oh ouch!!!

OK time may heal all things but this is one thing that is going to take a little longer then others. Austin is doing OK but still pretty miserable. He said all he wants for Christmas is a new leg. Ross had a pretty good laugh when he called Christmas morning and Austin told him the news about his ankle. Ross is doing great and is on a major count down. He will be home in 10 days. I can hardly believe it is that close. It feels like Christmas is still out there and we are waiting for it to come. It is nice to have something to look forward to in Jan. which is the one month I really hate.

Austin, Austin, Austin!!!

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas at the Fackler's if someone wasn't on crutches and this year is no different.

Yesterday at work Austin was putting up signs and slipped on a hill that had ice on it (which is a little strange in St. George anyway) and fell back on his ankle and yes you guessed it...He broke it.


He knew it was broken immediately because he has broken both ankles before so this is the third time which they say is the charm. Luckily it is not out of place at all. The Dr. put him in a boot not a cast and gave him the tallest crutches you have ever seen. Madi and Darby use them for pole vaulting which is pretty funny.

The good news is he should be good in 4 weeks or so and it wont effect his mission at all. So as usual life is never simple here at our house but we are still feeling very blessed that it wasn't any worse then it was. But, oh for a boring day!!!

Snow In St. George

It started to snow Wed. at about 3:30as the kids were getting out of school, and the hope began. Snow anytime in St. George is a big deal and this early in the year it is amazing so we were all pretty excited. By 9:30 we had around 2 inches and it was still coming down. The kids on our street all ended up at my house having snowball fights and trying to scrape together enough snow for a snowman. It was so fun to watch then enjoy this Christmas Miracle. It became even more fun when the school announced that school was canceled because they are just not equipped to handle snow here. So the snow playing and watching went on until late last night. We woke up to another 2 inches and more coming. My Niece and Nephew came over this morning and are spending the day with us. The snowball fights started early and breakfast was hot chocolate and banana bread. It feels like Christmas and is an answer to the little girl that lives in my hearts prayer. I will always dream of a white Christmas!!!

We Are Still Here!

No we have not fallen off the face of the earth, all though some days it does sound good. Our lives have been in a little bit of an uproar. If you know us at all that is nothing new for the past two years. Some days you wonder how you did something that felt so right and it has led to such craziness. All I can say is the Lord really does work in mysterious ways. Kevin is still selling insurance but has changed to a different company so we are hoping this will work out some of the kinks we have been dealing with in the past. I have started working for the School District as a secretary in the medicaid office for Special Ed. I am really enjoying it and feel very blessed to have such a good job at this crazy time in the economy. Other than that it is life as usually at the Facklers. Ross will be home in 28 days and we can hardly stand the wait. Austin leaves in three months and we can hardly stand to let him go. He has been the glue that has held this family together for the past 2 years and we will miss his strength in more ways then can be named. Bridger and Madison are on swim team and working hard. Madi is also doing winter training for cross country and is thinking of doing a triathlon in the spring. (You go you crazy girl!!!) Darby is playing Basketball and looking forward to Christmas. I wish I could find the magic that she finds in everything, she is amazing!!! So anyway that is our update. I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying this, the best time of year. We wish you all the best!!!

Look out Mexico Here He Comes

It is here, Austin's call came last Saturday of all the crazy days. We had permission from Ross's Mission President to call him when we opened it so we had to wait until after 10pm so he would be home. We all took a guess of where we thought he would go. We guessed any where from Brazil to Japan and his dad said Iowa. So then we had the big reveal and guess what... it is the Mexico City North Mission where Austin will be spending the next 2 years of his life. He leaves on March 4th and will go to the MTC in Provo first. We are all surprised but excited for him. Austin will be an amazing missionary he has a real gift of drawing people to him. He is already working on his Spanish trying to brush up from High School and has several people at work talking to him in Spanish. I am so glad we will have a few months with Ross and Austin home together. I am excited to have both of my boys home under the same roof for a while.

What a boy wants

What A Boy Wants
By Cindy Fackler

When You were three you would always say,
"I want to be that guy.

The one that rides the horses and can let his lasso fly.
I want to ride the rodeo, I want a gun and boots.
I want to be a cowboy mom, I think it would be a hoot."

When you were eight you would always say,
"I want to be that guy.

The one that rides in BMX and can flip his bike so high.
I love the feel of freedom as the wind blows in my face.
I want to be a biker mom, I know I could win the race."

When you were sixteen you would always say,
"I want to be that guy.

The one that wins the tournament and makes the girls all sigh.
I need the feel of victory, I'll pin the others flat.
I want to be a wrestler mom, and live life on the mat..."

Then your soul turned to heaven
and a tear escaped your eye.

"I need to know my brother, the one that died for me.
I want to be a missionary mom, I have felt it on my knees."

And so you will go and serve him, you must find those wondering ones.
You have the courage to teach them you are one of his valiant sons.

Go forth with a virtuous spirit and spread the gospel light.
This is the man I felt you could be, I knew you would choose the right!


If a picture speaks a thousand words then this one says "Pure Joy!" Have you ever seen such a look of love in a face as the face of this little boy. This is why I sent my son on a mission. This is the reason I could let him go for two long years. It has not been an easy thing to do but there are not words to tell you of the blessings we have had in our home because of our sons service.

Ross will be home on Jan. 6 2009 (just under 3 mo.)

The Kids 1

OH Miss Madi!!!

Ok I don't ever remember giving my daughter permission to grow up but none the less she has done it anyway. She was invited last weekend to a semi formal dance for her friends sweet 16 birthday party. Much to her fathers dismay this dance included...... well boys and dancing and a very hot dress. Poor Kevin it is just more then his poor heart can take to see his little girl turning into a very pretty young women. He is more then happy that she is running cross country and that she just made the swim team. No one could be prouder of her good grades but when she walked out in her dress and high heels it was all over. Poor guy the only person worse then her dad was her brother Austin who told her she wasn't leaving the house and went so far as to stand in front of the door. So the really sassy picture you see was taken just for her dad and her brothers. And yes we will send one to Ross!

Just a question when we use to say Blah Blah Blah, do we now say Blog Blog Blog?

Anyway this is our Blog and as you can tell we call our selves the Fackpack not to be confused with the Ratpack (but if you went in to certain children's bedrooms you might be.) We are a family of seven but always on the look out for more. In fact we have recently made our latest addition. Jorden Gary moved in with us about a month ago. One more teenage boy really doesn't make much difference in this house. We lovingly call him the new Ross since Ross is serving a mission in California.

In my 21+ years of being a mom to boys I have learned a few things. Things like... if you want to eat it later don't leave it in the fridge. If you want to breath don't make chili and if you want to offer comfort don't do it after they lose a football game. Boys play harder, sleep deeper and stink more then any other animal on the earth including the sloth to which they are closely related. Yet even the loudest, stinkiest boy has his charm. There is nothing like looking at the world through the eyes of a 7 to 9 year old boy. The magic is everywhere. Trees are not just roots and branches but space ships, pirate ships, forts and an all encompassing rain forest complete with monkeys. Sidewalks never end and dirt is a gift from the Gods. They see an adventure waiting at the rising of each sun and although they fight sleep they look forward to meeting there best friends, Peter Pan and Godzilla once they get there.

No food ever has enough chocolate in it. No dish of ice cream is ever big enough. And they have never seen a hamburger they couldn't wrap there mouth around. I am always amazed at the things that show up in my washer when washing boys clothes. Spare change, gum wrappers, toy cars, old nails, rubber bands, report cards and worms to name a few. When each of these items are retrieved they are looked at as a lost treasures and immediately returned to a pocket to visit me again on the next wash day ( well maybe not the report card, that hopefully has been washed blank.)

Boys live life to the fullest, be that good or bad. It is not surprising to me that in the same day I can have a mother show up to tell me my son gave her son a bloody nose and then latter find that same boy trying to tenderly bandage his little sisters knee. It would be nothing new to hear boys yelling in the morning, swearing they hate each other and then find those same boys sitting side by side watching cartoons that afternoon. Boys love sweeter, hate deeper, and dream bigger. They fill the world with wonder, mayhem, noise and messes. Each one can make you mad or fill you with laughter just by a facial expression. And it is with a thankful heart I say no two are exactly alike. Boys are the meanest, sweetest, wildest, tenderest creatures that God saw fit to place on this earth and I am eternally grateful for the 3 plus 1 I have the pleasure of raising. What a gift!!!