3 weeks and Counting

In case people don't know we've got less than 3 weeks to go before Stephanie gets married. We love the guy she's marrying. She gets married Friday March 13th, 2009. We're so excited for her and this important step she's taking in her life. Hope all is well with everyone.

This Christmas Season

We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Please be safe in all you do. As we gather together this Christmas season let us not forget the reason we celebrate Christmas. Let us all remember the Savior and all he's done for us. This is the whole reason Eric is on his mission preaching to the great people of Louisiana. He's out preaching about the saviors life and mission here on this earth. In fact he's got 2 baptisms set for this Saturday which he's very excited about. We're so proud of him in all he's doing. We're all looking very forward to that call on Thursday when he gets to call. And as most of you probably know already Stephanie is getting Married Friday March 13th, 2009. We're so excited for her as well. We absolutely love and adore the guy she's marrying. Everyone else is doing well and keeping very busy. Alyssa is finishing up her Senior year of HS at Timpanogos High School and loving that. Katie and Jeff will both Graduate College this next year and are very excited about that. Well thats all for now. Have a very Happy and Safe Holiday. We love you all!!!!!!!!!

I"M TIRED OF IT!

Boy am I tired of reading each day about the protests against the church on Prop 8. Can you imagine the backlash if it had not passed and we protested against the Gay community. We would have been beat up to no end. I understand the emotions with this issue but i don't understand the hatred and threats. With comments that i read from LDS families about the church and how wrong the church is with this stand, I have to think that this is a real sign of the times and it is going to "sift the wheat from the tares" I found an article by Neal A Maxwell in 1978 that is so applicable today, this could have been given prior to this election. What a prophecy!!
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters -- in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions (see 1 Kgs 18:21).
"President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' (CR, Apr 1941) This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ…
"Your discipleship may see the time come when religious convictions are heavily discounted. M. J. Sobran observed, 'A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it' (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, p. 58). This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain of people's opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will soon be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened…
"Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even these, however, must leave a record so that the choices before the people are clear and let others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, that others will step forward, having been rallied to righteousness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds--a majority which was, till then, unconscious of itself.
"Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves 'summer is nigh' (Matt. 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Meeting the Challenges of Today", BYU Devotional, 10 Oct 1978
On a lighter note. We heard from Eric yesterday and he is doing great. Loving the MTC as we knew he would. Mom said that Francis ran into him at the Temple yesterday so that was fun for her and I know Eric loved it also. Thank you for your prayers in his behalf.
Randy

New News

Well, last Wednesday was the day we were all dreading? anticipating?...not quite sure, but it was the day Eric entered the MTC. It was definitely a bitter sweet day with lots of tears but also a lot of excitement for Eric's future two years. We started out by going to lunch to a place in Provo called Guru's. It was pretty relaxing and very tasty. Then we headed over to the MTC a little before one o' clock. Eric got his missionary tag with a "dork dot" on it. (A florescent orange sticker put on his tag to let everyone in the MTC know that he was a new missionary.) We took pictures and headed into the room for orientation. After the remarks the MTC prescidency made, which seemed to last about 30 seconds, we had to say our goodbye's. Everyone was having a hard time, but that was expected.
In the mean time, we received a letter from Eric on Saturday saying that he is doing well. He said he and his companion were meant to be together because they have the same camera, suit, and winter coat. It was pretty funny to hear that. Well, other than that we have no other new news. Have a great week and we'll keep you updated!
~Alyssa

Emotional Times

It has been a long time since i updated this blog. I am recommitting to do better. We have had some wonderful yet emotional times the last couple of weeks. Some of you may know that Erics lab, Rascal, died suddenly 2 weeks ago. What a shock. He was only 9 years old and from the morning i found him in the back yard it has been an emotional rollercoaster. It is like losing part of your family. That probably sounds odd to some of you but for those that have had animals for a long time know the heartbreak it is to lose them, especially when it is so unexpected. We have all had a very hard time but especially Eric and Yvonne. Yvonne kept saying "this is ridiculous that i am still so sad and crying over a stupid dog" But we have done many many fun things with Rascal and he will be missed. I think the other hard thing for Yvonne is (and this is probably a women thing) that with the death of Erics dog and him leaving on his mission, she is losing more than just Eric. She could look at the dog and a part of Eric would still be at home but now that won't happen. Also it is very evident that Eric is now an adult making adult decisions (to go on a mission) and dealing with adult emotions (losing a dog/friend). He is no longer a kid!
Well during this time we wondered if we should get another dog to help us get over Rascal and were trying to decide whether we wanted our backyard back or a dog, which we all love to have.
Well not only did we get 1 dog but ended up with two 7 week old yellow labs. Actually 1 of them is Stephanies. She wanted a dog to take with her when (if) she ever gets married or leaves home. But for now we have two cute little puppies that are a lot of fun, just wish they could stay little. If we could figure out a way to breed them to stay small we could make a fortune.
Well the other fun part of the last week was Erics farewell last Sunday. He did a great job and seems to be very very ready to go. Yvonne's brother Steve mentioned that Erics talk was one that you would hear from a General Authority. I don't know that I would go that far BUT it was an excellent talk and meeting. Afterwards he had about 75 friends come over to the house. Even with the number of kids i felt like we were still able to keep some as semblance of the Sabbath. WOW can they go through the food. That evening we had quite a few neighbors and friends come over to visit with Eric as well. It was a wonderful day.
The night before we had Yvonne's family over for visiting and had an enjoyable time with them. She had most of her family there.
This Sunday Oct 26th my family is invited to the house for visiting and refreshments as well, anytime after 6pm. With the number of family members on both sides and friends of Erics this has worked out very good and given Eric time to talk and visit with everyone more one on one.
I know this post has been mostly about Eric but the past few months have been mostly about him til he leaves. We STILL love the rest of our children and yes mom we spend just as much money on them and give them the same amount of time we give Eric.
Just a quick note everyone else:
Yvonne is doing great from her surgery. Still sore but went back to work today.
Jeff is still working and schooling (graduates April) and since there is no softball he decided to team up with eric and put on a flag football tournament
Stephanie as i mentioned has a new dog and an old boyfriend (old as in dating for a while)
Katie is on break from school for another week and still working
Alyssa is doing well in school and excited for softball this spring
Hope all is well with all of you

Conference Weekend

Well conference weekend has come and gone. We hope you all enjoyed conference. As i'm sure some of you are aware Yvonne had surgery on Friday. She came home from the hospital on Saturday morning just in time for the Saturday Afternoon Session of Conference. Yvonne is doing better and better every day. She's going to have a long road of recovery ahead of her though. We hope you are all doing well and are keeping everyone in our thoughts& prayers. Keep us updated on whats going on in your lives.

Excitement at the Richins House

Well we don't know how many of you know but Eric Recieved his mission call to the Baton Rouge, Louisiana Mission and he'll be leaving on November the 5th. As for everyone else we've just been trucking along going to softball games, Working, and going to School. So i'll give you an update on Each person.

Jeff-Has just been working and going to school. He's also living in Provo and loving it.
Stephanie-Has just been working as a Dental Assistant at Thanksgiving Point and loving that.
Katie-Has been attending school at Provo College and is loving that. She'll hopefully be graduating the end of this next May.
Eric-As you all know by now has recieved his mission call and will be leaving in November.
Alyssa- Is gonna be a Senior in HS this year and will also Graduate in May.