In God, We Trust

Again, Sam cracks me up.  I don't think he means to, but he does.  He said to me today, "Mom, I think the phrase 'In God, we trust' came from Yoda.  Normal people would say, 'We trust in God', but Yoda ALWAYS puts the predicate first."

While I Wait for Nate

While I wait anxiously by my computer for Nate's P-Day email (Missionaries for our church have one day a week to do their laundry, grocery shop, email home, etc.  It's called their Preparation Day - P-day.) I'm going to update my blog.  For selfish reasons.  I print my blog and count it as my journal.  I know that's probably  cheating and not really what our Prophets had in mind when they encourage us to Write in a Journal, but it's the best I've got right now.

So, what have we done since I blogged about Thanksgiving?  Good question.

1)  Jon and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary.  We had agreed not to get each other gifts.  So, I made Jon a cheesecake.  But he brought me beautiful red roses and and beautiful heart necklace that has little sapphires up one side.  He even unclogged my dishwasher!

I wish I could show you pictures, but blogger isn't my friend right now.  I can't get it to add photos.... (Photos added Sept. 2014)

2)  Of course, between Thanksgiving and now we also had Christmas.  When we hung our Advent Calendar, Jon said to me, "Do you realize that we aren't just counting down until Christmas anymore?  We are also counting down to when Nate can call us."  (Missionaries in our church can email and hand write their families, but can only call on Christmas and Mothers' Day.  And no visits allowed.)  He was right.  I hadn't thought of it like that before and suddenly, the countdown became a little more.

Christmas is always magical.  No matter how old the kids are, their excitement is always overwhelming and contagious.  I love it.  The best part was that no one complained about their gifts.  They were excited and grateful for everything.  As always, we received great gifts from family.   My best gift was talking to Nate and learning that a sweet family - the Troutmans - were taking care of him and his companion and letting them spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with their family.  Sister Troutman even gave them stockings of their own with gifts inside.  Which I appreciated because Nate and his companion hadn't received ANY of their gifts from home, yet.

It was hard having an empty stocking on my mantel, but I realized that it's just the first.  Time marches on.  Kids grow up.  And all I can do is hope that I've taught them enough.

3)  I turned 39.  Jon and Elizabeth bought me an ice cream cake. 

 I went to lunch with my dear friend, Jennifer.  

And my friend, Marce, and I celebrated our birthdays by also going to lunch.  Marce's sister and my friend, Linda, also came.  They gave me gift certificate to have a pedicure.  I've never had one before, so I'm a little nervous and a little excited!  They also gave me a chocolate cake.  :)

Julie emailed me my birthday card.  :)

4)  Elizabeth started molding chess pieces out of clay.

5)  Aaron has started rugby practice and has gotten glasses for reading and driving.

(Hugoton, KS Zone Conference April 2014)

6)  Nate is still serving his mission in Kansas (4 hours and 20 minutes from home) while he waits for his VISA to Brazil.  When we started the process of getting his VISA back in April, he needed Local Police clearance.  At the end of October, we received a letter saying Brazil changed their requirements and he now needed State Police Clearance.  At the beginning of the year, we received a letter saying he now needs FBI clearance.  We are currently waiting for that.  Hopefully,  he will have his VISA and be in Brazil by Easter.

Again, I'm sorry for the lack of pictures.  Pictures make everything more fun to read.  If Blogger becomes friendly again, I will add some later.  (Pictures added September 2014)

Sam Cracks Me Up

(I'm writing these here, because I can't seem to get them to save in my sidebar "Kids are Funny.)

We were watching the Olympics yesterday.  It was the men's cross country ski race.  I asked Sam, "Who's ahead?"  He said, "Mom, no-one is a head.  They all have bodies."

He is so quick witted and he is so serious when he says funny things.  I don't know whether to laugh or believe him.  :)