Beautiful June!

June 13, 2016

Dear Sister Kristina,

How was your week? We’ve been well here, just missing Addie and Haylee. So glad we are taking off for Utah again in two days. I’m excited for dad and the girls to get to see Haylee. She just keeps getting cuter and cuter. You probably get to see some pics from Facebook, but i’ll always send you some too so you feel like you get to know her. Dad is on his way home from Mtn. Home and the girls are still sleeping and the birds are chirping like crazy in the backyard cuz we put out a couple new bird feeders. The weather is a little crisp and cool which I love. It reminds me of California weather, where it cools down at night no matter how hot it gets during the day. The grass and trees are all a beautiful bright green and there are flowers blooming everywhere. When I was down in Utah, the mountains were so green and the tops of the mountains were still covered with snow. The contrast was gorgeous. Do you get the nice cool nights in Northern Cal too?

Savannah is now officially back with Alex. haha. We kind of joke with that when we say they are back together now, but can’t really figure a better way of saying it. She even starts her job as a nanny today, so she’s jumping right in. She’ll be a nanny for a 10 month old for the summer. It’s for a friend she knew a few years ago in dancing. Her friend also started a dancewear line in New York, so Savannah might be working for her in that store after the summer. It’s good to have connections in life. :) I bet Chloe and Nash are really missing her.

The computer just reminded me that my anniversary with dad is tomorrow. It’s 31 years! Can you believe it? I can’t. Time goes by so fast. Dad is working tomorrow…so much for celebrating. :) I’m looking forward to our trip to Utah though, so that will be fun.

Last Wed I went to the movies with a bunch of friends from the ward. We had a little girls night out. It was a Jane Austin movie “Love and Friendship”.  At first it was convoluted, but then I figured out who everybody was and could understand their accents. Kayla Langford Jensen and her mom came too and it was so funny to hear Kayla afterwards. She absolutely hated the movie and said it was the worst she had ever seen and she didn’t understand any of it. I can just hear Leah and Nikki saying the same thing about it. You have to kind of understand British movies. Anyway, I thought it was cute and it was fun to be out. There were about 9 of us girls. Leah and Nikki were at the Rouses swimming and dad was working, so it worked out beautifully for me. I needed that.

Leah went to YCL camp at the Guymon’s cabin last week. She did well for the most part. I got a couple texts from her telling me that everyone was annoying her, so I just texted her for a while. She didn’t mention anything about it the next day and I didn’t ask, but she seems pretty excited about girls camp, so I’m really happy about that. Remember, she didn’t go last year because she broke her leg. We’re coming up on a year since that happened. What a year. But I feel like she’s grown up a bit and has learned a lot. At least, I’ve certainly learned a lot. ;) 

Today Leah says she is going to go to downtown Eagle and look for a job. The reason she’s doing this is because she wants to quit Taekwondo. All of a sudden she doesn’t like it any more (I’m pretty sure it’s because she isn’t taking her focus medicine any more). But we signed up for another 18 months and have to pay, so I told her she can quit if she gets a job, pays me for Taekwondo every month and she can then keep the rest of the money. We’ll see how this goes, because she hated working a full day when she tried car washing. I’m trying to convince her that 2-3 hours of Taekwondo a week would be much easier than a job. I’ll keep you posted.

I oriented our new ward RS president last week and had a wonderful meeting with her. She will be great. I also talked with Jan Leifson about her release and she was so sad about it and didn’t see it coming. I told her how awesome she was though and how much she had meant to all the sisters. She also has such a gift for speaking. I always loved her lessons. But when you love a calling, it’s really hard to get released. I’ve been there several times with several callings in my life. 

Kirk had a fun time working with Jimmer last week. I know if you had been here, you would have been right by his side too. haha Living in Utah sometimes has its perks. 

Even Addie got to be with him. 

Nikki found this t-shirt at Kohls last week and we all had a good laugh. It’s good to see Barkley is doing well.

Yesterday I got a text from Uncle Allen and he told me he saw this in his ward bulletin.

I guess she’s in the ward they have moved into and they were doing a little spotlight on the missionaries and then he sees your picture right there. haha Small world.

Here are a couple more pics from the week

How was your week? Have you sung your Spanish song yet? I hope your families are progressing and still coming to church. You sound so busy and I know it’s because your President really trusts you and knows how much you can handle and what a good influence you are on the sisters around you. Keep up the good work and know that you are never alone. This is the Savior’s church and His hand is evident in everything you do and He is by your side when you live close to the spirit. I re-read Elder Renland’s talk from conference and I love when he reminded us,  “The greater the distance between the giver and the receiver, the more the receiver develops a sense of entitlement.” He said, “Our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, are the ultimate Givers.” So I know that when I keep that distance close between myself and Heavenly Father, I see clearly that He and the Savior are always close by no matter what seems to be going on in my life. I feel loved, I feel supported and I feel their sweet influence. 

I hope you have a week filled with the realization that your Savior and Father are always right there by your side.

Love you very much,

Mom xxoo