Elder Cassaro in Montana

We haven’t blogged since Ian left, but our adjusting to him gone is better now. It helps getting his weekly email and a hand-written letter besides. If you haven’t been on his missionary website (at www.missionsite.net/eldercassaro) you can read his letters and see his pictures which are also posted on his facebook. You can write him an email at IanCassaro@aol.com and he reads it every Monday morning.


The area Ian is serving is the northwest area of Montana….more hicks than cowboys. It’s very cold already and most people live there to be away from other people, especially missionaries. But Ian is doing his best to stir up the place and light it on fire. No bikes or apartments in this mission. The missionaries live with families and drive cars. He says he hasn’t had time to feel homesick and looks forward to each day. His first transfer day is coming up this weekend, so after a 10-hr bus ride back to the Mission Home in Billings, he’ll find out if he gets a new companion, a new area, or both.

Elder Ian Cassaro, Missionary

The day finally came for Jim and I to take Ian to Utah to start his 2-year mission. We spent a few days with Ian before his report date, visiting family (the Fosters and the Hanks) at their homes and going out with them to the Mayan Adventure for dinner. We took Jim to see the sites in Temple Square and took a tour of the Conference Center. He was impressed with it all! The last day with Ian, we dropped by the MTC (Mission Training Center) to see if we could take a few pictures in front. I told two new Elders there what we were doing. They said, “Oh, you should go ‘that’ way. Then they took us around the MTC. They hadn’t heard that visitors weren’t allowed around the property. They gave us a nice tour of the place, with some pictures and it helped with Ian’s nervousness quite a bit, so we didn’t feel too badly when we knowingly broke the rules. Eventually we were busted and nicely asked to leave. After two days of playing between Provo and Salt Lake, we said good-bye to our baby boy. A sad, but proud moment. Ian will be at the MTC for three weeks before going to his assigned mission in Montana & Wyoming. We already miss him so much, joining the thousands of missionary parents who wait for that precious letter each week and the holiday phone calls. Thank you everyone who helped Ian get there, whether it was financial, by example, or words of encouragement and support.

Ian's Going to be A Missionary

When Ian turned in his paperwork to be a missionary, he had high hopes of living in a foreign country and learning a new language. After two weeks of waiting, he got the letter announcing where he'll be going and when he'll leave. Ian and Leah met Jim on his UPS route. With grandparents and brothers listening on the phone, Ian read his 2-year assignment.







Ian will report to the Mission Training Center in Utah on August 26th, 2009. He'll be serving in the Billings, Montana Mission - English Speaking.
Although Ian is a bit disappointed that he won't have the experience of living outside the country, he realizes that he will always receive his mail, he won't have to live in confusion for months while learning a new language, and he won't have to get used to eating strange food. He's mostly relieved to finally get going with this part of his life.

Ian's Changing Hair

For the past several years, May is the month that Ian gets his hair straightened. For about six months he grows it out as long as he can stand it. Only two rules: his hair has to be out of his face and has to be clean at all times. His Aunt Rachel straightens his hair and he wears it like that for a day or two before she gives him a summer hair cut.

May of 2009 was no different than past years, except for the hair cut at the end. Before the final cut, Rachel had fun styling his hair several ways, including a Mullet. The difference this year……a missionary hair cut. With Ian’s Mission Papers turned in we expect his call in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, Ian is enjoying his new look.

Happy Birthday to me......I guess

As my birthday approached, I was looking forward to celebrating it with a camping trip at the Colorado River near Needles, California during Memorial Weekend. Since our RV died two years ago, our 4-day home would be in a large two-room tent and a double easy-up awning. Jim, Nicholas, Ian, the dog and I packed up the truck, hooked up the jet skis and had a nice 5-hour drive to the river. Jason and his family were there as well. By the time we got our campsite set up, I wasn’t feeling well but did my best to cook a nice meal on the Coleman stove in the dark and heavy winds. The next morning I woke up very sick and seemed to get more sick each day. I was able to enjoy a boat ride and a few outings on the jet skis but mostly slept. Jim bought me a cake and I received two gifts and cards and everyone at the campsite sang “Happy Birthday” but I was too sick to enjoy it. On the way home I slept the entire way, arriving home to a flooded kitchen, dining room and living room from a broken water filter on the frig. After a quick trip to the doctor, I was diagnosed with Bronchial Pneumonia and received some meds. Shortly afterwards, our kitchen and adjoining rooms were a mess with Insurance Claims Adjusters, and Water Damage Crew, furniture and décor packed-up and moved out, our carpet and padding was removed and the walls cut open.
Our house currently has the pungent odor of old wet wood and Listerine (the smell of the chemical used to prevent mold) with the continual windy sound of the dehumidifiers and air mover machines trying to dry out the second level of the house. Happy birthday to me….I guess!

The Cassaro Girls Have Boo Boos

Several years ago our dog(Kya) had a partial knee replacement, which is common for Pit Bulls. Everything was fine until about six months ago, when her scar opened up and began to ooz and a knot began to form. You can see the knot in the picture. I scheduled her for surgery and they removed ALOT of old sutures that were no longer connected. She has stitches and drain tubes. The next day, after returning home from church, I walked across the lawn in high heels, hit a hole, and fell on my face, breaking my big toe. The people who saw me fall looked away pretending not to see it. Who hobbled over the help me? The dog.

Easter and the Basket Hunt

A few years ago,when our boys asked that we discontinue the Easter Egg hunt, Leah said, "Look....I don't have any grandchildren yet....somebody's gotta hunt for something!" With that, she put on her thinking cap and came up with the Easter Basket Hunt. Hidden in incredibly ridiculous hiding places, the already filled baskets are attached to 3 scanes of yarn each. Everyone has a different color and must roll up their ball of yarn as it leads to it's individual hiding place. It takes about 45 minutes to hide each basket and longer for them to find.... going in and out of the house, the garage, off the roof, thru cars, the neighbor's yards, into the trees, etc. We also include Jeff's 3 kids (Jim's brother who passed away), so there are six baskets all together. When all the baskets are hidden, there is no other way to get thru the house other than to crawl. Big smiles on every "kid" (ages 16 thru 29) throughout the entire hunt. After all the baskets are found we end up at Jim's parents house for pasta and meatballs. And the conversation?....sharing old family stories and talking about next year's basket hunt.

Spring Break in Virginia

Since Ian will be leaving soon (this summer) on his 2-year mission, Jim and I took Ian on a 1-week vacation of his choice. He chose Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, Virginia. We had a great time and learned so much about the Revolutionary War that we could hardly absorb it all. All three towns have much of it preserved where actors and volunteers walk around in time-period costumes, talking, working and performing throughout the day. We left with renewed appreciation of our country's forefathers and early patriots. This 1st picture is Jim dressed as a Continental Army officer in Yorktown, putting his 'best foot forward.' The 2nd picture is Ian and Leah in the stocks in Williamsburg. The 3rd is of Leah next to a Powatan Indian house in Jamestown. The 4th picture is Jim and Ian in fort armor in Jamestown, The 5th is Leah and Jim at the Yorktown Battlefield where the Revoluntionary War was won.

Happy Birthday Big Boys

Having two birthdays in the beginning of the year, we get to take advantage of after-Christmas sales. Aaron(29)received a new set of golf clubs and bag, and Nicholas(22) received a Wii game system. And we love any excuse to eat tons of fattening food and race a few laps on the go-carts..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONS!!!

A Wonderful Time of Year

January is coming to an end so I'd better get the Christmas pictures posted. Xmas is two days long for the Cassaro family. It starts with Xmas Eve at Jim & Joanne's house (Jim's parents). It's a small family so anyone absent (Nicholas) is sorely missed. Since they live in Buena Park, it's quick trip for Mom (Judy) to join us on Xmas Eve. Xmas morning, Leah cooked up a big breakfast. The boys and Mom(Judy) arrived by 10am. Everyone received one big gift, plus their stocking filled with goodies. After more eating, playing games, napping, and shared conversation, Mom left for Rachel's house. Aaron hung out the rest of the day and we were back at Jim & Joanne's for dinner. Instead of our annual Xmas trip with the boys, we went to Las Vegas during the week of New Years. But that's another story.

Ian and the Holidays

While Aaron was consumed in daily holiday performances with the All American Boys Chorus, and Nicholas was working double-time hours at Citrix-Online in Santa Barbara, Ian spent his Christmas season in a variety of performances, including Sax Solo Ricitals, Symphonic Band concerts, and being hired for voice work. This picture is of Ian with a fan after a concert. The video clip is Ian narrating "The Night Before Xmas" for a local high school's holiday program.

Christmas is Coming....the Goose is getting fat!

The annual White Elephant Xmas Party is a highlight of the holiday season for the family here in Southern California, held the Sunday before Christmas. Instead of dinner, everyone brought desserts. A small birthday recognition was included for Kevin Guthrie (age 19), Katie Muldune (5) and Jim Cassaro (54). As usual, the most awful gifts were the most coveted. The evening ended with Randy joining us live via a laptop webcam and the Guthrie/Cassaro brothers foozeball play-offs.