Good Bye Spring Break

Mar. 28. 2016

Dear Sister Kristina,

Well, the girls are back to school this morning. Aaaaah. It’s hard to think of things for them to do when they’re off school. We made a list ahead of time and did a lot of the things, but still a lot of down time. For some reason they’re not much into friends. I have to practically beg them to think of something to do with a friend. Nikki’s the hardest. I may have to just start inviting some girls over here for her.

Leah actually worked for Curtis Grieve one day last week which I thought was great. She worked on a team that goes around and washes cars at different car lots. It pays really well, $10 hr with no taxes, so I thought that would be a great motivator for her too. She made it most the day then started texting me that she wanted me to pick her up. I told her to stick with it. They finally finished around four which was a little earlier than she thought. She was supposed to work for them the next day too, but called them and said no. I was sad about that and talked with her. She then told them she’d work after school this week 3 days. I really hope she sticks with it. It could be a great money maker for her. They need someone all summer, but she thinks she can find something she likes better. I’ll keep you posted on that.

I asked Nikki to talk with some of the women in the ward that she had babysat for before and ask them if they would like one or two mornings off a week in the summer where she would babysit for them.

Dad is on his way home from work and we’re going to spend the day out together. We’ve been trying to make plans for the next few months and summer. It’s so hard now with everyone spread out. I still always want to do something where everyone gets together. Maybe we can plan something during Christmas break this year so we all can possibly get together. :)  Dad said his letter to you is not ready yet, but he’ll get one ready to send to you soon and he sends his love.

So last week we toured the old penitentiary here in Boise. I had never been there before and it was actually really interesting. The girls liked it too. On some of the cells they had pictures of the inmates and their stories-what crime they committed to get there and how they ended up in life. Some of them really turned their lives around. There was also a women’s jail. Most of the women in there committed forgery, stole or murdered their husbands. The ones who committed forgery were just hungry and needed food and supplies, desperate acts. the murders were because they had husbands who were physically abusing them and they couldn’t take it any more. While in jail, they sewed things, baked things, etc. 

So how was your Easter? Dad had to work so we were a very small group yesterday. I just made some beef stroganoff, strawberry pretzel salad and Nikki made deviled eggs. Dad actually made some strawberry pies hoping to give them to his home teaching families, but they didn’t turn out like he wanted so he took them to work instead and left one home which Leah devoured. haha Our sacrament meeting was really nice. Bro. Mecham sang a beautiful song and the choir sang too and the Cleggs spoke. I’m not sure if it felt so wonderful because of the day or if the music and the talks made the day better, but whichever it was, the spirit was awesome. Then I went to the marriage class by myself and learned how to control anger. I just love that class and we have a lot of fun in there. 

Also during spring break the girls got eye exams so we can take their current prescriptions to Chicago with us where Sean will make them new glasses. In fact, Sean has said that he’s going to teach them how to make them and let them do it. Should be interesting. :)

Alex, Savannah, Kirk, Sarah and Addie all got together at grandma and grandpa’s yesterday for Easter dinner. We face timed them. I really miss having a big group over for holidays. Not gonna lie, that was hard for me. Charmaine did an easter egg hunt for Addie then she let Addie get in her car and pretend to drive. Kirk said she was loving that.

Then they made her get out of the car and here’s a pic of the little trantrum she threw when they wouldn’t let her back in. It made me laugh.

Here she is looking for eggs. She kept finding the eggs then putting them back in different places and looked for them again.

Kirk and Sarah did a little hunt with her on Saturday too, but she had been sick Friday night and later on Saturday. She got the flu and was throwing up a lot, so they were happy she felt better by Sunday. But I just heard from Kirk that now Sarah is sick and throwing up. Dad says the flu is pretty bad this year. Wish I lived closer so I could help Sarah and just pick up Addie and take her for the day.  :(  

How did you like Women’s Broadcast? Did you have any investigators there? I absolutely loved it!!! Every talk was so good, I couldn’t even pick a favorite one. I’m going to read through them again.  It gave me a lot of ideas, so I need to keep those thoughts with me so I will follow through. I also really loved the choir. I would love to see something like that done at every conference, choirs from around the world even. The girls went with me and we served all different kinds of cookies with milk, chocolate milk and water afterwards. We had a good turnout from the stake even though it’s on TV. What did they do in your area?

Did you get things figured out for applying to BYU? Let me know if there’s anything else I can do there for you to make it easier, although I talked with an aesthetician the other day and still thought of you. :) 

Alex is down to the wire now getting ready to graduate. He and Savannah are definitely moving to New York. He’s pretty sure that the company will hire him on after his internship too, but you never know. He’ll do the internship until August then hopefully get the job after that. Can you believe that Kade comes home this August?

Colleen Riggs just sent me Lauren’s letter and she sounds so good. Sounds like she’s working hard and still working hard at the language and she sounds happy. Colleen was asking about you and I realized she’s not on your email list, so I just added her. 

Well, that’s about all the news from around here. I’m going to be meeting with Leah’s counselor this week about all her options for classes the next two years and even trade skills she might be able to learn to help her get a job, etc. Maybe she’ll love welding, who knows. Grandpa can hire her. haha

I hope many hearts and minds were open for you to teach this past week since it was Easter. It really is a unique time where if people actually think about it, they realize that the resurrection will be for all of us. Christmas is wonderful but the birth of someone is not unique in the world. Dying and coming back to life has to make an impact even on the doubters and it gives such hope which is so badly needed in this world. 

Have a beautiful spring week, full of signs of rebirth and life and beauty. Take it all in and then share it with everyone you meet.  

I love you very much,

Mom xxoo