Sunday, November 8, 2009
Beautiful Mexico
These are some recent pictures we took of an area about three hours away from Tampico that we passed through after a stake conference in Vales.
--
Wendy W. Bentley
Posted by The Bentley Family at 5:57 PM 0 comments
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Birthday to:
Baby Boy (maybe Jonathan) Crump on the 11th (if not before).
Madeline Lee Bentley on the 12th (9 years old)
Emma Josinette Crump on the 13th (Friday the 13th!)
She will also be baptized, but I'm unsure of the date
Richard Whiting Bentley on the 28th (the big 40)
Sharon & Matt will sign the papers on their new house (on the 16th or 23rd)
While I'm writing I will just add that we are celebrating Thanksgiving on Monday the 23rd since we have to be in the temple on Thursday and the Calls will be at zone conference in Poza Rica. We are hosting here at our house with the Calls, Noltes (teach at the Institute), and Alvarez (from the colonies). To make cranberry-orange sauce, I ground fresh crannberries and oranges in my blender since I didn't have the grinder. The texture is more like a smoothie than sauce, however it tastes the same!!!
Posted by The Bentley Family at 12:16 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Fw: photos
Posted by The Bentley Family at 9:46 PM 0 comments
Happy Halloween!
I hope you all enjoy the movies. I am SO SORRY that I don't have everyone included in the movies!!! I had to go with the pictures I had taken this summer and I didn't have one shot of Elijah! Buddy, forgive me. All kids 2 and under... I will do my best to get to you, but in the meantime... parents, do your best! I am dying to do one of Mom and Dad before I loose all of my steam. For now this will have to do because I have completely ignored my children and my house, wholly consumed by my giddiness in making funny Monster Mash movies. I honestly don't know if Kaitlyn ate lunch, I know I didn't. Boy, get me on a project and everything else goes out the window. This is why I don't delve. It's too consuming. I take my hat off to all of you. I can't think of anything to report that won't take forever and since I have a 10 min. break to get back under control, I won't tell you any news. LOVE YOU THOUGH!!!
Posted by The Bentley Family at 1:24 PM 1 comments
Friday, October 23, 2009
The top two pictures are of the cabin land. The bottom two show us hunting to include the spot the "Steve" shot the deer. By the way we started calling Steve Senior Juan Vallencia given in hunting garb.
Rick
Posted by The Bentley Family at 2:40 PM 0 comments
Thursday, October 22, 2009

Richard Bentley Family Land Barons?
After years of cheap talk about buying land for a cabin in Utah, it looks like it is going to happen. We will close on buying 5 acres in Tabiona in mid November. I have attached some pictures, some of which show our new neighbors who are selling the land to us. It will probably be about 5 or 6 years before we build a cabin, but until then, anyone who wants to go up can enjoy the family tradition of camping with no running water. A few notes: When Marisa and I went to look at the land we saw a huge bull moose. Jim caught 10 fish in about an hour in the nearby Red Creek Reservior.
Speaking of Jim.... We first went up to look at the land the night of BYU's loss to Florida State. We were going to go the next morning, but in our depression we decided to drive up to Tabiona and hopefully not spend a cold night in the car...for it could be no colder than the pain in our hearts given the football game.
We ended up finding a row of tiny cabins (Not hobbitville stuff; the doors were normal size.) We couldn't figure out where the management was, and it was really late, so we decided to just start trying doors on the cabins. The first one we tried opened, and we went in. After stripping down to our skivies and jumping into what could only be described as a one man bed, we tried to fall asleep. I think both of us had nightmares about someone kicking in the door with a shotgun and asking us our buisness.
It is hard to say if it would have been more embarrassing to be caught staying there illegally, or more embarrassing to have to explain why we were together in our undies.
We had to get up at the crack of dawn to see the land and still make it to the airport for my flight, so we left them some cash on the dresser along with a lovely note thanking them for a nice evening.
I am having photo problems. I put them in tomorrow.
xo,
R and Fam.
Posted by The Bentley Family at 8:37 PM 0 comments
Re: [tHe beNtLeY buLLeTiN] Illegal
As much as R thinks he was helping put a poor innocient deer out of it's misery, shooting a doe when you have a buck license is well, illegal. Hah, think on that ;) Good thing I won't turn him in...S
--
Posted By The Bentley Family to tHe beNtLeY buLLeTiN at 10/21/2009 08:00:00 PM
Posted by The Bentley Family at 7:21 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Illegal
| As much as R thinks he was helping put a poor innocient deer out of it's misery, shooting a doe when you have a buck license is well, illegal. Hah, think on that ;) Good thing I won't turn him in...S |
Posted by The Bentley Family at 9:00 PM 0 comments
P.s.s.s.- Heel is actually how you spell Heal.
Rick
Posted by The Bentley Family at 3:53 PM 0 comments
A few notes associated with Steve's Apocryphal tale.
Firstly, The beast in question was a normal sized woman deer. Secondly, Steve did shoot the animal, but then failed to finish the job. The minutes passed as the animal made it's way for yonder wood. I looked up from my blind to see Steve in what can only be described as a "stupor". Harkening back to Grandpa Whiting's teachings that one should never let an animal needlessly suffer, I summoned the strength to finish the poor beast. Unlike my elder, the animal dropped instantly with my shot and now is in a happier place.
Richard
p.s.- Steve didn't include who did most of the deer dragging down the mountain in his tale.
p.s.s.- I really do feel like sort of a heal for shooting Steve's deer. I couldn't figure out why he wasn't taking a second shot over what felt like at least 20 seconds. However, looking back it would have been better to let the animal bleed to death slowly.
p.s.s.- I have another tale to tell later about Jim and I illegally staying in a hotel room, but I'll let it wait until I know if we own some cabin land near Tabiona.
Posted by The Bentley Family at 3:34 PM 0 comments
standing invitation for Thanksgiving
I just talked to dear Aunt Bev. She and Uncle Bruce are extending all of you an invitation to Thanksgiving Dinner with them. Pete's and Eric's familys' will be there also. So if you need somewhere to go for a turkey feast you are welcome in Evanston.
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Posted by The Bentley Family at 1:24 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Deerslayer Totalus Maximus
Aye, the mighty hunters have returned, and the blood of running deer runs true in the seed of Toney.
The tale begins on a cold, dank and dark night. Err the moon was as a fingernail scraping the backdrop of the heavens. Three great hunters, adorned in coverings of the warrior, break the silence of the night with the howl of the kill.
The strategy is foretold in the great book of the hunt, nodius 3, verse 2. " And they shall be mighty, fit to conquer the beasts of the forrest. They shall breath fire and smell as the hot sulfur springs of the gule waste. They take what they will and waste not much, but like the winter storm, they overcome and dwell in great places. All beasts must succumb to the three."
As the hunt began, the chore looked ominous. The four legged animals were scarce in this part of the realm. The three dawned their mighty firesticks and trekked to the unknown, high in the rugged backcountry. Many hours were spent spinning strategy. Then, mainly by luck, a tactical victory was discovered. A clearing, stood in the midst with sparsely covered aspen and high grass to disquise the mighty hunters. Not but 20 minutes transpired when out of the wood a pair of deerus animalus besought to cross the ill fated wood. A shot was fired by the eldest, fatally wonding the gynormous beast in the chest. Not to be outdone, the second of three, in an act of pure selfish, and egocentric self gratification, shot the beast to get the glory. In other words, RICK SHOT MY DEER. With a scream of triumph, the third brother ran to the scene of the hunt. With mighty shouts of exhuberation, the three began tearing at the flesh with their bare hands. Soon the beast was dispatched and mounted on a great beam for transport to the tent of the conquerers. With a great deal of effort and strain, the mighty hunters dragged the beast to their final destination. Knives were utilized to strip the beast of hide and hair, hanging the animal in a tree.
Prophecy fulfilled, the mighty hunters returned to their realm.



Posted by The Bentley Family at 10:00 PM 0 comments
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
You're reading it right, we've just had a lovely Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday. I successfully provided the entire turkey feast this year... it was exciting... the turkey was only 2 hours late to get out of the oven while the rest of the food was getting cold. That's at least an improvement over last year when the turkey came out totally dry because I added no fluid. :) You live and learn. We planned on 4pm for dinner so it wasn't a big deal to eat at 6. :) Zach's parents and grandparents drove out for 5 days and joined in the festivities so it's really felt like a holiday. Plus, it's supposed to start snowing any minute now. Very festive.
Since the cold is coming on strong, I've been a baking/cooking fool. Butternut Squash Bisque, pumkin pie(actually that was Zach), apple crisp, stuffed green peppers, bran muffins and Banana Pancakes. yum... I'm making myself hungry. I've decided that's my favorite way to show love... foodf, probably my favorite way to recieve it too.. Just like Dad. I don't know how the love language book missed that one, Dad and I are all for it. That's why I love the family cookbook so much. Thanks again to everyone and especially Marisa. Since I can't personally cook for you here's a great recipe I've found lately that isn't in the cookbook:
Oat Bran Muffins
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups oat bran (I just used regular bran)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup chilled applesauce
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line or grease 12 muffin cups.
- Blend together brown sugar, oat bran, flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add eggs, chilled applesauce, and vegetable oil. Mix until well-blended. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Let stand 10 minutes.
- Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Posted by The Bentley Family at 2:16 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Posted by Rachel at 11:44 PM 0 comments
I don't remember signing up to receive any updates from this artist. It is a nice picture, but sorry that it got on the BBB.
Posted by The Bentley Family at 10:26 PM 0 comments
Liz Lemon Swindle's Latest Image of Hope and Healing
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To See Full Image CLICK HERE. |
Lord, I BelieveLiz Lemon SwindleThis painting has special meaning to me. My son was diagnosed with diabetes when he was seven years old. I have watched the disease ravage his body always knowing in the back of my mind that one day it would overtake him, I just didn’t know it would be so soon. When I heard that his eyesight was failing my heart sank. I pleaded with the Lord asking for more time. I wanted desperately for him to see his children grow up. As I painted this piece I was reminded that although the Lord does not always give us... |
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Posted by The Bentley Family at 2:38 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Howdy Clan. :)
Hi everyone,
We haven't been very good about writing in the BB lately. Thanks so much to Mom and the other folks that do. I want to be better. We miss all of you guys so much. It's wonderful to have Zach and Mary and their little dumplings out here relatively close, but we miss the rest of you. I hope maybe some of you all will write something this month too to let us know what's going on in your lives since we're not good at calling due to time zone changes and crazy schedules. We keep Steve and Rachel's family in our prayers as well as all of the cute little pregnant aunts. Hope everyone is doing well.
As far as we go. . . Dave has really been enjoying his new job teaching at the College for Creative Studies. The only drawback was last week when his laptop got stolen. -ouch- Ah, the perils of working in a city like Detroit. The good news is that he's teaching fun classes: character design, 3-D environments and the Senior Studio. It's nice to be employed with a steady paycheck again. Happy days! Since this job is only for another 8 months it'll be interesting to see where we end up next.
Josh is liking 5th grade even though it has a beastly amount of homework. He is hugely into Bakugan right now and trades with his compadres at school. He and Maddie had a blast this summer with everyone, thanks again. Speaking of Maddie, she thinks 4th grade is. . .okay. She dreams of a school-free utopian existence where she can stay home and play stuffed animals with Josh all day. It's good that at least she has a buddy that can keep up with her imagination at recess. Jakey says his name is "Big boy." He is having a tough time adjusting to all of the craziness--suddenly Maddie and Josh are at school all day and Dad is gone to work, and all he's left with is a Mom who is postpartum nuts and has a baby dividing her attention. I think he'll adjust though. AJ started smiling and he's had two nights where he slept for 8 hours straight! Oh bliss! Of course they were followed by a night where he slept for no longer than an hour at a time. Ah well. We'll take what we can get.
Kid Quotes:
"Don't mess with the worms!" -Maddie [After reading Acts 12:23]
"They're like the spiritual assassins." -Josh [same]
And then when we were all going someplace in the van once Dave was talking about Steve's driving when he was a youth. I'll let Dave tell what he said specifically (I personally think Steve is a fabulous driver), but the conversation went like this afterwards:
Dave: Uncle Steve's a much better driver now.
MADDIE: Yeah, because he has a wife now that will get him in trouble.
Mom: Does Dad get in trouble with Mom?
Josh: Oh yeah, like when she whacks you with a pillow.
Hmmm. . .
Have a great month familia.
Love,
DKJMJ&AJ
Posted by The Bentley Family at 5:27 PM 0 comments
Oct. B-days
SPOOKY OCTOBER
Happy birthday to:
Elizabeth Ivie Williams the 5th
Levi Aaron Bentley the 12th
Stephen Anthony Bentley the 14th
Violet Rachel Bentley the 15th
Marisa Lee Thompson Bentley the 24th
Grandma Bentley the 2th
--
Wendy W. Bentley
Posted by The Bentley Family at 4:18 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
My humbling experience
We are so blessed! Sister Call and I have just returned from a visit to a Carmalito Nun Institution run by Las Misioneras del Calcuta after the order of Madre Teresa. What a humbling experience to see the devotion of these sweet nuns as they minister to the needs of homeless and abandoned souls.
Last year we got together with the other American missionary couples here to do a program and give some service to the Salvation Armey Children's Home. That was a sweet experience as we could interact with the children and see their faces of delight as they broke a piñata filled with candy and toys and received pillows with their names printed on them and stuffed animals. We took pictures and sang songs and it made a memorable Christmas for us.
Later Hno. Garcia told us that there were other places with greater needs, gave me the name of this "home." It is down near the harbor in the poorest part of the city. There are 44 "grandfathers" "26 "grandmothers" and 23 handicapped young girls who live there. The madre superior didn't want me to take pictures. The adults sat in hallways and rooms without anything to occupy them. There were toys and a playground for the children, although most wandered the room uninterested.
We were taken into a room to see a 28 year old woman. She lay in a heap. Twisted bone and skin could hardly be identified as legs and arms, but as I touched her and spoke to her she turned her head and her eyes answered me. That was an unforgettable moment.
We were impressed with how clean things were considering the circumstances, and also with the fact that there were some young volunteers from the social services department who were trying to interact with the people.
I asked what their needs were. "Diapers and detergent" was the answer. Yes, how blessed we are.
--
Wendy W. Bentley
Posted by The Bentley Family at 1:00 PM 0 comments
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Oink! Oink!
That's right. The swine flu it is. At least that's what the Docs are saying without actually testing. (Apparently they are only testing people that are sick enough to go to the hospital because of all the cases.) The thing about this flu, that I haven't seen in the media, is that is tends to come back. This is the 3rd week that Elijah has felt fine during the first half of the week, and then spiked a fever on Thursday that lasts about 2 days. He gets better and someone else starts to feel sick. Israel's had 2 rounds with it, Levi has been fine since he got out of the hospital and then spiked a fever Friday, Maggie is on her 2nd go around, and today I started feeling crappy for the 2nd time. It's like the plague over here. The good news is that we won't have to worry about getting the vaccine. The other good news is that so far, Cecelia hasn't gotten sick at all, and Francesca has only had 1 mild bout of it. I think we need a do-over, starting at the beginning of the school year. Hope you are all well....unlike us. Steve, Rachel, Elijah, Israel, Levi, Cecelia, Francesca, Marguerite, and the "Oink, Oink" |
Posted by The Bentley Family at 1:20 PM 0 comments
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Williams are at it Again!
Posted by Mary Bentley Williams at 7:22 PM 0 comments
Viva Mexico
Yesterday was a record day. We had 7 bus loads of people come to the temple and did over 1,960 ordinances. We ran out of baptism overalls and had to give the youth white pants and shirts to be baptized in. I was on my feet for 10 hours, but hardly noticed it because the Spirit of joy in the temple was so strong.
In the evening we joined the three other American couples (Noltes, Misbachs and Calls) at the mission home to watch the BYU game. It was fun to be together but, unfortunately, the game was a disaster. Interestingly enough I've discovered that we are related distantly to both the Noltes and the Calls on my mother's side of the family. It is a small world in the Church.
Last week Mexico celebrated Independence Day (Sept 16th). The night before we were invited to a wonderful evening of patriot celebration (Noche Mexicana) in the Stake. Everyone who wishes dresses in native costumes, and each ward serves a different typical Mexican food (tacos, pazole, quesadillas , gorditas, mole, tostadas etc). There was dancing and singing climaxed by "El Grito"(the yell) and throughout all of Mexico fireworks.
"El Grito" remembers their night of independence when at 5:00 in the morning of September 16, 1810 Padre Miquel Hidalgo in the village of Dolores began the freedom march by waving the flag of the Madonna, ranging the bell of freedom calling the citizens to rise up and free themselves from the 300 year rule of Spain. From the president of Mexico to each small group of people gathered to celebrate, one man leads El Grito waving the Mexican flag and yelling:
"Viva Hidalgo, Viva Morelos, Vivan los héroes de la independencia, Viva México " (Long live Hidalgo, long live Morelos, long live the heros of Independence, long live Mexico). It is thrilling to witness and be part of. When we served at the CCM Dad would lead El Grito, with all the missionaries echoing.
Our mission is passing quickly, and we will certainly leave a part of our heart in Mexico when we leave.
Posted by The Bentley Family at 1:49 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Dear Children & Grandchildren
September 15, 2009
May I recommend again byu.tv.org along with the radio.lds. org. I especially enjoy the round table discussions of the scriptures. If you can't listen when they are live you can go to them later on byubroadcasting.org
Although I took the class at BYU, the writings of Paul to Revelations have always been difficult for me to understand and enjoy. Today I finished studying Revelation (it is not Revelations as we sometimes refer to it) and thanks to the insights from these discussions I now can say I really love these scriptures. They, like the temple, testify of Jesus Christ and his atonement so beautifully.
It is no surprise to any of you that I sometimes struggle with impatience, pride, judging and selfishness, especially, I'm sad to admit in my relationship with your dear Father. For years I have, worked, worried prayed and tried to master these faults on my own only to fail when little irritations or differences of opinion have arisen. During this mission and our service in the temple, and more recently in studying the scriptures from Acts to Revelation, I have realized that I can never overcome these shortcomings on my own. I need the Savior's atoning grace, which He is not only willing to bestow, but anxious to give me. All He asks is that I have faith in Him, and keep His commandments.
Not long ago I heard a quote on the byu.tv.org station that really hit home: "If you want to improve your relationship with your spouse, improve your relationship with God." The next morning I lay in bed before dawn pondering the situation and two clear impressions came:
1. I need to have faith in Christ that with His help, I can one by one overcome bad habits, and become more like Him.
2. I need to go to the scriptures and study Christ like characteristics as numerated in 1Corinthians 13, D & C 4:5 & Moronic 7:45 and other places.
3. Then I need to work on these one at a time, and in bite-size pieces I will be able to, if not master, at least make progress on these qualities.
When I was 17, and a senior in high school Elder Howard W. Hunter, then an apostle of the Church was our visiting authority at Stake Conference. During his talk Elder Hunter turned towards the choir and Said,
"Would the young woman in the red suit, on the second row please come to the podium?"
I was sitting on the second row of the choir wearing my mother's red knit suit. With legs shaking I stood and made my way to the podium. Elder Hunter reassuringly put his arm around my shoulder and asked me some questions, and then he invited me to share my testimony of Jesus Christ. Thirty-one years later, sitting in the office of President Gordon B. Hinckley, I would be asked that same question. I would like to share it now with you:
I know Jesus Christ is the son of God. I know that He was the creator of this world. That He was the great Jehovah of the Old Testament. That He came to earth as a babe in Bethlehem, lived in humble circumstances, organized His church and set the example for us to follow. I can't explain how He did it, but I know that because of His love for us, He willingly took upon Himself all of our sorrows, sickness, suffering and temptations, sins and wickedness. There is nothing any of us will ever endure that He hasn't experienced. He is our personal Savior, our friend, our advocate with the Father and it is only through His saving grace that we can overcome our sins and failings to be worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Parents, and be exalted as an eternal family. I bear this testimony humbly in His holy name, Amen
May we all keep striving to live True to the Faith.
Your loving Mother and Grandmother, Wendy Josinette Whiting Bentley
Posted by The Bentley Family at 7:33 PM 0 comments
Monday, September 14, 2009
Levi...update
| Levi is home from the hospital. He'll be home from school for a few more days, but he is on the mend. Thank you for all the prayers. |
Posted by The Bentley Family at 9:46 AM 0 comments
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Levi
Just a quick note to let you know that Levi is in the hospital today. He has pneumonia and his stats were low enough that they wanted to have him on IV antibiotics to get everything under control. Any extra prayers would be great. He's not in any kind of critical condition, but he'll probably be there for 2 or 3 days. (The doc says that a lot of kids in his office are coming down with H1N1 that is mild to moderate, but then getting pneumonia after that is fairly nasty. Wanted to let you know, because Levi first showed sympotms two days after we got back from the reunion. Understand, we don't know that it is H1N1, but it is a fairly good possibility.) |
Posted by The Bentley Family at 8:00 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sept. Birthdays
Happy September & Happy Birthday to:
Zach on the 6th, Lincoln on the 11th Sharon on the 12th, & Elijah on the 29th
Posted by The Bentley Family at 7:52 PM 0 comments







