happy birthday missionary jack!

Trent & Nya

Today is Missionary Jack's Birthday

missing you jack

But DO NOT worry all you readers... all 4-5 of you...

Because Missionary Jack will be home in 

19 DAYS.

Yep- we are down to less than three weeks until Jack comes home. 

I have a huge list of TO DO: before the big day arrives.

Today I am hoping to cross off a bunch of those items, we shall see?

***

21 things about missionary jack:

1. Jack is tall~ 6'1" (that's very tall to me!)

2. He is very passionate about history & politics.

3. That means-- he is very excited to be home before the presidential election. 

4. He was a history major at BYU.

5. I can't help but wonder what his major will be after a mission? Will that change??

6. He is extremely patriotic & I would be surprised if he didn't kiss American soil when he gets to his first American stop-- Atlanta, Georgia-- on his way home. Of course the Atlanta airport is pretty dirty. I hope he does it anyway just because there are so many germ-a-phobs in this family. 

(I am anti germ-a-phob - kiss dirt jack!)

7. Jack is one of the germ-a-phobs.... so maybe I will be surprised? 

8. Jack is skinny. He has always been skinny & has tried to gain weight at various times in his life. He has lost weight on his mission & frankly I am worried that when I see how skinny he is I may pass out, fall to the ground, then cry. 

9. Jack has a dramatic mother.

10. Jack wants to own a ranch someday- I know this has not changed!

11. Jack loves horses & I'm hoping he will raise me some organic grain fed beef someday! Sweet.

12. Jack is a calming influence in our home. nice.

13. Jack is super funny & has a dry wit. He is a great writer & we will miss his emails.

14. He is also wise & once told me not to be friends with someone because I would be going down--

 "a slippery slope." He was 17 at the time & that really cracked me up.

15. Jack is named after my dad.

16. Jack loves to read & has read the Book of Mormon at least 15 times since he got his mission call just over 2 years ago.

17. He knows that book so well it's pretty fun to play Book of Mormon trivia with him!!

HA- not really he kicks butt at that.

18. He loves apple pie, junk candy, Mountain Dew--- how does he stay skinny?

19. Jack plays the guitar & wears cowboy boots.

20. Jack is very loyal to his family, religion, college, friends, country... 

21. Jack is a hard working missionary & will be a hard working honest man- what more can a mom ask for?

Love you Jack- happy 21st birthday.

When you get home we will open presents & eat apple pie!

a fourth of july recap

I love Independence day!

Everyone who knows me...

knows- it is my very favorite holiday- by a long shot!

I love the flags flying, the patriotic music, picnics, parades & all things red, white & blue.

This year as I write this post- I can't help but wonder??

where are the photos of the flag?

I didn't take any photos of my sweetheart & me together?

dang it!!

oh well, it was a great weekend & these will have to do :)

Around 4:00 on the 2nd- my sister Johnna & BIL Clyde arrived for the weekend.


They had their daughter Aimee with them & I was so EXCIted & SURpriSed that I got all teary & nearly started to cry!!!
I hadn't seen aimee in way too long.
She's Lola's mom. (I sent her the Lola quilt a while back, if you remember?)

Marcus, Brittany, Brit & Aimmee

Ruthie's family came too.

We headed over to the concert in the park. With fried chicken, my special 4th of July shrimp salad, veggies & dip, glass bottles of soda, and these- mmmm

I have to admit- I was really missing Jack.

Missionary Jack loves the 4th... and all that goes with it. He is a history major & knows American history better than anyone I know.

BUT-- It was SO GREAT TO HAVE...

Brian with us!!!

This is his first- 4th home & it was glorious to have him here. Just think- last year I was missing him? Only one more 4th until Jack is back- (speaking of the missionary, I am working on a big Missionary Jack update to publish soon, hopefully tomorrow.)

Marcus & Brian posed for Jack

the concert was amazing.

The band made up of 15-18 year olds from around the state.

YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE they were teens!

They played big band music- a lot of michael Buble type stuff, it was fabulous.
They were so good & so talented.

Brittany & Marcus

Last year they were engaged- they celebrate their first anniversary on Sunday!

The fireworks did not dissapoint. they were specatcular - although

They usually go off to patriotic music.

NOt this year...

we were sorely dissapointed.

Actually I was pretty ticked off- Brian too.

WE had talked earlier in the day about how beautiful & emotional it is to watch fireworks while listening to America The Beautiful & the like...

they played movie show tunes? BLAH- Maybe it's a good thing Jack missed it?

Bright & EArly

on the 3rd- we were in our spot for the parade!

Trent sported his coon skin cap-

if you want one? RuN down to a gas station between here & St. George- hurrry quick!!!

(that was sarcasm)

hey-

there's some flags!

There were service men & women- love that- and great floats.

Cool cars with kids throwing candy to the audience.

and this exterminator type company with this guy in a bee suit.

I took his picture because I could just imagine Jack making fun of him...

Oh funny

I'm sure that was the "old jack" not the new & improved missionary jack?

It was perfect weather & so fun to be all together.

After the parade we headed home, then off to the park for the carnival food & quilt show.

Clyde & trent had a GREat time.

Trent spent their whole visit being Clyde's shadow. so cute.

He spent the rest of the 4th washing all of our cars.

Or should I say, putting extremely hard to get off water spots on all of our cars?

While the boys were watching a movie- the girls ran to target. When we came home trent had filled up the back of Brett's truck with water- house water-? So not cool. Brett backed up the truck & dumped it on the lawn. He had just a little too much water freedom & two old burned out parents. I guess that's what you get as the youngest of six- periods of freedom we would have never let the older kids have to get into mischief.

We went to sacrament meeting on the 4th-

what a delight

Then after lunch it was time for the gilsons to go.

dang

Brian took this lovely photo of Johnna & I.

lookin' good- or drunk?

no, we were not drinkin' after sacrament meeting.

better!

It was so GREAT to have you guys here!

we miss you

an update: missionary jack style

Missionary Jack writes every Wednesday.

His emails are a highlight for the whole family.

I anxiously get up every Wednesday morning & start clicking on my email inbox- over & over & over throughout the day- until Brett calls & says- Jack emailed!

(I never click at just the right time.. but I won't quit trying!)

You may not know-

but last month there was severe flooding in the State of Alagoa, Brazil. They received a months worth of rain in two days!

Very scary & very quick rising water. Many people lost their homes & even more sadly those homes were in the poorest areas. Last week our R.S. President called to say (her daughter is married to jack's mission president's son) that President Beynon had emailed an article with photos about some service the missionaries were doing.

SQUEAL OF DELIGHT!!!

We quickly got on the computer & she forwarded the article to us.

Pictures of the missionary working- helping- serving.

All the things he went to Brazil to do.

He wrote & said it is hard some days (surely this was one of those days) but that he loves it.

This team of members & missionaries are helping a community of flood victims clean out a school for temporary housing. I can't even imagine- it makes me shudder to think of it.

I asked jack if it "smelled" he said-
ya.
There was debris & garbage up to the rafters in the school so you know that flood water (mixed with you know what?) was high. This week he wrote of teaching the gospel to 3 young men who are scheduled for baptism tomorrow. Of taking an old train to a park that was really a jungle & looking for alligators (ya they found some little guys) while humming the Indiana Jones theme song. Last week- he wrote of all the people (especially in the flood areas) staring at his tallness & red hair. Of kids dropping what they are doing to run & get their parents to see the red headed new guy in town. Of kids riding their beat up old bikes through town with little monkeys on their shoulders. He mentioned that whole families (whole families?) ride on one bike to get places. He nicked name the bike- Brazil's suburban- and said he will have to get a bike when he starts a family- who needs cars? He said the food is good- no one sleeps with blankets- he hasn't been cold once since he left & doesn't even know if you can buy a blanket anywhere.
wow
I'm so proud of my missionary
and again
so happy to be the mother of a servant of the Lord.
we love you missionary jack!

visitors from Brazil!

Tonight was extra special. Where Jack is serving in Aracaju, Brazil there is a family who is very good to the missionaries. In fact, this sister has the missionaries to her house for dinner, or even takes them out to dinner on a regular basis. (she tells me all the families are good to the missionaries) Lucky for us, this sister & her husband came to the United States & Utah to visit her sister & cousin-- then visited with us! She called last week to say she was here & I invited her for dinner.
They couldn't come for dinner but did come to visit. They were such wonderful people! They have grown close to missionary Jack. What a thrill it was to visit & hear about how he is doing from someone who really knows. Jack helped them recently do some painting. He used to be in their congregation, but isn't now. He does meet in the same building though & they see him there.Marcus who also served a mission in Brazil & who just graduated with a bachelor's degree in Portuguese, came too- with Brittany & John. Yes- John is a charmer- he is such a good baby. It was fun to hear Marcus speak Portuguese & talk about Brazil with them.
She showed us pictures of Jack from a month ago when they went out to lunch. She told us how he & his companion would come & visit with her & her children. How she had invited other friends who also speak English over & the American missionaries & they all spoke English together. She said Jack is a very good missionary & easy to love... those were her words- "easy. "

funny- that's how I like to describe him myself.

I am so very excited to send these pictures to missionary Jack next week! He just wrote yesterday, but she called after he wrote so he has no idea they were here. She offered to take Jack something from home- so this afternoon I put together a little photo book for her to take. She will see him at church a week from Sunday. I can't wait for her to see him & give him the photo book!!

How fun is this!?

What a great blessing

missionary jack & the end of the cat

Yesterday Jack, Brett, Brian & I braved a very rainy day & drove to the bank.

Jack got out a big wad of cash & we headed to Mr. Mac.

Jack has been saving for this day for a long time.

He wanted to pay with $100's.

He is such a funny guy!

We went to Mr. Mac to load up on all of the stuff Jack needs for his mission.
He has a big list...
and only a couple of weeks until go time.

He was fitted for a new suit.
He only needs one for his mission in Brazil. Brian took two. They were both completely trashed by the time he got home.

He also needed 5 pairs of slacks- washable.

Jack is what we like to call a "lenky, as in lengthy, cowboy" so it's nice to have everything tailored to fit him. For some reason my boys (except trent) have always loved to dress up.

Brian got a new suit too.

To replace the shredded mess of a suit he wore home.

The other suit he threw away in Chile.

Just in case you are wondering if he changed much on the mission-

this photo is proof positive that he's mostly the same ol' brian.

Jack bought 8 white shirts.

7 short sleeved- one long- he has a couple more long sleeves shirts at home.

It's hot in Brazil!

What a handsome fella!

Again- these tailored trousers are going to be nice.

Shoes-

he bought two pair.

Brian bought two pair too...

they were trashed in the first year.

Missionaries walk A LOT.

Jack should average 11 miles a day.

Brian easily did that.

Missionaries usually don't drive much in foreign countries but jack might.

A good pair of shoes is essential. Brian bought a pair for $20 in Chile after his Rockports wore out... they only held together for three weeks. A good lesson in you get what you pay for. When he came home his shoes had cardboard liners in them he had cut out. I wonder if these Ecco Fusions & Florsheim's will last the whole two years for jack?

I don't know what these two are grinning about here... but I like this picture.

The best part-

Picking out the ties!

He bought seven.

Dad & Brian had a lot of advice.

It was good to see them together, talking about their missions & what they liked to wear & not wear. I really worried about have teenage sons when i was a young mom. I've loved it.

It was a pile of fun here on the way out!

Here's the bill

$1134.86-- substantially less than Brian spent.

Jack needs no winter clothes... sweet.

We still have more shopping to do- but suits & pants are being tailored & we are on our way to completing the list! I am really proud of him for paying his way out the door.

Lucky for us, when we got home Marcus & Brittany were here making an authentic Brazilian dinner for Jack.

Jack's birthday is Tuesday- this is an early gift.

Marcus went to the Recife, Brazil mission. Just above where jack is going.

This dish was delish! It's called- feijodoa

It was black beans & meat (pork ribs & sausage) boiled together & served over white rice with onions, tomatoes & lettuce.

Marcus & Brittany are fantastic cooks & so adventurous!

After dinner we headed over to closing night at CATS!

It was so fun to have Marcus & Brittany come along. Trent came too!! and guess what??? HE LOVED IT- amazing. That's how fast paced it is.

Brian, Cory, Zach & Jack

Ya just gotta love this kid & his spiky red hair.
I'm going to miss him terribly...

Brian's best friend Cory is on a mission in Guatemala. This is his little brother. He was Growl Tiger in the show & was FABULOUS!!! THis picture is for Cory. He comes home in July & moves into brian's apartment in the fall.

Hailey rocked the show!!!

She was so good & so brave & ya-- love her too.

Hailey & brothers- this is trent not wanting jack to pick him up...

Jack was ticked off because I suggested I ask one of the stars to take her picture with him... who knows- I mean she'll be in college when he gets home- get it? Hey, I tried, I was just lookin' out for the guy.

No- I didn't do it.

big baby

Hailey & sis- chloe.

We missed you megan!

Hailey & her BBF Tiffany

What a great day
too bad day light savings started this morning

I could barely keep my eyes open through 9:00 church....

IT was worth it!