Happy Thanksgiving

One of my most favorite things about my son's letters is that he shares with us his daily "Hand of God" experiences.  As he watches for the Hand of God in his daily life he is beginning to cultivate an "Attitude of Gratitude". 
And by so doing he is teaching me to be more observant with my own "Hand of God" experiences - falling in love all over again with my husband, watching my son knell across the alter from his beautiful bride in the Draper temple, finding out another son and his wife are expecting their long awaited third child, receiving the acts of service given by my children, having sisters who sustain and support me, having friends who I can share my feelings with and know they are safe, having insight while reading the scriptures, learning and teaching Primary songs, enjoying sunsets, fall leaves, pine trees, lakes and mountains, having my testimony grow, figuring out how the spirit talks to me, making quilts that I love, bonding on family vacations, enjoying cabin trips, and watching Hallmark Christmas movies.

HUMP DAY

Wow I cant believe my son has almost been out a whole year.  
It's been so much fun to see the spiritual growth and maturing that has taken place. In looking for Hump Day ideas I found this here:

http://elderadambrewer.blogspot.com/2013/02/have-you-ever-thought-of-being-camel-i.html

I changed it up a little and ended up with this:

Happy Halloween

I recently returned form Korea and my internal clock is all mixed up so I keep waking up in the middle of the night fully awake.  I decided to put my energy into good use.  Here is the packages that I put together last night.

Who would have thought Halloween and Coming to Christ would work together in a package.

A Little Box of Sunshine

One of my favorite songs as a teenager was "Sunshine on My Shoulder"
by John Denver.
Part of the lyrics go:
     If I had a wish that I could wish for you
     I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Here's wishing SUNSHINE for all the missionaries around the world serving.
                May they bask in HIS LIGHT ALWAYS!!!

St Patrick's Day or for a Greenie

It's Good to be Green!!

Valentines Day

Sending some love to my cute missionary and friends...

Happy New Year

A Fresh New Start for a New Years Package

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

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#

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

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!