HISTORY

A Little History:
Our story begins in Pocatello, Idaho, circa 1972, when the lovely Debby Christensen agreed to a first, though fateful date with admirer, David Croshaw. Long story-short, he bade her follow him, and they went arm-in-arm to the Logan, Utah temple for establishment of an eternal family unit, Generation 1, on May 23 1973.

From their first blissful summer in Salt Lake City, educational pursuits took them to Provo/Orem, Utah, birthplace of Leslie and Rebecca, and to San Francisco/Oakland California, birthplace of Colin and Matt. Then, for establishment of livelihood, expansion of the tribe with Abby and Dana, and for raising/unifying of Generation 2, it was back to the roots in Pocatello for a rewarding sojourn.

In time, driven by a raging, but commonly shared sense of adventure and independence, one-by-one, Generation 2 escaped the homeland to distant regions of the country and the world, each ultimately developing their own tribal expansions by pairing with worthy mates and initiating Generation 3.

Now sensing fulfillment of their purpose in Pocatello, Generation 1 has also left those roots and transplanted to Cascade Idaho, from which base, they anticipate more abundant contact with The Posterity, Generations 2 and 3, in the future. That contact however, awaits fulfillment of a call to LDS missionary service in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wherein they hope to help the state of the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.

So now, including Generation 0 (Grandma and Grandpa Christensen) home base includes Yuma, Arizona, Pocatello, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Vancouver, BC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spokane, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, back to Boise, Idaho, and on and on (Generation 3+) to infinity.

Our Mission Statement:
This is the blog of our eternal family unit. Initiated years ago, it served well as a journal, but even more so, as an archive of our personal interaction. It was a gathering place, a confabulation instrument, a unifying force for four generations of widely dispersed and progressively prolific posterity, and their valued associates. Though it served these purposes well for many years, it eventually took a back seat to new-kids-on-the-block, Facebook, and Instagram, and was sadly forgotten.

We now move to resurrect this blog with an added functional purpose of archiving the missionary experiences of Generation 1, of their movements and activities as they participate with The Gathering of Israel in the land northward. In so doing, we hope that via their own comments and posts, this blog will again serve to gather and unify the posterity and their friends.

As in the past, that the young and vibrant may know the old and tired, that enduring bonds may be fostered and maintained, that experience and encouragement may be openly shared, that posterity may embrace truth, and that hearts may be knit together, we must resist detachment despite our geographic divergence. We shall do so here.
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Monday, January 31, 2011

Party Number 2


So...there's a party in my tummy too. Too bad I don't have a good Eva depiction of it to post here with the photo. Dana, can you get her to start working on it? I'm curious to know what she's going to look like. ;-)

Sunday, January 30, 2011

There's a party in my tummy!

Eva drew this picture of our family last night.
Look a little closer at her drawing of me. She drew a baby in my belly but had to cover it up because, "You have to wear a shirt mom."
Here I am at almost 32 weeks. We can't wait to meet this little girl, even if we can't figure out what her name is going to be.

Just a fun little factoid.
Lori had Norah 1 day after I was 30 weeks.
Leslie and I figured out a few days before that that we were exactly 10 weeks apart. I'm not sure why it took us 15 weeks to figure that one out. Every 10 weeks you will all get a new niece, unless you're getting a new child.

Okay Les, your turn. :)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Lake Powell anyone?

Hey, remember this post, or this one?

I know there have been  and will be new developments/potential conflicts for many of you  (Becky and Ray - new business;  Colin and Lori - new baby, new job and move to Washington in June; Dana and Jason - new baby in March; Leslie and Alex - new baby in June; Abby and David - having too much fun; etc,) but if we planned a Lake Powell experience for say, middle of August, how many of you could swing it?  Would that be too early for new babies to travel? I would like to get us all together in a beautiful place and practice some of this unity stuff we talk about.  Please post your thoughts.  By the way, check out Crystal's comment on the Igloo post.  She nailed it - 3 babies.
Dad

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Totally Rad 80's Awesomeness

It's been awhile since anything was posted here, so I thought you might be happy to know that I finally found an opportunity to use the infamous grey mullet wig!



Thank you, Chinese wholesalers, for the colossal order mix-up.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Learning something new...

We were up till 1 am preparing cinnamon rolls (Pioneer Woman's), then back up at 6 to pre-heat the oven and have 8 pans cooking for a 9 am fund-raiser for Valerie's trip to Florida in February. Asher is the BEST kitchen helper ever.








The trip is paid-for, but transportation to Dulles Airport is not... So, it was our contribution to take cinnamon rolls to yet ANOTHER fundraiser. We had the concession stand for the school's Cow Patty Bingo. PS- these cinnamon rolls are divine. They really are. They take FOREVER to make, but they are, in fact, THE ANSWER to achieving world peace.






What is Cow Patty Bingo? Well, first, it benefits Heifer International- with a $5000 goal to purchase an ark- enough to get livestock to 38 families. The goal was achieved by many fundraisers, but this is the biggest one.













The football field was marked into 5 yard rectangles and sold for $10 a space.- That is 192 rectangles for the field- $1920 possible, and there were 2 sheets, sooo, $3840- and all squares were sold as of this morning at ten- in 19 degree biting cold.














Then a local farmer- whose daughter Sarah is part of the "Ag Club" shows up with her dad, a trailer, and 2 cows.












This is Cheyenne.












This is Sarah walking Cheyenne like a massive dog.












I think Cheyenne is GORGEOUS!













Chyenne gets to wander the football field for hours (as of 11:30 it was 2.5 hours in) and the cars on the hill... Well, they are waiting for Cheyenne. To poop. In a rectangle that they have hopefully purchased for $10. Then THEY will win $200 for that plop of poop.












Asher and Matt came to deliver more hot cinnamon rolls and look at the cow. Asher was running wild saying "Moooo!!!"













You have no idea how COLD it is! And Asher showed up with no coat ;-) so he had to wear mine (which he did not like), so then he had to go back home.


This is "42" she is also roaming the field. 2 sets of rectangles were sold- if 42 poops, that counts as round two. Cheyenne is round 1.












Valerie's trip leader, Kasja Nicholas. She is a wonderful lady and reminds me so much of Debby. I love her. She is amazing and kind and nice AND taking 25 8th graders to Florida.














Anyway, thought you all would love to hear about the Cow Patty BINGO. In all reality, a crowd is currently gathered in Broadway, VA waiting for a cow to poop. What a "crappy" fundraiser.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Gratitude and Charity

Very touching.  Service is about commitment and gratitude to the Savior.  Selflessly serving others, regardless of our own status or level of need, is the mode by which He asks us to express our love for him.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Just something to laugh with...



I kind of really love this and thought you might as well.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Doctrinal Question?

Tiffany a good friend of Crystal's who is extremely religious/spiritual and not LDS brought up a questions about a scripture in the New Testament. Interestingly enough this friend has moved to Kansas City, MO due to it becoming an area of great religious excitement:-)

The reference is Matthew 22:23-30

When I read the verses (particularly verses 29-30) I was left feeling a little confused especially since the only direct scriptural cross references I have found are in the Doctrine and Covenants. What makes it more difficult is that verses 29-30 are Christs words. I gave the only answer I knew. I really don't know why these verses say what they do. I was raised knowing that eternal marriage was practiced even in the times of the Old Testament and that the Pearl of Great Price helps to sustain that. I'm just don't know how to go about addressing this honest and heartfelt question Tiffany has raised. I want to know the right answer so I don't make a fool of myself.

Please let responses show some quiet dignity and respect for all feelings. Please try to see this question from all points of view.

Death

Strange topic for the blog?  Yeah, but this is a great talk on the subject, and will help you focus on the Plan of Salvation.  It's about 55 minutes long, so watch when you have time.
Dad