February 7th

The missionaries came over for dinner on Thursday night. They don't have a single investigator! And they aren't allowed to knock on doors. The only way they meet new investigators is through members or by riding buses and subways. But they might spend 6 hours a day riding the trains and buses and not get any future appointments. It sounds discouraging. It made me think about who I could introduce to the missionaries, but my world is so small at the moment. I don't go to school often, the children consume all of my time. I hardly go to the grocery store either. So 99.9% of my time is spent with my family or the girls I visit teach.

Yet, I know if I pray for a missionary experience I'll have opportunities, and then I should act on them. Hmm…

Maeser's birthday is tomorrow. He wants to go ice skating. Sounds miserable to me. Good thing I have an excuse to stay off the ice, someone has to hold the baby. Poor Dan, walking around a piece of ice with two toddlers wearing knives on the bottom of their shoes. Bring it on. Maeser would also like homemade macaroni and cheese for breakfast, peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and pumpkin soup for dinner. He's been planning for months.

 

Church today was only 1 hour (It is Chinese New Year) and it was such a great day. Maybe because I'm not getting much out of the remaining two hours of church at the moment, but coming home and putting 2/5 children down for a nap and falling asleep myself was just what the doctor ordered. Add fresh hot bread, dark chocolate and a family walk…

There is a tower out in the jungle/forest just behind our house. I've run there 3 times this week. I've been working up to this 7 story tower that stands about 2.5 miles in. I reached the tower on the second run, but didn't have the umph to walk up 6 flights of stairs. But I made it on Friday. It felt awesome, and the view was even better.

 

Just a few more:

Mary babysitting. A little precariously.

 

Watching a "scary" movie. Sisters are the best or at least make the best curtains.

 

Sunday walk and sticks.

 

Gardens by the Bay and hot dogs! YES, real hot dogs!

Letter to Dallin

I was called to our Primary, and I think the President is already regretting her request. I knew the calling was coming before Moses was born, but he came early and I was never sustained until my first Sunday back last month. I have totally forgotten about two of my assignments already.

I have felt so thankful for Singapore lately. I began running last week and it is such a beautiful place. I love running, even if there are a lot of long slow miles ahead. Even these first few miles remind me of how much God loves us. How strong our bodies can become and how quickly they can deteriorate if we don't nourish them. My first run out last week I took a trail and got turned around by a monkey. He wouldn't move off of the path! I came home and Dan commented on how short my run was. I guess you aren't supposed to act aggressive, show your teeth or make eye contact, all of which I had done. Consequently the monkey was standing his ground. Since then, I have made it much farther into the trails.

Dan and Sam finished their race last week. It was good prep for New Zealand in only 5 weeks! Dan said Sam is so strong. He thinks if he actually eats real food for the next few weeks he will perform well and leave Dan struggling to catch up. I think he was really glad to have Sam in Dubai, I probably should have gone to watch him race, but I don't think I'll be going to New Zealand either.

Monday Funday

Dan's half Ironman is in Dubai next weekend. Training at all hours of the day, or night.

Shoot me now. Until his full race in March I think he's training 10-12 hours a week.

This is the only photo I took of Mary and Abe this week. I just never remember to pull my phone out when all five kids are running around. We went to get some family pictures taken, all but Dan. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we just photo shopped him in.

My troublesome threesome.

These two spent a combined 4 hours in the tub today. Next time we'll fold away the rugs to facilitate a faster mop up.

Poke.


Scout turned 2 this week, right? It seems like Mercy has always been with us, I can't remember what life was like with Maeser being the youngest. Scout didn't really care that it was her birthday. She didn't even blow out her candles, and Maeser walked away with her present moments after she unwrapped it. (Probably didn't help that her parents bought her a toy airplane.)