With the Family I LOVE ...: August 2016

Wow, what a month it has been! We feel very grateful for all that has transpired over the last few weeks, and for the opportunity to be with so many of you. And the fun isn’t over yet, with Scott’s special day coming up in one week! Congrats to Karen and Andrew on the safe arrival of adorable little Lindsey. Congrats to Ben on his baptism. I could watch his beaming happy face all day long.

We’re so grateful for the experiences Isaac is having – especially the trials that turned into blessings. It’s so wonderful as a parent to see your children learning valuable life lessons and learning to trust in the Lord and the Spirit more completely. Our testimonies are growing along with his as he learns the reality of the gift of tongues and that this is the Lord’s work and He is in control.

We had a wonderful few days before he left. Tuesday after he was set apart (which was a powerful experience in and of itself) Becky and I asked him for a Priesthood blessing and he humbly consented and did an amazing job that had all of us in tears. After that, it was fun to sit around and hear the kids have one last jam session together on their instruments and just sit and talk and laugh. A few good friends came over later in the evening and did more of the same. It was kind of fun for me to think of myself as his “companion” until we delivered him to the MTC. Becky and I enjoyed a temple session with him at the Payson temple Wednesday morning and then grabbed his suitcases and the rest of the family and went and did baptisms in the Provo City Center temple, with Isaac performing the ordinances. Then it was lunch at the BYU Creamery with one last bottle of cookies and cream milk. Isaac had us all laughing our heads off because he didn’t want to be one of "those missionaries" that goes into the MTC crying so he was just being crazy goofy. And he was very anxious just to get going, and so I think that made it a bit easier for all of us. We said our good-byes in the Creamery parking lot and then drove up to the MTC and did the curbside drop-off. I was the only one who got out of the car to help him with his suitcases so I got one last quick hug and “I love you” and then he was off. I got back in the car and everyone was in tears so then I had a hard time seeing the road as I drove out of the MTC and down 9th East towards home. Within 15 minutes—before we even got home—we received a quick email from him saying he was checked in and doing well and ready to start his first Russian class. We received another short email from him on Saturday requesting a few things and informing us that his first “official” letter would come on his Thursday p-day – which is the letter most of you have read. We’ve also enjoyed seeing many of the photos that he has taken since he can upload them straight from the camera with wi-fi and we don’t have to wait for them to come with a letter. It is such a blessing to have a missionary serving the Lord. It’s a privilege to pray for him each day and know that he is in the Lord’s hands. And I love what it has done for our family and the added spirit that is in our home because of it.

Enoch participated with his friend, Bryant, in an Eagle Scout backyard donation and fundraising event complete with donated food from local restaurants and local entertainment, of which Auriana’s band “Sailing Paper Boats” was the main attraction. This is the first time we’ve seen her perform with this particular band and it was fun for us to be with other ward members as we watched and heard all their amazed and impressed comments about how good she is. All we could do was say thank you and agree with them. ☺ She’ll be playing with that same band again at the Harvest Moon Hurrah on September 17 if any of you want to come see her. They’re also on iTunes and Spotify. Becky and all the girls really helped out a lot in preparing for Enoch’s event and it was a fun time and a great success. Miriam even completed a 10 hour project for personal progress as she decorated the neighbors backyard for the event. It was nice of Matt and Lissa and Adam to come and show their support and even bring a donation! Enoch received some great donations for his project of building emergency 72-hour kits for an orphanage in Mexico. He’s now even closer to finishing up his project and receiving his award!

Enoch also got braces this week and his soccer team took first place in a pretty tough tournament in which Enoch scored 2 goals and had several awesome assists. Natalie started high school soccer this week and is once again on the varsity team. She scored a goal on Friday while playing defense, so through a series of give and go passes and some fancy dribbling and dodging she made her way up the field and kicked it in. Ellie and Miriam are both involved in soccer as well and Miriam has a tournament this week in Salt Lake.

It’s hard to believe that school starts in a week and a half. Sad to see such a wonderful summer come to an end, but it’s always nice to get back to a regular schedule.

Oh, and happy anniversary on the 16th to my wonderful wife!