Sunday, December 23, 2012

On the First Day Of Christmas...

Our family has a long tradition with the 12 days of Christmas.  It was fun putting together several 12 days for some special missionaries.


 This is what the 12 Days of Christmas looked like in the MTC.






This is a word art I created.  It is D&C 4 in Portuguese.




On the 9th day of Christmas...for the companion
On the 9th day of Christmas...for our missionary

Getting on your HO HO HO

I sent this this so he would have it on Dec 1.  He has loved wearing the Santa Hat at the MTC


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

To Act or Be Acted Upon

One thing I like to send to my missionaries are great articles or talks that I stumble across as I am doing my own studying.  Here is one I recently found.  It is pretty powerful.  
Elder Cook gave this talk at a devotional at BYU-Hawaii 
http://devotional.byuh.edu/node/603#


Pinned Image

Friday, November 16, 2012

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

thankful for...cute husband that still makes me laugh... great children who I love spending time with... adorable grandchildren that I can't get enough of... mountains...friends to walk and hike with...sisters who are my best friends...colored leaves...temples...fireplace...popcorn...Hallmark movies...
 traditions...family vacations...8 amazing little Sunbeams...
cabin retreats...instagram...snowmobiling...garage door openers...my I phone....Pinterest.  
Thanks to Pinterest I was able to get some ideas that I tweaked and come up with a few ideas of my own. 
 I included two articles in the package as well:  Give Thanks in all Things by Dallin H Oaks
 and Teaching True Doctrine by Henry B Eyring.  
Still no word from my cute missionary...now that's torture





Thursday, November 15, 2012

MISSION BOUND

MTC
We took our 7th son to the MTC yesterday.  He has been called to the Lisbon Portugal Mission.  I had a lot of people ask if it gets easier.  I can assure you that it doesn't.  In some ways it is harder.  I am no longer naive to the fact that once they leave it is never the same.  That isn't necessarily a bad thing, its just different and so you morn the loss of what was.  Today I am morning the loss of Zach's childhood, his amazing smile complete with dimples, going to his football, basketball and volleyball games, hearing him rise at 5:15 am every Tuesday and Friday so he could go the the temple before his games, having his friends come over, making them chocolate chip cookies and just knowing he was here. But on the flip side I am  grateful that he had a desire to serve his Heavenly Father. I am excited about this great adventure he has in front of him.  Knowing the personal growth that will take place, the testimony that will deepen,and the opportunity to serve and love people of a different culture.  







Today as I was trying to come up with a Thanksgiving package to send him. I thought of all the packages I have sent off the past 16 years.  I thought that it would be nice to create a blog where I could share my ideas and so Called 2 Serve was created. This has been a nice diversion for me today. It has quieted the questions that keep dancing in my head. Is he ok?  What  is he doing?  Does he have a good companion?  Was he homesick last night?  Did he get up on time?  Does he like the food?  Will he remember to take pictures? It seems like an eternity until you get that first letter or email.  There is a house to be cleaned, laundry to be done and dinner to make but as my daughter said, "Ya that stuff is overrated". And today I think she is right. Bye Zach we love you!! You will be an awesome missionary!