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.

A New Blog

Our son, Jacob, is currently serving in the Belgium Brussels/Netherlands Mission as Assistant to President Brubaker. He has sent us this new blog address for anyone who is interested in the goings/comings in his Mission. Sis. Brubaker and the Office Elders keep this up with current pictures and happenings of the Mission. I will attach it to mine and also to Jacob's blog if anyone is interested!

belgiumbrusselsnetherlandsmission.blogspot.com

Also, he has a new P-Day, which is on Saturday now, so look for his letters on Saturday morning now instead of Mondays!!

Happy Birthday September!!

September is a big month of birthdays for our family! The first one was yesterday...Brent, my husband of 32 years...turned the big 55 (he'll kill me for telling, but oh well). He is a wonderful father and husband and is continually trying to make me happy...thanks and Happy Birthday, honey! All my love...

On the 18th is Ali's day! She will be 7 years old! Wow how time flies. She is such a cutie pie and always is such a sweetheart to her Gramma. I love her so much and hope she has a wonderfully fun birthday! Happy, Happy Birthday Alyssa Jo!

September 24th is the birthday of my oldest daughter, Trisha Jo. Trisha is such a great mom and is alot like her Dad...She is super talented, organized and takes such good care of her little family. She doesn't show her emotions much, but she has them...and she is such a great daughter and good example to me...I love you Trish, and Happy Birthday!

Jaron, my oldest child...will turn 31 on September 27th!! Where has the time gone? He is living in Pennsylvania right now and a restaurant manager. He is a good dad and husband and has wonderful musical skills, I love to hear him sing...his voice warms my soul! I wish I could be there to sing Happy Birthday to you, right now Jaron...! I love you!

Oh What did we do in the Summertime?

My summer has been a crazy modge-podge of events...but most of all, it has gone by way too fast!  I truly love summer...the green grass, the blue skies, the wonderful heat...I just LOVE it!  Tonight as I went to mutual, it was our last summer social...tomorrow the kids start school.  It will seem weird that a school bus will wake me up driving up the road at 7:30 in the morning.  It doesn't seem possible.  I have had a great summer though, which involved getting to travel, seeing all my kids except Jacob, and all of my grandkids at least once.

  

We loved spending time with Tess and Trisha's families and getting to see DisneyWorld!  Definate highlight of the summer, the heat was a little overwhelming, but everyone always dreams of going to DisneyWorld...we got to live the dream!  

I loved seeing Addi's face when she got to meet Mickey Mouse in person...and I also loved riding on Toy Story with Ali and seeing her concentrating so hard on her shooting...we had a blast!

Seeing tired little Grant fall asleep with his little Dalmation Puppy was just...awwww,  precious!  We had so many fun experiences.  It was definately a time we will not soon forget...

We were also privledged to get to visit Mom and Dad in Palmyra and go on the Church History Tours.  Brent had never seen them and I had almost forgotten it had been so long.  It was a powerful thing to be there and to hear such strong testimonies born by my parents...such a great, spiritual memory! 

We were lucky to get to see Jaron and Heather and the kids when we arrived in New York and go to Niagra Falls with them!  I'll not forget the cute little Lilly running to me with her arms stretched out  wide for a hug and a kiss...what a sweet little girl!!

It was fun to see Carter so excited to get soaked in the mist of the falls!   Emmy was more excited to get a little duckie from the gift shop and was so sweet and thankful for the tiny gift, and I won't forget Ashton being upset that he couldn't buy something with his penny!  

We had a very fun time with the boat a few times this summer...once with Clint and Trisha's family on a Saturday in the awesome Onieda Reservoir where we all had a total blast! Corgin, Ali and Grant love to ride in the boat, and I remember taking Corgin for the first time on the tube at Alexander and seeing such a wiggly little boy sit absolutely motionless!!  The other trip we got to go on was a jaunt up to Lewiston and a little camping trip to the beautiful Dworshac Reservoir with Danny, Trisha and the kids.  Grant loved to run all over camp and play in the dirt...the bee sting was NOT his favorite, though.  Ali decided an encounter with a rattlesnake was not her thing either!  The boating was fun, but the swimming, the tube, and the sun were the best!  Who knew a camping trip would have been so fun for me?  I think this was Brent's favorite because he got to go pick blackberries, and we are still enjoying them!

One of the highlights of my summer had to be having Ali and Grant with us for a whole week!!  If I could only have had a week with all the grandkids, my joy would be full!!  We had such a fun time and since they have ALWAYS lived away from me, this was especially priceless.  I have had time with Emmy, Carter, Ashton and Addi, when they lived here and now Corgin, and babysitting them and having them regularly at my house has always been a joy, but I hadn't ever had that time with Grant and very little with Ali, so that was a great blessing!  I really need to get to know Lilly...she's the only one I haven't had one on one with!

Summer is fading now...I hope it still stays warm for awhile, since spring pushed into the first part of summer so long!  I look forward to Birthdays coming up...Mom and Dad coming home...meeting my new little grandaughter...and the holidays.  WHAT!!  The holidays?...only four months till Christmas...CRAZY!!  

Where did the SUMMER GO?

(There you go, Tanessa!!!)

Camping and Boating!!

Brent and I had the opportunity to go up to Lewiston this past week and spend a couple of days camping and boating at Dworshak Reservoir.  It was so beautiful up there...lots of trees and shade for camping.  We picked a boat access only camping spot and hauled in all our stuff.  Danny, Trisha, Ali and Grant went with us, and it was a big help having them there to carry all our stuff and help set up camp.  We each had a tent site with an outhouse and we had a couple of picnic tables and a firepit that sat up on a little hill that looked over the lake.  It was so pretty at night when the moon would come out and reflect across the lake!  We were able to get to a floating dock that had a swimming area in the middle...that was pretty neat...and we set up our canopy and stayed on the dock all day Friday, and most of the day Saturday.  We boated and tubed and Brent even skied and kneeboarded.  We had a great time and enjoyed the swimming and the food.  Trisha and her Dad were pretty good dutch oven cooks!!  Ali and I stuck to what we did best...riding the tube!  Trisha's family went exploring one day and discovered a couple of rattlesnakes...yikes!...but they didn't bother us, thank heavens.  We loved the reservoir and we all had a great time.  I hope we can go back sometime.  I didn't get my camera packed, so I don't have any pictures, and we were so busy having fun that Trisha only got a few, but if you check out her blogspot, you can see those!!