Missionary Updates

Just a quick update on my missionaries:

Dad & Georgia arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa a week ago. They are pretty much over their jet lag, but feeling pretty overwhelmed by what they need to learn in the office. Their flat isn't ready yet, so they've been in the mission home all week. Unfortunately that means they have still been living out of their suitcases. Hopefully they will be able to move in on Wednesday of this week. I talked to them via Skype a couple of times this week and they sound good!

Aubrey is enjoying the MTC and appears to be learning German. This week's highlight was getting to meet President Uchtdorf. He came to the MTC and dropped in on Aubrey's German class out of the blue. Aubrey said they shook hands and spoke German with him for a couple of minutes. He's always loved Pres. Uchtdorf, so this was pretty cool for my kid! My niece works in the MTC cafeteria and told me she saw Aubrey one night and talked to him for a minute and that he looks really good.

My three nephews that are serving missions all seem to be doing well too. There have been a few companion issues recently, but Cameron (Portugal), Mikkel (Mexico), & Nick (Canada) are persevering and doing the work they've been called to do.

All in all, I'd say the missionaries are GOOD! And because of them, so am I.

Marian the Librarian

OK, so I don't profess to be a librarian, but I am working at the American Fork Public Library now. It's been a dream job of mine that I hoped would work out some day in the future. I had been volunteering there when I heard about a small part time job opening, so after talking to my family and thinking about it, I put in an application. That didn't work out, but they kept my application on file and several weeks later I was lucky enough to be offered a different small part time job there. I worked "on call" for a few weeks, then began my regular shift last week. So if you stop by the AF Library on Wednesdays between 10-4, look for me there! (I'm usually at the front desk between 10-12 and 3-4.)

Getting Back to "Regular" Life

During the holidays and the few weeks after, I kept thinking that I would get back to "regular" life when those things I was consumed with at the time were over. So we enjoyed Christmas, New Year's, and the break from school. We got the missionary son off to the MTC, got the grandparents off to the MTC, and I started my new job at the library. Now it's been a couple of weeks and I'm pondering what my "regular" life is...and what it should be.

I think I have a lot of work to do to make my "regular" life more like what it should be. But I'm not going to overwhelm myself with lots of "New Year's Resolutions" or lists of EVERYTHING that needs to be fixed or improved. I think I'll just start with 2 things to work on for the next 4-6 weeks. I'm going to (1) try to do a better job of planning ahead on meals and (2) spend more time preparing my Sunday School lessons.

I'll let you know how this step into my new "regular" life goes in a month or so.

What Better Example Can You Have?

Dad & Georgia at the MTC before heading to their mission in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Grandparents who choose to serve the Lord are a wonderful example. I want to be one of those some day!

Joy In My Posterity

42 Hours and Counting

42 hours--that's about how much time we have left to spend with Aubrey before he goes into the MTC (as of 7:00 pm Monday night). What a roller coaster of emotions it has already been. Within moments of each other, I can be so ready for him to leave AND break into tears thinking about him leaving. I know this is what he is supposed to do and so grateful that he is doing it, but it's not going to be easy.

I love you Bud!