Another Week Bites The Dust!

Dear Calder, I can't believe another week has come and gone! I am, as usual, so excited to hear from you tonight! In the meantime, here's a recap of my week... Monday: We returned home from Pineview, picked up Scout, unpacked and tried to settle in. So fun to go away but it takes some work to get back into the swing of things. Dad went on a mountain bike ride, which was so good for him. I took his clips last month and he went out to get news ones. I felt bad because he was itchin to go out into the mountains. Something good happens in the mountains for Horsleys. Speaking of the mountains, our hike was fabulous in Snowbasin. Everyone always drags their feet but in the end, everyone is glad they went. McKay did a massive ride up to powder mountain and then up to snowbasin. He's insane! I just hope he doesn’t train himself into a funk this week! I’m grateful for the time we spent away for the weekend. I feel more rejuvenated and ready to start the week. Tuesday: I’m not sure if it was the day off yesterday or what but I struggled today. I was just feeling a little grumpy. I waited too long to eat lunch #hangry and my day just kept getting hijacked - Jane called sick from school (not sick at all) and Gwen felt really badly about her middle school audition. Tonight I’m home with Jane in bed just thinking through what the problem was. (Dad took the older kids to the asian superhero movie.) Usually I can pinpoint - like not enough sleep, no scripture study, etc but I got an awesome study in and I even got to the temple. I love my temple Tuesdays! I was just off today. Does that ever happen to you on your mission? And what do you do about it? Speaking of my scripture study this morning… I came across a really cool thought as I read 1st Nephi chapter 8. This is the chapter that talks about Lehi‘s dream. In this chapter, there are four groups of people trying to make it to the tree. There is a really cool difference between group number three and four. There’s so much that is similar about these two groups, but the thing that really stood out to me was that the second group fell down and then ate the fruit (1 Nephi 8:30). I was thinking about how the tree could symbolize Christ and when the group got to Christ, or the tree, they knew Him and fell down to worship Him. Or was it that they were so grateful that they got to the tree and so they fell down with gratitude? Whatever the purpose was, there is something about falling down and being grateful and knowing who Jesus Christ is that was very important! And it helped this group stay strong and on the path clinging to the iron rod. Wednesday: I had a short 3 hour young women’s meeting…no joke…my part time job 😂 Ana Paulsen is leaving in about one month. It seems a little tumultuous from little bits and pieces that Lori says. I think Ana may be dating someone? Anyway, I’m interested to see how this one turns out. Keep it on the down low because I may be reading into it and totally wrong. Tonight we went repelling for young women’s. It was great. Lori is a fantastic leader and really pushes the girls out of their comfort zone. I've included a picture of Gwen going off the rock. It was an absolutely gorgeous setting! Thursday: We went to welcome Ryan Robert’s home from his mission. He returned on Wednesday. He looks great, a little skinny, but great. Sally broke her arm and has surgery on Friday. Jane cried the entire way home because she’s so worried about her. She wouldn’t come down for dinner and spent the time in her room making scrunchy casts for all her Barbie dolls. Friday: McKay slept the day away after senior sunrise. I was feeling some bad feelings towards senior sunrise and stopped myself to say “thank goodness they got senior sunrise…so stop your bad attitude right now and let him sleep". I may have had bad thoughts because I was heavily engrossed in some serious yard work and prep for a shower for Katie Andrewsen who is getting married in October. (Yard work puts everyone into a bad mood😂) I’ll send a pic of Katie's fiancé. He looks 12 yes old. They met on the mission!!! His family is the kindest, down to earth. From Rexburg. I think Katie may have hit the lottery. Saturday: We had a successful, somewhat rainy shower in our backyard. It’s quite something to have a yard like ours. I mean, it looks so good when we put a little work in it. And it's so flexible because we have options when it comes to hosting and rain comes up. I was happy we had the opportunity to host. Linda Ewell came. She just loves you! She asked all about you. Poor Reed was diagnosed with prostate cancer around the time you left on your mission. She told me it's back. That’s so sad. They don’t know what it means yet but she said they need prayers. Reed is a good man. It just stinks to get old! Sunday: Ryan Roberts gave his welcome home talk. It was so powerful. He spoke straight from the heart. He is so humble and grew in leaps and bounds as a missionary. I was so impressed with his gospel knowledge and faith. He said the last two years haven't been the best years but they've been the most spiritual years. He gave a sweet shout out to Dad and talked about an email Dad's sent comparing the experience Ryan was having in lock down to the Prophet Joseph Smith in liberty jail. He talked about the scripture from Alma 26:27: 27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to aturn back, behold, the Lord bcomforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with cpatience thine dafflictions, and I will give unto you success. He said he learned a lot about "bearing with patience thine afflictions". I think you could put that sentence to use this week in your companionship with Elder Orlov. Bear with patience your afflictions. Don't stress out and cross bridges down the road. The Lord knows and loves you. Your strengths are Elder Orlov's weaknesses and you can help him become the missionary and disciple that the Lord wants him to become. Pray to see him the way the Lord sees him. Pray for his heart to be softened. That's what I'll be praying for here. I am so glad you shared some of your struggles with us. It really helps me when I have specifics to pray for. I feel like sometimes I have thoughts or scriptures that I can share. But most of all, I think what you need to hear is what you share every week. I know you know but it's always a great reminder. The Lord LOVES YOU! He knows YOU and HE will help YOU! I can see it and I know you can too. Hang in there and bear with patience thine afflictions. Do the best you can with the situation you are given. You're the best and I love you so much! Have a wonderful week. Keep it green...green things grow. Love you tons! Mom :)