Singing in the Rain

Each week I email Bridger a letter and anxiously await hearing from him and seeing what happened during his week as he reads what has happened in ours. I still try to send him a written letter about every 2-3 weeks. These letters are usually little bits of advice or things from his life that brings back memories that I write about that may or may not help him when he receives the letter...no matter how long it takes to get him. No time letter, so it doesn't mean anything if it takes a long time to get there. So, today I pulled out a piece of paper and began my letter. I thanked him for taking time to write a letter to his dad. There is nothing that is more exciting than opening the mailbox and finding a letter from Elder Clayton. Bonus mail day in my opinion. So, I told him about that. How excited his dad is when he got that and even more so when he tells his friends and collegues about his son. Then I told him how much I love the picture he sent of him in his rain outfit/coat. As I was writing about it and everytime I think or see the picture I find myself singing the song, "Singing in the Rain" and remembering how happy it makes me as I hear the words in my mind. Today it made me think also about how in life, rain is always going to happen. Our job is to be able to learn how to sing and dance in it. Thank you Elder Clayton for teaching me a such a valuable lesson with such a fun picture.

December 2011

This was definately a different year with Bridger serving in Honduras. However it was awesome to get to talk with him. He was able to talk for about three hours that came and went all too quickly. He sounds awesome. Has an accent and spoke to us in Spanish we sounds amazing. It is a testimony to me how blessed he is to learn the language so quickly and be doing well. Here's a few of the pictures of the happenings that took place this month, most of the pictures are from my phone so they may be a little blurry, but my camera was having issues...

There's a picture or two of me as I'm never in any of them and so Caleb helped me out, and also the one of Zoie talking to Bridger on the phone. She didn't say much but her tail was sure wagging. She is still waiting for him after all...

Christmas Card Colliage

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is gettting the mail. I love sending Christmas cards and I love even more going to the mailbox each day and receiving them from our family and friends. I know with technology the way it is, so many are doing email or blogging their lives and foregoing cards...not me! I will always send them. It helps me to say thank you and let those people who are dear and close to our hearts know we are thinking of them, not just at Christmas but all year long. If I forgot to send you one this year, let me know as we are so blessed to have you in our lives. It wasn't intended...I promise.

Feliz Navidad

Sister Veirs posted some pictures on the mission blog and I was so excited to see a Christmas greeting with Bridger in the group. He looks so great and so very happy. Can't wait to talk to him...won't be long now. My chain is really, really short.

Christmas Tunes

Seriously is there anything better than they are. When I need to deep clean, need a pick me up or just to make me smile. Be it July or the day after Halloween, I love to listen to them. And come to find out Bridger is exactly the same. Enjoy the new playlist. Who knows it may be up for awhile.

He did get a few things from me after all. Some days I just miss him more than ever. Today is one of them...

A Family Photo...minus 1

I love to send out Christmas cards, it truly is one of my favorite parts of the holidays. In fact, I love to receive them. I put them on our door so as we come and go we can see our family and friends who have always meant so much to us. Love them!!!

This year I had a difficult time doing one. I have always done the boys together or a family pic, but I knew it would be different. Our ward put together a fun board at the Christmas breakfast and in preparation for this a family picture was taken. I am posting it just to have for my posterity and journaling sake, but still feels not quite complete.

I did get our card done, it's individual pictures of the boys, Stetson in NYC, Caleb with the catch of the day, and Bridger, Elder Clayton now in Honduras. It will be a couple of years before a real family Christmas photo is taken, but for now life is just as it should be. Elder Clayton blessing the lives of those he meets on his mission and us having the faith to pray and wait for his safe return.

Merry Christmas. I am off to make a countdown chain for Bridger's call...I'm such a nerd.

Happy Holidays from most of the Clayton Family!

Something Wicked this way Blows

Holy Cow! This week we had a real windstorm. Schools were cancelled, 30+ year trees were uprooted and if that's not enough, we are preparing for another one to hit this evening. We went to church this morning and our bishop read a letter to hold Sacrament meeting and then allow all to go home and batan down the hatches for the next one. Here are a few pictures of what took place at some of the areas around town. Some were without power for hours or even a few days. A great time to realize we all can be better prepared for if something big hits. We are very grateful to be protected and safe and able to help out our friends and neighbors with devastation that happened to them.