Mother's Day

Mission Letter
May 13, 2012

I’ve had Mother’s Week instead of Mother’s Day.

It started off with a visit from Chrysta and Jonny. They flew in Sunday morning and I picked them up at the airport. We went to the Salt Lake Cemetery and tried to follow a map to famous headstones, sometimes with more success than others. I got to show them off at church in my branch and afterward we walked around temple square. We toured the Beehive House with two sweet sister missionaries and enjoyed the gardens. Jonny and Chrysta were really good sports to do all that when it turns out they only had a few hours sleep the night before. Monday I went to work and they visited Chrysta’s girlfriends and their new babies. Tuesday morning we took the Conference Center tour and went south of temple square to the Deseret bookstore and City Creek Center. We ate lunch on the tenth floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and I went back to work. They came back after work (about 4:00 p.m.) and on the way to my apartment we stopped and toured the Church Museum. That evening they visited some of Jonny’s old missionary companions. Wednesday morning I took them to the airport and they flew home. It was so lovely to have them here.

I got a package from Dany and Paul and a nice card from Luke. He is amazing! I need to see him write.

Then I had a virtual visit with Mark and Laura. Since I missed the baby shower, they gave me a tour of the nursery and showed me all the stuff little Evan Howard got at the shower. They are ready! I enjoyed spending the time with them almost as much as being there.

Somewhere in here I talked to Cheryl and Mother in Lakeside. I’m so glad Cheryl could visit Mother for Mother’s Day. I expect that made both of them happy and Cliff is always happy for Mother.

Sunday between Music and the Spoken Word and church I talked to Shana and caught up on all her exciting news. It makes me happy when my kids are happy. After church I talked with Tami and her family. I love that sweet family, one and all. The kids told me all about the cards they made for me and I could show them I got them. I Skyped with the Nally’s while Brad made dinner. I love Skype! It’s so much better to see everyone while we talk. Tanner, Brogan, and Kimbrie played their recital pieces for me and I could see their fingers flying over the piano keys while I listened. I also got to Skype with Jeff and Melanie and family. The kids made faces and hung upside down over the camera and mimicked what I was doing. It was all so fun.

The next day I had an appointment with Scott and Cheryl and crew and got another Skype visit. They are ready to get going to Virginia. I can always think of dozens of questions I would like to have asked after we hang up. I got to talk to Eric and the girls. They were so cute on the phone, I could almost see them even without Skype. Eric was finding it hard to wait to find out if they are having a boy or girl.

Thanks everyone for all the visits, cards, gifts, and well-wishes. More came today. I’m sure blessed.