Sitting on the tarmac

we were delayed leaving DC and had 15 minutes to get on our connecting flight in chicago we sprinted and got yelled at but we made it ryan and i spent 4 spectacular days in DC mostly seeing aubries areas, meeting some of her very favorite people she taught or worked with and hearing so lany memories that were popping up for aubrie as we drive around her areas saturday morning someone she worked with went to the temple for the first time and we went to the session with him and many others from that ward along with several missionaries aubrie is close to what a perfect ending to her experience here sunday we raced to visit Tania who had been baptized a year ago and she had cooked a yummy dinner and shared some of the things shes experienced since aubrie was in her area one is that her mom passed away watching aubrie feel and show tania how sad she was for her and share comfort with her all in spanish i hope i never forget before we left many showed up for a birthday party and we ended up teaching a college aged girl about the book of mormon and aubrie had one we could give her her mom had turned and asked her (without us knowing)-how can we get one of those books-they were both so grateful to have one to read this morning on our way to the aiport we met Jose Luis who was a politician in Nicarauga

Last email to Jack and Aubrie

I don't want Robbie to feel anything at all, so I hesitate to say anything but I am just so proud of you Aubrie and Jack.  I think about both of you completing your missions and having done so with great efforts-so often every day lately.  You have both been converted and done so much good in DC and Mexico.  We are so excited to hug you too!  There was a man from our stake high council that spoke in sacrament meeting today and a few years ago one of their sons was cut off on his motorcycle and killed instantly.  Two policeman came to their house in the middle of the day to tell them.  As he shared about it a little one thing he said has left me thinking so much today. He said if I had the choice NOW knowing all of the things I have learned, felt, grown myself and as a family to go back and let him not die, I wouldn't chooseto go back and change anything.  I cannot wait to hug and be with my son again.  I CANNOT wait.  and I have never been more sure that I will.     I haven't experienced that same experience and I NEVER want to.  And I am just left thinking today about if I am that sure.  If I am that certain and filled with enough faith to truly trust everything that is part of Amber Jensen's plan that is still to come and allow the Lord's will to be my will completely.   One of the elders (Elder Boney) that has a beautiful, clear voice sang an arrangement that his uncle did of "How Great Thou Art".  He sang it like it was his testimony and not a performance.  It was so beautiful!  Life sure ramped up about one month ago (which didn't feel possible).  Dad is working FT at OC TAnner and PT twice with DBat (they are officially moving forward and getting started), and being Bishop. plus he just started coaching Lucas' baseball team. He is always thinking of someone or something it feels like his brain is always on overdrive.   Last night he arranged a fun dinner date with Wilkinsons (CJ and Haylee) and the Pendletons (Jaime and Matt).  CJ was just released from the stake presidency and Matt is the other younger bishop in our stake and it was needed I think for all of us. CJ got to the restaurant and was like "I HAVE FRIENDS???"  It was a fun night and I loved that dad arranged it.    We were thinking right before going to Spain that dad and I have 3 trips planned and he has another 10-12 for work, plus coaching, Dbat, work, I started working at Wasatch Charter teaching Spanish, we planned out the rest of the spring season and there is a tournament for volleyball or baseball almost every weekend through June. Then starts youth conference, FSY, girls camps, boys camps, etc.  Life is super full.  and Super good.   Bowen, Beck, Hallie, Paige and Blake are all going to FSY in Provo together which will be such a party.  I have to say getting to talk to missionaries every week has turned out to be pretty awesome.  I LOVE knowing all the people you are teaching and finding.  I get to feeling so invested in some of them and feel pretty fervent prayers that they will just use their agency and have a better life.    Blake taught the YM how to teach bread this last week and also has kept selling it this winter. It is his only source of income ;). Also, he invites the elders over for dinner most Sundays.  Its a good thing and hard to say no to. He was here at home Friday night with 2 friends and found a firework Robbie had left at the house months ago.  They called Elliot to come help them detonate it.  They drove to a parking garage and I told Elliott he had to be the one to light it up.  I'll have Blake send you the video.  I think his ears are still ringing.  I loved that Elliott came and hung out with him for a bit. I love that your friends (A&R) keep tabs on your siblings.  Hallie finally brought Ben over to the house yesterday so we could meet him.  He was easy to talk to and looked us in the eye. He seems like a really nice guy and very into mountain biking. They went on a long bike ride and then got a bunch of kids to go play wallyball at the rec center.   Lucas found on orbee gun at the store Friday that he wants to buy SO bad all of the sudden. and next thing I know he is sitting out in the snow in bare feet with a camping chair, his electric dirtbike and a wet 8-12 inch sign that says $100.  HE sat out there for an hour before giving up and told me when he came in, I need to help him sell it on KSL and had already set up his dirtbike on the lawn (like Robbie always did) and took pictures of it for me to add.   This sums up life with Lucas so well.  He is so cute, so smart and so unique in the way he thinks.  He is outisde right now trying to make a leprechaun trap.  Clara is a self-proclaimed knitting nerd. She is always crocheting something amazing.  She just made a bunny with a bow for Easter and is making Wicked Gnomes (Elspaba and Glinda) for grandma and is almost done.  they are amazing!  Spain was absolutely AMAZING!  I would make this email way too long trying to write all the things I loved about that once in a lifetime trip.  Being there with mom and dad and all the siblings/spouses was just the absolute best.  It was so so much fun and Menorca was especially just dreamy! The last day we spent the whole day on mopeds driving all over the island.  I attached a few pics.  I love you all so much. We have THEE greatest Family.   Sunday nights my heart often feels so full of the Spirit.  I am grateful for Sundays.  They feel so essential.  Jack, we will see you in 2 Sundays to listen to you and get to have you here in our house.  I cannot wait! And Aubrie we are counting the minutes till Thursday night at 8:00 PM when we pick you up at the mission home. Robbie, I got a really neat LONG message from Sister Millward in your ward.  She was raving about the good missionary you are and how much your conversations with their son seem to be helping him adjust to moving to Texas.  She asked when your birthday is and what your favorite treat and meal is so they can spoil you;).  I was so glad she reached out.  She is from Aubrie's mission area and even offered to let us stay at their family home when we go pick up Aubrie.  Nice lady!  Some of the pics are of Clara's murder mystery party which dad was a great emcee.  It was Panic at the Prom and Luau themed.  the girls all came in costume and it was a super fun party.