Stefanie told me her favorite part of cheer is stunting. She is on the bottom right.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Summer Parades
Stefanie loves Utah Peak Academy! It is a tumbling/cheer club for elementary through high school age girls. She goes to the UPA gym at least twice a week to perfect her gymnastics, tumbling and stunting. She performed in four parades this summer and will compete in several competitions throughout year. A couple of weeks ago her group performed in the Bluffdale parade. So fun! She did great.
Stefanie told me her favorite part of cheer is stunting. She is on the bottom right.
Stefanie told me her favorite part of cheer is stunting. She is on the bottom right.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Photo Booth Fun
And now it is just the three of us! Our house is a lot more quiet. But we are adjusting quickly to our new normal. We went to a wedding reception this evening that had a photo booth. What a fun idea!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Missionary Pics
A few weeks before Braden left I took him to "Camera Shy", a local photo studio and had his missionary pictures taken. I love them! I had a bunch of them printed, they are now on display all over my house, and on his missionary blog. Here are my favorites...
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Goodbye for Two Years...
We did not get Braden's travel plans until about a week before he was due to leave. I finally called the mission office and found out that he was scheduled to fly out on the morning of July 23, the day before the start of his mission. His flight departed at 8:20 a.m., we were instructed to be there two hours early. He looked so handsome in his suit and tie!
One last picture together. Glad it is a little blurry so no one can see my swollen red face and eyes.
We could only pray he found the right terminal and made it onto his flight. I may or may not be crying right now as I remember that bittersweet moment. This is what he later wrote about it...
We drove home and spent the rest of the morning and afternoon tracking his assigned flights and hoping he was on them! He had a layover in Phoenix, then on to Mexico City. I had constant phone calls and visits all day long, from sweet friends checking on me, wanting to know how it went and how I was doing. One friend even brought me flowers, so thoughtful! I cried off and on throughout the day, every time I thought of him or when anyone mentioned his name. It really was a long, exhausting, awful day. Thankfully my heart was lightened later that evening when this e-mail message from Elder Smith arrived in my inbox, it was titled, "I Made It!"
"Well I'm here in the MTC! Everything went as
smoothly as it could have. No long delays or lost baggage. I arrived with
five other Elders serving in the Tegucigalpa mission! They are all
pretty down to earth guys, and I think we will get along really well! I
can't believe I'm actually out here! It seemed like this was always
something that was coming, but was never going to get here. But I'm
going to make the most of it! I love you all very much! Thank you for
everything! Love, Elder Smith"
.
.
Hooray, he made it!! I was so glad when that day was over. And every day has been a little better.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Packing and Setting Apart
We spent the entire day before Braden left on his mission doing laundry, ironing and packing. His stuff was spread out all over the living room. Missionaries are allowed to check only two pieces of luggage, the maximum weight allowed for each is only 50 pounds. Wow, not much for two years' worth of clothes and supplies!
That evening we got dressed up for his setting apart with Bishop Erb and President Wilcox. Kent and George also stood in the circle. Braden was blessed with health, safety, and an abundance of the spirit. He was promised that he would be able to learn the language quickly and be blessed with the gift of tongues. He was counseled to have faith, work hard, to follow the mission rules. He was told that he would be an instrument in the Lord's hands to bring many people to the gospel.
Such an amazing experience, the spirit was strong. So proud of Elder Smith.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Braden's Farewell
No time to rest after Rachel's wedding, we had to get a missionary ready to go! His farewell was only eleven days later. We could hardly believe the number of people who came to support him, both overflow sections in the cultural hall were completely filled. His talk was outstanding, filled with humor and the spirit. Of course, all those who came to the meeting were then invited to our home for food. We served brunch with waffles, ham, fruit, muffins and juice. We had spent all day Saturday setting up tables, chairs and canopies in the back yard, and we were grateful for sunny weather so everyone could mingle and eat outside. Our house and yard were bursting at the seams as more and more people just kept coming! It was really humbling to again have that much support from family, neighbors, coaches, teammates and friends. I was kept pretty busy with serving and replenishing food, but I did manage to snap a few pictures here and there throughout the day.
I was hoping to get a picture of Braden with each person who came, but I realized pretty quickly that that would not be possible with groups coming and going constantly all morning and afternoon. I did manage to grab a few snapshots.
We could not have been more pleased with the day, and I'm sure Braden had to have felt an abundance of love and support. Overall it was just a wonderful, memorable experience and a perfect send-off for our missionary son.
I was hoping to get a picture of Braden with each person who came, but I realized pretty quickly that that would not be possible with groups coming and going constantly all morning and afternoon. I did manage to grab a few snapshots.
We could not have been more pleased with the day, and I'm sure Braden had to have felt an abundance of love and support. Overall it was just a wonderful, memorable experience and a perfect send-off for our missionary son.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Wedding Gifts
Hooray for wedding gifts!! A week after the wedding, Kent and I picked up the honeymooners from the airport. Even though it was after midnight, they wanted to come straight here to open their presents and cards. It took them until after two in the morning to get through them all! We couldn't believe the incredible generosity of all our guests, it took our breath away. Again we were overcome with gratitude. Our newlyweds are off to an amazingly great start. It is a good thing they have a YEAR to write out all those thank you notes!
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