April 3rd

It's conference weekend! Well, not till next week for us, but we're downloading talks already and I just watched the General Woman's meeting last night with Mary. The entire meeting was centered around service and helping the needy (refugees, immigrants, your neighbors). Not just fellowshipping new members or investigators, but building one-on-one relationships with those around you. President Eyring said that every person, even the youngest in attendance, had received inspiration during the meeting, a name of someone we could serve.

Maeser got back on Thursday night from Bangkok. He asked if he could stay a few more months. He had such a great time and I'm so glad that our family is cool enough to host an extra 4 year old for a week. Sarah is sick and still the best host. He went to the aquarium, a new "Mr. Jones" kind of place, and played with Violet, Winston, Max and Scooter all week.

Maeser is in a phase of comparison, after everything he does he asks "Was that fast? Faster than Abe? Faster than a vampire?" I was doing some push-ups/sit-ups while reading books with Scout and he said:
Mom, are you getting stronger than superman?
No.
Why not, When will you? I'm going to.

On Saturday morning Abe had baseball. We did great getting out the door with 2 of the 5 children and shoes on. I left Maeser at the door pantless and shoeless holding the puppy crying because it was time to go. When I returned 2 hours later he still hadn't forgiven me for leaving him. I guess we should have skipped baseball all together because by the time we arrived at the school we were late and didn't even bring Abe's ball or baseball mitt. (Redeeming moments at the baseball field: Abe's coach is awesome, and somehow the church came up in two conversations with non-member friends.)

Puppy is still nameless. My vote is still for Ruin or Regret.

Late writing!

This post is so late! I usually use Sunday afternoon's to write, but somehow it is already Tuesday afternoon!

We were in Vietnam last week, and not often near the computer or phone, and I am surprised at how often I get online to check emails or write a text. When I got back online on Saturday it seemed like a huge task to read my emails, write replies, check social media... and in all it was mostly a waste of time! I didn't really miss the contact during the week...

(Sleeping arrangements in Vietnam... How long do you think this lasted?)
We took the children to the beach in Vietnam for their school break. The beach was nicer than any beach we ever visited in Thailand. Beautiful, clean, shallow and perfect for children. And Vietnam has amazing food. I love vietnamese food, but because the French colonized it, there are small french bakeries everywhere! We brought 12 loaves of bread back with us (baguettes) and they are already gone! 

On our last trip down to the beach Maeser face planted- don't ask me how, it looks like he used a cheese grater on the side of his face. Less than 24 hours later and he fell outside, again, and had a goose egg that we were certain would result in a concussion. He looks horrible and I'm fairly certain still has a headache. Sarah just sent this message:

Dan had some meetings in Bangkok this week, and Sarah (still battling morning sickness and getting ready to move) was still inviting him to come. He was so excited to visit Violet.

He did his own packing the night before and put himself to bed. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

We had a small victory this week, we found a dog. Still working on her name. The short list:
Ruin
Regret
Sea of Stars
Sunday Silence
Eclipse
Crisp
Ruffian

All names of famous race horses... 

Scout can already say, "He's chasing me!" She doesn't like him very much yet, unless he's asleep.

On Sunday, in sharing time, we were learning about following the prophet- one of Maeser's favorite songs, but he only knows one verse and the chorus. Knowing there are more verses he usually comes up with new ones, wildly crazy and using names of his friends like: Violet was a prophet... Anyway, someone shared a story from their mission about following the prophet/MP, immediately. Basically, that late obedience is disobedience. Which is something my mother always said, but makes a better point when well illustrated.

Abe has been so diligent ever since. Strictly obedient and prompt the last two days. Can't wait to see how long it lasts. I feel so thankful for his primary teachers and others willing to share in the responsibility of teaching my children. 

Grandpa is back in Singapore. I think he has a long trip ahead of him, or several shorter trips based out of Asia. It is good to have him pop in on Sundays, he has a knack of finding the good/humorous moment in any situation. And he's a great story teller. Abe and Dan get the most excited for grandpa to come. Abe counts down the days.

Spring!

Not exactly a change in the weather here, but mom said Utah is finally thawing out. 

Dan was in Korea this week, he went on a crazy long run, because he can't read Korean road signs, and ended up running for 2.5 hours around Seoul.

Scout said a 5 word sentence today: Mary help me socks on.

Just putting Leprechaun pee in the milk. (Green milk for St. Patrick's day.)

Reasons Maeser got out of bed last night:

I can't sleep because my fingernails are too long.

I need a last drink.

I need a bandaid.

I can't go to sleep because Abe won't let me have his bouncy ball.

The highlight of the week was a note Dan got on FB from Ghana. The man was Dan's only baptism from tracting. It was encouraging. Keep it up, keep doing good.

Sunday March 13th

I'm making a fruit tart right now... and Dan isn't here to finish off the cream! Probably just as well though. (Somehow the strawberries and bananas all disappeared, so it's just blueberries, blackberries and grapes... everything is purple.)

I bore my testimony at church today, which doesn't happen very often. In Bangkok we usually had to speak at least once a year, and Dan would have to speak or bear his testimony monthly, so I didn't really get up during Fast and Testimony meeting.

As I got up, I had to find a seat half way up the chapel as someone else was already approaching the pulpit. It was so nice to sit on a quite bench by myself! I thought about saying "Psych!" and leaving Dan with all the kids... but I took my turn anyway.

I had a great letter from a European expat friend in Bangkok. She has started doing counseling and coaching for parents, she went back to school to certify because she has a strong belief in families. She asked for some essays on parenting or strengthening families. I explained that most of the stuff I read came from my church leaders... This is what she wrote: 

I would love to read your articles and essays. I like the approach your religion has toward family and the strengths that your beliefs are giving you. I always had the feeling that your Church tries to coach people through inquiry, motivating people to be better persons as much as they can.... So, please, share whatever is relevant for you that would help me growing.

It is the perfect setting to share so many truths! I am excited for her and hope she finds some direction through some of these conference talks... and maybe even the missionaries.

Outside of that, Dan is still a little creaky. He was walking around with compression socks on Saturday. 

I played a lot of board games with Maeser this week, and Mercy's favorite was playing target practice with one of the playmobile shooters. Moses has made great progress on his chicken pox, we even took him to church today. 

Oh, and Sarah put this awesome photo up on the family journal:

Chicken Pox, Ironman, Baseball and Scooters

How about highlights again. It was another week of normality, with a few exceptions. When Dan is out of town I take way more pictures. He gets a running feed of random stuff or meltdowns. It's gotta be nice knowing you're missing one of those. :)

It was just a flesh wound, no limbs missing, but I guess a leaf doesn't make the cut. I promise I will never leave the house without a bandaid again.

Phew! That moment when the house is TOO quiet and you don't know what chaos the children have created... #fistpump

Scout demonstrating correct hand placement for catch with a toddler. #poorpitch
During Abe's practice we played on the track and threw some balls around. Next week we'll take something softer than a baseball.

Dan, Sam and Hannah are in New Zealand for the Ironman. Sam just sent me a photo of Dan trying to get a drink from a drinking fountain...
All three (Darren included) raced well, Spencer Edwards also ran and got sick. He spent 3 hours in the medical tent after the race on an IV.

Darren was pretty hard to miss.

Moses got chicken pox. Could be worse. I don't think he feels sick. just a few blisters, and a good excuse to stay home for the week.

And Scout got a new scooter. Big news, I know. But it's like buying happiness. She and Maeser haven't argued over bikes all week. She's actually getting pretty good and scoots about yelling "On, set GO!" and "I win!"

We invited a less active family over for FHE later this week, she was just baptised.I think I'll let them come over and take home a batch of cookies with their new case of chicken pox.  😬

Leap Year!

Quotes from this week:

Maeser successfully doing bum-sits on the trampoline, "It's a Miracle!"

Scout enthusiastically ran in, "Mama, Mama! Ishburg ba da lashg me. Uh huh."

"Scout! How did you get out of bed?!"

"Uh huh."

"Did you get out by yourself."

"Uh huh." (Proudly runs back to demonstrate.)

Ugg, a new era has arrived.

Just said prayer for lunch, helping Scout.

Thank you for the food. "Food."

Please bless daddy. "Bless daddy."

Please bless Maeser. "Bless daddy."

Thank you for our house. "Bless daddy."

Please bless the food. "Bless daddy."

...

Southern dinner- fried chicken and waffles.

Leaving the ward Valentine party and Maeser in tears... "But Valentine wasn't there!"

Dropping a sorry Maeser off at school, "Can you come get me in just a little time? Before I have to talk Chinese?"

Mid February

Signed Abe up for a Chinese Tutor, it was a long 1.5 hour session. The tutor thought the lesson was supposed to be 2 hours. Poor Abe was so tired, he spent the whole time practicing tones... ba-, ba\, bav, ba_. It seems like nothing compared to what their peers are doing. Mary and Abe invited a friend over from church. He studies for two hours every night, after dinner! (He is Korean) An hour of english and an hour of math! The most disciplined and on task child I have ever met.

Our gardener disappeared... or is just avoiding our lawn. He just stopped showing up. Had a new guy come and cut the entire lawn with just a weed eater! It took him 4 hours. There is now enough cut grass in the back that the children throw it like snowballs. So itchy.

I got sick (starting to feel like Job).  I thought it was an itchy eye, turned out to be shingles! The worst, I could use an eye patch- one with skull and cross-bones preferable. Dan cancelled his trip to Korea this week, he's taking over the night feedings with Moses. I think that will do him in. :)

Mary got a letter in the mail from Denmark, postdated December 5th, it took more than 2.5 months to get here.

Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day. If Scout didn't have a little Cousin named Valentine who wore all of the cutest clothes with hearts on them, I'd say she was the sweetest little Valentine. But we just Face-timed with Derrick's kids and Scout will have to settle for second.

It was a great week, Abe was home sick with a fever for a few days, but I actually enjoyed it. He is so sweet and polite, even when sick. He read books to Maeser every day and Maeser preferred to read his scriptures with Abe over me. Abe also finished memorizing The Living Christ this week. The goal was to finish it by Easter, but memorizing comes so easily for him. He is still using prompts, but I think a couple more weeks will do the trick. I'm really so proud of him. Mary has been working on it too, she's just a paragraph behind.
Mary and Abe both came home from school with loads of Valentines. Mary didn't notice but one of hers had a little note saying to keep it secret. It was from Rhys! That kid. I know his parents are all for it, they would have had to take him to he store to buy the Valentine!

Dan spent several hours with Mary on Saturday, daddy-daughter date, and got her flowers. I wish she'd settle for having her dad as her Valentine for the next 10 years instead of secret admirers.

We also flew kites, made heart shaped pizzas and sugar cookies.

Moses has decided to stop taking long naps. Or any naps some days. I'm sure your days feel just as long or longer than mine. How is tracting? Are you knocking on doors yet? Any investigators?

I'm learning that the gospel is a very personal religion. Each of us progress at different speeds, understand at different levels and receive inspiration that can only be applied personally. Gospel principles that might be easy for me to understand are leaps of faith for others. It makes me think about all the different Sunday school and seminary teachers I've had. I'm so thankful they didn't try to make all of the students learn at the same pace or in the same way, and they never let me feel like I was learning the gospel any different than it should have been. That would have required a lot of guidance from the Spirit to enable them to be teachers to so many students. I need to be the same way for my children. Just the oldest three are so different from each other. That's where the Spirit really helps. The same FHE lesson will teach each of them differently if the Spirit is present. They will each learn what they need to know to strengthen their small testimonies.

Oh, and Maeser is finally 4! He tells everyone.

He started Chinese immersion preschool this week. He attends 3 mornings a week. On the first day I asked him if he learned any Chinese and he said: "They don't have any Chinese at my school." (The teachers speak ONLY in Chinese.) He loves it. His uniform is ridiculous, but he rocks it.

(Making valentines.)

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!