Love Mom September 12, 2013

Date Submitted: September 12

To my precious handsome beloved Son, HAPPY National Pet Memorial Day and Happy Chocolate Milkshake Day! That was September 12th, and today, the 13th is DEFY SUPERSTITION DAY! What a great day to be at the MTC! Just don't walk under any ladders, let a black cat cross your path, dance on any graves or use a hairpin of your enemy's great grandmother to open the lock of an ancient cellar on the left side of any old rose garden, okay? (Just kidding!) You are going to BLAST SUPERSTITION OUT OF THE WATER! Missionaries eat Friday the thirteenth for breakfast! This is a very important exercise. Take your right hand, wrap it around your left shoulder as far as you can reach, now squeeze. There is a kind of hug from Mom. I have so many questions! How are you? What is it like? Who is your companion? How is your district? Teachers? How is the food? Do you have a pillow? Did you get over your cold? How is class? Did the amazing spirit we feel at the curb continue thick through the hallowed and sacred halls of the MTC? Did you bring everything you need? What is a day like there? I really want to hear what you have to say when you write us for the first time, so I've decided not to ask any of these questions and just see what you want to share with us. :). Well, it's not as totes cray cray around here as it usually is, it is turned down a lot. WE MISS YOU. WE MISS YOU. WE MISS YOU. I don't want to make you homesick, but I want you to know that you are loved SO MUCH and it is not easy. After we left you Annie was sobbing, and we stopped by a burger place to use the bathroom. Here is this bathroom stall and I could just hear this sobbing. It was so precious. Seth cried most of the way home, as did most of us. However, there are so many blessings to celebrate. What an incredible setting apart blessing! The beautiful parts and promises keep running through my mind. There is no greater work to be involved in, and no greater feeling than the Spirit felt when working for the Lord, whether in the home with tiny people, in a marriage, a family, on a ward level, or all the way across the world. I keep thinking about how it said angels will go not only before you and behind you, but to the sides of you as well. I love that beautiful promise. Thank you for the example you are setting for your brothers. This morning my phone didn't go off, and I came downstairs to find Mckay at the kitchen table, in the same place you always were, studying his scriptures, just as he promised you. You have inspired all of us and I am so grateful for your example. We've had a fun day...Seth and Annie are off track so they rode their bikes while I ran this morning. It was like running with you, I couldn't quite keep up. Seth came home and made a "work" list of the things he was going to do every day. It went like this... Biking with water bottles and bags Downstairs work out weights, push ups, situps on the situp bench, pull ups Run track more weights work in the garden walk to redwood to the people with the dogs planks planks with wings (one hand and foot in the air) handstands-walking with hands clean up movies at the dollar theater So cute. Joseph brought home his new french horn. It's pretty cool. Spen got a job working with Kaden's Dad painting, I think that will be pretty awesome. Mckay was excited today because when he went to IN and OUt last night to "study", they recognized him as the ukelele boy. He was excited, too that he knew all of the Nephi scripture masteries, and we talked about the old times "when they are learned they think they are wise...for they set it aside...doink doink!" It was fun. He said Hollis brought a horse head to lunch today and they got in trouble for wearing it. It's hard for me to describe how much your letter meant to me. I didn't find it until bedtime, and that was just when I needed it. You are such a dear and precious friend to me. Everyone has cherished their letters. Seth found his and had Joseph AND me read it to him, then he put it in his special drawer under his bed. A lot of people have called and checked in today to see how things went yesterday , and see when we would hear from you. We just told them we don't know....but you are loved. Julie and Eric Peterson brought money by for you. We'll put it in your account. How much were the immunizations? Do you have a raging case of Japanese Encephalitis now? I hope today is fantastic! Complete surrender, submission, devotion and gratitude are what the Lord is working with me on to experience a fulness of joy. You are an absolute treasure. You are so precious to this little family. Thank you for flying your flag of faith with your very life so that our other children may herald their own faithful colors. Have a super great day. Remember, angels can fly because they have learned to take themselves lightly. Enjoy it sweet boy. A parting thought tonight about the joy of the Savior and the reasons we are apart...... My brethren I have found A land that doth abound With fruit as sweet as honey The more I eat I find The more I am inclined To shout and sing hosanna Chorus: My soul doth long to go Where I may fully know The glory of my Savior. And as I pass along I’ll sing the Christian song; I’m going to live forever. Perhaps you think me wild Or simple as a child; I am a child of glory. I am born from above My soul is filled with love; I love to tell the story. And as I pass along I’ll sing the Christian song; I’m going to live forever It is because of Him that we can! I love you my sweet boy!May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. Love the Mom who will never let go no matter how far away you go.