From Mom January 29, 2015

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Dear Riley,

I thought I'd just make smaller entries this week because when I give the large rundown, I may miss these gems.

Dad is making progress in the garage.  But he found termite damage behind the wall where his workstation was, next to the fridge.  So before he can move forward, he has to treat the area.  So the chaos is a little worse than normal.  As the girls and I headed to the Cascade Skate night last night, we popped the garage to get Josie's scooter.  I shuttered as the door opened revealing my darkest secrets.  Elise consoled me, "Mom, it's just like the Rubik's cube: just before it's solved, it looks like you've destroyed it, but it's ordered and a few steps from coming together."  She reminded me of you when she said that.

Josie has been better the last couple of days.  Over steel cut oats this morning, I asked her what she dreamed about last night and boy did she tell me!  She dreamed it was her birthday and she was being fed Cheetos by a whole bunch of ducks.  They kept stuffing Cheetos in her mouth and she had to tell them, "I can only eat so much at a time!"

Josie has employed terrify, terrifying, and terrified regularly in her vocabulary.  She likes to toggle between tenses:  It was terrifying; I was terrified.

We're having Aleah's birthday dinner tonight because she is having a birthday party tomorrow afternoon.  Her requested meal is cream of mushroom soup, fruit salad, cauliflower and carrots, and Dad's tomato basil sourdough bread.  Don't forget the angel food cake with raspberries for dessert.  That's an ecclectic menu.  She's kept a list throughout the year of all her favorite things as we've had them to help her select her MOST favorite dishes.  She can't help but twitch her tongue to her lips in anticipation.  Breakfast will be bacon, lots of bacon, with scrambled eggs and fried potatoes.  Oranges too.

Love you!

Mom

From Mom January 27, 2015

Score!  There is a facebook profile, written all in Thai, I think it's the area's facebook.  BUT they posted a 15 minute video from your arrival.  I heard you introduce yourself in Thai and saw you diggin' into your first Thai food.  And I saw you matched up with your companion and heard Pres Senior compare you to Elder Saunders and heard you say you looked better than that.

I had to look up "Blue Steel" and it's a modeling pose from Zoolander. How I love your mission president.  He's awesome.  You're awesome.  And I felt so much love for Elder Bryson because he has helped you in your preparation. 

That felt sooooo good!

Love you,

Mom

After Josie saw the clip, she immediately wanted to write you a letter.  

  

You can see this email on my laptop behind her... it's kind of like the mirror within the mirror.  Love ya!  --Mom

Since you've been gone.... January 26, 2015

...we love you in a rough and tumble kind of way.

Parker was in charge of this week's theme.

From Dad January 25, 2015

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Re: Letter 8 of 3

Dear Riley:

We received two photos, and a brief report from President Senior, so we know you arrived safely.  We also watched the video of new arrivals and transfers.  You were featured for less than half a second, but we paused it and enjoyed the moment.  President and Sister Senior seem to have a good handle on things and we’re confident you’re in good hands. It’s readily apparent they love the work, the Missionaries, and that they have fun.  You’re in for an awesome life-changing experience.  Riley’s in Thailand!!  We can hardly wait to hear your report on your first days, your assigned area, companion, living conditions, the work, the food, the language, TOILETS, etc…  We’re SO pleased you’re serving. 

We’re still adjusting to the void here at home.  One thing sort of funny is the amount of food we prepare.  We frequently have LOTS of leftovers and are needing to adjust the recipe sizes. Our Riley really ate a lot.  Josie is missing you terribly and acting out in negative ways.  The other day she was talking and trying to make sense of everything.  She needed reassurance that you were simply gone for awhile and not dead like Eric.  We expect she will be completely undone when Cambry leaves for study abroad in April.  Hopefully by then she will have settled in to your absence a little better.

The weather has been fairly nice; mostly sunshine, occasional rain in the valleys and snow in the mountains.  In spite of relatively little snow in the valley, and very little precipitation early in the season, our snow packs are around average.  It’s hard to believe that it’s nearly time to be thinking about pruning and gardening.

Today was Ward Conference and we had good meetings.  The theme was Family History and Temple Service.  I really enjoy the 9:00 AM schedule and for some reason I have a lot more uninterrupted family time.  President B and I went out on Ward Conference visits to two good families last Thursday. I came back impressed by both the Spirit’s prompting to visit certain families, and President B’s leadership.  He has an extraordinary ability to invite the Spirit into a conversation in a completely natural way without seeming overbearing.  I returned home with the confirmation from the Spirit that God is in charge, that He guides and directs this Church, that He knows and loves His children, and that He is an active participant in their lives.

Last Friday, Leadelle and I went to dinner over at Grandma and Grandpa Parish’s.  They had given me a special dinner for my birthday.  We ate duck.  Delicious!  Afterwards, we spontaneously decided to go to the movie and went to see The Imitation Game.  This was the fascinating true story of the men who broke Germany’s Enigma encryption code during WWII.  Germany considered the code unbreakable because it changed daily and each day there were over 159,000,000,000,000,000,000 permutations, only one of which was the correct algorithm to solve the encrypted messages.  Aside from the blatantly political agenda being pushed at the end, I found it very enjoyable.  I went online the following day and found some additional videos explaining the Enigma machine, its strengths and weaknesses, and how a machine was built which exploited its flaw and was capable of breaking the code in less than 20 minutes.  I thought “Riley would LOVE this!”  Building one of the first computers, programming it to solve an apparently impossible problem, and figuring out an approach which, through mathematical deduction was able to streamline the process and drastically improve the speed at which the code could be cracked. According to the movie, the War was won largely through statistical analysis of all the intelligence and calculated decisions of which intelligence to act on in order to win the war without letting the Germans know we had broken their code.  Great pains were taken to hide the fact that the code had been broken even from the highest levels of Allied forces leadership.   This was finally declassified in the 90’s.  (Material for discussion in a couple years.)

Well, it’s about 7:00 AM for you.  I’m going to send this so you’ll get it for your P day.  We love you and pray for you daily.  Chin up! Shoulders back!  It’s a great time to be a missionary.

Love,

Dad

From Mom January 25, 2015

Thursday, January 22.  Last night as I was putting Josie to bed, she was being a bit difficult and resilliant to saying her prayers.  I told her she needed to pray for you right now because as she's going to bed, you're getting up to work and her prayers can bless you.  She pulled down her lips the way she does when she's agreeing with something and she was happy to pray for you. 

Josie and I went to work this morning.  As we descended the Orem hill toward the freeway, Josie pontificated:  We all miss Riley.  And we miss Eric.  But Riley isn't dead, he's still alive.

On the way home, I had to run errands, one of which was returning things to Walmart.  She was hungry so I got her a corndog and mozerella sticks at the deli and a drink of raspberry lemonade.  But Josie says it's Jolly Rancher lemonade.  The last errand was 1st Oriental Market where I had to pick up lemongrass for the Thai coconut soup.  On an impulse, I bought a box of sweet tamarind like what Shama brought us once.  It's a product of Thailand.  Smile.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

You’re still asleep.  But I don’t know what time you’ll be able to email.  I suppose it’s a high priority for Pday’s though.

And you’re there!  Your mission video was different than the other welcoming videos we’d seen.  And truthfully, I felt a little cheated for a minute.  You’re just a blip at about minute 2:30 with each of the other new missionaries in turn.  But very quickly I just felt grateful to see you there, smiling.

So I want to know about your first little bit there.  Did you get our letter upon your arrival?  I was hoping it would greet you, to help you know you’re loved and thought of while you’re transitioning.

I saw an ATM withdrawal at a Big C in Bangkok.  And I imagine you’ll be spending more for a bike and helmet and other gear.  There was a $5 transaction fee for using a non Wells Fargo ATM.   Not that that can be avoided.  I’ll keep an eye on your account to make sure everything is covered.

So where are you? Who is your companion: what’s his name, how long has he been out, where’s he from...  What has been the most surprising thing?  How are the food and the language?  Are you feeling the Spirit direct you?  How was your first experience at church?

I’ve looked up the general weather patterns and it is the dry season, perhaps even “cool” season there.  How are you holding up?  And your shoes, are they OK for all the time on your feet? There are a lot of things waiting to be settled in my mind, you can tell.

Parker went to Preference last night.  He was so relieved that you sent your old suit coat home as he was depending on it.  But he’s colorblind and didn’t realize that the slacks he’s been wearing are blue and the suit coat is black.  So after we’d gone shoe shopping (and angels placed an 8 ½ XW pair at Shoe Carnival for us) we had to run out to get slacks and a shirt for him.  He looked nice.

Last night as he was going to bed, he asked if we liked the movie we’d watched last night, “Mr. Peabody and Sherman.”  I told him we did and that I thought he’s like it too as it has lots of potty humor.  He said that he wouldn’t like that.  “The Trojan horse pooping people out?”  Hahahahaha.  He would definitely like it.  It is a very punny movie.

Cambry had a first date this weekend as well.

I feel like every day I wake up to a race gun going off and never stop running until late.  I spent a fair bit of time at work the last half of this week.  I’m closing out the books getting ready to hand them over to the accountant.  As I was balancing the credit card account, I saw your name on Mountainland invoices.  It made me smile.

And I played the flute with the choir today.  It took me a while to learn this piece.   It wasn’t difficult, necessarily, but I’ve not kept up with my instruments really and three key changes made me think.  Though it was an additional stress today, music is a blessing in my life.

I want to share one sweet experience this week.  Yesterday Dad and I went to the temple to do sealings.  We got put into a session already in progress and I felt a little bummed because I didn’t want to be short-changed.  But midway through our session, another group was brought in to do just one name and leave.  An older lady was ushered to the alter to be the mother having her son sealed to her.  The Spirit rushed into the room and several of us had tears in our eyes.  This lady was sealing her husband to his parents.  Dad then remembered the time you went to do baptisms for the dead and that man did a family name and the Spirit was so strong.  Again, his name was a close family member.  We feel that we need to be better in our family history as this is half of the work which enables them to bless us.  We need those blessings.

I’ve got to go feed the masses, Josie’s beside herself.  She’s lived pretty much on potato chips and fruit loops today.

I love you and I can’t wait to hear from you!

Love,
Mom

Ok, so I've eaten my first real meal for the day (running) and my head is working a bit better.  Here's the stuff I intended to write, but forgot:

• Aleah didn't win in the Region 9 Reflections round.  She's disappointed, but has a trophy and a plaque, so it's not the end of the world.
• Yesterday while we were shoe shopping, Elise was helping Josie, who was on her shoulders, shoot baskets at Shoe Carnival.  Josie unexpectedly lunged forward for the ball, throwing Elise's head forward and her mouth into a bar.  But Josie was intent on her goal and persisted her reach.  Elise's neck spasmed up and she has been in pain.  Not cool.
• We finished our first dozen doughnuts!!!! Hurray!!! But it's just because I ate two.  :D
• I taught the sunbeams a song in their class and had them teach it with me to the rest of the primary today.  Everyone loved it!
• Parker has a photography class and is having so much fun.  He and MB went to take pictures up in Vivian Park after school Friday.
• Parker is sick.  He had a touch of flu Friday night with a hot fever.  He improved enough to go yesterday, but the late night and all the activity drained him.  He spent most of today in his bed and his cough sounds yucky.  I'm going to have to apply a mustard plaster.
• Parker's date didn't pick him up last night, rides got messed up, so I didn't take any photos.  :(
• Aleah's birthday is Friday.
• Cambry's birthday is Saturday.
• The minecraft moratorium is close to being lifted.  I LOVE the break from fighting!  
• The kids made it home from the temple in time for school last week!
• Josie managed to mark with ball point ink on both Parker's new white shirt AND Elise's new jacket today.  It was a productive day!  And she's had no fewer than five time-outs this afternoon.  She's not been napping/eating/being fun to be around.
• The kids are calling your cell phone to listen to your voice mail greeting and hear your voice.  We love and miss you.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you!

Mom

Paper Post from Mom January 21, 2015

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Dear Riley,

By the time you get this we will have emailed back and forth perhaps even more than once.  So the purpose of this paper letter is not to acquaint you with the happenings back home.  A while back I decided to try to write a mid-week epistle.  By the time you read this letter, I estimate you’ll have been in Thailand two weeks, depending on where you are placed and how long the forwarding takes from the mission office.  The thoughts I’ve had today were first recorded in a letter to WM June 24, 2012.

I'm no globe-trotter, but I have seen places I never imagined to desire to visit. The first time I left the country, Dave and I visited Switzerland. They had four official languages. Relief washed over me like a comfortable shower when I came back to the States and heard only English over the PA. I think my brain was trying to order all the other things it had been hearing. It's fascinating to me that instead of coming home to familiarity, you'll become familiar with your new world. What a miracle.

I just wanted to wish you well in your training. I've been thinking about things that are new. We just remodeled our bathrooms - so all three work all the way again! So after every shower we squeegee down the walls and we wipe down the fixtures. I'm old enough to have had new things grow old. It would be such a blessing if you could tuck this "new" feeling in your pocket like a little puffy pom-pom and pull it out later when you need it.

So here's your scripture and conclusion: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. I guess we can all be as new as the day we became converted. Another miracle.

Love, Leadelle

I recognize that cultural changes cause us to become quite observant.  Different doesn’t have to be good or bad.  It can just be different.  Don’t think I’m converting to moral relativism; it holds no attraction for me.  But I have come to understand that we meet the same needs in different ways.  We eat our meals with silverware, our Indian friends use their hands and Saerome prefers chopsticks.  None is right or wrong, just different.  Enjoy learning how your new friends do things.  And be grateful for their gracious patience as you invariably fumble a few social proprieties along the way.

We’re so excited for you and all that is new in your world right now.

We love you,

Mom

Since you've been gone... January 19, 2015

Here's the plan: a different picture each week for Riley to see us on his mission.

Cambry choose today's theme: The Sophistocates.  We borrowed the dog.

Riley's reaction to this was great:  ...wat?  Why is there a dog in the house?  Among other questions....

Paper post from Mom (hopefully received Jan 22, 2015)

January 9, 2015

Dear Riley,

Congratulations!  You are a missionary in Thailand! 

I’ve been contemplating today on my impressions as I arrived in India back in 2008.  All my senses alerted me to change.  My skin noted the sticky hot cling of my undergarments within seconds of exiting the plane.  There were mosquitoes meandering around the bag claim area, as at home inside the airport as they would be on a campout.  My nose tried to decode a unique aroma which I still can’t break into specific elements.  Certainly there was the smell of construction as they were remodeling the bag claim area, sawdust and diesel, but there was also an essence of life carried on in the air. I saw all kinds of shades of dark skin and almost no light skin.  And there were these strange, undecipherable strings of sounds and mutters which I could not today distinguish any better than that day.  Plus the traffic horns. 

Briefly I sensed a vulnerability that’s difficult to justify.  But it was there.  Here we were halfway across the world in a truly foreign place.  I didn’t know how to contact M if he didn’t claim us; we were strangers at this point.  All my treasures, aside from Dad, were a world away where I could not observe and protect them. 

I imagine your experience will be some of the same, and many quite different.  You have been prepared for longer than we know for this very moment and the many which will follow in this new land that you will love and come to see as home.

You’re off to great places, you’re off and away!

I pray blessings upon you, upon your mission president and his family, upon your companions, and upon the many Thai people who will be merciful, kind, and generous to you.  Especially I pray blessings upon those who will love you and call you blessed because you brought the gospel to them.

We love you so much!

Love,

Mom

From Dad January 18, 2015

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Re: Letter 7 of 3

Dear Riley:

I was sitting down to write you one last letter before you leave for Thailand.  I’m fairly confident you won’t have a terribly restful night.  I’m not sure what your schedule will be like tomorrow, whether you’ll have part of a P day, whether you’ll be able to get your emails…etc.  Hopefully this will provide you with something to read during the 19 hours of air time.  NB has a lot to do with getting you off, and filled us in on some of the details of your departure and Itinerary.  A good number of people seem to be taking particular interest in your progress and communication.  We’ll miss the frequent personal updates from individuals who cross paths with you.  The most significant was when Cambry inadvertently struck up conversation with one of your MTC Teachers.  That report was extremely personal, insightful and appreciated. 

Last week was a relatively quiet one.  The highlight was my 46^th birthday which played out in a different way than anticipated.  We ate Eggs Benedict for breakfast, Beef Enchiladas for dinner (of course), but actually had the food portion today because Leadelle surprised me by taking me away Friday night. We went and stayed at the Little America (four stars!), ate at the Market Street Grill (fabulous!), went to breakfast Saturday morning at the Park Café which is a ramshackle former home converted into a restaurant.  It draws crowds of people from all walks of life.  (What an experience!), went to the Draper Temple, (Absolutely gorgeous and spiritually uplifting.), came home and took the kids laser tagging and glow in the dark miniature golfing, and ate pizza.... We had a ball.  It was a very nice break.

Your Mother was commenting that she didn’t have my first three letters posted on the blog, so I went and pulled them up and emailed them to her.  In the process of doing this I came across a letter I wrote to you in 2010 when your Scout super activity was climbing seven peaks over 10,000 ft in five days.  As I read it again, I felt it was applicable to this period in your life and that you might enjoy a little walk down memory lane.    

 Written July 31, 2010

 Dear Riley:

What an awesome adventure! !  Each morning you awake early with your sights set on a lofty goal that challenges both your mental and physical limits.  Each day provides you with yet another grand vista and a perspective that only a handful share.  So few nowadays find it within themselves to rise above the mundane; pursue aspirations that distinguish themselves from a crowd; and engage in activities that build strength and character.  I can’t think of any substitute for the feeling you get with each mountain you climb and conquer.   I’m sure you’re tired, but this is something you will remember with satisfaction long after the weariness and pain has passed.

I hope that amidst the fun and silliness that is synonymous with almost every Scout activity of this sort, you take some time in quiet reflection to consider the beauty of creation and all the wonders that God has provided to lift our spirits and gladden our hearts.  Isn’t God good?  Isn’t life wonderful?  Aren’t our bodies and physical abilities remarkable?.... Up on a mountain peak, away from the hustle and bustle of modern life with its countless distractions is an ideal time to meditate and ponder on your place in all of this.  For me, such settings almost always invite the Spirit and inspiration flows more freely.

I’ve enjoyed following your day by day progress.  It’s a thrill to see your signal mirror and know that my Riley is up there and connecting with me across the miles.  There’s a magic in this which is nearly impossible to describe and I find myself wishing I were standing by your side.  I loved being in camp on Thursday and seeing a unique bond formed between you, your fellow scouts, and your leaders; one that only comes from facing and overcoming multiple challenges together.  The pictures were breathtaking and stirred in me a desire to climb peaks more often.

There is a metaphor for life in this.  The secret to a life of happiness lies not in avoiding pain and discomfort, but in consistently setting and achieving worthy goals.  While most of the world walks in the valleys and seeks the low places, you can walk the high paths and lofty summits where the air is clear and the view inspiring.  Each challenge you face and overcome in life will build strength and character that make future obstacles easier to conquer    Your example can lift others and inspire them to greater things.  The light you reflect from your Savior will be seen from afar and instill in others a desire to stand where you stand.  I bear witness that the gospel of Jesus Christ has all the elements for finding happiness in this life and joy in the eternities to come.  If you follow Him, you will be part of a small but choice group of individuals who rise above the world.  His path may not be as easy as other paths available, but His reward is the greatest and will leave you with a quiet contentment, peace of conscience, and a sense of true purpose.      

Riley, I just want you to know that I’m well pleased with the person you are becoming.  You’re smart, capable, good looking, and fun to be with. Quite an extraordinary and charming young man!  Most importantly you are walking a path that is pleasing to your Heavenly Father and I can’t help but feel that He has great things in store for you.  Stay true.  Stand in high places.  Always have goals that keep you looking heavenward.  I love you so much and am so grateful you’re part of our family.  Our home just hasn’t been the same without you.  Thanks for going on this activity and seeing it through to the finish.  You’ve been an inspiration to me.

All my love,

Dad

From Mom January 18, 2015

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Dear Riley,

Ohmyverycrazygoodness!!!! You might not get this before you’re in Thailand!!!!  (But I’m really hoping you can spend some time emailing me one last time from the MTC!)

Taking Dad away for his birthday was such a great thing.  I bought a “romance package” at the Little America Hotel.  There was a rose, chilled sparkling cider, chocolate covered strawberries and truffles waiting for us in our room.  Plus they had made a heart with rose petals on the bed.  It was really nice and luxurious.  We were right downtown and walked to the Market Street Grill for dinner.  Of course it was delicious.  Dad wondered why I didn’t order their clam chowder instead of salad.  Truth be told, I like the recipe I make better than the recipe they now serve there.  It has much more character and I can’t think of why it would have been changed.

Our room was really cold, that’s the only complaint I have, and no matter how much we moved the thermostat, we couldn’t get it to feel warmer than probably 69.  But we slept really well: from 10:30 – 7:30.  That’s NINE hours.  After getting ready in the morning, I googled “breakfast nearby” and pulled up this place which was ranked so high by so many users, we decided to try it.  It’s called The Park Cafe and it’s a hole-in-the-wall place.  It’s across (south) from Liberty Park (where the Tracy Aviary is) in an old house.  People were coming from all around the block to go there and there was about a 30 minute wait.  The hot chocolate was the best I’ve had in such a long.  The food was respectable.  It’s been around for about 10 years and they only serve breakfast.   It was fun to discover something new.

After checking out from the hotel, we went to the DraperTemple.  I’ve only been there one other time.  It’s such a beautiful small temple.  I wished we had taken you up there before you went in to the MTC.  As I took a seat in the chapel waiting to be called for the session, I started crying and I wasn’t sure what had triggered the tears.  So I started tracing my thoughts and realized that it was the mural in the front of the chapel; it portrays the resurrected Lord addressing Mary at the tomb.  I realized that everything that transpires in the temple centers on that moment and the belief that life continues for us all because of that moment.

And of course, I thought of Eric.  I miss him!  We miss him.  Of all the kids, Elise probably spent the most time with him because she had sleepovers with Liesel.  Elise called Liesel to wish her a happy birthday and got Eric’s voicemail (Liesel has his old phone) and she started crying.  So I cried with her.  Everything hinges on that moment of resurrection, which is REAL!

With yesterday fresh in my thoughts, sacrament meeting was so meaningful today.  KK spoke.  I don’t know if you remember that R spoke alone in the summer as she was preparing for the Bar when they were asked to speak earlier and couldn’t.  But her assigned topic was hope.  Her talk was insightful and I was finding plenty to take from it.  And then she shared a personal story which floored me.  She had grown up in a single-parent home with a twin sister and a sister 10 years younger.  K and her sister helped to raise their little sister, driving her to and from things and helping her with homework and listening to boy troubles.  When they were living in Oregon, she got a phone call that her little sister had a seizure while driving, causing an accident in which she was terribly injured.  She headed down to Provo and found her sister in the ICU where, after spending a week on life support, this sister had died.  Her twin sister returned to Oregon with her, bringing her three children with her.  They spent 10 days consoling one another.  Not long after her twin sister returned home, she had surgery and there were complications.  At first things looked optimistic, but they started to grow more grave.  So Sister K rushed back down to Provo, to the same ICU unit and the same team of professionals attending her remaining sister.  And sadly, the same result.  Within six weeks she lost her sisters, 25 and 35, and all the siblings she had.   She said that she wished she could tell us that she was a beacon of hope and that her testimony of the atonement of Christ carried her through these dark days.  But she said instead that she knew despair through these events.  Though she didn’t feel peace and hope, she was comforted through the goodness of others and she has faith that she will someday be able to see this as a blessing.  I cried.  I too have lost a younger sibling and found comfort in a twin.  But the thought of losing so much so quickly makes my troubles seem like child play. 

B also gave a good talk today in her homecoming.  It was so nice to see her.  I thought as we sat in her front room visiting with the same people as we did for her farewell that it just seemed like yesterday.  Do you think I’ll feel that way when you come home?  Like it was hardly a blink?  Maybe.  But everyone else’s pregnancies always seem to fly too. 

Josie:  Her newest book love is A Porcupine Named Fluffy.  Remember when I read it the first time and I could hardly breathe because I was laughing so hard?  I sure do.  In fact there was some time that you kids didn’t want me to read it because my laughter was too disruptive to the story.

Josie:  Saturday after Dad and I got home, we took the kids up to play laser tag.  Josie stood up to the measuring plaque to see if she was tall enough to play laser tag and the entire family let out at Whoop! when she was just above the required level.  And would you guess that her first code name was “Giggles”?  (The score board was down, so we don’t know how we did, sorry.)

Josie:  Saturday night Dad took Elise and Parker to the fund raiser at UVU and I had the little girls.  After Josie’s bath, we were planning our story, but their room was a disaster (a manageable disaster) which took us 20 minutes to clean up.  And it wasn’t without some frustration from me directed towards Aleah who wasn’t responsible for anything.  So story time was spent cleaning up and Josie was offended.  Here were her prayers, “Heavenly Father, Mommy’s being mean.  She won’t read me a story.  And. We miss Riley because he was never mean.  He was always nice.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.  Oh, Heavenly Father, please bless Sister S.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

Elise has had fun with her peg puzzle from Mr. A’s class this week.  Between Elise and Aleah, we had three birthday parties to manage this week.  Actually, Aleah caught a ride both to and from  (Grandma and Grandpa Parish were so nice to do this one) her Friday party in American Fork because Dad and I were gone.

Did I tell you Parker was asked to preference?  It’s this next Saturday.  Eggs Benedict made him miss you this morning.

If we made any mistakes on your MP3 player, it was unintentional.  There was one song, “I Love the Lord” which is Nephi’s psalm set to Be Still My Soul.  I figured it was a good gamble because it’s scripture and an approved hymn tune.  But if you don’t feel like it’s perfectly in keeping with the approved music guidelines, I’m all for perfect obedience.

This is it!  Jump in five, four, three, two…

I love you,

Mom

David is 46

Wish granted!

Menacing Momma!

Guess if her dinner is still in front of her.

Bubbles

Sweet Leesie

From Mom January 16, 2015

January 16, 2015

Dear Riley,

OK, this week has been a little hard for me emotionally.  It’s real.  It’s what we’ve been preparing you for and anticipating all along, but it’s here.  You’re leaving the nest in a big way.  I hope we’ve done right by you; that’s surely been our intention.

I’ve been wondering what things I can include in my letters that will help you feel tied to home, but not weighed down by the connection.  When we did the Big Clean in the girls’ room, I had the fabulous idea to lace a barrier in the book crates so the books can’t fall over and have to stand on end.  Why I never thought of that before, I can’t tell you.  But I can tell you that because they stand nice, it’s much easier to see them and cycle through them.  And as I was going through the books, my first thought was that I had to get rid of some of those books.  But I would hold them and remember reading them to you kids and I couldn’t get rid of hardly any.  Josie is in heaven.  This week she discovered Toot and Puddle and The Funny Little Woman.  If I remember, I will keep you updated on her book discovery list.

Last Friday I had a council PTA meeting and Mr. C told me that he had just gotten word that NOVA graduation was Jan 12.  We bring treats to that event.  Last year it was a bit of a fiasco (I was in charge and ordered donuts for pick-up at Ridleys and they changed the price from the quote and I wouldn’t pay more… I was worn out by the time it was done.)  So remembering last year and considering all the other stuff I have on my plate, I didn’t quite realize that this deal that I had to manage was the next school day.

As I got up Monday morning, I had this little impression to check with Mr. C for when this was.  So at 7:20 I knew I had to have treats set up by 11:15 at Cascade for 180 people.  Glad I listened to that little impression.  The rest flowed easily:  call Sam’s and order cookies.  They open at 7:00 for business and plus members AND they set out breakfast for you to pick up as you go in.  So I dropped Aleah off, took Josie down, picked up cookies and juice boxes, set up and headed home by 10 to finally workout and shower.  But it got done.  Then this week was my PTA meeting and SCC yesterday.  It’s been a busy volunteer week.  But we made it.

The ward kids have been going to Timpanogos temple on Thursdays and it has made them late to school twice already.  Elise wants to head back to Provo.  They have started their new term.  Time just flies, really.

Brittney got home this week.  Her plane was cancelled in the morning, but she ended up home just 30 minutes later than was expected.  Cambry went and saw her last night for the first time.  We plan to go to her homecoming this Sunday.

I was at work today doing the payroll. Josie had watched Lelo and Stitch and wanted Gus to turn on something else. I told him she could only watch something else if she was eating her lunch.  (I had already had to talk her through her breakfast during my workout: bite in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.) Josie came to my office and while closing the door said, “Mom, Mom.  Calm down.”  Stinker!

Our accountant has a boy from his ward in your mission:  Elder H.  And I’ve heard from a couple of sources that the Thai’s are most excited to know they can be forgiven of their sins.  So we have that in common!

It’s Dad’s birthday tomorrow.  I am taking him away tonight, staying at the Little America hotel in SLC for the night.   It should be very nice to get away.  Then we’ll have his birthday meals on Sunday.  Enchiladas?  We went to lunch yesterday for his work celebration.  We ate down in Provo and Joe Vera’s.  It was decent Mexican.  But the waiter was absolutely smitten by Josie.  Get in line, buddy.

I’m out of time.  I wanted to remind you of the council you received from Bro. C, but I don’t have time.  If you don’t remember, you’ll have to pray the Spirit will call it to your remembrance.

I love you,

Mom

Some friends are worth...

While I caught up with a friend today, Josie helped herself to the cream cheese I'd left out. We're equally satisfied, she and I.

From Elise (sent Jan 5)

Hey Riley,

Sorry that it has been so long since I have written you.I guess that I'm not very good at these things.

    

I am so done with Mrs.  She is the worst grader ever. I'm so glad this is the last week whith her forever. (I am never taking a class from her again!) ;)

I finished the Book of Mormon the day that before the deadline. I was so happy to finish, because we got to go to Heber and hang out.

Josie has found a new interest in puzzles and is surprizingly good at them.When we were near the end of finishing, we realized that we were missing three pieces. We soon found two of them, but then we were missing one more. It bothered me so much.

     

I got chapstick from my freind for Christmas.On the seccond day of having it,I walked uo to see marks in them and realized Josie had been upstairs right before me.i suddenly felt a shock of anger towards her(it is the 3 chapstick she has ruined in one month). I screamed out,"Josie ate my chapstick!"She responded in fake innocence,"Elise,I didn't eat it,"I just stared at her,"I pinched it." Well that just made me angrier.I just wanted to be alone in a room to think about how stupid of a thing I had screamed over. Just then Aleah came in with a Barbie with a broken leg.When I went to fix the leg,I realized what had happened.Josie had stuck the Barbie foot in the chapstick.What a goofball! (I finally forgave her when she came in with a dollar bill and said,"This says don't give this to Elise, only Josie.' Then I went from crying to laughing out loud.

I love you,

Elise 

From Dad January 12, 2015

Monday, January 12, 2015

RE:  Letter 6 of 3

Dear Riley:

It’s early Monday morning and I’ve been awake for awhile.  I feel energized and there’s a touch of excitement in the air, like something great is just around the corner  It’s a good life and a great time to be alive!  Last Thursday evening I ran into the B's in the Temple.  We chatted for quite awhile.  They’ve been to Thailand and I’m sure you’re going to love it.  I was also listening to the Travel Show on the radio as I went about my business on Saturday.  One of the hosts couldn’t say enough about Thailand.  Favorite place in the world!  (And he travels all over the world) Some people call it the Venice of Aisia.  With over 300 canals big enough for small boats crisscrossing the country, you’re going to either spend a lot of time on the water, or crossing bridges. 

It’s hard to believe this phase of your mission is drawing to a close and that you’ll be Thailand bound in one week.  I’m not sure yet how I’ll feel when you’re half a world away.  It’s been nice knowing you’re close, even if we can’t see you.  We enjoy hearing about you from ward members in the MTC.  We are grateful when they tell us you look radiant and extremely happy.  We look forward to your weekly letters and devour their contents.  But, this is what you’ve been preparing for isn’t it?  There’s nothing like getting out, stretching your wings, and really flying.

Your mother was just looking up your mission president you’ll be getting in July.  They seem like wonderful people and I’m sure you’ll be in good hands when they come to your mission.  I just feel a little sad that your current mission president will be moving on in about 6 months.  I know this happens all the time, but I had the same mission President my entire mission and you start to consider your President and his wife your parents away from home.  What’s to be done?  Change is a dynamic which often brings an exciting dimension to life.  This too will be a blessing.

I’ve had an interesting week in the Spirit.  I’m not sure if it’s been more active, or if I’m just getting more finely tuned, or a little of both. Whatever the reason, I’ve gained a lot of confidence in its promptings and have seen the whisperings of the Spirit confirmed through physical manifestations a short time after I knew what I knew through the spirit. It’s fascinating, and I start to feel like an observer in an amazing journey playing out before me.  I start out each day with a plan and expectation of how my day will play out, but commit to my Heavenly Father to go wherever the spirit guides, and to do whatever it prompts me to do, then I go to work and watch how the day unfolds.  I suspect this just comes with the mantel of the calling.  Being Bishop has already been such a blessing in my life.  Lots and lots of work, but the blessings are beyond anything I imagined.  Time takes on an interesting aspect.  It’s kind of like what they say about the MTC or the mission:  “The days are long, but the weeks fly…”  Over a year and it was over in a flash.  I know this season too will come to a close and if this level of spiritual awareness goes with it, I’ll miss it terribly.  Speaking of seasons coming to a close, Bishop F from the 2^nd Ward was released yesterday. The new bishop is TC.  He’s a great man and I’m certain he’ll do a wonderful job.

Something funny happened yesterday morning.  I got up and went about the business of getting ready for the Sabbath.  I was anticipating going in early and taking care of some items before bishopric meeting.  I was about 5 minutes away from ready and my home phone rang.  I wondered who would be calling at such an early hour.  It was BC asking if everything was okay and wondering if I was coming... I looked over at the clock and realized they had been waiting for me for 20 minutes!!  I was embarrassed and we had a good laugh over the whole thing while I apologized profusely for disrespecting their time.  I still can’t figure out what I was thinking initially, but I had completely miscalculated the time and felt like I had all the time in the world.  What added to the humor of situation was that we had a pretty efficient bishopric meeting and accomplished in 40 minutes what we usually take 60 minutes to do.  Elder L. Tom Perry counseled us recently to push ourselves to do more in a shorter period of time by allowing less time in which to accomplish a given task.  He said there is a law about time and work similar to the law of gasses.  Just as a gas will expand to fill the allotted space, a given task will expand to fill the allotted time slot. 

Well, time to sign off and get going with the day.  The gospel is true. There is no happiness like clean and no misery like unclean.  The Lord guides this great work and the Spirit is an indispensable gift if we learn to understand and follow its promptings.  We love you and pray for you several times daily.  Even Josie prays for you to be blessed with the gift of tongues.  Now how could God refuse that!  Shoulders back, keep your chin up!

Love,

Dad

P.S. From sacrament meeting yesterday:  Brother McQ told us his mother often said, "Everything works if you do."

From Mom January 11, 2015

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Dear Riley,

We just got home from Grandma Parish’s and the second Sunday birthday celebration.  We’re getting Josie to bed and she picked out The Napping House for her story.  Except the only copy we have is in Chinese.  So Aleah is reading it to her, translating the story back into English.  That’s the best!

I made a new cake for the party tonight from the Lion House recipe book.  It was a lemon cake with unset raspberry Jell-O poured over the hot cake which has been poked with a serving fork.  Then it is frosted with vanilla pudding mixed with whipped cream.  The only change I would make the next time is to use lemon pudding instead of vanilla.  But it was pretty and yummy.  We also had chili, cornbread, salad, and a Jell-O.  Grandma said when I noted that she’d made an unexpected Jell-O that she thought to herself as she tried to decide if she should make it that “Leadelle would have wanted her to do it.”

Trisha and TJ were there tonight and Elijah picked Elise out as a playmate, even getting frustrated when he had to leave her.  I would choose Elise too!  But we were all laughing because we don't know what attracted him to her, but he pursued her.

You’re almost off!  I don’t know your travel plans, but I imagine I’ll hear from you by phone before next week’s email. 

So tell me, were the cinnamon rolls tough?  I’ve been worried because I packed them hot and I was concerned they would sweat and get tough.  They were incredible here.  Because I thought of you the whole time I made them.  Mmmwah!

Brother H said he saw you at the bookstore this last week and that you were happy and looked great and gave him a big hug.  And Brother B helps with the transportation so I suppose you’ll see him next week.  The G’s are home now so you probably saw them today.  It’s been so nice, really, to have you train in our backyard.  But I’m so looking forward to the mission post of your arrival in Thailand.

They announced your new mission President this week:  Kelly Johnson.  He will come in July 1 and he and his wife look like lovely people.  I told you wrong, we have only one mission in Orem which will absorb some of DJ’s mission.  But he’ll be released before the changes happen in July. 

I’m going to send the fluoride to you with the scripture case and your mp3.  I KNOW you don’t want to use it.  BUT remember, a moment of pain is worth a mission without cavities.  Or something like that.  It doesn’t taste bad at first, though honestly the four hours after the application it tastes yucky.  (But you can do it right before bed and those hours will pass while you’re sleeping.)  Would you do it for me, PLEASE?  Parker needs a crown and many fillings.  His treatment plan exceeds $550 so I’m a little paranoid.  And maybe that’s supposed to happen?

It’s getting late here.  I have a busy week ahead of me.  But the good news is that I’ll look sharp!

I love you,

Mom

PS -

Josie was UPSET yesterday because she wasn't getting her way with something.  "Guys, you aren't doing what the little kid's telling you.  You're supposed to listen to what little kids say.  And you're not doing what I say, not if I'm mad or sad or happy or anything."

Dad was snuggling Josie the other morning and while stroking his face Josie said, "Dad I love you.  But sometimes I say I hate you, huh."

Around the same time Josie yelled to Elise with no provocation:  I hate you!  So Elise tried to understand and asked her what she had done.  Josie sweetened up and explained, "Mom told me that if you say 'I hate you,' it means that you still love them."  (Don't try this with your companion.)

From Mom January 9, 2015

Friday, January 09, 2015

Hi Riley,

I have just a few minutes before this has to be mailed.  But I want you to check your box tomorrow at lunch.  The plan is cinnamon rolls by 10:30 to Post Mart.  They taste best fresh, you know.

Today I’m feeling driven by being back in school and PTA.  I feel so inadequate at managing everything.  But I am doing it.  And it is running fairly smoothly.

This week Tuesday afternoon, a friend called to see if I was home because she wanted to drop something off.  I had just finished my workout but told her she was welcome.  She dropped off what she called a tiny little love note.  Inside this little envelope was a chunk of change and a note of instruction.  I was granted a clothes shopping trip with instructions to go to the nice stores like Dillards and Banana Republic.

 

Dad was there when I opened it and I think he felt bad because we do have money to spend that way.  But I just don’t, not for myself, not so nice.  My soul was in conflict.  Could I accept this gift?  Should I?  But I was also so excited by the option to accept the gift.  I’ve lost enough weight and inches that my clothes, which were mostly bought just after I had Josie, no longer fit.  But I do not yet fit the clothes I was wearing before I started carrying her.  I’ve taken in the waist of my jeans to the point that the pockets pooch out because they are set at the original girth of the pant.  I just haven’t wanted to invest in interim clothes.

I actually prayed about this.  While I was trailing out my concerns, I just felt this direction to accept the gift and enjoy the opportunity.  In the morning, I started my day with the same prayer, wanting a confirmation that I should really go do this.  I had thoughts of other ways I could spend my time, but then I just knew that I could spend my time other ways, taking the day to use this gift was OK.

So I did.  M came with me on the spur, like 30 minutes after I spoke with her.  We went up to the outlets in Lehi and I was able to find nice-fitting clothes in my style and colors for way reduced prices.  I was able to buy a new wardrobe, accessories included.  I only didn’t find a pair of shoes and a pair of jeans, but I still have a little left to spend and Elise tells me I can spend some of my own money as well.

Now I realize that you may be concerned that we are struggling financially at all this, but that is not true.  I just try to be so careful so as to have savings and to have access to our funds to bless others.  You know me.

So when I got home and I was showcasing my new clothes, Elise asked if I would take her up to the outlets to spend her money.  I took her up that afternoon and she had so much fun.  We got her a dress coat from Banana Republic (her birthday gift) and she bought a dress there and a jacket.  She has very distinct taste, Cambry described it well as sleek.

So then Josie wanted her share in the apparel run and I took her to Savers yesterday and got her size 4 dresses mostly.  She wears each outfit an hour or so at a time and the house is littered with the moment’s cast offs.

We have just one Pday left.  So if there is anything that needs to taken care of on our end, let us know.  I’m excited for you.  Time really is flying.

I hope you liked the CTR ring I picked out;  it’s a style that they were waiting to put out, so it won’t be popular yet.  It seemed to fit all your criteria well. 

I love you,

Mom

Puzzle morning

From Dad January 4, 2015

Sunday, January 04, 2015

RE:  Letter 5 of 3

Dear Riley:

Happy New Year!!  Wow, can you believe it?  Another week just whisked by.  New Year’s Day came without a lot of fanfare on our part.  New Year’s Eve we went to the Y’s party which was more sparsely attended than last year, but very enjoyable.  We learned to play a new game called “Qwirkle”.  It’s a little like dominos but has more depth and strategy.  (I think we’ll be buying this one.)  We ended up staying longer than was wise for your Mom and her ear started giving her trouble.  We left a little before ushering the New Year.  Blast that Ramsay Hunt!  This will be nearly a year since Mom ended up in the hospital.  She continues to improve, but what a long road to complete recovery. 

I turned off my phone and spent the better part of New Year’s Day bundled up in the garage working on the shelves.  One section is completed and looks great.  Before I could even begin to work on the shelves, I had to dig out the back patio which had snow drifts nearly two feet deep in places.  The snow had covered my saws and my wood and it took me nearly two hours to render the space and my tools usable.  The snow is now back on the grass where it belongs, and my saws are just a little worse for wear following the ordeal.  One thing about bitter cold temperatures is the snow doesn’t melt during the day, so the steel didn’t rust much.    

Mom, Cambry, and I went to see Unbroken New Year’s evening.  Everyone should read the book, but I can’t think of anyone I’d recommend the movie to.  What a disappointment!!  I discovered another type of movie I think.  This is the movie which so wholly misses the point of the book, that you spend the next couple of days rewriting the movie script.  Your Mother said that this is what happens when a Godless heathen tries to take a faith based story and turn it into a movie.  They have no core of faith and aren’t comfortable with the concept that we, of ourselves, are nothing, and that a power greater than our own is required to lift us up from the dust and the shackles of the natural man.  Cambry went to see Into the Woods yesterday and came home raving about it.  This was also on my “must see” list so I’m encouraged at the prospect of not being disappointed with this one.

Friday evening was T B’s wedding.  Leadelle didn’t feel well enough to go, so Cambry and I went.  We sat with the Brousseaus and had a nice chat.  Chris Brousseau just hit 15 months and seems to really be enjoying his mission.  MB said he would like to be included on your email list. 

 I guess Mom already told you about the flood over in the L’s (T) home yesterday, so I won’t repeat the details.  I’ll just say that the level of destruction was overwhelming initially and it took a little while to decide on a course of action and hit our groove.  I have never seen this level of damage from water in a home first hand, I have never seen so many Ward members rally so quickly to assist, and never witnessed a disaster cleanup company move so quickly.  The whole response was a thing of beauty and impressive to witness.  They estimate at least two months of reconstruction.

Several ward members who came to assist mentioned turning their water off and draining their lines whenever they left their home for a trip.  Before seeing this disaster up close, I would have considered this a little excessive.  However, now it doesn’t seem extreme in the least.  For the Ls, it was the crowning jewel on an already difficult week.  They had been on a family trip and had to change plans suddenly for an unexpected funeral of a Grandparent.  While going to the funeral, they hit some black ice and went off the road.  This caused $10,000 in damage to their vehicle which only had liability coverage, so the insurance won’t cover it.  (Additionally, their vehicle won’t be repaired until the end of the month.)  They had to fly the remainder of the way to the funeral and then flew home.  They finally got back to Orem late Saturday morning to find their home flooded, maybe 1/3 of their possessions ruined, and once again without any insurance coverage.  TOUGH WEEK!  As it worked out, they’ll be moving into the M’s former home, midweek, so all the salvaged possessions in the moving van are just moving a block away and they have the comfort of knowing where they’ll be staying for the next four months until B graduates.

Congratulations on your calling as a Zone leader.  I’m not surprised in the least, and expected you would be in some level of leadership while in the MTC.  You’ll do great!  Keep up the good work and remember that the success of your mission isn’t contingent upon whether you serve in high leadership within the mission.  However, if you work hard, be obedient, and remain dependent on the Lord for your success, he will utilize you to your utmost capacity to further His work.  This means you can expect miracles, and for you…leadership. 

Well, time to get ready for bed.  We love and miss you, pray for you daily, and are so pleased with the caliber person you are.  We love hearing from you and, as you might have already guessed, are somewhat obsessed with getting letters and packages to you.  Hope you got the sourdough bread while it was still fresh.  We almost didn’t make the window.  Looking forward to your letter tomorrow!

Love,

Dad

From Mom January 4, 2015

Sunday, January 04, 2015

Hi Riley!   

I hope you got your bread fresh at lunch.  It was still a little warm when I dropped it off so I don’t know how the crust held up, but we were so excited to do that.  I was thinking maybe I can drop off fresh cinnamon rolls next Saturday morning!  By the way, you have created a problem for me:  since you’ve been gone, we have yet to completely eat a dozen doughnuts.  I hate throwing the last one, two, or three away.

After I got home from delivering your package, I got a call from TT…. from Saudi Arabia because the Ls had just gotten home from a funeral and the holidays and there was water all through the house.  She wanted me to run over and be her eyes.

I grabbed Dad and we were overwhelmed at the catastrophic damage caused by the cold and water.  It looks like a pipe broke and put water in the house which shut off the furnace and then a switch in the dishwasher froze open and water dumped into the kitchen for a couple days.  The ceilings hadn’t fallen down, so they estimate the damage began with the extreme cold Wednesday.

The L family lost so much of their stuff.  Dad was there all the rest of the day and into the evening helping them pack up and load their sopping belongings into a Uhaul truck.  T’s stuff, aside from the house of course, was pretty well preserved.  The room they store their stuff in while they’re away was the only dry room.

She got a restoration place there and they had the carpets all ripped up and the cabinets torn out and fans and dehumidifiers running.  It was crazy. But it was also so wonderful to see the ward rally to their assistance.  Within a few hours, they were packed and loaded with nowhere to go.  It’s sad really because the home owner’s insurance will cover the damage to the house and the T family belongings, but not the L’s as they are the renters.

So here is where the story gets funny.  Dad would coordinate with me throughout the day and I got a call that they would come for dinner.  Then I got a call because Sis S had dropped KFC off to them.  But halfway through our family dinner Dad called to say they’d like to come here and eat after all.  We scrambled to get the table ready for them.  B’s brother-in-law was injured earlier in the day helping the L’s.  He was wrapping a bungee cord around some boxes and it sprung back at him hitting his eye.  The doctor dilated his eye to protect it and told him to keep it closed as much as possible through the day.  Since he had continued to help, he and B’s sister came over as well.  Josie was in rare form yesterday and she was performing for the company.  She sang “Let it Go” and was talking and telling stories.  She looked up at this guy with his eye injury and asked, “What’s your name.”  He refused to reveal telling her it was a secret.  So without skipping a beat, Josie said, “I think it’s Wink-Wink.  It must be Wink-Wink.”  Try keeping your jaw shut at that, I challenge you.

I had a dream this week that I saw you.  I was so thrilled and so horrified at the same time.  I couldn’t remember how we were meeting up, but I was concerned I’d contrived something, but I didn’t remember doing so.  So the conflict of searching my soul for culpability overshadowed the thrill of seeing you.  You looked good and happy and confident.

I told you that Elise left for that retreat.  She had a great time, but Josie was TERRIBLE while she was gone.  As I was buckling Josie into her car seat she let her sorrow seep out, “we need to go get Riley.”  It dawned on me that she thought Elise was gone the same way you’re gone and she was undone.

OK, I have a little less than two weeks to get all the business of getting you supplied for Thailand complete.  So the MP3 player is top on the list as well as a CTR ring.  Is there anything else you need?

The Thailand shirts I think would be best to get each child one of their own.  Dad and I don’t have to have one, but I think the kids would each like one.  So Cambry wears a S, Parker wears a M, Elise wears an XL child or and XS adult, Aleah wears a M child, and Josie wears an XS Child.  Just let me know how much to transfer into your account.

I hope you’ve had a good week.  We love hearing about things in your world.  But you’ve got to share more PICUTRES!

Love you,

Mom

PS – Josie sayings of the week.  

The morning after the Big Clean in the girls’ room, Elise asked Josie if she liked her room clean.  “No.”  Elise pushed further, asking if she really didn’t like it clean.  “Yeah, I like it messy.” – Think Golam.

We did puzzles Sunday afternoon – I so prefer the morning schedule of church – and Josie was actually helping with the 100 piece puzzle.  But she was also supper sassy (it’s time for everyone to get back on a schedule!) and she was sent to timeout by Dad for her screaming.  She came out to go to the bathroom and we were all engrossed in the puzzle in the living room.  She rebuked us in a dramatic, sad voice, “Guys, it’s my own happiness.”  Later, when she was being nicer, she was trying to make a piece fit where it didn't.  "Here, I'll push it."

Also yesterday A and E had been over to play earlier and when Josie was feeling sad and wanted some snuggly, she couldn’t find her blanket.  “Where is my blanket?  Annie took it.”  Who would have thought that Annie, who had repaired the hole in the bear that’s been sitting on my craft bench over a year of her own volition, could be so villainous?

Speaking of A, I somehow missed putting her and B’s birthdays on the calendar.  A is Aug 21 and Ben is June 2.  You don’t have to do anything with those dates, I just put your family birthdates on the calendar because I thought you’d like to think of them on their day.

Love you - Mom