Too Much Change.....ugh!!

 

I am not good at change.
I guess I find security in things being the same.  I usually order the same
food when  visit a restaurant...shop at the same stores...and lately one of The Darlings
commented that I have painted my house all the same color.  I guess I am not all that
adventurous.  I am pretty sure I inherited this trait from my Father.  He too
finds comfort in what he knows for sure.  The neighborhood he lives in...hard work...
simple meals...church service...family...fruit trees in a yard...and The Gospel.
When the opportunity arose for him to purchase the home of my grandparents...his parents...
a home he spent much of his youth in...he purchased the home.
I would have done the same thing.
So now...I find myself facing a lot of change...and it unsettles me.
It makes me grouchy.  It makes me sad.  It makes me stressed.
A few days ago, The Farmer and I arrived in Utah for a little vacation.  We came here
to help Preshie get set up for school in the Fall and The Rooster to attend AFY.
Utah has become a place of rest
and refuge for us.  Each year...for a few weeks...we are able to leave our worries behind
and rest.  Utah is filled with family and friends who we love to see each year...
and they make us feel that that they are happy to see us too!
As we began our morning walk...on our first day in Utah, we left our temporary home...crossed
the street, and as I stepped from the street to the sidewalk I noticed that something was
written on the ground...a message I NEEDED...at that very moment.
While traveling  last Monday, our journey as a family changed.
I think we will be forever changed as we begin this new and unexpected challenge
together.  I know we will change.  And I guess that is really what it is all about.  Learning
and growing.  The Missionary Grandpa has always been a great example of strength
in troubled times.  He has so often been our strength through very difficult learning
experiences.  Now it is our turn to be his.  We will gather our faith and our strength for him.
We will put into practice the very things he has taught us.
We will combine our faith and our courage for him.

 

 

Pretty incredible...right???!!

While traveling  last Monday, our journey as a family changed.

I think we will be forever changed as we begin this new and unexpected challenge

together.  I know we will change.  And I guess that is really what it is all about.  Learning

and growing.  The Missionary Grandpa has always been a great example of strength

in troubled times.  He has so often been our strength through very difficult learning

experiences.  Now it is our turn to be his.  We will gather our faith and our strength for him.

We will put into practice the very things he has taught us.

We will combine our faith and our courage for him.

 

And so I move ahead with Faith...understanding that I am not in control...

I never was,

Even if I thought I was at times;)

*The painting speaks to me...

"She will find what is lost" by Brian Kershisnik

From The Missionary Grandparents...

 

New Discovery Each day holds exciting possibilities here in WI, even in the winter.

  On our way home from Elkhorn, and teaching la familia Hernandez a temple prep lesson, we stopped at the world famous Mars Cheese Castle, located

 conveniently at the intersection of I-94 and WI state highway 142.

 The stop was for a sandwich before connecting with the

 elders for a new member visit with hna. Cecilia, baptized last Sat.

  While awaiting the completion of our sandwich order we

 stumbled upon an assorted display of Jones Sodas.

They were even on sale today. We had to try them in

 honor of our Jones family in the Mx colonies.

 Who knows, Kelly may have his fingers in another

 business he has not yet disclosed to us. Whatever the case,

the Root Beer passed the test! Vicki agrees.

We will now be on the lookout as we are out and about. Now we know!

When Your Day Begins With Enchiladas...

 

You know it is going to be a good day...when enchiladas are involved!!

Last Saturday was the funeral of our neighbor Don Chato. My day began with enchiladas

 as they needed to be made for the family dinner that would immediately

follow the funeral service. The problem with enchiladas in my house...

is they get eaten as fast as you can make them!

 

 

We had them for breakfast...for lunch...and for dinner;)...And why not?!!

Oh my goodness they were good!!

The service was really nice. Those kind of events turn into wonderful family reunions.

He family are great people and are a tribute to their parents.

Life is great at the moment...just really busy.

 

The Missionary Grandparents are doing just great!

 It is so fun to hear about their missionary life, and the great experiences they are having.

 I think they are nearly freezing to death with temperatures at -8 degrees some days.

 It is a great blessing to our family to have them serving!

 

 

The Missionary Boy is fantastic! He will be home in August and I am already "nesting"!!

He has been transferred this week, and we are still waiting to hear from him to know where he is. What an incredible experience it has been for our family to have serve!

He has grown so much!! It will be really fun to get to know
him all over again when he returns.

 

Tuesday night a very big announcement was made for Mexico. The Benemerito, which is the church school...the sister school to the JSA...will be converted into a MTC for Mexico. They anticipate it will be the second largest in the world, receiving and training 1500 missionaries every two weeks. Elder Holland and Elder Nelson came to Mexico to make the announcement. Like someone sweetly said..."our beloved Benemerito has been called on a mission!" I thought that was a very special way to look at it. This decision will displace nearly 2000 students who had planned to be educated there. It will mostly likely effect our school here in the Colonies as well. What a thrill for the church in Mexico! Along with Elder Holland and Elder Nelson, 8 other general authorities were here for this announcement, some say that it was a historic moment for Mexico having that many general authorities here at one time has not happened before. The missionaries here in our mission tell us that their mission will be growing significantly in the next few months.

The Missionary Boy tells us the same about his mission.

 It is incredible to watch the growth of the missionary force...

it is incredible to see the desire of the youth to serve!

 

On January 23, the MTC in Provo received the first round of young missionaries.

 Since the announcement last October conference of the age change for missionary service. The response has challenged every system of the church.
 Last week it began for the MTC.

  I think this picture is incredible!! Missionaries ready to serve...

and parents laying their offering on the "altar"...their children. It is a thrill to watch!!

 

The weather has been strange lately...some days really really cold, and other days very Spring like. The orchards are being pruned, and hope is in the air for a successful farming year.

Many big changes have happened for us in the last few weeks regarding our businesses...

all good changes, and we definitely have seen the hand of the Lord guiding the process.

 We are full of gratitude for Tender Mercies... great partners whom we also call dear friends...

and positive resolutions to difficult problems.

We look forward to a great year of growth and progress.

 

I finished my blog book for 2012...it is in the mail...I should pick it up in the next few days. It is the largest book I have done so far and I can't wait to get my hands on it!! I am currently working on a book for The Missionary Boy, of his letters home during his mission.

We will have to work on the picture book after he gets home...I am going to need his help!

 

The Darlings are great! PreShie is getting closer to graduation...which is really hard to think about. The Rooster will be 16 in May....WHAT????
 I am not sure I am ready for that!

 We have a few fun trips ahead of us...tons of activities already in place for the Summer...

and the anticipation of getting our Missionary Boy home from his mission.

 PreShie has been accepted to several universities. She is leaning toward Utah State.

  The Missionary Boy also has been accepted there, so we have a fun Fall ahead of us too!!

Go Aggies!!!

 

I am grateful that along with life's challenges come great moments of joy...

and like the Missionary Boy said not too long ago...

"that is what the good is for...to balance out the difficult times."

  And I agree!

New Beginings....

 

The holidays have been wonderful! Our days and nights have been filled with lots of family...yummy food and some serious game playing! It has been the great. The best part of the New Year, is the Grandparents S. have entered the MTC and are beginning their mission experience. We are so grateful that they have chosen to serve a mission and know for sure that our family will be so blessed while they are gone. I think it is pretty special for them to be serving at the same time The Missionary Boy is serving his mission. What a great example they are setting for our family.

 

The Darlings still have a couple of weeks of Christmas Vacation before school starts again. They are really enjoying not having schedules and homework. I am working on a Blog Book for 2012, I can't wait until it is done! The books are a real treasure!

 

We are looking forward to a great year....2013. Our year will be filled with some very exciting activities! PreShie will graduate from High School, and The Missionary Boy will return home at the end of the Summer. It is going to be a very special year for our family!

 

Happy New Year!!

Missionary Monday....It's Not Too Late!!!;)

The Grandparents S. checked the mailbox Friday afternoon...and this is what they found!

 

Word went out to the family...the time was set for the opening...modern technology was put to good use, with family from Mexico, Ecuador, and Snowflake (equally as foreign and exotic and the previous two countries...) all linked in, and Grandma V. opened the envelope...and then after a soft...but audible..."oh no" was heard, she said....Milwaukee Wisconsin!!! The Grandma isn't too fond of cold weather...she is and Arizona girl. The shock has worn off...and they are ready to go!!!

 They will report to the MTC on December 31!!

We are so happy for them and proud of them for choosing to serve a mission!!

 

This morning, The Missionary Boy sent some fun pictures! He was able to return to a previous area for a baptism of someone he had taught, he as asked to confirm the young man...it was a thrill for him. In another area...was another baptism, again of a young man he had also taught.

  His hard work is paying off!!

 

Didcot, Oxfordshire, England

 

The Missionary Boy and Elder Snow, hosted a ping pong tournament last week for their zone. It was a great success! Fun was had by all! There isn't much better for a Missionary Mom, than to receive a few pictures of her Missionary Boy on a Monday morning!!!