80.

Clarity not Craftiness

2008-06-25T09:37:00.001-07:00

2 Corinthians 4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

This verse cuts to the heart of the church growth movement in all its forms and manifestations. Many Christians try to package, dress up, or tweak the gospel in order for the gospel itself to be more effective or attractive. So much of modern Christian thinking is devoted to packaging of the gospel rather than the gospel itself.

Our job as Christians is not craftiness but clearly articulating the gospel to those who are perishing. The goal of craftiness is seeing people accept the message while the goal of clarity is seeing people understand the message. Craftiness trusts in the presentation of the message to win converts while clarity trusts in the clear message itself to transform lives.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech

Clarity is no easy task. First we must be committed to a complete understanding of the gospel. We must understand justification, propitiation, sanctification, redemption, etc. This means that we must be committed to doctrine. How can we clearly articulate to a dying world something we ourselves do not understand? After we understand the fundamental truths of salvation, we can begin the arduous task of clearly articulating that truth to the world.

Clarity is hard work! People are bombarded with false views of religions that distort the very definitions of the words used to convey the gospel. False teachers and false prophets have had two thousand years to distort and corrupt the clear teachings of the gospel. It is lunacy and the epitome of arrogance to think that through our own craftiness we can shine light into spiritual darkness. It is only the power of God through the gospel that breaks through to the hearts of men.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

To the Mountains

2008-05-27T15:11:00.002-07:00

Sunday night we took a quick drive East of Ashton to relax after a busy day. It was a beautiful evening with everything growing from the rain we have had all week. The elk are starting to move back to the mountains now that the snow is melting at the higher elevations.

Sunday was our last day in our Sunday morning study of II Corinthians. One verse that has stuck with me through the entire book is 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?"

The gravity of the ministry God has called His people to and privilege God has bestowed on us to bare the good news of the gospel causes us to echo Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 4:1 "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."

With the long difficult winter we had, this was God's message for our church. We needed to be consumed with the message itself not with the delivering of it. This is the heart of a Godly leader as demonstrated by Paul.

The book of II Corinthians concludes with a trinitarian benediction focusing on redemption.
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

This summer I want to be consumed with the love of God, the grace I have received because of Jesus Christ, and the communion I have with God and other believers through the Holy Spirit.

Family Update in Pictures

2008-05-06T12:19:00.004-07:00

Here is the latest news...

The Adventure Buick just passed 200,000 miles.
Yesterday we took a day off and went to Ennis Montana. We stopped at the local park and watched the Ennis National Fish Hatchery stock the local pond with some BIG trout.
We then went to Virginia City Montana.
And here is a picture of Josie. She is growing up so fast!
April was an extremely busy month. We are thankful that the snow is about melted and spring has finally arrived.

Spring is Here!

2008-03-29T20:20:00.004-07:00

Not really....

This is what we woke up to this morning. We are now entering the clinically insane phase of our cabin fever. The entire town of Ashton is suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Here are the symptoms...
Extreme fatigue (me)
Oversleeping (me)
Not being able to get out of bed (Michelle)
Overeating (me)
Carbohydrate cravings and weight gain (the local grocery is almost out of salt and vinegar potato chips)
Depression (I don't want to talk about it)
Loss of interest in activities (like there are any activities this time of year)
Trouble concentrating (Now I am the one falling asleep while I am preaching)
I did get out today to get some pictures of the fresh snow.
The wildlife have had a tough time this winter. The two blizzards we had this week have not helped. Everyone hopes spring comes soon.

Evening Contemplation

2008-03-17T21:00:00.004-07:00

Tonight Michelle and I were thinking of how much God has blessed us. If you know either of us, you will know that both Michelle and I have a deep passion for beauty in music and beauty in God's creation. Both can wondrously give definition to God's great glory and majesty. Although God has not given us much for earthly possessions, He has provided for our enjoyment a new surround sound system from Michelle's brother, Paul (thanks Paul, you're the best). He has also provided the Tetons out our front door as an ever present reminder of His great might and power. We feel truly blessed!

Tonight we are listening to Chloe Agnew sing "Panis Angelicus". Michelle sang this song at her senior recital in college, however, she sang them with an English translation, which tonight is our prayer.

O Lord Most Holy
(Panis Angelicus)
by Cesar Franck

O Lord most holy
O Lord almighty
Father compassionate
We bring to thee our praise

Help us to know thee
Know thee and love thee
Father, Father grant us thy truth and grace
Father, Father guide us and defend us.

Rule in our willful hearts,
Guide thou our wand'ring thoughts.
In all our sorrows let us find our rest in thee.

And in temptations hour,
Save by thy mighty power
Thy help send us; Hear us in Mercy
Show thy favor, so we live and sing praise to thee!

Christopher Leavell Photography

2008-02-22T14:37:00.005-07:00

I would like to introduce a project I have been working on for the last few months.

www.leavellphoto.com

God has truly blessed us with living in one of the most beautiful areas in the world. I have truly enjoyed taking pictures of God’s beautiful creation and sharing them with everyone on Leavell Wilderness Area and other blogs. This last year, Michelle and I decided we would try to make some of these images available for various companies and organizations for advertizing, and are now making them available for individuals to purchase.

I wanted to just give the pictures away to anyone who wanted them, but Michelle has this thing about wanting to pay bills and feed the kids. No pressure :) I hope you enjoy browsing through the photographs I’ve put in my galleries. I will be adding more pictures as time allows.

Just a note, we are making these images available for churches and other ministry and religious organizations on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to use any images for a church, religious organization or ministry please send your information and request to chris@leavellphoto.com.

We are excited to get this project off the ground. Please share your comments and thoughts. Enjoy!

Chris

Our Beloved Saviour

2008-02-18T21:59:00.004-07:00

2 Corinthians 11:2b. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

This passage has been the meditation of my heart for the last few weeks.

What a challenge. What a privilege. What a day that will be.

Always, at the end of winter everything begins to look old. The snow is beginning to get dirty and weariness characterizes all of nature. Everything looks to spring.

 The Church's One Foundation
Samuel J. Stone

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against both foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song!

’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee:
There, past the border mountains,
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
Forever shall abide!

Moose on the Loose

2008-02-05T10:15:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Michelle and I were helping one of Michelle's voice students get her truck out of the snow drift that blocked the street to our house. After we finally got her heading down the road we started to head back to our house and noticed a moose running down the street towards us.

After getting the camera I found the moose hanging out in someone's yard.
Later that night....
No, we did not eat the moose but we did grill out last night. We don't let winter keep us from having fun.

All the snow has been hard on the animals this year. I don't think this will be the last time we see wildlife in town.

Winter Fun "Wish you were here"

2008-01-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

So far, 2008 has consisted of shoveling snow, clearing ice and snow off of cars and shoveling more snow. Just a quick trip to the post office entails shoveling the sidewalks to the car and clearing enough ice and snow off the windshield to barely see out. Then after 30 minutes shoveling, getting the car stuck just outside of our parking lot and running inside to get Michelle to help me push while the three kids watch from the front window, I finally make it the six blocks to the post office to pick up the bills. Nice! Today I decided to just walk to the post office and ended up hitching a ride with neighbor.

We have had some good snow this year.

Here is a picture of the house...

And what we are dreaming of.

Year End Totals 2007

2008-01-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

Its time once again to give my year end totals for the dent I have put in the local wildlife here in Eastern, Idaho and inter-mountain region.

1 Sage Hen (I have really enjoyed bird hunting)
2 Mallard Ducks
1 Lake Trout
2 Cutthroat Trout
Countless Rainbow Trout and Rainbow/Cutthroat Hybrid (Cutbow) Trout

This was not one of my banner years for hunting but did alright fishing.
Like last year, I had wonderful fellowship with the different guys I hunted and fished with.
I’m thankful again for the time with God’s people in His creation.

Christmas Morning

2007-12-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

After several days of snow we woke up to the sun coming up behind the Tetons on Christmas morning.

2007 Christmas Letter

2007-12-25T15:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family, December 2007

This year was the first year in our marriage that we did not have some major life change. That does not mean, however, that we did not keep ourselves busy. We managed for fill up our year with company, travel and enjoying the country God has placed us in. Here are some of the highlights from our year.

In March, we were able to go to California for a Pastors Conference. We enjoyed the sunshine after spending the long winter inside. We were able to see Chris’ Aunt and Uncle and cousin and spend some time with Paul. The kids had fun seeing the ocean for the first time. We took home some seashells and great memories.

We took several trips to Boise this year. Once in May for Peter’s graduation from BSU and another in July to see Joe and Rebekah, who made a brief visit before their move to California. We made one more trip for Thanksgiving. It is good to visit Chris’ family and celebrate with them. So much to celebrate!!

In August, we took a quick trip to Iowa so that Chris could take a seminary module at Faith. It was a short trip, but we were able to take the kids to Adventureland and the Iowa State Fair. It was fun to see these two places through the kid’s eyes.

Our home was visited by family and friends this year as well as several missionaries that shared their ministries with our church. Besides our parents, Pete and Tonya stopped in and in June, some friends from Iowa, Shelby, Joel and Isaac visited. We had fun showing them Ashton and the surrounding areas, although I’m afraid they didn’t get much rest. Paul came in October, when he helped my parents move.

Josie turned five in December. It’s is hard to believe that our little girl is learning to read. Scott is three and having lots of fun with his trains. He and Grandpa Scott love to watch train videos. Colette had her first birthday in September. She is in the exploratory stage and, wow, does she like to explore. It’s nice to have two extra set of eyes to “tattle” if she gets into anything. They are looking forward to lots of snow to build snowmen and make snowangels.

When my school job ended in May, Chris got a job at a local hotel working two nights a week. He worked all summer and into the fall. The Lord has blessed our church people and they have in turn been able to raise Chris’ salary. That enabled him to quit his second job. We praise the Lord for that. He has also had some opportunities with his photography. He signed a contract with a local photography company for some of his images and is the president of the Eastern Idaho Photographic Society . We are very excited. Chris also is continuing to volunteer for the Ashton EMS.

I did not go back to work at the school this year, although I still sub every once in a while. I am enjoying staying home with the kids and trying my hand at home-school. I still give private music lessons and have 7 students. I have five more who will start soon. The biggest news is that my parents moved to Idaho Falls, which is about 45 miles south of Ashton. It is wonderful to have them so close. It gives us an excuse to get out of town when we get cabin fever.

We truly wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Love,

Chris, Michelle, Josie, Scott and Colette
Bye....