un mitad de la familia

MOM: The house was semi-empty all week. Blake was on his week long 8th grade white water rafting Moab trip with Wasatch. It was epic and had decent rapids. They had competitions to see who could throw the most people in the water. They had duckies (small kayaks) if you wanted that experience for the rapids and Blake took full advantage. Camping under the stars. And the outfitter that ran the week for them apparently had amazing food. So basically Blake was living his best week in Moab all week. Aubrie spent all week at BYU for FSY training and loved it so much. She said "I can't believe I am getting paid for this". although there weren't any kids to be in charge of--it was mostly just a fun week hanging out with friends so there's that. Her favorite class she mentioned was with Brad Wilcox. He is an engaging speaker! At the end of the week her companion asked her if she wanted to go to sales in Idaho for the week and she left today to head up to Nampa to do sales for a week and then will start FSY down in Cedar. Aubrie knows how to hustle in life. It's amazing to watch her plan, execute and reach for the stars. Hallie was taking finals all week and is so glad to be done. She won't even go to school this coming week. They aren't taking attendance and she's taken all the tests/turned in projects. So she is loving life this weekend ;) Junior year is over! We met with her counselor and she is set for next year to graduate and get some good classes in too. Leah opened her mission call this week and is headed to Paris, France temple visitor center (via London MTC) in October. She seems soooooo happy about where and when! All the youth (and we took Clara and Lucas) went to the Syracuse temple open house on Wednesday. There is a temple open house constantly somewhere in the state of Utah it feels like the last year or two. It's pretty lucky to have so many temples that are kept sooo busy! I love when our younger kids get to see the inside of the temple and can ask questions and just know a little more where we are going. I told Lucas and Clara I was picking them up from school on Friday and heading straight up to the mountains to explore. I don't care where we go. they of course each invited friends. So, we had a full van. Stopped by in n out on the way up adn then went up Big Cottonwood canyon, picked a spot near the river and just explored and hung out for 1.5 hours. It was WONDERFUL! I will be doing that WAY more. (and they liked that we weren't hiking and they could climb, throw rocks, explore, try to catch fish in the river). Lots of yard work on Saturday (our garden, our roses and our lawn are just looking so good! I love what April and May do to the yard). Dad and I spent all of SAturday afternoon at Blakes double header baseball game. He pitched the whole first game and did a great job. Tyler has been hanging out this weekend and we all love when he is around. What a great guy and so attentive to Lucas, Blake and Clara. He is a great example too! Jack and Bricky came over for dinner tonight too so we got to enjoy all the nephews for a few hours. The Pratts had rented a soft serve icecream machine for their neighborhood walk about and we went over to get some cones after dinner. It was a perfect Sunday night in Utah. It really is a dreamy place in the summer especially! Chuck McHenry spoke in church today and told the craziest "ask to a dance" I've heard. He was newly married and his sister in law was a senior and she and her friends convinced him to dress up as Moroni and "appear" with flashlights pointing at him in the rooms of the boys they wanted to ask to the dance at like 1:00 in the morning. So they wake up to an "illuminated Moroni" standing over their bed and THEN, he "reappeared" another time in their rooms a few hours later (he said we stopped at 2 instead of going for the full 3 times). So elaborate and crazy. I was laughing so hard during church when he was describing it. We love you Robbie! Can't wait to talk to you. BLAKE: Hey Robbie it's been a minute since I've been able to send a message, but I had a ton of stuff happen this week. I had a campout for r stake and it was a lot of fun cause r Stake combined into another stake so there were lots of kids there. DAD: Yo Elder! Yesterday when we were doing all the yardwork that mom mentioned, the cutest thing happened that reminded me so much of you...Luke mowed the lawn for the first time! Seriously, he looked just like you mowing for the first time back in New Hampshire when you were his age. He loved doing it and ended up mowing the entire yard. He was so proud of himself. Watching him play PeeWall baseball, mow the lawn, ride bikes, etc. reminds us SOO much of you at that age. Luke idolizes you and emulates you. I added one cute picture below. For our young mens lesson today, Ryan Poulsen proposed doing a brunch at his house. It was actually a fun change of pace and allowed us to connect with the young men differently. Today we had Tyler, Jack, Brixton, and Elliott all over for Sunday dinner. It was fun to hang out with all of them. Just a solid group of guys. Blake pitched a great game yesterday in his team's lone win of the Memorial Day tournament. His team played in the gold division and faced some tough teams. In one game, a kid on the opposing team, "Tiburones Blue", hit two home runs on the only two swings he took. Our team intentionally walked him the next at-bat and gave him a respectful clap as he took first base. I wouldn't be surprised if that kid already has D-1 teams looking at him. D-BAT is heating up! Dave and I have been working on it much more after our regular jobs each day. We should have a signed lease any day at a location in South Salt Lake. One scripture I've particularly liked this week: D&C 49:27. The Lord will be in front of us, behind us, and in the midst of us and we will not be confounded/confused. This scripture even had more meaning when I looked up the meaning of a "rearward" in the context of historical battles (here's the Google meaning): In a military context, the term "rearward" or "rearguard" refers to the part of a force stationed at the back to protect the main body, especially during a retreat or while securing the rear from attack. It's essentially the defensive or delaying force.

Spring has Sprung

Brim with Joy moments:-The night of Hallie's 17th birthday--we had just gotten back from the base jumping place (that was her gift to go do a base jump experience in VR) and Aubrie jumped in to join her at the last minute.  Its an exhilarating experience.  We had homemade brownies and icecream and Hallie opened a present from Aubrie which was to go to Provo Friday afternoon and stay at Afton's apartment, have a spa afternoon, go to dinner, and then go country swing dancing and then spend the night and hang out.  The kids were just all telling stories and jokes in the living room and I was laughing so hard.  It was hard to put the younger kids to bed because I didn't want the night to end.  I think I finally wrapped up and put them to bed at 10:00.   -Aubrie made sure that I went with her to the temple on Friday after school hours.  She pushed for it and on our way we stopped at Sheleys house to pick up food co-op box.  Shelley was outside in her Sunday clothes talking having just come froma funeral.  She said "can I jump in your car and go with you?" so she ran in and got her temple bag and literally jumped in the van.  The wait for initiatories was about 1.5 hours and we both needed to pick up kids so the three of us decided to just go sit in the celestial room for 30-40 minutes.  Having just come from teaching very rowdy 2nd graders and feeling so overstimulated I felt so peaceful in the celestial room. Also in a conversation with another teacher she told me that a helpful tool as teachers is to view each child as if they are 20--with all this potential to get there.  It eases the worry of the bumps or challenges they are currently experiencing. I loved sitting there and thinking about each of our kids individually and where they will be when they are 20.  What they will be doing, what they wil be like and how our relationship will be. It really does ease some of the worries that are not helping me in my relationship with them.  -It was a much more simple weekend than it has been in awhile.  BLake was at a YM campout at Yuba Lake (they fished and swam in freezing cold lake water and stayed up wrestling and talking), Hallie and Aubrie were down in Provo partying and dad and Clara asked to have 8-9 girls over to do Karaoke and watch a movie.  So Lucas, dad and I were relegated to a laptop on our bed and we watched Big Hero 6 with Lucas and I think it was fun for him to have us all to himself.  Saturday morning we all slept in, Clara (and Abby) had a soccer game (and she contributed at midfield like I have never seen her play before, usually she prances around the ball and avoids aggression, but not yesterday! she can run forever so midfield is a good spot for her) and then Lucas had a soccer game--he and Jacob play together and they love their soccer games. We came home and finished planting the garden (we are doing potatoes this year for the first time) and mowed, put mulch down etc.  Then all the kids left to varying parties or game nights and dad and I are sitting in the living room and I looked at dad and started laughing.  It was such a weird experience.  So he read his talk to me for ward conference today and we talked about that, and then showered and went to 5 Guys for burgers. HA!  -This morning Aubrie reported to the high council about her mission.  We were laughing on the way home about how the door opened and we walked in and 15 men all stand up to welcome us and it's a little intimidating;)  She shared 2 experiences about Jose Luis and Tanya and then shared her testimony.  I loved listening to her share her heart.  And Aubrie is just so grounded and finds such easy ways to talk to people and share/listen.   Lowlights:-I woke up this morning and was traumatized immediately. i went to the bathroom and walked back to my bed and noticed some dark spots--my brain finally registers that there are 4-5 small roaches in the bed and I woke Ryan up yelling. I knew that Blake had put them there and probably had gotten them from YM camp and that they arent real but I still cant. I brought a garbage can from the bathroom and Ryan is trying to wake up enough to get them into a pile to move them.  They just look SOOOO real! I finally convinced myself to lay back down.  The next time I got out of bed, I saw another one I had been laying on for an additional 20 minutes.  I can't get my brain to fully realize they are not real and now I can't make my bed and I am going to have to wash the sheets today.  I hate cockroaches more than anything in this world.  and Blake doesn't know what is going to hit him today.  I am going to think of the best payback.  Spiritual Nuggets:-D&C 50:24  That which is of God is light and he that receiveth light ad continueth in God, receiveth more light and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. I really liked learning more about light this week and how it operates and all the common principles to light as an energy and then spiritual light. I shared this with Aubrie and robbie this week but here are 4 principles about light that have been good to mull over as it relates to God's light. There are so many layers of symbolism.-Light has directionality (if I am in a pitch black dark cave and someone walks in with a flashlight and shines it directly into my face it does not help me to see anything.  I need to take that light into my own hands and shine it around me to have greater sight)-Darkness is literally the absence of light.  It is not an energy and there is no way to create an actual darkness.  It is just absence of light. -you cannot store light. There is no device or medium that could possible store it.  -Light can only be generated (and it has to be generated from some other source of energy) Light is the fastest moving source of energy.  We feel so happy whenever we get to talk to each of you.  There is so much missionary love (not missionary work is what our stake president says) emanating from each of you in different ways. 

G=>^+V

Many highs and lows this week. Let's start with the highs: Taking a ferry ride to Sado Island with grandma and grandpa--which ended up being a beautiful sunny day and I loved driving around and seeing the grape orchards, rice fields and this very cool old fishing village. The cliffs up on the north west of the island were volcanic and rocky and the ocean was so blue. We got to tour a gold mine underground (very cool!) and I also loved getting to look all around a few traditional Japanese homes, all open concept, always sitting on the tatami mats and cushions etc (that was basically grandpa and grandmas first apartment in Japan years ago). I really enjoy meeting new people. WE met people from Brazil, Canada, several from Japan, missionaries from all over the US, a woman whos parents wanted to send her to college in the USA and were concerned about her safety. The chose SNOW COLLEGE! of all places, and she ended up learning about the church there and getting baptized and later attended BYU -Provo. Her husband is the branch president in Niigata, we met two "girls" north recent BYU graduates that were traveling around Korea and Japan together and one of our neighbors who is Japanese was on our same flight home and we drove her home from the airport and just got to know her so much better. I love people so much. I love their stories and interests etc. I have so many thoughts, memories and experiences that I loved about Japan. I am so glad we got to go together with grandma and grandpa and see them there and speaking Japanese and understanding the culture so well (After just hearing about it for the last 20 years). Life highlight. Tara and Dan and Cole were sealed in the Draper temple Saturday morning. It was a beautiful day. So many people we love were there and it was such a strong spirit in the sealing room. And Tara finally looks pregnant ;). Brandon and Janae and kids stayed here at our house a few nights and it felt so full and good to be around so much family in the temple and after. Lucy flew up from Dallas and most of the aunts and uncles were there and lots of cousins/spouses. Sunday School today was excellent. Eden Ellingson was teaching and one of the things she said was that our ward tries so hard and is highly successful at "being one", trying to create a Zion-like culture. Our ward is just such a blessing. I love the down-to-earth nature of so many in our ward, the diversity of life experiences and the very quiet consecration that is happening all the time. She asked us "what is something you have sacrificed in your life for things that are better?" And that is a good exercise to think about that and write it down even. Eden said "I have never been sad at something I have sacrificed when the decision was made through prayer." Aubrie did a beautiful job with being mom/dad for 10 days. They raced through the Book of Mormon (we barely made it home in time to not miss the last chapters of Moroni). Aubrie is so dialed in on whats most important. It is inspiring! She was patient with the kids and tried to really connect with them. we are so grateful she was able to do that! She is now Sandie's favorite person too! Lows: Ryan's cousin Jenny reached out while we were in Japan and asked Ryan to give her kids a blessing--he ended up calling her during church when we were in Japan because it seemed like she was not doing okay. They are pretty far apart in age and it was random that she contacted him, but also we had seen her recently together and maybe that helped with her reaching out now. She has had a very complicated marriage and also divorce and her ex-husband hasn't made life easy since the divorce either. She went into cardiac arrest a day later and was without oxygen long enough that she didn't ever wake up from it and the family gathered to say goodbye and take her off life support. Her parents said she died of a broken heart. Everyone is struggling a lot with how she has been treated by her husband, for her kids that will now not have her to raise them, and just how sudden and unexpected (she was 32) she passed away. Her funeral is this coming week. Not even on the same wave length as Jenny passing away but there has been so many feelings of concern or just wondering if we are parenting how we need to be. Watching each of our kids struggle in different ways as they are "growing up" and "learning heaven", sometimes feels like everything is okay or "normal" and sometimes I feel so at a loss of how to help. I was glad to have fast Sunday today to think more, pray more and feel more focused. I also do not know how to help our life slow down. As soon as I think I figure it out, then something else pops in. It makes me feel like I am not being deliberate enough and I am not sure how/if/what to prioritize to change that. It is SO full. Robbie, I am glad you got your suit, hopefully it fits ;). We just love thinking about what you are doing every day and the people you are meeting and choices you choose every day. I couldn't love the experience you are choosing to have any more than I do! I am grateful that chose to be a missionary right now and that you are investing everything to your call. We miss you so much AND are so glad you are in Texas being a consecrated missionary. You are exactly where you should be! Love you all muchisimo! Mama/Amber

Arigatogozahimasu

It’s been quite the week. I don’t know how to put it all in an email. After traveling for 27-28 hours we arrived in Tokyo. We spent 4 days there (2 with randy and Karen and 2 by ourselves) and then took the Shincansen (bullet train) to Niigata where grandma and grandpa live and serve. Much much smaller city. Some highlights: -Seeing rice farmers prepare rice fields in the country. We are in golden week here which is a lot of holidays and it’s timeFor planting. So they’re prepping with tractors pushing the soil under the water. I’ve never seen anything like that before it’s been so interesting driving in the country. -We went to an alpine village at the base of Mt. Yahiko. We took a tram up the mountain and hiked along the mountain for a ways. It was just perfect. The weather, the views etc. so dreamy. There is a large shrine in the mountains surrounded by huge cedar trees. -watching sumo up close. We didn’t know the religious significance that it came from and all the rituals a part of it. We spent 2 hours in a sumo stable to watch them do their morning training. They don’t eat breakfast and train for several hours. Eat an all protein lunch, drink a lot of beer and sleep right after to increase their weight. Most live only till 65 because of the lifestyle. -Tokyo skytree was amazing. It’s the tallest tower in the world. And third largest structure (behind Dubai) and you can stand on a glass floor and see down. My heart was racing but I had to do it. -talking (or doing our best) with people is one of our favorite things. We ate pizza with a Brazilian couple one night in a little bar pizza place. , we spent dinner in Osekis home eating Katsu chicken (absolutely delicious), met a horse racing announcer in the park and we talked with her for an hour probably. -I have yet to see bikes or motos or anything locked up. It feels safer here than any place I’ve ever been. Totally safe. We have seen 5 year olds walking to school alone or taking the subway -Tokyo temple session (we went there 2 hours from the airport and it was hard to stay awake but so good to be there) -scooter and bikes all around the Imperial Palace. -and lots of figuring out the subway in Tokyo. I think we finally got it down. There is so much more but I’ll end my epistle. It’s been a wonderful trip (dads dying to go see baseball here and Ohtanis picture is Everwhere:)) We have talked with lots of missionaries and as always it makes us think of all of you. I can’t wait to serve another mission. There is so much good happening everywhere in the world. The Church is moving forward in our own sphere of influences. I have been trying to read CS Lewis’s book Screwtape letters on this trip. I can’t stop highlighting in the book! I’ll send some thoughts next week from it. We love you!! Talk soon!! Mama