May 18--Dear Elder

ear Elder Cole,

Hi!  How are you?  How has this week gone for you?  I hope it has gone well, Matt.  I know that you are having a slow time in your mission, but hang in there; you have no idea the amount of good that you are doing.

Now, for a little business.  I checked your account and you seem to be low on money, so I deposited another $100.  I wonder how much you will need for travel.  I'll ask Dad about that.  Also, I got on to your facebook page and invited all of your friends to your homecoming.  I hope you don't mind that I changed your profile picture from Bill Murray to Elder Cole.  If you do mind, just let me know and I will change it back.  I also called Elizabeth and Rick and invited them and their families to come.

Well, this is the hardest mental exercise I do all week: trying to remember what we did so that I can tell you, ha ha.  For some reason, I always forget what we did on Monday.  Hmmmm...Heck, what did we do on Tuesday?  Oh ya, we went to Katrina's last choir concert of the year, and we really enjoyed hearing her sing.  At the concert her choir teacher announced that they have been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall next year and asked us to vote on whether or not we wanted the choir to go.  So later we talked to Katrina and Thomas, who will both be in concert choir next year and told them how much we could contribute to the trip, and they told us how much they could earn, and we looked into a couple of other possibilities.  After determining all that and finding out how much it would cost, we decided to vote for the trip.  They are very excited about the possibility, especially Katrina, so we'll see what happens.

Earlier that day, my school class went to fishing day at a pond.  It is a big event put on by the Department of whatever for all the special needs kids in the valley.  The students get to each catch a fish, and they also get served lunch.  Our students had a wonderful time, and I enjoyed taking pictures of everyone which I am adding to the year book that we are making for each student.  It is kind of my project since I took all the pictures and no one else knows how to put pictures on the computer.  All of my coworkers are older than me, so at work I'm considered a young whippersnapper.  I love my job, ha ha!  The teacher I work for is retiring this year for sure, btw, which means lots of changes in my job.

Oh, I forgot that it was also Thomas's birthday, and it figures that I would forget to write about it till now, because I also forgot to wish him happy birthday that day.  He had to remind me.  I felt so bad!  I don't think I've ever forgotten to wish any of you kids happy birthday before.  We celebrated his birthday on Sunday, so we didn't do much for him that day, but you'd think he'd at least get wished happy birthday without having to remind everyone about it.  Later that night, when it arrived from Amazon, I did present him with a six foot long poster of the galaxy to hang in his bedroom.  It's pretty cool.  Then, Friday, another poster of a nebula came for him.  His room now looks out of this world, ha ha.

I did, however, remember to wish my sister, Elizabeth, happy birthday which, I found out previously, I've never remembered ever since Thomas was born on the same day, not even to wish her a late happy birthday.  I told her the reason I remembered her birthday this year is because I forgot Thomas's and since it is obvious that I can only remember one or the other, this would be the last birthday of hers that I will be remembering since I can't very well forget Thomas's again.  I gave her a hanging flower basket.  We siblings don't usually give each other gifts, but since this will be the last birthday I remember, I figured it was the least I could do.  Of course, I was kidding her: I hope to remember both of their birthdays from now on!!!!  Wish me luck on that, I'll need it.  Some young whippersnapper I turned out to be, huh?

Wednesday, Thomas went to his first priest's activity which just happened to be a combined activity with the Laurels, so Katrina was there, too.  I think they both had a nice time.  With both of them taken care of for dinner, Dad and I decided to eat out.  We invited Miriam to join us, and ate at Panda Express, a place that Thomas can't eat.  We enjoyed eating and visiting together.

Thursday Thomas worked and Katrina had voice lessons, and on Friday, Dad and I went out to eat.  He was pretty exhausted, so we went home after that to watch a movie and eat ice cream.  We watched "Flipped" which you may have read, Matt.  It was a sweet movie, and it made Dad cry, which is why I married him.

Saturday I exercised, cleaned house, went to the girl's camp to check it out, and watched the tube in the evening with your still-exhausted daddy.  It's Sunday night and he's still utterly exhausted.  He put in the coolers at the laundry this week, and it was hard to do.  He goes straight from teaching to that and stays there late.  No wonder he's one tired hombre.  By the way, Dad is being transferred to the junior high next year which he is very happy about.  The fact that he can be happy about moving to junior high attests to the misery of his present situation.  I sure hope is ends up being a good thing for him.  It will be, monetarily, because we wont be facing the pay cut that we thought would happen.  Heck, he may even buy himself the vehicle he's been wanting to replace the little pick-up which is twelve years old now, I think.  It would be good to have it for a second kid car.

Today was a weird day, but I don't have the emotional energy to go in to it.  We also did some nice things, though, like go to a church history museum and watched a movie about the resurrection, and eat dinner together as a family.  The highlight of the day is when Thomas got ordained to the office of a priest in the Aaronic priesthood.  We are so happy he is worthy to be so trusted by the Lord.

Lately I have been studying Lehi and Nephi's visions of the tree of life.  I've often thought that if I were to paint the scene, which I long to have the skill to do, I would add a gate at the head of the path leading to the tree of life.  Read 2 Nephi 31:17-18  and tell me what you think.  Also, we are reading the Isaiah chapters as a family, and I have been reading a commentary along with it.  Thank you for telling me what you are studying, Matt.  Alma 17-27 are wonderful missionary chapters!  What insights have you had about them?

Well, Matt, I love you so much.  I have been praying for you.  I always pray for you, but this last week, I have been praying even more.  I hope that you are feeling happy and seeing the fruits of your labors no matter how subtle.  We see them here as your faith and example continue to bless our family.


Love,
Mom

Cassandra Madlibs

Hey, Matt.  Just thought you'd want to read Cassandra's madlibs.

As of today, Cassandra is in the Eleventieth year of her life, and she is more slimy than ever!  Not only is she bouncing the alien task of Sherman-tank-training a toddler, but she is also going to give birth to a Nazi.  Two St. Crispin’s days ago, we had the amazing opportunity of going to Never land and seeing Cassandra in action in her own saloon.  Her house is so smirking, and we felt so sad with her and Shabooboo and the Shamwow salesman, that it is was one our slothfullest memories ever.  Then, this last Michaelmas, Cassandra and her bowling team came to our graveyard to visit, and we had a dreadful time.  Now, we look forward to having more boredom when we go to her pasta place again when heck freezes over.  Can life get any more pointless?  Yes, it can!  Because in an aeon or so, Cassandra will have a chunky elephant, and then there will be two little Cassandra-and-Emerson-apple-pies in the world!  We are so repulsed that we can hardly pummel it.  Cassandra is so lovely and so dedicated to hugging what is ridiculous that she is a glaring example to both the liberals and the pagans, not to mention her fellow tree huggers.


As of today, Cassandra is in the 26th year of her life, and she is more amazing than ever!  Not only is she braving the thankless task of potty training a toddler, but she is also going to give birth to a baby.  Two Christmases ago, we had the amazing opportunity of seeing Cassandra in action in her own home.  Her house is so beautiful, and we felt so much at home with her and Emerson and Lily, that it is was one our best memories ever.  Then, this last Christmas, Cassandra and her family came to our house to visit, and we had a wonderful time.  Now, we look forward to having more fun when we go to her house again in June.  Can life get any better?  Yes, it can!  Because in a week or so, Cassandra will have a baby, and then there will be two little Cassandra and Emerson offspring in the world!  We are so excited that we can hardly stand it.  Cassandra is so smart and so dedicated to doing what is right that she is an amazing example to both her parents and her siblings, not to mention her own family.

March 2--Dear Elder

Dear Elder,

Hi!  How are you?  Thanks for sending the scholarship essay to us.  I sure hate to bug you about that kind of stuff when you are busy serving the Lord.  You will be happy to know that all the applications, etc have been sent off, so we shouldn’t have to bug you again for awhile.  It was hard not to get letters from you last week, but I was glad that you got to read some from us.  I was the one who had Dad tell you not to send us letters because I figured you wouldn’t have time to do that and the scholarship essay.  I hope, however, that you did have time to read our emails.  That is what matters to me most.  We heard on the news about the capture of the drug czar, and have been praying for your safety because we figure things might be more violent where you are, now.  We have faith that you are in the Lord’s hands and He is watching over you.

This has been such a wonderful week.  We have family home evening on Tuesdays instead of Mondays now, so Tuesday we all, including Jonathan, went out to eat for Miriam’s birthday.  She didn’t really want any birthday money spent on her, so I asked her if she wanted to go to the movies or out to eat with the family instead of getting a present, and she liked that idea.  The plan was to go Thursday, but Jon wasn’t available then, so we went out for family home evening instead.  It was so wonderful to be there surrounded by the kids and Dad and laugh and talk.  I’m so glad that Jon could come; we see him so very seldom.

Wednesday Thomas went to a young men activity at the church.  Katrina missed her young women activity because it was on Tuesday night, and she needed to be with the fam.  I went to bed early, and Dad read scriptures and said prayers with the kids.  It was very nice of him, and appreciated the extra sleep.

It rained a lot on Thursday, which was kind of a surprise after many days of sun, even though the weatherman had predicted it.  I went on a field trip with my class.  We went bowling and then to the mall to eat lunch.  The field trip went well.  Later when I was back home and Dad got home, he wanted to go for a drive, so we took Katrina with us for a drive.  Dad wanted to go into a sporting goods store, and Katrina and I wanted to check out the scented candle outlet, so we split up for awhile.  Katrina and I bought a candle warmer and scented wax for Miriam’s birthday to make her room smell good.

That night, Miriam gave the family home evening lesson that she had planned for Tuesday.  She showed us all how to scan a document and save it as a pdf.  I guess Dad didn’t know how to do that and had been asking her to show him.  She also showed us some stuff on Excell.  It was very informative.  After that, we had cake and ice cream for her birthday.  It was a fun little celebration.  I hope that she liked it.

Happy Birthday, Miriam

Friday, Katrina and I got to talk to Lily on the phone.  She was in a very loud mood, ha ha.  She sang Camptown races for us with lots of “doo da’s,”  At that point, Katrina told me I could take the phone off "speaker;" she could hear just fine without it, ha ha.  Lily also treated us to an ear-splitting rendition of the chorus to “Angels We Have Heard on High.”  You know,  “Glooooooooooooooooooria!”  sung over and over with an even louder and very long-drawn-out note at the end.  It was the cutest thing ever, and we totally loved it.  I told Lily that it was nice and lound and that I liked it.  I wonder if someone was telling her to sing softer, because I heard Lily say to someone, “Grandma likes it.”

Later, Dad and I went to see the Lego movie.  We ate at the theater first, which is always fun, and then went out for frozen yogurt afterward.  It was so good, that we went out for frozen yogurt again on Saturday.  We found a place that always has one low-carb flavor and one no-carb flavor, so we like to go there sometimes when we’re in the area.

On Saturday, we decided to get some things done around the house, so we went to some stores to get the supplies we needed.  When we went to Auto Zone, Dad showed the kids how to change the tail light on the van.  The weather was cold and windy, and Dad couldn’t get the tail light off, so we bought a manual to make sure we were doing it right, and we were.  When he finally got it off, the casing broke.  The van is getting old, Matt, and the plastic broke before the pin snapped out like it was supposed to.  Anyway, we replaced the light, and also the windshield wiper blades and then headed to Home Depot to look for some clear epoxy to fix the broken light.  Dad ended up repairing it with super glue.  We’ll see how long that lasts, ha ha.  When we finally got back home, we hung a couple of pictures and then Katrina and Thomas were through.  Thomas went to Hayden’s house, Katrina exercised, etc, and I took a nap.

Later that night, Dad wanted to go buy some stuff from a guy so he and I drove up to meet him.  We made another date of it and had a delicious dinner at our favorite teryaki place.  It was fun to drive and talk.  On the way home we stopped at the candy outlet and bought sugar Easter eggs for the kid’s Easter baskets and then went for frozen yogurt like I said.

The kids have been indexing and reading family history, Matt, isn’t that nice?  I didn’t sleep well last week, so I wasn’t real productive, but I did do visiting teaching, and I took some prints of the museum paintings to the one sister I’d invited to go with me to the museum.  I have been reading Les Miserables, which I love.  It is so nice with a smart phone to have a library of books with me always in my pocket.

Today, as you know, is fast Sunday.  I am fasting for you, Matt.  I don’t have meetings on fast Sunday which is nice.  Besides, ward conferences are now over, so I will have less meetings now.  That is good since I don’t think my poor aching back could have taken much more of it, ha ha.  We just got home from church.   Dad is doing some family history, I am writing to you, Thomas is taking a nap, and I’m not sure what Katrina is doing, but she has a family home evening lesson to prepare, family history to do, and a letter to write to you, so she’s probably busy doing one of those things.  There is a church educational system devotional at 6:00 which we may watch.  I want to ask each person to make a snack to eat while we watch it.  That will also be our dinner for the evening.

Well, that’s about it.  I have had a harder time staying focused on Jesus Christ and feeling the Holy Ghost than the week before.  I am trying to figure out the reason, and I think that one reason is lack of sleep, another one is less focused prayer and scripture study, and also, I think that different experiences bring out different sides of my character, and this week’s experiences did a good job to show me where my weaknesses are.  It seems like Heavenly Father intersperses unsuccessful times with successful ones so that I stay humble, but don’t get too discouraged.  I know His hand is in my life and in your life, Matt.  I hope that you feel His guidance and spirit with you this week as you go about His work.  I love you very much and look forward to receiving your email.

Love,
Mom

Sept 2--Dear Elder

Dear Elder,

Hi.  How are you?  How is Mexico?  How is your companion?  How is your ward?  How are your investigators doing?  I hope all is well!  Thank you so much for the emails you sent last Monday.  It is so good to read about what you are doing; it always warms our hearts.

In your one email you said that you woke up at 12:20 am and had the feeling that Dad and I were very sad, and you said a prayer for us.  I just want you to know that was definitely the Spirit.  Dad and I were both awake and both sad and not understanding each other very well.  I had gone outside to be alone for awhile.  Not long afterward, he came out, and we both felt better and happier.  This was shortly after your prayer.  It is wonderful to us that you are so close to the Spirit and that Heavenly Father answered your prayer so fully. Thank you, Matt, for caring so much and being so in tune.  It also is wonderful that Heavenly Father cares so much about us!

It must be really challenging, with the new mission rules, to find investigators, but I am sure that the rules will help new members have friends and be fully committed to the gospel before they are baptized.  We have been praying as a family that you will find people to teach, and we know Heavenly Father will bless you.  Have you been able to discover new ways to find people to teach?  I hope so.

It has been a good week for us.  Monday I went to Elizabeth’s house and helped her do a few projects.  Actually, I just talked to her while she did them, pretty much.  It was fun to be with her and her little girls.  When I got there, Elizabeth was still getting ready for the day, and the girls were watching the “picture scriptures” in video form.  The first thing that little Mercy said to me when I came in was, “I love Jesus Christ.”  I told her that I love him, too, and that He loves us.  A little while later, she said, “I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!”  It was very sweet.  She is only 2 and a half.

Monday I got to talk to Cassandra on the phone a lot.  She was at Walmart looking at fabric and also at some holiday decorations.  It was fun to talk to her about them.  Monday night, we worked on the basement a bit and also went for a drive as a family up Hobble Creek canyon.  Everyone was very talkative, and we had a wonderful time.  We got Slurpees afterward, which we enjoy doing because they don’t cost much and Dad can get one that’ sugar free.  We had had our Family Home Evening lesson Sunday night, so this was just a fun way to be together.

Tuesday I had a job interview and I also had one on Wednesday and one on Friday.  After the Tuesday and Wednesday interviews, I decided I needed to exude more confidence.  After all, my resume is obviously good enough to get me interviews, so I need to stop thinking I’m not what they need, and start being more positive.  The Friday interview went better because of that.  Thinking I may be away from home a lot working soon has sure made me appreciate being home more.  I really love it!

Wednesday wasn’t the best of days.  I got 5 boxes of tomatoes from Sister Peery and began making tons of spaghetti sauce and salsa, but they weren’t tasting so good.  Then the carpet guys came and put in the wrong carpet pad with the carpet, and also we ended up with a different color of carpet than I wanted.  It was all pretty disappointing.  Then I ended up spilling a bottle of cumin into the salsa and scorching the spaghetti sauce because I left it on too high when I went to take Thomas to gymnastics.  After that, I forgot to pick Thomas up after gymnastics.  When I finally remembered,  he’d been waiting an hour.  Katrina went with me to get him, and on the way there, I realized that the meatballs I’d made to go with the spaghetti sauce were still in the oven and had been there for at least two hours and were probably burnt.  The whole time we were driving, I was lamenting to Katrina about how late we were and how upset Thomas would be and the meatballs, and the fact that I wouldn’t have time to cook spaghetti noodles before we all needed to be at our various meetings, and that we wouldn’t be able to have family dinner together, and the carpet was wrong and the sauces were ruined, blah blah blah.  She is so sweet!  She told me over and over that everything would be okay and that it would all work out.  Even the fact that she was so sweet was so comforting, and she also turned out to be right.

When we got to Thomas, he wasn’t upset at all and had been having a delightful time discussing computer programming with a little genius that happened to be at the gym, too.  When we got home, the meatballs weren’t burnt at all.   With only a half hour before my meeting and young men and young women, Dad said that all good spaghetti sauce should be aged in the fridge a day before being eaten, and we went to Wendy’s and had a nice family meal there instead.  We even got to our meetings on time, pretty much.  Turns out, both the salsa and the spaghetti sauce aged wonderfully in the fridge and now taste amazing.   Lowes gave us $190 refund on the pad, so even though we are disappointed that we have the wrong carpet pad, we are a bit richer to make up for it, and the carpet color matches very nicely with our curtains and comforter.  I feel very blessed and humbled and am sorry I was so ungrateful.

Thursday, Elizabeth came over and helped me work on putting the bedroom together a bit, and also do some other projects.  Dad and I were going to go to Café Rio and get tamales together, but we had a miscommunication, so that didn’t happen which was very sad.  Instead, I ate outside in the back yard with Elizabeth and her girls, and that was fun.  She loved my salsa.   Thursday night we went to Thomas’s game which was really disappointing because they didn’t play Thomas at all.  He sure puts in a lot of work to warm that bench.  Still, I guess the bench is a pretty safe place to be.  After that, we had a late late dinner of delicious spaghetti and meatballs.

Friday, Cassandra and Lily called to Skype, but I had an interview.  Afterwards I couldn’t get a hold of them, so that was sad.  Instead, I worked on the house which was in an uproar because we are moving bedrooms around.  When Dad came home, he finished getting the wardrobes assembled, and we got all our clothes moved out of Miriam’s room.  She has since then organized it and it looks really nice.  Katrina’s room still has a ways to go, but she has big plans for it.  After Dad finished the wardrobes, we started our date.  First we watched a very cute Bing Crosby movie and ate ice cream, and then we moved our lazy carcasses and went to the Latino festival in Provo in search of tamales.  It was after nine, so they were out of tamales, but we got tacos.  We ate our delicious tacos and a fruit smoothie, listened to Mexican music, and thought of you, Matt.  It is nice to think that you are probably eating such yummy food all the time!

Today Dad and I are taking Katrina to a festival to watch two plays. Thomas works today, and Miriam is at class.  She will drive Thomas to work, and they plan on doing something together afterward.  I hope they have a nice time.

Now it is Sunday morning.  Yesterday was a nice day for us.  Dad, Katrina, and I went to the festival and watched the plays.  It was nice to have a bit of one-on-one time with Katrina.  The productions were very well done, although it was not as easy to understand what was being said in one as it had been in the other Shakespeare plays we saw there, and the other play had some inappropriate references which was disappointing.  Between plays, we drove to the mouth of a National Monument.  It was a beautiful drive, all misty and rainy.  On the way back, traffic was held up because of a mudslide, and only one lane of traffic could cross at a time.  Back in town, we were amazed at the number of police cars around and also noticed that there were tons of bikers with matching jackets.  We began to think that the two points of interest were related, and when I looked up the name on their jackets on the internet, it was obvious that we were right.  They are a rather unsavory motorcycle gang that periodically engages in criminal behavior.

I’m really glad we figured that out after we ate lunch at a delicious barbecue place since three of them were in line there while we ate.  Not knowing anything about them enabled us to enjoy our good meal in peace.  I ate a bit too much there, ha ha, and am glad it is fast Sunday today.   I kept in touch with Miriam and Thomas by phone, and they seemed to have a nice time while we were away, and I’m very glad they could spend the evening together.

The second play got out at almost 11:00 pm, and we didn’t get home until 1:40 am.  Dad drove the whole way home, as usual, and let me sleep.  I’d wake up periodically and asked him if he needed me to drive, but he always said he was fine, and to go back to sleep.  He knows I sleep very well at night, but not in the morning, and he wanted me to get sleep in while I could.  He is a very sweet husband, Matt.  He had to buy Coke and ration it out as he drove.  I think he wanted to drink enough to stay awake while he drove, but not enough to keep him awake when he got home.  I really appreciate being able to sleep like that.  Now it’s my turn to let Dad sleep.  Good thing we have 1:00 church!

Today I substitute in Nursery at church.  After church I have a meeting and after the meeting, around 6:00, we will eat dinner and celebrate Katrina’s birthday as a family.  Miriam and Thomas bought a cake mix and ice cream for the occasion, plus we will probably have to make a sugar free cake for Dad and a wheat-free cake for Dad.  Fun stuff, eh?   We have Monday, which is Labor day, off of school and work.  For Dad and Thomas, Labor Day will be just that—labor. Dad will work at the laundry and Thomas will work at the water park.  Katrina didn’t make the Shakespeare ensemble, so she plans to get together with Ashton to practice an dialogue, hoping to get on the Shakespeare team with it.  Miriam wants to go to a shopping village, so we might do that.  I hope we can all meet back up after Thomas’s work and go bowling or something.  We’ll see about all of that.  

Now it is Monday.  Yesterday’s celebration of Katrina’s birthday went well.  Miriam and Thomas gave her a throw pillow to go on her new bed in her new room.  We ate cake and ice cream, and I made Dad a little sugar free cheese cake which he really liked.  We all went around and told what we would get Katrina if we could give her anything.  Miriam said that she would give Katrina acting lessons with William Shakespeare.  I thought that was particularly creative and thoughtful.  Katrina is getting a new comforter for her bed, but not till her actual birthday on Wednesday.  We also had family home evening where we read from “Authentic Happiness,” and also a book on parenting.

Like I said before, we have today off, and we will see what happens with the day.  Right now it’s time to send you this email, Matt.  Thanks for the pictures you sent.  We are so happy to see the people your work had blessed.  I’m glad that Elder Gramajo took off his shoes in that flood, and I hope you did, too, so that you won’t get athlete’s foot from wearing wet shoes!  It you do, boric acid kills fungus.  It also kills cockroaches!  BTW, where did all that water come from?  Is that common?

I love you, Matt.  I fasted for you yesterday, and I hope you will find many people to teach!

Love,
Mom

Aug 4--Dear Elder

Dear Elder,

 It is Monday, and I am preparing to send this letter off to you.  I plan to tack this part, where I answer your last email, on to the beginning of the letter.  Thanks for your email, even though it was very short, ha ha.  I think that when I happen to be on the email the same time as you, and we “chat,” we don’t really say much, and it takes you away from reading and writing emails, so I probably won’t do that much anymore if that’s okay.

So, Matt, I have an assignment for you this week, and it’s based on something Dad has taught me through the years, when I’ve been discouraged by my faults.  Look at the good things you’ve done.  In the email you write me, I want to hear all about your successes, not just the big things, but the small and simple ones that seem like nothing.  Take some time to remember the good stuff, and then do that daily.  Every night, as you report to the Lord, tell him all of the good things you have done to serve Him.  That is not pride, it is the righteous reporting of a valiant servant.  Remember to thank Him for his grace that made it possible for you to do good things.  When you fail to acknowledge the good you’ve done, you automatically fail to acknowledge the Lord’s hand in it, but when you report and show gratitude for the good you are able to accomplish, you strengthen your relationship with Him, and all things become possible!   Righteous reporting of the faithful things you’ve done is just as important as the righteous repenting of the mistakes you made.  It is all righteousness!  Whew.  Sorry for the sermon, ha ha.

Anyway, Dad’s birthday was really fun.  The only thing that could have made it better is if Jon could have come, but somehow he didn’t get our message about the party, and when we texted him to see if he was coming, it was too late, he already had other plans.  Dad’s party centered on food, of course.  The barbecue roast we made was good.  We also had corn, watermelon, and salad with garden tomatoes.  He really liked the cake I made him sweetened with Erythritol.  I used coconut flour and almond flour instead of wheat flour to cut down on carbs.  Dad is a cake lover, so it was a real treat for him.  Besides eating, we talked and visited a lot.

Everyone gave him a heart-felt letter, which is his favorite birthday gift, and is good for you, Matt, since that’s something you can give him even being in Mexico.  He is using his birthday money to buy a gift that he says is a surprise and that we are going to pick up today.  Since it he called it a surprise, and since I know Dad, I figured that it was more a gift for me than for him.  Also in, typical Dad fashion, he was so excited about the gift, he couldn’t stop talking about it and giving hints until, in typical Mom fashion I guessed it after 2 hints.  Anyway, “his” present is to get the diamond we bought while we were on our cruise set into my wedding ring.  He’s really excited about it, and so am I.  Just think, by tonight I will have a real diamond in my wedding ring again! Yay!  Your dad really is the sweetest guy around, and just happens to be the love of my life. BTW, Little does he know, he has more presents coming on his actual birthday, ha ha.

Well, after we ate, we went around and told Dad what we would give him if we had all the resources in the world.  Most of it centered around Disney domination and incredible wealth.  I also tacked on that I would give him a professorship in history at the University.  After that, he asked about Madlibs, and then realized that we sort have neglected birthday Madlibs this year, commenting that we are Madlib libbers, or Madlib liberated, ha ha. Anyway, after that, Don, Renee, and Becky came over for a visit.  It was nice to see and visit with them.  So, the highlight of all parts of the evening was talking.

Now for the part of the letter I wrote Sunday morning.  I am putting it all together backwards this time, I guess.

Matt, today is Sunday.  First, I want to tell you some amazing news about Preston.  As I told you before, he is in the Marines.  He finished initial training in July and is now in school of infantry training and will graduate in September.  Anyway, Preston texted Miriam Saturday morning to tell her that he is one of 25 marines to be assigned to the Washington DC barracks of the 8th and I.  Even though we had little idea of what it meant, we were so excited when she told us!  We knew that whatever else it meant, it was a great honor.

Since then, I looked it up, and here’s what Wikipedia says about the 8th and I:
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. is located at the corner 8th and I Streets, Southeast in Washington, D.C. Established in 1801, it is a National Historic Landmark, the oldest post in the United States Marine Corps, the official residence of the Commandant of the Marine Corps since 1806, and main ceremonial grounds of the Corps.

Isn’t it wonderful?  He will report there after he graduates in September. I’m so excited that he was chosen for such an honor, Matt.  He is certainly worthy in every way to be part of this elite group.  Being a Marine has been his dream since he learned as a boy that his great grandpa was a Marine who fought and died on Iwo Jima.  He is a moral, upstanding young man as you know.  He is also tall and thin, and the article said there are strict height, weight, and background requirements.

Okay, so Preston just called Miriam and I got her to ask him some specific questions.  He says he will be marching in the weekly parades at Arlington National Cemetery and also at the Iwo Jima monument.  He said that he’s not sure why he was chosen except that he’s over six feet, not fat (as he put it), and that they said something about confidence and maturity.  This will be an amazing way to honor his great grandpa’s memory, and the perfect place for Preston to fulfill his four years of duty in the Marine Corps.

Well, any other news pales in comparison, but here’s what else has been happening.  Friday I did some of my monthly shopping.  Poor Dad spent the day resurfacing the drive way at the laundry, and he was pretty exhausted by the time I met him for our date, so we just ate and then went home again.  Yesterday we got to spend some time together purchasing and loading sheet rock.  We also ate lunch together.

Last night we had a neighborhood barbecue at the Peerys.  It was a redneck theme, and Miriam bought herself overalls, a flannel shirt, and redneck boots.  Katrina and I wore plaid shirts.  It was fun to visit with the neighbors.  I’m very glad we went.
Today we will be having a family birthday party for Dad.  I bought stuff to make him a low-carb birthday cake, and I sure hope it turns out.  He asked for barbecue roast for dinner, so that is what we are having.  I hope Jon can come over to celebrate with us!
It’s been kind of a hard week, like wading through quicksand, but it has been good, too.  I hope your week has been good, Matt.

Hi!  Today is Friday.  I want to write to you before I forget what happened this week, ha ha.  It has been a hard week for us because it seems like the good things we have tried to do didn’t really happen, but we’re still trying.

Monday night we wanted to have family home evening, but a guy came over to give us and estimate on hanging and taping the drywall in our basement instead.  He used to be in our ward, and his wife came over, too.  It was nice to visit with them, but we missed family home evening.

I have spent lots of time this week doing inventory.  I take a monthly inventory of what food and household items we have and what we need and then I do a big monthly shopping to replenish.  I try to keep a three month supply of everything so that we can be prepared.  The inventory takes kind of a long time, but it is done now and I am going shopping today if everything goes as planned.

I have also been working on getting family pictures ready to hang up on the wall.  First, I had trouble getting enough of the picture frames I wanted, but now I have plenty.  Also I had to fix some of the pictures.  I have a picture of Cassandra and Lily and one of Emerson and Liliy, so I had to “photoshop” them to make a picture of all three together.  At first I asked someone else to do it, but it didn’t turn out so well, so I did it myself, and it looks pretty good.  Also, I have two versions of our last family portrait and there are aspects of both that I don’t like, so I took the best from both and made new one.  Anyway, I am almost ready to hang the pictures.  Yay!

Tuesday Dad and I wanted to go to the temple, but I had a doctor’s appointment and it went long, plus Jeff came over from across the street.  He’s helping Dad with the wiring for the basement.  Wednesday we had a stake young men/young women activity at the park where we played capture the flag.  It was a beautiful day, and the activity turned out very good.  It was so well attended that we sent Miriam to the store for us to buy five more donuts.  There were about 230 people including youth and leaders.  I enjoyed talking to the leaders and some of the youth in our ward.

Katrina is pretty sick.  It started out with a cough in the night, but has evolved into a full-fledged cold complete with low-grade fever.  She slept down on the couch last nigh with her kindle to keep her company if she couldn’t sleep.  I think she slept really well, though, so that’s a good thing.  Thomas has been trying to work every day this week.  He also has been working on merit badges because he wants to get his eagle scout by the time he’s 16.  Thursday, he got to swim at Seven Peaks with his friends before work, and he really enjoyed that.  Miriam has been working a whole lot.

Thursday night, Dad and I were able to go to the temple, finally, and I am so glad we did that!  It was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed being with him.  He had to work at the laundry after that.  He’s resurfacing the parking lot and driveway.  It is a lot of work.  He’s going to be doing that again, today (Friday), but he says we can still go out on a date, so that will be nice.

Well, Matt, that's it.  Sorry it was all backwards, ha ha!  I love you very much and can't wait to read your next letter.  I can't believe its already 11:36.  I hope this gets emailed in time!

Love,
Mom

May 13--Dear Elder: Last Letter Installment

Matt, It was so fun to Skype with you!  Sorry about the mix-up with the time.  I am so glad we didn't miss you.  It was wonderful to see you, you are looking so good!  Thanks for sharing some insights and experiences with us.  It means a lot to me.  I am so excited about Arturo!  I know he is a bit nervous about the future, but if he will continue to read the Book of Mormon and obey the commandments, everything will be just fine.  How did you guys find him?  It's exciting to think that if he remains faithful, he may bring his whole family to the gospel.

I am glad that Jon got to Skype with you for so long.  What happened with Skyping Cassandra and Emerson?  Jon told me, but I can't remember.  It makes me sad to think that you didn't get a chance to see Lily.  We got to Skype with them yesterday, and it made me so happy.  We sang songs to Lily, and I love how she claps her hands and yells, "Yay!" At the end of them.  She "talks" so much, and I think she said Katrina's name and also Grandpa or Grandma, I'm not sure which.  Cassandra and Emerson looked wonderful.  I wished so much that we could be with them right now.  Skyping you and them was the best part about the day, which is saying a lot because Dad and the kids bent over backwards to make it a special day for me.

We also got to talk to Grandma on the phone.  I have no idea why we didn't Skype with her instead.  Well, they had family over, so that's one reason.  She did get to Skype with Emerson, Cassandra and Lily for just a sec before Lily went to bed.  We gave Grandma 60 monkey hooks for Mother's Day which sounds weird, but she has a lot of pictures to hang, and I know what a pain that is.  Monkey hooks are so easy, and do such a great job so I hope it will help her get pictures of all the grandkids, etc. up.  

Today is Thomas's birthday, and we are celebrating around 7:30.  Jon will be at work, which makes me sad, so we gave Thomas the little gift we bought for him as a fam.  He wanted cash for his birthday, so this was just a little token, but it's something I've been wanting to give him.  It's called "The Art of Manliness," and I told him it is to replace "The Encyclopedia of Immaturity" in his life.  You know how much he enjoyed that book.  This new book is an awesome guide to manliness that Jon recommended and it tells you everything from how to shave like your Grandpa to how to find your way in the woods to the meaning of giving different types of flowers.  Next year he'll be sixteen, and he has a year to study up before he begins dating.

Back to Mother's Day.  Dad really outdid himself.  First, he worked in the yard all day and plans to work again today, next he tried to go get me some shoes that I liked after Katrina's concert, but I talked him out of it.  Next, he made breakfast, and then he made dinner!  It was filet minon, sauted asparagus, and salad, and it was delicious!  We ate it outside, and I loved it.  At breakfast time, the kids gave me two gifts--earrings, and a giant pot of flowers!  I love them both.  The earrings are silver and you may have noticed them when we were Skyping, but I doubt it.  They are elegant and tasteful and will go with anything and that is good since they are my only pair, ha ha.  I adore the flowers--I can never get enough flowers in the yard.  Also, Dad made sure the day was just the way I would like it, topped off with a family home evening lesson.  What an awesome day.

This morning as I watched a video put out by several denominations including the LDS church, I felt that old familiar pang of regret for not being a better mom, and longing to hold you all in my arms again as little children, and never let you grow up which is just plain silly because you have all grown in to such delightful people.  I love you very much, Matt.  You bring me tons of joy.  Thanks for being my boy.

Work is going good.  Since we have less than 2 weeks left and state testing is over, things are pretty easy going.  In resource I helped the kids make folding flowers for Mother's Day on Friday.  I think they liked it.  Everyone likes to have stuff to give to their mom.  This week, I think we will play some math games, and I am going to read "Sarah Plain and Tall" to them.  It's short, so we can get it all finished, and it is a very sweet book.  Or maybe we'll read Stone Fox.  Hmmm....

I didn't take pictures yesterday.  Why didn't I take pictures?  All I had to do was take out my phone and "click."  I am so out of the habit of picture taking because it used to be such a pain with film and everything and it was expensive and we were broke.  I'm sorry, Matt.  I keep trying to remember pictures, but I forget.  I put it in my phone just now to take pictures tonight when we celebrate Thomas's birthday.  That had better do the trick!

Well, Matt, it's 4:30 am now and I am hoping to go back to sleep.  I love you very much.  Your former mission president is right, you are very serious, but you are seeking out the Lord's sheep and saving souls.  That is definitely serious business, but I hope you will stop to smell the roses and to find joy in the journey.  I hope that you pray for your companion, Elder Campos, every day because I know that will help you two be united in the work of the Lord.  Please tell the family who opened their home yesterday in order to give you the opportunity to Skype that we are very grateful.  I hope that our bunch of crazy teenagers didn't disturb them too much.  Have a great preparation day and a wonderful week!

Love,

Mom

March 4--Last Installment of Today's Letter to Matt

Dear Elder,

Hi!  Thanks for the email.  I appreciate what you said about Christ and Peter.  I can tell by what you said, that you have learned a lot.  I want to be more valiant in my love for Jesus Christ, and to do a better job at feeding His sheep.  During my trip to Cassandra's I tried to talk to the many people I met on airplanes and shuttles.  I hoped a cheerful conversation would help them have a nice day.  I also mentioned that I was a member of the church, and mentioned my beliefs as they came up in the conversation.  I was prepared to answer questions if anyone asked me any, which they didn't.  On the shuttle back to the airport in Texas, the driver and I had a nice talk about religion.   We discovered many things that we had in common and he expressed admiration for our focus on families.  Our conversation was cut short by our reaching the airport.

 I felt good about all the conversations I had with God's children that week, and met some wonderful people.  I have been praying that when I fly again this next weekend that I will sit by someone in need of the Gospel.

I liked the picture you sent.  It was nice to see your face, and to see your companion and also the arch.  I think the arch is cool because it sits right on the tip of the peninsula.  You are welcome for making sure we had scriptures and prayer when you were growing up, and I am so glad it helped.  I don't know how people get along without them.  They are an absolutely essential part of my day, which reminds me that I haven't read my scriptures yet this morning, but don't worry, I will.  I just want to make sure that you got this letter.

 Here are some email installments I wrote to you earlier in the week (Blog note:  This is where I pasted the rest of this week's letter installments to Matt)

  The rest of yesterday was nice.  We took Katrina out driving, but she's not ready to be out on the road, so we ended up going backwards in a parking lot most of the time.  Then Dad took over the driving and we went to Wash Hut and the kids got treats.  On the way home, we read a First Presidency message written by President Hinkley way back in 2004 because that's the only Ensign I could find at Wash Hut.  When we got home, we wrote letters to you.  Tonight we plan to have family home evening.  Today I am doing laundry, finances, and shopping, and I also have to let the cabinet delivery guys in.  Our refrigerator should be back in place, and that just leaves the counter tops and sink to be installed.  Can't wait!  I am also corresponding with Grandpa Haws right now about 2N 29:9, and that might end up being my scripture reading for today, ha ha.  Later, my childhood friend, Lorrie'L is going to call for our bi-decade phone conversation.  That will be so fun!

I love you very much, Matt, and hope your week is wonderful
Love,
Mom

PS I tried to take pictures this morning, but the camera was dead.  I had Preston take pictures at Miriam's birthday, but he hasn't sent them to me yet.  I will try again next week!

Mar 2--Letter to Matt Installment: Birthday, Temple, Carpet, DECA, Play

Today is Saturday and the temperature is supposed to be up in the fifties.  We are so excited.  We hope we can get outside and do something as a family.  Sadly, Thomas is cooped up at the school having an all-day play rehearsal.  It will be over around 5:00.  His play starts in 4 days.  I can't wait to see it.  He likes his costume okay but says smells stinky.  

Miriam is working at the laundry to earn money, and Preston is also there keeping her company.  Dad is there, too, doing his Saturday work.  Katrina and I are at home, and I think Jon is here, too.  He has to work today, I think.  Katrina got back from Children's Choir practice about an hour ago and I am going to a baptism in a half hour.  

Yesterday Dad and I went to the temple.  It was so nice to be there!  I am really thankful that I am married to a man worthy in every way to enter into the House of the Lord, and that I can be with him there.  I really felt the Spirit of the temple, and I know going there blesses our marriage and our family.  After that we ate Mexican food and came home to watch a film noir.

Miriam and Katrina spent all day Thursday and Friday at a DECA conference, and guess what...they won third place and qualified for nationals!  Pretty exciting, huh?  We are so proud of them!  They didn't have a very fun trip otherwise, but survived it okay.

Thursday night Dad worked at the laundry, so it was just me and Thomas.  I let him decide what we should have for dinner and he chose to buy a rotissiere chicken.  He also wanted jalapeno Cheetos, so I told him the jalapeno could be our vegetable.  It was a very balanced meal.  We got a Redbox movie, and invited Jon to eat and watch it with us.  We three had a very nice evening together.

Miriam turned 18 Wednesday, and she and Preston were excited that they could finally go out on a single date alone.  Miriam was happy because school was a half day that day, so they had a nice long date.  First they went out for lunch, then they went shopping at D.I.  You may not know this, but shopping at DI takes a looooong time, and poor Preston got to watch Miriam pick out and try on clothes.  They came back here for dinner and lemon cake and icecr eam.  Katrina and I cooked and frosted the cake, but Miriam decorated it and it was very pretty.  

After that, Dad and I had a visit from Steve and Brother Foster.  I guess the Elder's Quorum does stake visits, and since Brother Foster is the Elder's Quorum Pres. as well as our home teacher, he asked to visit us.  While we did that, the kids went to the nickle arcade together.  Preston had 6 coupons for free admission, so that's why they took the kids.  They seemed to have fun and came home happy.

Tuesday I substituted for a very easy class, thank goodness, because I am always sleep deficit and couldn't have handled a hard class that day.  Monday we got new carpet.  Hooray!  The house is so pretty.  We still are sink-less, but I hope we will have one before I go to Celeste's wedding at the end of next week. 

Welp, that's it for now.

Letters and Pictures From Matt

Thanks for all of the picture, Just working here, trying to fufill the will of the Lord. It's hard sometimes, but it's nothing that the Lord can't handle. I love you all and I hope that everything is going well,


Hey Dad, well yeah I guess it is food for thought. You could think of it like this: When we are helping other people on the Lord's errand then we are intitled to his help, or the Holy Ghoast, so, if you want to feel that more in your life, all you have to do is put yourself in a situation were you require that help, and then, if you ask for it, and prepare for it, it will come. It has to come, the Lord has promised that it will.
That's really sad about the power thing but really nice of you to fix it. Man, I hope that every thing turns out ok with the cabinets, it will be interesting walking into a different home then I left, but I look forward to it. :)

Thankyou mom for the letters, I really liked the story with miriam. Are you finally happy with the house or do you still want it different? haha. I'm going to send you a picture of how the houses are here, I sent one to jon but let's see, This is actually 2 houses, they have, 1 bathroom, 2 bedrooms and 1 kitchen/livingroom area, familys of 6 end up living in houses like this. How the heck do I play a role in your life? I'm in mexico haha. :)

About Matt’s Madlibs, he said, “Haha, I like it very much, it is a near perfect retelling of my life, haha, the only problem is that I didn't try in Highschool either haha. Thank you all! It made me laugh a lot and I love you all, Just think.... Next year... I'll still be here. haha. :)”

The last one that I sent was of a sling-shot my companion made for me, you'll notice that it doesn't have the stick thingy,, that's becuase you use your hand instead! These are some pancakes that I made for myself haha.

Thomas, Maybe I'll be like that when I get back haha. :) Do you still sleep with like 20 blankets? That's cool about the bunk bed! Man, How is stuff going? How is school? What's up?

Katrina: Birthdays in Mexico are basically the same. We are going to eat cake in the house of some members and then we are going to clean the house. It's funny how stuff like that gets exciting... haha. I feel like a teenager. :P

Miriam, Yes it's the big two ooooh.... things are going just peachy. That's exciting about marshall, I do remember him being a funny kid. Thanks for that vote of confidence in my competence (with the clock thing) I did enjoy the pictures, they were really cool. I heard that Katrina and Thomas made you brownies with salt instead of sugar in them to ''Make up'' for eating all of your icecream and that you didn't think it was funny. Well, I guess that they learned their lesson when jonny got home with Icecream for you and no one else. :)

Blog Note:  Matt also sent a video of himself slipping in his "slippy shoes."  No, not his face.  No, he didn't say anything.  Just 15 seconds of his shoes slipping on the kitchen floor.  Ha ha.  I couldn't get it to save, so you'll just have to imagine it.

Jan 14--Dear Elder: Letters from the Whole Family

Dear Matthew,

             Hey Happy Birthday! I hope that you get a lot of missionary work done, unless you get a day off or something. Do you get days off? Anyways here are some pictures of snow and cold people for your companion.  At church today there was a returned missionary, remember Marshal Levi? Well he changed like a bunch and if really different, I didn’t even know him and I could see the difference. If you remember the farewell talk he gave he was quiet and unsure but today he was very confident and stuff  like that, anyways its super cold in the house and my room doesn’t have the bunkbed any more! Its awesome. Anywayseres good bye!

-THoams

Dear Elder,

Happy Birthday you old man!  You’re freaking turning 20!  Ew.  Just kidding!  What are birthdays like in Mexico?  Are you going to do anything special?  How does it feel to be a… non-teenager?  I hope that your day goes well! 

Love,

Katrina

Matt,

Happy Birthday! It’s the big 2-0! How does it feel? Haha. How are things going? Marshall Levi came home today! What a funny kid. We’ll have to set up a big clock for you when you give your homecoming talk because missionaries tend to go WAY over time. He threw off the whole church schedule! Well I hope you enjoy the pictures! Have a great day

Miriam 

Dear Elder,

Hi!  Happy Birthday!!!  Are you having a good day?  I hope so!  I hope it is the best ever.  We went outside and took pictures for you yesterday.  I hope you liked them.  Tell your companion that we wish we were in Mexico right now.  We are soooo tired of the snow!  It has been cold, foggy and snowy for quite a long time now.  I’m so sorry that we don’t have any pictures from youth conference.  We are the lamest picture takers in the world!  We are so happy that you could baptize Angel.  Now that he’s entered in by the gate, he is on the road to happiness!  I know Heavenly Father is so happy with the work that you are doing. 

Today we are going to tear out all the green carpet.  Preston is here to help.  So far we haven’t done much today, but we did get to Skype with Lily and Cassandra.  Dad and I sang “Protocoligorically Correct” to her a few times because Slipper and the Rose is her favorite movie, and that is her favorite part of the movie.  I can’t say she loved it necessarily, but she’d sit frozen, listening to us sing.  There probably isn’t much difference between the old guys singing it on the movie and a coulple of old people singing it on Skype.

Cassandra!!  (She has asked that I don't post public pictures of Lily, so...sorry!)

Yesterday I went to 6 hours of church.  We stake leaders attend every ward conference, and this year the stake presidency decided to double up on them as often as possible so that we would be done with all ward conferences by the beginning of March.  I think it’s a genius idea.  At the ward conferences, I am teaching 15 minutes of the lesson to the young women.  It went pretty good yesterday.  My lesson leaves ample room for the girls to talk about what they’ve learned and share their experiences, and I wasn’t sure if they’d participate much, but they did a great job.  I plan on improving my lesson to include Christ more.  The lesson is on becoming truly converted, and as President Geslison pointed out in his sacrament meeting talks to the wards, conversion is all about coming unto Christ.

Last night we played a couple of rounds of that one game where you write a sentence, draw a picture, write a sentence, draw a picture, etc.  It was lots of fun, but after two rounds, Dad had to leave, so we read scriptures and had prayer with him and then played another round after he left.  It was lots of fun.  After that, I was excited because it was only 7:00 and I thought I was going to be able to get to bed way early.  I got into my nightgown, and started brushing my teeth when the guy from Lowes came over and then Preston came over.  So much for making an early night of it! 

Saturday Dad spent much of the day at Lowe’s.  He was not happy.  Their computer wasn’t working and it messed up our cabinet order.  We were there for hours Friday, too, and have to go back in today.  Fun stuff.  We are getting some discounts because of it, though.  Saturday night the Yarringtons came over for a double date with me and Dad.  Dad and Bro Yarrington talked guns and then we had fun playing Dominion a couple of times.  It’s a pretty enjoyable game!  After that we went out for frozen yogurt.  The kids were so sweet; they watched the Yarrington’s kids for us.  It was a good evening.

I told you what we did Friday—Lowes.  Besides that, the week has consisted of Dad and me working, the kids going to school, etc.  Wednesday night the kids went to young men/young women.  They played a game based on “bachelor pad.”  It was Thomas’s idea which is funny because he hasn’t even seen the show.  We looked up it’s premise on the internet, and he planned challenges and everything.  He said that at first the activity didn’t go well because no one would listen to him, but then he got a microphone, and it turned out very well.  Good for him!  I’m so glad the leaders stood back and let him do it. 

Miriam has had a frustrating week because she kept getting ice cream and Katrina and Thomas kept eating it.  Last night, she and Katrina talked Thomas into baking them some brownies, and it looked like Miriam would finally get a treat, but, in a cruel attempt at a joke, Thomas used salt instead of sugar in the recipe.  I discovered his devilry as he was baking them when I tasted a bit of the batter.  Why I kept his diabolical plan a secret, I have no idea.  After a few minutes of trying the brownies, Katrina was chuckling about the joke, but Miriam went to bed and we probably wouldn’t have seen her the rest of the night if it wasn’t for Preston making a surprise appearance and cheering her up.  After he left, Jon came to further assistance by giving Miriam his ice cream and not letting Thomas have any of it.  Most family dramas center around food, you know.  Just kidding!

Well, Matt, that’s about it.  I wanted to send you a picture of Dad tearing up the carpet, but it’s 11:00 and he still hasn’t started!  It’s going to be one of those days!  I love you, Matt.  I am so glad that twenty years ago you were born into our family.  You play such an important role in my life and I am so proud of you!

Love,

Mom

Happy Birthday!

Dear Matt,

Thank you for your emails, I am glad that Angel got baptized!  What a great picture that was!  I liked what you said about being on the front line,  lots of food for thought.  I have been trying to be of more use lately, trying to reach out to people more.

I hope that you are having a wonderful day!  Yesterday I really enjoyed being in church, I had read a conference talk about what we think about during sacrament and I was looking forward to trying to be more focused on some things.  Also Elder Levi returned from his mission and talked yesterday, it was really wonderful to hear him, he mentioned, and I thought of you and also of my mission when he said this, but, he said that he realized just how important it was to follow all of the rules to get the blessings of Heavenly Father.  So yesterday was a good day.

 The rest of the week was not so smooth, I finally closed on Grandmas house, and it ended up being a pain, I had to call City Power to transfer the utilities to the new owner, but they decided to just shut off the power, so my poor renters were in my mom's basement with a new baby and no heat in 20 degree weather, so I had to do some quick calls but they weren't nice about it, they finally got it turned back on but now they want to charge me 75 bucks,  sigh,  Then when I went to pick up the check, I did it on my lunch hour but it took longer because their scanner was broken and I was three cities away, so I called my aide to cover for me being late but he said, that he had to go to a doctors appt.  Arrrrgh! 

Anyway, so now that we have money we went to finalize our kitchen cabinets, and to make that long story short, they had a glitch in their computer system and it ended up taking days and hours of our time, so... we still have to go into Lowes today AGAIN!  but on the interesting side, for a while I had a check for $180,000.00 for selling my moms house!!!!!  I guess I could have run off the a small island somewhere :) but mom would have been mad so I just split it up with my brothers and sister.

Today I am going to rip out the green carpet in the upstairs so they can finish painting and then I will see about getting the chirstmas lights down.   We had fun this morning skyping with Lily and Cassandra. Well,  I love you and can't wait to hear your email, we always read them at family night to all of the kids, I really hope that you have a wonderful day

Love,

Dad

Sept 10--Dear Matt: Katrina's Birthday, Out with Brian, etc.

Dear Elder,

Hi!  How happy and excited we were to get your letter on Tuesday!  When it didn’t come Monday, Dad assured me that sometimes preparation days get canceled or rescheduled for one reason or another, so I didn’t worry, but I was disappointed.  It was so nice of your mission president to let you have one on Tuesday instead.  You write that he is a good and inspired man, and I am so glad that you and your companion got to spend some extra time with him.  I know that will be a blessing in your life.  

Thanks so much for writing such detailed letters; you have no idea how much we love reading about everything that is happening with you on your mission.  I am soooo glad that you got your package!  I prayed and prayed that you would.  We are all very happy that you were able to baptize another member of that sweet family and also the other man.  I hope the baptisms went well.  I am praying for the family that you and Elder Livingston found through specific prayer, that they will accept the restored gospel.  

I am so glad that you can be so close to the Holy Ghost and that you and Elder Livingston are so faithful in following it’s promptings.  I know you are both being blessed for obeying the Lord and keeping the mission rules.  I know you are studying and praying diligently.  You are a wonderful example to me and the rest of the family.  I am trying to study and pray diligently, too, and it is amazing how much Heavenly Father blesses my weak efforts.  We work hard to have family scriptures with the family, and to talk about and teach about Christ and His teachings as we do.  The kids are doing pretty well, although I really appreciate your words of encouragement to them to stay faithful and diligent and I hope you keep giving them because I know it really does help.

Thanks for sending the car-wach picture.  That is so funny!  The other picture of the 12 cockroaches you killed is just plain gross, ha ha.  I hope you keep all your food sealed and put away.  Okay, I have to stop thinking about that now.

I am so glad that you have plenty of money.  Make sure you pay attention to the things that you need and buy them.  Who knows when you will be transferred to some remote spot and will be unable to buy the things you need.  We will keep you posted on how much money you have in your account.  BTW, in your travels, if you happen to see white porcelain platters, saucers, etc. with silver swirls, silver flowers, silver birds, etc inlaid  in the porcelain, will you please take a picture?  I wanted some stuff like that in Cabo, but it was too expensive.  I am wondering if it is less money further inland, so let me know the price, too.

Let’s see...you asked about Oktoberfest.  Yes, there were lots of beer mugs floating around,  I felt a bit different carrying my water bottle around, ha ha.  I think I enjoyed the Greek festival last year better as far as learning something new about a culture, but we really enjoyed the food and scenery.  What else...Oh, about Insanity.  It is more intense that P90X.  It is pretty wild.  I love having Sundays off from exercising.  One more reason to love the Sabbath, right?  

So, what has happened this week?  We kicked it off on Monday with a birthday celebration for Katrina.  I will try to send you her madlibs in case you have time to read them.  It details the ways she got to celebrate this year.  This week Katrina also has been to play tryouts, and I will let her tell you about that in her letter.  Miriam has been working of course.  She gets off early on Mondays and Wednesdays for Family Home Evening and Young Women.  She is done working at the end of this month.  Thank Goodness!  Thomas is trying to enjoy being fourteen, but I have found that it is definitely the hardest age of all for kids.  It was for me, and for each one of you, so remember him in your prayers.  

Cassandra and Emerson are excited about their house.  They say it will take a long time to close, but I keep praying that it will close soon since then maybe Dad can come up during fall break and help them with repairs.  Right now it doesn’t look like that will happen.  Lily is cute and fun as always and we got to SKYPE with her this week.  

I got to see Jonathan quite a bit yesterday.  I went to the laundry to wash clothes, and he was there because he worked for Vic.  He helped me with the laundry quite a bit, and we had a very nice time talking.  Then he went to Thomas’s game and came home for dinner afterward.  Miriam and Katrina were gone with friends, so we had a nice dinner, just me, Dad, and the boys.  Jon stayed for awhile after dinner before he had to go.  His being here sure made it a nice evening!  

Dad has been working hard, of course.  On Friday night we went out to eat and then we went to campus to watch people try out to be in a comedy troupe.  It was lots of fun.  We were at least twenty years older than anyone else there, ha ha.  We also started a fun video series made by the BBC, I think.  It is always fun being around Dad.  We also spent  some time together on Wednesday before family dinner time and then again after the kids left for Young Men/Young Women.  Today I have a five o clock meeting, but that’s all.  I hope we can have lots of good family time.

Today (Sunday), Ryan, Jon’s friend, spoke in church.  He just finished his mission in Kentucky.  We sat behind the Gledhills, and it was good to see them all there, taking up the entire row.  It filled my heart with so much happiness to see the friends of my children faithful to the gospel and to their families.  

Tonight we had fun making dinner together as a family and eating as a family.  Then Don, Renee, Becky, and Donny came over and we had a nice visit.  We read your letter out loud and also read a conference talk together.  Then I put Grandma to bed.  I think she liked having visitors.
Tomorrow I am beginning a two week job testing in the schools.  It is only in the morning till noon, and Grandma is usually asleep at that time anyway.  Miriam will come home from lunch around eleven every day, and Dad will come home from lunch, too, so they can check on her.  I am looking forward to getting out of the house a bit.  I love you very much, Matt.  Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Mom

Katrina's Real Birthday

Tomorrow is Katrina’s sweet sixteenth birthday.  It has been a very fun weekend for her.  First, she had a birthday party with her friends on Saturday night where they ate pizza, watched the movie, “Thor,” and had fast and furious conversation.  She got lots of fun presents like candy, money, bath stuff, and a shirt.  Then today, she asked if we could go to Oktoberfest at the sSki resort which we did.  Katrina tried spetzel, fried potatoes, and apple strudel.  I’ll let you figure out which food she liked the best.  We also rode the ski lift to the top of a mountain, walked through a tunnel and back and rode back down again.  Tonight we are having a birthday celebration for Katrina with spaghetti, gifts, lemon bars, ice cream, and of course Madlibs.  But wait, that’s not all.  Tomorrow, on her actual birthday,  Katrina is going to come home from school for lunch where she will have Papa John’s pizza waiting for her eating enjoyment.  It certainly has been and will be a fun sixteenth birthday for Katrina.

Katrina is a very interesting and accomplished person.  She loves playing the piano and will be starting lessons for this school year soon.   She is also a wonderful singer.  Last month, she sang with Miriam in church, and she will soon be starting up again with the  Children’s Choir.  Katrina is also an accomplished actress and will soon be trying out for the Shakespeare team by performing a monologue in front of Judges.  Also, tomorrow, on her very birthday, Katrina will be trying out for the school fall play, Annie Get Your Gun.  She is also still working at Seven Peaks whenever they have her scheduled which is rarely.  Oh, and then there’s German which Katrina is studying in school this year and which she enjoys very much.  I also purchased her an app on her Kindle with German vocabulary on it in which she and Brian and even Thomas have displayed great interest.  As you can see, Katrina is a very involved and fun person and we love her very much.

Katrina's Madlibs Birthday

Blog Note:  As you may kmow, our family has a tradition of making a Madilibs write-up for each person's birthday, so this is the one for Katrina's Birthday.  Next post will be the original wirte-up with no Madlibs.

Someday is Katrina’s speedy 116,858th instruction code day.  It has been a very fluffy weekend for her.  First, she had a Kwanza party with her introverts on Saturday night where they ate cake pops, watched the movie, “Gaston,” and had mustard yellow and prickly conversation.  She got lots of spontaneous presents like candy, a baby buggy, slow stuff, and a cadallac escalade.  Then today, she asked if we could go to Pubertyfest at MercuryPlatypus football resort which we did.  Katrina tried salmon in a can, fried pinecones, and dandelion strudel.  I’ll let you figure out which sprinkler she liked the best.  We also rode the towel lift to the top of Mount Vesuvious, walked through a beer cave and back and cheated back down again.  Tonight we are having a dinnerday celebration for Katrina with fried worms, nuns, monk bars, Pope cream, and of course Madlibs.  But wait, that’s not all.  Tomorrow, on her actual midlife crisis day,  Katrina is going to come home from Synagouge for lunch where she will have Papa Horatio’s pizza waiting for her twisting enjoyment.  It certainly has been and will be a bumpy einsth elevensies day for Katrina.

Katrina is a very sparkly and luminous person.  She loves slithering the piano and will be starting lessons for this Tiki Cat soon.   She is also a wonderful eater.  Last month, she ate with Miriam in church, and she will soon be starting up again with the Disneyland Valley Fogie’s Occult.  Katrina is also a shapely actress and will soon be trying out for the Bogart team by performing a sneeze in front of HR directors.  Also, tomorrow, on her very funeralday, Katrina will be trying out for the mental institution’s fall play, Ichabod Get Your Salt.  She is also still working at Seventeen Peaks whenever they have her scheduled which is when heck freezes over.  Oh, and then there’s Macedonian which Katrina is studying in school this year and which she is infatuated with.  I also stoled her an app on her Ipod with Belgium vocabulary on it in which she and Henry and even Bob have displayed great urgency.  As you can see, Katrina is a very creamy and blood curdling person and we jiggle her very much.

Dear Elder Sept 3

Dear Elder,

Hi!  Thanks for the letter!  It was so nice to hear from you.  It sounds like you are getting the things you need and that your investigators are drawing closer to the Lord.  We read your letter Monday night for family home evening and the kids thought it was funny that Dad and I got a little teary.  We are just so proud of you and the service you are doing to God and your fellow man.  You are a wonderful blessing and example to our family.

Today is Wednesday and here are the week’s happenings so far.  First, Jon moved out on Monday.  It happened so quickly, I barely had a chance to get used to the idea.  One second he was talking on the phone and finding out there was an apartment available at campus plaza, and the next second I was driving him there to pay first month’s rent and the deposit.  Dad followed with the van that still contained all Jon’s stuff from moving from Logan, and we moved Jon in.  We hardly had any time with him here at all.  He seems to be pretty happy.  Troy is living there, too.  He’s in the process of helping a roommate out with some stuff.

Also on Monday, I started Insanity which is an exercise program from the makers of P90X.  It is crazy hard.  After the first time day, I felt like I was going to throw up and I had to put my head between my legs to keep from passing out.  On the second day, I finished with a headache and aching muscles.  Today I hurt so bad, I didn’t want to get out of bed, and had to say a prayer to get up the courage to work out.  Today’s workout was a bit easier for me, and I feel like maybe I can do this.  Dad started Insanity last week, and I have really appreciated his encouragement to keep going.  We are doing this routine in order to get the very best workout available in just forty minutes.  We don’t have time to waste messing around.

Also I have continued to re-vamp our food storage, and take care of Grandma and the family.  Don’t worry too much about Thomas and Miriam.  Yes, Thomas was sick with strep, but he is on antibiotics and went back to school this morning.  He’s going to be fine.  Miriam found out that she is like Thomas in that eating whole wheat hurts her digestion.  She also has been feeling unwell when she doesn’t get enough to eat and I mentioned that she may be a bit hypoglycemic.  That’s it.  No big diagnosis and no big symptoms. 

It’s been nice having Thomas home the first two days of this week, and yesterday he read me funny things off the internet while I did laundry and cleaned up the laundry room.  In the evening, Katrina and I made pizza.  It was a bit of a pain because I had to make whole wheat crust for Dad and white crust for Miriam and Thomas.  Also, I was totally out of energy from doing insanity in the morning, ha ha.  The pizza was good, though, and I sent everyone with cold pizzas in their lunches this morning. 

Dad and I went for a walk after dinner, and the sky was beautiful!  We headed east, and a beautiful rainbow framed the light-bathed mountain ahead.  When we turned north, the sky was a deep blue up high, fading to a light green as it met the mountains.   Again the mountains and clouds were bathed in light.  To the west, a cloud covered most of the sun, sending out rays of light that edged surrounding clouds with silver.  What a beautiful evening!  It was so fun walking (slowly, ouch!) with Dad and talking to him. 

Today, in the Book of Mormon, I read in 1 Nephi where Nephi  foretells Christ’s birth, and I read about the Holy Ghost.  I was reminded how important it is to hold fast to the word of God in order to partake fully of the joy of Christ’s gospel and not be led astray by those who mock and scorn.  It seems like every time I read the scriptures lately, they are exactly what I need to hear for that day.  Now to keep those words in my heart and live them that I will always have the Holy Ghost to be with me!

Hi, Matt.  It’s Saturday already.  I really don’t know where the week went.  Right now Katrina and her friends are downstairs watching Thor for her birthday party.  Thomas worked and also had a football game today and actually played an entire quarter!  He said he played well, but they lost 61-0.  Pretty sad, huh?  Dad worked at the laundry today, surprise surprise, and then he went to Thomas’s game.  I exercised and shopped and cleaned with Katrina.  Miriam worked.  Can you believe that she has to work on Labor Day?  That is such a bummer. 

The big news of the week is that Cassandra and Emerson are buying a house.  Their offer was accepted during the week, so it’s pretty much a done deal.  Dad may fly there during fall break to work on the house.  It needs lots of work.  I’m so happy for them! 

I saw Jonathan at the laundry on Thursday.  He was there with his friend, Troy.  They were doing laundry.  He’s been working there to make money till he gets a steady job.  It was nice to see him. 

On Friday Dad and I went to the temple, and we saw Weston and Lindsay there.  It is so nice to see them faithfully attending the temple.  I loved being there with Dad, and I’m so glad we went.  I also realized that that was the last day I could use my recommend—it expired in Sept.  I’m glad we went when we did!  Then we went out to eat and then in order to avoid Labor Day traffic, we drove home along the other side of the lake.  It was such a fun and beautiful drive.  We picked up ice cream on the way home and as a family we ate ice cream and watched “Lady and the Tramp.” 

Tomorrow I’m subbing in Miriam’s Sunday school class and I’m looking forward to that.  It’s fast Sunday tomorrow, and because of Katrina’s party, we didn't start fasting on Saturday so I guess we’ll be fasting till dinnertime, which is fine.  I am looking forward to having some nice family time tomorrow.  I hope that works out.  It is so nice to have Monday off.  It takes the pressure off of things to have one more day to be together and to also get things done.

Hi, Matt.  I’m rushing to get this off to you.  Yesterday I enjoyed subbing in Miriam’s class.  They are wonderful kids!  In the evening we visited Don, Renee, and Donny for a little while and had a really nice time.  This morning, Grandma was awake bright and early.  I fed her, read my scriptures, did Insanity, and then fell asleep.  Today we are going to Oktoberfest, but Miriam can’t come because she’s working.  I am looking forward to eating some good wienershnitzel and kraut.  I love you very much Matt and I can’t wait to read your next email!

Love,

Mom