Happy Hump Day Elder Reid!!!

Wow! One year ago today we lugged Derek and his bulging suit cases into Grandma Reid's car and headed for the MTC. Since then it’s been a heck of a ride! Unbelievable how many blessing we’ve felt, and never would have guessed how much he would love his mission and serving the Lord! Highlight of our Christmas was getting to call him. I was just smiling and chuckling to myself as he definitely has a strong Spanish accent and was struggling to talk in English! It was pretty darn cute! He was talking about how when it rains, it pours there (literally) and we asked him if he needed a jacket... “no no, no jacket. It stays pretty warm.” Well, what do you do when it rains? “well, ummm, we wrap our um, Book of Mormons? (his voice trails up a lot), in ummm… plasteec? And just run and get like, soakin wet! And then you can hear people say…. Hey, look at the soppin wet gringo!” ha ha ha! He said they recently were teaching a sister from Arizona who spoke English so he was trying to teach in English and said it was really hard, remembering simple gospel words such as “Atonement” is now a struggle. Can you imagine what it will be like next year? I can’t wait!!! He hasn’t gotten sick in quite some time (YAY!) and said he probably has all kinds of things living and growing inside of him! He just got moved to a new area right before Christmas. It’s called Guasave (sp?) – a little bit bigger town than he’s used to. Get this, they actually have a Wal-mart AND a Burger King! I’m sure he loves that! They share an apartment with two other Elders, one of which is also from Utah. He said that Elder has a Christmas CD with the song “Where Are You Christmas” and he said in his last e-mail “I love that song mom, you gotta get that when I get home!” Funny thing is, we HAVE that soundtrack… funny what these young men hear and appreciate while serving. It was so great hearing his voice again! The maturity in his voice and personality made me cry! Send away a twit teenager, and in a matter of months they become compassionate young men with a multitude of feelings, wisdom and inspiration. It’s a wonderful plan our Heavenly Father has!

Some other highlights from recent e-mails he’s sent… It’s a bit long, the last two months have been soooooo busy! So I’m posting my favorite heart warming and/or funny things he’s said.

12/14/09 (12th day of Christmas present): We did the 12 days of Christmas for him and his Comp. The first gift was attached to poem about how Christmas is about giving. We gave them each cash that they had to give to someone they felt was in need. We sent these cute little Santa’s helper “thinking caps” to come up with something extra special. This was his reply to Day 1: ok so first things first -- i opened the gift and yes thank you, that is so great! and i have the perfect person to give it to, there is a sister in the ward and she wants to go to the temple but she has 3 kids and she has a husband that works but not too much money and they are going to go this April and so i am going to give it to her to help her to go to the temple for the first time -- so that will be so cool and i will let you know how it goes (his companion gave his money to her as well, love it!!!)

12/08/09: i got your packages for christmas and i was going to open all them right then and jsut peak but you have every one wrapped, haha! i should of known, you wrap everything!... (it’s true, I always have. I love the excitement watching the wonderment of a gift in someone’s hand before they rip it open, LOVE that part!) so i will wait and the notes on all them, you put some time into it! love you guys and thanks tons and tons! Blythe also made a life size tree out of felt to hang on his wall and made these super cute ornament cards! Thanks again to everyone who signed one for him, he loved it! Said he tacked it right into the concrete wall!

A favorite!... So we have one baptism planned this week but we will see, i think it is a go - i hope. But it is going good and learning lots . the people here in potrero are really good and so nice and it is amazing to serve here and all my areas i have loved so much and i have learned so much in jsut this short time. i dont know how they can say that the first year is so long because it doesn’t seem like I’ve almost been out a year. i still tell people i have 10 months and its really like 11 and quarter. it is insane how much i have learned, not only with the language but more about me and how i need to trust in the lord more and that i know i can’t jsut do it on my own and that really the things that i am good at and how i can be good at many things is because he gives us our talents and my PB says that i have been given many talents which are to bless the lives of others. says nothing of my life, but others and that is what i am learning - how to rely on the lord and know that i cant just do it on my own.....and i am so glad to be here serving and truly it is the mission for me. i was called here and i couldnt serve anywhere else - i love my mission and it is the best decision i couild of made for myself.........and i am learning more and more patience because my companion right now is a little different and does things wierd and i am learning to not get mad or let it show at all -- but it is good i am more patient really haha -- i will talk to you in 16 days now haha oh boy crazy haha love you and i am out of time love you guys....Love Elder REid

11/30/09: this week we completed the goal of the mission so we got to wear clothes like pants and tshirt and it is a weird feeling! haha i dont know about this and how i am going to survive at home haha (yeah… whoa! whoa! and double whoa! Derek, is that you???)

11/16/09: ok, first no i don’t have a microwave and yes i don’t even have a shower. just a hole in the wall that spits out freezing cold water at 6:30 in the morning - how about that for a wake up call!

any sweet treat you have been CRAVING? Like, someone might get their arm chewed off if you don't get one? Ha ha! J/K and no not really i have abondoned the craving for sweets that i liked really alot because i dont remember them ahaha but ya so what ever you feel i would like will be perfect

(I had a bizarre dream that Derek got sent home for meeting a girl and taking her to the movies – that same morning I was getting strange texts from someone in Spanish which was ironic! So I was joking with him about it…) “no i am not going to get sent home and no i dont even talk to the women ahah - but the other day one drove by and said “come to my house becasue i want to learn more about the gospel” while laughing and hten drove off and sayed guapo which is handsome – “so, why thank you, but no!” ha ha

and ya it is good here, lots of little towns and lots of hoping for rides again so i am used to it now and the church is a little sad. the one we had 9 people in sac and the other we had just one sister come, yeah - jsut one and so i think i need to work harder in reactivating members than in baptisms here so we will see what happens.

Feliz Navidad! We have so much to be thankful for!

Oh boy!... life has gotten incredibly busy! Didn't even notice until tonight that Blythe had changed the look of the blog again (thanks Blythe, you are so talented!). So... I'm not sending Christmas cards this year! Sorry, just no time for everything! Two jobs during the Holiday months is insane (plus planning of the Ward Christmas Party)! Thank goodness for my family and friends that keep me sane! I have the best husband in the world! And my son-in-law is a total crack up! Major funny thing happened tonight but we won't talk about it here. Yeah, thanks for the "save" Blythe (ha ha, insert sarcasm). By the way, Dad says it's written in the "clause" wink wink! Bow chick a wow wooah!

Elder Reid is doing awesome and I promise to post about him real soon! He got his packages (howl-lay-lu-ya!) and they will start openning their 12 days of Christmas on the 14th -- unless he pulls a Steven and rips 'em all open! I love my family! I've been experiencing a bit of an identity crisis (well, not as bad as it sounds, but lacking for words) this past year or so. As any empty nester would probably confess, you devote your whole life to your children, and one day you blink and their all grown up!... And successful and doing everything you hoped they would. But now I'm left with -- "wait, who am I now??" It's a really weird transition, but this new life I'm really starting to enjoy as well! It's a screwy world we live in ya know? But there are so many things that are right with it as well. I love my family, love my job, love our missionary, love my church, our awesome friends, and my wonderful Missionary Mom group that are so inspiring!... the good Lord and the many ways he's blessed my life! And to top it off -- Elder Reid wrote us the most endearing letter this past week. I'll try to post some of it real soon! It's true what they say about having a missionary out, the blessings pour in, and we've sure felt them. Many because he's such an obedient missionary!

Good news!!! Derek has a good friend that received a new kidney today! She's an awesome girl and has had quite the battle, but you'd never know it by meeting her! She's truly delightful and we wish her the best! Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers and we hope a speedy recovery for her and her donor (whose name is Derrick, ha ha!).

Now -- back to frantically cleaning the house! Parents will be here bright and early in the morning! Let's hope things go OK with my dad! Can't wait to see all the family!!!

What is this you ask?

OK... wondering why I would post a picture of a bucket and a cup? Apparently it's Elder Reid's new shower (which cracks me up!) - he got transferred! He's now in El Potrero (I think) -- I wasn't expecting this transfer and it was late in the day and he was tired so we'll learn more next week. On Monday's e-mail (11/09/09) here's part of what he wrote: ok so there were transfers today and now i am in protrero i think haha it is another little ranch and lots of dirt and pure rides again. no more big city, i had one month in culiacan and its back to the ranch haha but so ya i am now with a new companion, Elder Alcantara. And it is another house of prayer and we are living in the house of prayer so we live in the church! so ya, it is a way little town and i am sure i will have fun with the shower beings (drum roll) there is no shower -- its a bucket of water and a cup haha, great! can't wait! and yes his baptism (referring to a 12 yr old boy they baptised last week) was great! he is way cool and he is way pumped. he swims and is way good and so he has practice on sundays with a trainer and he wanted to train before his competition and he had to be there on sunday, the day he was to get confirmed. so we told him to pray about it on friday and saturday and he said he prayed and then said "things worked out, now i don't have to go sunday so i can be confirmed" it's pure power! anyway, love you lots. sorry i am tired and its not the best email but next week -- love you tons and tons Elder Reid

From the looks of google earth, it looks like a really really small town. Which is always nice, they get to know the people well and usually have lots of success in these humble little towns. Maybe we should send him one of those little camp showers for Christmas?! Or a sponge! :-)

Elder Reid & his Comp Meet a Famous Boxer!!!

If you don't know this guy, he is Julio Cesar Chavez a famous boxer that lives in Culiacan. Read on...

Elder Reid has been serving in the heart of Culiacan for a few weeks now and is loving it. He's in the same Ward as his Mission President, the Ward is quite large and he's already talked in Sacrament (which he's getting a little more used to). He loves the fact that it's a little more "big city" than the areas he's been in, and more store/food options means he's not gotten sick since he's been there (yay!). There's a Sears nearby so he asked us to send him a little cash so he can replenish his "tie" options -- he's given a few ties away to previous companions and feels the need to switch it up a bit! He's still trying not to loose his way in the big city and talked about almost getting hit twice - once by a bus and once by a car "Crazy Drivers!" -- sounds like Utah! ha ha

I'm posting today's letter... quite entertaining!

hello my parents - how are you doing? sounds like you are doing good and ditching out on halloween huh? sounds good to me haha (Keith and I went to dinner and a show Saturday instead of passing out candy -- we have options now that we are empty nesters! Tried a really yummy diner called The Left Fork -- it was really really good!)

Do they do Halloween where you are at?
they do but it is not really big. they dont do it too much, there are not too many kids out probobly because there is so much drugs and stuff that they just don’t. its downtown where i am so its not like little kids can just go roaming the streets with all the bad people out...... (well, that gives me a warm a fuzzy)

How's the weather, has it cooled off at all?
yes it has cooled off but it is still hot during the day. it is not as hot, but it is hot. it is like perfect they say in dec and that is the month that no one leaves because the weather is so nice

Any near misses with buses or random street cars?
No, didnt have any incidences with buses lately. i am getting used to it and staying away from places where i can get ran over! haha

How do you and your comp get along??
fantastic! me and my comp get along really well (his current comp is another native from Mexico… Elder Gonzalez I think) he is way cool and we work together really well. we are going to have some good baptisms this month which is cool. we are going to have one baptism this week, a boy that is 12 and he is way cool. and then we just met this one guy, we talked to and taught him once and then we went back and did lesson two and challenged him to be baptised and he accepted! so at the end we invited him to come to church and he said "yes i will like that" plane and simple, it never happens like taht so we are thinking well who knows, with it being the day of the dead and stuff it is lots with the family - and so we are in sac like 10 min into it and thinking we are not going to have anyone in sac and in walks him haha. he came solo, it was amazing so we will have his baptism the 21 if everything goes well. that was cool to see that he came on his own. he loves to talk to us and learn more......

Dad and I google earth'd Culiacan city where you are at, it's huge! I can see why you get lost... and we found the rich rich houses you mentioned.
and yes it is big and we get lost sometimes not too often but it is big and we dont really work in the rich part because for one, in the day they are all working because they have huge houses, so gone all day until nine in the night so we dont really work there haha

Any exciting stuff happen lately?
and so exciting happen lately, well this week we went to go with a recent convert and we went past the house of this boxer that i told you about. he was out front and we walked past and he was yelling "run run up the hill as fast as you can" because it is way steep and we were laughing and then my companion says "its julio cesar Chavez, i want a picture with him!" so we go back down and talk to him and he says yes and so we take a picture with him and then he says if we can run up the hill as fast as we can without stopping he will give us 500 pesos... and then he says “no, a race against my friends” and so we go and race up the hill and we won and so we got back down and he hands us both 500 pesos like 50 dollars haha and we say no no of course, ha ha! So that is my wierd story for the week....... (this makes me laugh! Can you just picture two missionaries running their little guts out? Ties just a flapping in the wind... Classic!) -- and, I googled Julio’s name and there’s tons of cool stuff on the internet about him! Quite impressive career he's had. They should try double challenging to get a lesson in next time! :-)

Any embarrassing stuff? Ha ha
i have a story to tell you but i will need to write it in a letter and i am working on writing you a letter and so i will send it soon haha and it will have more stories like that i just dont have a lot of time to write all them down haha well in a email anyways. take care and hope all is well and goes well this week love you tons Elder Reid

Can't wait to get the letter! He only send letters once in a while but they are usually long and written over periods of time. It's fun to get more details. I'll post the pics of them with the famous boxer when he send the next thumb drive home (in a month or two). He mentioned in one of his last e-mails that he's having the time of his life! We feel very blessed that he's enjoying his mission so much!

Good luck and best wishes Elder Sacco!...

Keith and I got to go to Jared's farewell Sunday! And got to hang with him and his family for a while afterwards. It was fun sharing some stories of the good ol' days with his parents! Derek and Jared have been best buds (and partners in crime) since they were just little, and both managed to get through their adventures without too many war wounds! Jared has the best laugh ever, I miss it! (Jared's the guy in the yellow tie by the way). Jared is heading off to Chille (sp?) this Wednesday! The bad news, Derek and Jared will be speaking in Spanish one day and none of us will have a clue what they are talking about, ha ha! But that's OK! Good luck Elder Sacco! It was sure great seeing you all on Sunday! You will be an awesome missionary! And to Jared's parents, thanks again for putting up with our son for all those years! It was a blast watching them grow up -- scary sometimes, but a blast!

Wait, what day is it???

Me & Blythe in Mesquite last weekend, getting hugs from Grandpa before we hit the road!

Lincoln Memorial

My Bud, President Roosevelt

True to form, just seemed like the right thing to do! :-)

Sara Palin in the red hi heels, she was on our tour bus. Susan was being sneaky getting this shot! ha ha

The Wall

Derek did a report on Pres. Roosevelt so I couldn't help but feel inspired to kiss his cheek!

Susan in front of the White House. President Obama was out earlier in the day playing basketball, but we missed it!

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So, I feel like I've been living out of a suit case the past few weeks! Two many adventures in a short amount of time.

First, Keith and I went to Mesquite to see my parents and take the palm that has grown so tall it no longer fits in the house. You should have seen him try to get it in the back of the truck! Lets just say he had a fight with the palm and the palm won! (drew blood - Doh!)

Then off to Washington D.C. the next week with Susan my co-worker. Fun trip! We hit the D.C. area on an evening bus tour after a business course we both attended. Sarah Palin was on our bus, no lie! ha ha, well, it was her look alike anyway. We had a blast on our little tour! Get two adventerous girls together with Dottie (Susan's trusty little GPS navigator) and the sky's the limit! And OH MY! Texas Roadhouse down there is WAY better than it is here! Huge amounts of better! Mmmmm... yum! Because we were out of towners they brought out a sampler plate before our dinner and it was to die for!

First stop on the D.C. bus tour was the White House. Now granted, they are two hours ahead of us so it was dark out -- made it really tough to get a picture to capture the beauty of if all! The weather was overcast, no wind, warm -- just gorgeous! The Washington and Lincoln Monument (the big tower thing that reflects in the water) looked just amazing! I wish we could have gotten a picture to capture how beautiful it looked! Lincoln Memorial was the last stop -- I've been there before many years ago, took me a while to find everything! We almost missed the bus! Got a little choked up by the wall. I would highly recommend a night tour, no crowds and quiet! We had a little too much fun at President Roosevelts monument! When Susan and I travel together it never fails that we get the girly giggles and just about pee our pants at some point! ha ha! We didn't get much sleep between the course, the bus tour and an o-dark thirty flight the next morning, but I've never been so proud to be an American! We have a great country!

The next weekend Blythe and I were off to Mesquite for a deer widow's weekend while Steven and Keith hunted down south (no deer luck this year, I guess Derek has to be with them). Blythe and I had a blast with my mom and sister, and teasing Grandpa while he tried to read his paper and keep up with sports and horse races on T.V. Us girls went to see Menopause the Musical in Vegas -- OH MY, great fun! And Blythe survived her first trip away from her sweetie! Well, she barely survived, haha! ;-) We had fun chatting forever in the car and dinkin around! Love U Blythe!

Then race back to work this week for huge meetings and an audit. I still have clothes all over the place, still need to finish emptying suit cases, have a few more gray hair, but lovin' life!

Best of all!!!! Elder Reid is doing soooooo well! Check back soon, I promise I'll post some of his comments from the last few weeks. He's doing so good and we are so proud of him! He's loving the big city life he's living in right now, and hasn't been sick since he's gotten there (yeah!!!). He's written some great stuff, can't wait to pull it together now that things should be slowing back down to a semi normal pace again. TTFN!

Gone straight to the crapper!

Right after my posting last week Derek sent the e-mail I've copied below. We’ve chuckled about it all week! Not the same kind of “spiritual feel” we got from the week before. In fact, this one went straight to the crapper! Ha ha ha! (please know this is Derek’s sense of humor shining through, he’s feeling better and is being transferred to the heart of Culiacan… big city stuff now!!! He’s way excited!).

ok bear with me, i am having issues this week. it has been a week and a half and my mind is on overload and so here it goes! monday i was doing laundry and i was hanging all that up and so i went to go under all the clothes and slammed my head into the edge of the window and split my forhead open ahh! but just a little super glue fixed that. then tuesday I felt bad and i had diarea and it was horrible and so that was the independence day of mexico so i did not get to take pictures and we had to be in the house by 8 anyway so we don’t have problems with drunks! so then weds i spent all day with my arms power gripped around the toilet throwing up till i could not even breath!... and had diarea. so wife of president said i needed an analysis! oh boy, what is that?! OH, its when you crap in a cup and they look to see if you have parasites! so i dont know if you have had the experience of doing this, but i sure did and i can tell you it is not an expereince i want to do again!.......zaz!......so well they did that and it came back (drum roll).....negative – wow, i crapped in a cup for nothing! i was so disappointed! so well i was dying all this week and it was rough but through it all somehow we had two baptisms Sunday. it was two jovens (youth) of 12 years old the one is the daughter of the guy that cant get baptised but really wants to so that was cool and the other was a friend. it was an awesome experience! this week is over now and monday is changes. i will let you know where i am called next. and yes dad i am writing in my journal, actually i have not missed a day yet! Haha! i am doing good, having a lot of faith and the mission time passes really fast!......and soon you will not need the dreams haha, but love you guys tons and tons! love you and hope all is well.....love Elder Derek Reid

So, I mentioned to him in this week's e-mail that maybe he should send me a vial of Mexico water so I can shed a few pounds. His said in his reply that you can actually GET parasites there (like at the drug store???)! People do that on purpose to loose weight and then take pills to get rid of them. Holy Moly! That's crazy business!

Heartfelt random-ness!

Did... someone forget Fido (in Mexico)

Paiute Falls, Marsvale

Who locked the cranny house?!!!

View from Blythe & Steve's room in Hawaii
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Wow, it's been a whole month since I've blogged. Life needs to slow down a little! :-) Thoughts from the past month… heartfelt random-nesses!

1) Blythe and Steven celebrated their two-year anniversary in sunny Hawaii – and they had a wonderful time! Beautiful-ness!

2) Pappa Reid and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in Marysvale – ATV’ing our hearts out on the Paiute trails! First trip without the kids too, that was weird but wonderful! Here's to another great 25 years!! totally amazing-ness!

3) My dad continues to slowly regain his strength after a few hard knocks with his heart these past few months – and is still giving the medical staff a hard time with his sense of humor – that’s a good sign! Wonderful-ness!

4) My mom just turned another year older and is having a blast out on the golf course with some new found friends - - splendid-ness!

5) Went to dinner with Grandma Reid and Wally and got to meet his beautiful daughter Ashlee for the first time (she lives in Texas) – she’s a very beautiful, bubbly and smart girl! adorable-ness!

6) We went to a totally awesome farewell – Derek's good buddy Elder Zac Durrant – wow! I laughed and cried, he’s grown into a fine young man and will be a great missionary! Way to go Durrants! When we asked Derek if he had any advice for Elder Durrant that he wanted us to pass on he simply wrote: D&C 6:36 “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” Total awesome-ness!

7) Got some FANTASTIC news from a friend of Derek’s – December 9th is a MUCH anticipated day and we are so excited for her! Much gratitude and thankful-ness!

8) And last but not last! Our wonderful Elder Reid?!! Word of the month: Faithfull-ness…

Derek’s been out nine months now! Can you believe it? Time is flying by! He has a new companion, Elder Gonzalaz – and is still serving in El Carrizo for the time being. This area has been more of a struggle for him in way of baptisms and he has had to rely on the faith, strength and the will of the Lord more than ever. Two investigators he has been working with… one is an older gentleman that wants to be baptized very badly but has to get divorced from his first wife and marry the current woman he lives and has children with. The laws are very different in 3rd world countries and this happens quite often. The second is a 16 year old boy. Of that boy he writes…we had a baptism planned for this sunday for a boy that is 16 and has had tons of time with the missionaries and had a problem. i dont know what exactly, but needed an interview with the president of the mission. so we got it all set up for the lz to do it especially for him. they came saturday and did the intreview and it went well - said he was good and so we set up the pila (font) and filled it sunday morning and then the family never showed up to church - he bailed out on us so a little frustrated because we have not had any baptisms. but i guess it was just the will of God to not have him baptized. i guess he is just not ready yet......

But i just want to let you know i am doing good and well - trusting in the lord more in this area and accepting the fathers will. some times we dont get what we think and its all in His timing and we just need to have faith and confidence in Him and do all we can -- and He will put in his part. but i have faith, and we will see how next month goes…

So, there is a reason that P-days fall on Mondays in Mexico. That is because so many party it up on the weekend that Monday is a day of recovery! On humble-ness, he writes: and yes, some of the nicest people are the ones that have a hard image (have had a hard life). like here the drug lords are way nice to the elders. Even the drunks are really nice and love to hear and talk to you haha. the ones that have had a tough life but deep down really are nice good people… like Jesus said “he who is without sin let him cast the first stone…” We shouldn’t judge. There was more to this story, but kind of personal so I will leave off.

We asked him what the deal is with the dogs in Mexico – as he sent some interesting dog pictures. For the pic above we asked him - “So, who forgot poor Fido?”
um, the deal with the dogs -- they are not dogs here in mexico, they are not really even pets. they are more like just there to roam ahah but ya they have some sad looking dogs here! and you can find breeds of dogs that only exist in mexico! you can find ones you could not even imagine how it happened! haha

I have every other Friday off and when Derek was home I used to shoot him a text – “wanna go to breakfast?” and no matter what he’d always pop out of bed and we’d go get strawberry crepes! Orange juice for him, Diet Coke for me! I told him I miss our breakfast time and he responded with: and you bet mom – when I get home we have a date for village inn, maybe ihop -- i like there’s better haha

This past week was Mexico’s independence day! On Tuesday to be specific, they asked the missionaries to retire to their rooms early. Lots and lots of celebrating going on! He said he would take pictures and send them. The week before, and I can’t find this e-mail right now – but he talked about getting fed non-stop all day on a Friday. He was miserably full – more full than he’s ever been in his life! He said “that night I threw up out of all three oracles of my face! It burned so bad, and then woke up the next day with diarrhea!” Dang! We thought he was over the gringo sickness part! Ha ha! His closing remarks this week: love you guys tons and tons and have a good week! love you! Elder loves IHOP Reid

Picture Video!!! "Feels Like Home" Please read and then watch...

I've spent a few late nights creating this picture video with some of the pics Derek sent home. Blythe and I went to see My Sister's Keeper recently and the song "Feels Like Home" plays towards the end of the movie (love that song!). You might also recognize the song from "The Notebook" -- I surfed MP3 songs in search of a male singer of the song and found one by a Mario Frangoulis that took my breath away!... Just what I was looking for.

When I was young I used to go to a popular summer camp through the school district called Millhollow. I was preteen age. I loved that camp! I also loved going home after camp -- walking into the fresh scent of my home, the comforts of my own bed and the unconditional love of my parents and family! I love that memory! That's the best way to describe what it felt like when I finally gave my religion a chance . Most of you know my story, I was inactive most of my life, quite bitter towards the religion actually. It wasn't until I became an adult that I finally openned my heart to this religion I was born into, and after that I couldn't take it in fast enough. And that's the best way to describe it for me, it was like coming home.

Elder Reid is doing well! And I will let his pictures speak for themselves. I added some gospel pictures in, just fit the theme of the song. The pic of two elders praying and the three elders in the picture at the end are pictures I found on-line (not anything Derek took).

The first baptism pic is Silvia & her son Jesus -- his letter that week was so infectious! He was on cloud 9!!! Very nervous because his Spanish was still rusty "and they have long names!" She was so happy to get baptized she hugged them afterwards! She didn't know you aren't supposed to do that. She was very happy to become a member!

The 2nd baptism pic is Dolores -- she was raised catholic and "knew the Bible very well." She kept reading and taking the lessons but every time they would try to set a date she would chicken out and doubt herself. One night she had a dream, and in that dream her grandson was drowning and one of the missionaries (she couldn't remember which one) came to rescue him and they were all in white. To her, that was her sign. In Derek's letter he wrote "funny that it took a dream to get her to finally commit -- but that Sunday afterwards she bore her testimony and it sounded as though she had always been a member and I knew she was going to be just fine." The next week her husband was baptized and Derek said there daughter just cried and cried -- she didn't think her dad would ever get baptized and she was very thankful knowing that in a year they can be sealed in the temple.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we have. He looks happy, doesn't he?

Retro Week Results - working their tails off in the heat!

This guy must be really really hot, poor thing!

Last week Derek's Mission President (who himself served in Mexico many years ago) challenged his missionaries to a “retro” week – meaning serving like they did back in his day. This meant no e-mail, no cell phone, no visiting members – just good ol’ fashioned full-blown non-stop tracting. So we didn’t get an e-mail last week (that was rough). Here’s some of what Elder Reid had to say about this experience…

Well, today i am tired! Haha This week was really one of the best weeks here in the mission! it was called semana retro and in english its like old type week - like how they worked in the past. We would leave at 9 a.m. and we worked til 10 at night – everyday! No e-mail, we had to hand write our letters haha so i have one for you guys! Watch for it. We had like 12 hours of work and one hour to eat. President Johnston (back in his day) worked an average of 82 hours a week and taught 52 lessons, so that was our goal to try to meet or beat. so me and my comp, we are here in el carrizo with tons of little areas with just us -- and we have others in our district in mochis and so we wanted to beat all there numbers so we just had this planted in our heads “we were going to work like dogs” and tuesday we had 15 lessons which is a lot, and alot for one day! we just worked like a machine all week and the end we had all together taught 69 lessons and had 41 new investigators. the other missionaries in our district had like 50 lessons and 21 new investigators -- we worked our tails off! i am like beat and running off coke haha but ya it was really one great week and i learned a lot – like how easy it is to just fall into the normal routine of things and how we just become satisfied with the normal. but there is always room to be better and do better and I really learned to rely on the Lord more. We have to rely on a lot of rides and well, we had faith and we got rides -- way easier and sooner this week and we had the strength to go and go and the Lord gives us strength and helps us when we do all we can and put all our effort in something.....it was really a good experience!

so for your questions, no i don’t get to go to the temple at all, the nearest temple to us is like 7 hours away but there is like so many years for that after haha (We also asked if he dreams in Spanish yet) Well, here is the problem.....i dont dream - well i can’t dream. i dont know what it is but i dont dream and don’t know if i ever will hahahaha (duh, he really always has slept this sound – should have remembered that one!) But Happy 25 years mom and dad that is really just wow haha crazy! (Yep, our 25th this week – woo-hoo!) So I’ve been out almost 8 months now, seems like it was just 7 but now 8 -- how time flies and it is going good! i would not trade it for the world!... i am going in the heat, it is like 110 now here and in mochis it was 122 – ya, way hot! like cook an egg in the street in one minute hot - but drinking lots of water haha. i am glad to get to email you and hear all is good and i am going strong and loving it. love you guys take care this week LOvE ELdeR ReID

Seven months and counting!...

Current Comp (waiting for a reply on his name) --

celebrating 6 months and 17 months respectively!

Click on this one for a better view, his face is classic! Elder Reid, first comp, and other native roommates

President & Sister Johnston (who are both awesome)

Love this pic w/Mexican flag flying behind him...
This posting is a little long, life and summer have been extremely busy! But hopefully worth the reid (Reid, get it?! ha ha). We got a thumb drive of pics from him finally, on the day of his birthday! What a pleasant surprise! I will post them on one of those scrolly things as soon as I can remember how! Pics are extra sweet, I can tell how happy he truly is!

I’m going to sum up (or try) what’s been going on in Elder Reid's world. They have been visiting with a Sister (a mom) who lost her son recently in an accident. She’s a member, but has been in-active. I can tell by his letters that he has a deep love and concern for this sister, as she for them. She always sends them home with food, and “makes the best tortillas in the world!” Mmmm… I like this woman already! It warms my heart when he talks about her. She's very good to them. They have two investigators they have been working with that are close to baptism (although one needs to marry the woman he lives with first, hmmm… ha ha). He also says they tend to favor the gringo over his native companion. One member always gives Derek bigger portions of food, or larger glasses of water! ha ha. Someone with a sense of humor but he gets a kick out of it. For his birthday, Derek, his comp and four others from his district went to eat at KFC, his treat! He was quite excited about that. And was super happy about a “sic” (meaning totally awesome) blanket that a good friend sent to him! He absolutely loves it (way to go Ry!) One of the investigators that they been working with was making him a cake. His birthday landed on a P-day, so I think that was fun for him. Biggest and most frustrating part about his current area is that members don’t stay active, or attend church… and if they go to church, don't always attend all three meetings (I wonder how many times he's had to teach or talk -- I'll ask that next time -- a lot probably). He also received our birthday packages a day after his birthday, which included two pair of Van’s – a favorite broken in pair from home and a new pair – with a shirt and shorts to go with -- the Vans were a bright ocean blue and just screamed Derek!! Yep, he loved them! Something to wear for a few minutes on a P-day but he's happy.

With the thumb drive he sent a nine page letter that was written over a two month period. I chuckled throughout the whole thing. We like it when he writes letters because his personality shines through more. In honor of my b-day and Mother’s Day he wrote this… which makes me laugh (man, I miss this kid)…
“so, I guess not being around your family, you start thinking of all the good times you’ve had with them, and so I have been thinking a lot about things we have done together!
1. First and most important is… “sweet tooth Sundays” – I swear mom, every Sunday we would always have a sweet tooth and it was usually for the same thing, be it ice cream, cake, pie, brownies, or any other chocolate goodness but I just remember always having that time with my mom to cook deserts on Sunday where we could talk and bond through our love of goodies. Good thing we both are skinny ha! Don’t know how though… ha ha, J/K!
2. “Shopping for school clothes” This was a treat for you with Blythe but with me it was easy and just going shopping with you and then we would go out to eat somewhere and then shop a little (yeah - when he says little, he means it! He’s a get in, get out kind of guy!). I liked that, it was some good times - so in two years me and you have a date mom!
3. “Movies” – We always had the same mood to watch movies… and we would always be ready with the movie in and we would have to wait for dad… “dad, are you coming?” Ya! “Dad are you coming”… Ya!.... “Dad, are you COMING!” Ya! Ha ha ha Jeeze dad! And we would watch the menu guide through like 18 million times waiting! Ha ha Good times!
4. “Texts from Mom” – ha ha, you know I have to put this in here – ha ha! always I would get a text from you “where you at?... What ya doin?” ha ha, and like, if I was texting a girl earlier then stop… like when she was supposed to answer me back about hanging out and I get a text (“oh, it’s her!”)… nope, just my mom… or Ricky, “Oh, it’s them… “ or “who is that huh huh?” Oh, My MOM… liar, OK look again! Oh, my mom! Ha! Classic, all the time! Good old mom keeping track of her sheep! He was always so patient with my sheep herding too, bless his heart! then again, he knew who paid the cell phone bill (smart kid!)
5. “Love” last and final is Love. You always just seemed to know and say the right things like when I broke my arm and you guys drove up to get me! And when I almost rolled my jeep and you had to come at 2 in the morning to pick me up! Good times, and you always had so much love and I thank you for that! Mom, I love you so much, I really do. And I am glad to have a mom as great as you that does everything she can for her kids so they have what they need. You are the best mom in the world, and you have a heart of gold and you are amazing! Without you, I would be… oh, I don’t know, and I don’t want to know, ha ha. So thank you for your example all my life and for all you do and the love you give me! Funny thing is, it was actually me yelling and loosing it upon seeing his jeep ready to roll! And it was his dad that kept his cool with Derek and didn’t jump all over him. Keith must have masked that one for me! Ha ha. I quickly learned that when Derek called late on a weekend and and asked to talk to his dad -- that they were probably in a pickle of some sort! Rather than panic and ask questions, I learned to just pass the phone over to my better half! And keep breathing!

Next is dad… Happy Father’s Day!
Ha! So I’m doing this one big letter with mom’s b-day and Mother’s day, and now Father’s Day all in one, well although late… but hey! I save 3 stamps! Ha ha ha. But OK, you had a good time golfing (Mesquite). I miss golfing already! But you golf enough for my half too! Ha ha. So with it being hot in Nevada, at 93-95 you know kind of what I deal with, but with 100-105!!! Right now! But I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you and your example to me in my life. It helped me to make the right choices and when it’s so easy to go another path, like, that fast! But I thank you dad for all the years you taught me how to fix things even though I lost some of your tools along the way! Ha ha. And for your example of service, both you and Grandpa Reid were so quick to always lend a hand to others with things and to put service out there. That is helping me more and more here in the mission! I miss golfing with you so in two years we have a date for a round of golf! But it will be winter so that will give us time to map out all the courses we want to play! Perhaps in Mexico, ha ha! But hope you had a good Father’s day and sorry you don’t get a call for Father’s Day… they must figure mom’s might start a riot if they don’t get to talk to their babies for Mother’s Day! Ha!... Love you Dad, more than words can say!... Boy... send a young teenage son on a two-year mission… get back a young man with lots of wisdom -- I can’t even begin to fathom how much he's learned about life already. Tears welling up now, let’s move on…

And last but not least, I have to include the close of his letter… We (Blythe included) always look forward to greeting cards from Derek – he has a knack for putting in cleverly funny comments! Holds true with his letters as well...
Love you both, you are gems, diamonds of parents and I can’t thank you enough for how much you helped me in every aspect of my life. Enjoy the Utah cold brisk air and I will try to kick Mexico’s butt! And survive the heat, ha ha… Love you all! Love your one and only, tall, dark and handsome, well… in the face and arms… son, that is in Mexico, eating crazy food, throwing up, and drinking gallons and gallons of water a day.
Yours truly, now, later, and for eternity… I know, that’s a long time with me ha! … get used to it!
Elder Reid (I never tire of that last sentence, too funny!)

Send Elder Reid some birthday love!!!

Yep..., this cowboy's turning 20! July 27th!!! And he's quite excited. Please please please send him a birthday wish, he'd would love it! There's a link to dearelder.com on the right hand of this blog page (it's free and super easy to use - just type in his name with Culiacan Mexico for the location). If you send it by Friday before noon he should get it rather quickly! I'm (momma Reid) in Denver this week, so I will blog about his last e-mails as soon as I get back to a normal schedule, but he's doing great! Quite tan these days - well, farmers tan of course - but he tells us he keeps getting asked if he's Spanish! ha ha! Hmmm, must look and sound like a true native already... Happy Birthday Elder Reidriguez!!! ha ha ha!

Hey there Delilah (I'm at the MTC)... a must see youtube link!

OK... Gotta blog twice this week! When Derek was in High School he found himself short on art credit. He has always been very artistic and has a huge imagination. For some reason the thought of basic art (drawing) sounded boring to him so signed up for Ceramics. The funny thing is, the teacher took an immediate interest in his talents. He was quite maticulous and creative and ended up really enjoying the class. Some of his work was entered into art shows by the teacher and won awards. Another of Derek's hidden talents, he could sing! (didn't inherit that from me). One of my favorite times to spend with my kids was in the car, talking and listening and singing to the radio. Derek was always hitting the buttons on the radio looking for songs he liked. He can make his voice go really low, it's pretty cool! He could be one of those movie announcer guys! He also could make his voice go high, especially when he was screwin around. One of the songs I liked to hear him sing was "Hey There Delilah" -- and, when he was in Ceramics he made a yacht and called it the Dalila! I ran down to his room and snapped these pics. Before he left for his mission I made sure to download the song to my phone and ipod because it reminds me of him and makes me smile! One of the MM's sent a link to this Youtube video clip, the title immediatly caught my eye. It's so good and I had to share!!!! Listen closely to the words... clever and funny! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xi4OsIdmn8

Great Mother of Peas!

Mmmmm, yummy peas... (hey, until I get Derek's promised pics, we are making due!) - His e-mail this week is below, I promise!



BFF & Bro Jared (blue tie) called to serve in Chili!

Awesome & hillarious buddy Jason (middle) called to Atlanta Georgia! (see Derek's comments about these calls below)

Fireman spraying the kids at July 4th neighborhood breakfast - the kids love this part! Awesome firemen!

Had to add the Mexi flag this year of course (notice we are still politically correct (USA & Utah are flying beside).

So, what does Elder Reid have to do with peas? Well, nothing... but, Derek’s email is in response to our 4th of July neighborhood breakfast being a success! (well, until Steven dragged Blythe under the water, ha ha! She still looks pretty wet by the way!) And to Jared’s mission call (woo-hoo!) And, our canning event at the Murray Cannery on the evening of July 4th – yes, PEAS came into harvest (not ours of course) but somewhere in Riverton. Truly awesome experience! I must say we have a very organized and cool church! 63,297 cans of peas were completed in one day! ONE DAY! From pod, to de-podded to cooked to canned to all boxed up and ready to ship! My arm muscles seriously hurt for three days after, Doh! Not that it toned up my RS flaps any, darn it (ha ha ha).

But, back to the good stuff - Elder Reid's e-mail from 7/07/09: ok so sounds like you guys had a great holiday and great pariade ha ha but so i am not going to lie, i did not even realize it was forth of july ah ha till now that you say something about it. so ya i am going to be here in el carrizo for another change with the same companion because well - 23 elders left to there houses today so it was like a huge hit in the mission areas but it is good. we had a investigator come to church this week and he is due for baptism the 25 of july so that is cool! and another cool inv so it should be a good month! so today I actually bought all the month of july food. i bought 3 big boxes of cereal and 12 milks and like a huge bag, huge of pancakes ha ha its awesome! and muffins and hot dogs i am set! and it all was 50 dollars cool huh? food is so cheep down here (he discovered a Sam's club nearby, $20 bucks for a two year membership!) so that is cool you did canning haha - ya in the liahona it talks about the food and stuff and how many tons of food they have and send out all over the world...

but, what? jared got his call to chili! serious serious? ha ha i knew he was going to a spanish speaking mission, i knew it! i was like he will go to a spanish mission - that is so cool ha ah i was right but ya, two that will know spanish - and jared like - my pal, my brother, serious?!....... and so ya so you are sending my packages ha ha yaaaaaa! (he’s turning 20 soon) i am so excited not going to lie i cant wait! i will look and wait for them and no i dont think i need anything more. i think i am good nothing in particular so ya and no i dont think i need more money and ya its way cool i keep hearing who is all going to where (mission calls). jason is going to ........altlanta goergia haha! what in the world? that is perfect for him! like perfect ha ha fried chicken.......ha! but i am good and have to run, there is lots of things i need to do but love you and take care and love you guys - Elder Reid

But wait, there’s more… he also answered a couple of questions from a different e-mail: "I really really miss you. But pictures would sustain me (HINT HINT) J/K! but soon, yes? Pictures in the mail? Yes?" yes mom soon very very soon like tommorrow i am sending the usb thing in the mail to you with pictures so soon love you too haha

"And, you mentioned getting sick again, holy cow! You've been sick more since January then you've been since you were born! Do you think you've had swine flu?? no!!!!!

"How many times (counting in your head) have you been sick?" like too many

"Is it just the difference in environments do you think? Cleanliness problem in Mexico maybe?"
yes i think it is just different things here and the weather and all that i dont know i think i was ammune to all the things in utah and now in two years i will be used to here and get sick in Utah, dang

Called to Serve!...

Two of Derek's best buddies just got their calls! Zac got called to serve in the Washington Seattle mission... and Jared got called to serve in Chili, Spanish speaking! Ah-oh! That makes three boys that will be having their own little private spanish conversations when they return! ha ha! (His friend Jake is also serving a Spanish speaking mission). Congrats and best wishes to Zac and Jared, they will be awesome missionaries!

Happy Father's Day!

Not a recent picture, but a good one!

We spent a few days in Mesquite. I was born on Father's day so it's kind of a special celebration with me and my dad. Unfortunately dad's health hasn't been the greatest lately and he ended up in the hospital for a couple of the days we were there. He recently got a new breast implant (defibulator) inserted -- three wires now plugged into his heart in case it stops trying to beat. The incision area probably got a little infected and was causing him to run high fevers. Mom had a little minor surgery on her foot that ended up being not as minor as she thought, so we stayed an extra day -- as luck would have it, dad got released from the hospital the same day she had her toe surgery. So we got up at O-dark thirty and drove to St. George to start rounding up the patients and drove them back home and got them nestled all snug in their ryclyners! Dad looked much better, had some color again and his fever seems to be gone. I've decided the hardest part about going to Mesquite is leaving! I've been blessed with such wonderful parents, and mom's cooking is wonderful! I gain five pounds every time we visit! ha ha! We also got to see Aunt Lee and her hubby for a little bit. Her laugh never changes! She has the most wonderful laugh! It was great seeing them! Let's keep our fingers crossed that dad will continue to recover...

As for Elder Reid, he continues to do great! I'm summarizing from memory what he's written to us lately. He loves his new area. The people are very kind and humble. Only problem, they have a problem going to church. His ward is very small and he calls the church a house of prayer, I'm hoping to get a better explanation of that Monday. He wrote his dad a nice long letter for Father's day thanking him for his example. Yes, Father Reid does know best! :-) He wrote how much he appreciates his dad's obedience and example - especially in always arriving to church early! He gets the importance now of how important Sundays are, not only Sacrament, but the spirit and strength it brings in getting you through another week. It was a nice long letter, but I don't have a copy with me right now.

Here's a portion of his e-mail to me while we were in Mesquite... hey from mexico! how is the old mesquite? ha ha, and talk about hot, this week we had to stand on the side of the highway for an hour and a half for a ride because we don't have money for buses so its stand there till someone gives you a ride and it is blazing hot out and windy here too! but its good and hard we don't have anyone that is progressing because they dont go to church, but its going and we just need to have faith and work hard but ya i am survivig being dehydrated all the time....hañ.......but that is funny that they are both in the hospitol at the same time -- but hopfully grandpa gets better. love you and hope you had a good birthday mom and ha ha speeding tickets are not the presents you want silly! love you tons and tons and tons - love you from mexico from your only son Elder Reid

Yes, I got a speeding ticket the week of my birthday... doh! I think we have pictures coming soon, I can't wait to post them! Life has been super dooper busy lately, keeping up with two jobs is tricky! However, it's true what they say about having a missionary out, things just work out smoothly and blessings come!

But wait, there's more!... (posting twice today)

Total Derek wack-i-ness! Baseball hat, red ryder bee bee gun, cowboy boots, bandit mask, and his favorite levis!
(click the picture for a closer look at Blythe, her face says it all!)

Giggly kisses

And yes, baby brother in the doll buggy! Blythe would tote him back and forth a billion times, up and down the hall. She only tipped him over a couple of times, ha ha! Sounds like we might be getting pictures soon! We're excited!

I’m posting some of Derek’s letter to Blythe first (which made me laugh, then cry - and is the reason I dug out these pictures to post)… Happy Birthday this week Blythe! And it’s OK that he’s trying to make you one year older than you are – ha ha! After all, apparently me and your dad are ancient – bless his heart! Tee-hee

hola mi hermana! how is it going this week for you? hope all is well with you guys. all is going good for me, in my new area now. its about the same - lots of dirt and really hot but its good. loving the work and learning everyday! but just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and what, now you are like 23 i think, no? ha ha but ya i told mom that her and dad are old - you are turning 23 and your baby brother that you used to push around in a doll cart and know exactly what i wanted without me saying anything is almost 20 ha ha crazy i don’t feel 20, i feel like i am still 16 just learning to drive - crazy how fast life hits you. its not a year to year thing, it’s a 5 year thing that things pass in, its crazy but i love you with tons of love you don’t even know about (how much) its so deep it will never show, but its there. love you and happy birthday and have fun - go to dinner and stuff but have fun and love life ha ha - love you sis! Elder Reid

And, some of our e-mail this week… one week into his new area (El Carrizo)

- On Ms. Boberg’s passing (wonderful teacher at RHS)… ya i had her, she was the teacher for AP history - she was cool and really nice so that is sad to hear

- Weather? it is like 100 degrees today ha ha and its hot as a pistol here! ha but ya i got a cool tan on my arms and face! nada mas..... (going to have to translate that one)

- How is the new place, and the people? Any interested investigators? How's your new Ward? And do you like your new companion? the new place is nice, its a house thats above another so less bugs which is good. its just me and my companion and it’s a pretty big place so its nice. it has tiny stairs to it and the first day i cracked my head on the corner Aaaa! i will send you a picture and yes it is the same house as elder baker and ya i know him ha its the second picture i will send pictures too but ya its good. my area has alot of little towns like 30 min away so lots of gordos or rides ha ha but it is cool and ya they have 11 fechas for bautismal but they have a problem of not coming to church so we will see and we have a house of prayer not a church. its nice though, small ward but good people......and my companion is one that was in la cruz - my first change so its cool, i knew him before but ya he is cool and ya just working hard!

- We need to send your birthday package out soon - do you have anything on your wish list? i dont think that i have anything as of right now but i will think and make a list of things and send it to you so you can send me a package for my birthday! ha ha! wow 20 years old mom. ha ha you and dad are old and blythes, wow - you are ancient now! but i am good and just getting used to the area and people. they all have weird names here and i can never remember them, but i am working on it. i just call them hermana y hermano (Brother & Sister), it works, but its good and i am liking it although its hot hot hot! but what can you do - they say just wait till july august, oh boy, can i just tell you i cant wait? ha ha my birhtday i am going to fry! i could bake me a cake on the cement outside ha ha but love you tons and tons and take care this week. love your son that’s almost 20 - Elder Reid

Not so happy bus ride... (1st Transfer!)

Old
New

Wow! Life has gotten so busy… work, Ward parties, work, family, work… There’s so much to tell you all, I just can’t seem to find time to get to the computer! Derek survived his first transfer! A wee 7-hour trek across Mexico by bus. He traveled from La Cruz to El Carrizo on June 1st.

ok so pues ya so i had one hecccccckkkk of a trip! so I went to culiacan with the one other (missionary) in la cruz that was leaving with me but was going to just culiacan and then on to another place. we got there at like 10 and then stayed there waiting for other people that are going to los mochis with me and no one showed up -- and its close to one now so they say you are solo and put me on a bus and i go for 3 hours to los mochis. so i am close to the bus stop and i see missionaries out there so i go to get off and get my bags and it is like 15 minutes and go in the front and no one is there and i ask in my half good spanish and they tell me that there was missionaries here and so i get out the card with numbers and the lady says she can't call the cell phone numbers so i wait some more and then go talk to her again and finally get her to call the president… and ya so i call him and tell him i am in the bus station and no one is there and so he calls them to see what the deal is and they forgot i was coming. forgot i was coming! how do you forget someone is coming? so i was in that bus station for like 4 hours waiting. i was there till 8! it was crazy and so we slept in los mochis and then came here. el carrizo is my new area and i am with elder navariz and the house is cool (hmmm... air or cool house?) and its good and I just put my stuff in there and now emailing you so ya ya but they do have air conditioning in the big busses ha ha and my hair cutting went well and ya like with a 3 and the whole thing but for the second try it broke but i took it back and got my money back so that was good ha ha but that is about it and i am tired and i will let you know more next week about my new area ah ha ha love you tons and tons and have a good week love Elder Reid

Now… as most of you know, missionaries aren’t ever supposed to be alone. His story made us laugh – kinda reminds you of the “Other Side of Heaven” movie? We are so glad he made it safely and is keeping his sense of humor. One of the MM’s was telling me that she thinks Derek is following the same route her son has been taking. I looked at her missionary web site and found some pictures that her son had sent. The first picture is the kitchen of the first apartment Derek was in in La Cruz – makes me laugh as it is pretty much just like he described it on the phone on Mother’s day! The 2nd picture is of his new place – I was able to verify that in his e-mail today. Now I understand his statement “the house is cool” – uh huh, mucho’s better-o’s! ;-)

In honor of memorial day...

In honor of Memorial Day, cheers to Derek's Grandpa -- Roy Reid! Come win or lose -- he was at almost every one of Derek's games (baseball, basketball, soccer -- Derek loved to play them all) and he came to Blythe's dance recitals ta boot! He was a wonderful grandpa and enjoyed spoiling everyone of his grand kids! He hoped to see one of his grandchildren serve, and I'm sure (if possible) he's with Elder Reid every step of the way! Here's to you Roy! We love you and miss you more!... (especially at Christmas!)

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As for our favorite Elder... he continues to do well. I'm not correcting his spelling this time... I think it's cute that - A) he doesn't care cause he's always hurrying or, B) his Spanish is progressing (which is cool, ha ha!). I'm so anxious to see a picture to see how skinny he's gotten though, hmmmm...!

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i got your packages, thank yuo so so much i loved them and all that was in them -- i loved it! thank you so so much......but that's cool, i miss golfing dad - wow! ha ha and your titalist hat in the picture, nice! Nothing much new this week and well, nothing wierd that i have ate but monday i got like a 24 hr bug thing. we were teaching and my head was spinning and got done and i ran outside and threw up ha ha and so we called the presidents wife and she said to buy gatrade and so we go and i get it and am standing in line and the lady in front of me just decideds to buy the whole store that day! i am just spinning in circles at this point and i just about threw the money at the counter and left but i pay and go out the doors and it comes out! and i throw up till there is nothing left and go to the house and get a bucket and take one of those super pills that i got from the doctor at home - but they make you so dizzy, but it worked and slept all night but in the morning i was so dizzy the pages of the Book of Mormon were spinning ha ha! but i just finished reading it a second time thru last Sunday which is cool! But i am good now and my companion got it on friday and the other companions on saturday ha ha so it was and interesting week, but i am good now... and with the sickness - yes, i think i have lost more wight ah ah but thats all i have and the work continues! this next monday i am transfering to el Carrizo, its like 7 hours from were i am and my email will probably be on tuesday ok? but love you guys tons and tons Elder Reid--

sí, señor!

It took a few tries, but alas we got through to Derek on Mother’s Day, it was so good to hear his voice!!! All four of us had phones attached to our ears and filled him full of questions. You could tell he was sometimes struggling to think of words in English and would answer “sí” instead of yes to some of our questions. I asked about the family that’s getting baptized this week and he rattled off their names in Spanish and I understood none of it but “husband and wife” (he got to baptize the wife on Saturday). The weirdest thing he’s eaten is horse and get this... dog (holy moly) – he says he usually doesn’t know what he’s eaten until after it’s swallowed. He told Blythe after one meal his stomach hurt and his companion laughed and told him “that’s because you ate pickled pig skin” – to which Derek replied “jerk!” Ha ha! (This is Derek’s sense of humor, he really loves his companion). Their apartment is really really small, and says he gets electrocuted every morning when he turns on the water heater to the shower which barely even gets warm. He’s taken pictures of the spiders and iguana outside the apartment (which he's sending). He’s in an upper level apartment so there aren’t too many critters up there and no cockroaches (or so he thinks). P-days are on Mondays in most parts of Mexico for a reason… seems people party so heartily that Monday is a day of recovery. It’s not uncommon to see men laying in the streets passed out! Ha ha ha. When asked about what he misses most about home he replied… the everyday luxuries and he would love to sink his teeth into a big juicy steak. He also misses COLD drinks such as milk and drinks with ice. He eats lots and lots of soups which he thinks is really weird because the weather is so HOT there. He misses us but hasn’t ever gotten “down in the dumps” homesick – too busy for that business. Of course dad, Derek and Steven talked weaponry, gun trade stuff and drug cartels. His sense of humor has stayed intact and he’s doing great. I can’t believe it’s already been 4-1/2 months (but who’s counting!). He sends congrats out to Jared who is getting ready to turn his papers in and is excited to hear where he will be going – so don’t forget to call us Jared! (Derek and Jared have been good friends and partners in crime since waaaay waaaay back -- 2nd grade maybe?). Jared will be an awesome missionary!
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In other news… about a week ago my dad snuck past mom while she was busy and went out and climbed up a ladder in the backyard of their house to make some repairs on their patio roof which has been leaking. Now if you’ve seen my dad lately, he’s getting pretty wobbly, not sure why he thought this was a good idea… but wobbling up the ladder with a drill in hand he did – and when he reached the top he lost his footing and came crashing down – wedging him into a tight little spot between the fence and the shed. He told me on the phone “I needed a front end loader, a back hoe and a tombstone at that point!” Mom couldn’t hear his cries for help and he somehow managed to wiggle his way out an hour later. This little event landed him in the hospital a few days later with internal bleeding – from the fall or Mom yelling at him for doing such a silly thing we’re not quite sure which yet! Ha ha ha! As she put it… they even warn him to be careful SHAVING and here he is climbing up a ladder with a drill! He’s getting released from the hospital today in St. George. We wish them BOTH luck! I’m pretty sure my dad has well over nine lives… more like a thousand and nine?
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Right under Elder Reid's addresses to the right, I've posted some fun stories from the MM's (missionary mom's) Mexico web-club I joined. There's even a couple stories from dads -- read through them if you have time, they are quite entertaining! :-)