One Teachable Child

On Thursday of last week, I was racing out the door to have lunch with a couple of girlfriends. I thought I would check my email just one more time...in the hopes that we would have word from William. And to my delight, he had emailed! I sat at the computer enthralled in his words...he had answered most of my questions, and listened to my urging of filling us in on the happenings in the MTC. William has generally been a kid who, when approached the right way, follows our direction. What a blessing that has been. He is doing very well, loving his companion, learning Spanish, "getting by" on the MTC food (translation, not eating much...very picky!), bearing testimony in Spanish, enjoying the diversity of his teachers and having an overall great experience. He has seen only one of the many friends he has there...and hopes to run into the others over the next several weeks. He is kept so busy and socializing and picture taking isn't really on the top of his priority list...but does he realize that I have a scrapbook for his mission and those pictures are important???! I am grateful for his obedience and for his informative email...keep them coming Son!

The Lost Art of Letter-Writing

Okay, did it ever occur to me that kids now a days don't really know how to write letters? I mean really write letters? I remember reading an article about this recently in the Church News or Ensign or something...my mind is slipping! Anyway, with all of the texting and emailing and Facebooking our kids do, some have paid no attention to actually sitting down and scribbling out a hand-written sentiment! Holy cow! I think a part of mission prep should be "Letter Writing".

So as not to completely "throw William under the bus", we have received 2 letters from him. The first was awesome! Then came the second, perhaps he was in a hurry, but hello! He answered NONE of my questions! The nerve! I am wishing that I had sat with him and reviewed the key points to good letter writing. Back in the day, I would generally sit with the letter in hand that I was replying to, and answer the questions that were asked...am I strange? I think not. I did send a little reminder last night of the things we are interested in. This may be a LONG two years of little information. Wish me luck. And, if anyone out there thinks it is important to write informative letters...teach your kids! You'll be glad you did!

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.