Christmas Eve with the Bentleys, Tampico MX 12-24-2008 8-31-12 PM.JPG
Christmas Eve with the Bentleys, Tampico MX 12-24-2008 10-17-34 PM.JPG
Christmas Eve with the Bentleys, Tampico MX 12-24-2008 10-17-53 PM.JPG
Christmas Eve with the Bentleys, Tampico MX 12-25-2008 12-02-04 AM.JPG
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Dear descendants of Dashing Doe,
Well, it finally came to pass. After faithfully cooking, cleaning, ironing and otherwise caring for most of my wants and needs for more than 500 moons, the great, great, great granddaughter of Running Deer finally gave me notice that it was time to learn to survive on my own. At first it was kind of subtle, like offering to teach me how to make fire in the cooking place, or showing me where she puts her pottery and woven baskets, or how to wash mud from my clothes or what to do with leftovers. But I knew there was reason to worry when she told me in plain sign language that before the new moon appeared, she would leave me here alone in this land of crocodile infested lagoons and cucarachas and go to the place of the five great lagoons and the brave wolverines to see her papooses and be closer to the land of the fierce gophers where she and her tribe dwelt before I took her away to be my squaw. She will take most of my wampum with her but says not to worry because she will leave five kernels of dried corn, enough to last until I learn to hunt, gather and prepare my food for myself. Sometimes I think maybe she will like it more where she is going and that she will not hurry back to me. But maybe she only wants to go away until I learn how much wampum a good squaw is worth. I think I will miss her a lot. If she does not come back to me soon, maybe when she sees me tahen I will be as lonesome and as eager to see her as I was when I first took her away to be my squaw. If I do not learn to cook for myself very soon maybe she will not recognize me then because I look very different without my fat face, bulging belly, hemongous hips and thunderous thighs.
If I don't make it until she returns, I would like to always be remembered as Anthony the Thin, otherwise known as "el Flaco".
Vuestro Abuelito
I felt inspired to write to all the "almost" unemployed bentleys. I thought this might be a good time to start a commune and start sharing everything (except wives - that's yucky). Think of the benfits...Rick and Charlie could earn most of the money (with zack to take over when he graduates). Dave and I can earn our keep by drawing pictures for the children and building furnature - The garage is one of my favorite places. We have James who can farm like no one else, and also has a large supply of animals to eat if the going gets rough. We can't count on Rick or steve's hunting ability to bring in food, but with a little luck we will have plenty of rabbits and dog to eat. Dan, you are in charge of looking for a nice parcel of land somewhere in the wilderness. I think it's got potential. Just a couple of updates from our household. Most of you know that we are expecting another girl around the 18th of May. We are pretty excited. The kids are all doing well in school. Cecelia and Levi are making pinewood derby cars (CC is too young, but we thought it would be fun) for the race on the 30th. Francesca seems to enjoy nursery (she has never cryed) which is a milestone for us. Elijah makes a scary teenager, but is doing good and especially enjoys Jazz band. Rachel is making another baby and baby quilt, and Steve will see his last day of work around the end of May. We are looking at jobs in Colorado, Utah and Arizona so we may be near some of you soon. We especially enjoy being so close to Rick and Marisa and wish we had more of you to play settlers of Catan with - Rick or Marisa usually kick our butts but we have a good time. We are thinking of coming to Utah for spring break for a few days. We would love to see any of our UT kinsfolk. Much Love, SREILCF and probably M for (Margarette) |
[Mary even left the job to me and I struggled to send the mysterious creature down the abyss. ] Classic! BY the by, Rick had to get a new high flow toilet installed. He claims it is because Linc keeps flushing toys down, but I suspect it has more to do with being a bentley. Sburger |
The Last leg of our flight home after a great month in SLC... STILL SMILING.
O.K. I can't help the biast opinion, this is the cutest 2 year old I know!!! The elephant's not half bad either.
In the same breath, this is the cutest 3 month old on the planet.
Ah, here we are, the whole family at the boat show enjoying a day of make-believe. :)
Look, it's Kaitlyn with Duma the waterskiing dog. She was seriously impressed.Davey Stu wrote a BBB! Dad and I think it is a first time miracle (a bonus of unemployment?)! Good going Dave. We do feel it is an interesting fact that of our eight children we have, or shortly will have, four unemployed (Steve, Dave, Zach, Dan). At least you're educated and all good looking!
--
David Bentley
David Bentley
586 7700016
videos of what I do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUTHIa8LA5w&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVa4HH3w3AY&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJf6kTrfPVM&feature=channel
images of what I do
http://picasaweb.google.com/bentled/SampleOfWork#
Why don't we just act like a normal family and post articles when interesting or meaningful things happen in our life's. Now I realize most of us won't do that on our own so we could make it at least expected quarterly. That's my vote. To quote the great film Robin Hood, "absence makes the heart grow fonder"…………..or forgetfull?
With that I will write my own bb now because I never learned how to post an article.
Mandi and I are continuing our quest for "glory" in the spiritual sense as we spend countless hours and dollars at the fertility clinic. Who knew that I had misshapen swimmers? I always assumed I would be fertile as a jackrabbit. There have been positives to this whole experience however. Mandi and I have certainly grown closer and have quit spending money on baby sales. In a strange twist of fate we may actually make $17,000 dollars for reproducing, but that is another story. We are trying to enjoy this time of our lives and in our longing for a brood we have acquired quite the zoo. We now have 2 dogs, 2 bearded dragons, an Asian soft-shelled turtle, and all kinds of insects (although they should be considered food.)
School is back in session and life is busy again. I have Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and a 45-50 hour work week. Now I know you are all saying wait until you have kids, but I have 5 animals to take care of and Mandi can handle all that baby stuff. (It just occurred to me that some of you may not be inserting my sarcastic tone of voice throughout this article so please don't think me a jerk.) School is going well and at least my classes are very interesting in light of our current economic status. It doesn't look good people! I'm investing in food storage and self sufficiency training. Good thing I have honed my man vs. wild skills and have edible pets on hand.
We had fun having some family in town and especially having Chubs stay with us for a few nights. He's definitely more of a whiting because he's the only family member to stay at my house that hasn't clogged the toilet. Mary and Steve and maybe a few others (you know who you are) are Bentleys. I wonder if I lack the water pressure. The looks on both their faces were classic and identical as they reluctantly inquired as to the whereabouts of the plunger. Mary even left the job to me and I struggled to send the mysterious creature down the abyss.
And thus I leave you from the shadows of the everlasting hills. Ps. I feel a longing to use my cell phone on nights and weekends to speak with my siblings. I need everyone's numbers. Mom- Can we make this happen? Love you deeply,
James
From: Wendy Bentley [mailto:wendywbentley@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 11:51 AM
To: Charlie Crump; David Bentley; Jimmy Bentley; Karalee Dave Bentley; Kathy Crump; mandi bentley; Marisa Bentley; mary Zach Williams; Rachel Bentley; Rick Bentley; Sharon Matt Gehring; Stephen Bentley; Toney Bentley
Subject: should we let it die? feedback please
With half the month gone, and no BBB articles (including from Dad and myself – except the posting of our one birthday), I decided we need to rethink how often we want to do this. Would every other month be best? Or maybe just quarterly? With all of you entering the busiest years of your lives, maybe it isn't practical to do a monthly BBB.
December is hard because so many of you get together you don't feel there is anything new to say.
January is hard because you are recovering from Christmas.
The summer is hard because the children are home and during vacations many of us see each other.
Many, including Dad say there is nothing new or "important" to share.
So truly, what do you think and what would you like to do? Let's try to get everyone's opinions and then form a plan that everyone will commit to making work.
--
Wendy W. Bentley
Family,
"Vanity thy name is woman." I think that Charlie originally said that to Kathy. My next best guess would be George Washington speaking of Martha. As a side note, I say it to Marisa all the time. She has several she uses on me to include: Idiocy they name is Richard, and funny smell they name is husband. The phrasiology can be quite useful.
We are coming to Utah for a week for a Neuroradiology conference the last couple days of March and the first few days of April. I would love to go skiing on the first Saturday of April if anyone is interested.
Things are well here. Quick update:
Brig and I just started taking Karate together. I advise you not to mess with me......because Brigham will beat you up if you do.
Linc is doing great in school, and is loving swimming lessions.
Cora is doing great in school and continues to excell in ballet.
Lydia is cute as a bug. She has taken to singing songs from Broadway musicals around the house.
Marisa has become a geneology guru. She has found a few thousand names on her family tree that no one else could locate. The names are now getting prepared to go to the temple. We found out that we are actually cousins, with several shared relatives on the Mayflower. It's gross to think about, but she is really good looking so I try to ignore the fact that we could have a kid with 2 heads.
We love you guys.
Richard, Marisa, Cora, Linc, Brig, Lydia, and Clyde
Who can name that quote???????? Anyway it is a great transition into my depressing discovery.
Last night we went to the wedding reception of a sweet couple Dad had sealed earlier in the afternoon. It was shocking to me to learn that the mother of the bride was born the year Dad and I were married!!! I often am surprised to see a picture of myself and realize that I've definitely "thickened" around my middle much as my Aunt Anne and Aunt Nellie did; and that I'm getting the same lines around my mouth, and the same wrinkle in the form of a cross above my upper lip, that they had, and which as a child I thought was so weird. The wrinkles I inherited from the Whiting's. From Mother I have the thin, loose skin that shows the large veins on my hands, the "chicken skin" on my neck and the sad fact that my jowl skin is starting to sag as Aunt Leora's did. I guess all this is natural and inevitable without resorting to plastic surgery, but it is still a jolt and a shock to look in the mirror.
All of this is especially depressing since I am exercising, eating less, and I still feel as young as ever inside!
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xmas 2009 030.JPG
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Another quick note about our holidays. They ended officially Monday the 6th of January (the Day of the Three Kings). We took a touch of the Spirit of Christmas to the Salvation Army Children's Home. The Moss', Batt's, and Burnett's all joined us in filling and taking a huge pinata, some copies of the LDS children's illustrated bible stories, tooth brushes, music, and best of all pillows and soft snuggy pillow cases, with their names on, that the children clung to and hugged (see the picture). UNFORTUNATELY, our 4 kings couldn't get the wonderful song figured out that you boys sing each year that Kent Sorensen taught you.
Afterwards our American friends joined us here for hot fudge sundies and cookies.
UNFORTUNATELY, I'm not able to attach those fotos from here. I'll have to try to send the two a different way
--
Wendy W. Bentley
I've decided one of the reasons that Elder Packer blessed me with "courage" when he set me apart was that I need to be more "RED in my personality" when handling difficult situations. You know me, good old "WHITE hate confrontation Wendy," but the Lord is teaching me that I have to make difficult decisions when it comes to dealing with my "unique assistants," and with our sister workers. Hna. Garcia and Hna. Lopez continue to be a bit challenging; and we have too many sisters who aren't coming on time, or on the days they've committed to come etc..
I recognize that this is a good learning experience, even if it isn't a comfortable one for me. How blessed I feel for the fact that I this is the Lord's work and I am receiving His promptings (unfortunately usually at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning), of what I need to do or say, AND most wonderfully, it comes IN SPANISH (well, at least when I get up and write down the ideas I can put them into good Spainsh).
It is just another testimony to me of how the Lord continues to give us learning opportunities (even if we may think of them as "trials and tribulations" at times). Life wasn't expected to be EASY, but how grateful I am for prayer and revelation which help us through the bumpy times.
Dad and I are very aware of the fact that each of you are facing your own challenges and trials of one kind or another. Sometimes it may appear the "heavens are closed" to our pleadings for insight and understanding, but I testify that they aren't. We have a loving Heavenly Father who has a unique plan for each of our lives. Remember the beautiful lesson taught in the temple and in Moses chapter 5 (Faith + Obedience + Sacrifice = ("after many days") Understanding + Blessings. SO, my wish for each of you as you face this new year is to Go forward with faith, obedience and continued sacrifice, the Lord's promises are sure, and eventually the light of understanding and the blessings will come.
All my love, Mother
We had such a fun Christmas this year. I am relishing these years while the kids are still young enough to be completely caught up in the magic of Christmas. The best part of Christmas was spending so much time with our family. Sharon and I watched each other's kids a lot so the cousins got to have quite a few "late overs." Dan and Rachel came to stay and we loved getting to know Josie and Violet. Mary is here now and we are so glad. It's been nice having charlie's parents home from their mission again too. We feel blessed to be part of such great families and we are TOTALLY looking forward to the family reunion in August! Love, The Crumps
Kid Quotes:
Emma and Caroline are playing Barbies when Emma says, "Let's pretend that on the way home our boyfriends dumped us and it really hurt because they had a big truck!"
Caroline and Emma are playing Princesses when Caroline (playing the role of Prince Charming as little sisters always have to) says, "A little help here! I've been kissing her all day and she's still asleep!"
Thomas stands on the bench during the absolute reverence of the sacrament clearly says, "Poo Pooh!"
Happy January! We're celebrating Joshua David's 10th birthday the 28th
--
Wendy W. Bentley
