It feels like it’s been a long week!!!

Hey Calder! It seems like it's been such a long week between when we talked last week and today. Things around here have been good...a little crazy with Grandma and Grandpa living here...but good. I just feel like I've been extra busy but I wouldn't change it for the world. I am so glad that we have the opportunity to serve and help them right now. They have definitely had their ups and downs. I think my favorite quote from Grandpa this week was when grandma was in a really bad mood and Grandpa told me "The only thing I can do is stay calm. That's my role. If someone shoots out the windows, I stay calm and figure out how to fix them." Sweet, sweet man. Their relationship is complicated and sometimes it's hard to be around them when Susan isn't being her nicest...but...most of the time she is nice. Here's an explanation of my pictures. Picture one is Jane during our YWs meeting today. Gwne is officially in YWs with me and Jane is a lone wolf during our meetings, so she moved half of her room into my room and just laid there and sucked her thumb. She's a crack up. She wanted to sleep there tonight but I told her she had to go to her own bed. Picture two was on Friday morning when I got to visit with Kenzie in the circle. She is loving the home MTC and it's SO fun to see her. Picture three is of McKay's wrist. We had to go get another CT scan and unfortunately his bone is now in three pieces and not healed at all. It's such a bummer! Tomorrow we have an appointment with this orthopedic surgeon and he will likely schedule surgery. McKay was pretty bummed on Thursday but he's worked his way out of the rut and is doing better, thankfully. The thing is that we really need to respect the healing process if we go the surgical route. And that likely means six months of healing!!! Picture four is Jane and Sawyer in their bestie twinner shirts that Sawyer gave Jane for Christmas. Picture five is the awesome poster that I made when Mikayla started home MTC. I wrote her name, Ally's and yours and we desperately hoped you wouldn't actually have to do home MTC. Boy were we naive! And on Tuesday night I added Kenzie's name to the poster and we decorated her house while she was getting set apart. It really made me miss you. Other highlights of the week were seeing Kiah when she came to take the girls out on a date. They loved every minute of their time with her. She was so kind and gave Gwen butterfly earrings and Jane a butterfly necklace. Jane cried her eyes out when we put her to bed after the date because she was going to miss Kiah so much when she goes on her mission...just like she misses Calder so much. It was definitely a dramatic, tired cry but it was very cute. On Saturday I was turning into our neighborhood through the 132nd entrance and Caden Maxwell was stopped at the stop sign. I rolled down my window and we had a great 30 second chat. He's such a great guy. It was fun to see him. I feel like this letter is all over the place. It's kind of how my life feels right now. Something cool was that I've been slightly dying with Grandpa and the amount he's sitting around, wasting away. I really feel like the spirit has been guiding me to bless his life and help him and that's been amazing. The other day I remembered a game that you haven't seen yet because we gave it to Gwen for her bday. It's just like sodoku but with colors. I pulled it out and we taught Bill how to use it. The transformation and confidence that has come from this simple game is unbelievable. I am so grateful to see Bill use his brain in that way. He suddenly blossoms into someone who can communicate and he makes more sense. I continue to pray for inspiration that I can share with you and the difficult situation that you find yourself in. I am anxious to hear what the president had to say in your interview. I was thinking when you and Elder Ames teach that you could warn him ahead of time that he needed to participate in discussions and then simply use the words "what do you think about the Elder Ames?" and put him on the spot to open his mouth. For some reason I feel like the Lord is wanting you to be more bold with your companions and roommates. He's making you be the leader that you are and have those difficult conversations that you are really good at but hate to have because of the possible conflict that comes. I am praying that things are not so negative and that you've been able to feel some peace. Missions are tough. There's no doubt about it. And they are NOT for wimps -- especially during a pandemic! Have you heard much about Will? I mean, he's truly been in a Nazi Germany movie over the past few weeks trying to get into Germany. The stories to tell are much better in person, so I'll wait until we talk plus I'm guessing you've had an update from either Dad or Cec but one thing is for sure... the Lord loves His missionaries and He is working miracles that we cannot see to get missionary work back up and running. Hang in there. It's happening. I love you so much! My prayers have been full of extra blessing asked for you and Elder Ames. Just remember that THOUSANDS of people are praying for you every day! Literally THOUSANDS...if not more! We love our missionaries and we (as a church) are united in asking for the Lord to pour out His blessings upon you. Hang in there! Keep the faith. The Lord is in the details of EVERYTHING! We've seen it so many times. Can't wait to chat! Love you TONS! Your favorite MOM :)