24 January 2016

Hi everybody,
   Yes, I know, it's really the 25th...but I didn't get my letter written last night!  Went home teaching with Dad, then visited with Grandpa and Grandma, then came home and Trissa Howard was here visiting with Gran, so I visited with her too.  Next thing I knew, it was time for bed.  Then this morning I realize that I hadn't written. But I did get a wonderful note from Joseph. Thank you so much, Joseph!  He recommends the book Wonder...so that's two of us.  He also is readiing another book by the same author; it's called Auggie and Me.  I plan to get it soon. 
   Last week for FHE, Gran practiced her talk for us, then gave it at Sacrament meeting yesterday.  She told about their early married life and how they felt they had been prepared to accept the message the missionaries brought when they came to their home in 1959, in Franklin Tennessee, when I was just 1 year old.  Dad recorded it on his phone yesterday.  I hope there'll be someway we can share it with you. 
    Busy week at work, all the usual, plus an HCAHPS fair. That stands for Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems.  I was in charge of the SMART Discharge booth. There were 7 clinical booths, and about the same number of non-clinical booths.  We had a better turn out than I had expected. A lot of people really put hours of work into preparing for it; I just hope it will make a difference for the hospital.  Hospital patients often receive phone or mail surveys asking about their care and impressions of the facility they were in.  The results of these surveys effect the rate with which those facilities are reimbursed by medicare and medicaid.  It's all quite complicated, and I feel that our hospital is among the best; but that isn't always reflected in our survey scores; partly because of our size; we are only a 69 bed hospital. It doesn't take but a couple of unhappy people to skew the results for us. 
   Aimee and James, we'd like to hear how James' dad is doing? I know he's been in the hospital with a blood clot in his lung. Please let us know how things are going now.  And please let them know we are thinking of, and praying for them. 
    Well, it's time to get to work.  I hope you all have a great week. I hope to hear from some of you during the week.  It's always wonderful to hear how things are where you are! 
Love, Mom/Johanna/Nana

Hello everyone,

        Thanks so much for the emails Mom! We are always excited to read them.  

First thing from us is that we've got the dates set for our mini reunion here in Colorado. We have the Bezzant house the 24-26th of June.  Let us know as soon as possible if you'll be able to join us.  We'll work out the details like food and room assignments once we have a list of who can make it.  Additionally if any of you end up in town before or after those dates I'm sure we can figure out places for you to stay if needed so please don't let that stop you.  Also we'll be going up to Idaho for Dad's camp out and the 24th parade. 

This week is very exciting here, we're getting ready for the Pinewood Derby!  Joseph and I have been working on his car, and finished it today in time for the weigh in at the church tonight.  The race is actually on Friday night so we'll have to get back to you all with the results and pictures.  Joseph has his third indoor soccer game tomorrow night.  He really enjoys them and the games are very fun to watch.  They are played on an indoor artificial turf field.  The boundaries of the field are actually a wall just like an ice hockey rink so you can play the ball off the wall and the game only stops once for halftime.  They do line changes every few minutes just like in hockey so the kids are always running either on the field or getting ready to come back on.  It's a great way to keep in shape during the winter.  

Lynsey and I have been enjoying riding our bikes together.  We have a couple of cycling trainers and a TV set up in our garage so we've been able to keep riding through the coldest winter we've had here in a long time.  We've also gone to the local bike shop and done some big group training classes there.  It's a lot of fun riding in place with a big group, and the best part is they're free!  This weekend the weather is supposed to be nice so hopefully an outside ride will be possible.

I need some suggestions on how to get rid of the rabbits that live in our neighborhood.  I'd be fine with just shooting them, but I don't think our neighbors or the Littleton Police Department would approve.  I've never been a fan of them since they are great at killing our grass, but recently they have crossed a new line that I can't ignore.  I noticed a few weeks ago that the horn beep from my car when I lock the doors has not sounded quite normal.  Then when my washer fluid ran out and leaked onto the ground after I filled it up I new something must be wrong.  Turns out the wascally wabbits have been climbing up into my car looking for heat on these cold days.  I've had the lines and wires repaired and wrapped additional protection around them, but I still want some revenge!  I hope I can come up with a deterrent before the next cold snap.  Let me know if you have any tips.

So I've been wanting to give you all an update on our foster/adoption experience with Lillian.  The latest is that we are now officially certified and licensed as foster parents! This has been a very long process that was much more trying than we ever imagined when our friends approached us last year.  The other part of the update is that since Lilly's case has had to go through termination of her Mom's rights the foster system is required to consider other families for placement besides just us.  The matching team will be deciding on February 3rd whether she'll be placed with us or 3-4 other possible families.  This has been very hard for us to come to terms with since we started down this road thinking that we would be able to adopt her without any of these other hurdles to jump over.  Of all the families that are being considered we still think that ours will be the best place for her. Lilly has been very vocal and specific about wanting a family that is LDS, has other kids, and pets.  We are very hopeful and are trusting that whatever is decided will be the best thing for Lilly.  Our family and our good friends the Pollocks that she is currently living with will be focusing our fast this Sunday on the decision being what Heavenly Father has planned for all of us involved.  We would like to invite all of you to join us if you are able.

We will keep you all informed on what is decided next week.

Love to you all,

Ben, Lynsey, and Joseph

Sounds like a plan, Ben – we are planning on attending the reunion at the Bezzant house. We will also be coming out for the Kilgore campout as well. Maddie and Macy are super excited to see all the cousins!

Sam

Hello everyone,

Sorry I haven't replied in a while. 

Anyway, I always love reading Mom's emails and everyone's responses. I'll try to be better about responding, myself. 

We are all doing well. Aimee came to visit the weekend before last and it was SO much fun! I didn't take many pictures. Too busy having a good time, I guess. 

The kiddos are doing well. We are all getting excited for Kevin to come home in about 3 weeks ish. :D

I recently moved Luke and Shelby back into the same bedroom because they always ended up in the same room every night anyway. So now I have a guest room. I've always wanted one. And so... I now have a place for anyone who would like to come and visit... ;)

Well, there really isn't much else to report. I love you all so much and think of you every day. 

Oh, and Ben, we will join you in your fast. You'll all be in our prayers. 

Love,

~Heidi~

Hi Family!

I haven't written to all of you in such a long time!  And I love reading your emails!!  I'll try to do better.

Ben, we will for sure fast with you guys!  And thanks for letting us know the dates for the CO reunion.  I'm thinking we can do it, and will let you know for sure soon.  And we are planning on Dad's campout as well.  We won't be able to make it to the 24th stuff since Annie and Ellen have girls' camp July 19-22, but we'll be there for the campout!

I had a wonderful time at Heidi's house!  Super relaxing and fun!  We watched movies, wandered around Seattle and ate at a fun Moroccan restaurant, and just talked a lot.  And I realized that I didn't know Heidi as well as I thought I did, and I'm so grateful to know her better!  We have such amazing people in our family!!!  Well I already knew that. 

Life has been pretty normal for us lately.....

We did have a slight lice problem about a week before I went to Heidi's house.  But that is all done and over with!  It was our first time.  I usually try to keep maleluca oil in our shampoo and that has kept them away.  But I had not remembered to add it in quite some time, and the little buggers moved right in.  They are especially gross to look at under James' microscope.  Getting rid of them was not as big a nightmare as I had always imagined it would be though.  Whew!  I think we caught them pretty early.    

The kids finished the first semester of school last week.  Halfway done with the school year!  It's an exciting feeling!  And at the same time I feel like we are just now finally getting the hang of school and homework and all that jazz and know we will totally lose it over the summer.  Hopefully not all of it though! 

February is looking like a busy month for us.  All of our regular activities plus Noah will be playing Parks and Rec basketball.  And he is still really enjoying cub scouts.  His Pinewood Derby is tonight!  I'll let you know how it goes! 

I think that's it for now.  Lots and lots of love to all of you!

Aimee