Monday, July 26, 2010

Summer 2010

We've had a busy and wonderful summer.  Of course we have done all the usual summer things: basketball camps, scout camp, hikes, swimming lessons, family reunions.  But we've had some extra special fun.  Most importantly we added someone new to our family.  Daniel married Jen Sorpold on June 12, in the Manti Temple.  It was a strangely stormy day, but a beautiful day.  Everything was wonderful.  The boys are all excited to have a sister and Dan and Jen are enjoying their first months together as husband and wife.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Being a Mom

I read a blog today that really hit home.  I wish that I would have had all the resources that are available today twenty years ago as I was just starting a family and my grown kids were small!  I can't remember how many times people have supposed that I stayed home with my children because I didn't have any skills.  I could never understand why they didn't know that I chose to stay home because my kids need me and it is fun.  I could have done anything I wanted to do and I CHOSE to be a mom.  It would have been nice to know that there was someone then that felt the same way I did.   So here is the quote from the blog Latter-day homeschooling written by Courtney:

"I grew up hearing about how "women can have it all" only to hear as an
adult, that those who tried, found it was impossible.  I guess now the
new saying is that you can have it all, you just can't
have it all at the same time.  I must strongly disagree.  Women can have
it all, and at the same time.  I certainly do.  But it is because
I am a mother, not in spite of it.

Every time I read a book to my children, I am an actress.  Every
time I sing them to sleep, I'm a singer.  When I blast music while we
clean the house, we are all dancers!  I'm an artist every time I get out
the paints or crayons.  I'm the world's greatest doctor, who can heal
anything with a kiss and a hug.   I'm a therapist when they come to me
in tears.  I'm an accountant every time I balance the checkbook.  I'm a
chef when I'm in the kitchen.  I'm a maid, manager, technician and
computer geek.  Electrician, nutritionist, horticulturist, photographer,
movie screener and critic.  I'm a builder, economist, a politician, a
professional complement giver, the "it's not fair" police and a drill
sergeant.

Within my little family I have fulfilled every dream I
have ever had and more!  And since I have added homeschooling to my
list, I'm finding a whole new set of dreams that I am so excited to
follow with my kids.  I get to be a scientist, a mathematician,
theologian, botanist, zoologist, literacy specialist and historian.  I
get to read great literature with them and be a scholar.  With the help
of this blog, I'm now a writer.  I can do anything my heart desires because I am a mother!"

I hope I can always remember this and realize all the opportunities I have and not dwell on the things I can't or haven't done!  Being a mom is really the best and I wouldn't trade my life for any other life.  I am the most blessed person that I know.  I'm thankful for all of my blessings and my best blessing is my family and every person in it that I get to serve and help and love!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Elder Braden Barker

Braden seems to be doing well in Brazil.  Here is his latest email:

Family,
 
I am feeling better now.  I still have a little cough, but I am definitely better. I don´t  have a lot to say this week.

This week was so much fun, although by Sunday night I was exhausted.  We usually have lunch at a member´s house at 12 everyday.  That means we start working at 1.  This week we didn´t even take our hour for dinner.  We worked from 1 until 9 everyday.  It is so fun and I love it.  I don´t even get hungry.  I know the Lord blesses us when we are doing his work.  We taught so many lessons this week.  We doubled and tripled the amount of lessons that I was teaching with my trainer.  I am learning a lot from Elder McBride, he is helping me learn the lessons better and to speak Portuguese better.  This transfer is going to be a lot of fun.
 
The only new Elder in our apartment is my new companion.  The other two Elders didn´t get transferred.  They were pretty excited to stay, they have really turned their area around.  My Portuguese is still pretty rough.  I am understanding more and more every week, but I am still having a pretty hard time. Hopefully this transfer I can learn a lot.

I am only about in hour bus ride from Recife.  It is pretty hot and humid.  Elder McBride came from farther in Pernambuco, and he said it was 70 degrees or so.  It is consistently 85-90 degrees in my area. There are trees in my area, but its not like a jungle or anything.  I have had some glimpses of the beach, but only from out of the bus window.  I still haven´t played soccer yet.
 
Yesterday night we couldn´t do much work.  It was a big soccer game between two big teams that are here in Pernambuco.  Everyone was watching the game, and everyone was drunk.  It was pretty dangerous to be on the streets, so we returned to our house by about 6:30.
 
I want to keep working hard this transfer and learning a lot.  Hopefully by the end of the transfer I can understand and speak Portguese well.  I love you all.
 
Elder Braden Barker

Now if we can just get some pictures from him!