From Mom December 15, 2014

Monday, December 15, 2014

Dear Riley,

I think it likely that I won’t be online the same time as you today as I have appointments and errands.  I will miss the moment of connection, but I will still feel exhilaration upon reading your letter, whenever it comes.

Business:  I need to know the plan for our Christmas telephone call.  How we’re looking forward to hearing your voice and hearing all about your experiences in the MTC.  I want to be sure we plan our day around it!

Saturday was full.  I was working out at 3:30 and cutting hair at 10 in the evening.  But we had a nice dinner of borscht and bread and Dad and I were able to spend some time in the temple, arriving about 1 minute before they close.  But we did make it.

I’m about as worn out as you’d expect right now.  Yesterday we listened to the Tabernacle Christmas concert short for Music and the Spoken Work.  I was just enjoying the holiday spirit.  I hopped in the shower preparing to go to Cambry’s singles ward Christmas program.  As I was starting my hair, Sis K came to pick me up for visiting teaching.  I had spaced it.  At least I was mostly ready.  And it was a nice visit.  I got home from that and immediately left for BYU.  Aleah came with me and Cambry said it was such a delight to look back and see her ready to burst with excitement.

We were just in time for our own meetings, but we had to meet Parker, Elise, and Josie there.  Sacrament meeting was nice, the Warner’s spoke.  We love them so much.  I had to rush home to get my singing time stuff and I got snagged a couple times before Aleah came and found me because there was no toilet paper in the bathroom stall she had landed in.  The singles ward is in charge of cleaning this month!  So I spent 15 minutes of my 30 filling the toilet paper in the bathrooms.   Though I was irritated at the task, it bumped me into K P who came to church yesterday.  It was good to see her.  She has married and lives in Arizona now.  She looks happy and they are preparing to serve a mission in the spring.

After taking care of church housekeeping, I ran home to pull dinner together so it could start cooking, grab my stuff, and make it to nursery for singing time there.  I just skipped Sunbeam singing time and went to set up in the primary room.  But Josie had to go to the bathroom; at least there was toilet paper!  Singing time was fun: handbells!  How they love those.  I was pulling names to come help and one of the kids, who must have had a birthday this week said, “Just call on the birthday kids.”

As you can see, I just felt run from one thing to the next.  But the blessing is that I CAN run.  Dad is very busy and burdened as well.  His training was at the feet of L. Tom Perry, Tad Callister (Are you praying for Heavenly Father to help you find a good wife?), and Lynn Robbins (Which way do you face?).  Though it was a sacrifice, he was very glad he went.  Bishoping is like a gas and will fill all the space it’s allowed, just like mothering.  But Dad was counseled, as I had counseled him the night before, to organize his efforts so that he attends to bishop duties in blocks and when things happen outside of that block, he doesn’t let it infringe on personal prayer and meditation, work, recreation, and family time.

We don’t know how it keeps happening, but Josie keeps getting what seems to be gum stuck in her hair.  Oh my, it is no fun.  Peanut butter only helps a little to get some of the hair out of the knot, but three times in the past week I have had to cut off small locks.

Parker wrote you a letter yesterday finally.  He told me Saturday night during his hair cut that he sure does miss you.  We all do.  But there isn’t anything I would choose differently.

Last night I watched a video clip a mother captured when her four year old son “brushed” his hair with clippers.  She was so calm and entertained as he swiped at the hair which was left on the perimeter of his head; the top, front, and back were already bare.  I thought of how I freaked out when Cambry cut your hair as while I was nursing Parker.  Wish I could have just rolled with it better, like this mother.  Because it’s done, might as well make the memory pleasant.

I love you, son.  I hope you’re doing well.

 

Take care,

Mom

PS – The Christmas decorations are slowly going up largely through the insistence and efforts of Aleah.  She says she’s going to be Sis B when she grows up.  She and Elise set up the village last night and Josie has been pushing the resin train up and down Mantle Main Street all morning.  She loves placing the people, especially the fat little Santa from the felt Advent Calendar my mom made and we used when I was little.  She asked about the chemist, “Why is he missing his head?”  So, Riley, why is he missing his head?

Parker let F R know that you beat your 6:00 mile goal.  I love that about you, that you set your sights and then systematically attack.  You go, Riley!