HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Farah, Scott, Great Grandma Terrill, and Falyn, at Terrill Family Party

Madison Ciesla & Farah at Terill Party

Farah & Falyn at Terrill Party

Scott, Falyn, and Farah in San Juan Capistrano

Shelly, Misty Bowns, Thad Bowns, and Kelly Hansen at House Warming

Misty Bowns & Kelly Hansen at House Warming

Scott & Tim Nanstiel at Hal's COC

Shelly, LoraLee Nanstiel, and Stacey Murdock at Hal's COC

Lyndsie Wynn & Falyn, Best Friends... Home from College!

December was a wonderfully busy month, filled with friends and family... The first week of December, Dad Fortner came to visit. We went to Clovis for a house warming to celebrate Misty & Jon's new casa. Our family attended a "Change of Command" for our best friend Hal Murdock, good bye once again to Hal & Stacey; we wish them well at their new home in Pleasantview Utah! Scott & I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary. Scott turned the big 4-5; Falyn flew home from BYU-Idaho. Grandma & Poppy came to our home for Christmas. We drove to Monrovia for the Terrill Family Christmas party. Enjoyed a day at Laguna Beach and lunch in San Juan Capistrano. Then our car decided to fall apart... so we invaded Casa de Ciesla for three days trying to repair the Explorer. It was eventful going to junk yards searching for a steering column. Falyn said the high-light was riding the tracker through the junk yard, just like the tram at Disneyland... Happy New Year!!!

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas...

Yummmm... Breakfast, Christmas is here!

Scott loves clothes! LOL

Farah, it's all about the candy canes!

Farah with teen-itude

Poppy & Farah

Poppy, Farah, and Pugslee

Gingerbread House

Shelly

Poppy & Grandma

Farah & Poppy

Farah & Santa Pug

Oh, Christmas tree!

Farah & Falyn

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Falyn, Pugslee, Farah, and Wenzdae

Farah & Falyn

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All The Way, Oh, What Fun It Is To Go Shopping Everyday! Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Will This Ever Stop, I've Been Shopping All Week Long, And I'm About To Drop!

NAS LEMOORE

Navy Plaque Honoring the memory of Uncle Fred

Captain Hal C. Murdock conducting ceremony

Dad, Scott, Farah, and Captain Murdock

Today at 4:00 we attended a small ceremony at Hickey Park in Lemoore, CA to honor the memory of Uncle Fred. There is a model of the plane that Uncle Fred flew while in the Navy. Underneath the plane is a marker and plaque dedicated to his memory and service. The plane will be painted and restored, with Uncle Fred's name painted on the plane and his squadron, and logo. It is a great honor to be recognized, and Scott special requested the honor from our long time friend Captain Murdock.

Happy Thanksgiving 2008

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year at home with my parents. Falyn was home from college for the first time in three months, and it was great to see her and have her home for the week. Scott was on call, luckily he worked late morning, and made it home in time to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner! We have so many blessings and so many things to be thankful for...

Falyn & Scott

Falyn, Poppy, and Farah

Poppy (background) Falyn & Grandma

Farah & Poppy

Scott & Pugslee

HOW TO OBSERVE THANKSGIVING

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

~~Author Unknown.~~

G'day, mate!

Mom & Scott

Mom & Dee

Farah, Dee, Mom & Scott at Superior Dairy in Hanford

November 11, 2008 Mom and Dee came to visit us. They are preparing to leave next month to Sydney Australia, where they will serve as missionaries for our church for 18 months.

Young Women in Excellence

Farah with her rose from her evening of excellence

The Lemoore Young Women, Farah is the tall/cute one, in the back (middle)

October 22, 2008 Farah participated in our ward's "Young Women in Excellence" program. It is an annual program which spot lights each girl and her accomplishments in the Young Women's program. Farah was spotlighted for being in C.S.F. and Concert Choir in high school; also for playing the piano, clarinet, guitar and singing. Farah participated in the "Terra Bella Relief" fund raiser by selling tickets for a tri-tip dinner. She also gave service recently by canceling a sleep-over and a football game to baby-sit 20 hours for our first counselor's family while the mother delivered baby #5! Farah's Grandma & Poppy attended the program along with Scott & I. Farah sang during the program, and it was quite enjoyable.