Grace's Jaundice

Hi!  Hope you are all fine.  Pray for Grace, she needs some help.  And everyone, of course! Hope all is well.  Brent and Judith and Derek arrived here fine on Wednesday.  Judith thought is looked like Chile, only hotter.  Brent thought it smelled like Latin Countries.  They spent the day yesterday with taxis going to different places.  They thought the people were very nice, could understand most of them and seemed to enjoy themselves.  They are more brave than us!We spent the day in the office, the church closed off the credit cards yesterday for the holidays, so every item had to be reconciled.  It took us most of the day.

Love to you all!

Mom & Dad

Sisters at the Mission Christmas Party

Dec 18, 2012

Mission Christmas Party

A great week--if I could have stopped in Bentonville it would have been perfect!!

Hi kids and grandkids!

     Tonight Dad and 3 elders picked me up from the airport!  What a handsome lot!!

My ship- through suitcase had a sewing machine, 48 round and rectangle red and green tablecloths for the Christmas party for the mission tomorrow, milk and snow for the elders that were missing it, a toaster, airbed and pump, new camera, brown sugar, ginger, flour etc.  I guess we will decorate the tables for 200 after a fireside ends in the building with the largest gym.  (It is here in the capitol, not like the meeting house where we meet for church.

     I enjoyed going home in summer skirt, sandals, light sweater, taking empty suitcases (except for garments), then going home and being given delicious meals, a coat to wear, wearing Christmas sweaters and slacks and boots then putting back on the sandals (they had to be repaired while I was there so that's why I took them, course then I had to tramp through airports in sandals where the strap wouldn't hold.  But I didn't have space to bring back another pair of shoes. Smile!  I am such an idiot! Anyway, I got to see a lot of you.  Thanks for all you do for me!  You are all so special!  Ashley did an awesome shower, and everyone tried to do a nativity in spirit!  We brag about you all all the time!!!

     Today all the mission met at the Temple for 3 pictures of the whole mission--by zones, spelling out oeste (West), and by the nativity.  Dad is now writing--We are talking 210 missionaries.  We then went by to San Geronimo for a celebration Christmas.  A general meeting to celebrate those going home and a talk by the mission president /his wife.  Then to a banquet lunch on tables fixed by Mom followed by a talent show.  Then the cleanup.  Very tired tonight.  Elders flocking to me with finance problems--about 25% speak English the others only Spanish.  And I try--and it hurts if I can't understand very well.  The Spanish elders deserve everything that the Americans get.  The Americans talk to us all the time.  We are getting 8 American sisters which will be fun.  One elder from Honduras today explained a problem.  Did you understand he said--yes, everything I said--and I will call Salt Lake tomorrow to find out details.  I want to help but feel so helpless when I can't communicate .  Mom is wonderful--she tries so hard with everyone.  Bye for now.  Good luck!    DAD/MOM

It's a Girl!!!

 

Hi, Amy and Jake have a new baby girl--maybe named Grace!  She was born at 6:28 this evening.  She weighs 6 lbs 13 ounces and is 18 1/2 inches long.  They were going to take the baby C section at about 5:30.  We stopped in about 7:40 to see if they could tell us anything, because we hadn't heard anything.  "The baby was nursing," the nurse said.  In a few minutes there they were, Mother, and baby, and Dad.  The baby is all pink, light brown hair, dark eyes looking around.  She is very alert, looked way older than an hour.  When we went to leave her tongue was saying she was ready to eat.

 

Hope you are all fine.  You were all such darling babies!! 

 

Love to you all!

Mom & Dad   We have 8 girls and 8 boy grandchildren.  Hooray for #16. 

Hi! Just watched the First Presidency Devotional!!

Hi you guys!  It took two months and we got Internet, cable and phone (800 minutes a month.)  The phone doesn't work, lots of stations, but not the BYU channel, but the computer worked and we got to see the First Presidency Devotional!  Hope you all saw it. 

     They spoke of gifts....Our testimonies are our greatest gift.  Our membership in the kingdom, and you, our family are our greatest gift and blessing!!!  You are buenisimo!  (awesome!)

Pray for each other.  Please remember us and each other in your prayers.  Aunt Janet needs help with her eyes....two surgeries, please remember her in your prayers.  Also pray for Brent & Judith and a new job, Darren & Jolynn and their family, Amy & Jake with their baby on the way, Andrea & Ross with health and a new baby, Annette & Caleb with health and Hyrum's ears, Ashley & Kelland with a polyp on her vocal chords and their family.  May the Lord bless us!  We love you!!  Mom & Dad

Tough Being a Parent

An excerpt from an email to Andrea --

Glad you are hanging on--it's tough being a parent.  I get to watch now as each of my kids try it with their own!  It is amazing how well they do.  I am so very proud of them!!!I have amazing kids and grandkids!!!  "They didn't say it would be easy, only that it would be worth it!!!!  Each of you are a pearl of great price, worth anything.  Keep up that great work you are doing!!! 

     Then I get to see these amazing elders, sisters too, at their very best trying to serve the Lord and work so hard.  The Priesthood in action.  Their parents would be so proud if they could see them!!!

Sure love you!!! Mom