Take That!...

"water fun" -- it was old and creeky and it was super high but was awesome fun pic of the week (Sigh, that's my son. Unlike his mom, he's never had a fear of heights!).

I had been anxiously anticipating my e-mail this week, knowing he would have instructions for the much anticipated Mother's Day phone call (yesssss!). I was sitting at my desk when I happened to see Derek's e-mail address in the little balloon thing pop up on the bottom of my screen and it said "Mom, if you're on -- I need to know when you would you like your call - Sunday night or anytime Monday." (Mother's Day in Mexico is always on the 10th, no matter what day of the week it lands). I was so happy I saw his e-mail come through so we could chat live! It's only been recently that we've been able to do that. So Sunday at 7 it is! Woo-hoo! So our chatting back and forth was short and sweet as we get to talk to him live soon right? So I said to him -- "guess what? I'm sitting at my desk eating a breakfast burrito from Beto's and it's yummy!" (haha, he loves their breakfast burritos) -- this was his reply: "I love burritos, and when I get home I will be able to order them in Spanish so they will give me a discount and more meat, so take that! ha ha" -- Hmmm, we'll see about that, but we sure love that kid! He also said he's jealous of our recent snow, and said it's in the 90's there and his nose is feeling it... Hmmm, time to send more sun screen! He's loving life still, can't wait to blog about how our phone call went.

Dreams of December

As I've said before, one of my talents in life is NOT sleeping. I've never been a good sleeper. When I do finally crash I sleep so soundly that I don't usually remember my dreams. However, since Derek has been out I dream about him periodically. It's usually the same dream, doorbell rings - and when I answer Derek is standing on the porch in his missionary attire, big grin on his face - just came to "grab a few things" out of his room and upon leaving gives me a big ol' hug (the best part) before running back to the airport to catch a flight back to Mexico. One time he was in goofy clothes because it was his P-day, ha ha! I have joked with him a few times about how nice it is seeing him in my dreams. A while back I downloaded a song to my ipod, I only downloaded it because it was free -- it's titled "December" by Norah Jones -- I gave it a quick listen, had a nice melody and then didn't think much more of it. So I'm lying in bed doing my not sleep thing recently and grabbed my ipod to play softly in my ears (to also drown out my husbands snoring, tee hee) -- and that song came on and I had to chuckle!

Here's some of the lyrics that make me smile: December, come to me / I hope I can see / You, not just in dreams / December won't you come / Back with snow, wind and sun / Don't say that it's done...

So I'm laying in bed listening to this and chuckling! Derek will be home in December! How ironic! It's my new theme song!!! Kind of a pretty song too, but I love a wide range of music. Here's a YouTube link to the song, hope it works!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRAs-EfkiLI&feature=related

Video: Unexpected Visitor in the House of Prayer

There were a few little video clips on the thumb drive Derek last sent home. His camera has the ability to take short clips. I think he takes these little clips for his benefit, not ours, but we sure have gotten a kick out of them. In this one you can't see Derek, just hear him. This was just before Christmas when he was serving in a small town and lived in this little "house of prayer" -- looks like they had an unexpected guest! ha ha, I had to show it to a couple of friends that speak Spanish so they could tell me what Derek is saying. Basically he's telling his comp to not kill it and put it outside -- but notice he keeps his distance just the same, ha ha! I was also told that these trianchula's (sp?) have stuff on their skin that will sting human skin, which is probably why his comp is knocking it around with a broom. Interesting also, that his native comp starts speaking in Spanglish when they get outside. I was also told Derek's Spanish is spot on. That he "sings" his voice perfectly -- a friend from work (who knows Derek) told me "he doesn't sound like a gringo trying to speak Spanish -- he sounds like that real thing!" ha ha, I love it! I told Derek this in last week's e-mail and then half of his response was written in Spanish! ha ha, sheesh! Amazing how far he's come in such a short time (remembering back to when he first got off the plane and didn't understand a word "everyone talks so fast!!!") Good news though, they are having much success with baptisms and he is on Cloud 9!!! Patience (and hard work) is a virtue!

Life's a Beach!

In last week's e-mail I asked Derek how the work was coming. He replied "well, last week was spring break and it was pretty quiet around here. Seems everyone went to the beach, including our baptism!" Doh! ha ha, I thought that was funny!

I googled 'dollar bill origami' the other day for a top-secret project I've got going on... (well, I lost a bet to my son-in-law and am trying to figure out a creative way to loose and pay up! ha ha...) but I found this dollar shirt and tried it out. Cute, huh? I'm sending one to Derek and his comp! Of course I had to add the tie and the name tag for authenticity. The instructions caught my eye because the "In God We Trust" run down the left side of the shirt and I thought -- PERFECT!!!! I likeee, I likeee a lot! I like instructions my pea brain can understand.

"My Sister" by Derek Reid

The following was written by Derek while he was a Sophmore in High School.

My sister and me are good friends. Other brothers and sisters are fighting with each other and complaining to you that their little brother is like a mosquito that won’t go away and just keeps biting at you. Not me, maybe because we are only two years apart and we like a lot of the same music and other things, but what ever it is it keeps us from fighting.

One day I was at school in math class, oh math class it is like being stuck in a torcher chamber with no way out. When I get a text from my sister saying she is bored and she is on her way to come check me out and take me to lunch. I was so exuberated that she was coming to rescue me from math! That is one of the best parts of having a cool sister like mine.

So we are pretty close and we hang out once and a while and we have a pretty good time.

And yes... I actually had Blythe on the check-out list so she could pull out her brother anytime.... and I'm glad she did just that. They always got excellent grades so I didn't have to worry.

Elder Reid's e-mail to Blythe dated 03/29/10:

i am pressed for time but i wanted to tell you how much i love you and you are the best sister in the world! and thanks for saying "the wonderful man you have become" -- sorry, but i have not become a man yet and dont think i will ever til like dad's age! not saying he is old or anything ...... or am i? haha but that is fun and what did you do with the couch? did you put it in my room?! i love htat couch! - you could send it to mexico haha but no, that is cool and that is good you are doing good and loving life - me too haha! love you take care and love life! its amazing right?!......ELDER RIED (yes, he spelled his name wrong! tee hee!) -- It's Reid R.E.I.D... :-)

Both Derek and Blythe are great writers, and I always held on to my favorites. This one from Derek and another one about Moscow Russia (where he hoped to serve) and one about his hair -- I'll have to post later. They are great too! Blythe wrote more matter-of-factly (or more frankly), and also with humor. She once wrote a bit about the ol' faithful 1989 Mazda (the five-speed manual we so graciously handed off to her) with the "date eject button!" - ha ha! That's a classic too! Gotta love FAMILY!

We're Expecting!....

A returned missionary in nine months!

Instead of counting sheep...

I should be in bed (Momma Reid talking here)... in sweet dream land. One of my talents in life is definately not sleeping. So, I've learned to roll with the punches... Read myself to sleep, listen to my ipod, anything to try and keep my mind from thinking too hard. When life gets busy... it gets worse. So, while I should be in bed counting sheep, or reading my nook -- tonight I'm staring dumbly at this little ol' laptop wondering how time raising my two cute little kidlets flew by so quickly -- and missing my son a bit. So here's another piece of Derek's letter that makes us smile... "So the other day we were teaching this girl that's 11, and there was this little boy there that was copying everything I did... so I started doing things with my hands, like the crab claws and all that. And I like filled my cheeks with air and hit them with my hands to pop them and so he does it and totally just SLAPS himself, ha ha - it was so funny! And I was teaching about Joseph Smith, and I asked the little boy "how old are you, like 19 or 20, no? no?" and he says "8! only 8!" and starts laughing so hard like a chuckle, and it reminded me of me and you mom when we would just laugh and the ones laughing so the other laughs more and more and it reminded me of us, ha ha! -- so funny this little kid!"

I can hear Derek's mischevious giggle in my head! He sent home some small video clips on a thumb drive and we were showing them to Blythe & Steven the other night. In one of the videos, a missionary at the MTC is stuffing a whole banana into his mouth and Derek, who's video'ing the event is trying so hard to stifle his laughter that he just looses it - total Derek style! Just like when he was a kid. Good times! Boy, wouldn't that be nice to get that on my ipod to listen to when I'm in my not-sleepy mode! hahaha, hmmm! ;-)

Thoughts on "finding ones self"

Derek sent us a long letter, the third since he's been in Mexico. We just about had to beg for this one, which is great because it means he's loving his mission and staying busy. I love his letters as he puts more thought into them. So, I'll post bits and pieces of my favorite parts, but not all today -- it would be too long (it's six pages) and as Derek would say - "lufff-it!!"

A nice young man that Blythe works with, said to me when I was training for my 2nd job "the first testimony a missionary finds is his own." Came to mind when I read this part of Derek's last letter...

Hi Mom & Dad, how's it going there in Utah? Sorry for the long wait, I am just so busy all of the sudden with the work of the Lord. I am writing this letter from Guasave Mexico (which is where he still is, just got a new Comp -- another native who has only been out three months). So as you know, Christmas just passed and we just chilled. Never made it down to the beach, but oh well, it was good. Well, alright with no family, ha ha! But ya, and New Year's rang in with me completing 1 year in the mission, that's one year being away - doesn't it just blow your mind!?! It does mine. I can't believe where the time has gone. It's really gone by super fast -- I guess with trying to learn Spanish and the lessons and everything. I now only have one year left. Or, as you put it, 11 more fast Sundays. Sounds way shorter that way, ha ha. OK, so for stories, everyone likes story time! ha ha. So well, to start -- well, I can't think of any right now. But you always ask me what I have learned most in my mission... and I would have to say out of everything "I found myself," not that I didn't know who I was before -- like, who I was -- or, you know, didn't fall into worldly things like drinking, and I always went to church because I knew it was a good thing, and that the church was true, never doubted any of that for a second. But what I mean "I found myself" is that I found what I want to be, why I did all the things I did, what I know I can be. I always knew these things were good things, but never realized how "really" important they are and when you really know, really have a testimony of things -- like Sundays for instance. I always went but never had the mind like "tomorrow is Domingo, I am going lots of mornings, not going to lie, I layed in bed hoping your were sleeping and we were not going to go to church. But now it is my favorite day of the week, where I can forget everything, reflect on the week, how it went and what I want to do the next week different! And I have gained a great appreciation for scriptures too... reading them everyday, you can find grand things in them and just the joy and peace! And I've realized this gospel does more wonders, brings more change in people. I've seen the changes first hand, it's amazing to see -- this gospel completely changes peoples lives. The way they dress, act differently, it's amazing. I would not trade this time, this mission for anything in the world. It's the best thing I could have done and am doing! I would not change it for the world!

Awesome, ay? In this week's e-mail he's quite excited about a couple of upcoming baptisms that look promising. He was very excited about staying in Guasave. He loves it there. He's hopeful for his new Comp to get some baptisms soon. Please continue to pray for Elder Reid, he really does feel your prayers! Love you all! Momma Reidriquez (ha ha) -- next blog will be on how he's found patience and learning to not let himself get "tweaked." :-)

Got some more pics, and the smiles speak volumes!

This one just cracks me up... from the MTC obviously, hadn't seen it before. Trust boys to figure out how to turn a bunk bed into a triple bed! Ha ha ha, that ROCKS!






This was taken on Christmas day, they treated themselves to Burger King in Guasave!

I believe this is his current Companion in Guasave - he's loving it here! Can't think of his Comp's name right now - but he's really cute! There's more pics I'll post later. These cute little kids just make me smile and it's fun seeing Derek being Derek! ha ha

Good looking bunch of smiling happy missionaries! I love it!

They loved this family, I'll have to research back letters for names and the area. The boy in the middle in white was baptized.

We were presently surprised with a long letter and a thumb drive full of pictures over the weekend. Quite a few pictures! Well, when he only sends them every six months that's to be expected. I'll pull some of my favorites from his letter, it's obvious he's just loving his mission and his self esteem and confidence have grown tremendously. Especially now that he's got the language down. He also sent a couple of short video clips he was able to take from the camera Blythe & Steven got him for graduation. Really cool to hear him talking in Spanish! I'm so impressed. I'll try to figure out how to posts those too!

I tried to do more pictures, but blogger doesn't seem to wanna run tonight... stay tuned for more!

We interrupt this special program, for an important announcement...

There is missionary news below, just had to show what my beautiful and talented daughter made me for my nook! I'm so impressed! Especially since she only recently took up sewing. She bought this super cool sewing machine and wants to take up quilting. Ummm... now wait a minute! My grandma Overson was an excellent seamstress... She could just see something she liked and would go home and sew it, no pattern needed. She made my Grandpa such nice western shirts that he wouldn't wear it unless she made it. She also made many fabulous quilts. My mom also is an excellent seamstress, as is my sister. Now, hold the fort here!!! Why did this special talent gene skip me and go straight to my daughter? ha ha. Oh well, at least I have a great appreciation for it, right? And seriously, this gene really did skip me, just ask my mom! Well, don't -- she'll give you TOOO much info! ha ha. Lets just say I barely passed my sewing class, and by sympathy from the teacher! And then there's Keith's mom -- now her stuff all LOOKS store bought! She made THE most beautiful baby quilt when Blythe was born that is such good quality it will last for generations to come. At one point, she was manufacturing baby T-shirts (I'm smiling, babies grow out of them before they wear out), but, she did work at Beehive Clothing forever, she should have impressive talents. So I guess it was destined to be Blythe... so you go girl!!! Thank you!!!! I love my nook cover (really cute materials and double lined)! Like Grandma, no pattern -- she just called and said, "hey, I think I can make a cover for that!" Sigh, soo cool!

I'm really addicted to my nook! It's an e-book reader. I love to read (maybe because there's no special talent in that - tee-hee!!!). I've read six books since Christmas! My poor husband! Add a reading hobby into an already busy schedule, poor guy! The other day I downloaded the Book of Mormon onto my nook for .99 cents! That's a steel! Blythe's saving her pennies for the new Apple gizmo thing that's coming out soon. I think it's an e-book / ipod / who knows what else? I love technology! Derek's going to love it when he gets back. He's a technology nut too.

In missionary news -- Elder Reid said he hurt his foot in Monday's e-mail (2/08/10), not much explanation of what's hurt -- skin? bone? -- but sounds like he's in enough pain that he's "gimping" -- I've been praying a lot. Sure hope the news is better by next week. He said he has no idea how it happened. Hmmmm... And, sadly, the couple they have been working with did split up. I titled my e-mail to him, "Love Makes the World Go Round" -- and he added "and alcohol brings it back down" -- the couple not only split, but the man they had been working with to baptise took up drinking again. Both disappointing news, and hard life lessons. Let's pray that next week's e-mail has better news, and that his foot heals! :-(