Last Letter

Aug. 5, 2012

Dear Elder Alex,

Wow...that's about how I feel right now. First, wow, that Kyle got baptized. I don't even know him, but I was very excited to hear that news. Second, wow, is how incredible it feels to be writing you on your full time mission for the last time. It's almost a surreal feeling and definitely bittersweet. I should feel happy that I can actually just pick up a phone and call you or text you from now on, but there's been something very special about writing you and reading your letters. It's meant so much to me. Thank you. I'm also feeling so much excitement right now about getting ready to leave for our trip to Nashville too. I can't wait!

Yesterday I got two phone calls from people talking about you. First, your friend from the YSA ward, Lori, called and it was great talking with her. She's going to work tomorrow and will check to see if there's availability at the hotel and will call me tomorrow. It sounds like a great hotel so I'm really hoping we get to stay there. I guess we'll let you know when we see you where we'll be staying. Tuesday night, we are staying at the Best Western in Brentwood.

Then I got a call from Sister Hutchings who knew you'd be getting released this week. She had such wonderful things to say about you and how much you were able to lift the spirits of so many people especially many of the other missionaries. She said you made such a difference. I told her that I knew that was your gift and was so happy to hear how Heavenly Father was able to use you and your gift in building the kingdom. We had a nice conversation.

Yesterday David and Caryn and their kids and a new dog showed up at our house. They spent the night with us and left today for their family vacation to Cascade. So as you can imagine, our home was very active (a mild word) for quite a while. Poor Eddy was trying to hide from the constant torment of Lilly, their youngest. It was kind of funny to see his face, almost pleading with me, saying help me, as he tried to get away from her. Lindy looks the same even though she'll be a junior at BYU this year. The rest of the kids have really grown.

Today we had Jodie and Quinn Hugentobler over for dinner since Mel has already moved to Moab and is working for Zion's Bank. Jodie and Quinn move down there on the 18th. Jodie and I are just trying to pretend like it's not going to happen. Also this past weekend, the Purnell's moved. They are now renting a house in Countryside so they are back in the 6th ward. Our ward, the 8th ward, continues to grow just about every week. It's hard to keep up.

Kristina got her wisdom teeth out last week, so that was about it for our excitement around here. She says they still hurt a bit and can't really open her mouth very wide so she has trouble eating. Some guy called her tonight and asked her out for Tuesday, so she's pretty happy.

I'm sure there's lots of other changes around here, but you'll just have to explore and figure those out for yourself. Cameron says the main thing that let him know he had actually been gone for two years was when he saw Nikki for the first time (maybe I already mentioned that, I just thought it was so funny). So I'm sure there will be things around here that will remind you that you've been gone. 

Kirk and Sarah are coming home from their honeymoon tomorrow and will be staying here while we're gone. Dad has to work one more shift tomorrow in Ontario, so he's packing as I write. The rest of the kids are all watching the Olympics. It's been a lot of fun watching them each night.

Alex, before I close, here are a couple things I have felt impressed to write to you:

Take notes of the counsel your mission president has for you. He will receive revelation for you. It's Heavenly Father's opportunity to speak to you while you are so in tune with the spirit. 

I also know you've learned these past two years how important spiritual preparation is and how powerful it is too. When you take the time to prepare spiritually, your eyes are open, your heart is filled with charity and even the most mundane of activities takes on a deeper meaning. You work, play, listen and speak with the Lord by your side. What an awesome blessing! It's not something that only happens on full time missions. It can be a part of your every day life. I know that because I experience that and in fact, count on it each day. Prayer and scripture study, ancient or modern as a part of each day seems so simple, yet now you know for yourself and have tested it and know what it does for you. Don't ever take it for granted. Our spiritual wells run dry quickly especially out here in the world and we need constant replenishing. When we do our part, the Lord fills in the rest and together mighty miracles will always happen.

You're the best, Alex. I'm so proud of you and love you more than I can express. Our family has truly been blessed by your service to the Lord 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 2 years. I can't wait for the next chapter in your life. With you, every chapter is something fun and something to look forward to.  :)

Love you so much,

Mom xxoo

Farewell, farewell, homecoming

July 29, 2012

Dear Elder Alex,

Well, another Sunday where we are the traveling family. We started out going to the 9th ward to hear Zach Crosgrove give his farewell and his aunt and uncle sang Come Thou Fount but used the words from Joseph Smith's First Prayer. You may have to do that sometime since the words go great with the song, then off to our ward to hear Megan Tanner give her farewell where her dad, aunt and uncle Ricky Tanner sang, then off to the Locsha Falls ward to hear Cameron give his homecoming. Cameron did a great job. He spoke a lot about becoming followers of Christ and used much of Peter's life for his examples. He bore his testimony in Spanish and his Spanish sounded very fast, probably the speed they use in Mexico City. His dad sang The Lord's Prayer for the musical number and it was beautiful.

Afterward the Warrs had us over for some lunch and it turned out to be our whole Sunday dinner. They had BBQ ribs, which Cameron had requested because he had been craving them, pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad, jello, chips, lots of cookies, etc. I couldn't believe how much food they had and it was all so tasty. It was fun talking with his parents and with Tim and Terri Westerberg. Terri and I are planning an open house for you and Austin that we'll have at our house after you both get back. Austin flies into Boise the same day as you only a couple hours earlier. You're both speaking on Sunday. Austin speaks at 9am in his old ward and you will be speaking in the old 6th ward at 1pm and in our ward at 3pm. Hope you don't mind so much speaking in one day. :)

We had a fun day. I guess Cameron came home last Saturday and I heard he walked off the plane in a sombrero with a guitar in his hand. Still the same old Cameron. Then last week on my birthday I wasn't really doing much because dad had to work, so that night we were just sitting around here and Cameron showed up at our door. Only Sean and Nikki were here because the other girls were at girls camp. So we sat out on the back deck with Cameron chatting about his mission til late at night. It was so great having him here. He said sometimes he can't believe that he ever served a mission now that he's back home, that it doesn't seem real. The night he came over was the first time he went out in a car by himself, venturing out, so to speak. He realized quickly that he had no friends around, but I'm so glad he decided to stop in at our house. The next night he came back over and we had a game night with dad home-some Wits and Wagers!

I got your post card this week too, so thank you for thinking of me. It was funny that you mentioned Karl Malone, because Sean did the same thing on his card to me. He also found out it's Michael Richards (Kramer) birthday so now my birthday is even more cool, not to mention it's also Jennifer Lopez's birthday too.

It was great hearing the news about Brandon's baptism. He sounds like he'll be a fantastic member and how fun that you'll be able to see he and his fiance in Provo. I'm hoping to hear from you that Kyle had his baptism too!

Kirk and Sarah are off for their honeymoon this week. They are going to Zion's first and then off to Vegas for a couple days. They'll be back here next Monday and will stay here until we get back from Nashville.

Kristina and Leah had a great time at girls camp this past week. Leah went on the South Fork rapids and only fell out once. Kristina went on the Main Payette.  Here are a couple of her photos:

I got your note about Pres. Stafford having the final say on your rules while you are with us, so I'll be getting his take on things this week. I've kind of been in denial that this will be your last week. You're probably handling it better than me. If you would please keep writing me weekly letters while you're at college, I'd really appreciate it. Cameron says he knows now that he may not be a full time missionary but that he's always a missionary now for the rest of his life.

I had a really nice talk with my friend Maria this week. I haven't seen her for a couple weeks and she pulled me aside and just had to tell me again how much it's meant to her and her family to be receiving the Liahona in her home. She says her husband reads it too and has had lots of questions. He loves everything about how important the family is, but he is trying very hard to cut back on drinking. Maria kind of gave him an ultimatum and explained how different his personality is when he drinks and how wonderful he is when he's not drinking, so he decided to only have a couple of drinks a week. She said he's really working on it. Maria also told me  how wonderful she feels whenever she reads the magazines and it makes her want to keep reading more and more. I told her it was the same feeling and spirit that she felt when she read the Book of Mormon and that she was learning through the spirit that these things were true. I also told her that maybe one day her husband would agree to have the missionaries come into their home again to teach them, that his heart seems to be softening already. She's very happy. She's also anxious to meet you too since I've told her all about you, well, not all about you, but a lot about you!

I hope this week is awesome and miraculous and wonderful and that you'll have many opportunities to share your testimony. I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father has been so pleased at how He's been able to use you as an instrument in His hands, something you can always look back on knowing that you were in the right place at the right time with the right people. I'm sure you know that now after these past two years with all the wonderful people who are a part of your life now. 

If there's anything you need us to bring to Nashville, let me know. We don't leave until a week from Tuesday. As always, my prayers and thoughts are always with you, with the people you are teaching, with your companion, with your mission president and his wife. Keep the commandments and travel always with charity in your heart because most ministering is done on a day other than Sunday.

Love you,

Mom xxoo

ps. did you get your renewed drivers license? 

Wedding Days

Dear Alex,

Dad here: It is near midnight here and the party weekend is still rolling.  The Luschers are leaving tomorrow so we are talking and finishing up some games.  Brother Luscher is dominating in ping pong.  Sean and Leah dominated in Wits and Wagers tonight and Nikki won in the 100/dice game.  The weekend was a lot of fun.  Mom is still talking so I'm getting the letter started for her and when everyone goes to bed she will take over.  

Quick recap:  We left Thursday morning to go to the wedding.  We got to Idaho Falls about 3 and Uncle Steve and the Luschers were already at the motel.  We were right on the Snake River, by the falls and across from the temple so everywhere we looked or drove we saw the falls or the temple.  It was sweet.  The rest of the family arrived later that night (Charmaine, Grandpa and Grandma, Jan and Jeff, the rest of the Luscher sisters and their families, Fabiana Huffaker, our photographer and some of the Luscher's friends).  Sara, Kirk, Dee Luscher, Fabiana and Mom went to the temple for pictures about 7 pm and the rest of us went to dinner after a dip in the pool.  They took pictures for about 3 hours that night and ended up on our side of the river with me holding the flash behind them as they tried some artsy shots with the falls and temple behind them.  After they recovered from the photo shoot, Sean, Kristina and Charmaine all took off to the midnight showing of the new Batman movie. The rest of us sat and ate ice cream sandwiches by the side of the river as we watched the sun set on the temple. What a great beginning to the wedding weekend.  The next morning we got up and got ready for the sealing. I left with Kirk about noon and the rest of the family all joined us about 1 pm and then we went to the sealing room about 1:30.  We were all in the temple except the younger kids.  What a great day, the sealer was not know by anybody but he did a nice job but it was too much fun to be in the temple.  Kirk and Sarah were a lovely couple in the temple.  The Luschers are talking behind me know about their son who just got to Ukraine on his mission (he flew out of the MTC three days before the wedding). After the wedding we took pictures around the temple grounds with all of wedding group.  It was hot but we were in the shade most of the time.  We took pictures until about 4:30 and then Kirk and Sara took off and we all went back to the motel to get ready for the dinner.  We all went to Olive Garden for dinner.  There were 36 of us for dinner and it was a lot of fun.  Kirk and Sara were timely late getting there so we had a chance to laugh and begin to eat before the couple got there.  

Mom here: I'm back and everyone has gone to bed, so I'll finish up the synopsis. The food at the Olive Garden hit the spot, we were all so hungry. Someone got the bright idea to greet Kirk and Sarah by blowing straw papers at them, hundreds of them. The waitresses said they didn't mind because it would give the busboys something to do.

Later that night most of us sat our by the pool and put our feet up, relaxed, told stories and enjoyed the cool air of the evening. Sean went again to the Batman movie with all the Luscher gang, except the adults. We decided to stay by the pool. What a great family they are. I love that they are family with us now and I really wish they lived closer (or else that we lived in Canada!)

Saturday morning we all drove back over to Eagle. Mary was here at the house making food for all of us. Jan and Jeff were also here helping. Steve had gotten here the night before and stayed in the basement. He was at the airport picking up Carolina. Then everyone else trickled in.

Many of my friends were here setting things up and the house looked beautiful. Two serving tables on the back porch, five round tables with deep purple tablecloths and floral centerpieces, three more tables down on the grass, the waterfall looking great, and a small gazebo that we borrowed added some shade for our patio furniture that we placed out on the lawn. Diane Beagley made lots of pies and ice cream was served with them with either ice water or punch. I also put out a candy buffet with all kinds of purple candies. The front walkway was lined with these metal poles/candlesticks that Grandpa Trumbo had made years ago. People came up the walkway into the entry where we had some pictures and the book to sign. Then they came into the dining room (which had been all cleared out) where me and dad, Kirk and Sarah and her parents were standing to greet everyone. That was my decision to have us in the air conditioned house. I am so glad we did that, because it was blasted hot outside.

People came through at a steady rate and it was just plain fun talking with everyone and introducing Sarah and her family.  Afterward, we cleaned up quickly, sat around a talked, then went to bed soooo tired. All of my family left Sunday morning, but the Luschers came to church with us including Kirk and Sarah (who are staying in a hotel in Boise).

We had low country boil with them after church and it tasted awesome. We haven't had it for a while, and I remembered how much I love it. Tonight Kirk and Sarah opened presents and then we ate more pie and played games until midnight. It has been a beautiful past couple of weeks. I couldn't have asked for it to go any better (except to have you with us...)

There are so many more stories, but we'll chat more next month. :)  I'm excited to hear how your week went and how Kyle is doing. My friend Maria called this past week and she was so excited to tell me that her Liahona magazine has finally been arriving. I had to call Salt Lake to find out where they were and they ended up sending her two magazines right away because I told them it was important. Maria said she is loving reading every word in them and her husband has even been reading them. She said he has had a lot of questions for her cousin (who is a member) and has been talking to him quite a bit now about it. She probably told me 3-4 times on the phone how much she loves reading the Liahona and how it makes her feel. I told her it was the spirit letting her know the truth and it was the same spirit that she had felt reading the Book of Mormon. It made my day to hear the excitement in her voice. I can't wait to see her this week. I haven't seen her in a while since we have been gone.

At church today we had the two Taylor twins report their missions. They did a nice job. I'm sure the Taylor familyl is so happy to have them home again. When two leave, that must really leave a big hole in the family.

We heard from the Westerbergs (who are dating again, by the way), that Cameron came home yesterday. I guess he's been pretty sick for the past three weeks, but managed to stick it out. I hope he stops by soon so we can see him. We'll go to his homecoming next Sunday.

Well, it's super late now and I got up very early for a Stake Counsel meeting this morning. I hope you enjoy the pictures I sent. You have a gorgeous and wonderful new sister and we can't wait for you to meet her. We have felt the blessings of the Lord in our home these past few years and the spirit of your mission is a big reason for it. Have a miraculous week!

Love you,

Mom xxoo

Preception

July 15, 2012  !!!!!!! 
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Elder Alex,
I get to actually write you on your birthday. I've been thinking about you all day.  21 years ago...what a great day for me and dad. Then you and me got to stay in the hospital for seven days. Woohoo. What fun. Dad snuck some food in for me from outside sources, so it felt more like a vacation. I spent most my time washing my hands so I could be allowed to come into your germ free room and hold you with all the little tubes connected to you. At least they had a nice rocking chair for me. I was so crazy about you and I was supposed to go home on the fourth day, but since they knew dad because he was doing his residency there, they agreed to let me stay, something I'm sure they have a rule against now. I can't remember being really worried about you even when they didn't know what was going on at first. Somehow I just knew you'd be okay and it would just be a matter of time. I felt at peace. And the rest of course is history.

I hope you had a wonderful birthday. I hear that birthdays in the mission are some of the sweetest because of where you are and how you feel.

Okay. I just got a little bday present. Christy Johnson just wrote and sent a picture too. She said very nice things about you and is going to try and send us a copy of what you sang. I love that you are still doing those firesides and how fun that you've served in so many places because now you're seeing all your old friends. I have to say that your mission has been unique on so many levels.

So I am sitting right now in a hotel room in rexburg. We left Canada this morning and brought Kirk back home but it's too late to keep going, plus I want to look at some of the new changes around campus here. Kirk has a final early tomorrow morning. It was so weird having a reception for he and Sarah or "perception" as we called it, then we take Kirk home. 

The whole Canada trip was awesome. We drove to Cranbrook on Thursday and after making introductions to the new inlaws, one of their friends, Fred robertson, took us to his condo in a small Bavarian town called Kimberly. It looked like it could have been straight from Switzerland. The condo was beee-utiful. The next morning when Sarah came up, we explored Kimberly where they just happened to be having an accordion festival. There were a couple hundred older couples there dancing in the middle of the square too, you know that old fashioned German style dancing. My dad would have loved it all. They even played the beer barrel polka.

Then Sarah took us on a short hike to a waterfall. Everywhere we looked there were huge mountains, babbling streams, clear lakes, deer wandering the streets. I think the Luschers planned the whole city to look this way so we'd fall in love with it and want to stay. And I was pretty swayed. If it just wasn't in the middle of nowhere. I need at least an airport nearby.

Then we went into Cranbrook to the church to help set up. Sarah's dad had built this wonderful gazebo that had the head table in it. Her mom had special ordered a lasagna so we could all eat dinner at the church while we were working. Afterwards we went to their house and hung out and played wits n wagers, the game we brought for them. They loved the game! 

Friday night a huge thunderstorm came through and it reminded me of the south, loud crashing thunder. On Saturday Kirk went into town first to get ready for a photo shoot. We explored all around Cranbrook until photo shoot time. Dad and I went with Kirk and Sarah to this old school where we had to keep Kirk from seeing Sarah. The with Sarah placed right behind Kirk, he turned around to see her for the first time in her dress. Their friend, the photographer was trying to capture all the emotion of the moment. I'm not sure how well that worked out, because the most emotion was coming from me and Sarah's mom, Dee. Kirk looked so handsome. Then the Mosquitos made their appearance and man, they came in by the hundreds. It was our job to keep the bugs off Kirk and Sarah so they could relax for the photos. I'm sure it looked so funny from far away, people slapping the bride and groom all over the place. Some kind of strange Mormon wedding ritual.  

Then back to Luschers for some Chinese take out and off to the church for the preception. People were there waiting a half hour before it started. We stood in the traditional line for the first thirty minutes, then the bishop who was also the MC asked everyone to be seated. The bishop started in from the beginning with jokes. He was a great MC, told made up stories with half truths about all of us. The Luscher sisters got up to the mic and talked about their sister. Then they had written a dialogue of Kirk and Sarah on the plane to Nairobi. Kirk and sarah had to read exactly ht they had written. It was very funny. Then Sean, Kristina, Leah and Nikki got up and talked about Kirk. It was short and sweet and Nikki was frantically practicing her part beforehand. Then kirks new brother in law showed a slide show of Kirk and Sarah throughout their lives. It was very cute. Afterwards, mom and dad Luscher got up and made a toast to Kirk and said some very nice things. Then dad and i got up and toasted Sarah. Then Kirk and Sarah got up and gave a very nice thank you to all those who had helped them. Kirk did such a great job speaking. You would have been proud. 

The food served was all desserts, cheesecake, chocolate fountain, cake pops, cookies, etc. then we had the massive clean up which went fairly fast with so much help. We hung out with the Luschers for a bit at their house afterwards just talking with everyone. It was kind of funny that Kirk and Sarah were both there with us after their reception. You don't usually see that.. 

For this reception, they asked everyone to only bring cash or gift cards since they were taking everything down to the states. 

That brings us to today. We all managed to make it through the border crossing both ways. They actually get pretty tough at the border these days and we had to be careful what we said.

All in all it was a perfect weekend. I wish I lived closer to Sarah's family because I could be very good friends with her mom. So many people there pulled us aside to tell us how awesome Sarah was and that they had known her since she was little and that she was one of the most caring, sincere and fun loving person they had ever known and they each said that she was the real deal. I can't tell you how lucky Kirk is. I can tell how perfect they are for each other. I'm sure you'll see it too. There was definitely divine intervention in this relationship. 

So now we are back to Eagle for two days, then back to Idaho falls on Thursday. Kirk and Sarah will be sealed on Friday at 1:30pm our time, so between 2:30 and 3:00 your time, take a moment to think about what will be happening in our family. I know we will feel your spirit and love there with us. 

Dad had one picture on his phone. I'm so sorry I don't have any other pics with me for you to see, but youll get plenty next week.

I hope you had a spectacular week! I can't wait to hear from you, as usual. Your letters make my day!!!


Love you much,
Mom xxoo
Sent from my iPad

Did I say another Sunday, another missionary???

July 7, 2012

Dear Elder Alex,

Well, this week we heard from Trent as he reported his mission in our ward. It was obvious that he was very fond of his mission and loves and misses the people he met in the Philippines. He told some stories about listening to the spirit and being led to people who ended up being baptized and how the promptings were usually just very subtle feelings or quiet whisperings. One time he lost his planner on a bus and after feeling prompted to pray three times in a row after he got home, he heard the words, it will come back to you. A week or so later a man approached him calling him Elder Anderson. He asked if he had lost his planner on a bus and said he had been sitting across from him on the bus and remembered him from the bus. He told him that he had his planner at his home. So when Trent went to his home to pick it up, he ended up teaching him and this man then joined the church. Just wonderful stories like that. Trent still seems like he was before his mission, a bit on the serious side and very spiritual. 

I went to my stake meeting this week and we spent most the time talking about the upcoming temple dedication and all the work and volunteers that will be needed for it. The open house will be for four weeks and they are expecting about 350,000 people in that time. Then the night before the dedication will be a cultural celebration put on by the youth of 32 stakes, a huge feat in and of itself. Pres. Monson is coming also. Then on Sunday, there will probably be two sessions of dedication. Pres. Stafford said they asked for my name to help with the massive temple cleaning efforts and stake center cleaning, food, etc next door. They want the temple and stake center cleaned three times a day during the open house! Dad and I have also volunteered to help somewhere else with the dedication and we've been asked to be the medical people for the cultural celebration. 

No news yet on the new temple here in Eagle, but they think they'll start on it next year.

We're three days away from leaving for Canada now, trying to make sure all the last minute details are taken care of. In Canada, they traditionally have a reception that is a sit-down affair with an MC. So there's a program that takes place and if there's anything you'd like to contribute to the program from your end, let us know. We can play a song you've sung, you can send a new song, you can tell some funny stories about Kirk that we can share. Everyone's doing something, so if you'd like to add your two cents, let me know. Should be fun, but we don't really know what to expect. We're driving up Thursday and driving home Sunday since Kirk has to get back to school on Monday. Fun times in the car-we're actually taking the big red van from Ryan's lot so it will be pretty comfortable.

I got your note about sending more garments, so I'm picking those up tomorrow and sending them. Have you gotten any other packages or dad's letters since you've been in your new place? We sent things to the mission home, so we're hoping they've gotten to you by now.

Our yard is now looking beautiful and ready for a reception, but we've been working hard to get it to that point. It's been so hot here lately, up to 100 just about every day. I'm looking forward to going north for a few days.

So how's the YSA missionary work going? It was so fun hearing how much you're enjoying the work there even though you had only been there for a week. Pres. Stafford said the young adults are the best missionaries in the church. I'm glad you're getting a chance to get to know Nashville too. You've been all over in your mission. It's pretty amazing.

Kristina finally came home a few days ago. She was gone for two weeks and it seemed like a long time. She had a great time at EFY and then with Riley Billings and her family. She stayed in a very small town and celebrated the fourth with them (all 200 residents). They had a rodeo, a parade and a fireworks show, so I'm sure the town seemed pretty exciting for a couple days. Then she came home and had all her friends come over and they painted the Mustang again, this time with all the Avengers all over it. Kristina is now hoping we never paint the Mustang so she and her friends can always paint it.

 EFY fun!!

 Riley and Kristina

 Small town fun

Riding the tractor in the 4th of July parade in Fayette, UT

Saturday we had the missionaries over for dinner. We love having them in our home. After dinner they showed us a couple Mormon message, What Matters Most and Lessons I learned as a Boy. Then they shared their thoughts about them. I particularly loved something Pres. Monson said in the first one. He quoted Shakespeare who said, "They do not love that do not show their love." That really made me think. Sometimes we find it easy to say we love someone or care about them but the truth of that is only when we actually show love. It made me think about my own actions towards others.

Then today in RS we talked about missionary work and how everything we do every day should show our discipleship and speak of our true devotion. One sister shared a quote that I just love and thought you might like it too, "Preach the gospel wherever you can and when all else fails, use words."  Saint Francis of Assisi 

We just got off the phone with Sarah's parents. We're going over the last minute details with them. I'm really looking forward to meeting them. Sarah tells me I remind her so much of her own mom. I love talking with them because they are always saying "eh" after their sentences. Sounds like their weather is going to be wonderful too, in the 70's.  My favorite.

By the way, this is the beginning of your official birthday week...so feel free to use it as an excuse and I hope you have a great week. The girls can't believe you're turning 21. They said that was soooo old and Kristina says she can't help thinking you're still 17. (which would be weird because she is almost 17 herself) 

Keep the pictures coming. We love them. I particularly loved the ironic street signs! Keep working hard. Because you were sent to this new area, there are obviously people whose lives you need to touch who are searching, questioning and praying for answers. You will be led to them.

We'll be thinking of you often this week, missing you and most of all praying for you.

Love you,

Mom xxoo

A little hot here...

July 1, 2012

Dear Elder Alex,

Just because it's July, everything turns hot. We've had it pretty mild up to this point, but this last week we got close to 100. I realize you will have no sympathy for that especially since we have zero humidity, but it still feels blasted hot to me. It's a good thing we have neighbors who call and invite the girls swimming. It's wonderful.

So how was your week? I can't wait to hear how your new area is and what you get to do as an elder over the singles wards. I'm thinking you'll have some good stories from this new area. YSA wards are notorious for their fellowshipping, missionary work, etc.

Also I got to see Jon Kjar and Trent Anderson today. They both came to our ward. Trent's actually in our ward now. He looks like he dropped a few pounds and he looks a bit older. Jon was actually even a little harder to recognize. Either I didn't remember exactly what he looked like, or he changed a bit on his mission. But after I got to talking with both of them for a while, they became quite familiar. Trent even asked if I was going to make Frito salad for him. I think I'll invite him over one night.  :)    Also, I found out that Jon and Ryan McKell are also going to be living in the same apartment complex as you, so I'm going to call tomorrow and see if all five of you will be in the same ward, etc. I guess us moms shop for apartments in the same way...

Kristina is still away. She just finished up her week at EFY and said it was awesome and last night we talked about how much her testimony of Christ grew this past week. Now she is with Riley Billings and her family and they are on their way to a super small town in Utah called Fayette until this Friday. Hope they can find plenty to do each day.

Kirk is down to his last two weeks of school and a week from Thursday we will going to Canada for their reception=the reception before the wedding event. Sounds like up in Canada they have a program for their receptions, so I'm sure we'll have plenty to report from up there. But this week, we are super busy with last minute things for the reception here. We have to get things done before we take off because we only have two days in between the reception and when we leave for the wedding. I have a checklist that is now 3 pages. Lots of things are marked off, but there are still quite a few to go. People keep asking us why we are not waiting for you to get home for the wedding. Are you sure you're okay with them getting married before you get home? It's not too late to voice your opinion.

Sean is still working every day at the Blue and Orange store and loving the basement life. The girls tease him incessantly about dating, but to no avail. Hopefully, he'll get back on the dating horse when he moves back to Provo.

Nikki bought herself a new bike this week and it's so her. It's a cruiser from WalMart and she loves it and actually has been riding it every day. She looks mighty fine on it. Leah is jealous of it and wishes she had more in her account, but she doesn't have enough. She may do some extra chores to earn money.

Sean just came up and said he had a netflix tragedy. He and the girls went downstairs to watch Mr. Bean and Netflix has taken it off their lineup. Several other people complained online that their families were in mourning with this change. Sean told me to share that with you.  haha

We don't have any plans for the 4th this year, so I'm hoping we get an invite from some family. The Leifsons are out of town and Sean works until seven, so we're hoping for a miracle invite this week. What will you be doing?

We're having the missionaries over for dinner this Saturday. The Samoan elder has already made it known that he's out of Spam and needs some more. I don't know where they put it, but I have a much better understanding now because of the girls.  ;)

I have a big meeting Tuesday night that Pres. Stafford called for all the high council, the stake presidency and me. Since we are re-dedicating the Boise temple, I think we probably got some assignments and need to start working on things. I'm anxious to hear what the meeting is all about.

Dad is cramming in all his shifts into a couple weeks again since he's taking off a lot of time during the wedding, so he's busy with work this week. Tomorrow I'm getting the guys suits dry cleaned, making reservations for the dogs at a kennel while we're gone, typing a blessing, buying flowers for the backyard and planting them and making sure the photographer and the florist all get hold of the Luschers so we can make our final decisions about things and plan a family night. I've had so many friends help me out with names of people who either have things to borrow or have a business that could help us, etc. So many have also volunteered to help out, so I'm just trying to organize things so I know how many I need and where I need them. But it's so nice to know there are so many that are willing. I appreciate it so much otherwise I would feel overwhelmed.

I'll leave you with a thought from our RS lesson today. Sis. Guyman taught it (married to Dr. Guyman the orthodontist). It was about being of good cheer even amidst conflict. We got off subject a little in the middle and talked about how sometimes we try to get through adversity all by ourselves believing that the Lord has bigger issues to contend with and that we should be able to do it by ourselves, and one sister was commenting about her friend who was a member of another church and had invited her to a Bible study group. The sister had a chance to ask them why so much of the Christian world does not believe that we are Christian. One lady explained that it was because we in the church believe that we can save ourselves by how much work we do. They told her that they believe Christ's atonement will save them. Then we had a good conversation about how that's probably how so many see us, always working so hard as if we are trying to just save ourselves and forgetting to put our trust and faith in Christ. It was a good discussion that has stayed with me throughout the day. Something to ponder. I love RS lessons!

Welp, dad's falling asleep and I still want to get in some pillow talk so I better sign off. I hope you are well and remaining obedient and willing so the blessings of heaven cannot be withheld from you.

Love you,

Mom xxoo