Sunday, February 28, 2016
Dear Riley,
I’m just ready to exhale, after I finish this letter, as birthday season concludes. Oh my goodness I felt so tightly strung today. Parker has been really sick since Friday evening. Really he’s been ill for weeks (read sinus infection) but he’s gotten along, you know like I do. But Friday night he came down with a hot fever and a headache and his lymph nodes were swollen and tender. Cambry and I tried our best to help him feel better. He felt somewhat improved Saturday morning (his birthday) but he tanked pretty quickly. So though we did his birthday breakfast yesterday, we suspended his dinner so he could enjoy it.
This morning I took him to the after hours pediatrician and he had both strep throat and a sinus infection, plus a little ear infection. Hurrah! Antibiotics have started kicking in and he’s lively, sitting with AS and CW and Grandma and Grandpa P telling his life story from a bottle of questions Grandma brought over. Yesterday he and C went on a long walk (wisdom?) and then late last night C and M came over really late last night with a sweet gift bag for him. I think that made his day.
Really Parker’s birthday has spanned three days because he asked us to take him to Tucano’s for a birthday experience gift Friday for lunch. It was delightful and I’m grateful he didn’t get sick until that night. Parker’s going to counseling again and faithfully taking his medication and he’s doing much better emotionally. We are looking at schools for the fall and trying to make plans. It occurred to me that he doesn’t have to take the AP exams, no real reason to feel that pressure, though he’ll probably take the English one because he scores really well in English always. We’ll see how it all pans out. It’s kind of like having a first child again because everything is new when you look at new schools.
Monday I had to clean up the aftermath from Elise’s birthday and all the time away the day before. It took all morning just consistent effort. My visiting teachers were coming and I finished by vacuuming the front room and the vacuum started stinking and acting stressed, but thankfully I was mosty finished with the front room. I cleaned off the beater brush only to realize the end was seized up and the brush needed to replaced AGAIN. That’s four brushes in two years, $100. So Thursday when I had K for music class I set out finding one. But I ended up buying a Orek vacuum cleaner instead because it was on closeout for 50% off, about what I’d paid for the one a couple years ago. It really cleans well and everything is covered for seven years, so I suppose all’s well that ends well.
My mom and L came down to tour the Provo City Temple Open house Friday afternoon. It was really nice to be with them for a while. Grandma is still recovering from her hip surgery. I got to see M and L as well and that was nice because I don’t feel like I’ve spent enough time with my family lately. The problem is I don’t know how I’m going to get more in.
After everyone left, I wanted a bike for a date (the weather was just b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l), but the tandem is in the shop. So Dad borrowed Parker’s bike and I rode Elise’s and we set out. It just isn’t as much fun. But don’t get me wrong, it was still fun.
Dad’s been preparing for tomorrow’s picture all week. Not to create too much suspense… but, it’s gonna be great! But I really like how this week’s came out.
Dad asked me to give a report on your mission earlier in the week. But it never made it to the hottest fire and every time he reminded me I had forgotten… :D. And the two hours I’d planned to do it this morning was eaten up by the doctor and pharmacy visit. I felt so unprepared. But as I read through your letters back from last summer to present, I was pleased with your mission. I loved going back through and reading the testimony you share through your letters. I could feel the love that has developed within you for the people. And though I know you get somewhat discouraged that you’re not seeing big changes week to week, you have made a big impact in a few lives. You have found and taught and brought to the waters of baptism a few precious souls. That is no small thing. But most importantly, you’ve honed your listening skills for the Holy Ghost. That will be a gift to you all your life long.
Additionally, I read an article in the Feb Ensign, Only Two Baptisms? A mission president was telling his conversion story as a nine-year-old boy in Nebraska. One of his missionaries recognized his mission president’s missionary’s name as his grandfather. His grandfather had felt that his mission was kind of a waste because he only had two baptisms. But after this boy joined, his family joined and both he and his brother served missions. Their sons served missions. And here he was as a mission president. It’s no stretch to say hundreds have been brought to the faith through that one missionary’s efforts. Don’t ever get discouraged, son. You can’t measure the impact your efforts will have from your current perspective.
I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not by any means perfect living it. And I’m certainly a work in progress in comprehension. But my appreciation constantly increases for the enabling power of Christ in my life. There is no part of my life that it doesn’t bless.
I love you. I hope you have a great week. Can’t wait to hear about last week.
Love,
Mom
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