3December2008
Posted by stephyc under: Uncategorized.
I am so amazingly thankful for all the wonderful things that God has done for me lately. I had the awesome privileged of spending the Thanksgiving break with both of my great sisters. My youngest sister Emily and her family traveled with us (my family) to our sister Say’s for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to hang out with each other and really enjoy one another’s company. We cooked together, played games together, and had an amazing time together. I love when family gatherings turn out wonderful. We got home and found out that the starter on my van is going out, but incredibly we never had a problem on our trip.
On Monday of this week, I was offered a position as a signing aide for ASDB (Arizona State School for the Deaf and the Blind.) I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to advance my signing skills and work one on one with some of the most wonderful children I have met. I’m so excited to take on this wonderfully exciting new challenge.
I am incredibly grateful for all that I am blessed with. I have an incredible husband (Jason) he is so supportive in all that I am currently doing. I have incredible children (Nikki and Elizabeth) the two of them absolutely amaze me with their talents and abilities. I have an incredible extended family…I know that if I need you, you will be there to help.
I have an incredible love for my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I am so glad that we get to celebrate the birth of the Savior at this time of year! I know that they watch over me and my family. I know that times are hard, but if we put our trust in God he will provide a way for us to make it through these difficult times.
I have an incredible love for my fellow mankind. I am always amazed at how when called upon to help others they pull through. Most of all I am constantly reminded of how incredibly lucky I am to live in a wonderful country. A country that allows me the joys and freedoms that I can only hope that All will one day have to enjoy.
Talk about incredible….
30November2008
Posted by stephyc under: Uncategorized.
I hope your birthday is a great one!!! I know your hubby has been working hard to have some surprises for you. I hope you get all you want and then some. We love you lots and lots. I will see you tomorrow around 5pm. Feel free to call me if you need anything.
23October2008
Posted by stephyc under: Uncategorized.
It’s been 15 years since I lost two of my brothers in a car accident. As I remember Brian and Jared on this day I think of…
Brian telling others that we were twins. Jared wiping off kisses when he didn’t want one. Brian and baseball weither it was pitching, baseball cards, watching the pros, or his bag of seeds. Jared’s gymnastics routines. Brian lifting weights (5 minutes tops). Jared running the property line. Brian’s curly hair that never got longer then his shirt collar. Jared at Great America. Brian and Jared playing cars in the yard, mom and dad’s room, and the living room.
I remember…
Brian and Jared reverently passing the sacrament. Brian’s story telling on the bus. Jared’s excitement about sacking the quarterback at the game the night before. Brian’s stern look when he didn’t want to do something. Jared’s lop-sided hair cuts. Brian always being a vampire for Halloween. Jared wearing shorts in the snow and not freezing. Brian eating ALL day long. Jared’s straight unruly hair. Brian’s triple decker peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Jared always dressed as a devil on Halloween.
Unfortunately, I have forgotten something…the sound of their voices.
However, I will never forget the love they had for me, our family, and their friends. I cherish those memories everyday. I hope you all do too.
I am amazed when my daughters do something I just know they had to have learned from their Uncles. I also am so grateful to know that I will see my brothers again someday.
I know that 15 years have passed, but somedays it still feels like yesterday. While most days the pain of losing them is lessened. I still have the space in my heart that craves the attention that only they can fill.
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Brian and Carol Hoover
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Jared with Great-Grandma Blankenship
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Brian Hoover
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Jared Hoover
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Brian's Junior year football picture
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Jared on a scout campout
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Brian's baseball picture
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Jared didn't want his picture taken
14October2008
Posted by stephyc under: Uncategorized.
On our trip to the Grand Canyon we saw a place called Bedrock City. We all wanted to check it out. On the way home from the Grand Canyon we stopped to see what it was. In 1970 a family created a theme park called Bedrock City (after the Flintstones). It was cool to see something that brought back memories of our childhood in life size. We were able to go inside the buildings and they had statues of the characters.
The girls liked this best of all. I imagine because they were allowed to run and play without any restraints. We were the only people in the park so we didn’t have to worry about where they went. We took lots of pictures. They had a theatre, beauty salon, school, store, police station, post office, Fred’s house, Barney’s house, doctor’s office, and more….
Jason’s favorite part was taking panoramic pictures of the park and seeing the kids having fun.
Nikki’s favorite part was going inside the snake.
Elizabeth’s favorite part was going through the snake, down the slide, going into the houses, being Wilma, and seeing Nikki and Jaylee as prisoners. She liked everything.
My favorite part was watching the kids running around exploring and remembering things from my childhood with my siblings.
14October2008
Posted by stephyc under: Cottonwood; Elizabeth; Nikki.
Our community has an education fair every year. This year it was held on October 9th. Our school chose five classes to display artwork/class work at the fair. Both Nikki and Elizabeth’s classes were picked to be on display.
Elizabeth’s kindergarten class did “The big blue sea of fish.” First they colored the fish, then made seaweed, and dirt. We they also painted the big blue sea, glued the fish on, and finally glued on sponge bob macaroni.
Nikki’s second grade class did “ABC what do you see?” They used a letter from the alphabet and had to make their own picture with the letter they were given. Nikki had the letter P. She chose to make a butterfly with a girl that was laying on the ground, watching a butterfly up in the sky after playing tennis. She also was picked to do a second drawing with the letter O. She drew a girl running the track at school.
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Elizabeth showing off her artwork
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Nikki pointing to her drawings O and P
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Elizabeth's class display at the Education Fair
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Nikki's class display at the Education Fair
14October2008
Posted by stephyc under: Arizona; Bouwhuis Family; Shultz Family.
We decided to go to the Grand Canyon…since we have never been. Hard to believe that neither Jason (since 1992) or I (since 1996) have never been. We knew it was time to go. So we got together a picnic. Invited Emily, Brady, and Jaylee to come with us. Then drove the three hours to the national park.
It was so amazing. I know it’s “just a big hole in the ground”, but unless you have ever gone it’s so hard to comprehend just how amazing it can be. I definately want to go down to the bottom someday in the future.
We had to keep reminding the girls to be careful of the edge, but they did pretty well. I even got a couple nice pictures of Jason and I near the edge. I will have to post those in another blog post.
14October2008
Posted by stephyc under: Arizona; Shultz Family.
On friday October 10th we decided to get out. Jason took the family geocashing. We went over near Perkinsville and looked for the cashe. While we were looking for the cashe I found a U.S. Geological survey benchmark marker. Of course we had to take pictures. Jason and Nikki found the geocashe first. Elizabeth and I came over after a bit. So once again I was taking pictures. I found a 1999 penny in my purse to leave since it was in this month (October) and that year (1999) that Jason and I met. We had a ball looking for the cashe.
28September2008
Posted by stephyc under: Uncategorized.
Nikki wants to say, “I hope you have a great birthday! Can we do all kinds of stuff on your birthday, like a game or something fun? It’s your day so you get to do what you want. So hope you have a happy, Happy Birthday with lots of love, from Nikki”
Honey, we all hope your birthday is a good one. We have a couple of surprises for you….
Elizabeth says, “Lets play party games and have a Tony Stewart party. Let’s have some presents and let’s have FUN!!! Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!!!”
We can’t wait to celebrate with you on Tuesday…
We love you lots and lots!!!
25September2008
Posted by stephyc under: Uncategorized.
Mandy we want to wish you a happy birthday!!! We hope it’s a great one.
