Kirk's home

Aug. 28, 2011
Dear Elder Alex,
Well, we've actually got Kirk home with us now.  We picked him up Thurs evening around 11:30pm.  He looks great. He's lost around 30-35 pounds and when we saw him he was wearing his sandals that he had on in Uganda the whole time and you could even see the African dirt still on his feet.
He didn't seem to have any trouble at all with jet lag, and he's starting work tomorrow at the Blue and Orange store.  He had to have a burrito from Qdoba when he got home.  He said he missed burritos and good ole American grilled meat.  I'm sure he missed his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches too. They also didn't have any dairy products there, so he's enjoying bowls of cereal with milk.
He's also very interested in a girl he met on the plane over to Nairobi.  They've been emailing, calling and now skyping constantly.  Her name is Sarah and she seems really nice. (I got to meet her on skype) She's trying to work it out so she can drive down here from Canada(where she lives) this next weekend and then go with us to Utah. I hope she can make it. We're going down to Utah this next weekend so Kirk can show G&G Thompson all his stuff from Uganda and talk with them about it.
Sean is starting classes tomorrow. A couple of his classes conflict with each other, so he's a little frustrated with that and will try to work it out with the counselors tomorrow.
Leah, Nikki and Kristina start school on Tuesday.  Nikki found out that she has Mrs. Bunn, so life is good. 
Tonight we had a game night at the Braithwaite's. Played a little Taboo and the pirate game.
The good news I found out today was that Trish(in our ward) has set a baptismal date of Oct. 8th. It seems a little far away, but her whole countenance looked different today and I'm going to call her tomorrow and tell her. I love watching her in class and the excitement she shows with just about every subject we talk about.
Dad spoke in church today. His topic was the atonement and he did a great job. Heather Lee also spoke with him and she took most the time and spoke on the same subject, but both talks really complimented each other and it was a great meeting.
Today I made several loaves of zucchini/yellow squash bread, so we took some loaves around to people along with several ears of corn from our garden.  Dad and Hal Leifson have been working on a corn field out in Leifson's field and now there's tons of corn.  We've pretty much been eating corn every night.  Today I made creamed corn. So we have plenty to share. Maybe we can send you some in a box. 
I don't know the Turner's in our stake, but Sean said he knows them.  Are you still meeting with the Anderton's?  If you want, I can make a call to Sis. Turner to say hi.
How is Steven doing? Sounds like he's going to be an awesome missionary one day.
So dad and I don't know anyone in the wrestling dept. at BSU. I know that BSU has already started. Was Austin Woods planning on coming out here for this semester or is he still in high school? The only one I could think of who might have any info would be Travis, my cousin.  He went to BSU and he's a pretty connected guy, but right now he's super busy with Mitt Romney. But if you want me to even call the wrestling dept, I could do that and ask some questions for you. Let me know.
I just talked with Grandpa Trumbo. He's doing great. He's always so upbeat, that's why I love talking with him. I know life's not easy for him, but you'd never know it talking to him. He told me tonight that there were 2 great decisions he made in life. 1.When he got off his mission, he decided right then and there to go after the girl who had written him a dear John on the mission and get her back.2.He made a commitment to himself early in life that he would try to never miss going to Sacrament meeting.   I can remember him telling us that second decision when I was just young during our family nights, so I know it was a decision that really meant a lot to him. I can remember thinking as a young girl that I wanted to make that same commitment and it has become something very special to me throughout my life. 
I also spoke with Uncle Jeff tonight.  Jan is going in for another surgery in the morning, this time on her back so the recovery will be kind of long, but she has been in so much pain that I really hope this will help her a lot. Her doctor(who happens to be in her ward) and Jeff administered to her today and she has been in really good spirits tonight. 
Looks like Tyler's plans for getting married over Labor Day are going to work out, so he'll fly to Bakersfield where Leticia is from and marry her this next weekend and she'll go back with him to Texas. 
I am looking forward to the new school year. I'm able to be a lot more organized when everyone's in school. I love fall weather. It's the best. I love football games and it will be fun watching Tanner Mangum(Eagle's quarterback) this year since he's now one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. We watched the ESPN special where he made the elite 11 and then made MVP. Hope the Eagle boys can keep up with him. BSU will also be fun to watch and we're hoping to hit a BYU game.
I hope you are well and that Franklin is treating you well. How is your new President? Have you had a chance to have an interview or two with him yet? I'm very grateful for him and his wife and they are also in my prayers. Remember always that you have been "set apart" as a full-time missionary/emissary/disciple of Jesus Christ and He will use you and be with you, by your side in the work you are doing. Look for the miracles.
I love you and wish you a wonderful, successful week.
mom xxoo