From Mom: February 15, 2015

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Dear Riley,

How are you doing?  I think about you all the time.  I put 14 hours in front of our time occasionally to consider if you’re awake or sleeping and what you may be doing.  You’ve been in Thailand almost a month already.  Don’t forget to send us pictures!  We love to see your smiling face.

Me – I conducted my second to last PTA meeting this week:  Hurray!  I went to P/T conferences for both the High School and the Junior High.  I went right as they were starting to avoid the crowds.  I have a big confession to make here, and there is some guilt to be purged.  I first saw Mr. Knappenburger for Parker and he was all kindness and compliment and confidence Parker will do wonderfully in AP chemistry.  Then I went to Mr. Logan, who loves Parker (one of his chow hounds – Parker’s group regularly brings in food from some establishment or another).  From there to Mr. Rep who loves having Parker and hoped he’d get him for something next year.  At this point I was smiling to myself.  On to Math, his teacher loves him and knows he’ll be well-suited for AP Calc next year.  And on and on.  By the time I went to the seminary building, I was laughing out loud.  Here’s the guilt-purge:  I didn’t realize that I walked into P/T conferences with a stance of “don’t judge me by my kid” until nothing met me but adoration and I almost fell over for lack of resistance.  That was such funny mommy moment.  Elise is also well-loved, but I would have been surprised if I got any other reaction.

My mom came unexpectedly Tuesday after struggling on her way home from Manti, GK isn’t doing so great.  So I had her nebulize the glutathione and G when he came to pick her up.  It calmed her shakiness down and helped her, I believe.  I fed them and it was good to see them for a while.

I bought a new bedspread.  It’s been a long search.  That feels like I accomplished something significant.  And I discovered that my blue vacuum is broken, but covered under warranty, so I feel accomplished getting that resolved.

I had fun the end of the week.  M came over for a girl’s night Friday while Dad and Parker were on a campout.  And Dad and I celebrated Valentine’s Day by going to the temple for a sealing session and to lunch.

The sun is shining and the sky is blue and I am so grateful to have a missionary son and all the blessings that come to us because you are serving.

Dad – put in another shelf in the garage and has only two left.  Whoot!  Dad made buttermilk pancakes Thursday morning for the temple kids because we weren’t sure they would like sourdough. Dad took Grandma and me out for ice cream last night after the adult session of stake conference.  Dad has my heart.  And I’m glad of it.

Cambry –  and I took a walk Thursday night to Baskin Robbins where we ran into M and J B.  Cambry got her passport pictures and I bought her ticket to London.  Exciting times!  She’s been given a raise at doTERRA and it will make it easier for her to afford London.  

Parker – came home very sad Friday.  He went on the campout with Dad unexpectedly and had fun.  He has been pretty faithful attending the temple with the youth and it helps him.

Elise – is sweet.  You know. She used Cambry’s curlers yesterday and she looks so pretty with soft curls in her hair.  She made cute sucker bouquets for her friends Valentines and snuck them into their lockers.  She is just doing so well.  When I complained recently that the milk is going so quickly, Elise got a guilty smile and said, “I’m growing again.”

Aleah – She found out that her teacher is expecting and is soooo excited.  Aleah did really well at her piano lessons and almost got a perfect score on her practicing.  She used her shoe box from her new boots for her Valentine box this week because it already had hearts all over the box.

Josie – has a cough this afternoon.  She is a fireball all the sudden.  I didn’t keep track of the funny things she said this week.  But she hit a growth spurt and was eating everything she was given.  So she ate an entire chicken drumstick for dinner Thursday night, I had to tell her there was nothing left as she was gnawing on the bone.  Then I got her a hot dog at Costco while we were getting Cambry’s passport photo Friday night.  She rarely eats even a bite.  But she ate almost the entire hot dog, no toppings, maybe just three bites were left uneaten.  I was really surprised.

Extended family – G P is getting worse and the trouble is they don’t really know what he’s fighting.  

As a tender mercy, our family read 2 Nephi 9 this morning.  Verse 28: O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the foolishness of men!  When they are learned, they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. 

I love you with all I have in me, Riley.  I find great joy in your missionary service.  I love the gospel and my heart rejoices in my Savior Jesus Christ.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God.  The Spirit teaches us truth and directs us.  Be faithful.  

I love you,

Mom

I forgot this gem from this week:  I took the girls shopping with me and on the way home, Aleah wiggled a molar and it ripped the roots and there was blood.  Hysteria followed soon after.  I had to get dinner on for a tight deadline so I didn't take time to fix her tooth, all the drool and blood and emotion was truly above the rim.  So what do you think happened? PARKER went up and spoke with her calmly, allayed her fears, and pulled her tooth.  Tell me you saw that coming and I'll call you a liar!