Our First Letter

We were so excited to receive our first letter yesterday! It is comforting to know that all is well and that William is happy. He said that he is "proud to serve the Lord and proud to be a part of His holy army." His companion is Elder Barazoto who is from Arizona. The other two elders in his room are from Orem and Logan, Utah. He didn't mention anything else about his district. He wrote the first night and I would suppose he was trying to digest everything. Hopefully we will get an email from him this week. He was able to see an old friend, James Jenkins, who is headed to Ventura California. They even got a picture together...can't wait to see it. They played together as babies, and now they are missionaries! Crazy. Life is good!

Our FAMILY Playlist

I feel I need to mention the songs listed below on what I thought was MY play list. The other day I scrolled down and noticed some songs that I know I didn't choose. Then I remembered Christine asking everyone what their favorite songs were...so the off-center songs are the choices of our crazy kids. Luckily I am not on the blog long enough to hear them! William's choice "I Believe in a Thing Called Love," is fine, but the others??? Holy Cow. My kids crack me up! I must admit that all of them have a wide range of musical tastes...from oldies to whatever the heck they have listed below. And, if I had a clue how to change them, I probably would...but then again, I did mention to Christine that this was our "family" blog, so I guess we ALL need to be represented. Out voted again!

Life goes on...

I am happy to report that life seems to be getting back to normal. I was a bit worried that I might cry my eyes out today in church...but I kept my emotions in check...for the most part. I did have brief moment during the closing song, " Families Can Be Together Forever". And then there was my lesson in Relief Society...I never seem to get through an entire lesson without choking up. My huge amount of pride in William has overtaken my missing him. He, no doubt, is doing great. I am thrilled for the experiences he will have and for the people he will be able to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to. What an incredible opportunity for him. We will all write William by the end of the day...we're hoping to make that a Sunday tradition. Grant and Garrett each wrote a post card to him...such sweet sentiments they have for their big brother. Life is great and we are blessed!

PS anyone out there who can give me some tips on inserting photos BELOW my posts, I would greatly appreciate it. I cannot seem to figure it out...duh!

Waiting for life to return to normal...

Yesterday was strange. I woke up with a migraine that never went away...which meant that I layed around wishing for someone to come along and decapitate me! That never happened. Thank goodness Bill didn't return to Houston this week after our trip to Utah. He was here to retrieve kids from school and run to Sonic for a wholesome dinner. I wonder sometimes if Bill thinks that all I do is lay around!? But then there are the daily chores that always seem to get done...he must figure that I pry myself off the bed or couch on occasion...anyway...I was wasted last night from resting all day, yet sleep came VERY slowly. Since we left William at the MTC, I find that life is a bit off-center. I have been praying for peace so I know that it will come. I truly need to exercise some faith. This is a much bigger process than I had anticipated. Maybe I need to get a job. That would take my mind off of things....OR, maybe I could just do the things around here that need doing...(ie. updating scrapbooks, reading the many books that line my shelves, organize a cupboard or two, start gathering the items needed to start my personal history, prepare my Relief Society lesson for Sunday!, and most of all get off the computer!) I hope that this blog serves as a way of keeping up on the happenings of our lives rather than an escape from my life! Wish me luck. I am still trying to figure things out. Slowly but surely.

Utah and the MTC

We arrived home last night about 10pm from a great few days in Utah. We did Music and The Spoken Word on Temple Square, Sacrament Mtg. at the Prophet's ward (he was out of town), visited some friends, etc. It was a great way to spend the last few days with William before he entered the MTC. I have to thank so many friends and family who wished William well and remembered to call or email or text me to say that you were thinking of us. Your thoughts did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. We are who we are in large part because of all of your support. Can I just say that leaving a child at the MTC is, by far, the hardest thing I have had to do thus far in my life!? I have said for a long time that I am sure it must be bittersweet...I had no idea what that even meant! Although I would NOT want him anywhere else, I am human. I miss him terribly already. I am certain that I my feelings will be less "raw" as time passes. I am hopeful anyway. William was ready and he said that he was only "slightly" nervous. We all hugged and cried...but we were in good company...everyone else in the huge room was doing the same. The halls of the MTC were lined with volunteers (what a great thing!) and tables had multiple boxes of tissues ready for the taking. It was quite an emotional scene. Singing "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" and "Called to Serve" was tough! We all survived and are anxious for the next 2 years to pass quickly and with great growth, both for William as well as for our family. I will post photos as soon as Christine gets home to help me...I am so lame, but I am willing to learn.

White shirts, dark socks and sunscreen...

William and I spent the early afternoon "unwrapping" shirts, pants, socks, belts, shoes, etc. The list of missionary "needs" seems endless. The pile of "stuff" keeps growing in the living room and has needed our attention for some time. We leave for Utah on Saturday, so decided that today was the day! After buying several bottles of sunscreen and tubes of lip balm with 30% or more SPF, it seemed like we are preparing for a cruise rather than a 2-year mission. The insect repellent (30% or more DEET) assures me that he will, in fact, be trampling through the jungles of Colombia sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Lucky boy! Thank goodness everything is recommended to be "lightweight". The weather in Colombia is consistently between 72 and 96 degrees, year round! This guarantees that we will be able to pack everything he needs for 2 years...unlike my dear friends who find it a bit challenging to pack their sons for colder climates like Japan, Michigan and Alaska!! We are so grateful that William is worthy and more than willing to serve the Lord. He is about to embark on the experience of his life! We will keep him in our thoughts and prayers and invite our friends and family to join us!

And here we go...

I have been thinking about starting a blog for quite some time. I have actually become somewhat of a "blog junkie". I love reading my friend's and family's...I decided it was time to start contributing to the blog world...let's see how I do. When I was a teen and then into my young adulthood, I was a master journal keeper. That all changed when the really important things started to happen (ie. marriage, children, job transfers, etc.) I am hopeful that this will enable me to be a more consistent "journaler".( I know that isn't a word...thanks spellcheck!)