The Last Email...

I sat here at the computer tonight and wrote my last email to Bridger. Tomorrow is his last pday as he will return home on Saturday. I could not hold back the tears as I thought of how badly I want him home and yet it breaks my heart to know that a big piece of his heart will remain there in Honduras and I don't want it to be over for him. For two years he has known exactly what to do each day and now things will change. I knew that this young boy that we sent out into the world would change, I just didn't realize just how much I would grow throughout this whole journey. I have learned so much about faith and exercising what I have believed my entire life. I know that I could not possibly send a boy to a far away land, which is not the safest place in the world without knowing that someone who had a perfect visual of him would watch over and protect him and us every step of the way. There's a video that has surfaced on the internet of a mom that doesn't make it to the airport on time. It's is very touching and made me realize my turn is almost here. I can hardly wait until I see him step into my view. Will I run, will I freeze, will I know exactly what to do. All I can tell you is that I can hardly wait to wrap my arms around him and give him a hug.  A hug I have waited to do for exactly two years ago from the day we left him at the MTC to start this adventure.  March 16, 2011 was the last time I hugged that boy, who is now a man. Stay tuned...

 Love him so much, and thank heavens I think he really does love his mom!

He loves his area, Roatan.  Seriously, how could you not?

Another Called to Serve...

Well, it is official. Stetson has been called to serve in the Mexico Monterrey West Mission.  He enters the Provo MTC on June 12.  Am I ready to send another so soon...



He couldn't be happier.  He now has a blog, too.  Go ahead and check it out.  Many more pictures and the post here:  www.elderclaytoninmexico.blogspot.com

It's been a wonderful month.  Valentines brought me a wonderful surprise of a dozen red roses.  People say that flowers are a waste of money, but I would have to differ.  I love them.  Nothing like a fresh bouquet to remind you of the finer things of life and that someone cares about you.  Even though they don't last the reason and the message sent with them, do.

I have felt truly blessed this month in particular and can see the hand of a loving Father in Heaven in my life and those that I love.

 Celebrating with Abby, Stetson's long time best friend

 Gotta love, Costco chocolate cake

 A surprise package from Bridger, and it all arrived safely.

 Birthday dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  I think this is our seating arrangement everytime...ha-ha.

Talking to Bridger in Spanish.  Permission was given and it was fun to hear his voice, even if it was only for a few minutes.  Pretty soon we will hear it often as he returns in 20 days!!!

Life is good.  And if I didn't have such a firm testimony and faith and in all that I believe it would be harder than it already is.  But, it is an honor to send these boys out into the world to testify of our Savior and the promises given to all.  Just wish it went faster sometimes.  Love my boys so much, I guess that's why tears flow freely and all too often.  

Another Year Older & Wiser Too...Perhaps...

Today was my birthday.  I'm not one to usually post about my own birthday, but today was worth posting.  It was President's Day and so as luck would have it, no work, no school, nothing really going on.  I woke up and headed to the gym, just like any other day.  However, I was able to sleep in a little and it felt nice to be able to go to the gym when the sun was up.  I came home and Caleb made me breakfast with notes attached to the toast and Crispix cereal he brought me.  Then the day just progressed pretty much as normal.  Being that it is Monday means it is Bridger's pday and I anxiously awaited being able to try and catch him online.  About 1:00 his weekly email came in, and this time a bonus email just for me.  I wanted to post this email, not so any who follow this will think I'm such a great mom, but mostly for you to see just how much the little things mean to your kids.  As I read this with tears streaming down my face I realized that I did the best that I knew how and I think just being there was worth more than anything I could have given him.  I love my boys.  All I ever wanted to be in life was a wife and a mom, today was definitely a huge bonus for being a mom.  I couldn't have asked for anything more.  Enjoy...


Mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I can't believe its already the 18th of February that seems so crazy to me but I wanted to take a minute and write you a letter and tell you how thankful and grateful I am to have you for a mom in my life. You have aways been there for me i was thinking back to the South Davis Jr. High basketball tryouts...(what bull crap right) anyways i just remember i felt like the whole world had fallen down because that was my dream that is what i wanted more than anything i think the best word to describe me that day is...devastated. All i remember after is calling you and you coming fast to pick me up and help me man things so small have changed my life forever. I think about the time my car was stolen and you went  with me at 3 in the morning to the Beverly Hills of salt lake to get it with me. I was ticked honestly i know you know after dropping it in rusco i was mad and you told me everything would be ok. How did you know that i have no idea you definitely saw farther than me that night. And i have thought about these almost two years and how you have been behind me and been my strength when i have needed it most. To go to Internet every Monday and read your emails fills me with a spirit indescribable I love you mom  I really do and i will ALWAYS be there for you too.I have carried a sticker of Winnie the Pooh and the saying with me my whole mission so that you could be here with me as well. I hope we make  it back to Honduras one day that you can meet these wonderful people they are amazing. There are some places we definitely cant go for safety reasons haha but it is all good. I have never really been worried about me in my mission but more than anything you guys at home that you have all the needs and that everything is good. Anyways i love you so much i hope to catch you for a second today and wish you a Happy Birthday i love you and well cant wait to see you and give you a hug. Even though i don't really have the desire to leave Honduras everything will be good i know like they say come what may and love it.

Love Elder Bridger Clayton

We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner and then Stetson bought us a treat at Nielsen's.  I am so blessed and fortunate.  I'm not sure what I ever did to deserve to have all boys but one day they are going to make a few girls in this world very lucky.  I love them all so much, all four of them!  Wayne's pretty awesome, too!

Help, I've Fallen...

The weather here lately is ridiculous.  We have had more snow than we have had in years, and this last week was a crazy frozen rain storm.  I don't remember this ever happening.  It looked like things were just wet, but it was pure ice. Thursday was crazy.  We were encouraged to stay home and to be honest, it was just easier to stay home and enjoy some family time.  It really has been too cold to do anything, and I think I am not alone when i say I'm growing tired of it.  Yesterday I went to do the usual weekly weigh in's at SpankyS for the Biggest Loser competition.  As I got my stuff together and started to head into the deli, I stepped on the sidewalk only to have my feet slip out from under me and I fell.  I landed probably hardest on my elbow and thought I was fine.  As I was weighing people I felt like my elbow was quite sore and I pulled up my sleeve only to find I had a huge hole there. It wasn't really bleeding that badly, but you  could see all the way to my bone.  I finished up and headed over to my friend's house who is a nurse and she tried to liquid bandage it, but after a couple of hours I decided to send a picture to my doctor brother.  When he saw it he said it should most likely be stitched and he'd meet me in his office.  So, despite the fog, another awesome weather issue we are dealing with headed up to his clinic.  He is the best.  He makes it as comfortable as possible and I now have seven stitches.  One on the inside and six on the out.  Who knew just how much you use your elbow until it hurts to bend it, but all is well.  It could have been so much worse.  But, of course here's some awesome pictures for all to see.  Enjoy...

Not sure if I should have it stitched or not

 

 The numbing is the worst part, but he has some magic freezing stuff that makes it not too bad!

 Cleaning the wound

 Me and my awesome brother and Dr.  He truly is the best!

This is how I had to shower this morning, it's awesome.

Hope it heals quickly, I'm not very patient when it comes to this kind of stuff, and I better still be able to go to the gym or I'm really going to be bugged.

Let it Snow, & Snow, & Snow...20 Inches

I think last year's no snow was holding off for this year.  It started snowing on Thursday and didn't stop until almost noon Saturday morning.  At least 20 inches and in some places several more.  They called at 6:00 a.m. to let us know there would be no school on Friday, which I don't remember ever happening and we all watched it pile up.  What a great time to be a kid, I'm sure sales that were almost nonexistent last year were booming these last couple of days.  Here's a few pictures to show you just what I'm talking about.  It sure is beautiful when the sun comes out however.  And it truly makes me grateful for a nice warm house to hunker down.

Resolutions - A New Year

Every year we have New Year's and I have to decide if I want to have a few resolutions.  This year was no exception.  I have toyed with the idea of what I want to do make this year memorable.  A couple of years ago a friend of mine started a Biggest Loser competition.  It promised to give the winner a few dollars as well as lose weight and get healthier.  I was in.  I did not win, however something sparked in me and I decided to start my own rounds of this competition. It has been a long process, but a good one.  I have continued to get healthier and my goal is to have Bridger be surprised when he comes off the plane.  So, yesterday we started a new round, Round 11.  I tend to think the 11 is symbolic for two skinny poles, I am hoping to be at goal at the end of this round.

I love Music and the Spoken Word.  They always know how to say just what needs to be said.  I love their message last week, so I included it here so I can remember it.  2013, the year I finish what I started.  I'm going to start running this year, be at a healthy maintainable weight and just be a better me.  We will see.  Stay tuned...

Resolve for a New Year:

The prospect of a new year can give us a sense of opportunity, possibility, and purpose. We feel more determined to try a little harder, reach a little farther, and somehow do a little more. What before may have seemed out of reach suddenly enters the realm of possibility when we resolve with newness of heart.

Some time ago, a young adult discussed with his roommate the fact that he was not a "morning person.” He explained that for as long as he could remember, he had never been very cheerful in the morning. His roommate simply replied, "If you don’t like that about yourself, why don’t you change?” The young man responded with feelings of doubt. "I’ve just always been this way,” he explained. "I can’t change that.” But his roommate persisted, "Why not try?”

And so he did. Sooner than he expected, the young man really did change. With some determination and effort, he found that he could be as pleasant in the morning as he chose to be. Of course, he had occasional lapses, but by and large, he became the "morning person” he never thought he was. The hardest part, it turned out, was convincing himself that he could change.

Some day we might look back on our lives and wonder what we could have been if we had believed in ourselves just a little more.1 As we do, we will also see how even small changes—seemingly insignificant decisions—set our course and shaped our lives for the better. If we want to be, we can be better parents, better friends, better neighbors. We can be more patient, more forgiving, more cheerful—regardless of how we may have been in the past.

May this time of newness deepen our resolve to focus on the things that matter most, to live and love more fully. May it be a season of renewal and reflection as we strive to become the person God knows we can be.

Catching Up

This month has seemed to fly by and I was thinking how funny it is that years ago we locked up our diaries and never let anyone read them.  Now we blog about our lives and the entire world can read about what is happening in our lives.  Strange, and yet I enjoy following so many of your blogs.  I only hope someone is reading mine.  Here are some of the highlights of our month.  In no particular order...

 Santa stopped by our family party.  This is truly the real Santa.  He knows all about our family and we look forward to seeing him every year.  

 Never too old to sit on Santa's lap.  Asking for a new hat, that's easy!

 Caleb's turn, all he wants is a laptop...we will see about that one.  Hope Santa delivers.

 Due to bad weather we stayed in Bountiful for Christmas eve and went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner.

It did not disappoint.

 Stetson had a little mishap with slick roads and a curb.  Nothing a few $$$ can't fix.  Bummer!  It's been nice having him hang around home more however.  So, I'm not complaining.

 Coming out of a yummy dinner at the Blue Lemon.  Didn't make it to see the lights this year at Temple Square so here's a few pics I took on the way to the concert.

 Walking back to the car parked in the plaza at the Church Office Building we had the entire plaza to our selves.  Love this temple so much.

Brett returned home from the Australia Brisbane Mission.  Next one to return is Bridger...Hooray!!!

Highlight of my month was seeing Donny & Marie's Christmas Concert.  It was awesome.  I have always been a huge Donny fan, and now even more.  I am hoping to plan a trip to see him again in Vegas.  It was so FABULOUS!  I bought the ticket for myself, but thanks to my good friend Eileen, she let me tag-along with her girls so I didn't have to go alone.  I really didn't mind sitting alone and I would do it again in a heart beat.  I know he looks a little stiff in this photo, but I'm sure he was exhausted after such an amazing show.  You might say it's Puppy Love, but whatever it is, he is still wonderful!