Missing You! January 20,

It's mid January and I'm just missing some my favorite family members. Dawson has been in the MTC for 3 weeks and seems to be doing well. He makes everything fun so I'm sure that he is enjoying his time there. The fact that he gets to play a little basketball nearly every day is a real plus for him.
Little Alexa is nearly seven month old. She loves to watch Wheel of Fortune and Danielle says she cries during the commercials! Funny! We just booked our flights to go see them in Portland over Spring Break in March! Sure love and miss you!

Off to the MTC! December 30, 2009

Dawson was to report to the MTC at 12:45 pm on December 30, 2009. We left St. George at 7:15 am and drove through a blizzard to get there. We met Danielle, Steve and Alexa at Mimi's restaurant at 11:30 am. We enjoyed a delicious brunch and Dawson's stomach was getting a little quizzy with nerves of excitement. Our friends the Saaralainens came by to say hello and good bye to Elder Flake. Then it was off to the MTC.
It was really snowy when we arrived so we didn't even take any picutres by the famous MTC sign. We did see Donny Osmond and his family taking picures and saying goodbye to a son. The parking attendant had served in the San Jose area and was very excited that Dawson was going there! We pulled up to the curb, unloaded the luggage, gave our last goodbyes, shed a few tears and felt the beautiful spirit of the MTC. So many young people so excited to serve their Lord. A constant flow of cars with family flowing with tears of bittersweet happiness and joy meandered out the MTC drive each filled with amazing faith to turn their young people over to the Lord for two years. This is the day that we have been preparing Dawson for since the day he was born. Every family night, daily scripture study, family prayer, Sunday meeting, and activity was in preparation for him to choose to serve the Lord. We are so proud of him and know that he is very well prepared. Dan broke down in tears as he mentioned to Dawson that he hadn't given him a lot of advice for the mission and that is because he is so much better prepared that Dan was...and we know that he will serve with all of his heart, mind, might and soul. See you in two years!

Follow this link to see all of the pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/danflake/DawsonMission?authkey=Gv1sRgCLqyoKCHw_iL9AE&feat=email#

Christmas Break

Christmas Trifle for Christmas dinner with Grandma Flake.

Danielle, Steve and Alexa riding in the mule.

Dawson having a great time the last week before he leaves for his mission.

Alexa driving her first car around the driveway.

Hiking and biking up at Dixie Rock.

Alexa wearing her baby cereal. She is almost 6 months and got her first two bottom teeth right after Christmas.

Alexa reading "The Night Before Christmas" on her first Christmas Eve.

Oh the joy of having all of the family home for Christmas! We hiked several times and rode bikes a few times. We went out to Warner Valley and did a little four wheeling. We even saw a badger and chased the big old guy around until he fled to his hole. Christmas Eve was a warm beautiful day. We hiked up above Washington at Dino Cliffs. Then we went and had lunch at Cafe Rio. We came back in and made the final Christmas preparations and had our traditional dinner of soup in bread bowls. In honor of Dawson we had clam chowder, his favorite. We each shared a Christmas story and read from Luke. We watched "The Nativity" movie and then went to bed so Santa could make his visit. I awoke early and wrote a letter to each of the family expressing my love for them. I made a quilt for Dawson and Andrew and Lindsey made artistic shirts for all of the kids. Danielle sewed scarves for Lindsey and me. Home made gifts are the best.

On Christmas day we opened gifts, had breakfast and then opened gifts some more. Later we rode bikes over to fields and vs. the Suttner family in kickball. Then we came back home and had a delicious ham dinner with Art and Apryl and Grandma. We plalyed games for awhile and enjoyed family for Christmas!

Soup Kitchen Christmas Service

We have a standing agreement with the St. George Soup Kitchen to serve the meal on Christmas Eve or the day closest to it. It started as a ward service opportunity and now our family plans it and invites friends and neighbors to help. It is very rewarding to spread Christmas cheer and offer a nice traditional dinner to the residents who are down on their luck. This year we served ham, potatoes, candied carrots, rolls and salad. The Care and share provided desserts from grocery store donations.

The Spectrum newspaper ran a front page story on the day before that announcing that the dinner would be special and that gift bags would be provided. We panacked that we may not have enough food so we doubled up on our efforts. I cooked and provided two spiral hams, 3 large potato cassroles, and carrots. Our friends helped out as well: Johnsons, Hatches, Burtons, Bundys, Knudsons, Lukenga's, Davies, Suttners, Empeys, Juan Mondragon, and Enfields. I also got a great deal on 50 copies of "The Christmas Box" book, candy canes, oranges and gift bags put together by other volunteers. We decorated the tables, had Santa there, the Spanish Speaking missionaries helped carol and visit with the people. We made sure that they each had a gift and a hug before they left. It was a lovely day of service and friendship.

Christmas Service

The students at Millcreek High School always participate in Service Projects on the last day of school. We start the day with an awards assembly and then split up and go out into the community to serve. In the past we have made care packages for service men and women and put together newborn kits for other countries. My favorite and traditional activity that I usually take my Teacher Advisory Class to do is to go to the St. George Care Center and visit the people and give them an orange, a card and a candy cane. Some years we have service grants and we can buy slippers for them.

This year Lindsey and Dawson joined us and we had a fun time singing carols and delivery cheer and good wishes. Our favorite resident is Bill who has been at the care center for many years. He has the Savant illness and so he is very smart like "Rainman". He always recites the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" for us. He can repeat it by heart.

I know that the kids have learned something by feeling the real mean of Christmas when I hear comments like this from Francisco, " Why don't we sing to everyone of them. It makes them so happy!" I was just having them sing every once in awhile. Ahh, service is the best part of Christmas.

Dawson Celebrates his 19th Birthday!

Alexa helps open the gifts.
Dawson shows off his new shirt and tie and the blanket that Grandma, Lindsey and Mom made for him from all of his old pajama material saved from over the years.

We were still in Logan and so we celebrated Dawson's 19th Birthday with family in Logan. We had a delicious roast beef dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Datwyler's home after attending the block Sunday meetings with them. Danielle, Steve and Alexa drove up from Orem that afternoon for dinner after flying in from Portland and spending a few days with the Jackson family. Later we celebrated with more family with several variety's of cake and opened Dawson's gifts. Since he leaves for his mission in just over a week, the presents were all for the mission. He got shoes, a shirt and several ties, a journal, money and a blanket to take with him. We enjoyed playing games with all of the family.

Christmas in Logan

Grandpa and Grandma admire our new family Christmas photo.
Pillow cases sewn with love for the Grandkids.

The Provo/BYU co-eds show off thier new aprons sewn by mom.

Claire, Mayla and Linus act out the Christmas Nativity.

The Flake family present our "talent."

Aw, the big feast!

We journeyed up to Logan to have our annual Christmas party with my family, the Datwylers. Mom had recent heart surgery and was still pretty week so my sister-in-law, Jessie, volunteered to have the party had their home near Smithfield canyon. There is always plenty of snow to get us in the mood for Christmas.

We all brought food to contribute to the magnificent feast; and anyone in Cache Valley will tell you that Datwyler's are great cooks! Tonight was no exception. After dinner we started our traditional Christmas program. Our children played a lovely Christmas carol on the bag pipes standing behind a blanket which was soon dropped to reveal that they were really just mimicking the bag pipes by hitting their larynx with their hand while humming. This is a trick that Lindsey had learned while on her mission. She had performed at a ward talent show.

Stories were recited, including Heather reading a nice story that my visiting teacher's had shared this week. Grandma and Grandpa told a story about Pres. Monson acting out the part of a wise man while a young boy and how he still has the cane that he had used. The highlight of the night was the Grand kids acting out the nativity story as Uncle Scott read from Luke. The younger set(Great grand kids) have taken over the duties from our kids who have been the Bible players for 30 years. Carols were sung, piano recital pieces played and then the big event! Family gifts were exchanged and Grandma presented her home made treasures to the family. Despite her recent health issues, she didn't disappoint. The older grand daughters were presented with very cute aprons made to match their personalities and favorite colors. (They all four live in Provo and plan to have a cooking party soon to show off their aprons) The younger group received a beautiful new pillow case to remind them of Grandma every night that they go to bed. The young marrieds were given a gift card to their favorite restaurant and a hand stitched kitchen towel made with love.

Once again, the Datwyler Christmas Party did not disappoint!