20 Apr 2008

April 20, 2008
Dear Elder Sean,
Well, looks like we're back to winter for a few days here. Just when we're putting our long sleeves away, we have to cover plants outside to save them, etc. We're really hoping the frost of the next few nights doesn't make us lose peaches this year. They were so tasty last year and I'm looking forward to them this year.

We had a fun week with Kirk here last week but he's back in Rexburg starting his next semester tomorrow. While he was home he went out a couple times with Ashley Gooch who has recently returned from the San Diego CA Spanish mission. He said they spoke Spanglish on their dates. He went home on Saturday so he could help Mary move into her new house. Since Kirk has dad's truck, he's the official moving helper. He's actually driving back home this Thursday so he can go to Phoenix this weekend with me and dad for Giovanni and Jenn's wedding. Alex is going to Pascoe then staying at the Yorgason's when he gets home, Kristina is staying with the Taylor's, Leah is staying with the Tanner's (Houston's cousins) and Nikki is staying with the Leifson's. Barkley is going to have a little bachelor pad here at home with Kristina and Alex letting him out to run around occasionally. We leave on Friday and get back Sunday, so it's a quick trip.

I was so excited to see your baptism news last week. What a nice program. Kirk said only elders in the office can have nice things like that (typed out programs). Have you had your FHE with the families yet? That's a wonderful idea. Hope the pix we sent you were what you wanted. I know it's got to be hard for Fernando still suffering from giving up smoking. How's he doing? Has he been chewing gum, sucking on suckers, nicotine patches, etc. I remember when Earl and Karen Davidson from HHI quit smoking to join the church. They both did it cold turkey. Karen never went back, but years later Earl took it up again. I bet it's harder to quit the second time. I was always so proud of Karen.

Leah and Nikki still pray for the Gonzalez family and Nikki always remembers to mention Lexi and prays for her to get baptized when she turns 8.

Alex and Kristina just got back from a fireside with the 8th ward where a man who used to be head of the CES for the church spoke. He's Sis. Lisa VanWagenen's dad and traveled the world setting up seminaries and training. He was gone about 200 days a year when they were growing up. Alex said it was a very humbling talk as he shared experiences of kids all around the world and the sacrifices they made just to get to seminary each day and especially the stories about the sacrifices the missionaries in Latin America make just to be able to serve. Do they have early morning seminary there in Cordoba? Is it well attended? When you get a chance, ask some of the native elders what they had to do to get on their missions.

so you had transfers but are staying in the office...Do you know who your new comp is? Have you had any Argentine comps yet? I hope you get that chance. I looked in my address book on the computer and I had your cell phone numbers there, so if they are the same, I think we're good to go for Mother's Day. I'm excited.

I wrote Hma. Paez again, but I haven't heard from her. I took advantage of the fact that Kirk was here in the house and had him translate for me. I sent her some recent photos too. Let me know if she didn't get my letter from last week, cuz I'll just send you a copy of it and let you deliver it.

Leah got her hair cut much shorter yesterday. We'll take pix this week and send them to you. Nikki wants to grow hers out to her waist. She's a true Samoan with the beautiful long black hair. Leah's just wants the ease and comfort of short hair. She looks cute.

I thought of you today when I was reading the book of Jonah in the OT. His whole chapter is a report about his mission in life and what a humble man to actually share his failings and struggles. But there are so many things we can learn from his lessons and I really appreciated what he recorded.

We sent your b-day boxes off this week. I'll be putting extra money into your acct to cover these. We didn't realize it was costing so much on your end. About how much do you end up paying for a typical package? Dad says there are bigger boxes available now from the US postal service, so if you pay the same regardless of what it weighs, it would be cheaper on our end to send a bigger box. So let us know how you get charged on your end. On that same note, I've been really impressed with your budgeting these last few months. You must be living within your mission allowance because there's been no activity in the bank account. That's really good practice for post mission life. There's always going to be a budget no matter how much money you make and to live below and well within it is a talent that pays handsomely.

Dad just came in and said Austin Smack got his mission call this week to St. Louis MO mission. He leaves in July and actually goes into the MTC the same day as Tim Givens. Dad sends his love. We have to give up the computer so Alex can finish his Spanish homework. He says he's number one in his class and loves Spanish. We will takes pics at the wedding this weekend and send your love to the family.

Have a fun, productive week. Be easy on the new guys in the office.
Love you loads,
momxoxoxoxoxoxooxox