Carolyn vs. Carie

Carolyn has decided that she wants a shorter name to write than Carolyn so she and Tom have decided that as soon as we get to South Dakota, we will start to call her Carie. Please note that there is only one "r" to help differentiate between her and Aunt Carrie and Carrie Aunt. Thank you and Love to all. Lillie and Carie.

Merry Christmas!

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

We let the kids open presents last night so they can get up and play with their presents without waiting for everyone else to get up. Jim was the first to get up (at 6) to watch his collection of Ernest movies. I did not get up till almost 10 a.m.

Everyone had fun opening their presents and more playing with them.

Thanks to all.
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

P.S.

I will probably be to busy moving in the next few days to post but I will try. If not I will post as soon as I can after we get to S.D.

Love ya, Lillie and family.

Mail Call

Please don't send letters or other mail to this address yet I just found out that I will have to get a PO Box as the USPS does not deliver mail to this part of town.

New Address

Well it's finally official. No we were not able to buy a house, I have to work some magic with a very large student loan debt before I can finance a home. We do however finally have a new address it is 241 North 7th street, Emery, SD 57332. We will continue to look for a house and consider financing options but for now this is home. It is a nice old Victorian house. It is big enough for the family and is right next door to the friend who convinced me to apply for the job in South Dakota. I told him that he would pay for his treachery (evil laugh)!!!!! He is looking forward to having the kids around.

My grades

I have my final grades:
Communication A
Composition A
Keyboarding A
Pre-Algebra ND I am a bit disapointed in this, but I can do better next time
Spanish C Again a bit disappointed in this, but my personal tutor moved
during the semester. And it was harder to study by myself.

all of these together give me a 3.40 gpa. WOW, my first semester in more than 15 years. I am excited for next semester.

Though I am having a hard time getting ahold of Mitchell Tech.

Love to you all, thanks for all the support.

Lillie

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Thomas, I LOVE YOU !

LILLIE

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Thomas, I LOVE YOU !

LILLIE

I'm Done.

Hello,

I just got home from my last final! It was for my English Comp. class, I stayed after so I could find out my grade. I got a 14 1/2 out of 15. She also gave us our class grade so we can figure our final grade. My class grade is a 90%. The only other grade I know so far is my Communication. It was my first final. In that class I have an A. My other classes were spanish, prealgebra, and keyboarding. The keyboarding one was kinda hard, simply because I had spent the previous two hours doing my math final. And I was stressed enough with it that the numbers kept going blurry, so I had to work and rework each problem, so I could be sure that I had done my best. For keyboarding, after the written portion, we were each supposed to take 2alphabetical timings and two 10-key timings, after doing six timings and not getting less than 8 errors, I asked her if she would watch me do the alphabetical technique, part so I could just be done, I could not even type the abc's, I told her that I had just finished my math final, and I was all jumpy from it. She told me not to worry. and that as soon as I did a 10-key timing, that I did not have to turn in, I simply had to do one then I could be done for the night and good job. I did this and quickly left.

I will know my final grades monday morning, but now I can focus on the move.

I did go today to sell my books back and to get the little boy's birth certificates. It is a relief to have finally done this.

The Relief Society is scheduled to come and help pack Sat. I still have an avalanche spot to attack before then and I want the office ready to stack boxes in as we get them done.

well, I will write later.
love to you all.

Lillie

Math test

I got my homework quiz back today, I got 10/10 the homework quiz she gives us a piece of paper with the chapter and the section and then the individual problem number and if we did it, we copy it down. This is the first one where she did not give us the problem too. so there were a couple of kids in my class who did not even get to attempt to do the problem, as they did not have their homework done.

I got my math test back too, it is the best I have done on a math test this semester.
I got a 75% on it. I think I am ready for the final next Tuesday, we will still have another day of review, and I had my home teacher come over to give me a blessing. So all I need to do is take deep breaths, and relax, it will all come back to me.

love to you all.
Lillie

It is December

Wow,I can't believe that we are in December. I have so much to do before the move. I am trying really hard to focus on school, yet, I have to do other things too. I am excitied that my first final is on wed. the 5 and the next one is the 7. I have asked my home teacher (Lex Palmer) for a blessing before then.

I stopped thinking about finals this weekend long enough I went through about 10 boxes of clothes and thought I was done then Jim reminded me there was still a wall of boxes in his room. and Carolyn has some under her bed. I also emptied out my fishtank on friday and took it to my friend marci's house, her kids have been asking for a pet. she does not want anything four legged. I told her that fish are the perfect pet. I am greatly comforted toknow that my fish are going to a loving home.( I keep reminding myself they are just fish). any way her kids are excited about finally getting a pet.

Marci has a little boy named Michael, and while she spells it different than we do, It made me wonder there are several Mikels at church, so with a bit of internet research,(thanks echo) we found out that the number 0ne boy name in 2003 was Mikel, with several variations on the spelling. it even included our spelling as one of the variations.

Jim went to a Christmas party with some kids from his seminary class, and they gave him two rolls of duct tape and a note book to write a book, titled "5000 use for duct tape" One of the boys gave him a duct tape tie, he tried wearing it to church, but one of his leaders told him it was not appropriate to pass the sacrament in a duct tape tie. he had planned ahead for this and had an alternate in his pocket.

Echo had her YoungWomen in excellence this week and I talked to my last teacher and left before class started, I was still late though. (i thoughtit started at 7, it actually started at 6) maybe next year.

The younger girls have their Christmas musical coming up at school, though I will have to missthis one completely as it is right during two of my finals.

Thats all for now.

Mom and Dad I am glad you made it home safe and sound. (thanks Marvin)

math

I got back the quiz for chapter 4 today, I got 9 1/2, my teacher rounded up and gave me 10/10. Now if I can do that good on the chap. 4 test, it will definitely help my grade. The test is on Thursday the 29, I will not get it back till the next Tues. I will let you all know how it goes.
love ya.
lillie

Thanksgiving

Tom was able to come home for Thanksgiving. We had dinner with our "Missouri Family". Wilkinsons, Palmers, Duncans, Smiths, Magnones, and Robertsons. There were more people than would really be comfortable in any of our homes, so we had dinner at the church and invited anyone from the two wards who didn't have any where else to go. There were 52 people there. And it was too cold to let any of the kids play outside. so it was a very good idea to have it at the church. (good idea Barb)
Jim went home with the Roberstons, they have a son, Alvin, who is just younger than Jim.

Friday was a quiet day at home, we had the Plmer girls over so Mom and Dad could go "steal" some cars. (for those of you who don't know, they reposses cars for their living).

It snowed during the night making it a cold morning to go shooting. Tom, Jim, Lex palmer, Tim Crim, Jared and Alvin Robertson all got to go and do some male bonding.

pray for us.

I just want to ask all of you who check in with us through this site, to pray with us. We are looking at some housing options and would appreciate any prayers on our behalf.

Thanks. lw

I'm even

I was talking to Tom on the phone, watching the girls squash their bagels, before putting on the creamcheese, and told Tom, "his girls were odd". Janet jumped up and stated that "she was not odd, she was even!". She went on to explain that she is 6 years old and 6 is an even number.

school

I just want to share with you some recent happenings from school.

In math, we are working on factoring and my teacher told me to give myself a pat on my back, I am doing better and catching on better than the rest of my class. I am the only one in there(now that we have had a few dropout) who has not been in highschool with in 5 years.

I just did an assignment and made it work for two classes. One was a 5-7 minute speech on any topic of our choice using five sources. The other was a 5 page research paper on any subject of our choice using 5 sources. My subject: South Dakota. I did the speech last night and got 92/100, and in English our papers were returned to us, I got 12.5/15. Definitely a good night at school.

lw

Carolyn and Katie

Carolyn and Katie were in a production at their school this week. It was titled
Elfis Goes West with Lewis and Clark; A truly silly and slightly historical fantasy for young voices.

Carolyn was a reindeer and Katie was one of Santa'a elves. They both did a fantastic job.

lw

to mom

Happy Birthday MOM, You have been a wonderful mom. thanks for all that you have done for us. Enjoy your trip.
The WILKINSONS

Going to Church in South Dakota

hese are pictures of the Chapel where we will attend meetings. It is in Mitchell, and compared to other building where we have attended it is small. It is quite attractive however.

Scout lock-in

Jim went to the scout lockin tonite. It was combined our ward (2nd) with (1st).
He earned his first-aid and almost finished his citizenship in the world.
He had a lot of fun playing with his friends and their wii.
For those who do not have their camping badge yet they could go camp in the yard of one of the leaders. Jim has it and did not want to go.

first aid

I am helping jim get his first aid kit together before the scout lock-in tomorrow night. He is taking a couple of bandages out of my house first aid kit that was a christmas present for our (tom and lillie) first Christmas.(1992) . He found a bottle of anti-bacterial soap. that has been on its side for so long that when you stand it on its bottom, it stays like it is. (as if it has a huge air bubble in the middle. After looking at this and all of us having a good laugh, I picked it up to take a better look and noticed that the soap expired in Nov./93. can soap really expire?
just thought we would share the laugh.
love ya, lillie

The LDS Mitchell Branch

I have not been in a church meeting that small since I returned home from my mission. The joke went around the ward in Springfield that we were going to repopulate the branch here. Well in Sacrament Meeting there were approximately 25 people including myself and 2 missionaries. Needless to say they were excited to here that I was moving in but when I told them that I have a wife and 7 children they were flabbergasted. Without my family the Branch has 1 Priest, 1 Deacon and 1 Beehive. There were about 6 primary age children. In our family we have 1 Teacher, 1 Beehive and 5 Primary age children. The branch president stated that we arean answer to prayer. I found out today that a large family just moved out of the branch, I also found out that it was quite traumatic for the Branch. As it happens the Brother who moved out with his family was a psychologist. There are now two psychologists in the branch including myself. I also found out that one of my friends from Forest is here in Mitchell on internship. He doesn't know that I am here yet. Well that is most of it except that the Branch president's family would like us to move to Mitchell so that Jim can attend seminary. President Smith is the Seminary teacher and his son who is a senior in high school is the only pupil. Next week I have the assignment of giving the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting. I will take pictures of the Chapel and post them. Now Lillie and I have to decide where we will live. Even if we live in Plankinton I think that we will have Jim go to Seminary in Mitchell.

Plankinton

I guess it was really the little move, the big move will come in December. The drive was good and uneventful. I arrived several hours ahead of schedule due to leaving several hours ahead of schedule. Right now I am looking forward to the extra hour of sleep tonight. Everyone remember to turn your clocks back an hour. I finally met my boss today and he seems like a nice guy. I also met his wife. They both seem excited that I am here. Plankinton is not much of a town but the people seem nice. It is a typical midwestern small town. The sign says that the population is 601 but as of now it is 602. the house they gave me is a small 2 bedroom which is quite nice. It is about the size of the apartment that Lillie and IO lived in at the Franklin apartments. Fred, the boss, has been over a couple of times to make sure that I have found everything satisfactory. It is about 20 degrees colder here than in Springfield. There is no snow yet but from the chill in the air I expect that it will be soon. Tomorrow I get to go search for the Branch in Mitchell and I'll also take some pictures to post. Until then, vaya con Dios.

Tom

You might be a redneck if...

you might be a red neck if...
to day I was mowing the lawn and I found a car (hot weels car).
JIM

TEETH

Today my tooth was hurting so I asked my mom to look at it.
And she was leaning it over (IT WAS LOOSE) to look at it THEN IT POPPED OUT!!!!!!!!!!



BY : CARLY WILKINSON

Tom Leaves Missouri

Its 10:30 saturday, yesterday I spent the day doing laundry and errands, so that Tom would have clean laundry and some basic food stuff so he wouldn't have to hurry to the store. We were up late getting him packed, planning for him to leave about 7:00. Then he woke up about 4:30 and felt like he was awake so he might as well leave. I was glad we did the packing before we went to bed.

I went back to bed and barely woke up with enough time to get to my 9:00 monthly quilt group.
Next years quilt is beautiful. It makes me hope my new quilt store in Mitchell has a block of the month group. For those of you who don't know, In December, you pay five dollars and get the pattern plus the fabric for Januarys block if you take it finished to quilt day in Jan. you get the baggie with february's pattern and fabric in it. so at the end of the year, you have twelve blocks and it only cost the original five dollars. they do do it by mail order for those who don't live near by, but then it costs five dollars each month.

Now I am home and I get to start the downsizing of our home. I ahve several offers from friends who are willing to help with packing, or parenting if i need help with that.

Love to all, but especially to Tom when he reads this.

The Big Move

Well yesterday was my last day working for Dr. Manna. I'm performing par for the course, I have one evaluation that still needs to be finished. I just got a call from My friend in South Dakota who informed me that I have not even arrived but I have my first assignment. On Monday I will be going to Yankton to do an intake assessment. I no sooner got off the phone than My new boss, Fred, called to make sure that I was still coming and to tell me that he is getting a house ready for me. It feels very good to be wanted, I hope they still feel that way after I get there. Tomorrow will be a long day and I will be on the road for most of it. Getting ready to go is a real pain as well. Well enough complaining for now. I for one am looking forward to the new opportunities that await my family in Dakota.

Lillie Math

I wanted to share with everyone my exciting news, that I got a 70 on a math test this week, and a 10/10 on participation which means that I now have a solid "C" in my math class. The chapter on graphing was hard and pulled me down. but I am now pulling out of it.
lw

Achievements of note

Just a tidbit that I missed this morning. Lillie's family was in town about 1 1/2 weeks ago. They came through for Graduation while they are on their family vacation. Chuck (Lillie's dad) has always managed to give me something to think about, which is something I need to thank him for. Well this visit was no exception. As a family we went to Silver Dollar City, the Ozark's answer to Disney land, we went for a short grocaching walk, and he introduced me to the wonderful world of Schlock Mercenary (www.schlockmercenary.com). This web comic was started about 71/2 years ago. Well I am happy to say that it only took me 1 1/2 weeks to do something that it took Chuck 7 1/2 years to do. I have read and am up to date with this comic. I do have to admit that I cheated I waited until they had a grundle then filled almost all of my unoccupied moments with reading. It's worth the read for all of you with a slightly off beat sense of humor. You can choose to read a synopsis or you can read compleatly through the archives to get up to speed. Well that's all the time I have left for lunch, so it's back to work.

Tom

Job in South Dakota

I have had several questions about how this job in South Dakota came about. Most know that the plan was to stay in Branson for another two years at least. As we were gearing up for the end of internship we began to pray as a family that I would be able to find the clients that would allow me to provide for my family. In this time I had a friend whom I had worked with for 4 years at Lakeland, here in Springfield, who went back home to South Dakota to work for the Aurora Plains Academy. He called out of the blue one day to ask me if I minded if he mentioned my name to his boss. After a long conversation I told him that he could do what he he wanted but I would be staying here. After he talked to the boss the boss and I talked and well, he made an offer that we could not refuse. Considering the fact that this is exactly what we had been praying for. I them spoke with Dr. Manna and she advised me to do what will best fit the needs of my family. I have to say for someone who thinks that I am crazy to leave this practice Dr. Manna has been very supportive of my decision.

Tom

Last Week

Well this was the begining of my last week here in Springfield. I will leave for Plankinton on Saturday and I start work at The Aurora Plains Academy on Monday. I taught my last Sunday School class in the second ward and I hope that they will soon release me from my calling as Sunday School President. Our stake does have a problem releasing people though, even if they move out of state. Lillie and the kids will continue on in Springfield until the end of December when Lillie's semester ends. We hope that the whole family will be reunited for Christmas in South Dakota. The drive is only about 10 hours but as with all job changes funds will be in short supply. The wonderful thing about making decisions with the Lord is that you know that one way or another things will work out.

Inagural Post

This is the inagural post of the SoDakMo Causeway. This is to keep communication open and allow easy updating for our family during the transition between Missouri and South Dakota. Feel free to make comments and we will try to keep everyone updated with the goings on in our part of the country.