quiet time

It is amazing how you hope for something, and then you get it, and you don't want it any more.  For a couple of weeks I have been hoping for just a little bit of down time.  I really really needed it.  Well guess what, I got it and it is too dang quiet!!! 

 It has been fun keeping up with Destinee and Kade's missions.  I feel really overwhelmed, but it is so fun to share in the adventure.  And I love being in spiritual mode.  Lately a lot has happened that might make some question their beliefs but for me it has strengthened them.  I have someone targeting my beliefs.  I got a bit snappy about it one day and my daughter calmed me down and stopped me from being a total poop.  I admire my daughter so much.  She doesn't know that she actually knows more than me, and that is impressive given that she is only 15.  Sure I have lived longer, and have more book knowledge, and some more life knowledge, but she surpasses me in spiritual knowledge.  Wow, what would it have been like to have that at 15?

I know a girl who is thinking about a mission.  I know she wants to get married.  I wonder if there will be a time when young ladies are actually encouraged to go on missions instead of just waiting around to get married?  A mission is such a life building experience and if they learn to serve as a missionary does, they will be much better wives and mothers.  I hope this young lady continues to fill out her papers, and does serve a mission.  The right guy will be here when she gets home.  I am proud of Destinee for making that decision.  She knew it was the right thing to do.  I sure wish I had had the opportunity.

blah, blah, blah

I was expecting a letter from Kade today.  I have gotten a hand written one from him every week since he went in the MTC except for the weeks we were in Oregon, and then I told him not to.  I guess I need to learn to not expect it since he will be going to California on the 27th and will be busy sharing the Gospel.  BUT, I was hoping.

This week I have been missing Destinee and Kade more.  I don't know why.  I ate mushrooms and thought of Destinee.  I heard Kade say something, but it wasn't him.  I sometimes feel sad, just because, and then I realize that half of my kids are not accessible by phone or texting.  I have to remind myself that this is where I want them, and that I could not have had better kids.  Where else would I want them? 

And so........I look forward to tomorrow, for Church, for spiritual renewal.

The beautiful Oregon Coast

Every once in awhile we just have to get away.  One of our favorite places is the Oregon coast.  This year it was just Kiana and Ty that were able to go with us, since Destinee and Kade are on missions.  We usually like to follow the Columbia River and this time was no exception.  along the Columbia River we stopped at a rest area.  From it you could see an Island, Memaloose, Island of the Dead.  the Indian Peoples of the Columbia River placed their dead in cedar vaults on this Island.

Our next stop was Fort Stevens, where we visited the remains of the shipwreck, the Peter Iredale. It was  an English sailing ship that ran aground during a storm in 1906.

The 800 Club

Today I stopped by the UPS store to drop off a package for Kade.  He has been sick, and also needed a few things like more athletic socks, his Spanish dictionary, and more cough medicine.  I only paid 3 dollars for two packages totaling more than 8 lbs.  Pretty good.  If I had kept them under 4 lbs, it would have been free, but we kind of threw in some treats.

The gentleman at the store and I were chatting, and I mentioned that I had a daughter in the Guatemala MTC also (too bad a package there isn't cheap).  He said, "Oh, you are a member of the 800 club."  I was like, what????  He then proceeded to tell me that, copying the Christian 700 club, LDS parents that have 2 children serving are in the 800 club.  Get it?  We pay 800 dollars a month--lol.  Well, every penny is worth it!  And a lot of parents mention that in the end it is cheaper than having them home.  I don't know about that, but we do have less people in the house.  We will see if the bills go down.

One thing that I am struggling with is learning how to cook for 4, soon to be 3.  I make way too much food.  Kade ate a lot I guess.  And he never gained weight!

Another thing that has changed is that we got a dog.  I wasn't sure we wanted one, but apparently the majority of the "we" did.  He is a cutie, and he is fun, but puppies are a lot of work!

Emails from my missionaries is always good

Yeah, it is P-day for my kids.  It is always fun to hear from them but I wish they had longer to write.  It never seems like I am getting all of the information I want to hear.  I keep thinking, "where are the details".  And then for some reason, something tells me there really are no details.  They go to classes, have companion study, self study, meals, etc.  Maybe it will be better when they get out in the field.  Until then, I am glad I still have my album with every single one of Tyler's letters home when he was on his mission.  It is kind of fun to go back and read them after so many years.  Okay 4 years, well almost.

Anyway, both kids are doing great, are very happy, and that is all I can ask for.

Email from my kids, well kind of.....

After the longest week of my life, I finally received email from Destinee and Kade.  For those that don't already know, the 1st week of your kids in the MTC is the LONGEST--for the parents.  We hope, we pray, we miss them terribly.  You wait every day for that first letter or email, that will tell you when their P-days will be so you can at least schedule your wait time.  When it finally comes, you feel like it is the most glorious Christmas ever.

Destinee's email came at around 1 pm, just before my daughter and I got home from the movies.  We were so excited.  Destinee went into detail, as much as she had time for, and said she was sending a snail mail home.  We found out about her companions, how she is eating, and how many times she has seen her brother, her trip to the Temple.  She mentioned that she had very little time to write, and yet she managed to say a lot.

On the other hand, Kade's email came around 11 am, again while we were gone, and his included a response to my email asking if he needed anything, and a response to an email I sent asking for his passwords.Wow, the difference between boys and girls is obvious here.  Boys, your moms need a little bit more information!

So, hearing that a snail mail will be coming from Destinee, and HOPING one will be coming from Kade, I will be anticipating mail today.  I guess my mailman is used to my reactions, since he did witness and hand deliver their calls........

Missing my kids

I was so blessed to be at peace last Wednesday.  I had prayed for it.  I didn't not want to cry, or leave the MTC in a bawling fit, and I didn't.  I was fine...until Thursday.  Thursday I was alone most of the day. It was then that it hit me.  I tried to keep busy, looking all over for a sister missionary countdown, switching beds in Destinee and Kiana's rooms, and catching up on housework.  I miss my kids.  I really miss them.  I know they are happy, and I am rereading Tyler's letters to reassure me.  And that has been good.

Oh yeah, we started the puzzle tradition.  When Tyler left on his mission we set up a table and did jigsaw puzzles while he was gone.  Last night we set up the puzzle in Destinee's room.  We are doing Temple Square at Chistmas.  I don't know why we started this, but I think it helps to be in their room and do something where you can think.  Our rule is that only spiritual music or talks can be listened to in there.  Hmmm, I feel like working on the puzzle.....