Hello my dear! It was so fun to talk to you on Monday and see your apartment and companions. Don’t let your Dad discourage you from calling often! I'm so glad you can learn from two experienced missionaries. It’s great that they speak the language so well and you can be immersed. So impressive that they can read characters as well. I love that they pulled pranks on you! You needed some companions with a sense of humor! I’m so glad you have good food to eat. I laughed when you said you were eating brownies for breakfast. I thought, that boy need some eggs for breakfast! But then you made eggs and almost smoked the apartment out, so maybe not. Haha. I know eggs aren’t your favorite anyway. Your photo didn’t look like a normal grocery store. Do you have a missionary storehouse or something where you can shop? Or is it maybe just a discount grocery store to make your money go further? Those pictures of the rain storm were awesome. I love a good downpour. And the city looks absolutely beautiful. I love that you take pictures of interesting buildings and artwork. I love that you appreciate details. Consider labeling your pictures so you can remember names, locations, and situations later. I’m so impressed that you had so many opportunities to teach during your first week. Keep up the hard work!
News from home:
1. The CDC approved Covid vaccines for ages 5-11, so Ethan and Jett got their first shots on Thursday! Yay! They were excited and brave and a little nervous. When the boys got their shot I made a comment about wishing I could have a booster, and the guy said, “You want one? You got it. No good reason to wait.” I told him I wasn’t immune compromised or anything, and he said it didn’t matter. I was super excited! I guess living in a place with high transmission and zero covid precautions was enough to qualify. Yanceys, Vernons, and Birds all have breakthrough infections this week. The kids flapped their arms around the clinic office so their arms wouldn’t get sore. I'm not sure if they saw anyone more enthusiastic than us all day! After our shots we went to Wendy’s to celebrate. Ethan got a jr bacon burger and Jett got nuggets. Frosties for everyone!
2. Jett was baptized yesterday. He was sooo excited. Dad gave him a lovely confirmation blessing. We celebrated with donuts, hot chocolate, and nachos in the backyard. Later Jett filled in his baptism journal and he might have been a little confused about your Dad’s calling! We had family and friends over to the house. Rob and Leisja sold their house and will be moving in a couple of weeks. Uncle Andrew must be doing a new health challenge because he is down about 40 pounds in 30 days! Owen Hancock will be baptized next week.
3. Blake played in the mini bowl last night. I was hoping third time would be the charm and they would win, but it wasn’t in the cards. I was a beautiful night for football though.
4. Jett had his first basketball game of the season, and Dad is coaching. Those kids are all over the place!
5. Tuesday was election night, and since this was your first election to vote in, I knew you would be dying to know the results. I’ll add the screenshots in the photos. RAMP passed, and Tami was elected mayor. I guess if we had to elect a Qanon conspiracy theorist, Tami was a better option than her opponent. Nationally, election night was not good for Democrats, but Boston gave us a good result with the first female mayor elected. She is also the first person of color elected to the position. Right on Boston!
6. In other local news, Dave Adams got removed from a school board meeting by security this week because of course he did.
7. My dad told me that Great Grandpa Bramhall fell in his home and was in the hospital for about a week. It took him an hour and a half to reach his phone and call for help. So terrible. They ran a bunch of tests and ruled out a stroke. Apparently he didn’t fall because of his balance, but he collapsed for lack of strength. They think he has sepsis (a blood infection) likely stemming from his recent urinary tract surgeries. He has been released from the hospital and is now in a care facility so he can receive antibiotics and physical therapy. My dad says he seems to be doing pretty well and is coherent. Please keep him in your prayers.
8. This week I had one child suspended from school and one who was grounded from his phone for almost a week. Never a dull moment. #winning #parenting
9. Tate has started doing a superhero pose when he jumps off of things. It’s hilarious. And he is wild.
10. This week Jett had a school assignment to write about and ancestor or “pilgrim” within his family history. So of course I called Aunt Dana because she is the one who knows about family history in our family. One of the people she told me about was William Simms who started a business making scientific instruments like telescopes that eventually were shipped to every major observatory in the world. She also told me that one of our ancestors was one of the first 3 women to enter the Salt Lake Valley and she is on a sculpture at This is the Place Monument. A long time ago Dana also told me about an ancestor who was accused of being a witch during the Salem witch trials. Learning about ancestors tied into my Sunday school lesson when we learned about baptism for the dead and how we cannot be perfected without our dead, nor them without us. We learned about Brigham Young and his wife and the sacrifices they made to spread the gospel despite very difficult circumstances. After many missions the Lord told Brigham his offering was accepted and he did not need to leave his family anymore. Of course Brigham continued to serve at home, and that is what you will do when your formal mission is complete. I think this lesson was intended to humble me. I might have grumbled a bit about Dad’s new calling. But our sacrifice of time is nothing compared to Brigham Young and his wife, and the many other saints who built up the church in the early days. We benefit from their sacrifice and the way they lived their lives. Hopefully we live our lives in a way that our posterity can be grateful for.
Love you! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Comments
Post a Comment