We opened presents for what seemed like a very long time. Josh helped me pass everything out. Thank you Josh.
Nickie and Alicia were out with friends from out of town and didn't come over until later. But we got to see all of the kids except Jacob. We sent him a big package, it was fun putting it together. He did call and we past the phone around to everyone. He is doing very well and is glad to be in his new area.
I know he will miss the people in his old area, he really loved them.
We miss him but are happy for him and love to hear about the work he is doing.
We can't wait for Mother's Day.

Here are some pictures from our wonderful Christmas morning.
I woke up at 7:00 the kids started waking up about 8:00 and we made a BIG breakfast.
We sat down to eat about 10:30, and started opening presents about 11:00.
This year we talked about it and agreed that the magic of Christmas is over as soon as the last present is opened so we wanted to postpone it a while. It was awesome and lasted a very long time.
You might ask (for future reference) how do you get children to sleep in on Christmas morning? Easy you let them stay up as late as they want on Christmas Eve.
All the kids knew we were wrapping presents so they let us and they loved staying up. This was one of the best Christmas mornings ever.
More pictures to follow.

Christmas is almost here and we get a call from our missionary.
We are all very excited! We enjoy writing to him and telling him about all the missionary work we are doing and we have our missionaries over every chance we get.
I always send them home with homemade bread. The last two times it was baking when they got to our house. They are kids and they get so excited about things that remind them of home.
I hope someone is doing the same for Jacob.
Does anyone have ideas on how the get the most from his call? We got a call on his way out to Az. And it was a little crazy. Well, we were all there. =$ We will all be there again. He couldn’t tell who was talking and then about the time he figured it out someone else was talking….
We don’t get another call till May so we really want to enjoy it.

This is my 100th post. =)

This is my 100th post. I think that is special.
Julia is working on a project that involves pictures of all the kids. I can't wait to see it. So, I have to go through the endless number of pictures. It is very time consuming but lots of fun. Another good thing came of it, I found all the boys doing the goober face and had to share it with you all.

Another one for Julia

This is the famous goober face, even on our wedding day.
Scott has a picture of all of his kids doing the goober face.

I will try to find them. It is a family tradition. =)

This is for you Julia.
She says that her favorite pictures are ones that are truly taken.


That is to say when people aren’t posing to be “at their best” and are just the way they are.
This is our family September 4th 2004 at the St. Louis temple right after Scott and I got married.

Kids say the darnest things

The kids had a visit with their other mother today.
Jordan said James asked her if she was still their mother.

Scott said yes, of course she is still your mother.
I asked him why he would even need to ask such a question,
and he said because she got remarried and she isn't a Willis anymore.
It is funny to see how differently children think.
I am glad he asked.

Too cute not to share!!!

Special moments caught on cell camera

How do you say no to a face like this?

Haylee is three and this is her trying to get me to pick her up while I take pictures.



How do you say no to a face like that?


Years of practice!

A cup of hot choc. is the perfect end to any day

We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional and then decorated ginger bread things. That sounds like a good Christmas family tradition.

I usually write Jacob on Sunday so I tell him about talks and share lessons and testimonies instead of sharing all the family stuff that makes him miss us and spend his p'day crying. He is doing well and wants to hear more about home.
I did well with little news from home on my dearelder.com letter until I accidentally erased it instead of sending it. I don't know a word for frustration like that. So I told him a few little things and sent him pictures of everyone.
We miss him and are looking forward to our phone call on Christmas.

Opening Christmas?

Last night we had the missionaries over for FHE. It has been our tradition for the past several weeks since we can manage to have an investigator every week.
It has been very rewarding for us to be able to share the gospel and the missionaries take charge of everything. (I feed them and fix the treat)
Last night Elder Horch shared one of his family traditions, it was called opening Christmas.
There were several wrapped presents. The presents are opened by the youngest to the oldest. Each present is a clue to what you are supposed to do next.
The first present was a hymnal. We took turns choosing Christmas songs from the hymn book, and sang almost all of them. I loved that part.
Then they unwrapped the book The Night Before Christmas and read it.
The next gift was the Christmas count down book and we got to keep it.
Then my favorite part they unwrapped the scriptures. They read the birth of Christ from the Book of Mormon and the Bible in alternating scriptures.
It was awesome!
The last gift was chocolate covered cherries! Yummy!
They call it opening Christmas and it is done the first Monday of December.
It is not too late if you want to start it this year.
It was one of the best FHE's we have had.

I heard a talk a few years ago where a man said that right now in our lives we have the least amount of responsibility that we will have.
He was speaking to men and women at all different stages of their lives, he didn't know what they were going through now or what they had been through. How could he say that and better still how could it be true?
When I thought about it and as he talked I realized that we grow all the time and where much is given much is required. A young mother with little children may think the diapers and sleepless nights will never end. (the diapers do end)
Then she has teenagers and then weddings then grandchildren and great grandchildren...
Our lives continue to be blessed and we work harder to be responsible for those blessings. Each of our lives are different. Some people will never have the responsibilities that others have and yet they will never have less responsibilities than they have now. The responsibilities will change but never decrease. If that is a depressing thought it is because we tend to stress and look for a time when we won't.
That brings me to my closing thought and favorite scripture.
Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God
As I think of this scripture I think of us frantically trying to get things done or stressing about things we can't change and God with a loving smile on his face softly reminding us that we need to stop and remember he knows everything and has it all under control. What a peaceful thought and even more so if you can remember it during chaos.

Dedicated to Julia at this crazy time in her life, I love you

This is one of the ways that the Willis guys in our home bond. Aren't they so cute?

Thanksgiving Feasting

When the Halloween pumpkins are gone,
And the leaves have all fallen to ground,
When the air has turned windy and cold,
Then Thanksgiving will soon be around.

Thoughts of loved ones all feasting together,
Pleasant pictures from past times appear
To dwell in each heart and each mind--
Then Thanksgiving is finally here!

The kitchen has scrumptious aromas,
The dining room looks oh, so fine,
Decorations with pilgrims and turkeys,
And now we are ready to dine!

First the napkins are placed on our laps;
Now the prayer for the meal to be blessed,
Then we stuff the good food in our tummies,
And we hope for it all to digest!

By Joanna Fuchs

We made OREO turkeys just for fun. The kids were very creative. We were supposed to use candy corns for the feathers but you have to plan way ahead for that because they are hard to find this time of year. Scott and Julia both looked at several stores. We will plan on that next year.
They were fun and tasted good anyway.

I talked to John this afternoon and he said he read everything I had given him last night. He said he posted the Articles of Faith on the cork board in his room.
Heather was on her way over there and he planned to talk to her about what he read and how he felt. He said it looked like exactly what he needed. We talked for a few minutes about the Proclamation to the World and they strength the church instills in our families and in each of us.
He called the Articles of Faith card by name. He really had read it.
This is backward. He should have been a member and they should be married and then they should start a family. Since it is what it is, I will pray for him and teach him every opportunity I get. There is a lot at stake. I am hopeful.

Thanksgiving feast

We had Ham and turkey real mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, jello, pudding, green beans, corn, rolls, and stuffing.
We had Nickie and John (Heather's boy friend) for the first dinner and then Julia and Josh and the missionaries for the late dinner.
Our day was full of food and family.
On our way back to Springfield John said he loved our family and wanted his to be just like it.
I had the opportunity to talk with him about the church and gave him several church
pamphlets. I had planned to give him a least the first discussion while he was there.
I sent him home with much more. It was a wonderful day and the spirit was there all day.

This is a picture of the Zola and Merrill Wills Family.
I thought you all would enjoy it since most of those who follow my blog are from here.
When I think of the love and beautiful legacy they have pasted on it makes me feel very blessed to be a part of it.

The light bulb

When you have an ordinary light bulb and it goes out, it blows as you turn the light on with a blue flash that would almost be pretty if it didn't leave you standing in the dark or just doesn't come on at all. If you have a "long lasting" bulb it does the same thing it is just supposed to take longer to do it. However if you have a florescent bulb and it goes bad it causes the other bulb with it to dull too. It is a long drawn out and somewhat painful process. Both bulbs are dull every time the light goes on barely making it worth the effort to flip the switch and this can go on for days or even weeks, then the flickering starts! To sum it up the florescent light bulb is a drama queen by design. I'm going to die.... I am dieing .... I .. am.. d....i....e...i...n..g. If you already have as many girls in your house as we do, invest in regular bulb, this process is just too much.

Little girls learn things from watching their mommies.
I actually learned to make bread from Julia and now I get to teach the rest.
Thank you Julia! I have bread in the oven right now. =) That is my favorite smell.

Jennifer is six and in first grade. She loves to read and write and is very good at it. This is a copy of her latest art work and writing.
They really are priceless.

These are some of the pictures Julia and Melinda took earlier this month.
Aren't they precious?