sunday already

My parents arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday night... We played cards, stayed up late talking and when we woke up this morning it was Sunday. I hate it when that happens. We had so much fun. My oldest brother Greg and his son, Nate, tagged along too. The men spent most of their time at the basketball tourney and my mom and I hung out with the kids. We enjoyed the sunshine at the park, went to story time, played lots of games, read stories, ate ice cream, challenged each other in Rook & I took a nap every day. It was such a relaxing week.

We said goodbye to them this morning. They left as we were driving off for church (or so I thought). When I came home, three hours later, my dishwasher was steaming from being washed, bread was rising on the counter, chicken was baking in the oven and potatoes were peeled and diced in a pan-- ready to be boiled and mashed. I just love my mom for going the EXTRA mile every time she comes. She does so much for me. My dad left some essential oils on my mantel along with a $20 bill (just in case they drank some of our milk). This was their last visit to Vegas before they make the long trek to Chile. My eyes are moist just thinking about how much I will miss them!

I have lots of pictures to upload and stories to tell, but I can't do it today. It's Sunday and my family is all home together so I will spend my time where it's most valued. My heart is so full because I have been the recipient of so much good lately. Our relief society lesson today was on SERVICE and I couldn't help but think about the wonderful examples of service I have in my life, beginning with my parents and grandparents, extending to my in laws & siblings, and not excluding my neighbors who have become family when we live far away from home...

This week, I received a box from Jason and Suzanne who were our neighbors while Aaron attended law school in Spokane, WA. We lived by each other for only a few short months, but that was long enough to know they were friends to keep for a lifetime. Anyway, this week, they sent me a package (for no good reason at all)... and inside was THIS. Without getting too emotional-- yes, I cried when I opened it-- let me say it is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. It has left me speechless for a few days... and that's not something that happens easily. I feel absolutely overwhelmed with all of the service that has been rendered in my behalf recently. I am surrounded by wonderful people and I feel so blessed.

Lots of QUALITY pictures and funny stories to be shared soon! But now, I must sign off to play Uno. The children are calling and I can never resist a good card game.

the call is in....

My parents have been called to....

(wait for it)

CHILE, Concepcion!!

I listened on a conference call with a bunch of my siblings.
After my mom read the call aloud,
my dad said, "That letter was addressed to me.
Here's yours. See if you get called to the same mission..."

She's going to Chile, too.

They enter the MTC in May!

SNL's plan for managing your debt.

In response to my last post, my brother sent me a link to this 2 minute SNL skit. I can't find a way to post it on my blog, but you can watch it here.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/1389/saturday-night-live-dont-buy-stuff

It's so funny because it makes us all look so stupid!

I hope they call me on a mission....

I am Mormon. And my parents are too. They have been waiting several weeks for their mission call... and it arrived TODAY! They will open it at 2:00 this afternoon and I can hardly wait another minute. Everyone will gather at my sister's home in Riverton and those of us who can't be there in person will be on the telephone anxiously waiting to hear where they will serve for the next 18+ months. They are leaving us all behind and they are thrilled about it. So are we.

After they open their mission call, they will hop in their car and drive to Las Vegas. I get to see them tonight. I just put clean sheets on the guest bed and feel like time is at a stand still. How can it only be 9 AM?? We are all so anxious! Yesterday, my brother started an email chain with suggestions of where they will be called... My mom added a note to the chain and it said this:

"I want you all to know I love you and am proud of every last one of you!! We wouldn't be able to go and serve if our kids weren't responsible and supportive! I think we will be either in Atlanta, Las Vegas, or Detroit! I am so looking forward to reading that call!! Love you, Mom"

Last night I went to bed thinking about my parents and my childhood. They are the two most selfless people I know. They spent 40 years raising children and the very MINUTE their last child was married off, they put in their mission papers. If they can't be serving in one way, they will serve in another. I am so proud of them and so excited for them.

I get a little emotional thinking about the sacrifices they made financially to be in the place they are now. Some couples are debt free because they make a lot of money and are able to meet all their needs because they get paid well. This has never been the case for my parents. How they raised a large family on my dad's single income is literally a miracle. But it goes much deeper than that. When the children started leaving the house and they had the ability to splurge a little, they never did. Seven of their ten children served missions and more than once they had two missionaries out at a time. I remember my dad telling me that when a missionary came home, he still budgeted like they were out, and instead of giving themselves a little freedom, they put that money into savings. There home was paid of as.soon.as.possible. They have never driven "nice" cars or spent money on big family vacations although I think we all deserved it :) Instead, my parents planned camping trips in the mountains just 30 minutes from our house and went to sleep knowing that they had money in the bank.

I think we all credit my dad for being such a wise planner. He always knew where every penny was going... and he educated us to SAVE enough until we had money to purchase something. Credit cards were not an option-- for anyone in our house. I honestly didn't even know student loans existed until I got married. Borrow money to go to school? No way. You work you butt off to get a scholarship and anything the scholarship doesn't pay for, you find a way to come up with the money. Get an extra job, live at home, sell your belonging, but don't borrow. My dad didn't preach but showed us by example.

So even though my dad got a lot of the credit, there is NO WAY my parents would be where they are today without my unselfish mom. My mother never spent a penny on anything unless it was absolutely necessary. She is the queen of coupons. She never complained about living on a budget and she was my dad's #1 fan. She always supported him and when he told her not to spend, she wouldn't. I can't tell you how many times people would say to her, "You're so lucky you don't have to work... we could never live off of one income." But I don't think she was lucky. She worked hard for her position at home. She gave up everything and cooked homemade meals with a budget others would laugh at. We were poor? Yes, we were, but we didn't know it because my mom always told us how rich and blessed we were. And that was our reality.

My dad was unemployed several times. He got a job traveling during the week and was able to come home every other weekend. I remember those days, but can't imagine what my mom went through with a house full of kids and no husband (and no money). During my middle school and high school years, I knew my parents were struggling.. so as soon as I could, I got a job and earned my keep. At 14, I had two jobs... and paid for my school lunch, registration, school pictures, you name it. I didn't dare ask my parents to buy me new clothes or the latest gadgets. Was it hard on me? I am sure it was, but it prepared me for early years in married life. For the first 4 years of marriage, Aaron and I got through school while making less than $10,000 per year. We had two children and didn't take out a single student loan. We had zero debt going into law school. And on our ten year anniversary, we congratulated ourselves for never carrying a balance on a credit card.. not one month, ever. You can make it while making a sorry paycheck.. and you can be very happy doing it!

Now I am starting to ramble... Today I am very grateful for hard working parents who have dedicated their lives to serving God. They fought all odds while raising their family and now that we're good and grown, they are off on a new adventure. Where will that be? We'll soon find out! I am so excited for them and know this is the absolute BEST thing they could be doing at this time in their lives. They are such great examples to their children. They will be leaving 33 grandchildren behind (with more on the way). I know it will be difficult for them, but they have an army of support. We could not be more proud!

Three cheers for the Gospel and for the joy it brings in our lives! This video has nothing to do with the above post, but our little family watched it on Sunday and laughed our guts out. It's one of my kids' favorite. Yeah for Mormons brainwashing their little ones! Yeah for missionary work!

celebrating baby #5

 just after we told the boys we were having a new baby!!  I think we went out less because we were celebrating and more because I was so sick I couldn't think about making dinner.

This was the day my parents recieved their mission call to Chile-- so we decided to go to Chili's for dinner.  (Ben's brilliant idea :)

March 8, 2011.