Monday, June 30, 2008

Email Addresses/Ashurity

Hey Joanna--is there a way to list everyone's email address on a side bar or something? I wanted to check with a few of you privately...but don't have addreses. Is this a public blog---i'm guessing it is...so all would be able to see our addresses. Mine is all over the place---so I don't mind.

Ashurity---you are one of the ones I wanted to get ahold of. Were you able to call Crystal and have her cancel her payment on the family website? The quicker she does it, the better!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

The Bad News Bears

Well---first off...let me say yes..Ashley we seem to have a target on the side of all of our cars (or mostly the back end really). I'm not sure why this is. I told Garrin that he was just trying to "one up" me. HA. Wish he wouldn't have. Garrin was in front of the shop in a customer's car and a little 16 yr old was NOT paying attention. She didn't even see him stopped there until right before she hit him. Needless to say---he's got some serious whiplash and hobbles home each night.

Next....Devin is in SLC Thursday night and someone broke into his car. They smashed the driver's side window and stole his stereo/deck, broke his AC circuit board and stole his Ipod. They did about $1500 damage to the car plus the ipod that the insurance would not cover. We initially thought that his laptop had been stolen too. He had it on the backseat under his backpack which contained his digital camera. It was gone. The next day at about 11am he FOUND the laptop under the passenger seat of the car. WOW. We can't figure out how it got under there---but he's so grateful not to have lost it. The guy in the car next to him was also broken into....also through smashing the window. He also lost his deck and Ipod. But, unfortunately for him, he also had his wallet in there with $500 cash, credit cards, driver's license and social security card. Devin exchanged numbers with him and found out that someone found his wallet minus the cash and ONE credit card. Amazing! What a "lucky" guy.

Next thing that qualifies us for the bad news bears.....Devin woke us up at 7:30 this morning throwing up and in a lot of pain. Good thing for us that the instacare opened at 8:00 out in Saratoga Springs. I didn't have an extra $150 laying around for the ER. After a few tests, they determined that he was dehydrated and had kidney stones AGAIN. Ugh!!! Not fun stuff. Hope they pass soon!

And...last but not least....typed this whole post and the blog went down and I lost it....oh brother!
So...in short...I think we deserve the bad news bears of the week award. LOL! If you have important events in your life coming up (playoff games, etc)---I would suggest NOT inviting US! LOL!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

I'm Getting Better

I goofed, but now I have figured out  that to post on this site, I just need to hit new post on the site instead of just adding to comments.  Stefanie......don't you dare say anything! Ha!  Anyway, go to our blog site -- I even added some music!  Patriotic don't you think!  Tonight I'll put our pics on after my battery charges!  Ha!

Ellis Family Website

Hey everyone,

I just got an e-mail that the family site was renewed. Did this happen automatically from who ever paid last year? Is there anyway the renewal can be cancelled?

Speach by the Father of a Columbine victim.

I really thought that the points in this speach is worth while. This was given to the Judiciary Committee of the House in combination of the Supreme Court Considering the Gun laws of Washington DC.

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm? On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado , was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript: 'Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. 'The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the fi eld. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. 'In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly f ingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies h ere in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four ni ghts ago that expresses my feelings best.

"Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question 'Why?' You regulate r estrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need!"

'Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopp ed by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. 'As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium wit h a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!' Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Good bye UTAH, Hello WASHINGTON

Well, we will no longer be among the Utahns in the family. We are off to Washington. Spencer starts his new job with Key Technologies in Wall Walla on July 21. It will definitely be an adventure. The kids and I will stay out here until the house sells and then we we will go join Spencer. We just pray that the house will not take too long to sell.

Stefanie

Stefanie - write down your email in the comments, and I'll send you out another invite.

And to anyone else - if you have any troubles with posting or anything - let me know.

Joanna

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

FAMILY REUNION: Friday Night Dinner

Hey Everyone! The Ellis Family Reunion is quickly approaching. Instead of a potluck dinner Friday night, Tammy wants to do Mexican haystacks, with each family bringing an item (listed below) for approximately ___50_____ people. We realize that not everyone can make it to the reunion this year, so if a representative from each family will be sure that their food item is covered, that would be great.

Randy and Chris Ellis Family: any kind of a dessert.
Merilee and Harold Waters Family: corn chips, a couple bags.
Kevin and Sylvia Ellis Family: Salads
Lanett and Barry Hallows Family: Salads
Garrin and Stephanie Ellis Family:Condiments, cheese, lettuce, sour cream
Margo and Jeff Sears Family:Corn Chips a couple bags
Ashley and Spencer and Cory and Joanna: Condiments: cheese, lettuce, sour cream.
Grandma and Grandpa:green onions,olives,salsa
and Kim and Tammy will provide the meat.

We only listed the parents but cousins you are assigned the same thing as your family.
Please spread the word!
Hope everyone can make it.
Love,
Chase and Kori.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Update on Troy and Aspen




We are enjoying Texas more and more all the time. I just got back from a week at girls camp being almost 7 months pregnant in the Texas heat. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...although I do have a few stories. hopefully i'll get some pictures put on here to go with them. I survived a 5 mile hike with the girls as well as all the wildlife. it was crazy how many animals we saw and came in contact with. The deer would come right up to our campsite and beg for food. It was sad - they are so skinny from having no food to eat. Everything is so dry that I wonder what they live on. The havalinna's on the other hand were ravinous beasts. There would be a scout havalinna that would come out and go from campsite to campsite until he would find food, then snort and all the others would come in and fight over it. Everynight we had about 10-12 that we would have to chase off. I recieved the havalinna warrior award chasing them all off on my way to the bathroom everynight (one of the perks of pregnancy that I don't necessarily enjoy!). We also had a gray fox come close to camp everynight as well as skunks and vultures. Definately the most lively girls camp I've ever been to! to wrap up the great week, instead of driving the 5 hours to get back to Del Rio, it only took me 1 1/2 hours in a little 4 seater airplane. That was an adventure (and Troy is now jealous because he's the one in pilot training and hasn't been able to fly yet)! Our Branch President is a fighter pilot in th eAir Force and he owns this little plane. He flew out to attend the testimony meeting the last night and stayed to help break up camp the next day and flew back. One of the other leaders needed to get back quick and so I went with the two of them. It was tons of fun and now that i've flown in one, Troy thinks it will be easier to convince me that we need to buy one. I told him to get through pilot training first and we'll see. He is doing well with his training. Even though they are keeping him super busy, he enjoys what he is doing and anxious to get out on the flightline. One more week and he will be there! We'll keep you updated as he gets further and starts flying solo.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Pictures of Gavin





Born: June 16, 2008 5:56pm


Weight: 6 lb 14 oz


Height: 19 3/4 in


Full Name: Gavin Andrew Marcano

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Pictures of Gavin Marcano









Here are some pictures that I was able to get off from my phone of Gavin at approx 30 Minutes old.


Welcome to the family

I would like to strt out by saying Congratulations to Chalice and Jhonny and welcome to Gavin. I look forward to seeing pictures.
Also, I am excited about the family blog and hope to learn lots about blogging and keep up with the family.
Good news! Wes was able to talk to his boss and he has July 11 off from work so we will be able to make an appearance at the reunion. YAH!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Gavin Marcano

Yesterday Chalice and Jhonny welcomed Gavin to this world. He is a chubby little boy with a little of Dad and Mom in appearance. He was born about 5:30 PM on Monday June 16, 2008. I am sure Chalice will add more when she gets out of the hospital. The only picture I have in one my phone and I am not sure how to get it to this message but I am sure Chalice will post pictures soon.

Not Even an Ellis Can Be an Island

So on Father’s day I was asking my dad about the Ellis peoples that I have never known. You know… his grandmas and grandpas. I am really interested in their stories.

I have some pretty far out ideas about family that has passed on… like that they really are around us helping us become better. Part of the reason I think this is that we are born perfect, but by nature of being human we take on the really beautifully developed talents and gifts of our ancestors as well as their shortcomings. I am sure we have all heard things like… “Oh he has his fathers temper”… right?

So I kind of have this little idea that they are helping us from the other side to overcome any short comings bestowed upon us simply for being born. So this little idea of mine I think (this is gospel according to Tanya)… can be backed by the idea of the spirit of Elias turning “the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Mal. 4:6, Luke 1:17, 3 Ne. 25:6, D&C 2:2, D&C 27:9, D&C 110:15) I know these scriptures are talking about temple work specifically, but I also think these crazy little ideas I have can be another level of interpretation.

I was thinking about Alma chapter 8 when he talks about how it will be better for the Lamanites than for the Nephites. One of the reasons he gives is that the Lamanite seed will remain, whereas the Nephites will be wiped out. Not only do the Lamanites get the gospel in the last days, but the Lamanite fathers have more time to help their sons over come the “wicked traditions of the fathers”.

With this all said I hope some of you are still with me… I really really want to know more about the grandparents’ aunts and uncles that I have never known.

I asked Grandpa (Merthan) about his mother… He told me that she had a sharp tongue… You know, my siblings can testify of my feisty temper and sharp tongue. Does it come from this grandma I don’t remember meeting? I can’t say, but my hair probably does. From asking my siblings that remember Grandma Elision, I know that she really loved flowers… Is that where my love for beauty comes from?… Again, I can’t really say… But I do trust that they are around us helping us out…

My dad, Randy, told me a story or two about his grandparents. In fact once I got him started last Sunday he couldn’t stop. So, I invite you all that knew the Ellis grandparents that the rest of us didn’t to share both their strengths and their weaknesses... I am just trying to help Elias thats all.

Update on Chase and Kori

Chase is busy taking summer classes and completing his internship. He is set to graduate in December of this year with a degree in Park and Recreation Management. We are currently looking into grad schools and are excited to see where we will end up.

Chase made a baby blanket for our little girl
who will be here sometime before September. He was so excited to make a special blanket for her made just by him. It was his first attempt at sewing and he did an awesome job!



I'm really enjoying being pregnant, but am also really looking forward to meeting our baby girl. Still working full time at the library at Utah State University and keeping busy with preparing for the baby - my current project is piecing together a baby quilt.

We try to update our personal blog on a weekly basis -
be sure to check it out. The link is on the right

Monday, June 16, 2008

I like the Idea of a family blog

This will be fun to have for our family!!! Hope everyone is doing good. If you guys want to see pictures of mine and dads little river adventure check out the blog I created for the ORC. It is usuorc.blogspot.com/. Hope all are doing well.
Love, Chase and Kori.

TUTORIAL: Creating a Google Account

If you do not have a Google Account - you will need to do so in order to post on the family blog. Go to this site to create your account - GOOGLE ACCOUNT. It will ask you a few simple questions, and you'll be all taken care of!

TUTORIAL: Adding a picture to your post


If you want to add a picture to your blog post it is very easy.


  1. First follow the steps to create a new blog post.

  2. Before you publish the post you will click on the picture icon (which is the 3rd icon from the right).

  3. Then a new window will open.

  4. Click on the box that says "Browse". This will take you to your computer, where you will find the file that you want to upload. (Remember where you saved the picture - and look for it through the files. Generally people save their pictures in a folde under "My Pictures").

  5. After you find the file you want to upload click on it and then click on "Save".

  6. The file address will then be listed in the box that was blank.

  7. If you want to add more than one picture - click on "Add another image" and then you will follow steps 4-6 again.

  8. Then you can choose the layout that you want to use - choose if you want the picture to be centered, to the right or left, small, medium or large.

  9. Finally click on upload image and the image will begin to load.

  10. Once the image has loaded it will say, "Your image has been added". Click on "DONE" and the image should show up in your post. You will then save the post, and publish it.

TUTORIAL: Adding Comments

  1. When you read someone's post and want to add comments to the post it is very simple. At the bottom of the post there will be a spot that will say "___# of Comments". Click on that, and it will take you to a comment section.
  2. Type your comment into the comment box.
  3. Type the "word verification" that you see.
  4. Log-in so we will know who made the comment.
  5. Click on "Publish your comment"
  6. Viola! Your comment will be included!

TUTORIAL: Creating a new post

  1. Log in to blogger at the main page: www.blogger.com (to do this you will need a google username and password, which is easy to create. If you already have a blog with blogger, you will be able to use your same account to log-in).
  2. In the "Blogger Dashboard" there should be a spot that says, "Manage Your Blogs". Under that there should be a listing of any blogs you contribute to. Our blog - "The Ellis Family" should be listed.
  3. Click on "New Post" under "The Ellis Family".
  4. Type in a title for your post.
  5. Create your post in the spot provided. If you are just including text you just type in the box. It is just like most word processing programs, and you can change the text color, add lists, etc.
  6. If you want to add pictures to your post you will click on the icon that is 3rd from the right, up on the top (it looks like a picture) - and walk through those steps. (I'll add another tutorial for that).
  7. You can "Save Now", and publish it later - if you want to add to it, or aren't ready for it to show up on the blog for some reason. Generally you will click on "Save Now", and when you are done you will click on "Publish Post". After you click on "Publish Post" it will take you to a window and give you the option to "View Blog". Click on that, check out your post, and enjoy!

If you these instructions aren't clear - post in the comments, and we'll answer your questions.

Our new family blog

So here it is - the Ellis Family Blog! If you are new to blogging - don't worry - this is REALLY easy! Stay tuned and I will be posting tutorials of how to make your own post, how to comment on other's posts, and how to add pictures to your posts.

If you are a blogging pro and have any other tips or tricks - please feel free to chime in and add your own posts.

But bookmark this page and check back often - hopefully we can keep this site hopping.