What happened to Spring?

April 11, 2016

Dear Sister Kristina,

These past few days it feels like we skipped right past spring into summer. We’ve been enjoying weather in the 80’s, but my wardrobe is not quite ready for that big a move. I have switched to jandals, but not shorter pants yet, so it feels pretty hot. It will be nice though if it stays this way for this week since Kirk and Sarah and Addie are coming tomorrow. We can’t wait. Sarah and Addie are staying for a whole two weeks and Kirk will be gone for five days next week for some training in Denver for his new job with Verizon. He found out he got the job he’s been wanting with them and won’t be working as a salesman in the store any more. He’ll be working with small businesses and their cellular needs. He’s very excited about it.

So we’re busy getting the house ready for Addie. I’m hoping we can go for a hike down the greenbelt while they’re here too. Sarah has been having a hard time with Addie and her soothers. She has to have 3 with her all the time, then she just bites off the tips. Sarah is worried that she’ll end up choking on them so it sounds like it’s time to take away the soothers. It’s not easy cuz I remember how hard it was taking them away from Sean. It’s like cold turkey from a drug addiction.

Here are some pics from their photo shoot. Not sure if they send them to you or if you get to see them on facebook, but I’ll send them anyway.

Sarah’s friend took them for them and the ones we’ve seen so far are great. Can’t wait to see the rest. It’s so hard to believe there’s another little Thompson just about to enter our family!! Can’t wait to meet her.

How was your week as just a twosome? Probably felt a bit strange after having three for so long. I had my monthly visit with Pres. Stafford on Tuesday, which I love. On Wednesday we had our Stake luncheon for the senior sisters. I did a spotlight on the life of one of the ladies and she was so cute. It was really hard to interview her because somehow she lost her ability to talk a few years back. She can get words out, but it’s very difficult but it was fun hearing her stories about her life and I love sharing all the stories with the women. Then yesterday we had our last ward conference for the year, the 9th ward. It was a good meeting and Bishop Jensen gave a wonderful talk. They’ve been going through tough times lately because Sis. Jensen has breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy. She came back to church yesterday for the first time in a long while. I talked with her afterwards. She seems in good spirits, but now she has to go through chemo and radiation. I told her about Jean Sorensen and thought it might be nice for them to visit together. Jean decided to only have a lumpectomy which is an easier surgery and I thought that was the best decision considering her age. Jean was so cute. She said she just wants to get it all overwith and start having some fun in life.

Leah had some good counseling sessions last week. I enjoy getting to go probably more than she does. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned this past year since you’ve been gone. I also know that because of your service, our family has truly been blessed with the abilities and knowledge to handle what has come our way and the peace that can only come through the Savior. There’s been one tender mercy after another and probably many that I don’t even know about.

Also last week dad and I took the girls and one friend to the temple before school. Leah loves being at the temple. The girls were able to do names for Tracey this time. There is such a large group of kids there every morning. It’s pretty amazing.

I found a couple of fun pics for you to celebrate your one year anniversary this week.

Remember this cake? Also I’m hoping that Ellen Hullinger will be able to meet up with you this week so you can get some treats from home.

This one made me smile. I loved how you wanted to try out so many different types of things in life. Also, this next pic is because it was national siblings day yesterday and I kept seeing pics from my sisters being posted, so here’s one that’s just priceless for you girls.

So I sent a referral in to the mission home for Rosemary last week, then I heard from some Elders who were going to see her, then I heard from them last night because they couldn’t find her home and when I explained where it was, they realized it wasn’t in their area, so now they’re sending her name to some other missionaries. I may have to stop by her place this week to check on her.

This morning I’m going over to Tracey’s to quilt a couple quilts on her machine. I was over at her house last night too and we chatted about life for a while. Academies are coming up, youth conference (which is new for our stake this year), seminary breakfast, laurel camp,etc. This is definitely a busy time for her. Summer for the Stake RS is a slower time, so I’m happy about that. We’ll be going up to Living the Legacy as usual, but after that, we just have our monthly luncheons.

Here are the wedding announcements I got this week-Colette Kofoed, Braiden Shaw and Tori Cameron. I didn’t even know Tori was serious with someone, but I’m so happy for her. I heard that the Cameron’s were moving this summer to California (SoCal). Not happy about that. What are we going to do for Christmas Eve? I look forward to that every year and I’m so sad about it. 

Here are a couple more pics of Addie to cheer up your day.

Yesterday we also had a great Sunday School class-our marriage and family relations class. It’s so fun being in there and having the Langford’s as our teachers. You can only imagine the laughing we do there. We talked about communicating better and how we should have our rose colored glasses on more often when thinking of our spouses so we just see the good. Here’s what our teachers looked like talking to us. Everything was pink.

Then in Relief Society we had such a great lesson on the atonement. I’m going to mail our handout to you. It’s a long quote from Chieko Okasaki’s book Lighten Up which is one of my favorite books. She used to be in the RS General Presidency. She talks about and explains the atonement in such a personal way and I had forgotten about it until Sis. Barker shared it with us yesterday. Everyone was in tears by the end of the lesson and then of course, I had to say the closing prayer. :) It was a wonderful Sabbath and I’m so grateful we are asked to go to church each week, that we are asked to teach each other, learn from each other as we share and that our spirits are renewed with energy for living the gospel throughout the week. 

Have a great week and share the good news of the atonement with all those you meet with.

Love you very much,

Mom xxoo