for one more day.....

My husband took the car to Wal-mart to have the oil changed and while he was waiting he did some shopping. When he got home he told me he had seen Mitch Albom on the Dr. Phil show talking about his new book and Scott said he felt compelled to purchase the book for me.

He gave it to me at 5:00 and I just finished it at 10:30 (putting it down a few times to tend to "Mommy" things) If you are a reader and even if you are not you MUST read this book!

It is a story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that lasts a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?

Father and Son Campout.......

I get to be the first to post pictures of the Father/Son Camp out 2007!!!......but unfortunately its because Scott had to bring Connor home before it even started!

Rewind to Tuesday of this week. Scott started getting things ready to take our new camping trailer out for the very first time!!! His plan was to be ready to head out a day early with Brett Taylor. He worked tirelessly to get all ready.


Finally the day arrived for him to head north. Connor was SO excited to sleep in our new trailer! The drive was nice and the only thing forgotten was Scott's guitar.....bummer, no John Denver songs around the camp fire.

Aaahhh camping....nothing better than fresh air and peace and quiet. After setting up camp Scott cooked some dinner and Connor decided he was ready for bed....HUH??? It's not even dark yet! That was the beginning of the reason for the trip to be cut short.

At 1 AM Connor woke his father up to say he had to use the bathroom. As Scott reached up (Connor was on the top bunk) to help him down he noticed Connor was BURNING up with a fever! Thank heavens I remembered to send the children's Tylenol!!

Connor slept until 10ish Friday morning and just couldn't get out of bed....until Brett & Ethan came for a visit. He got up and went outside long enough to pose for this picture and visit for a bit....then back to bed.

Scott was packing things up as other fathers and sons were arriving. Brother Cooley was good enough to lend a hand with that and with the help of Brother Alexander offered Connor a blessing. Thank you both!

My boys arrived home Friday around 3:00. Connor was so happy to be in Mommy's arms he just smiled as I pampered him the rest of the day.

Connor will be quarantined a week before next years Father/Son Camp out!!

Memorial Day.....

As we come upon this Memorial Day I remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our great country. I also think of those who now sacrifice family and self to continue to keep our way of life, and we cannot forget our veterans.

I am proud of the men in my family who have served our country with pride

Robert Thomas Noel (Grandfather)

Navy

David Kay Noel (Uncle)

Army

Garry Lynn Noel (Uncle)

Army

Sean Edward Eustice (Step-Son. He is 2nd from left)

Army

Ted Luke (Step-Father)

Army

Scott Edward Eustice (My wonderful Husband)

Army

Not pictured but equally as loved:

Steve Lay (Brother-in-law)

Navy

Luthur M. Taylor (Great Grandfather)

Army

Robert Emil Reber (Great Grandfather)

Army

I love you all

A Day out with Thomas the Train...

We took Connor and his "very best friend" Timmy to Williams last Friday to ride

Thomas the Train!!!

Both boys has a very good time...but they have a good time no matter what they do together!

Connor getting a Thomas Tattoo

It's SO nice to have and be a best friend!

Cheers to Connor and Timmy! We love you both!

Carnival......no not the cruise.

We love it when the carnival comes to town! Connor really enjoyed himself this time. Funny to see him trying to phsyc himself out of being afraid! He even got on the ferris wheel this time!

Spring School Picture

When Connor got off the bus today he toted with him a package of portraits.

I LOVE spring portraits!

Easter 2007

Ahhhh Easter.....a time of reflection, a time of rejoicing, a time of wonderment that we will all be resurected and have eternal life because of the Lord's plan.

Also a time of ........... plastic eggs, chocolate, colored hard boiled eggs and family dinner. I always love an excuse to gather the family together for food and visiting.

Connor is still not really into the easter egg hunt...perhaps because he doesn't have siblings to compete with. We took him to the Cornville Community Easter Egg Hunt (I am the web master for the Cornville Community Association so they invite my family to their events) and when the whistle blew he meandered around and pilfered all of 5 eggs and said he was done!!! YOU ARE KIDDING! At that age I would still be there hunting eggs mowing down kids in my path to chocolate bilss! Oh...uhhh....was that outloud? Anyhow...Connor had a wonderful day playing with goodies from his Easter Basket.

I hope your Easter was equally as special as mine!

In Memoriam....

Richard David Baldwin Sr.

"DaddyWaddy"

October, 8 1943 - March, 27 2002

My Dad wreaked of personality and charm! Was a hard worker and avid outdoorsman. Loved his children and his grandchildren very much.

We love you and miss you very much Dad!

The "Baldwin" sisters strike again....

My maiden name is "Baldwin", so growing up my sister and I were always refered to as "The Baldwin Sisters". If any of you remember "The Waltons" you will know these two fiesty ladies!

Shawna and I realized we have not done anything together for over 17 years so we left the kids and husbands home and took off for Mesquite, Nevada to visit some family. We have a grandmother whom we ADORE that was just placed in an assisted living home there, so we thought we would go check out her new digs.

To our surprise it was a NICE place and she LOVES it there....I don't EVER recall Grandma flirting with anyone (She has been a widow for about 30 years) but she turned me red going on with her rather handsome physical therapist! "You GO Grandma"!

Where would we be without our family?

The Lord works in mysterious ways...

A couple of months ago Scott and Connor went to do the grocery shopping at Wal-mart. After shopping Scott loaded Connor in his car seat and secured the bags in the back of the car. When taking the cart to the cart parking place (what a good man) he noticed a purse in one of the carts. Thinking to himself how suspicious he would look carrying a purse he picked it up and held it out for the world to see that he was NOT stealing it. Just as he was contemplating his dilemma...unloading a cranky, tired 4 year old and going back into the store...an older couple parked next to him. Scott, being a great judge of character, asked the couple if they would please turn the purse in to customer service and with that he left feeling good about doing the right thing.

On February first there was a letter to the editor it read:

EDITOR:

When I got home from shopping at Wal-Mart, I discovered I had left my purse in the shopping cart in the parking lot. Although I started praying non-stop, I still slipped into a panic mode.

When I called the store, I really didn't think I had any chance of seeing it again, and I started to make mental notes of all the phone calls I had to make.

And then, that precious voice finally came back on line and said: "Yes, we have it and it is locked securely in our safe!". Some honest and caring person had spotted it and taken it in to the store.

I thank this obviously well-raised, conscientious and honest person from the bottom of my heart. You are a credit to this age and I will be praying special blessings for you.

Clareen A. Barrett
Prescott Valley

When Scott read this he had a strong feeling he had to find the woman and tell her the comical story of her purse...if indeed this was the same purse. He found himself googling the woman's name and found her not hard to find as she is a local artist. He wrote and mailed her letter on Feb. 1st.

The night of Sunday, Feb. 4th I was not feeling very well and could not sleep so I was on the Internet at apx. midnight until 1:30am looking for a picture of Jesus with little children I could hang in Connor's room.......You will NEVER guess what happened the next day!!

Scott was outside waiting for Connor's bus when a woman pulled up in our drive...Scott waved because he thought it was my visiting teacher from church. When he realized it wasn't Sherry he walked to her car. The woman got out and introduced herself as Clareen Barrett!! She said she was in no financial situation to give Scott the reward he so deserved but said that she was awoken at 1am with a strong feeling that she needed to paint a picture of Christ with little children and give it to Scott for his son. When Scott brought the painting in and told me what she said I broke down and wept for I recognized then at that very moment when we are in tune with the spirit he truly CAN work through us to bless others!