Hello my darling scrumptious precious incredible MISSIONARY SONS!  (I’m not yelling at you, I’m just sending you lots of love J). I love you both with everything I am!

Mook, no one has crashed your car, stolen your girlfriend and I want to say worn your clothes, but one of these would not be true if I did.  Your socks are getting raided. I better pack up your stuff. 

Funnies, new and happenings from the week:  Spen mowed an American Flag in the lawn wearing Mckay’s star spangled tights and Napoleon Dynamite glasses without being asked.  I guess we’re happy about that J. 

Yesterday Seth went boating with Grady, Christian and Aaron Glauser.  Seth got on the tube by himself and acted like he was bored out of his brains going slow. He kept giving the thumbs up until he was going 25 miles an hour!  When he crashed he did a double front flip WITH THE TUBE!  

Annie went boating with the Hunts and got out and tried wake surfing! She is an awesome, brave little woman.

I had two things happen that make me want to cheer my brains out.  First, I had dinner all ready for one of Joseph’s home teaching families, Deborah and Z, and Dad didn’t feel well enough to deliver it. Joseph was at a PLANNED party with his friends and I asked him home. He came. He went with me. We stopped at the second family. He talked. He bore his testimony. I was SO proud of him.  Yesterday Laura and Chuck needed help getting ready for Bentley’s wedding barbeque. Spencer and Annie helped for three hours in nearly 100 degree weather. Do you think this statement is true “The true sign of conversion is how we treat each other.” 

I told people at the 4^th of July breakfast at Mark and Annette Anderson’s that I miss Mckay so much I’m using his toothbrush! So, Coy, that means I’ve moved on from yours and we’re boiling it up for when you get home J.

We spent family night with Grandma and Grandpa Raspberry.  I skipped the after lesson movie and sat on their back porch with my scriptures. The world was green, luscious and quiet. There was a gentle breeze straight from heaven. I read and pondered about both of you so much. I love you with everything. I thought so much about how beautiful life is, and how our family is so blessed because the two of you have decided to be cart pullers.  God bless you my boys. 

Seth got up and bore his testimony today. He talked about boating with the Glausers and then said “the raft was like Jesus, and the water is like Satan. Jesus wants to keep us away from Satan. 

Avery, Colton and Joseph were having their hot tub truck party on Friday night after Spen had his with his friends Thursday night.  WE ARE SO REDNECK!  Anyway, John came down, our blind neighbor, and instead of a movie we did TWO MINUTE MYSTERIES! (Thanks, Coy). We also did trivia questions.  We did not almost get arrested all week.

Wednesday night I had the sacred privilege of attending the temple with Josh Hunt as he received his endowments. It was one of the most spiritual sessions I’ve experienced in a long time.  I was taught by the Spirit about respect for agency in motherhood, and that love and witness are my greatest tools; Pure, unadulterated love and joyous witness of how delicious the fruit is and how wonderful it is to be a laborer in the vineyard.  I was taught that what I am asking my precious babies to do is to grow up to be cart pullers, and in their own way they will sacrifice, they will bleed across their own plains, they will be mocked and ridiculed for shunning the world, and if they choose this path they will give all for the Kingdom of God.  Such a decision must be their own with the respect that God himself has for the agency of his children. It is my opportunity to shine as much light, love, knowledge, love, witness, love, service, love, stories, love, example, love and love into their lives as I possibly can, and then James 1:6 it.  Let patience have her perfect work!  I LOVE THAT SCRIPTURE! I LOVE YOU!

Coy, I am in receipt of your precious letter. You asked for my feelings about charity with Elder Stowell.  I will share just one suggestion.  Heavenly Father told me to make two lists in my most important relationships.  One list is “sorry for” and the other is “thank you for”.  Now, the pronoun that applies to each list makes all the difference in the world. If I write the lists with the perspective of “You should be sorry for” and “You should thank me for”, and list everything I do right and others do wrong. I am a double toasted piece of toast and the Spirit is SO  gone.  If I write those lists as “Thank YOU for” and “I’m sorry for”, the Lord is right there helping me in meekness with those weaknesses that He has reserved for himself to work on (Ether 12:27) and to help me with the glorious gratitude that makes relationships thrive with joy.  Usually people know exactly what they’re doing wrong and I have found that correcting when moved upon by the Spirit could be nearly an annual holiday it happens so little. The Holy Ghost is a much more effective correcter.  Now, as I testify of these truths, please don’t think that I’m claiming to be effective in practice.  I’M WORKING ON THAT.

It is so deliciously precious to me that Heavenly Father, the Savior and the Holy Ghost care so much about how we look at each other, our tone of voice, the tiniest details of our relationships. He is all about joy down to the second, down to the eyebrow, down to the very closets of our hearts. I love that so much. 

 

If you guys have some challenges you want to extend to your siblings, I' would be very grateful. We are doing summer Olympics....2 FOR 60 OLYMPICS!   It is 2 missionaries for 60 days and we are trying to do all we can on our end to support and live lives of faith and valiance.  If you have scripture, Duty to God, Missionary, PMG challenges, LAY IT ON THICK.

 

I love you with all of my heart.  Your decision to faithfully and obediently and JOYOUSLY serve missions will bless more in more ways more than you will ever know.