How has your week been? We are excited for all your news.  Here’s ours:

Mckenzie Smart was here with her sister and Gabe for dinner tonight. She is getting married to a man from Ecuador. She is still living in California.  Heavenly Father and Jesus are so incredible in their infinite love.  

I have done so much house cleaning and organizing, filled with the energy of thinking of getting to see my son!  I was dragging my feet to pack up your things, but when I saw the kids start wearing things I said “That’s it!” and we packed you all up. The mothers are just angels in disguise shirt 

I drove Eli and Joseph to EFY all week. THEY LOVED IT! They wrote a rendition of who’s on first that used pronouns in a basketball setting for the talent show and memorized it. Hilarious!  When I picked them up Thursday night they were just bawling. They cried all the way home from telling me about testimony meeting. It was AWESOME!

The little two have done some activies with Korean camp. Annie and Seth just love it. We have two little 9 year olds this  year so they are buddies with Seth. 

9 year olds are fun. I subbed for Bear Scouts and it was fun.

I wish I had some great visits to report to the inactive and nonmembers in our area, but I haven’t done well with that this week.  I feel like I am going to be in a better position to do that with some of the house and family needs better met!  Always a tricky balance.  Dad hasn’t had a great week.  He’s been pretty sick. 

It’s weird and wonderful to have Spen driving around and dating. He is SUCH a SWEETHEART.  He has stepped up so much to be a cart puller in the family in the absence of both of his big brothers.  

We had fun in primary today. The topic for sharing time today was the miracles of Jesus. I blacked out a window and Dad helped me put up a big projector so they could see the miracles life size.  We showed a sweet clip of his New Testament Jerusalem miracles, then an AMAZING clip of 3 Nephi that is about 6 minutes long. It is wonderful. 

Do you have in mind holy habits and righteous routines, experiences, goals and priorities that can help your siblings be better prepared for their missions? I am so excited for you you to bequeath your wisdom upon us!  We are so so blessed to have you!Feel free to offer advice freely.:)

So, the MTC is all worked out. We will go straight from the airport to the MTC where you have a 25-30 minute appointment with Coy, just you.  You get in just after four, and we are going to try to be in Provo by 5:30, so we’ll have 30 minutes of hugging and then we’ll be off.  WE ARE SO BLESSED!!     You are supposed to be at the security desk at 5:30.    

I’ve been thinking a lot about faith this week.  Faith is so gorgeous.  My definition keeps deepening and expanding. This week I’ve been thinking about how it is the faith to smile, love life and have true joy even when very difficult things happen because we KNOW that God will make good out of EVERYTHING that happens to us.  I have a little part of Come Come Ye Saints that keeps going through my mind, “All is Well, All is Right.” Jeff is sick and we have challenges, but all IS well, and all IS right.  One of the hardest things I face is being able to “purchase” so few experiences for my children.  I choose to have faith that my precious children will learn things from poverty, MS, hard work and family that expensive camps and lessons can not necessarily teach. “All is well, All is right.” It feels so arrogant to even dare to complain about our status or claim poverty in any degree when so much of the rest of the world struggles to find food and shelter and clothing.   However, I want to do all I can with the blessings I have been given.ALL MY LOVE! 

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Your Mom