Sunday, Sunday. So good to me!

We have been working hard all week! I talked Dave into doing a little work for his sister so he could have some $$$ for his silly hobbies. He had John over there helping him hang doors. I was so impressed how Dave included John on all the decisions and made him feel an important part of the process. Dave said he really had fun working with him. He did the same with Jake when they were putting in the water softener. I love to see that "Father-Son" bonding and it will be some great memories for them.


We had the Heaps Primary Program tonight. I wish I had a picture to share, but I will get one off their blog when her mom updates it. Emily picked the people she wanted to speak about which subject. Every person did an excellent job in adding to the spirit of the program. It was the best meeting I've been to in a long time. The talks were short and oh so sweet! Each person spoke from their heart. The Primary kids sang so well and Emily did an awesome job playing the guitar with me for the first time in public (she did the strumming). I was especially touched by Matt's (dad) talk about how his mom, who had passed away a year before his mission, was there watching over him while he was on his mission. She must have been there with the other angels sharing this special time with the family. What an amazing experience it was to be with this family while they shared their testimonies and life experiences. It was an exceptional program that I think none of us will forget. I think we were in Heaven, for just an hour!

Address Change

Elder Zack Holladay

150 West Ave., Apt. 202
Woodstown NJ 08098

OH. I should probably tell you that since I moved, my address is different (yet the same) I'm back in the hillcrest apartments, # 202. We will probably only be there for 4 weeks [so says prez.] till some sisters move back in.

Also, Since Christmas is coming up, The mission office told me to tell you that they want you to send mail and packages directly to the apartment so that the mission office doesn't get congested with mail. so yeah. Message passed.

Still no snow. we've had lots of clouds and a little bit of rain, but no snow. :/

Gas is down to $1.93 last I saw.

Well, RJ disappeared. haven't been able to establish contact with him for about a month now. Lets see... The Hermanas got "emergency transferred" to Toms river because someone up there had to go home for medical reasons. So now we have the whole ward to ourselves again. AND We get their investigators. We've got quite a few people that we're going to try to baptize this transfer. hopefully we'll be able to baptize some of the Hermana's Investigators so they can come down and see us again. We moved into their apartment today. They left us some interesting "presents"/treasures. Sis. Gleed forgot to empty a drawer in her desk. They also left a big bag of clothes and shoes. and they left other various random objects, some of which we've still yet to identify. so that's another reason we want them to come back. so they can take all the junk they left us back with them. that's pretty much it right now.

Aishiteru

Elder Holladay

Happy Birthday Dave!

Well, this is a little late, but Dave turned 51 on Friday, November 7th! Me and the boys were working for Joyce, but we stopped and Grandma Holladay treated us to a fabulous lunch at TGI Fridays! We were too full from lunch to have a spectacular dinner, so we saved it for Saturday's dinner. I did make him a yummy chocolate cake with fudge frosting (no really, the frosting tastes like grandma Sweet's fudge!) So ya, we had chocolate cake and milk for dinner! (Come on! There's eggs and flour in the cake! Milk is good for you!) lol. Dave was thrilled with the gun part he ordered for his birthday and spent most of the day putting it on his AR-15. A thrill a minute!

I have been painting and painting this week. I got all the living room done (except my yellow wall). I was hoping to get it finished this weekend, but my family was insisting I go shopping for groceries and I did a little Christmas shopping, which my boys are going to freak when they open it! (sorry Zack! You'll have to make do with what's coming in the mail soon). The bathroom is back to working order, Yeah!! I need to put some finishing touches on the trim and paint the door. Still waiting for the shower door, but the end is insight!

I found some cheap tickets to New York, so I'm taking a quick trip to see my dad, uncles and aunt. I usually don't go this often (once a year), but for some reason, I feel the need. I'm really hoping the weather cooperates. Look for updates on this trip in a couple weeks.

We are really looking forward to our Primary Program with Emily's family next week. Emily and I have really been practicing our songs! She stopped taking the Prednisone so the swelling in her face is already starting to go down. She has such a cheery disposition when I see her. You're awesome Em!

Jake and John got good enough grades to get the good student discount for insurance. It was a personal best for both of them! Spencer brought his grades up so for the first time, he had no "n's". Good job boys! Spence has a little bit of a learning disability, so we put him in piano lessons to see if that will help his brain to function better. He's doing great!

Bathroom update

I'm too tired to put a picture up here, but we got the tile in and we got the toilet put back in but the part that runs the water to the tank is the wrong size now, so we can't use it yet. I did meet my goal to have it in by tonight! I painted the floor trim, washed the tile, put the sealant on and Dave put everything together when he got home tonight. Thanks Hon! We'll be flushing in no time!

Zack's Address

I was reminded today that I haven't posted Zack's address in New Jersey. So sorry. He loves hearing from family and friends, but doesn't have time to write back much. So if you can live with that, please write him. It really puts a big smile on his face to hear from home.

Elder Zack Holladay

New Jersey Cherry Hill Mission

505 S. Lenola Road Suite #124

Moorestown, NJ 08057

His current address is: (good until 12/10/8)

Elder Zack Holladay

815 Curtis Drive

Pennsville, NJ 08070

He just got a new companion from Japan so if you send goodies, send some for both.

Congratulations to the newest member of the church in our family, Carson Sweet! You're Awesome Carson!

Also, Congratulations to Tera on her engagement! We hope to meet Ben soon!

News from Elder Holladay

Look! Zack is learning how to crochet!

Hey mom! LoL

Sister Carter is pretty funny! I hope I didn't embarrass you by singing that song! yeah Sis. Carter is cool. For the life of me, I couldn't remember the tune to "Give Said the Little Stream (rock version), let alone the words. Elder Palmer said that you sounded really young. I love Elder Palmer!

how did dad tweak his knee? was he playing with a hammer? or is he getting.... you know...old? Does he get to wear a brace now? did it swell up? did you get a picture? does he have to use crutches? I think he did it on purpose so that he could take a break from putting tile in. :P

...I showed the twins that Spencer and I had put down the tile. Jake said, "Hey! I was going to help with that!" Huh! Go figure! I think Jake is trying to tell you to make him do more work. He was obviously very distraught that he couldn't help with the tiling, so you need to find something else for him to do. something harder perhaps.

Jake got above a 3.0?????? WOW! I did NOT see that comin! he must have taken all easy classes this semester. Tell him and spence I said good job! oh and everyone else did a good job too.

The missionary mall socks are my favorite. the padded ones. they are soooo much more comfortable than the gold-toe ones. I also heard that they last 2 years as well, so yeah get me one of those plz. and/or maybe a tie and/or some white socks for P-day and/or an old white shirt that I can use to make a tie buddy.

Oh I got a new companion, Elder Okamoto. He's from Tokyo, Japan. He's the youngest of 3 siblings. he has 2 older sisters. He is an EXCELLENT artist and he likes a lot of the same things that I do. I think we'll get along just swell.

Well thats all the time I have today, I'll type you next week!

Love,

Elder Holladay

On Wed, Oct 29, 2008

ok so I have 7 minutes left, so I thought I'd answer this one real quick.

which bathroom did you paint? yours? what colour? has it snowed any since that one sunday that you got 3-4 inches?

It actually didn't snow where I was. It was just cold. It rained though. Oh, yesterday we chopped wood for the Reese's. I got two huge blisters, but it was fun! It was really "naughty" wood too. Elder Palmer taught us how to swing an axe. I'm still not very good at it, but I'm more effective.

We carved giant pumpkins not too long ago. I'd send you a pic. but I've run out of time. We carved the Washington DC Temple. it turned out pretty cool! but we don't know what it looks like when it's lit up.

We've got tile!

Spencer and I laid this tile tonight! It only took us an hour. We just have 2 more tiles to cut in the toilet room so we can finish laying the tile in there, grout and get the toilet back in. YEAH! I miss my toilet. Dave was cutting all the tiles on Saturday and I wore him and the tile saw out. Dave needs to replace the saw blade before we can finish.

Tag of 8

Rachel tagged me!

8 TV shows that I love to watch:
1. Smallville (well, I used to like it, but it's gotten kinda weird)
2. Heroes (I liked the first two years, but now it's getting too weird for me)
3. Ghost Whisperer
4. Life
5. House (sometimes)
6. The Mentalist
7. ER
8. the News

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Asian Buffet
2. Chilis
3. Olive Garden
4. The Roof
5. Red Lobster
6. Applebees
7. Fridays
8. Iggys

8 things that happened yesterday:
1. Got beat (again) in Racquetball
2. Talked to Tay on the phone
3. Talked to Tiffany on the phone
4. Didn't talk to Zack and Elder Palmer, but I heard their voices
5. Went grocery shopping
6. Did the dishes
7. Folded towels
8. Scriptures/Prayers and hugs

8 things on my wish list:
1. I would love my tile to be finished!
2. 4-wheelers
3. New flooring
4. A normal kid
5. To lose weight
6. Caribbean cruise
7. A yard makeover
8. A live-in maid and cook

8 things that I am looking forward to:
1. Having my house re-do finished
2. Getting rid of the extra cars at my house
3. To lose weight
4. For my boys to be able to drive themselves to school
5. winning more racquetball games
6. Elections to be over
7. Lower gas prices
8. Spring

8 people I tag
1. Heather
2. Dana
3. Beth
4. Shauna
5. Elizabeth
6. Tay
7. Arianne
8 whoever would want to do this.

Carrots!

I pulled these out of my garden. It makes me want to make some noodle soup!

Big News!

I got Dave to go to a musical!
The play was good, but it was fun to go to a play, with Dave!
Anyone who knows Dave and how much he loves the arts
will understand how unusual this is!