Musings from the mission...

I woke up this morning with alot of thoughts running through my head that I wanted to share with you all and most especially with my kids and those that are parents now. The longer that we are out on this mission the more I am realizing what a dangerous world we live in and how real Satan is. When Dad and I were in our training in the MTC the first Sunday there we had a sacrament meeting with President Hinckley and one of the comments that he made was that we would see the workings of Satan more powerfully during the mission than at any time before in our lives and that has definitely been true! But we are also seeing how the Lord is bringing things forth to help us especially as parents to raise our children in righteousness despite living in such a wicked environment. Beginning with the Proclamation on the Family that clearly states who we are and why we are here on the earth and our responsabilities as parents, to the constant emphasis on the Family Home Evening, family prayer and scripture study the Lord is preparing us and the tools we need to protect and fortify our families. I feel that the coming forth of Preach My Gospel was inspired and brought forth to help us raise a generation prepared to welcome the Savior! If we don't do it who will? We have a tremendous responsability to fortify our children daily... I am not saying these things to frighten anyone but I think we have to be aware of the dangers that are out there and do those things that will protect our families. I am so grateful that we followed the prophets counsel when our family was young and we tried to read the scriptures together and pray together daily and have our family home evenings and I know we were far from perfect in our endeavors but I can see that the Lord blessed our family simply because we tried. Don't get discouraged when things don't go like you want---just keep trying and being diligent and the Lord will help you. When your kids get older start using Preach My Gospel for FHE it is such a great way to teach the gospel and to have it understood even by the very youngest. Dad and I are learning so much and some days I wish I could start all over raising my family with the knowledge that I have now but I can't---but take it from me you will be blessed if you follow the prophet! Last of all go to the temple as often as you can and you will find great peace there and inspiration to lead your little ones. We love you all and miss each and everyone of you and wish we could just reach out and touch you!! Hugs and kisses to Porter, Maya, Bennett, Benjamin and Ryan Claire! May God bless you always!

We love those grandkids!

Some fun pics from Peru!

Thinking of Porter who just turned 5!

Well, I was sitting here missing my grandkids and thinking about Porter turning 5 and not being able to be at the party and so I decided to have a party of my own and wish you were all here! First of all you are all invited and I decided to have it at the beach but it will take me a couple of days to move the trash so we can have a place to spread the blanket on! I am thinking a jellyfish shaped cake would be fun maybe filled with jello! I'm trying to time this to coincide with Porter's birthday party on Saturday---a Lego Party--fun! Birthday parties are one of my favorite events so Porter, Poppy and I will be thinking of you on saturday even though we won't be there I will eat a piece of cake in your honor!

Since he is 5 now here are five reasons I love Porter!

1. He has a very funny sense of humor and is almost always smiling or thinking.

2. He is very creative and likes to go all out when it involves anything wet or sticky.

3. He drew a perfect circle on the wall when he was only 3 years old!

4. He is sensitive and kind and notices the injustices in life to the little guy and plays really nice with his sister.

5. He has a wonderful imagination.

Help, I've been tagged!!!!

Hey I am getting pretty good at this blog thing so here goes....

Ten years ago I think I was the primary chorister at church and that is probably my all time favorite calling (well except for teaching seminary and being a missionary)! Casey had already been out on his mission for a year and Dan was in his senior year of high school dating Angie! Will was a sophomore and Rob was in the 8th grade and Malerie was 10 years old. I think that Sarah doggie died that year and we got Inky from the pound and he filled the empty space in our house left by Sarah even though his hyperactivity drives me and the neighborhood crazy sometimes. We were still doing the weekly paper route with Mal, Rob and Jordan Fredersickson also another thing that drove me crazy! Jeff was in his first year in the stake presidency and it was looking like a long nine years! I was taking an insane weight lifting class at the gym and by the end I could do more pushups than anyone in the house....well, except maybe Inky....I was still on a diet but I can't remember which one since my life basically revolves around a new diet and there have been sooooo many....I was probably quilitng something too maybe Dan's high school graduation quilt but this seems too early to start a quilt I usually waited until the last minute!

5 things I have to do today...1. Feed breakfast to 14 starving missionaries who are coming over for interviews today...french toast, bacon, fruit, chocolate milk and juice....2. Meet with Hermana Chero to figure out birthday gifts for this year for the missionaries...3. Do my blog thing for Casey because he tagged me...4. Remember to drink my herbal life (latest diet) for dinner...5. Go to bed early for the first time in I don't know how long!

My favorite snacks are carrots and ranch dip, guacamole and these yummy purple corn chips, and homemade salsa and these yummy purple corn chips....on the unhealthy side...peanut M&M's and Good and Plenty's and passion fruit ice cream.

3 Bad habits..hmmmm....which ones do I want to share.....1. not stopping for policemen in Peru and driving like a peruvian! 2. eating too many unhealthy snacks instead of real food and 3. smelling everything (Daniel will understand)

5 places I have lived:
1. Los Altos, California
2. Madrid, Spain
3. Provo, Utah
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. Salt lake City,Utah
7. Spokane, Washington (whoops more than 5!)
8. Lima, Peru (Jeff said I have to add this though I think it is obvious)

5 Jobs I have had....1. Sales clerk in a sporting goods store that rented skis and I took a bad check from a guy that had a phony ID so he basically stole a brand new pair of skis..ouch! and I only got paid 1 dollar an hour to boot! 2. Clerk at BYU bookstore where I also wrapped presents and learned to make bows with this really cool bow-making machine that I wish I had now...3. Designer of brochures for the CES department at BYU I basically lived in the basement of the Howard R. Clark building...4. Interior decorator for a department store in LA where I had to bid jobs and I was terrible at it as I always underbid the job and lost money for the company I'm surprized they didn't fire me! 5. I was a nanny for one summer for a couple back in Washington DC who had two little boys who really just wanted their parents to be there for them full time...made me realize that when I got married I wanted to be there for my kids...6. Art ad designer for Color Tile headquarters in Fort Worth Texas (I wanted to kill myself at this job it was so aweful! 7. I sewed Batman/Superman capes to make extra money in medical school so I wouldn't have to get a job outside of the house and leave my kids!

5 Things you don't know about me....hmm...1. I hitch hiked through Europe for 6 months after my first semester in college and funded it by selling my brand new volkswagon bug(my high school graduation gift from my grandparents) and lived in Spain...2. I spent my 19th birthday in a tent on a beach in Morrocco....3. Traveled through Mexico visiting ruins for 6 weeks of the summer between my junior and senior years of high school..4. I went to the original Monterey Pop Festival in Monterey, California and spent the whole night in the portapotty throwing up from food poisoning that I got at my brother in laws crummy restaurant so I missed seeing the Rolling Stones and George Harrison and everyone else famous that had come to perform! Also I don't recommend throwing up in a portapotty ever, ever, ever, ever--the memory still haunts me!... 5. Got thrown out of a dance club for wild dancing (I was doing the twist for heavens sakes!)

If I had a million dollars I would pay off our house, adopt babies for Dan and Angie, go on several missions, pay Rob to use my Peruvian dating service to find a wife and invest the rest so Jeff wouldn't have to work and could become a house builder/landscaper or buy the tabernacle choir so he could become the music director which has always been his dream job!

Three ways I help the environment...1. I live in Peru and instead of throwing my trash out the window like they do here I carefully save it for the trash can...2. Instead of throwing my garbage in the sea like they do here in Peru I carefully save it for the trash can...3. I save and fold every plastic bag that I receive even zip locks!

Let's see...I tag Stephanie, Dan, Rob, and Malerie Elmer if they ever get a blog of their own..maybe this will motivate them to become bloggers!