Lots of Pics This Week

It's been a great week! And I have tons of pictures to share. I'll give you a quick run down...and work backwards throughout the week.... One of the many highlights was having James and Paige up for dinner tonight. James brought the girl that he's been dating. Her name is Erin. She's great. Very impressive. Has a full time job at McKinsey Dallas when she graduates. Plays LAX at BYU. It was really fun to get to know her. It's funny to see James so lovey. I think you'd like her. And I think it's likely they get married. I don't know when and James hates pressure, so we will see. It was super fun to visit with Paige. She is just awesome. I love talking with her. She's killing it at BYU and doing so well in her program. We also had Grandma and Grandpa Horsley here for dinner. It's an amazing blessing to have them so close and get to spend time together. Another highlight of my Sunday was seeing McKay and Henry bless and pass the sacrament together. It was Henry's first time. He did great. It made me miss you! And hanging out with Paige and James tonight made me miss you too! They asked all about you. They loved the updates! And the sweet pic of McKay was when we were trying to get things done in the kitchen before James, Erin and Paige came. In pure McKay style, he was just goofing off and came in with sunglasses and his shirt unbuttoned and asked if Erin would like that outfit. Saturday night we went out with the Williams' to our favorite Tsunami. It did not disappoint. They were also very interested in how you are doing. Their family is great. Dallin is loving his online semester of school. He's been living in Costa Rica doing school remotely. Next month he is heading to Brazil. Such an adventure! This week we get to participate in the BYU Pathway update on Thursday night. We got his new blanket. It's such a great opportunity to support such a great cause. We also went out with Clark and Christine on Friday night. It was a super delicious asian restaurant. Dad was in HEAVEN. We didn't get a pic with them but they invited Gwen and Jane to come hangout at their house while we went to dinner. They girls loved it and they were in heaven too! John is going to start his mission papers in March and is hoping to leave in the middle of July. It's so exciting! On Friday I took the girls for a haircut with our favorite gay vietnamese hairstylist, Jace! Both girls got a ton of hair cut off...especially Gwen. It looks great! Scout also got a lot of TLC this week from the girls, dressing her up and putting bows in her hair. And I took the girls skiing this week. I was planning to go with just Gwen but Jane felt so badly. She really wanted to go, so we took her. It was ROUGH. I'm not going to lie. She seriously forgot everything she'd learned last year. My body was broken by the time we got home and my knees are still sore today. But it didn't even bother Jane. She fell like 5,000 times and it wasn't a big deal. Gwen was a great sport but we definitely didn't get in all the skiing that I had planned. Oh well. Hopefully we can get out again. The day was beautiful. It was totally a bluebird spring ski day...my favorite! We are getting our Alta ski passes reimbursed. We just haven't made it up there and I think they are working really nicely with us. Makes me like them even more. On Wednesday we celebrated Chrsitine's birthday. It was really nice. She invited us to her house and we ate delicious salmon salads and celebrated with an awesome person. Grandma and Grandpa came, Kimbery and her kids, and Lara. I don't know if Jay has mentioned anything to you about Lara but she is in a bad way with not a lot of relief in sight. She has a paralyzed stomach. It's the weirdest thing. I was so worried about her that I went down on Saturday to visit with her and do some projects at her house. Henry and Jacob went to the rec center to swim and Gwen and Sharon hung out. It was great to be with Lara. She seemed a lot better on Saturday compared to Wednesday. I just really hope there can be a miracle. I think she needs one. Today I taught the young women's lesson with Nikki Harris and Savannah Montegue. It was great. I had literally no time to prepare but the Lord helped me so much! I read an excerpt from one of your recent letters and I was such a baby. I couldn't keep my composure. That kind of happens to me when I talk about you. Here are some of the highlights from the lesson...it was on repentance.... Part of the quote I took from your letter: "we can start every day with the determination to be better, all because of Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for His example and sacrifice for us, and the gift it is to spend every single day as a representative of Him. I may not be perfect, but I'm trying my hardest! The Lord loves effort, and that's what I'm giving!" And the challenge to start everyday with the determination to be better... My $100 dollar bill visual aide. I ironed it and it looked so crisp and new. I asked how much it was worth. Then I crumpled it, drew on it, and asked how much it was worth...I told them it doesn't matter what happens in your life. Your value never is diminished. Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God, and shared D7C 18:10-15. And one more awesome message from church today was from a talk by Chris Draper kids...Moses' older brother. It was one of the greatest talks. He talked about planting seeds and how you CAN count the seeds in an apple but you CAN'T count the apples that come from one seed. I just asked Dad and it sounds like he gave you a run down from the talk. It was a great reminder that you just never know and so just keep planting the seeds. It made me think back to my mission. I hope some of the seeds I planted sprung. I handed out many, many books of Mormon. We taught many first discussions. It's funny because when I found my discussion books, my first and second discussions were so worn out but my third had some use but as you got to the rest, they looked almost new. I would never change going on a mission. Even if I didn't baptize one person. It was never a waste of my time. I grew so much. So many amazing things came to me because of my service. And I do know that I made a difference in wards I served in and with some less active people. I love the opportunity you have as a missionary to remind people of the Savior's love. Sometimes less active members have forgotten what that loves feels like. But I definitely saw and felt those less active members remember when we'd come visit. I can't believe it will be March 1st when we talk to you! Amazing! Everyone here is doing well and we are so excited to hear from you tomorrow! I hope and pray that it's been a great week. I'm anxious to hear how things are going with being more bold and telling those you are teaching WHAT you are doing and WHY you are teaching them. You are an inspiration to me. Keep killing it out there. And just know that you may never see the seeds that you have planted but you are planting important seeds that one day will sprout. I'm super proud of your effort. The Lord loves effort! And I'm excited to start every day with the determination to be better because of you! Love you tons! Mom :)