Feels Like Fall!

Sept. 5, 2016

Dear Sister Kristina,

I love having the windows and doors open and feeling the cool crisp air each evening and morning. Last night dad and I were sitting out on the back porch and I had to go get one of my quilts. I love that!  Aaaaah. The simple pleasures of life…Fall.

We had a good Sabbath yesterday. One of our sister missionaries is leaving this week to go home, so she bore such a sweet testimony. We’ve all loved having her in our ward. She was so funny when she got up to talk because she said she was determined not to cry because her makeup was looking perfect (they were going to be taking lots of pictures during the day) and she even wore her “sunny” dress (which was yellow). She’s so funny and outgoing. They’re moving the sisters out of our ward and elders are coming in. We all wanted to keep sisters here. I felt bad for the new elders because they were actually at the meeting and they kept hearing everyone say how much they’ve enjoyed having sister missionaries and what a great spirit they’ve brought to our ward. haha It was also Ren and Abbey’s last Sunday here. Abbey came into Young Women to say good-bye. She told us that they had changed her call a little and she would be going to the MTC in Provo instead of Mexico because her visa didn’t come through. She said it was a tender mercy for her to be able to go into the MTC with her brother since she has never been very far from him before.

We stayed up late Saturday night to watch the BYU game. Man, it was too close but it was fun to see them win at the last second. Because their kicker hadn’t done well during the game, they asked a freshman kicker to come in and try for a field goal to win the game. No pressure, I’m sure. :)  He came in calmly and kicked it straight through and won the game for them. Alex and Savannah said they had to try and watch until almost two in the morning their time. Savannah said she fell asleep before the end and missed the whole thing, but Alex filled her in on what happened. We face timed with them last night. Alex still doesn’t have a job. I hope something opens up for him this week. Savannah is now working for the same family she did during the summer as a nanny. The nanny she was filling in for changed jobs, so Savannah watches a little girl about 20 hours a week. She loves the job.

Yesterday in Laurels, Michelle Tiegs gave the lesson on intimacy. She knew the girls would be pretty quiet so she had myself and Calene Borup do a lot of the talking. I could tell Leah was embarrassed by her laughter and then she was so funny when we got home and told me never to talk about it again. I was laughing. It was a really good lesson, but it was also a very direct and open discussion so there would be no misunderstanding. Nothing like jumping right in with my new calling. :0

Ryan (Moose) Trumbo got his mission call last week and is going to Japan. He’s super excited but he doesn’t leave until December.

Kirk and Sarah and the girls took a little weekend trip to St. George and are staying in a condo with Nicole and her roommate. Kirk says he wants the whole family to go down there sometime and loves it. Both Addie and Haylee are loving the pool. They said they were going to the temple last night so I’m hoping to get some pictures from him. The St. George temple is so pretty especially with the blue sky and red rock behind it. I’m glad they’re getting a little family getaway. Dad and I would do that all the time when you kids were little. We’d pick a spot to explore and spend a few days there. I’m sure none of you kids remember any of them since you were so young, but we loved it. I love exploring new cities! 

Here are some of the pics I’ve gotten from Kirk and Sarah so far:

They stopped along the way on their road trip and took some pics.

Addie got a gimmee and she chose the doctor’s kit so she’s practicing on Haylee.

They visited with Jen and Gio.I was laughing at Addie’s hair. It was after church, so she probably just took it all out and this the look she got.

Leah’s big news is that she got asked to Homecoming. I know she already wrote you (at least I hope she did). She’s very excited and we already have a dress. The girls for the most part are going a little less formal so that’s good. She doesn’t know which group she’s in yet, but I’m so happy that she gets to go. 

Leah’s response!

Over the weekend we made tons of grape jelly and there are still more that we need to make. We already delivered some to our home teaching and visit teaching people and today I’ll give some to Christina (house cleaner). Her daughter was excited to get some because they’ve been trying to use what they have just very slowly to make it last. haha

Let me know if you don’t receive the new health insurance card. I sent it the same day that I got the call from Sis. Larsen.

Also last week I went with the Laurels for ice blocking. We went to the park right by the Village and it was the perfect spot. The hill wasn’t too big, it was beautiful weather and it wasn’t crowded with anyone else. Here’s a couple pics I took. The leaders and the girls use GroupMe to communicate, so I can just post all my pictures there for everyone to see.

In this one, Leah is in the background. she was trying to do two people on one piece of ice. Didn’t work out so well. haha

A couple of the girls wanted me to take some fancy shots. I loved this one as the sun was setting.

Today I’m letting the girls sleep in and I’m going to take off to the mall and pick up a sweater that Nikki saw over the weekend that she really really wanted. I want to get it for her for her birthday. It’s typical Nikki with sequins all over, very flashy. :) Then tonight the Leifson’s are having a BBQ with a few families from the ward and a couple from the neighborhood. Dad is working today. 

Not much other news. We got a wedding announcement from Cody Adcock and also one from Connor Kent. Leah said she was sad to see Connor’s because she was hoping you’d marry him. haha I’m also hearing from all the moms about the release dates from their missionaries. A lot of the girls are coming up a few weeks early so they can start school in January so there will be quite a few coming home right after you. 

I hope you had a great week and I’m excited to hear all about it. We are well here. The yard looks gorgeous, the dogs are still crazy, Leah is doing better, Nikki had her first lesson on dating and is growing up-she’ll be 15 in a couple of weeks!! Dad and I are just getting older, but we are also getting much wiser which is wonderful. He says to say hi. All the grandparents are doing ok and love reading your letters and bragging about you. Keep being a faithful servant, there are many who are watching your example and it means a lot.

I hope you get to share your testimony often this week!! I think about you every day.

Love you,

Mom xxoo