Buh-bye!

 

NYE, we went to Sea World. Grace invited Mary to come too. It was a nice day. 81 degrees (Florida really shines in the “winter”) and sunny. 

We watched shows, looked at animals, ate healthy food (actually) and rode rides.

They had one show that I would call secularly religious. It was a musical about the first Christmas in Bethlehem. It was funny and sweet and a little irreverent if you are religious and a little pious if you are not. It was fun to see.

They had fireworks countdowns to the new year 4 times.  The first was at 6:30 which was perfect for families with little kids or old folks!

I am hopeful that 2021 will be much better than 2020.

Last Lincoln photo of the year. 

Last selfie of the year. 

Beach day and treehouse

First off this might be the cutest picture I have ever seen. These girls💕💕

 Next tonight we finally got an email from the mission. Here’s Ethan with his mission President and wife. Yay! He looks great!

Today Grace went to the mall with friends. Rob and I went to the beach with Jon and Jennifer. The men fished and Jen and I walked. I am never barefoot and we walked for 2 hours down the beach and back. I ended up with a blister (lame), other than that it was a beautiful day and a nice nice walk. 

After we went to the Treehouse for lunch. It was all I had hoped. (We drove by it last week and thought it looked cute)

Hhmm

4:30 am, his bags were packed and we drove off into the dark. This time headed to the airport  so that Ethan could fly off to start his first assignment as a missionary. Home MTC is done and he’s off to work. Neither Rob nor I slept well the night before. As we tossed and turned waking each other up, or maybe just being aware that the other was awake, we’d whisper things like “I can’t believe he’s going”, “I’m remembering all the times- the soccer games, scouts, friends, video games, service activities, school days...” 

The drive there reminded me of another early morning drive the 3 of us made. This one to the hospital to start Ethan’s mortal life. Only he was too anxious to wait and actually made the drive with us! This time he was too anxious to wait long enough for a picture by the giant Christmas tree at the airport, or for a long teary goodbye, or even to turn and wave. He all but bolted thru security ready to go. I was able to see him thru the plexiglass barrier as he was putting his shoes back on and picking up his bag. I smiled behind my mask and put up the I love you hand, he gave me a thumbs up and a wave. 

So that was weird. Weird to think we won’t see him, or hug him, of have him here with us for two years...and then really forever I guess as he’ll come home now and then but his life will be somewhere else. Somewhere at college, then at a job, and then with his own wife and family. But for now he’s on the Lord’s errand and we are here. Proud, happy, nervous, trusting, worrying, missing him, remembering, looking forward, praying. All the things. It went too fast, that’s for sure. I really really love that boy. 

 

He’s ready. 

We waited anxiously for a call, or text, or email saying he had arrived and all was well. In the meantime Hannah and Sawyer had to pack. We had one last afternoon together. Hannah wanted to go to Bealls. We went to Pei Wei and Target too. We admired Ezra and how strong and handsome he is. We gathered all their stuff and wished their trip was longer. We even talked about changing their flight. I wish we lived near.

So we didn’t hear anything. Eventually (at 6pm-ish) I called the mission home. I had seen other missionaries arriving on Facebook and it was too much the not knowing. I won’t say the silly things I imagined. The senior missionary who answered the phone was kind and quick to say that he had picked Ethan up himself. He said he was happy to be there. He has two companions that both speak Spanish and he replied “gracias” in response to the help he was given. I promised myself and the Elder that I wouldn’t call again and hung up relieved and delighted to know that he had made it and all was well. 

We got Ez and his parents to the airport on time. He grew while he was here I am sure! Then we stopped by Costco, talked to mom and Alec on the way home and had dinner with our only child left at home, our caboose, Grace. 

What a wonderful adventure this life is. What a joy family and the gospel are. How blessed Rob and I are. 

 Sierra went home today.  Despite the craziness of the year it was nice to see her so often. She spent some quarantine months with us at the beginning of the year. Then we saw her in July and November in Utah and now a week here in Florida again. It’s been awesome. I love my Christmas baby a lot. She is fun and smart and creative. I am grateful for her in my life.

Ethan played basketball with Will and Ty and Connor this morning. When I dropped him off at the church Bro Williams was there with his grands.  He came back later and brought them donuts. We sure like that Bro Williams! Last basketball game before the mission.

We also had some last minute errands to do before Ethan leaves in the morning so we spent some time at target.

Grace met Belle at Disney Springs for some shopping fun this afternoon. They took the dogs & walked around. 

Hannah made cookies per Bub’s request. 

Rob went to the doctor, for literally his first well check up since we’ve been married. No surprise he needs to make some lifestyle changes. 

Things on the Utah front continue to be unsettled. It’s hard to be so far away in times of trials. 

Lastly little Ezer bezer is the cutest pat-tootiest little chonkaroo ever. He’s bouncy and smiley and fun. 

Last sunday

 

Ethan said the closing prayer in sacrament meeting today. He’s off on Tuesday morning.

Tomorrow Sierra leaves. It was so nice of her to come and stay with us. I know she wanted to be with Chris, and it was a little boring here but I enjoyed having her here.

We took some timer pictures. They didn’t turn out too badly.

Reading time is my favorite!

There has been a lot of crafting, game playing, walk taking, movie watching. This duck is not our best effort.

Saying goodbye to friends.

Beach

We went to New Smyrna beach today. It was a little bit cold but we didn’t care. We had a great time. I love how the water is clear and you can see the shells in the surf.
 

The water was surprisingly warm so we walked with our feet in the water up and down the beach.

Ethan and Rob stayed home and ran some mission errands.

Grace stayed home and had a clarinet lesson.

When we got home we put away Christmas, went to Target and ate Chinese food. 

I loved how these little birds were all puffed up to keep warm.

It’s a wrap

 

Christmas morning is always fun. Everyone got nice gifts and we all enjoyed Ezra’s first Christmas morning. 

Grace got Lincoln a stocking and filled it with gifts. He enjoyed all her choices.

It is Sierra’s 30th birthday too. Christmas birthdays are the best! At least she always loves it!

We were spoiled. I got some lovely gifts.

 Greg made a wonderful book for Ethan, he asked everyone to write their testimonies and then compiled a book for him to read whenever he needs a pick me up or reminder. 

We ate a lot of deliciousness and played games and watched “Soul”.

 We made and received phone calls and texts from family that wasn’t with us. Sierra got lots of happy birthday calls and it was fun to hear all the kids sing to her!  Chris also calls like 10x a day, which is great. They really like each other💕💕

Grace and I got each other the same gift! Loungefly back packs! I was so surprised that she got me one, so sweet!

Christmas Eve

 

Hannah and I spent the afternoon cooking a delicious Christmas Eve dinner. We had Christmas crackers which were surprisingly (to everyone else) fun! We did the light the world activity for the day which was to go around the table sharing what you loved about each person. It was very sweet. We watched the Chosen Christmas episode and we watched Elf. We played Yahtzee and watched Bub do tricks. 

We made Yule logs for dessert that was delicious and wassail that was not. It was a very nice day. 

4 hrs

Grace had an EEG this morning. She had to be sleep deprived so that meant we all did. We got up at 4 after going to sleep at 1. Lincoln tried his hardest to keep her happy but she was a grump.

Finally she got to sleep during the test. Hopefully we get results soon, hopefully they find something AND the something is fixable. 🤞🙏🏼

Tonight we went to Disney Springs to see the sights.

 

 

Walks

 

We took a lot of walks today. First Hannah and Sierra and I took Ezra and drove my car to action gator for an oil change and tire air pump up. We dropped off the car and walked to the ups store to get stamps for my Christmas cards that I just sent out today, and then to Dunkin Donuts for a treat. Then we walked home. 

Later Sierra and I walked back and got the car and then drove to Walmart for our groceries for the week. 

Our last walk was after dinner when Grace, Sierra, Ethan and I walked Lincoln thru the neighborhood looking at the Christmas lights. 

Jess and Isaiah and the kids came to dinner tonight. We made pulled pork tacos that were delicious. It was fun to see them. I got to hold little Maverick and rock him to sleep. 

Here’s all the happy kitchen helpers 🤣Their faces crack me up!

Weekend

 

Yesterday we took the youth ice skating. To be honest I didn’t want to go and was a little annoyed beforehand but it turned out to be a great activity. The youth loved it. Hannah drove herself there to meet us and I got to hold Ezra while she skated a little. 

They had two rinks there and on the small one they had curling going on. It was fun to see up close. Some of the kids, including Hannah and Grace tried it out and it was pretty funny to watch them sliding on the ice. 

Papa gave Bub his mission coat. Now he’ll take Papa’s coat and Tanner’s belts with him. That’s nice. 

Today we had a musical sacrament meeting. Grace and Lettie played a beautiful duet and there were other really nice numbers too. It was very different than other years but still very beautiful.

We also had BYD tonight. It was Christ-mas themed. After I took Grace and Lettie to drop off a Christmas present for the Darraughs (everyone’s favorite band director) and then the girls watched a movie at Lettie’s house.

When I got home the kids were piled on Bub’s bed FaceTiming Chris and taking personality tests online. 

One more Sunday and Bub leaves to the mission field and 2020 ends.