HAPPY 83RD BIRTHDAY MERRINER!

My dad LOVES his family and nothing makes him happier than to have all the Jones' he can gather together, around him! Therefore... for his 83rd birthday he planned (with the help of Trisha, who sent out emails for him) a JONES FAMILY TREASURE HUNT up at "The Stairs" which is on the Whetten's Ranch above Colonia Juarez. The purpose of our Treasure Hunt was to hunt for the Colonia Juarez Stake Records that were hidden at the time of the Exodus in about 1912. We all gathered at Trisha and Dana's house in Colonia Juarez! I was right proud of the Jones family that day because we got off only 45 minutes late! That's a record for this huge crowd!

Everyone that was "man enough" rode their four wheelers! The rest of us rode in our trucks and carried everyone else's lunches and stuff!

Dana was the head man and led the way, since he had all the keys to open the gates!

Visa... Tony & Chris' German Shepherd was in "dog heaven" as she was invited along " for the ride!" She rode on the front of the motto... loving every minute of her experience!

Grandpa and great grand son, Jamison were the oldest and youngest people to ride their mottos all the way up... which was about an hour and forty five minute ride! It was a pretty tough ride for such a young little guy... since his motto at times had a hard time making up the steep embankments! At one point his dad asked him if he wanted to put his motto in the back of one of the trucks... but Jamison said, "No, I want to finish!" Good for you, Jamo!! Grandpa "held his own" with the rest of them and never complained but had a big smile on his face the whole day!

Representing the "Thomas Henry Jones" original family were dad, Aunt Lanny, Aunt Christine and Uncle Ron!

Dad had copies of the original pictures taken at the time the records were hidden and written instructions to the place where they could be found!

After we had all eaten he laid out the necessary information! Showing us all the pictures of what the area looked like back then!

Frank read the written instructions for finding the records... adding his own comments and making us all laugh!!

We all then took off in search of the records! Everyone heading in their own perceived direction! We were hopeful of recovering the records but it was not meant to be! Maybe the time isn't right yet and we need to return in FOUR YEARS! (Sound like a familiar story?) Either way, it was fun to be united in the same purpose and enjoying the mountains!

While we were all walking and riding around looking we discovered Big Bear and Stanley taking a little snooze on a nice warm rock!

We were a tired and DIRTY bunch of people as we headed for home! We have decided to return before school starts and hide a treasure of our own for future generations to look for in about 100 years! We will have better pictures and better instructions than our pioneer forefathers did, that's for sure!! Thanks dad, for creating another wonderful memory for those of us who joined you for your Treasure Hunt Birthday Party! I think EVERYONE had a GREAT TIME!

IS THERE ANY DOUBT THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN?

When Christmas time rolled around in Dec. 2009, my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas... to which I replied, "A really pretty picture of Jesus?" " Don't you have enough of those yet? " he asked. " You can NEVER have TOO MANY pictures of Jesus," which is my firm belief, was my answer. Here are the pictures of Jesus that I have around my house. I LOVE them all!

I guess it could be said that I am a little obsesive! When someone comes into my home, I hope there is no doubt in their mind that I am a Christian! It is obvious, isn't it? But then the question pops into my mind.... "Does my life and do my actions testify equaly that I am a Christian?"

One of my very favorite pieces of religious music is this song by Janice Kapp Perry.

"His Image in Your Countenance!!" Love, LOVE, LOVE this song! And so I ask myself,

Have I received His image in my countenance?

Does the Light of Christ shine in MY eyes?

Will He know me when He comes again,

Because I will be like Him?

When He sees me,

Will The Father know His child,

By His everlasting image in MY eyes???

ONE GROSS CURE!!!

Oh my goodness! I have been the MOST annoying person to be around for the past 5 weeks! I have my " annual " cough! Uugghh!!! For about 2 months every year I literally about cough my lungs out! This year is no exception! I started the ritual on the 10th of February and have been to 3 doctors and tried every suggested remedy anyone has given me! Antibiotics, cough syrup, anti-inflamatory medication, honey & lemon juice, cough drops and the lastest one... given to me by the doctor in El Paso... Prilosec! NOTHING HELPS! I've had a deep chest cough that about drives everyone nuts, including ME! This cough has kept me from church, the temple and my daily walks! I just hole up here in the house for the duration! Well... yesterday, Deanna (Tyson's wife) told me she had been to Casas to buy me something for my cough but the store was closed. Since she was leaving to go back to El Paso, she gave me the information to go buy it myself. She also left me with her testimonial as to how well this remedy works! Chris, Trisha & I went looking for this remedy at a Mega-Botanica pharmacy! The first one... all out! The second one didn't carry it but because Chris insisted we perservered and went to a third place and found this "Jarabe Respiracion."

As I walked out of the store, I unscrewed the cap and took a big swig! Initially, not too bad, but a terrible after taste! Then I handed the bottle to Chris who began to read me the ingredients! For those of you who don't speak Spanish... the main ingredient is "extract from a Skunk's liver!" GROSS!!! I wanted to throw up on the spot! Then Trisha says, "Chris, don't read her the ingredients!" As this concoction went down I "FELT" something in my lungs.... kinda of a warming feeling! I have continued GAGGING it down while plugging my nose every four hours for the past 24 hours!! On Tuesday I finally said to myself, "If nothing is going to cure this cough I am just going to get on with life!" I went to the temple and spent the time trying my darndest to squelch my cough! I went walking on Wednesday and literally coughed about every ten steps! Then, Wednesday afternnon... THE SKUNK REMEDY!! Last night I slep like a baby with not a single cough all night long! THIS MORNING I went walking with Chris & Lynnette and enjoyed the fresh air and the conversation! Not a real cough out of me! (A couple of half hearted LITTLE ones but NOTHING LIKE THE RIP ROARING ONES I HAVE DELIVERED FOR THE PAST 5 WEEKS!)

My new FAVORITE PERSON is Deanna and my NEW FAVORITE ANIMAL is this darling little SKUNK!!! I am going to buy a whole case of this stuff for my HOME STORAGE! I think this might very well be my SECOND MIRACLE!!!

Only in the MORMON COLONIES!!!

Part of the experience of being " Raised On Dublan Sunshine" is PLAYING BASKETBALL! There aren't a lot of things to entertain oneself with here in Dublan so whatever there is available we usually all do it! (On of the advantages of being from a small town is that you are a BIG FISH in the small pond and most everyone is involved in everything!) In Dublan basketball has always been a big source of entertainment and we start 'em out young! Here in Dublan we not only have a Stake YM/YW Basketball tournament but we go to great extremes! We also have Stake Relief Society, Stake High Priest and Elder's tournaments and also a Stake PRIMARY Basketball Tournament... with two divisions! 3 to 6 and 7 to 11 year olds!

I am not sure if we hold this tournament for the kids or the parents!!! While I was watching the game I also became engrossed in watching the parents watch their kids! It was hilarious! I'm sure each parent there envisioned their child being the future star of the MIGHTY Lobo or Loba team! Here in Dublan... quite removed from all the exciting entertainment that big cities have to offer, we still enjoy the basics! Children, church and EACH OTHER!

BIG BEAR IS OUT OF THE DOG HOUSE!!

As much as I love Big Bear, I have to admit that he has not always been the MOST ROMANTIC husband on the planet! This year... he actually neglected to get me anything for Valentines! No card, no flowers, no gift....ZIP! NADA! NOTHING! Of course, I was crushed and shed many tears over his thoughtlessness! (After all, I got HIM tickets to the US Open Golf Tournament!) He apologized to me several times, with a PROMISE to make it up to me! I thought to myself... "Yeah, right!" This week, when I flew into El Paso from California, Big Bear made good on his promise! He had some beautiful fresh flowers for me and two gifts which he had purchased and wrapped himself! (He even took little bows from home with him and then in his excitement forgot to put them on his gifts!)

When I opened them up I was so pleased to find this beautiful heart shaped necklace... made of white gold and a pair of earings! He was quick to point out to me that they are NOT from Wal Mart but were actually bought from a JEWELRY store.... Kay Jewelers!

I have decided that his efforts to redeem himself were sufficient and have allowed him to come out of the dog house! I want to thank the GREAT PHILOSOPHER, Dr. Phil who through his daily instructions taught me this profound truth! "You teach people how to treat you!" Big Bear may be a slow learner but he may actually be catching on!!! Gotta love him!

Meet "FLAT STANLEY!

Flat Stanley is a friend of our grandson, Hayden! He has come to spend the next month with Big Bear and Lita! We are so happy to have him in our home and are excited to show him around our town! He seems to be a really nice guy although he is not too talkative! This frustrates Big Bear! You all know how he likes to visit!

He was excited to be entering a "foreign country!" We hope he will pick up some Spanish while he is here! I'm sure he'll be surprised at how different Mexico is from where he came from in California! I think Big Bear and Stanley will get along fine! As you can see, Stanley has his blue tooth ready to listen to Big Bear anytime Big Bear calls him on his cell phone! I hope Stanley will like Mexican food, because that is about all we eat around here! We are to "document" Stanley's visit here in Mexico with pictures and help him write in his journal. After the month is over, he will go back to California and report to the kids in Hayden's class about his trip to Mexico! WELCOME to our "chante!" Stanley!

I am not ashamed !!!

Some wonderful people came up with the amazing idea of creating an online "testimony" video entitled "I am not ashamed!" Their website and Facebook link encourage people to share their testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel and share scriptures from the Bible! I LOVE this idea! I am looking for a special scripture from the Bible so I can post my video testimony with so many others who love the Savior and are not ashamed to say so! I am so thankful for good Christian people who want to share their testimonies with the rest of the world! It's like a HUGE WORLDWIDE TESTIMONY MEETING!

It renews my faith in mankind!!

I wish I had thought of this!!!

http://http//iamnotashamed.org/

Meanwhile.... back at the Hatch House !!!

This is one busy family! They literally RUN from one place to another! Ballet and piano for Rylee, baseball for Hunter & Hayden, Scouts for Hayden, pre-school for Keaton, Young Womens for Alixe and of course, long work hours for Preston but they still find time to enjoy life! They are a lively, fun loving family! Theres never a dull moment at their house!

CLARITA'S VERSION OF "IN & OUT!"

Where there is a will, there is a way! This is my amazingly agile and athletic granddaughter! Guess it's time to let her just sleep on the " big girl bed" because there is no keeping her in her crib anymore!