I Love Mondays!...

A mission is a "bitter-sweet" event in the life of a mom! There's nothing you want more for your kids, and nothing you dread more than saying good bye for 2 years! You live for the weekly communication, which for us is, "email Mondays" and you sit back and watch week after week, in amazement at the wisdom that comes from the growing pains and experiences in the life of your missionary. My heart is full today as I reflect on some of Gavin's message to us this week. It goes like this..."sometimes we think we are having problems but honestly, after living here, trust me, there is a lot worse! We are soooo blessed and we know it. Just to be a part of our family is such a blessing. We have such a good family and thanks to the spouses that Ash, Cam and Whit have chosen to add and be a part of our family...well, it just gets better and better! I can't tell you how excited I am to raise a family in the Church. We knew before this life that we had to come here and be tested. That's the only way the Plan of Salvation would work. It's how we face our afflictions and overcome them that counts. That's how we show our faith. Heavenly Father is not going to take our afflictions away from us, but He will help us get over them. We have to ask ourselves what can we "do" and not "why" we have challenges. The mission is so hard but so worth it. I LOVE IT! It only really gets hard when I think about myself. If I focus everything I have on the people and their needs, thats when I see the blessings come and doors open up and people change. I can't tell you how much the mission has already blessed my life. I used to think that mission life is where people are happy to have you there and honk their horns and wave. Let's just say that they honk alright here, but that's just to get your attention so they can yell terrible things and swerve at you. Haha, it's much better this way though. Keeps things interesting"!

So, today I am grateful for a good husband that loves and supports me and our kids...for good kids that love and serve the Lord and for the cutest grandkids to start the process all over again! I am thankful for missions and how they mold good lives into great ones! I'm thankful for my membership in a Church that has the Priesthood authority to act in God's name! I'm thankful for a Savior that makes up for my weaknesses.
Life is good!

More Sweet Valentines!

Oh yeah...yes, it is a dog!

I told myself awhile ago that before I left this area, I had to get a pic of this thing. We walked past it the other day during the siesta and since I happened to have my camera, I snapped this pic. A bit risky, but worth it!

This is how I roll...

High scoring Cosmic bowling nights in the past...Scoring a whopping "69" now??? Let's just say you've got game...mission game that is!

Another crazy week!

This week was an awesome work week. We found 7 to teach. One of our contacts is a kid named Marcos. He played soccer with us on Friday and came to church on Sunday. He's a capo (stud). We confirmed 2, baptized la hermana de Jose' and had 4 divisions. I really love it here in Solano.
It's like my home away from home!

Troy

Happy Valentines Day! Troy wants to give you a big slobbery kiss!

Tornado Ally

This is 2 miles directly south of our house... How'd those cars get there?!

This is the hail we got at our house. It was so loud- it was crazy!

This is the net of the driving range and we saw part of it in the back of the neighborhood in a tall tree...

I hope these people weren't home when it hit...

Gavin- We had a scary Tuesday last week. Two tornaodes touched down close to our house. This

nice neighborhood is in a devleopment 5 miles from us. It is also in a PGA country club golf course called Oak Tree. So many houses got damaged. Me and Troy were huddled in my laundry room with the weather radio... It isn't tornado season yet. Tell Adam to hurry and get done with school! Love you!

I love zone conferences. Pres. Asay shares with us so many doctrinal insights. We learn so much! It was nice to see Elder Chavez (the tiny Peruvian I was born with (lived with when I arrived in the country)! I also saw James Taoelii a friend I knew from Skyline High School. There are so many good missionaries! I was so well trained by Elder Fafai that even though we were only together for 2 months, I find myself asking when things are tough "what would Elder Fafai do in this situation?".

Pedroso, (the man in grey) is a great member. He is mute but although unable to speak or hear, remembers dates and other important things. He also sews extremely well. Brother Lapuete (in pink) is a member that we have re-activated. He has been a member for 12 years but only active for 2. This guy is awesome!

The great support of Jose's (Carlos') family for his baptism.

We attended the Temple as a barrio (ward) on Saturday so that is why we baptized Carlos (Jose' Smith) on Sunday. He felt bad because he wanted to be confirmed the next day! I would too if I was Jose' Smith! He is so anxious for all of the blessings of the Gospel.

Baptism of Jose' Smith

"I baptized Jose' Smith Sunday Feb. 8th, 2009. (His real name is Carlos Carranza) He is only 9 but loves the church! He absorbs everything he is taught. When we walk to church with him, he points at other churches saying how they don't have the proper authority. I thought he was a genious, but really, he's just a simple little " Jose Smith". We will be baptizing his sister next week. He is a nephew to the Familia Fontan. This is a 2 year investigator family that we are trying to get divorced from their prior marriages so that the couple can be married legally and then be baptized as well.

Frank Sentra? At the MTC?

Gavin's Wheels Frank Sentra and Scooter