The "Last Days"~

The time had come.

Our family left Colorado on Monday, February 28th 

to drive Kent to Utah, where he would enter the 

Provot Mission Training Center.

With President Williams encouragement Kent

drove the entire 8 hours in white shirt and tie.

President Williams said it would be good 

conditioning when for when he will be traveling

for long periods on busses and planes. 

Gotta start sometime!

 Tuesday, March 1st Kent was up for a good STEAK!

We were unlucky finding his first two picks "Out Back"

and "Texas Roadhouse" open for lunch.

So he had to settle for a pretty nice burger at "Red Robin."

The amazing shakes made it worth it!

 Kent meeting up on BYU campus

 with his buddy McKay Carlson.

 Our evening was spent being together.

After some family picture time we had fun eating a great

dinner Kelly made and then played "Hearts"a card game.

 Of course Kent did not want to miss out on one 

last round of "Settler's of Catan."

Unfortunately he did not win, cousin Nathan did!

I guess we'll have a rematch in two years!

 Cody and Bryan decided to find their own activity.

 Never to far from the technology perks.

Then next morning, Uncle Jim got some good

chat time in with nieces Chloe and Autumn.

Nothing like having sweet girls hugs to start 

your day off with!

Looking Official~

The Stake likes to recognize the Missionaries 

serving from our area.  Kent was asked to submit

a photo and a favorite scripture which then are

posted on wall at the church building with other

 missionaries photos.

Elder Engstrom is looking pretty official, 

now he just needs a name tag!

They also asked him to submit a scripture he likes:

Mosiah 3:19

Ready? Here We Go....A New Elder!~

The moment finally arrived!

Sunday, February 27, 2011 

Some family and friends gather to be a part of 

Kent's ordination to serve as a missionary.

 Here seated are Gena and Paul Demetter 

with Kent, Dad and Cody.

 Others joined us as well.  The Kaisers, Grandma

and Lori Anderson.  We took a few minutes to 

share some fun memories of Kent.

 President Williams, and his wife, have arrived 

ready to share some strengthening words before

the ordination takes place.

 An uplifting and helpful short time together.

President Williams had good counsel and wisdom

for Kent to ponder and utilize.

Then Kent was set apart.

 Elder Kent James Engstrom

Our newest missionary for 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Set apart by President Michael Williams. 

Dad, Uncle Kirk and Paul Demetter assisted.

 Elder Engstrom with Grandma and

some of the Kaiser Family.

Elder Engstrom with his family.

Kent's Farewell Sunday in Colorado~

Sunday, February 27, 2011-Kent's big day!

Today Kent gave a farewell talk in the

Boulder Colorado Stake Conference.

  With his family living in Germany the 

Sunday's were limited when we could be

in town to hear Kent share his testimony 

with family and friends.  The Stake 

Presidency and the visiting General Authority, 

Elder Melchin, graciously invited Kent to share 

his comments and testimony in Stake Conference. 

Kent did a very nice job and President Williams 

said it was a perfect day to have Kent speak for 

many reasons.  Kent's comments lifted others and 

contributed to a wonderful meeting.

 On our way out the door to Stake Conference.

Cody-17, Kent-19

 Kent with Kelsea Hillam, after Stake Conference.

 Kent enjoying a last family meal in his home.

 Singin' a little missionary song to celebrate Kent's day!

He was not overly impressed, it was to the tune of

"Happy Birthday."  Hee Hee...

 Cody's got the floor, for the moment.

 Kent's checking to be sure Cody really is taller....

Cody is, by a good inch.

 Kent and Kelsea, looking really cute. :-)

Our family time ended with the beginning of a

farewell gathering for Kent.  Many friends came

by to wish Kent well on his two year mission to

the Czech Republic, Prague Mission.

 One of Kent's favorite people, Bishop Reichman.

 A favorite basketball buddy, Pete.

 Kent with Milt Anderson, another favorite in his life.

 Kent with Carlee Reed.  They are both in our

broomfield ward and are both reporting for thier

missions on the same day!  Carlee will be going

to the country of Brazil to serve for 18 months.

~Jon Talarico, Cody, Ethan Reed~

Okay, these three "muskateers" are looking a lot 

bigger than 4 years ago when they all three 

received their Eagle Scout Awards together.

Future Missionaries coming soon!

Last Request's~

After I spent a week in Provo, Utah with Kent 

finishing off his missin shopping list, we drove 

to Colorado to meet up with Jim and Cody.

They arrived on Saturday evening pretty tired,

but were great about granting one of Kent's last

wishes which was to go to Benihana's for a fun meal.

 Kent and Cody really are excited to be here,

they are just tired of my picture taking....

 Ready for the meal fun to begin!

 Jim and I ordered Sushi.  

Kent had to work himself up to try a bite...

 At least he tried it, doesn't prefer it.  

Cody would not even think twice about trying it.

 The cooking has begun.

 Very creative, almost too cute to eat, but we did.

This is the great meat Kent was drooling for,

and he was not dissappointed.

A great family meal!

Arrived!~

I departed Frankfurt, Germany flying direct to Denver, CO

where I then caught a short flight over to Utah.  Chandra and

Tyler were there, with great hugs, ready to pick me up.  

We stopped for a quick bite to eat and had a fun chat 

before arriving at at Bob and Kelly's.  Chandra and Tyler 

stayed a while to visit with Bob and Kelly's family.

 The next day we all attended Bob's ward for church then

came home to a delicious meal and fun conversation that

included sharing some funny memories.

As usual we pulled out Settlers of Catan, only it was

the Seafaring-long version this time.  The game

lasted a bit to long with the extended version.  

We decided the normal version is more to our liking.

Nathan won this round!

On Time?~

I'm at the Frankfurt International Airport in Germany.

Each time I travel through this airport I love to look

at this humungous flight board in the Frankfurt airport.

I remember the first time I ever saw it, so many years ago and

was just amazed at it's size and intrigued by it's functionality.

I LOVE when all at once many of the individual panels will

start clicking as they turn over to show updated information,

 almost like a domino effect.

SCORE!~

Before heading to the Frankfurt airport on Saturday

Jim and I were able to watch Cody play basketball

on the BIS Boys Basketball Varsity team at the

Frankfurt, Germany International School.

It was so convenient since the Frankfurt airport was

only an 11 minute drive away from the school.  If

we had known before we left Cody's game that my

flight was delayed by 45 minutes we could have stayed 

for Cody's whole game instead of leaving by halftime.

 Start of the game.

 Cody setting up a play.

 Cody- Number 25

 Some defense.

 I couldn't catch the photo but the referee is holding up his

his fingers giving 3 for the 3 POINTER SHOT Cody hit!

First points of the game! 

Cody's nice layup for another TWO!

GO CODY!!

BIS went on to win the game!

It Costs HOW MUCH???!!!~

Gas costs for the Volvo that Coreen drives.

Tank size:  Approximately 45 liters (12 U.S. gallons)

Price per Liter:  1.47 Euros (U.S. dollar value $2.01
or 7.614 per gallon)

Price to fill tank:  67.00 Euros (U.S. price 91.12)

Carnival Fun~

One little German house decorated for the upcoming

Carnival celebrations.

People come to parades and parties dressed up in

costumes, wigs, glasses or all three.  

It's similar to creating a halloween costume.

Carnival is celebrated just before Lent which is when

many, supposedly, give up something they feel is a 

sacrifice for 40 days.  The sacrifice is done as a reminder

of the fourty days Jesus spent in the wilderness.  The 

celebration includes costumes, masks, and parades.  In

all the cities there is one person asked to be the King. 

This Carnival Kings duties begin in Novemeber and

he usually speaks to groups including students in the

primary schools to get everyone excited about the

upcoming Carnival celebrations.  The official start date

 for this area of Germany is March 3 and lasts one week.

Once again, I am missing this event by traveling to the U.S.

According to some of my friends at church it is a good 

thing that I'm gone, I guess things get a bit too wild  and

crazy the whole week of Carnival.

Valentines Sweety's XO~

 Happy Valentine's Day!

Cody was thankful for the yummy chocolate's his mom gave
him and also thankful he didn't have to be exposed to too much
 mushy love stuff!  Cody happily escaped to basketball practice while
Jim brought home beautiful roses and sweet gifts for his Valentine.  

We enjoyed an evening meal together in Bonn.

Coreen was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful gifts, but was even
more surprised by the early hour in which Jim was able to come home!

6:30pm on a week night!  Might be a new record. :-)