Events leading up to Christmas

Matthew,

I love you and think you are so awesome!

We have had a wonderful week.  

We have had a mouse infestation and every morning look in the pantry to see if the trap has caught another mouse.  Most mornings it has.  Bridie and Eleanor scream and run away from the dead mouse.  I'm slightly horrified by all of this.   

Tuesday Isaac had a orchestra concert.  He and one other cello had a solo.  He is so cute!

Wednesday was James' 21st birthday.  He slept in and then he and I wen to the temple.  We got to be the witness couple.  Then he and I went and bought him temple clothes for his birthday.  We had a nice lunch at Outback steakhouse.  

That night he had a choir practice and Dad and I had a work party in Salt Lake.  It was a nice evening.  

This week I have been working like crazy to get my temple goal done for December.  I only have one more name but a lot of temples are closed for the rest of December.  I might have to go to Mount Timpanogus to finish.

Friday night David's family came into town.  So we went up for dinner and to hang out with them up at Grandma's.

Saturday was the DeBry family party.  It was fun.  We all brought our DI stuff and a few gift cards and did a "Christmas Store".  Everyone liked it so it might become a tradition.

We are looking forward to talking to you On Christmas Day.

You are such a great son and I am so glad I am your mom!  

I love you!

Mom

Temple goals, ski's, and Salt Lake with Gordon

Matthew,

We are doing well.  How are you?  I get so excited to hear from you.  I read your emails several times on Monday.  once as soon as I wake up and am still in bed- I'm so anxious to hear what cool things you are seeing and doing.  

This week:

I have set a goal to go the temple 4 times a week.  It's a lot and I'm struggling to get it done.  But the past 2 weeks I've been able to do it.  Yesterday Dad and I went in the afternoon.  I was so distracted that I really didn't pay much attention and so I got nothing out of the experience.  Other times that I've gone to the temple and as I'm walking to my car I have felt overwhelming peace and joy that only comes from the Holy Ghost.  Those experiences are precious to me.  It made me think about how much spiritual growth we can miss out on if we aren't focused.  

Ski's- the saga.  Dad got his super old ski's from Nana and Grandpa's for this ski season.  James tried on yours and they fit so he was going to use yours.  They both took them to get them tuned up at BYU outdoors unlimited.  Dad got his back and was really excited to use them them the first day Sundance opened.  James went to go pick up your ski's and when they had put them in the binding machine your bindings blew up (Sorry!  We'll get them fixed before you get home).  So James had no ski's for the ski season.  Friday was the opening day at Sundance and dad took Friday afternoon off to go on the first day.  He parked in the parking lot at Sundance and started walking to the bus.  The plastic of his ski's (being 30 years old) broke into bits.  His ski boots completely fell apart in the parking lot.  He gathered up the pieces of ski boots and got back into his car and drove home totally defeated.  

That night we went KSL couch shopping.  We ended up getting two couches (both from Springville) for the new theater room in the basement.  It turned out to be a fun night with dad and James.  

Saturday Jacob went swimming with the scouts to pass off some of the swimming merit badge.  Dad and I went to the temple and them up to salt Lake with James to rent ski's for the season.  James drove the car back home but dad and I stayed in Salt Lake and walked around downtown.  It rained all afternoon and into the evening.  Only late into the night did it start to snow.  We only have a tiny bit of snow now.  We went to the church history museum, walked around the Grand america, and City creek.  We had some dinner and walked around temple square and looked at the lights.  It was beautiful.  Then we rode the train home.  It was a really fun day.  The girls missed me so last night after baths we smuggled in my bed for a few minutes.  Bridie and Jame shave both had colds- tis the season.  

James is taking finals and will be done with his first semester this Tuesday.  Wednesday is his 21 birthday.  He's old!

What do you want to do about Christmas day?  Do not feel like you have to Skype with us if it'll be too hard for you.  You know we love you and we know you love us.  It's all good.  Whatever you want...

We love you and pray for you.  You are doing the Lord's work.  

love,

mom

Christmas goal

Mathew,

Another week- they seem to just fly by!  We had a great week.  

This month I set a goal to do a bunch of names (12) that Aunt Katie gave me in the month of December.  In order to make the goal I will be going to the temple about 4 times a week.  It is a nice goal I think at Christmas time.  So that is what I have been doing a lot during the days while the kids are in school.  After school we do homework, practice, play, make dinner, etc.  

Friday we got a live tree for the family room and went to the ward Christmas party.  Yesterday the young women went to Christmas around the world at BYU.  Dad and the other kids went to the living nativity in Alpine that we went to with Harkness' last year.  They had a great time.  Last night I got ready for the Harkness family party that is today at our house.  It'll be Richard and Kathy's families too.  Bridie and I got activities for the kids to do downstairs.  Yesterday we spent the morning getting the house cleaned for this party.   

This morning Eleanor started throwing up and hasn't stopped. I feel so sorry for her!  I am home from church to be with her but James should be home any minute from church and he'll stay with her while I go to church with the family.  

We love you and love to get the pictures!  What an adventure it must be living in the Philippines! What is the hardest thing you have had to get used to?  What is your favorite thing about living in the Philippines?  

I am so happy to hear that the language is coming along for you!  You are an amazing person with so much to share!  We love you!

Love you lots!

Mom