Happy Memorial Day!

Earthquake in China

I'm sure you've all ready about the devastating earthquake in China today. I sent out an email to some friends and family members letting everyone know we were alright but I just wanted to put up a post because I don't have everyone's email on hand.

As you probably saw on the news, the earthquake was in Sichuan Provence, which is about 900 miles from Beijing. It mostly effected the city of Chengdu, which is famous for Panda's. I visited this city in October and was able to even hold a baby panda at the research center.

We were actually at home when the quake occurred and all of a sudden our building started swaying. I was on the bed and I felt it start to move. I looked up and saw the door moving back and forth. It felt like we were on a boat. Aaron and I immediately gathered our money, passports and computers and headed downstairs to get as far away from our building as possible. We thought that either the building was about to collapse or that there was an earthquake. The guard in our building said it was nothing but we were not convinced. We live on the 16th floor and the higher you are the more you feel. We later heard it was an earthquake all the way down in Sichuan so we were able to come back to our building without any problems. At first we read that only a handful of people were killed but I knew that if I felt and saw our building move 900 miles away that the devastation was much larger. We are now reading about the thousands of people who have been killed and feel so blessed that we are ok. I really hope that the Panda's are ok too.

Please keep those who were effected by this devastation in your prayers.

Love,

Aaron and Kristyn

Josh's Wedding by Heidi

Just a few photos of the Walls partying at Josh and Cris' Wedding. It was a wonderful

and spiritual day. I just wanted to say how great it has been for me and our family to be part of the Wall family, besides the fact that they have great parties. Even when we lived out of state we always felt a wonderful sense of belonging and welcome. Thanks to Grandma Deon Wall, there were many extended family functions that were held and everyone was invited (sometimes commanded, very nicely) to come. It was just expected that everyone went to everything. It was such a wonderful tradition, that has continued thanks to Gary and Joan and the love and enjoyment we have of each other. When I saw the third generation of cousins dancing with each other, Jack swinging with all the girl cousins(wait until he turns 16), Bryden dancing with a much older cousin because she asked him and Justin and Spencer and Iuni showing the younger guys how to dance, it was great. It made me think of the great relationships that the previous generation of cousins and 2nd cousins have, they have supported each other through rough spots in life, have strengthened each others testimonies, and been great friends.

We have lots of diversity and different strengths and abilities and that has only helped us be more accepting of of others that are different. When you are a Wall you know that there are lots of Walls out there that love you.

Ni Hao from Nicole, Jared, Kristyn and Aaron

Nicole and Jared have been in China for the past two weeks and we have been having a blast!  We have traveled to Shanghai, Nanjing and Suzhou and spent a week in Beijing enjoying the beautiful weather.  They are going home tomorrow and we are all sad that the vacation is coming to an end.  The highlights (besides sightseeing) were getting massages, buying purses and jewlery and karaoke!  Nicole learned that she actually likes Chinese food and she learned how to use chopsticks too.  It was such a fun time!  Can't wait until Lisa, Kristi and Emili arrive and Matt and Jessica are going to be here for the Olympics to stay tuned for more fun updates from China.  

Tennessee by Kristi

For Spring Break, my dad, mom, Emili, and I all went to Tennessee to visit Sunday and her family.  We stayed in Memphis for Conference Weekend, then we all drove to Nashville and Chattanooga (except Tom, who had to work).  We had a lot of fun riding an incline railroad, seeing the Country Music Hall of Fame, going to the aquarium, seeing Civil War sights, and singing a lot of "Pardon Me Boys, is that the Chattanooga Choo-Choo" as I'm sure everyone can imagine.  We had a lot of fun!!

Cristianne and Josh by NANA

On Thur. April 25th Cristianne and her mother arrived from Brazil about noon. Josh and Marsha were there to meet her, also Jessica ,Melissa, Brian and I believe Matt. It was a snowy day in the valley and quite cold. Marsha called me and said she was here but 1 suitcase was missing and it had all her pictures in it. Well thank goodness they found the next day.

Papa and I went over that evening to meet both of them after Jakes' dance at the high school, which was great, he did a boogie dance and really shook those hips.

Cristianne is a beautiful gal, beautiful smile and so loving. She looks a little like her mother. I fell in love with her right away. Then Fri. Marsha and Cris mother went to Provo hoping to find a wedding dress. Happy Day!,they found one at the first store they went to. Marsha had made many calls to shops all over the vally before she came. Cris just loves it and from the picture on Marsha's phone it is beautiful, they then went around to places to register them.

Then on Sat. Heidi and Emili gave her at luncheon shower and we and many friends and other family came. She was so cute and opening each gift she would go to the person who gave it to her and give them a hug. She got lots of very nice gifts. Michelle Wall made her a beautiful picture book that they can use at the reception. Michelle had already put in lots of pictures taken of them in Brazil when they first met.

Then that night I went over to Marshas' to help pick pictures for the video. Of course looking at old pictures of Josh is so much fun and then to see Cris' pictures were great! The ones of her as baby and toddler wait til you see those big brown eyes and beautiful curly hair. So cute. I spent some time with her hearing all about her life, joining the church,serving her mission in another area in Brazil, her mothers conversion and going to the temple.

One of Cris mission companions was a Barlow girl from our street. Her name is Page and she came to the shower with her 2 darling little children. It is amazing how this union has come about, so many people who knew Cris and Josh both. Page went to school with Josh, Emili was another one of her companions. The Lord works in a mysterious way to help us all.

To watch Josh and Cris is so wonderful. Josh has this big smile on his face and he puts his arm aroung her shoulders to give her a hug. This all brings tears to my eyes. Im just so greatfrul for everything and how it is working all out.

Thanks and hugs to Scott and especially Marsha for helping in everything so it could all take place. Hope to see you all except Kristyn and Aaron at the sealing, luncheon, and reception and take place in a joyous ocassion.

Love to all Nana

Kristin I believe you started this blog and I am so greatful to read all that is on it and what is going on with the family. Now that I am over the bout with peunomia, I'm going to read it often. Also Kris thanks for the wonderful scrapbooks on Thailand and Japan.

Love again, Nana

Dave and Kat's Blog

Just wanted to let everybody know that Kat has started a blog for our family. We thought we needed some Terry Wall Family representation! Kat just started this out, but she is doing great with it so check it out.

Dave, Kat, and Miley

Funny pictures

Matt, Mellissa, Lisa, Ashley, Errin, and Michelle having a little too much fun on the MAC computer. Making the pictures look a little crazy! We got a good laugh!

P-day in a really cool cave.
another pic in the cave

me with my trainer (right) and clean up (left)

Old Town Plovdiv

Playing cards with the old people. It was a Blast!!

Things have been going great! I hope you enjoyed.

Ashley's Wedding

Her cake

Ali was the flower girl, she did such a great job!

Wahoooo for Ash & Beau


Ashley's wedding went great! It was good to see most the family and hang out! love you guys!

Hi everyone. I just wanted to put a picture up for you all to see. This is of me and my Mission President and his wife. The Bennett's are such amazing people, and I'm so grateful to be serving with them.
Things have been going great! Thank you all so much for your letters, and prayers. I'll have my mom post my e-mails on here so that you can all read them. I have around 5 and a half months left and I'll try to keep you all up-dated the best i can. I love you all! Walls Rock!!!!!

Brad turns 22 today!

Elder Blake Bigelow - Email dated Monday March 31

Here is Blake's most recent email.  I thought it would be a good idea to post the family missionaries letters so everybody could read them. 

Hey mom and Fam! how has everyone been? I loved the package that you sent me! it was full of all my favorite goodies and had some tight slippers haha i miss carpet bc it doesn't exists here, but these slippers feel like im walking on pillows hah. my comp loved his shoes, in face hes writing you a thank you latter bc he knows some english but it might come out like jacks letters haha. Oh! thanks for all the letters. there was tons so i was happy! hah grants made me crack up bc it was way random, but i loved all of em. Dont worry about the camera and i want you to buy it with my own money bc its expensive. But dont worry that it didnt come with my package. But if you could for the next package just have my books, jump rope, and they camera. Thats really about all i need bc im getting fat hah and i don't have a camera to send you guys photos.  and the gangsters talk pure slang and i have to communicate with them too hahjk. Well the sad thing is that im leaving from this area that im only been in for 1 1/2 months. i don't know why but i guess its what the Lord wants. its difficult bc i like this area the most of all my areas. We had a baptism saturday and it was great. Our investigator is a kid of 20 years and he bore his testimony in a sacrament and told me that he wants to serve a mission and hes only been a member for 1 day. So im way happy about that.  His family will get baptised this month but they just needed a little more time. Im being sent to leon hah so that should be cool! i havent been there yet but im excited to see my area.  I just cant wait to visit all of these great people after the 2 years with all of you! 

Hah that's cool brandon rogers is going to be in the bishop rick.  I got along with him good. im excited for scott and the experiences that he will have.  Thanks again for everything and mom you can just send the package when jesse comes here again no worries.  Thanks again for everything!  love you mom and everyone! 

love elder bigelow

Yay for blogging!

I'm so glad Im not the only one in our family that is a blogger! Im way excited to see what the family is up too! Right now Michelle and I are hanging out, she came down for the weekend for Ashley's wedding that is in 2 DAYS! We are all excited and can't wait to see you all! :) PEACE! love Errin and Michelle! P.S. Michelle, me and my mom all have blog sites already and I took the liberty of adding them to this site! :)

You Tube - Elder Tlyer Wall

There is an Elder in Tyler's mission that put together this slideshow and music.  His voice is amazing and the pictures are beautiful.  Take a look: youtube

Picture test...

This is a test to see how images are loaded on the blog.  This picture was taken in January in Arizona.  Nicole, Kristyn, Melissa and Jarom.  Feel free to post your most recent family pictures or anything you want for that matter.  

Welcome to our new family blog!

Walls... get ready to blog! 

Welcome to our new family blog.  This website will be a place we can all use to see updates and read about our awesome family.  

I hope this will be a great opportunity to become closer as an extended family (if that's even possible)!  

Kristyn