May News

Andrew:
Howdy ya’ll,
Things are warming up pretty good here in Saint George. We have been on a few hikes this spring. During March we hiked the Grand Canyon to a place called Vacies paradise. It’s a spring that gushes right out from the canyon wall. Then just last weekend we hiked to Havasupai canyon in the Grand Canyon. We jumped through waterfalls, went cliff diving, and forged rivers. This weekend we had fathers and sons in crawdad canyon. We caught over 100 crawdads, boiled them and ate ‘em.
I’m starting on my Eagle Scout project; I’m going to assemble bleachers for our stake center’s ball-field. I hope to get it done for our stake softball tournament this fall. School is almost over, (2 weeks left) and we want to spend as much time as possible with Lindsey before she leaves. I’m very excited for the family reunion and hope to see ya’ll there!

Dawson:
Hello Flakes, this is Dawson speaking. Schools almost out which is always a good thing. We’ve been taking A.P tests and end of levels the last week or so and my brain is about fried by now, but the suffering junior year is coming to an end and hopefully my senior year will be a breeze. I’ve made the decision to switch over from Pine View High School to go to the new, gunrooms high school, Desert Hills. That’s where many of my friends are going and it’s closer to my house not to mention it has a sand volley ball court on campusJ
Other than schooling, me and Andrew have had the pleasure of chilling with Darrel the past month. When he’s not being employed by my dad, and me and Andrew have finished our homework, we enjoy spending our leisure time in the front yard taking turns throwing various fruits and vegetable at the other while that person fends off the flying projectiles with Darrel’s 6 foot long medieval sword. I don’t know where he got it, but it is awesome. It easily cut a hurled coconut cleanly in half.
We, being my family minus Danielle and Steve plus Darrel and also Lindsey’s friend that’s a boy Eric, also had the opportunity to go on a really fun hike near the Grand Canyon called Havasupai. We had tons of fun jumping off waterfalls, trying to do back flips off rope swings, and just enjoying the beautiful turquoise river and green surroundings oddly placed in the middle of the Arizona Desert. On the way home we tried to contact Justin in Vegas but, after trying a few numbers and checking a couple of churches we saw off the freeway, we had no luck.
I’m excited that Lindsey chose to go on a mission, and I just hope that I will be able to see her before I leave on my mission in a year and a half because the transition will be close. Well that’s pretty much what’s been goin on in my life in sunny St. George, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the reunion,
P.S, go Jazz

Lindsey:
Dearest Family,
How does a Canadian spell Canada? (Say this out loud) C eh N eh D eh! Ha Ha. Funny Eh? Ok. I’m done. I’m going to Vancouver! Voted as one of the top three best cities to live for quality of life in the world. I was ready to rough it in the jungle some where and this is what I get! Wow! The only thing I am sad about going on a mission is missing the family reunions. It kind of depresses me thinking about it. I hope you all think about me while you have fun together. Oh well! Sacrifice brings forth the blessings! I am going on a mission! Who would have thought! It makes me happy to know that there will be other Flakes out there serving at the same time. How neat! I feel a little inadequate at times but I have been studying the scriptures and Preach My Gospel a lot and I know that the Lord will help me know what to do and say to help bring His children into His fold. I hope my mom does not put too many embarrassing pictures of me in this letter!
I have been very happy this last month living at home. It was hard saying goodbye to all my friends in Provo but everyone has to move on sometime. Anyway it’s been great going on adventures with my family and Darrell. We have hiked Angels Landing and Havasupi, and we went canoeing at Sand Hollow Reservoir. Also Darrell came with me and some of my friends boating and it took him forever to get up on the wake board but he finally did and then there was no stopping him! He is a natural. Speaking of which… he is a natural at dating too! I may take after the Troyer girls in that I enjoy setting people up on blind dates! He did not do too badly for his first time off the mission, but shaking hands at the door after the date is a little funny!
BYU was so fun! I learned so much. I am majoring in dance education so it’s not that hard. I took a marriage prep class while attending and received an A grade so when I get home off the mission I will be already to get hitched! Ha Ha! How cliché! Anyway I just went through the temple the first time! What a blessing. My dad lost his temple recommend but luckily they were able to call the bishop in time to make it in. Lucky! Well… that’s about it. If I go any longer I may lose your attention. Thanks for your support in advance if you write me. It will be much appreciated.

Danielle:
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce
If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." - Abraham Lincoln
Steve, my parents, and I were able to go check out Portland a couple weeks ago! We learned our way around the City a lot better and got to check out a lot of different apartments trying to find out where we want to live come August. Steve's school, OHSU, is really neat up on the hill overlooking downtown. We walked around the school and hospital and rode the sky tram down the hill.
We also got to check out the Oregon coast line, so beautiful! We found an awesome beach with tons of sand and a huge sand hill. We also went to Multnomah Falls and hiked up to the top of the falls.
Our hotel was like 3 blocks from the Temple in Lake Oswego! The temple is gorgeous, and the flowers, wow! It was a very fun and successful trip! Oh, and we were very lucky! It only rained like the first five minutes we were in Portland! And it kept getting warmer each day, lots of sun! Also, we got to meet up with Hal and Desi and also Alisha, Scott, and Ayva for dinner! They live just over the river in Vancouver, WA. I am grateful for my wonderful parents helping us a lot too! We had a lot of fun!!
We’re going to a BYU baseball game today with Steve’s Family. We’ve been enjoying the weather that is finally deciding to warm up! Congrats on your mission call Lindsey! It will be the time of your life!
We love you!

Shelly:
Happy May!
May is a happy month. It means that there are May flowers, that school is out soon, and that Mikayla, Morgan, Cathy, Jerry, Martha and I have birthdays! Happy Birthday to each of you! This has been fun to do the newsletter but a little difficult getting all of you to send us a letter. Darrell does a good job in his letter telling you to get with it and make sure that you write every month.
Congratulations to Ryan on his High School Graduation! We couldn’t think of any one else who is graduating this year. But congrats to all who are moving on to the next grade and those who have completed another year of college! I guess that Ryan will be sending in his mission papers next. Exciting times…
I think that the kids have filled you in on what we have been doing. We had a nice time in Portland with Steve and Danielle and enjoyed meeting Hal and Desi and Scott and Alisha for dinner. Danielle and Steve will be moving to Portland in August. We hope that Darrell will move back with us and attend Dixie College because we will be lonely without Danielle and Lindsey around.
I had a wonderful Mother’s day today and the kids fed me well and Lindsey gave me my annual pedicure and painted my toenails pink. I even got an Ipod so I can keep up with the kids. (or at least I can try)
We are happy with Lindsey’s decision to serve a mission. We will miss her immensely but we are excited for the blessings that will come to her and to our family. She is preparing well and will take her energy into the field with her and have a fun time sharing the gospel message with others.
She and a friend were able to attend church with the Supai Indian people in the village at Havasupai on Sunday. She gave a prayer and shared her testimony and then was able to enjoy a break-the-fast potluck luncheon with the saints and tourist. She got to eat Supai Tacos and she contributed packages of fruit snacks for her part of the pot luck. These people were so far removed from the world that they didn’t know that conference was held at the Conference Center and they weren’t sure who the new prophet is. Lindsey helped set them straight. The only way out of the canyon is to hike 10 miles, ride horseback or ride in a helicopter; so these people don’t get out much!
Anyway, thanks to everyone who took the time to write and remember next month the letters go to Julie. We can’t wait to see you all in July. Have a fun summer and stay cool.

Dan:
Hi , Family
Dawson , Andrew and I just got back from our ward Fathers & Sons outing. The bishop asked me to find a spot this year so I booked us at a campground with a pool, bathrooms and a poolside restaurant . How lazy is that , maybe next year we will try a resort hotel. We camped by a stream with lots of big crawdads. The kids caught, boiled and ate a couple of pots full. Everyone had a great time.
Our family loves to hike and camp, so this spring we have hiked down the Grand Canyon twice. Fortunately we have had beautiful spring weather to enjoy. We have really enjoyed having Darrell with us the last few weeks. He is a great example for Dawson and Andrew of what a mission can do to refine a mans character. He was also a great help to me in getting caught up with my work. You folks in Tennessee are going to enjoy having him with you this summer, but remember he is planning on coming back here in the fall to start school at Dixie.
Lindsey is about ready to take off on another adventure in her life. Its amazing to me how much she has squeezed into the last few years. She is just determined to fit it all in and not miss out on a thing. She will make a great missionary in Vancouver B.C. and we are very excited for her to have this wonderful experience. She is well prepared and will make a big difference in the lives of many people. She has always been the most stubborn one in our family. When she sets her mind-- that’s the way it’s going to be. Shelly and I are so grateful that at an early age Lindsey became determined to live her life in a way that would please her Father in Heaven and in turn bring happiness into her life. We are very proud of her and know that she will continue to be blessed with happiness as she serves as a missionary in Canada.
We are looking forward to the reunion , and hope that everyone else can make it this year. See ya there!

Havasupai!

To see more pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/darrellflake/HavasupaiToShare

April News

Hi everyone,
Utah is having a crazy spring. I don’t know about the rest of you but it snowed today, April 16, in northern Utah. Dan, Darrell and Jonathon spent a cold, windy few days pouring a boat ramp that was supposed to be a warm, fun camping trip. They had to buy goggles to work in because the wind and dirt were blowing so badly and get a motel instead of camping because it was so cold and windy. Oh, well. Better luck next time.
We’ve enjoyed having Darrell back and around. He looks just the same. His family is sure glad to have him back. He will report his mission, or I guess just speak in church on Sunday the 20th. He has been looking for a car and wanting to make a road trip through Las Vegas to maybe see a certain Elder Griffy and on to Southern CA to maybe see an Elder Flake. Actually, Dan may have him go that way to a walk through on a bid that Dan wants to see about. I know that he’ll be anxious to get back to see all the TN folks, too.
We enjoyed getting together for Tennessee Tacos on Sunday with Art, Apryl, Aaron, Lindsey, Suttners and Darrell, Jonathon, Jeremiah and Monson who are down here on Spring break. The boys always have a great time together and they sure are growing.
Lindsey and Danielle are taking finals this week at BYU. Then Lindsey will move back home on April 23 so she can prepare for her mission to
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
She is very excited and will enter the MTC on June 4. We will really enjoy having her here with us while she prepares. Then I guess that Ryan is next. We love the blessings that having such great missionaries and examples bring to all of our lives.
I was thrilled when Ma Flake told me last week that she is better! She didn’t say that she was feeling better; it was that she is better. That is wonderful news. We all look forward to seeing her and you all in July. The reunion sounds fabulous. We hope that everyone can make it.
We enjoyed talking to most of you or at least your answering machines when we called with the news of Lindsey’s mission call. You are always a great support to our family.
Mom says to let you know that the next edition of the newsletter in May will be Lindsey’s missionary edition. Please send memories, crazy pictures, or advice to Lindsey. Dan and I will be doing the May edition, so send them our way and please email just a little news about your families. We miss hearing from everyone.
We send our love to everyone. Keep the faith!
Love,
Shelly, Dan and family