Big Week...Birthdays, Halloween...

This week is such a special one...it's birthday time for two of our adorable grandchildren!

Addisyn turns 3 on Oct. 29th. She is such a sweetie, she keeps us in stitches all the time, with her funny little personality. She is truly a girly girl and loves all the things little girls should love. She comes up with the weirdest words, and the funniest sayings that make you laugh right out loud! We miss her so very much and wish her the Happiest Birthday ever!! Love you Addi-cakes!

On Sunday, November 1st it's Grant's turn for a birthday. He is 2 years old! He is so adorable and always smiling and happy. You just can't resist his infectious little spirit...he makes you happy just to watch him! He talks and communicates so very well, and is just a lovable little guy...ALL boy! We also miss him...and hope his second birthday is a blast! We love you Granty-poo!

Happy Halloween to all of you!! May your treats be

many and your tricks be few...

Projects!

As most of you already know...we have been busy with a summer project...my parents house!! We pretty much gutted the upstairs down to the bare walls and floors on Memorial Day weekend, and have been working since to repair the damage!! We have thouroughly enjoyed having free reign and the nice funding by Mom and Dad...it has empowered us to do some great things. About the middle of the summer, I wasn't sure we would be able to finish...it was getting a little overwhelming, but thanks to the prayers of some mighty missionaries...things seemed to fall into place and move very quickly! We have enjoyed the weekends when Clint and Katie were able to go down with us and work...it always speeds things up with a couple of extra hands...and we have loved eating at Cafe Rio (Thanks to Mom and Dad) every afternoon after we have been working hard! I must say that the project is about to come to a close...so little left to do, one more weekend should accomplish that...I would love to post pictures, but we are keeping it under wraps until the Missionaries can return home and be the first to see their new home...so you'll all have to wait just one more month, or visit when they get back! Most of all, I would like to thank Brent, of which all this would not have been possible to accomplish without him. He is definitely a man of many trades and can do about anything...besides being a HARD worker...we have enjoyed the time together and have had a great memorable experience. Hopefully Mom and Dad will love it...and it will be a comfortable place in which to retire, or at least rest for a short while!! They are always busy, always serving others...they deserve a break, (at least for a week or two!)

A little update on our Missionary!

Recently, as you know, Jacob was called to serve as an Assistant to the President in his Mission. It has been a great experience for him, and has brought many blessings to his life...one of which has been to really be able to experience joy and less stress in his service. He has committed his life to this mission and has been a great example to all of us, of how to serve with love and devotion, and we are so proud of him.
I wrote Jake recently and asked a few questions about his mission and his new assignment...these were some things he wrote home about in answer to my questions:

"I promised to write and answer your questions, so...first of all..Elder Reynolds is not still an A.P. I took his spot literally and figuratively! The assignment of A.P is only for how long the Lord wants you there, so, no, it isn't usually until the end of your mission. I live in the apartment with Elder De Mass, Schmutz, Berlin and Harper. Elder De Mass is the other A.P. and my companion. He is a Dutch missionary, speaks Dutch and is from Murray, Utah...and yes he plays the bagpipes, really, really good, he has played since he was 11. There are only 2 A.P.'s one Dutch and one French Missionary, and our assignments are of course...incoming and outgoing missionaries, which is awesome! We also have a meeting with Pres. once a week, and we do whatever he wants or needs us to do. We also teach Zone Leader Councils and Zone Conferences. We have to go on exchanges with Zone Leaders and with other missionaries as directed and attend some interviews. Our schedule isn't too crazy or different from a normal companionship...we still proselyte, but weeks when we have exchanges, meetings, conferences, or interviews will be pretty much no proselyting, so it is busier and more responsibility...but less than I thought. We are at the Mission Home for incoming and departing missionaries and Zone Leader councils, but other than that...no. We see President at least once a week if not more...Monday mornings and afternoons are spent with him. In answer to your other question...yes, some parents come and pick their missionaries up, but Hmmmm...though I would love to show you around the mission, I think it would be cooler to come back a little later when I'm not a missionary. It is an option, but I don't know...it might be really weird...but that is a long time away, so no worries."

Jacob with Claire in the Gare du Midi. Clair is one of his most favorite people...a very special convert that he loves!

Here is a picture of Jake at the airport, with a departing group of missionaries. I could only tell it was him because of his suit,

but I knew immediately when I saw this...it was touching

to me to see the embrace of a dear friend, and under

this picture (found on the Mission Blog) was written:

Little Gestures

that sweeten the moment, stop time,

allowing us to pause to express or receive love,

for that instant, we're not going anywhere-

we're simply stopped in our tracks,

feeling the warmth of our loving connection.

My little 3:30 am Miracle!

As many of you may know...I have been writing Jacob through my personal email account since I got my new Blackberry, because it's a special treat to get buzzed around 2:30 - 3:30 in the morning when he replies to my letter and sends his.  My phone rings and I get to read his letter 'hot off the press'!  Well, last night, I wrote him on my home computer and just wrote on my regular bksimonson address and sent the letter...knowing that he would respond to that same address, and I wouldn't be buzzed...but that was OK.  I would get it first thing when I got up in the morning.  Well, long story short...Around 3:15, I woke up and looked at the clock and rolled over to go back to sleep, and all of a sudden I remembered that it was the time that Jake usually sends his letters...so I got up, went to the bathroom and then went in to the computer to check the mail.  Sure enough, there was a letter there...and as I began to read...he said that he was not able to open up his old email account and had to change to a new address:  jvonsimonson@myldsmail.net.  For some reason he could not bring it up...so he had not recieved any letters from home.  I looked up at the delivery time for the letter and it said 3:26.  It was now just 3:30!  I pulled up the letter I had sent to the old address, and typed in the new address and sent it, thinking that he probably would be gone and not get the letter until next week, but then I said just a short little prayer...Heavenly Father, please let Jacob get my letter...and in seconds an email popped up and said:  "Did you just get this on your Blackberry and forward my letter to me?  Respond quickly if you can???"  I responded that I had actually just woken up and happened to get his letter minutes after he had sent it, but I don't think he got this one... Another email popped up and said, "I don't know how I got this letter...but  I promise to write you a letter in response and send it to you.  Thank you!!!"  I was so grateful that he wouldn't have to go a week with no letter, and so grateful for a little prayer at 3:30 in the morning that was answered...Jacob would just say...."Another Miracle!"  So true.