Homecoming week and other craziness

Matthew,

we love your letters.  Everyone comments on what a good letter writer you are.  You give such great stories and descriptions.  

This week was crazy!  I'm tired just thinking about it.

Monday we went and helped a widow move stuff out of her house because she is moving.  The kids did great and were great workers and helpers!

Tuesday is soccer and piano- Jacob has no idea what he is doing out there but is a great sport! Usually I take a kid to piano and then run Jacob to soccer and then go pick up jacob and then pick up the kids at piano.  It's crazy!

Wednesday I went to lunch with James.  We go out to lunch once a week.  It's fun and I really enjoy visiting with him.  He is liking school.  Bridie had a soccer game and we took treats.  I'm so cheap that I got the treats at the dollar store so they were pretty yucky- oh well.  That night for young woman we did chalk the block about the young women values.  The girls loved it.  The next day it rained like crazy and washed it all away.

Thursday- I got to tend Teddy and Nayeil.  They were so cute!  James commented about how much I love little kids- and I do.  They made a "potion" outside with grass, plums, and water.  Nayeli was convinced that Jasmine was going to eat it up.

Friday- Was the kids school carnival.  Bridie asked Janelle to take her, Jacob went with his friends, and Eleanor and I hung out. It was fun!  Then Jacob and his friends came over to have a late night, James was in the basement with a group of friends and Jacob took the upstairs.  We discovered that the big TV upstairs die because of the power outage from the storm the night before.  That stunk!

Saturday- Bridie, Eleanor and I went up to Kaysville for my Nana ruby's 100th birthday.  It was really fun to see her.  it was sad because she doesn't remember me.  Old age is hard.

We came back so that Adaline and her group could do homecoming here at our house.  They took pictures here and then made boutonnieres and corsages and then had dinner here.  It was so much fun and the kids had a great time.  All the boys were from Mapleton except for Anthony Heimdal and Jeremy Lewis' cousin from spanish fork.  Then after the dance they all came back here and hung out.  It was a great group and they clicked really quick for most of them being blind dates!

Today James gave his homecoming in Mapleton 7th ward.  It was great to see so many people I love.  Today was busy- After church James and I went over to sol and yuan's house and he gave all of them back to school blessings in Korean.  It is cool to let James reconnect with people he loves!  I'm just about to go to a bishops fireside.

I love you and think you are awesome!

Love,

Mom

Letter to Matthew about the week

Matthew,

We love you and think you are awesome!  We are so proud of you working so hard as a missionary!  I know that because you have such a great heart the language will come, and you will grow and develop into an amazing missionary!

I loved Opa's response to your questions about baptizing people (he sent me a copy of his email to you).  I couldn't have said it better myself.  Follow the spirit and you will do the right thing.

News- 

James went on his first date yesterday with Mckenna Limb.  It totally freaked him out.  The group was Anthony, Rachel, Mckenna and James.  They hiked Stuart Falls and then came over here to hang out.  Then James went and watched the BYU/ Utah football game at another friends house.  He likes school but friday was a hard day for him.  He misses doing something as important as missionary work.  

Adaline- She got what I would consider the ultimate compliment at young women's this week.  Someone said she was friends with everyone.  I hope all my children are friends with everyone.  She hasn't been asked to Homecoming yet so I'm trying to decide if I intervene.  She is doing great in school and is playing Lacrosse.  They had their first game this week and won.

Isaac- Is liking playing flag football even though their team gets creamed every game.  He is a great kid and is so helpful to me.  Friday morning he ran back into the house after leaving for school and was panicked that it was picture day.  He had forgotten.  We told him to find his "Wanted" shirt.  He didn't wear the "Wanted" shirt.

Jacob- Likes playing soccer and school.  This week we went to his Chinese tutor and she taught him words like "God", "Heavenly Father", and "I am a child of God".  As I sat there in his tutoring session I felt so overcome with the spirit.  It was really a beautiful experience.  Jacob has a calling on this earth and this is an element of that calling.  After the teacher told me that the way Jacob can remember Chinese characters, he must have a photographic memory.  You are fulfilling your calling right now, I know.

Bridie- Peter and Kathryn slept over last night.  David's family came down last night to watch the BYU/Utah football game.  It was fun to be with their family.  Both our families are getting so small.  Bridie also likes soccer.  She still has no idea how to play the game.  Just because of her drive she does get her feet on the ball every game.  She's already talking about playing in the spring.  

Eleanor- Is as cute as ever, but growing up like crazy.  I miss her during the day.  She is still having a hard time adjusting to full day school.  she wishes she was playing soccer.  

Dad and I spent Friday night at the Zurmont in Midway.  It was nice to get away for a little bit.  Everything is so stressful during the school year. I am trying to live by a budget (I'm sure you know how that is going) but I am trying.  I get things done during the week and really like being alone- which is strange because I haven't been alone for 20 years.  I love going to the temple on Mondays and the other things that I am doing during the week.  It feels like I'll never get ahead though.  

We love you and are so proud of you serving your mission.  We pray for you every day.  I put your name on the prayer rolls of the temple every time I go.  I can't wait to hear from you!

Love you

mom

Beginning of fall sports

Matthew,

It was so great to hear from you last monday.  Today James had to go before the stake president and high counselors and give his missionary report.  There were 2 other returned missionaries giving their report also.  One had just come back from the Philippines- but a different mission.  It was neat to hear his experiences in the Philippines!  It makes me feel close to you.  This week was the beginning of fall sports for Isaac (flag football), Jacob and Bridie (soccer).  It makes the evenings really crazy!  I don't love it but the kids are meeting lots of other kids that go to Rock canyon so that is good.  Yesterday we planted tons of bushes in the front yard.  It was hard work but they all got put in.  That makes you a little less homesick, right?

This week I had a few interesting experiences.  On Monday night we had back to school Fathers blessings.  It is neat because James gave dad one.  So everyone got one.  But when Dad gave Jacob his blessing he told him that he needed to learn religious words and start reading the Book of Mormon in Chinese.  I thought " that's interesting.  I should look into getting him a tutor pretty soon (know I wouldn't really get around to it for a month or so".  That night I opened my email and there is an email from our next door neighbor saying that she knows a Chinese tutor and if I was looking for one.  I emailed her back and the next morning I got a text from a Chinese woman who wanted to tutor Jacob.  While talking to her I asked her if she was LDS (because so many are not) and she is.  I told her that I wanted Jacob to focus on learning religious words and reading the Book of Mormon in Chinese.  Friday was his first appointment with her.  She spoke to him in Chinese for about 15 minutes and then to me.  She said "He's doing just great in Chinese.  He doesn't need a tutor.  I reminded her that I wanted him to learn religious words and to read the Book of Mormon in Chinese.  I talked to her about the blessing he had been given.  She said that that morning she was praying about how to get more Chinese students when she got the text from me.  It was an answer to both our prayers.  I don't know why this is so important to the Lord, but I am grateful for the help He gave me this week.  It's also interesting how interconnected we all are and that the Lord blesses our lives and we bless each others lives.

Next was Thursday night.  Dad and Isaac were at Isaac's flag football game and the girls were helping me make gift bags for my young women.  The thoughts of my mind turned to my aunt Pat, who I haven't thought of much (she died right after you were born) and was not especially close to.  My aunt pat was a entrepreneur.  She had a room in her house where she would make fill stuff bags and sell them.   As I was making these stuff bags I felt her presence.  It was a neat experience.  It just makes me think about all the people who are helping you.  You have the host of heaven at your fingertips as you do the work of the Lord.  There are so many people on the other side of the veil who are anxious to help you.

The last experience happened yesterday.  I took Isaac to his football game while dad and James got started on the yard.  We worked like crazy in the yard planting bushes and then drove down to Fillmore because my cousin (Pat's daughter, Samantha) is the realtor selling the house my Nana Ruby grew up in and could get us in to look at it.  It was neat to be in her house.  The upstair bedrooms were especially sweet.  We drove around looked at all the buildings that would have meant something to her.  It was a beautiful day and a wonderful way to spend the day thinking about my heritage.  Nana Ruby will be 100 this month.  She has lead a wonderful life.  In her 100 years she has seen so many changes.     

News update

All the kids are back in school.  

James- just finished his first week at BYU.  He seems to like it and his classes.  He has enjoyed working for Bro. Gill.  Last night he hung out with some friends (Anthony Carter, Mckenzie, Rachel Christensen and a few other people).  He loved getting out and visiting with his friends.  This morning James gave his mission report and did a great job.  He bore his testimony about prayer.  

Adaline-started practicing Lacrosse with some of her teammates from last spring.  She has liked school this year better and seems to have good friends.

Isaac- I wanted him to stay active this fall so I gave him the choice between cross country and flag football.  He chose flag football and is really enjoying it.  He is getting better on the piano and playing the cello at school.  Today he will be called as the Deacons quorum president.  He is such a good person and has a heart of gold.

Jacob- Is doing well at school.  He loves to play with friends and on electronics.  He is also getting better on the piano. For Saturday jobs he is very motivated to get his jobs completed by the reward of playing electronics.

Bridie- Started playing soccer this week.  She had never played before and on the way over I realized she had no idea how to play the game.  So I tried to explain a few of the rules of the game on our drive over.  She did great but would have done better if she actually knew HOW to play and had played before.

Eleanor- Says she wished I had signed her up for soccer but honestly I couldn't have one more kid playing.  She likes school but it has been a really hard transition for her.  The first week of school everyday she would come home and cry for an hour or so.  They say that this happens to some kids because they have never been spoken to in only a foreign language for half the day.  I'm sure you are having a similar experience with your language adaptation.  Eleanor is getting better and liking school better and starting to have friends (this is her first year at Wasatch).

I am doing well.  I am enjoying having the day to my self.  This week me, my mom, Athena, Julia, Marilyn went to Christina's.  We helped her clean off her garage port.  It was so much fun to be together and helping Tina at the same time.  Thursday I went up and helped Ali because she is having her baby blessed this sunday.  I loved spending time with Ali.  I have also started going back to the temple- that has been a wonderful experience!  Last night dad and I walked to the Riverwoods for dinner.  That was fun and the weather was beautiful!

Life is great.  We love and miss you!  We are so proud of you as you serve the Lord!

Love,

Mom