Dan the MTC man.

Beautiful fall day in Provo Utah.

Missionary mom, Elder Cook, and Stephanie.



New Missioanries, That's ME!!!!


The day we put Danny in the MTC we got up and I taught him how to sew on a button. He later told me he sewed on several buttons for himself and others in the MTC and got a reputation for sewing. I told him my goodbyes that morning because I knew it would be too hard in the MTC for both of us in such a public place. I told him he came from a long legacy of missionaries and that he had been placed with all those missionaries before him for a reason. He had a lot of big shoes to fill and he was totally up to the task. We had prayer and scripture study. I read the last of Alma’s words to his son’s and replaced mine and his names. We went to breakfast at Magleby’s Fresh and had their famous French toast. Steph met us there. Danny finely turned over his phone. He was calling and texting his friends like it was his last time……….cuz it was. I have this vivid memory of going to the car, the radio was playing Via La Vida by Cold Play. He loves that song and thinks it is all about him. I remember him smiling so big and singing, “Missionaries in a foreign field!” We entered the MTC Wed. morning Oct. 29th at 11:00. It was a beautiful day in Provo Utah. About 70 degrees, clear blue skies and the leaves were turning, something we don't see in AZ. We both knew it was going to be hard but their is something really special about putting your son in the MTC that can't be described in words. You are sad yet happy. It is a testimony that the church is true, other wise, our youth wouldn't go and we wouldn't be happy to see them go. I kept thinking of my MTC experience and knew what he was in for so that made it a lot easier for me. Before we knew it, the time had come. He said goodbye to Steph. They have become so close. Then it was my turn. We separated and went to our designated doors. Just before he went through the door we yelled, “Danny!” He tuned with tear filled eyes and waved goodbye. The next two days were hard for me. I was happy for him but two years is so long. But since that day, I really haven’t had a hard time. It’s OK. In Danny’s setting apart, Pres. Coons said, “I bless you that your goodbyes will be sweet.” It really was sweet but for two days it was hard. But I can honestly say, I haven’t had a hard day since. So I guess that is pretty sweet! I am so excited for him. He is doing so well and is so happy, how could I be sad. It’s all good. I love being a missionary mom!

Goodbye for two years

Rhonda, Marci, Eliza, and Jackie, saying good bye to Dan the missioanry man.



























Danny with his BYU Friends the night before the
MTC.
Bye pops, I love ya.












Dan's
Mt. View friends. So hard to say goodbye.

Leaving on a jet plane.

Goodbye Unka Danny. We love you.










Sean and Brodie giving Danny some of their favorite ties.








Elder Daniel Taylor Cook
Rochester NY Mission

Families can be Together Forever.

This was blessing day for Miss Chambry Kay Barnett. Brian gave Chambry a beautiful blessing.




Blessing day for Miss Chambry.
This is a photo of our family outside the Mesa AZ Temple. Danny went through the Temple this day. We were able to all be together in the Temple. It was a day that our family has dreamed about since Keven and I were married. We are so blessed it all worked out. Brian was in Japan and Melissa had just had her baby here. We had a window of just a few days. Danny went through on Fri. Brian and Melissa Blessed their baby on Sunday and they took of for London on Monday. So we were very lucky to have this day in the Temple. We were glad Stephanie could fly down to be with us all. We took family names through and had a very special day.

Temple Day for the Cook Family

Cook Family.

Marci & Carlos have two beautiful children Nicholas and Eliza. They are expecting their third in Feb. A boy. Marci works at Keven's office and helps with the family business, Office Keepers, a new business they put together this spring. They both work so hard.

Melissa and Brian are living in Tokyo Japan and will be there until May. Brian works for United Bank of Switzerland, UBS. They have traveled to London, Singapore and now Tokyo. They have the cutest, sweetest little one in the world who has been ALL over the world. We are looking foward to seeing them at Christmas.

Temple Day for the Cook Family

Brodie and Lindsay were married in May. Brodie is going to school and studying pre-dent. Lindsay is in Nursing school. They live close so we see them often.

Sean and Erin were married in March. Sean is a Pre-Dent student and Erin is working with Special Education Children, teaches Dance. They are so much fun to be around. We love them.



This is all the Cook boys. Danny, Brodie, Keven, Sean, Brian, Carlos and Nicholas.


Cook girls, Stephanie, Lindsay, Marci, Eliza, Rhonda, Melissa, Chambry, Erin.

GRANDKIDS ARE GRAND!!!

IT IS ONE OF THE JOYS OF YOUR LIFE TO HAVE THESE MINI CHILDREN COME INTO YOUR WORLD. I LOVE TO SPOIL THEM AND THEN SEND THEM HOME!

Grandkids, Nico, Eliza, Chambry

NICO IS 4. HE LOVES TO GO TO PRE-SCHOOL AND HAS AN INFECTIOUS LAUGH. HE HAS HIS DAD'S PERSONALITY.





ELIZA IS 2 AND IS THE THE SWEETEST LITTLE PRINCESS. SHE LOVES TO GIVE KISSES AND HUGS. WE CALL HER, BUTTERCUPS.














MISS CHAMBRY IS 4 MONTHS OLD. SHE IS THE BEST BABY! SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT AND NEVER CRIES. WE CALL HER PEACHES. SHE IS BEAUTIFUL AND WE MISS HER SO MUCH!

Eliza was a very brave little girl.

We got a call from Marci saying that Eliza smashed her finger in the door and severed it just below the fingernail line. It was hanging on by the skin. She starting screaming and wanted to pull it off. Marci had to hold her other hand to keep her from ripping it off. They knew they had to get her to an urgent care stat! Just a few seconds before this happened the garage door chain broke and they couldn't get the car out to take her to urgent care. They had to use Carlos' van that was parked outside. When they got to urgent care they were sent to Scottsdale Care Hospital because they had a pediatric hand specialist and he would be able to re-attach the finger. By the time we got to Scotttsdale her finger had began to reattach it’s self and wasn’t flopping around anymore. I couldn't stand to be in the room when they were reattaching her finger. She called out for me, nana, nana, nana, then screamed, RHONDA!!!!!!!!! She was brave and held still during the procedure. She was a very brave little girl and really did well. You can’t even tell she hurt her finger now.

We got a call from Marci saying that Eliza smashed her finger in the door and severed it just below the fingernail line. It was hanging on by the skin. She starting screaming and wanted to pull it off. Marci had to hold her other hand to keep her from ripping it off. They knew they had to get her to an urgent care stat! Just a few seconds before this happened the garage door chain broke and they couldn't get the car out to take her to urgent care. They had to use Carlos' van that was parked outside with no car seat. They got to urgent care and they to ScottsdaleCare Hospital because they had a pediatric hand specialist and he would be able to re-attach the finger. By the time we got to Scotttsdale her finger had began to reattach it’s self and wasn’t flopping around anymore. I couldn't stand to be in the room when they were reattaching her finger. She called out for me, nana, nana, nana, then screamed, RHONDA!!! She was brave and held still during the procedure. She was a very brave little girl and really did well. You can’t even tell she hurt her finger.

4th of July in Provo

4th of July in Provo

Their is no place better than Provo Utah for celebrating the 4th of July.  Melissa and I drove up to Utah to get some much needed cool fresh mountain air.  We met Danny and Steph who were already there.  Marci and her family drove up too.  It was so much fun to be together.  The night before the parade people were saving their spot on the street.  It tuned out to be an all night "Main Street" party. We went to the Stadium of Fire, with Mile Cirrus.  It was fun.  

MARCI IS ADDING ANOTHER GRANDBABY TO OUR FAMILY!

Marci told us tonight that she is expecting her 3rd! She is due the 22 of February which is Stephanie's Birthday! We are so happy for Marci. It will be great for her to have this new little one to add to her already beautiful family. Marci and Carlos both have been working hard with Carlos's new business as will as Marci working part time at Keven's office. They will have her hands full with three children but I know they can to amazing things. Our family is growing by leaps and bounds.

ELDER DANIEL TAYLOR COOK!

Danny got his call and wanted to open it in Provo. We set up the web cam and made calls to California where Sean, Erin, Brodie and Lindsay are working. Danny was so excited he could hardly read it. DRUM ROLL.............................

ROCHESTER NEW YORK MISSION (PALMYRA)

Daniel Taylor Cook is called to serve in the Rochester NY Mission. He will report to the MTC Oct 29th! We are so excited. It will be a church history mission with Palmyra, the Sacred Grove, Hill Cumorah, the Palmyra Temple and the Pageant all in his mission!!! Danny went there two weeks before Sean and Brodie left for their missions so he knows what it is like. It is the mission just north of where Sean served! Danny is so excited and can't wait to go. We are so excited!!!!!!! It will be fun to pick him up. YEA!! WE HAVE ANOTHER MISSIONARY!!!!!!!

Steph came for the opening of the call. The two "Brown Eyes, of the family have really bonded in Provo. They have loved being in Utah together.

Miss Chambry Kay Barnett Born July 29, 2008

Melissa and Brian had their first little baby girl Tuesday morning at 3:30 AM.
Chambry Kay Barnett
7 lbs. 1 oz.
21 1/2 " long
She is a very good baby and is loved by her family so much. We are happy she is here. Yea!
Brian has been in Japan 6 weeks with his new job with UBS, United Bank of Switzerland. He came home for the birth and had to leave the day after she came home from the hospital. It has been hard for the two of them but they have kept in touch via Web Cam! He will return in 4 weeks to pick up mom and baby and head for London for two months then on to Japan for a year. We are so sad they have to go all they way on the other side of the world. We look forward to our visits there.

Hey dad this is for you way in Japan. I miss you. Hurry and come get me.

My cousin is Popeye!

Maui Hawaii 2008

We decided that we would do a family vacation before Danny went on his mission and after the boys got married. We stayed at the Marriott Maui Ocean Club in Lahina. We had such a wonderful time. We were sad Carlos and Eliza couldn't make it as Carlos's mother came to Arizona to visit. We missed them.

Cook's Whip Cream Night!!!

We had so much fun on this trip. Everyone was assigned a day to plan the activities and the night devotional or activity. We did some crazy things like a family disco on our room. Bloding, and very spiritual devotionals. Our favorite one was the Whip Cream Night. We took a paper plate and put a candy on it and filled it with whip cream. Put our hands behind our backs then the first one to find the whip cream won and got to throw the plate in the others face. OH MY GOSH, WHO KNEW WHIP CREAM COULD BE SO FUN!!!!!! WE LOVED IT.

As you can see I was TOTALLY INTO IT! Keven just got a little whip cream on his nose. Of course after a long time I found the Candy and got the throw the plate. But Keven ducked TWICE! That was the funniest!

We had a contest to see who could create the most amazing hair with whip cream. We laughed till we were silly. Someone walking by said, "I want to drink what they are drinking." Danny said, "We are on LDS!"