link to elizabeth bday pics

http://blipse.blogspot.com/

GRANDPA ROBIN HOOD

So Eliza likes family history and found out today while searching lines that we are all related to a guy named David of v Huntington (started following grandma ivy Smith hogan's line). As she clicked to find out more the stories tell that he went through the crusades and was friends with king Richard the lion, and is actually ROBIN HOOD!  she'll have to fill you in on the details!  But yeah.  I knew we were cool.

add your kids as authors, upload family reunion pics, subscribe, FB?

I just sent an invite to all of the emails Kris gave me for her kids.  I can add other grandchildren if I you send me their addresses.

I never saw the group pic from the reunion...can anyone post a few?

It's easy to subscribe to the blog so when there is a new post you will receive an email.  Ask me if you need help doing that.

A long time ago I set up a family page on FB but that was the end of it!  It may be a better/easier way to keep in touch but Mom and Dad ( and others?) aren't on it so...any ideas?    I am inviting family members to that group but if I miss someone it's because I couldn't find them on FB.  Please invite them.  We can use FB to post links to the blog if you only want to post on the blog and not FB.  I'm sure as we try it out we'll figure out what works.

Isaac homecoming pictures

http://blipse.blogspot.com/2015/10/isaac-first-date-homecoming-2015.html?m=1

Above is a link with pictures from Isaac's recent homecoming date.

Zuppa Toscana

Here is a pretty easy soup recipe I found after eating it at Olive Garden and now it's one of Paul's favorites. It has a great flavor because the sausage. (I've never taken time to do it with bacon)  I'll be making this tonight with some warm breadsticks. 

INGREDIENTS

SERVINGS 4-6

• 1 lb  Sausage
• 2large  russet baking potatoes, sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices
• 1large  onion, chopped
• 1⁄4cup  bacon bits (optional)
• 2garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups  kale or 2 cups  swiss chard, chopped
• 2(8 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1quart  water
• 1cup  heavy whipping cream (I usually use evaporated milk)

• DIRECTIONS

  1. Brown sausage in your soup pot.
  2. Add chicken broth and water to pot and stir.
  3. Place onions, potatoes, and garlic in the pot.
  4. Cook on medium heat until potatoes are done.
  5. Add bacon.
  6. Salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
  8. Turn to low heat.
  9. Add kale and cream.
  10. Heat through and serve.

Blast from the past

Hannah wanted  picture of me with my bowl hair cut. She used it in an Instagram post comparing it to some recent style in vogue. Thought you'd enjoy seeing Erv

and Chrystell. Yes, it's upside down!

Cinnamon Roll Cake Recipe

You gotta try this recipe! Fed missionaries last night and they each ate two big pieces and took more home for later!

My Ponderizings for the week of October 4-11, 2015

"To Him our direction is ever more important than our speed."  Larry R. Lawrence 10/3/15

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."  Alma 37:6

Any fellow ponderizers?

Enoch's Missionary Letter from 10.5. 2015:  Transfers!

Well, it has happened again, that was the fastest 9 weeks yet and it just keeps going. Transfers, my old campanion is making his way home back to Australia and I am staying in Zadar and training a new Elder! It is exciting. Both the sisters that were here before are staying which is a first in my time here in Zadar and with the new senior couple we will be a functioning normal district again! Well, normal for this mission anyway. It is really exciting! 

I am excited to find out my new Elder! I will find out who it will be probably Wednesday morning but we meet them all tomorrow. So right now I am in the city called Karlovac and tomorrow I will be in Zagreb and sleep there and go home to Zadar Wednesday night with my new best friend! 

Things that happened this week. It is always hard to remember the beginning of the week. Well, we had English class Tuesday and thursday, transfer calls were thursday morning but I already knew what I was doing, that was more about finding out travel plans for getting to and from Zagreb and when. One of the Sisters made a thing called Korean Beef which was just absolutely amazing, it is ground beef cooked with sesame oil, soy sauce, chili peppers flakes, garlic... and maybe somethign else, I can't remember, with rice and ramen noodles and fry sauce. It is a lettuce wrap dish. You choose a leaf of lettuse, put some of the fry sauce on then some meat, rice, noodles, wrap it and eat it with your hands. It was amazing as I previously mentioned. 

Other things that happened, we were let in to one old guys house who was Athiest because his family was killed during world war two. But it seemed more like he just didn't agree with the teeachings of the Catholic church and didn't want to associate himself with them. So we were able to have a really good converstation with him and bear our testimony to him, we even invited him to general conference. He was a really nice guy, I want to go back sometime this week and talk to him again. 

Then we also talked to one of our recent investiagators and his wife and talked about faith and free agency and how we know about truths. This was the first time we met with his wife and she was really defensive at the beginning until we showed her we were sincere and friendly, she enjoyed talking with us but didn't want to continue meeting with us. Her husband has had some signs from God leading him to us, and different things. I have a lot of hopw for them but maybe not soon. I will be checking up on them to see how they are because I really love these people.

General Conference was amazing and good to see how much I improved in understanding Croatian, and how much I still really need to learn. 

I am so thankful for the joy the gospel brings into my life, I just want to share it with everyone, because I know every single person can feel the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ and his infinite and campassionate love for them!

I love you all,

Elder Olmstead

Family dinner in Oregon

The fam in Oregon got together last night at David's house. We enjoyed some vegetarian chili made by Matt and salad from Shauntel and dessert from Suzanne. You would never know that Megan and I did not try to dress alike when you see the picture we have.

Isaacs 16th birthday

Isaac

We celebrated Isaac's birthday several days late because we had friends in town on his actual birthday. Plus I think he wanted the whole day to celebrate and not be stuck in school!  

He chose orange chicken from panda express for his birthday lunch that I delivered to school. When I asked if he wanted me to bring cupcakes to share with his friends he politely declined.  

The kids went to the store earlier in the week to pick gifts for him. Leah bought him a basketball return, Benjamin got him some of his favorite food like Takis and Doritos. Elizabeth bought a basketball and Daniel picked out a car for a 16th birthday. A matchbox car, that is. 

He slept through a good part of conference and we had to wake him up to open his presents. I guess cross-country, seminary and school, not to mention wanting to stay up late every night, takes a toll and he has to catch up on the weekends. 

We love you, Isaac!!