Wednesday, September 4, 2013

 How do you enjoy humid stadium floors packed with thousands of people for two straight hours?  Ben and Jerry's ice cream!!! Last Saturday we attending the BYU vs. SVU game.  After the first quarter all spectators were escorted to sheltered areas to wait out the thunder storm that lasted two hours.  Justus made the most of the unexpected game delay and bought ice cream to share with Avery.  It was our last family activity before Justus left for his mission.  

He left this morning. We are sending him to the hands of my sister-in-law Krista Johnson who will drive him from the SLC airport to the MTC in about 2 hours.  We hope to hear from him soon but until then wanted to share what I found while cleaning his room this morning in an AP Lit. self analysis paper written last year.
"Self analysis has always been hard for me.  The whole "looking into some internal mirror to discover your true self" process eludes me.  If ones true self could be expressed or described as a material, I suppose I'd be a cotton ball.  I tend to be very moldable, flexible, adaptable and easily moved.  However, deep beneath all the cotton fluff, I know that there is a core.  Somewhere inside me is a titanium sphere, a firm, unyielding essence of who I am.  So then, if I have this core, why then is it so hard for me to find?  I've never been confronted by a trial wherein my fundamental beliefs or identity has been called into question....I wonder whether or not I have done enough to sustain that inner core of mine...I suppose that underneath my cotton ball fluff I hope to find a perfect medium...I want to have a core of being that is firm and unyielding, while maintaining softness, gentleness, or maybe just even a capacity to feel.  For now I am content to let my little cotton ball float down the rivers of life.  What is on the inside?  only time and the currents will tell."

Thursday, August 29, 2013

It's Thursday, August 29th, 2013.  Justus has been working hard at "Metro Gutter" all day.  He has been working all summer long to save up for his mission to Cuiaba, Brazil.  We are so pleased he has decided to serve a mission.  Every young man in the church age 18-26 can serve a  mission for two years. Young women from age 19 - 26 can serve missions also. The men serve for 2 years, women for 18 months.  Prospective missionaries do not know where they will be called, the application is individual, the calling inspired.  It's like a tithe on our lives. Mission service is a choice, strongly encouraged by the church. 
     Today Justus left the house at 6:00am and rode his bike 7 miles to work in the industrial park off Edsall road.  Usually he cleans gutters on houses but today he helped re-construct a chimney.  He transported bricks and cement up and down a ladder all day long.  He ended the day so exhausted he called to get a ride home.  Brother Matthew Laudie, Justus Priest Quorum advisor, took Justus to Texas de Brazil, a Brazilian restaurant in the DC area.  Justus came home very satisfied after a hard day's work.  
     Tomorrow Justus will have his Open House.  Hunter and dad have been cooking brownies and lemon squares this afternoon while I took the other children to register for school.  It's been a busy day!  Justus gave his Farewell talk on Sunday.  He spoke on Service and did a wonderful job. He shared how service changes our hearts and shared his experience with listening to the spirit and following its promptings. Suzanne and Daymon Leonhardt and family came down to support Justus.  They were able to attend the Temple on Saturday and Justus performed the baptisms for the dead with his brothers and cousins. It was so nice to spend time with family!
      This week we were notified that Justus' Visa did not come through yet so instead of going straight to the Brazil MTC Sept. 3, he will be leaving for the MTC in Provo September 4th, this coming Wednesday at 6:00am.  
He said he was relieved to live in Provo for a transition into life as a missionary. I'm just happy I get to have a few more hours with my son!