News from Elder Mellor

Hi All,
I have not been very good about forwarding messages from Daniel so I thought I would send a picture. He was able to speak at a conference with Elder Richard Hinckley and this is a photo of his zone. He is happy and keeping busy and unlike his cousins he is awaiting the arrival because it has been so hot. He mentioned that school started again this week so that means that fall is on the way.

Twins Baptism and other North Ogden News

Since Stuart and his family are using this Blog to further their radical ideals I thought I would chime in and actually see if Big D and Lady Di actually read this. This past Sunday the twins, (Tag and Macy) were baptized by Alex and confirmed by their Dad. All went well, Alex did a great job and our thanks to those family members who were able to make the journey to the great white North Ogden for the festivities.  Pictures to follow shortly. Alex and Drew begin the week of stress for their parents as they delve into High School Soccer tryouts. We get the final cut on friday night! We are hoping they both make the squad. Temps are starting to come back up actually getting into the upper 40's this week, something we have not had since November. All else is well in our world. Best to all.

Love,

Todd and Keri & Co.

More Kids Fun Stuff

OK, you slackers out there, start posting stuff! Don't make it seem like it's Stuart and his progeny that love to hear themselves talk (truth hurts, so please spare us the pain).

We got an e-mail from Seth, who reports that Minot is not that cold. I'm not sure what to make of that, because I've since been tracking the weather and the high has been 25 over the last week. (He did report that one night it got to -50, with the windchill.) How is that not cold? I think he has acclimated.

I also noted that Minot has an Air Force base, where the slogan reads: "Only the best come north--Minot Air Force Base, home of 10,000 people and a fleet of B-52H stratofortress bombers." Whatever a "stratofortress bomber is, I think Seth may have found his people.

On a second note, I have to share something from Martha's basketball game this weekend. Bridget and I were sitting under the basket (the side seats were full), and toward the end of the game Martha was standing not far from us, playing defense, when she suddenly stood still and her eyes rolled back in her head. Bridget pointed it out to me and I immediately worried she was going to pass out. I have a vow of not yelling anything (even encouragement) at the kids' games (they need to listen to the coach, not me), but this was different and I called out, "Martha, are you OK?" She immediately looked at me and said "Yes." Then the ball changed hands and she ran down to the other end. They were running a play in which she was to set a screen, but in doing so she again stood there and had her eyes roll back into her head. And this type her tongue hung out. For obvious reasons the play did not work so well.

The game was close to being over, so I assumed she was doing whatever she was doing on purpose. After the game I asked her what was up. She said it was her strategy to "freak out" the other team. I advised that in games she should work on coach-approved strategies. It's nice that I was able to pass on my basketball skills to at least one of my children.

If you don't read this blog you'll end up sleeping with the fishes, capiche?

This weekend my apartment held an Italian mafia murder mystery dinner. It was a lot of fun and my mom wanted to see some pictures so I thought I would put them up for everybody to see. The first picture is of me and my great roommate, Geneva.
Here is a view through the front window of everyone in action getting all set up in the kitchen. And this last picture is of our whole group after dinner; they are a pretty funny bunch!

"Leave the gun. Take the canolies."

Open Letter To Stuart Harris, esq.

To: Stuart Harris, Esq.
From: Office of Dick Cheney
Vice President of the United States
Date: February 23, 2008
Re: Gross Offenses

Dear Sir:

I have taken valuable time out of my busy schedule driving hunting companions to the hospitable and defending the honor of my former assistant, to address a situation that has been brought to my attention by an elderly, gray-haired couple somewhere down in the Caribbean.
It seems that you have been going through their mail and posting, on the Internet, spicy bits of private transactions that have been sent to them. I know that you, as an attorney and officer of the court, realize that this is a Federal Offense.

Therefore I have, as of the above date, given an order that your phone is to be tapped and all conversations will be recorded and reviewed by my office. It has also been brought to my attention that you live in a harem, so as I am sure you realize the phone conversations will be under close scrutiny.

It is my desire that this situation be resolved in an amiable manner before November 2008. This can easily be done by a generous contribution to the Republican National Committee, another check to President George W. Bush for his retirement fund, and a third check to the Legal Defense Fund for Scooter Libby.

By the way what are you doing with the Victoria's Secret catalogues that come to their address?

Thank you for your timely attention to this matter.

Sincerely your fellow right wing conservative,

Dick Cheney
cc: the elderly gray-haired couple somewhere in the Caribbean

Many Are Cold, But Few Are Frozen

We just got an e-mail from Seth. He has just been transferred--he's leaving the relatively balmy clime of Buffalo, Wyoming for still wintry Minot, North Dakota. I just checked the weather there and it's 9 degrees, but with windchill it feels like -3 (but it's a dry cold, right?). Here is his address:

1816 S. Main Apt 41
Minot, ND 58763

It's nice that he is able to see a fourth state, but I think he was actually enjoying the premonitions of spring in Wyoming. Oh, well, spring should hit Minot before he comes home in June.

A Day in the Life of An English Major...

Just thought I'd put fingers to keyboard and treat the readers of the family blog to an exclusive look into the life of the elusive English major. This semester has been filled with poetry in motion as well as on paper. I am in a Russian lit class and currently very busy reading Dostoevsky. On this standard frosty Provo day, I was commissioned to write a Haiku (for my creative writing class) which I feel compelled to share:

Tired Hotel room,
Gideon's Bible untouched,
He counts his receipts.

I am just now recovering from being sick all last week so I hope that the rest of the Harris' are all in good health!


(To be Continued...)

Satchy Walks

This is about a month old now, but here is the little guy motoring. He has become the terror of house plants, Symonie's make-up drawer, pots and pans, waste baskets, computer keyboards... basically the whole house.

Grandma and Grandpa's mail

One of the blessings of being the oldest male child is that I have inherited the privilege of answering Mom and Dad's mail. It's actually more entertaining that one might think. For example, yesterday Mom got a gift card from Express, which read:

"Taller. Slimmer. Sexier.

Belt it, raise it, or make it disappear. This season, the focus is on the waist. High-waisted pants and skirts give the apperaance of long, lean legs. A flirty belt helps define the waist and sculpts a slim, sleek silhouette. Feel taller. Look slimmer. Get sexier. It's spring's perfect look."

Mom, let me know if there is an Express in the DR and I'll send you gift card.

Some of the political mail is also interesting. Last week Mom got a letter from Mary Matalin, who is counselor to Dick Cheney--yes, Matt, that Dick Cheney, the Vice President. Apparently Mr. Cheney would like Mom to help Scooter Libby with his legal bills. I was going to write a letter advising the Vice President that Mom and Dad were on a mission, and they were wondering whether he (Mr. Cheney) could afford a few dollars for the Perpetual Education Fund. But then I ran out of time, so I had to settle for a quick note: "No money--Scooter should swing for lying to the grand jury." I signed Mom's name, so as to spare Mr. Cheney the feeling that Mom did not have the time to respond personally.

Then Dad got a letter from President Bush himself, asking why he had not renewed his membership in the Republican National Party. Again, I thought it best to respond on behalf of Dad: "Dear President Bush, thank you for your concern, but I have not renewed my membership because I did not think it would help me in the difficult choice between Senators Clinton and Obama. Very truly yours, Don Harris."

Most of all there are lots of tear stained letters from art gallery owners, wondering when Big D will return. Those I just toss. Anyway, I thought everyone might enjoy hearing about what Mom and Dad are missing in Portland. Love, Stuart

Through the eyes of a brand new temple goer

Dearest Family:
We had a very emotional day in the temple last week. A young couple from Curasel (sp?), one of the ABC Islands, (near Venezuela) came to the temple. He is the branch president of their small branch and she is a recent convert. They have a 14 month old little boy. They have been married for a few years but have never been able to come to the temple. Their temple is the Venezuela temple, and he says they can even see the mountains of Venezuela from their island, but the dangers of going into that place right now, plus the expense are not worth it. So they came to our temple along with a single sister friend. The wife and the single sister each received their own endowment last week and then have been attending the temple each day. They left this morning, but I was able to take a picture of them before they left. A beautiful couple and they speak English (an added bonus for me.) In fact I had to go down and address the baptistry youth the other night (thank goodness the Spirit attended with me) and the young man was there and so helped me with a couple of sentences. I get carried away sometimes and speak more than I have words to cover me; but as I read that last sentence most of us Harris' have that same problem whatever the language.
Anyway, getting back to my original story. The next day after receiving her endowment, the young sister came in and reported that she could not find her recommend. I went down to her locker and searched. We went into every place where we thought she might have left it and no luck. I told her to go back to the apartment and look through the diaper bag as she might have put it in there. No luck. So her husband came the next morning and since he is the branch president; he asked grandpa if he would counter-sign a new recommend for her. Dad had to look it up in the president's handbook to make sure he could do that and he could.
But in the meantime I was mentioning the problem to our dear secretary and something the husband had said stuck in my mind. He mentioned that the last time she had seen her recommend was while sitting in records review with the secretary. We hurried to that office and sure enough there was her recommend sitting on the corner of the desk. I went to the president's office and presented it to the young husband and he started to cry. That little piece of paper that many of us take so for granted was at that moment the most valuable possession he had. He said his wife would be so happy and from the look on his face I can imagine what she would feel. They have come every day since.
I wonder if we realize how very blessed we are to have such a simple little thing as our recommend but what profound meaning it should have to all of us. As President Hunter said, even if we do not live close to a temple we should always have one and carry it with us. I hope that each of us will see the temple through the eyes of a brand new attendee and realize the eternal blessings that are waiting for us in that Holy House of the Lord.
We love and pray for each and every one of you daily. May the Father's choicest blessings be with you all. Love Mom, Di, Aunt Di, Grandma and Greatgrandma (though I don't think our greatgrandchildren can read as yet. )

Hey Everybody,
Bryce and I were just commenting about how no one seems to post as much anymore. So I thought I would just say hello. I was playing around with the settings and so that is why things look a little bit different on here.... sorry. If anyone has any ideas or pics or anything else that you want to have added to the blog, please send them to me. Well we're doing well. We'll probably be moving again sometime this month, nothing new...and we find out next week if we're having a boy or a girl, so we'll be sure to let you all know! And if you have any names you think would go well with "Wi" we'd love to hear em. (And yes I understand what that request might bring from some of you).
Anyways, hope all is well with everyone. Please post something if you have time... It doesn't have to be a picture-just a little blurb is great!
Take Care
Love, The Wi Family