Welcome Home

The day my parents arrived home from their Minnesota mission we all met at a park in Alpine for a little reunion.  Someone had made this cute poster, and we all brought food for a big potluck dinner.  

After dinner we gathered together and listed to missionary stories and experiences.

Grandma and Grandpa brought little gifts home for everyone, including t-shirts for some of the grandchildren.

A big group picture at the end of the evening.  

It's My Birthday!

Happy birthday to me!  This has been a great year, possibly the biggest, busiest, most rewarding and exciting of my life.  Here is a little birthday interview I conducted with myself...

What were your biggest accomplishments this year?  Getting my daughter married and my son on a mission.

What was your most unexpected surprise?  President Monson's announcement that the missionary age for young men had been changed from 19 to 18.

What was your happiest moment?  Seeing Rachel's beautiful engagement ring and hearing all about how George popped the question.

What was your proudest moment?  Watching my son walk across the stage at the Marriott Center to accept his high school diploma. 

What was your most humbling moment?  Standing in the wedding line at Rachel's reception and seeing the loooooong line, the crowded room, and the mountain of wedding gifts.

What was your most spiritual experience? Watching my children make covenants in the temple that will bless them for eternity.

What was your most difficult experience?  At the airport watching my son walk out of my sight for the next two years.

What have you worked hardest at?  Planning a wedding, sending off a missionary, preparing for job interviews, and Primary President responsibilities.

What was your most exciting experience?  Braden opening his mission call.

What was your most fun experience?  Whale watching in Juneau, zip lining in Skagway, formal family dinners on the cruise ship.

What event would you most like to experience again?  Watching my son celebrate on the soccer field after his team won the state championship. 

What was your biggest disappointment?  Not getting a job offer this summer.

What was your most romantic moment?  Standing with my husband on the deck of the cruise ship in the moonlight. 

What will you remember most about this year?  Sincere joy and gratitude for my blessings.  It has been an incredible year.

Here's to turning 44!  May this year be as blessed at the one before!

Letter to my Missionary

So every Sunday night I write a letter to my missionary.  It occurred to me tonight that I should post these letters on my blog, as they will be a record of my life during the next 22 months!  So here is tonight's letter to my son. 

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Hola my wonderful missionary son!  How are you today, your second P-day in Honduras? We absolutely loved your last letter!  We were amazed at your description of your lifestyle in Ciudad Nueva.  What a crazy adventure you are having.  Can't imagine speaking a foreign language, living in a rain forest and washing clothes by hand!  I'm glad you have someone to cook a meal for you every day, at least we know you are not starving.  

We are doing well, we have had a busy week.  We had a house full of company on Wednesday.  Your cousin Hunter is starting school at BYU-Idaho, and Linda drove him out.  They stayed overnight at Billy's house on their way through, and we had a big Smith family get-together at our house with Billy, Josette, Charlotte and Layton, Linda and Hunter, Rachel and George, Sarah, Derek and Anna, Trevor, and Maggie.  It was great to see Maggie, she started at BYU last week, she loves it so far. Your name came up often!  They had all read your letters on your missionary blog and are excited about what you are doing.  We had a fun evening with all of them.  

Yesterday (Saturday) we spent the day in Preston at Grandma and Grandpa Kindred's house.  They will be home from their mission in a couple of weeks, and their house was in need of some serious cleaning after sitting empty for a year and a half.  Bryan sent an email to all my siblings inviting us all to come on September 14th to get some work done.  We weeded the yard, pruned the shrubs, dusted, disinfected, vacuumed, and wiped down all the surfaces.  They'd had a few mice move in, we found droppings in all the closets, drawers and storage areas.  Ick!  We worked hard all day and when we left last night it looked good and smelled fresh.  We were all very tired at the end of the day, but we know Grandma and Grandpa will appreciate coming home to a clean house.  It was fun to chat with everyone as we worked, again your name came up often.  They all said they enjoy reading your letters.

School is keeping us busy, Dad has an unusual schedule this year, he is teaching all health classes--no P.E.!  He is teaching a couple of "Medical Anatomy and Physiology" classes that he has to study for.  It is fun and challenging for him to teach in a classroom every day after spending 20 years in the gym!  I asked him if he misses the gym, he said yes, but he is happy for a change this year.  And he still gets his fill of gym time, he is spending a couple of evenings every week at Lehi for pre-season open gym.  He is getting to know the boys and says there is a lot of work to be done before the season begins.  

Stefanie is doing great, it has not taken her long to adjust to being an only child.  Our house is definitely cleaner and quieter, and we have plenty of storage space.  Another big change we have noticed is that we always have lots of food around!  It just doesn't disappear like it did when you were here!  Leftovers sit in the fridge and freezer for days!  It is strange.   

So here is a weekly sports update from Dad:  "Lehi football won their first region game in 6 years!  They beat Westlake on Friday night at Westlake, 34-16.  Everyone is excited because their record now stands at 3-1.  A winning season is possible!  My cross country team ran at the Herriman Invitational this week, everyone complained about the big hill.  My boys ran well, the girls were just OK.  There were 17 or 18 teams there.  A huge rainstorm came through during the girls' race, everyone was slipping and sliding through the mud.  BYU football had a bye, and last night Utah lost their Pack-12 opening at home in overtime to Oregon State.  RSL lost this week to Seattle.  They are now tied for first place with Seattle."

Well, my son, I think that wraps up our news for this week.  You are ALWAYS on our minds and in our prayers.  Let us know some specific things we can pray for that will help you the most.  Tell us your struggles and challenges so we can help to pray you through them.  Also, we would love to know the names of your investigators so we can pray for them, and so I can put their names, along with your name, on the temple prayer roll.  We want to help you any way we possibly can!  We love and miss you.  

Love, Mom, Dad and Stefanie

 (This is Braden's mission president and his wife, President Carlos and Sister Ana Hernandez from El Salvador, and companion, Elder Glassett.)

Freshman First Day

Wow, she is a freshman! How exciting!  Her classes this semester are World Geography, 9th Grade English, Second Level Math, Drama, Biology, Advanced Dance and seminary.  Hope she has a great year!

Back to School

School is back in session! Our first morning was so fun as we welcomed the students to Saratoga Shores Elementary. Students were treated like royalty as they walked the literal red carpet into the school.  Music blared as teachers and staff--dressed in orange vests and yellow hard hats--clapped, cheered, and gave high fives to each student as they entered the school. The smiles from the students were a joy to see...each child felt so excited and special! Our theme this year is "Building a Community of Learners", hence the hard hats and orange vests.  Our new principal also had a huge bulldozer brought to the school for a faculty picture in our orange vests and yellow hats.  It is going to be a fun year!

Obviously, I am still at Saratoga Shores as the music teacher.  Unfortunately, no full-time job offers came my way this summer.  But I have not given up!  Every interview gave me insight and experience. The feedback I was able to get was that I do not have enough experience in the classroom teaching math and literacy.  Frustrating, because I honestly believe that a dedicated, effective teacher is a dedicated, effective teacher, regardless of content.  I can LEARN the content!  And I KNOW that I am a good teacher.  I know my strengths, and I know what I need to work on.  So this year I plan to enroll in several professional development classes, and spend time observing and volunteering in various classes around the district.  Also, I was told by two different principals that I was a strong candidate.  That is encouraging.  So in the meantime I plan to be the best music teacher ever, and completely enjoy a stress-free year.  Cheers to the 2013-2014 school year!

See You Again