6 Days!

On January 2, 2010 Elder Ben spoke in Church.  We had so many friends and family that came to support Ben.  We are so lucky to have so many people who are supportive and such examples to each of us!

 Aunt Linda, Uncle Allyn and Amy were able to come from Vegas!

 Doran, Missy, Olivia and Aunt Nita!  We were so happy they could come...they are always there for us and we love them so much!

Ben has always had such GREAT friends! 

 Ben and Scott have been best friends since they went to Pre-School together!  

Scott is now serving in the Colombia Bogota Mission!

Family Picures...

Kalvin wasn't too happy about being squished!

 Ben has always been Ethan's best friend!  Ethan made him a rock...that says "You Rock" on it and made sure Ben took it with him in his suitcase...along with some notes tucked away!

 Kalvin loved playing bubbles with Uncle Ben!

This was such a spiritual feast of a Sunday!  Ben did an amazing job expressing his unwavering Testimony of Jesus Christ!  He expressed his excitement to go teach the Chinese people in Arcadia California about the Gospel...

8 days!

Ben was at back at school and we were busy planning Brad and Cami's Wedding for the next couple of months.  Brad and Cami were married November 27th, 2010.  What a beautiful day.

Brad, James and all the brothers formed a band for the luncheon and the reception!  Seeing them all singing together is one of my favorite memories.

I am so grateful for my family...my sweet husband and my great boys!  I am blessed!

9 Days!

It is really hard to believe our Ben will be home from him mission in 9 days!  I didn't start this blog until he had been gone 6 months...so I really wanted to capture the beginning of his mission before he gets home.

Ben was at Utah State when his mission call arrived.  He thought he could wait for the weekend to come home to open it...but he couldn't!  We had some of his good friends and the family over to hear the great news.  We had the Vegas family on the phone!

With tears in his eyes...he read:  Elder Benjamin Dixon, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the California Arcadia Mission.  It is anticipated you will serve for a period of 24 months.  You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on January 5, 2011.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Mandarin Chinese language.

Everyone was cheering and excited when we heard Califonia Arcadia...and then when he read

Mandarin Chinese...it was crazy and loud!  Chinese?!!!!! Ben had taken Chinese for 2 years in high school and already had a love of the language... but over the next two years none of us had any idea how that love for the Chinese people would grow and become a part of him.

It is such a blessing to know the Lord sends his missionaries right to where they are supposed to be!

Thanksgiving!

We were able to go to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving this year!  Thanks so much to Linda and Allyn for being such amazing hosts...as usual!  We really appreciate you and your family and all you do for us!

Of course Linda put on an amazing spread of fabulous food!

This was Asa's first visit to Vegas and we loved introducing him to the family!

Meeting Grampa Jack!...Four Generations!

Meeting Grama and Grampa Dixon...Four Generations!

 Brad brought his "slackline" and set it up in the Schlauder's backyard...so fun!

The ultimate slackline family!

Teaching Amy...

 Asa is pretty much in love with her!

 On the way home...eating his sock, of course!

 I missed out on pictures of the wonderful food... and the rest of the family...but we had such a wonderful time.  We were able to Skype with Tyler and his family...their ward had Thanksgiving at the Church for all those in school...they had a great time (We sure missed them, though)

We are so grateful for wonderful family...we are blessed with the knowledge that 

Families are Forever!

My Favorite Year

No...this has not been my favorite year...except for two beautiful new Grandsons...

But...it is the name of Noah's new play that opens tonight!

"My Favorite Year"

Break a leg, Noah... and good luck, too!

 

 

So cool...

A couple of weeks ago I got the best phone call! "Is this Sister Dixon? My name is Cody from Glendale, CA...I just had to call and tell you how amazing your Missionary is! Elder Dixon has changed my life... he is the most awesome guy! I am 21 yrs old with no intention of serving a mission, then I met your son. He has been the best example and a dear friend. I have been out working with him regularly over the past couple of months, and now I am working on my Mission papers! Thanks for sharing him with me!" WOW! I know he is amazing...but it's awesome to hear it from someone he is working with right now!  Then Ben sent pictures of he and Cody... So cool!

Good Friends!

"A good friend is a connection to life. A tie to the past, a road to the future, a key to sanity in a totally insane world!"

Had a wonderful, much needed visit with some dear friends today...such a blessing!