Dear Riley,
Tuesday -- Life is so crazy in May. Dad and I each thought it would be best to try to write a little during the week rather than waiting for Sunday. We'll see how we do...
First off, we loved all your pictures last week. Dad’s reaction to the tiger picture was great, “uh, Riley?!” I had seen other missionary pictures like that, so I wasn’t freaked, but he kind of was. Dad, Parker, and I all saw Avengers 2 the Friday evening it opened. I'm sorry to say that none of us liked it better than the first. And I had vertigo after watching it. It's probably worth seeing, but we didn't love, love it.
This morning we are all tired. The picture pretty much took me all day yesterday. I made the page collar Aleah wore as the white rabbit and I made the hat Parker wore in the afternoon.
One sweet moment of the day was when I was trying to repair the zipper on the caterpillar costume. The zipper pull was off the zipper as well as the clasp at the bottom of the zipper which holds it on. So I had bought a zipper pull, uncertain at all if it was the correct type, but hoping I wouldn’t have to sew Josie into the suit by chance. I had to put on my granny glasses to even start trying. Of course Josie was close by, hoping I could fix the costume in time for her nap. I tried and tried and couldn’t get it to move up the zipper. My hands were starting to hurt and it was past naptime, so I suggested we say a prayer and Josie ask that the zipper would work. She did. It was sweet. Then I silently prayed that her prayer would be answered. I tried again and still couldn’t make it work. I tried a different angle, no go. I started to get worried about this little faith bucket next to me being disappointed. But I finally accepted defeat and said I must have the wrong kind of zipper pull. Josie didn’t throw a fit or anything, but she was processing. I set the costume on my bed and started away but almost immediately stepped back toward it and picked it up for one more try. And you guessed it, it pulled right up. Josie was so excited (though it was ticklish enough she DIDN’T wear it for nap. And the next day when she wanted something to work that wasn’t working, she decided it was time to say a prayer!)
We took one set of pictures up at Katie and Johnny's, but a mirror made for distractions in the photos, so we suited up again after Katie made it look like a window and went for another round. We had so much fun there. We shared FHE and Katie gave us a tea party at the end. We got home after 10. But Josie was so happy, she sang on her way to bed. It really was so nice to share that with Katie and Johnny.
I read your companion’s blog each week as well as your letters. I was happy to hear that Gung is doing well. I wondered if she was one of the investigators you’d lost this week. I like knowing the names of your investigators. Do you not put them in your letters to be considerate of their privacy? But it helps me keep track of them. I am interested in the work as it happens in each individual life. But continue as you see fit.
Wednesday – The best part of today was that JS came to lunch to visit teach. She was going to bring in lunch but we had enormous amounts of food in lots of variety here. We had a nice visit. There is just something bonding about eating together. We’ve had rain every day still.
Either lunch was the best part of the day or taking Josie and Aleah to the library and picking up some great books. The kids reminded me that we used to have the book There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly. Ours got destroyed. Josie LOVES the book. And she loves The Little Mouse, the Red, Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear. She took that one to bed with her.
Thursday – I finally mailed you three picture prints today. While I was down that way, I decided to go to LoLo’s and pick up more green taco sauce because we’ve been out for a week and that makes everyone sad. I saw MP doing her shopping there too. I picked up some day-old donuts and that reminded me of something cute from last week. Josie wanted a donut after she ate her lunch all gone and we had time, so I indulged her. We went down to LoLo’s and I let her choose her donut from the case. She wanted one with freckles (sprinkles) on it. She chose a maple donut with freckles. As we were driving home, she suddenly laughed out, “Bread?” She realized that after the glaze was gone, the donut was just bread.
Also, I don’t know if I told you that Grandma and Grandpa Parish are giving dates for birthdays this year? Today Josie cashed hers in for a trip to the Bean Museum, the creamery, and watching Into the Woods. I think Grandma let her double-dip. But in truth Josie was having difficulty deciding what to choose as everything sounded so gratifying to her. She came up with catching fish as an option on her own.
Friday I cleaned the garage and craft room. And that’s about it. I probably have two days left before it’s all done. It’s exciting and wonderful. Dad and I went to dinner that night at 8:30. I had no hunger, except for order. When we got home, I saw a text from my mom. S had drawn a bath and then laid down and fell asleep… for like three hours. All three levels of their house have water damage. What a trouble. It happened while L was taking my mom to her follow-up appointment with her surgeon. There have to be compensatory blessings in this for her.
Saturday has been so busy.
OK, it’s Sunday and I am glad I recorded snippets through the week or you wouldn’t get much. Yesterday the S blessed their new baby boy, A and it was lovely to be there with them. We skyped Cambry afterwords. She is half way through her time in Europe already. Then I went to get some supplies to decorate Eric’s grave. My mom is laid up recovering and my dad is recovering. So she asked me to put some flowers together. But she wanted more than just mums. I had bought sunflowers and disbuds? at Costco in the morning but I had to put them together. I’ve never made a flower arrangement before. But I like the way this came out (after the second try.) Marie met us up at the cemetery. It was nice to be there with her for a minute. On the way home after 6:00, Dad and I realized that we hadn’t been to the temple this week. Ugh. So we hurried our salmon dinner and rushed out the door.
When we got home at 10:30, I started my missionary report for sacrament meeting, retiring to bed sometime after 1:00. I’m sorry to confess I went toooooo long. But it was so nice to go back through your letters and pull gems. And people loved hearing it. I got asked if you had any desire to be a writer because you write so well.
Also, CB stopped me in the hall today to confirm that PS was still your mission president. He was the president to her grandson when L died, so they communicated and she loves him. She said her grandson has gone back this summer bumming.
We are waiting to go to the P’s for Parker’s blessing. I will send you a different letter with my impressions from that neat experience. We have the Memorial Day breakfast tomorrow, carnival Tuesday, dance festival Wednesday, field day and 6thgrade graduation Thursday, Mommy collapse Friday.
And you have transfers this week. Has it really already been six weeks with ET? It’s sad to think of you moving as you seem pretty settled with good friends and opportunities. But life is change: new friends to meet, new opportunities to explore. We have to make the most of these while they are available to us.
We love you, son. Have a wonderful week!
Love,
Mom
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