From Mom November 9, 2015

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Dear Riley,

I hope you’re all recovered and feeling strong again.  I don’t think I knew you’d even had one ingrown toenail, so I was surprised to learn you were on number six.  Those hurt so bad.  I’ve seen that if you cut a little v in the middle top of your toenail that it helps prevent them, but I’ve not tried it.  I use colloidal silver if I ever feel like it’s getting infected.  Those are your nonconventional treatment recommendations.

We had a couple of big events in the family this week:

• Cambry and C are officially dating.  He kissed her Monday night and they are together all the time.  She wonders how she could have ever liked anyone else.  He’s her first boyfriend I really like.  He’s kind, generous, and pleasant.  I like what I see in Cambry when they are together. I think since he’s been home only a few months there is no hurry.  But this relationship has the most potential of any Cambry’s been in.  In fact something happened as I slept Monday night.  I hadn’t spoken to her when she returned from his house and FHE, so I didn’t know that he’s kissed her.  I had words spoken into my mind.  I was assured that their life missions were compatible and I felt tears push out at this knowledge.    It’s still their choice and I am OK either way.  Yet if they do end up together, I’ll be glad for that extra peace.
• Parker’s iguana died.  He was home from school Thursday and I decided to feed the iguana when I was getting Josie lunch.  When I went in to Katie’s dish, she was dead.  Parker had held and fed her an hour before.  She had metabolic bone disease which we had mostly resolved with sun and calcium supplements.  But it has turned cold and Parker had not gotten a bulb for her lamp.  I think she must have broken her neck. The little desert lizard has also gone the way of all the earth.  So for the first time in years we are officially petless.  Hoping the bedroom starts smelling better…
• The heater kicked on.  It’s been in the 40’s all week and cold at night. Snowflakes did blow around Tuesday, but nothing stuck.
• The flu has visited our house.  I was down yesterday and Dad was down half of the day yesterday.  He woke up feeling 98% in his words.  But the WORST part was that we couldn’t take a ride yesterday.  :(  I was more upset about missing the ride than being sick.  Josie has been coughing and sniffling for days.  Elise came home after sacrament meeting.  So only Aleah and Dad are at church today.  Ah, Fall.
• Aleah managed to get all her missing assignments in for the end of the term.  She wants to run for student council in the spring and she has to have nothing below a B to be eligible.  We had another stressful, contentious week.  Sometimes I feel like such a failure when the contention is ever present.  Fear of failure is the driving force behind it.  Like we don’t all fail all the time and survive?
• The girls had piano duet festival yesterday.  Elise and Aleah played with each other and Elise also played with CM.  Elise carried a lot of responsibility this week practicing and drilling independently and with partners.  Elise was very pleased with her performance with C which was rewarding because she was in tears Thursday night feeling unsure if she could really do it.  She did!  When Elise and Aleah practiced at lessons on Monday, Sis M called Sis G over to hear them play and Sis G cried over how beautiful it was.  That piece went well for them, but Aleah struggled on the last piece.  It happens sometimes in performance.

In other news, my mom is improving.  Josie and I went up to visit her this week.  Still no timeframe for her to come home.  Having displaced her hip post surgery has everyone a little jumpy.

JC, son of R and J, passed away this week.  He was not in the ward any longer, but Dad had worked with him and it was a sad ending.

One more thing I think you’d like to know.  We have a new game in our family.  Parker and Josie made it up.  One person will start the game by saying, “You’re a little insert any noun”  the other person responds by saying, “You’re a little insert any noun” The first person to repeat or stammer for a noun loses.  Josie adores this game.  You wouldn’t think it would be hard, but it gets hard.  Especially after a few rounds because you can’t remember what’s been said in each game and you worry about repeating.

Well I hope you had your baptism today.  I’ve been thinking about it.  I shared the Ironman landing picture on the Thai missionary mom’s facebook group.  They loved it.  I didn’t share the outdoor restroom, but we loved it.  Only in Asia, huh?  It’s the freshest smelling restroom ever!

Have another good week, Riley.  Sis H is headed your way this week.  I will send apples, some letters/pictures, your bike tire tape, and not much more.  But a Christmas package is starting to take shape this week.  Sister Larsen wanted to send cookies, but there just isn’t room or weight.  So she taught her primary class how to donate to your mission instead.  And did I tell you that Grandma and Grandpa P contributed to your mission recently?  Please thank them.

So much love,

Mom

Monday's ride on Elise's bike. Too pretty, huh?

Look who Aleah spotted on p10 of the November New Era: