Daniel is flying out tomorrow!

So my Daniel is flying out to Chile tomorrow morning. He will be flying down to LAX...just 1 1/2 hours from home...then on to Santiago and on to Concepcion. I can't believe the time is finally here where he will be leaving the United States to go to Chile to serve the Lord for the next 22 months. He is so amazing and has grown so much. He is a beautiful young man and I am so pleased and happy for him. I am so grateful that Daniel is willing to sacrifice these two years of his life to serve the Lord. I am so grateful that he knows this is the right thing to do and is willing to do it. This has been a hard journey for Daniel but he has done the right thing and is being blessed to know that he is. I can't wait to talk to him while he is at the airport tomorrow...just to hear his voice will be so wonderful! Then it's only 2 months more and I get to hear from him again.

I love you Daniel...forever and ever.

It's been a while...

So...it's been a while since I posted a message...I have been too busy sending letters to my son, Daniel, instead. I write to Daniel every day on dearelder.com. I read about another missionary mom sending her child a letter every day and I thought, what a good idea...so there it is...I've been doing it every day since he went in to the MTC. I can't believe it's almost time for him to leave the MTC. It's so exciting though as he will finally be able to be out in the field teaching the people of Chile about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Daniel has grown so much and is making such wonderful strides. He went in scared and not sure if he could do this...and will be leaving the MTC a confident missionary, ready to bring the Gospel to the people of Chile. He is so amazing and I am so proud of him. I look forward to all of the wonderful stories that I will get to hear after he is in Chile. It's kind of nerve racking as he will be so far away but I know that my Heavenly Father is watching over him and will keep him safe as he does the work he was called to do. I wouldn't want Daniel anywhere else in this world than out serving my Heavenly Father. We promise to give our all and this is one of those things where I can say I have given my Heavenly Father my all in giving Him my son to preach for Him for two years.

We have Catherine living with us but it's working out great anyway. We consider ourselves empty nesters because Catherine lived on her own for 7 years and is living with us once again. I enjoy having Catherine around and am glad we can be here for her. She moved back to California and I haven't worried about her at all. When she was in Utah I constantly worried about her...it's good to have her back here.

Michael is doing great in Utah at BYU but I don't worry about him at all. He is such a great young man and working so hard to keep his grades up. I'm so proud of him and the great job he is doing also.

I love my family so much!

Happy Birthday my Sister!

So today is my big sister, Janet's, birthday. Happy Birthday Janet...I love you!!! Janet is eight years older than me and basically helped raise me. Janet is the oldest in the family of five and my other sister is only 15 months older...so Janet's help was so needed with a 15 month old and then twins. I love my sister Janet and used to call her mom as a small child. She is so awesome and I hope she has the happiest birthday ever!

I love Thursdays because I get to hear from my Daniel. He is doing such a great job in the missionary training center and I am so proud of him and the growth I have already seen. He is learning so much that I could never teach him. I have been busy writing to my Daniel every day so he knows we love him and think of him every day so I haven't gotten a chance to blog lately. I can't believe it's almost time for Daniel to be out in the mission field. I am so happy for him though because he said it's like groundhog day in the MTC for 2 months. He is going to have so many wonderful experiences on his mission along with lots of challenges. Without the challenges you can't enjoy the happy times so it's all good. I know that my Heavenly Father is watching over him and Daniel is learning things that will stay with him the rest of his life. I am so happy he is serving the Lord for the next two years and will be even happier when it's all done! :) It's such a blessing to have him serve.

My family is everything to me and I love them all so much!

It's Friday...

So here it is Friday and I am so looking forward to the weekend. I am looking forward to doing what I want and a few that I don't...but I am looking forward to spending time with my sweetheart.

I have been writing to my son, Daniel, every day and I figure it's a good thing as it is a good way to journal. Daniel tells us in his letters to keep the daily letters coming as it helps him too so I am happy to oblige. I love reading at how much Daniel is growing...I miss him quite a bit too. I'm glad that my heart is doing better but I know I will always have moments in the next two years when it's hard...but I am grateful for this time I have to feel this way because it means that my dear son is doing what he is supposed to do. I an so grateful to him for his willingness to serve the Lord and do what his father, brother, grandfathers, uncle, and cousins have done before him.

My family is such a blessing to me. I am so grateful for them.

Sunday

So here it is Sunday...it's been a good day so far. Church was good and I am happy to be home. We are relaxing and then we will be going to Christina and Ray's to visit and see the grandchildren. They are so much fun to be with. Ariana is so excited to have us come over...I just love spending time with her. I will have to make sure I take the UNO game so that I can play that with her. She loves to play UNO...she's so cute!

On Friday I went to Disneyland with Christina, Ray, Alex, Ariana, and Camden. It was so much fun but oh so crowded!!! I couldn't believe how crowded the place was and it was cooling off but it was still so muggy. Wow...what a time that was. I LOVED being there with my family but I hate the crowds that were there. We had a very good time but the lines were horrible and the crowds were so large but it was still good to be together. Alex had been wanting to go on the Toy Story ride so that's the first thing we did. Then dinner and then over to the other park to go on another ride. Alex wanted to go on Buzz Lightyear so we got a fast pass and went over to go on Small World. We waited in line and finally got to enjoy that one and then back to Buzz. That was also fun but the lines were so bad we decided it was better to go ahead and leave and not worry about the fireworks show so we got in the very crowded line to leave. Boy, that was an experience...getting through with a double and single stroller...fun times! :) We were just so glad when we could get out of the madness and head for home. The kids were so tired and so were we but it was all good.

So on Saturday I was absolutely DEAD from Disneyland so all I could do was sleep and sit around...no energy whatsoever...lol I'm glad to finally have gotten enough sleep and it was great to go to church and home again. I look forward to going to see the grandkids and Christina and Ray...that's the best end to a Sunday afternoon.

The Wedding...and other things

So...on Saturday we went to the wedding of our friends daughter, Kay...and it was something else. We got there early so Chuck could take some pictures of the decorations and all. I got a seat and Chuck went around taking pictures. I found the seats to be at an incline so we were all a bit nervous about sitting down...if we toppled over we would take out the people on the other side of the aisle! :) That was interesting...but it was great seeing some people that I know that I hadn't seen for a while.

The wedding was about an hour but they started when they could. The groom comes out after his groomsmen and there are all of Kay's brothers behind him carrying shotguns. It was pretty funny and they were enjoying themselves with it. Greg, the groom, likes camoflouage so that was incorporated in the wedding decorations so having the brothers with the shotguns was a funny touch. Kay came out with her dad and said how happy she was that Greg showed up. :) The wedding got done and then on to pictures. Unfortunately, during the pictures a guy friend of Kay's gave her some Grey Goose Vodka (I don't know anything about alcohol) and she came out for the reception totally smashed!!! She hadn't eaten all day and this vodka wasn't a good idea. She later said she didn't want any hard alcohol at the wedding but the wedding place had it for people to purchase. So...the reception was so different...I have never been to a reception where the bride was drunk and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I felt so bad for my friends, Chuck and Elaine. They were pretty embarrassed and all I could do was sit and reassure them it was okay and we still love them and Kay. Oh well...this is what happened so we got through it and helped stay to clean up and got things taken care of before it was even supposed to be finished. The guests were leaving in droves as so many were unsure of what to say or do and were uncomfortable...it was pretty hard to see.

So...on Sunday we went to our friends house after stake conference to give them some moral support and they invited us to some lunch (food from the reception) and Kay came in. She looked so sheepish and so embarrassed and was ready to cry. She apologized and we told her we love her and she was so apologetic. She said she doesn't remember anything and that is the saddest thing of all...she doesn't remember her beautifully decorated reception with all of the family and friends there and all of the memories she should have as a new bride. She knows it is her fault and takes responsibility for it. I feel so bad for her but yet know that it's good she realizes what she did...we all learn from our mistakes, right?

So...Elaine and I went to Disneyland on Monday with Catherine. I figured Elaine needed to get out and relax and quit thinking about what happened on Saturday. We had a great time and I got my season pass since I'm not going for a full-time job anymore. Today I am so EXHAUSTED! It was so much fun but I am wiped out! :)

I must say how grateful I am for my daughters and their good choices they are making. There are good times to concentrate on from Saturday and I told Kay to remember them...that's what matters. I think it will be so wonderful when Kay and Gregg go to the temple some day...I pray that will happen sooner than later. There is so much that happened on Saturday but it's not for me to go into all of the happenings...just know that the wedding ceremony was the sweetest and I am grateful for that memory to overshadow all of the others.

I am adjusting to my Daniel being gone on his mission and I know that he is adjusting too. I think that's why my heart is calmer...at least I hope that's why. I am grateful to Daniel for his willingness to serve even though this is the hardest thing he has ever done. He is so AMAZING to me!

It's a Saturday...and a Wedding Day

So...here it is Saturday and my friend's daughter, Kay Cripps, is getting married. I am so happy for her and her new husband. We will be enjoying the wedding and reception in Wrightwood at the Wrightwood Guest Ranch. I guess the guest ranch isn't a very good company and I would warn anyone wanting to use their services, but hopefully everything will work out for the bride and groom today. I do look forward to going and being a guest at the wedding and reception though.

I interviewed for another full-time job yesterday and went through so much emotion knowing I probably didn't get the job. So...last night I got a blessing and was told that I am not supposed to be working full time...my focus is to be on my family. It's such a good reminder to know where my focus is to be, and it's not on making money. That's my husbands job...to make the money...so I help in my part-time job and know that I am doing what I am supposed to. I have decided no more interviewing for me...I'm not trying for another full-time job unless the spirit yells at me that I'm supposed to, and I don't see that happening. lol So...I told Catherine that we would go to Disneyland on Monday and I will purchase a season pass if I didn't get the job so guess what, we are going to Disneyland! I get off at 11:30 am now so I have plenty of time to go and play at Disneyland so that's what I am going to do. I got birthday money from my in-laws and dad and his wife so I decided that was a great way to use the money...lol...it will be so much fun! :) I am really looking forward to going and doing this.

My Daniel is doing so great and working so hard on being a good and dutiful missionary. I am so proud of him and the work and sacrifice he is willing to do. I know he will be a fantastic missionary and is being sent to Chile to touch people's lives that may otherwise not have been touched. So...I continue to write to my Daniel every day and pray for him every day. It is such a blessing having him in the mission field and yes, I am counting down, but I wouldn't want him anywhere else than where he is. As much as I have missed him I would HATE it if he was home...he is where he is supposed to be and I am so grateful for him and this gospel.

So Chuck is enjoying the BYU football game today and then we are off to the wedding and reception. It is a good day!