Hales Clan: 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

2009 Mississippi Hales Clan Annual Christmas Letter

Upon this greatest and most holy day of all Christianity, we express our sincerest love and gratitude to those that made the last year, the best one that this family has had. To friends, we express our warmest gratitude for all of the blessings each one of you has brought to our home and lives. To our family, we also give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the love that we have felt from each one of you.

Much has happened over the course of the last year. Our family has experienced the highest of highs and experienced great challenges. However, for every challenge came greater blessings. Each family member grew in a multitude of ways.

Sam and Luther turned 6 this past April. They have lost teeth, grown taller, and played harder than any two boys rightly should. Luther’s favorite thing about school is working on the computer. Sam’s favorite subject is working on projects and working in small groups. They love spending time with each other, their friends, and their family.

Gabriella turned 10 in March. She loves spending time with her friends and her dogs. She is a blooming geologist and loves finding and classifying rocks. She hopes to be an archeologist when she grows up. She loves stuffed animals. She loves the 5th grade. Her favorite subjects in school are mathematics and science. She loves reading and in particular reading mystery and scary books.

Matthew turned 14 in November. He played football this year and his 8th grade football team was 8-0. He plays drums in a Christian rock band called the Unfinished and has shows every month. He is looking forward to high school and playing with the high school marching band and indoor percussion squad. He received his Life Scout award and is pushing for his Eagle Scout award this spring. His life is constantly one of motion and a tide of testosterone. What can we say? He is 14.

Zachary turned 15 in February. He earned his Eagle Scout award in April and continues to be active in scouting. He plays trumpet for the Petal High School marching, jazz, and symphonic bands. The marching band placed second in the State of Mississippi in the 6A division (largest school division in the State). As a sophomore, Zachary loves high school. He got his driving permit in June and will receive his license next week. Everyone stay off of the sidewalks, Zach will be driving.

Candy continues to serve our family as the matriarch, bus driver, head chef, triage nurse, and best friend to her husband and eternal companion, Brent. Her life is filled with taking children to various practices, coordinating schedules, and enduring this period of her life…and this Christmas letter.

Brent continues a busy work, family, and church schedule. He continues to serve as Bishop for the Petal congregation of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He enjoys serving as an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi. He recently received a letter of recommendation from the College promotion and tenure committee recommending him for promotion to Associate Professor and to receive tenure. He too cherishes his time with his best friend and eternal companion.

Rainier is serving in Qatar for the United States Army. He will finish his commitment to the Army in May 2010 and will be returning to Mississippi to attend school at the University of Southern Mississippi. He is proud to have served his country for the last 4+ years but is also excited to pursue higher education as a Golden Eagle. His whole family continues to pray for him and is excited to see him.

In closing, we want to share our Christmas poem with you.
Many a soldier has sought worldly fortunes and glories for all to behold
Many a merchant has sold earthly treasures for that which is purchased with gold

Many a farmer has toiled in harvest for crops to be bartered or sold
Men brave harsh waters for fishes a plenty on seas that are stormy and cold

Yet all these men seek for that which doth rot for temporal blessings fast spent
But we must seek more than worldly rewards for blessings that are heaven sent.

Tis noble of men to ask of the Father what gifts He would have them give
But greater the questions to bring to our God is what life he would have us to live

The greatest gift given is one that is purchased but not on any store shelves
No, the greatest of blessings is found deep within when we give but give of ourselves

As a soldier for Christ we fight God’s battles, as God’s merchants we sell God’s free glory
As farmers of men we grow Christ’s people, as Christ’s fishers cast nets from the story

Of the birth of the Savior our Blessed Redeemer, the One who saves all mankind
For through Him are found the greatest of gifts for each child of God to find.

Pray all for God’s children and seek to do His work, give gifts of great charity
And yours will be all that our Father doth give, the gift of eternity

May the gift of the season be in all our hearts for in Christ we’ll feel the true reason
May we feel of the Spirit of the Savior’s full love, May we find our joys in this season

We pray that God’s blessings find way to your hearts, we pray that each feel God’s love
And hear choirs of angels sing praises of glory and feel peach from our Father above

Merry Christmas to all, Merry Christmas to all, Merry Christmas for all to behold
Merry Christmas to all, Merry Christmas to all, Merry Christmas to all young and old

We hope and pray that this time of year finds you well.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Petal Day of Service - Members of the Petal Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in conjunction with 16 community organizations participated in a day of service. The day began with a clean up of a two-mile section of Highway 11 located just outside of the Petal City limits. This section had been adopted by LDS BSA Troop 125. Approximately 40 members of the Church participated in the clean up efforts. Below are some of the pictures.

Tiffany and Chris Ogle

Stevens/Gerlach Family

Jerrica Stevens

Amanda and Ryan Rich, Richard Tolbert, and Elbert Barton

Lee Wade's smiling face

Matthew Barton, Steven and Lydia Moore, Elbert Barton, and Elder Mecham

The crew resting. Pictured are: Keith Hill, Amanda and Ryan Rich, Ben Fagan, Lydia and Steven Moore, Greg Barr, Christopher Stevens, Richard Tolbert, Brett Tolbert, Elder Mecham, and Matthew Barton.

A trailer full of garbage from Highway 11. Pictured are Lee Wade, Elder Mecham, Elder Hatcher, Brett Tolbert, Greg Barr, and Keith Hill

More of the garbage: Pictured are Zach Hales, Lee Wade, Elder Mecham, Greg Barr, and Brett Tolbert.

Later in the day, the Petal Preparedness Fair was held at the Petal Middle School Gymnasium. Attendees were able to gain valuable preparedness information from 17 displays. They were also treated to Papa John's pizza. The Preparedness Fair was also the culmination of Zach Hales' Boy Scout Eagle Project.

Sargeant Brister from the Mississippi National Guard

The Barr Family enjoying the event.

Some of the displays

Petal Police Department

Dixie Pipeline presenting on natural gas safety.

Several members of the Petal Dome Mutual Aid group talked to attendees about pipeline and natural gas safety.

Mississippi Army National Guard

Preparing 72-hour kits

Trudy from Papa Johns speaking with representatives from the Mississippi Emergency Management District.

Rod Meyers displays information on alternative gardening methods) bucket

Jeffery Griffin from Shady Grove Baptist Church

Food storage ideas.

Dixie Electric

Kids were treated to games, coloring, and a variety of safety activities.

All in all, it was a great event.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Updates and Orange Beach Alabama

Hey all,

It has been way too long since we have posted. Update time:

Zach had an amazing experience at the innauguration. He loved the parade except for the fact that because the innauguration activities were so late, the band was forced to stand outside in sub-freezing temperatures for 6 hours waiting to kick off. Despite the cold, they had the experience of a lifetime. Zach is now busy with school, concert band, and scouting. He will finish his Eagle project next month.

Matthew is doing great. He is loving band (he is first chair in percussion) and has started his own rock band. Not bad for a 13 year old. They sound really good. He too is active in scouting and is working toward an Eagle. He should have it later this year. He also is busy with spring football and is looking forward to his 8th grade year of football.

Gabby is quite the young lady. She turned 10 a few weeks ago and is growing so fast. It is wonderful to watch her blossom. She loves singing, playing with her friends, and activity girls at church. She recently went to New Orleans to the Audobon Society's Insectarium. She had the "opportunity" to eat bugs and did so. She said that some tasted like potato chips. Ummm....yeah.

Sam and Luther turn 6 on Saturday. Wow! They are growing fast. They love kindergarten and are learning to read. We read the scriptures every night and they have begun reading two verses with Mom and Dad's help. They are catching on so quickly.

Candy is going great guns on preparing our house to sell. We are purchasing 13 acres with the plan to eventually build there. It has a lake on it, two rental properties, and plenty of room for an orchard and garden. See the pictures below. She is also busy working out at the YMCA, volunteering at the kids' schools, and keeping up with church responsibilities.

Brent is likewise busy with school, work, church, and everyday life. Too much to write here. Regardless, he is very happy and loves where he is in life. Please don't hesitate to contact him on Facebook.

We have attached some pictures of our recent trip to Orange Beach, Alabama. We went there for a day trip recently and had an amazing time. Very cool. There are also some pictures of the land we are purchasing (we will close June 1). There is also a picture of Brent baptizing a Leslie and Ben Fagan. What an experience!!!