2^nd Quarter 2016

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

APRIL
1 Courtney Jo King Koyle
2 Vinson Richard Wood
3 Amber Nicole Kiffer (1988)

5 DANNA COOK KOYLE
5 Jesse Manson Cook (1979)
5 Kaden Gonsales (2002) - Keith

5 Mikaela Zoe Cook (2015) - Logan
6 RANDALL LEE COOK

6 Emily Elizabeth Cook (2014) - Nathan
7 Quinn Darryl Wood (2007) - Emilee

8 Iris Madeline Nelson (2011) - Lanette
9 David Jay Jones (1988)

11 Carson Nathaniel Cook (2006) - Mark
12 Eli Jedediah Romig (2010) - Ashley
13 Josie  Noelle  Freeman (2010) - Erin
14 Richard Craig Reynolds (1993)
20 Lanette Jones Nelson(1987)
21 Neil Edward Cook (1981)
22 EDMUND ALLEN COOK
22 Mark Landon and Lisa Jean Boyle Cook (2000)
23 Leila Joy DeCampos (2002) – Kirsten

27 Amber Kratzke Cook

MAY
2 Zachary Allen Cook (1983)

2 Theodore Angelo DeCampos (2014) - Kirsten

5 Nathan Silas Thomas (2014) - Andrea
7 Braden Christopher Cook (2007) – Keith

7 Rachel Jones and Brian Bench (2011)
9 Jordan Craig and Janneece Renae Taylor Reynolds (2008)
10 Loreena Lynn Pederson Cook
10 Matthew Orvin Cook (1988)

11 Richard Craig and Courtney Lynn Ahrens Reynolds (2013)
13 James Benjamin Reynolds (2008) - Benjamin
16 Daniel Craig Reynolds (1983)
16 Nathan Allen Cook (1985)
17 Dallen Bryce Cook (1991)
19 Benjamin Craig and Julie Darlene Anderson Reynolds (2006)

19 Wesley Gabriel Cook (2011) - Allen

20 Julia Virginia Cook (2012) - Nathan
21 Craig Von  and Jaylyne Cook Reynolds 1976
22 Hugo Angelo DeCampos
23 Ean Clark Wood (2005) - Emilee
23 Penelope Keenan (2009) - Kandace
24 Jonathon Hyrum Koyle (1989)
25 Trevyn Paul Cook (2009) - Seth

26 Tasia Cook and Jacob Thompson (2015)
28 Logan Keith Cook (1988)

28 Margaret Elaine Cook (2015) - Jesse
29 MOM and DAD
31 Robert Daniel Cook (1977)
31 LESLIE VAUGHN COOK

JUNE
4 Jesse Manson and Deborah Jean Christensen Cook (2004)
4 Joseph Todd and Megan Marie Jackson Cook (2005)
5 Joseph Richard Wood (2000) - Emilee
5 Tayden Lee Cook (2005) - Seth
6 Kandace Cook Keenan (1975)
7 Jordan Craig Reynolds (1985)
7 Matthew Glen and Carrie Ann Barnard Koyle (2003)
8 Jenifer Holly Mortensen Koyle

8 Danica Rose Koyle (2015) - Jordan
14 Jacob Bowen Jones (1994)
16 Sabina Keenan (2004) - Kandace

18 Danica Rose Koyle (2015) - Jordan
19 Junior Allen Cook Family sealed, 1964
21 Samuel Willard Jones (1999)

22 Joycelyn Rachele Durfee Cook

23 Luke Allen Cook
24 Jordan Cook Koyle (1986)

24 Gibson Vaughn Cook (2015) - Neil
28 LORINDA COOK JONES

28 Neil Edward and Jamie Walton Cook (2014)

NEW ADDITIONS LAST QUARTER:

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathon (Whitney) Koyle

January 2nd

Benson Brian Bench

January 4th

8 lbs 6 oz     21"
son of Rachel (Jones) and Brian Bench

Tayton Cook
son of Todd and Megan Cook

Michael Allen Koyle 

January 23rd

7 lbs 9 oz
son of Jared and Jen Koyle

FAMILY NEWS

GRANDMA COOK:  Karleen, Ken, Courtney and her boys came and stayed for a week last month while Danna went to Southern UT, Colorado, and Casper, WY with Don for work.  We enjoyed the trip.  Grandma was acting a bit funny one day and Karleen finally got her to tell her she thought it was awful how they had moved in and taken over Danna's house.  Anyone is welcome to come and take over my house anytime.  I would be glad to leave and let you take over.  FYI:  Gerald Pearson passed away the middle of March.  Danna and Grandma visited with Ed prior to the funeral and afterward were able to go to lunch with Les and Darryl.

DANNA & DON: 

Matthew and Carrie are working to finish the master bath in their home between work and being Elders’ Quorum Pres. He has his hands full.  Hyrum was Grandpa Joe in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in a school play on Mar. 4 he was excited to get the part he wanted because he got to burp.  Ruth Makenzie was in the chorus. They did a great job.  They filled the Roy High School gym to see the play.  Anna is in a singing group.  Fun to listen to them

Eldon and Courtney are headed to visit her parents for the 2nd time since they moved to Greeley, CO.  Joe is in scouts and just had his first pinewood derby race.  He placed 3rd.  They had 2 wards participating and 21 cars raced.  Alex loves anything to do with rocks.  It's pretty amazing for a 6 year old.  Emmalene is 3 going on teens.  She is very independent and knows what she wants.  She gives the boys and her parents a run for their money.

Jared and Jen had a new baby January 28th. Danna got to go stay for a day and then brought the children back to Garland for several days.  Jared was able to take almost 3 weeks off after Michael was born.  Morgan had surgery on her eyes the end of January and is doing well.  She is much busier than before the surgery and keeps everyone hopping.  Riley loves pre-school and singing, and they all love the baby.  Eli is doing well in school and Grandma Koyle loves to have him come and play games with her.

Jordan and Sonya are loving Japan.  They have been here for a year now and have between 2 and 4 more to go. It's spring so the cherry blossoms are coming out. The weather is really up and down. We can have an absolutely gorgeous day, and then the next have 24 hours of torrential down pour. Then have another beautiful day the next. Jordan really enjoys his job in the navy, and really likes the others in his department.  They all get along great and have a lot of fun.  Alexa is really enjoying homeschooling.  She loves math and her Bob books. She is really into animals right now and can't get enough of them.  Danica is army crawling and recently started to pull herself up on the furniture. So it won't be long until she is cruising.  She is tiny, but that doesn't stop her.  I'm doing pretty good too. I stay pretty busy with taking care of Danica and doing school with Alexa. 

Jonathon and Whitney are staying busy with work and school.  They have a nice roomy apartment but probably haven't spent much time there except for the week of spring break.

Rachelle is in Elk Grove, CA.  She loves the weather, rain or shine and loves her companions and teaching the gospel.  She says she is staying busy.  She adds:  We had exchanges this week, and I had the wonderful opportunity to go out with the Spanish sisters. That was exciting! I don't really speak any Spanish anymore, so I got to stand at the door while the other two sisters contacted. They always had to explain I wasn't actually their companion and didn't speak Spanish. But I was amazed at how much of the conversations and lessons I understood!  That was a blessing!
Because I was the blonde one the investigators always asked me to say the prayers...that made me chuckle, and it was a fun experience. In the first evening we had a lesson with an investigator...can't remember his name for the life of me... But I was struggling in that lesson. It was late evening, I hadn't eaten yet, One of the Hermanas and the member present spoke really fast, and I had sat on a cockroach so I just wasn't tuned in to the lesson. I did catch that Hermana
Torrez was talking about Moroni's promise in Moroni 10, when she turned to me and asked for my testimony. I was really caught off guard and nervous...I didn't feel like I should say anything...but I managed to spit some words out. The Spirit was so strong, and I felt truly humbled at that moment to be God's mouthpiece as Hermana Torrez translated for me. The member in the room was just bawling, and she told me (through the Hermanas) that I carry the Spirit so strongly with me. I will never forget that night! It was such a wonderful feeling to know that the Spirit is unhindered by language barriers and our inhibitions. We need just open our mouths and believe that God will help us, and He will fill our mouths with what we need to say. I love this Gospel!

LORINDA & JAY:

Lanette and Shawn’s baby Theo was sealed to them in the Provo City Center Temple on March 26.  Lanette writes: We were very fortunate to be able to get his court date set for the day before the sealing, and we'll be the first family to be sealed in the newly dedicated temple.  His blessing followed the sealing—at their home.

Rachel and Brian blessed Benson March 27th.  It was good for the Jones Family to be in attendance.  I think we need to be figuring out ways to get them here in the "east" on a more permanent basis. :)  

RANDY & JOANNE:  Not much new on our end. Joanne has joined me in Perth, while I serve a client here.  We've been here since Feb 8th and will stay through April 7th. At this point, we will be returning in early May for 3 - 6 months.   We've been able to travel a bit to see some incredible beaches along the Indian Ocean and an animal park with kangaroos, koalas, kookaburra, and a wombat.  Joanne has visited Sydney and I have had business trips to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. 

Laura writes: I am sure my mom will respond but I wanted to get my two cents in. I finally got hired as a full time seminary teacher. It is tough work but totally worth it. I get paid to work the summers and I can't wait to get caught up and ahead for next year.  My parents have abandoned their children for Perth Australia and they are enjoying themselves. I think my mom loves having my dad to herself. She is spending a week in Sydney with a sister in law. We are loving Matt and Lindsay being so close here in Farmington. Nathan and Tiana just came for a visit with their kids. Adam is keeping busy in Pocatello. I don't know what Seth and Carrie do... They are too far away. 

KARLEEN & KEN really enjoyed their week taking over Danna and Don’s house and visiting with Grandma.  Karleen keeps telling Ken they need to make this a quarterly activity!  However, Karleen was recently called to teach early-morning Seminary in their Ward—this could certainly put a glitch into their future travel plans. Amber surprised us when we were in Utah and drove up from California for several days to visit.  She is enjoying working as a dispatcher for a “shipping” company and getting beat up as she participates in karate special sessions.  She has been selected as an alternative for the US West team in an International karate competition later this summer.  Aaron was thrilled to return to work recently even with many restrictions, after falling on the ice at work in January and breaking his left humerus—of course, the break was too high to cast.  Courtney and James blessed Camden in February.  Camden weighed nearly 16 lbs at his 4 mos appointment--at this rate, he'll weigh nearly 46 lbs when he's a year old!

LYNDON & DEBBIE:

Ashley and Jed - Much is going on at our place, Emma and Ruby are signed up for their first season of soccer and are thrilled to the point of begging to wear their jerseys to school before they have even played.  Ruby's in her school play Annie Jr. and is the orphan Molly, as well as in the chorus.  Her play is Easter weekend and we are looking forward to seeing it.  Jed and I recently attended a recency era ball, it was a fun evening. Jed taught himself to tie a cravat, and donned a top hat and a monocle, and on our turn to promenade he willingly did the worm. We had a splendid evening.  After 6 months of hard work and dedication on both our parts, Eli is toilet trained.  It is a wonderful early 6th birthday gift to himself. We are so proud of him.

For those interested, you can follow our adventures on instagram. I am not on Facebook anymore as I couldn't leave it alone. My screen name is ladyromig. I would love to keep up with family there if they use it.

JAYLYNE & CRAIG: Because the Ward boundaries in our stake were changed drastically (a cut from 8 wards to 5), we both have new callings.  I am the Primary Pianist and Craig is a ward missionary.  We are still serving as missionaries in the Addiction Recovery Program. 

Richard and Courtney have moved to 188 Teakwood, a trailer home in the Court near us. 

Ben has been hired by Kroger to unload trucks and stock shelves.  He started training this week.  The plan is that he will get some VoTech training and get an Associate's Degree in Drafting.  He has a certificate in auto-cad but that is not enough for a job that pays well enough to support a family.

From Andrea in Albuquerque:  I participated in a Relief Society service project for the Days for Girls organization.  I helped make washable feminine hygiene products so that girls in third world countries can continue going to school while menstruating.  Elizabeth, Catherine, and Katelyn were able to help as well. I still serve as an activity days leader and the ward organist (with Elizabeth).

Travis spent a week in Kansas City and another week in the San Francisco Bay area for conferences associated with work. Now he has started coaching track at the middle school after work.  He enjoys it but it does make for a busy/stressful time of the year. He is in the Elder’s Quorum presidency. 

 Elizabeth, Catherine and Katelyn have started their track seasons.  This means there are three different track meets a week (Elizabeth is on varsity, Catherine on JV, and Katelyn at the middle school.)  And Emma and Edie are in soccer which ties up our Saturdays.  Rebecca was selected to participate in the fifth grade district honor choir (all of Albuquerque’s elementary schools).  She had an earache on the day of the performance, so we gave her ibuprofen so she could make it through and then took her to the doctor—ear infection.)  Earlier in the year, she started complaining that her tooth hurt.  She had just been to the dentist so I knew it couldn’t be a cavity.  I figured it was just a molar coming in.  Finally I took her to the dentist who sent us to an endodontist. It was a dens en dente (a tooth growing inside of another tooth) which also means that the root of the tooth wasn’t developing.  The condition is extremely rare and it is even rarer for it to happen in a molar.  They said with those odds we should go to Vegas.  I said that since the diagnosis meant that Rebecca had to have a root canal, she probably didn’t feel very lucky.  At any rate, they don’t know if the root canal will stimulate root growth or if we will have to pull the tooth and put in a bridge.  Oh, she was also the first student to run 100 miles as part of runner’s club at her school this year and is on track to get the most mileage of any student in the school.

August and Nathan are, well, …little boys.  Sometimes, like right now, they play so nicely together.  At other times, August just pesters Nathan so that I feel like a referee.  Whenever Nathan is crying and I am not in the room, August calls, “I didn’t do it.”  I doubt the validity of that statement most of the time.  August is surprisingly shy in front of groups (I bribed him with ice cream yesterday so that he would say the scripture in primary).  Nathan loves to kick and throw balls.  He has a “Mr. Happy” shirt that is his favorite.  I don’t remember any of my kids being so particular about the clothes they wore, but he is very adamant about picking his own outfit (which sometimes means swimming trunks in February…with snow boots).

Katelyn gave a talk yesterday in church that was very insightful.  I am surprised at what I can learn from my own kids if I stop to listen to them.  Happy Trails.

Kirsten adds:  Hugo just got back from leading a Study Abroad trip with 20 students to Brazil.  It was quite an adventure - think national protests in Sao Paulo, trip to the hospital with an ill student, jungle tour of the Amazon including eating pirañas!  Kids are happy and healthy.  We are involved in music and soccer right now.  SAT and AP exams are looming.  Huguinho tried wrestling and liked it a lot.  I am still studying one class at a time - this term is Biochemistry.  The material is fascinating!  

Sarah writes:  Well, if I don't tell you my mom probably will.  I started a new job (part time) at JCPenney a week ago.  I'm a sales associate in the misses department.  I love it so far.  I'm also still singing in the Institute choir here (so long as my work schedule will permit).  So, I'm keeping busy.

I'm not sure if my mom wrote about me being sick in December.  I had viral meningitis that caused neutropenia (extremely low white blood cell count), so I couldn't fight off other infections.  I was admitted into hospital for 2 days and was discharged because my risk of getting an infection in hospital was higher than if I just went back to housesitting on antibiotics where I would definitely not be around other sick people.  My oncologist ordered a bone marrow biopsy to rule out leukemia or any other cancers that can supress white blood cell production.  I returned to house sitting and by the end of the night I had a fever.  Because my counts were still low and now had a fever, I had to be readmitted.  I spent 3 more days in hospital.  

I bring that up because if you aren't on facebook, you may not have known it happened, unless you talked to my mom at all.  The bone marrow biopsy came back negative for cancer.  Thus far all my Thyroglobulin (a protein in the thyroid gland from which thyroid hormones are synthesized) levels are showing that the radioactive iodine treatment is successful so far in destroying any remaining thyroid tissue after my surgery.  They have been testing my Thyroglobulin about every 3 months since the RIT and my Thryoid hormone levels as necessary.  They will do a low dose radioactive iodine scan every year and if it shows me being free and clear AND I don't have any new lumps/bumps/etc. I won't have to do any further treatment.  

Anyway, I also mention December because my medical debt is not something I can cover by myself.  Please know that I am working on getting additional employment; unfortunately, even with that, it will take years to pay off these bills on my own. I do not qualify for Medicaid (I've tried) and I did not have medical insurance last year.  I know the answer may be no for most of the family---especially since I have received some help (for which I'm extremely grateful!) from a few individuals, and others are in financial predicaments from unemployment/medical/etc. just as serious as my own.  I've been taught that if you need help, family should help first, then the church, then community and government.  So, if you are both able and willing, I set up a fundraiser prior to my surgery for financial donations.  I would greatly appreciate any and all help you can give.  As I am blessed to do so, I will pay it forward!  I need to update the story a bit, but here's the link:  https://www.youcaring.com/sarah-smith-397373

FROM THE COOK COUSINS:

Allene West Lemons is the eldest daughter of Grandpa Cook’s (Junior) sister Ruth.  She has begun a blog for Cook Cousins on which she has written much about her memories of her Mom and other and others.  She posted this recently about Grandpa Cook’s mother: 

Our German relatives were amazing cooks. This is not the recipe that our Grandma Cook used to make! but it smells like her kitchen and it tastes like her Streusel and it is easier. She had thin beautiful layers to her apple streusel bars and they were rolled up almost like cinnamon rolls and were flaky and melted in your mouth. I watched her make them many times but I wasn't smart enough to ask for a recipe! I watched my mother make them many times, too, and I still wasn't smart enough to ask for a recipe. But I saw this recipe one day and thought it had similar ingredients and so I tried it. It is a keeper recipe and it is a recipe that can bring me right back to our Grandma Cook's kitchen. She tried to teach me how to make Chicken and Dumplings one day. I can remember sitting out in a covered swing that was right between their home and their neighbors so they could both use it! with her and Grandpa and the neighbors and she made us homemade lemonade. They used to take a little sit down time in the heat of the day.

Apple Streusel Bars

SWEET PASTRY:
2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. real butter, softened (no, margarine will not work)
1 egg, beaten
APPLE FILLING:
1/2 c. white sugar
1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 c. (about 3 medium) sliced, peeled baking apples (Granny Smiths or Galas have worked well for me)
GLAZE:
2 c. powdered sugar
About 3 Tbsp. milk (whole milk is best)
1 tsp. almond extract
To prepare crust, mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until you have pea-sized crumbles. Ok, now I tell you that I don't do this! Because I am a Cook, I think out of the box. I take the grater out and grate the butter in! because I have never thought to soften it and then I use my two knives. Gently mix in beaten egg. (and, for the beaten egg, I crack it into a well in the flour mixture and stir it up and call it beaten). Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish. Preheat oven to 350 and set aside.
To prepare apple filling, combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon and toss with apples.Spread apples out on prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crust mixture over apples evenly and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes. When finished, allow to cool completely.
To prepare glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, almond extract, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.
Place glaze in a Ziploc bag and cut off a very small portion of one of the corners (or just use a fork) to drizzle glaze over cooled pastry. Let it set a bit and if you are in a hurry--put it in the freezer to cool it. Cut into bars and serve.