Packages to Ukraine

Yesterday I stood in line at the post office to send two small packages to Ukraine . . . for the last time! This missionary

is coming home soon!

A month before he gets home is his birthday, so we packed modified flat rate envelope packages (the most economical way to mail internationally) full of treats, American food, birthday cards, and recent pictures of the family.

(By the way, I have learned a lot over the two years about sending packages to Ukraine. First of all, packages are expensive.  But, it's a very worthwhile expense. Second, so far all our packages have arrived safely, despite a corrupt Ukrainian postal system notorious for opening packages and removing items. I'm going to credit the incredible amounts of tape I wrap around every package and the Russian Orthodox religious icon stickers I plaster all over each them. Third, filling out the customs forms is always a pain. The rules have changed constantly. About six months ago our local post office began to require that the forms be filled out online and printed. The website and online forms were completely non-intuitive, but I got pretty good at it after sending Christmas packages. Pictured above, for the birthday packages I mailed this week I had all the forms printed out on self-adhesive sticker paper, cut, and signed.  I also had a separate label on each package with Brandon's address in Russian. But when I went to the post office I was informed that I was supposed to write "UKRAINE" large somewhere on the package as well.  What???  This was like the 8th package I've mailed, and I've never heard that.  Oh, Postal Service, always trying to keep us guessing . . .)

Prior to this, the last packages we sent were for Christmas '12.

We tried to be creative to add some fun, and each item was wrapped and had a scripture reference on the tag.
 
He was supposed to look up the scripture and try to figure out what was inside. There was something to open each day in December. This would have worked well if the packages had arrived in time. As it was, he received the packages just before Christmas, and reportedly opened everything in one day, which is just fine too.

Fitting all the mini packages into our big box was a challenge. I had to call in the big guns - Aubrey's logical mind helped me fit the "puzzle pieces" together.  Almost everything fit.
 
Except for the stocking. That was sent in another package.
 
We sent packages about every three months during Elder Porter's mission. Some of the things he requested over the two years: a C.S. Lewis book, a jump drive, new socks, peanut butter (this was a most desired item and was included in every package), pictures, warm gloves, good razors, contact solution, and vitamins. We also sent lots of American food and candy (especially Milky Ways and Reeses) and assorted gear to handle the icy winters.

By far the gift we were most excited about was sent in December '11. We printed out the Russian letters spelling "Merry Christmas" and sent them to friends and family around the country. They took pictures of themselves holding a letter and emailed them back to us. We made the pictures into a Christmas garland. It was a lot of work but so awesome.

 

 

So now the package we are working on is the "Welcome Home" package which will be waiting for him. So far we have bought some big Milky Way candy bars, new scriptures (his request), Sudoku and Kakuro books, and an ipod touch (well, Aubrey's old ipod touch, but it will be new technology for Brandon!).  We can't wait!

Go Blazers!

One day the banker Dan's company works with offered him tickets to the Blazers game for him and his family. He knew from past experience that these awesome tickets include a wristband which entitles the wearer to unlimited food at the delicious buffet before the game and unlimited treats throughout the game.  Wahoo!

So we planned a family outing at the Blazers game. When Dan received the tickets in the mail he counted them - 5 tickets for 5 family members.

Then the day of the game. All family members were driving happily down the road with visions of free popcorn and ice cream dancing in our heads.  We were almost to the freeway when I had the thought to pull out the tickets to look closer at them.. . . .  Uh oh.  Oh no.

One of the 5 tickets was actually a parking pass.  So we had 4 tickets and 5 family members.  What to do? Someone in the car would not be attending the Blazers game/feeding frenzy. Someone was going to have to sit home alone.

We quickly assessed the options and started negotiating. Dan offered to stay in the car during the game while we went in. Everyone else (other than Joseph) offered to stay home. None of the options were great.

But then, through some quick texting and creative maneuvering we found Bailey an alternate option. A friend had asked her earlier to go to a movie, but she had declined because she was going to the game. She talked to her friend and "un-declined."

So, feeling a little guilty as we left Bailey behind with two free movie tickets and money for dinner,  the rest of us headed to Portland to the sports arena. 

First we enjoyed a fabulous buffet at the restaurant in the arena. The theme was "Asian food" that night, and all of it was delicious. I had to take a picture of my dessert plate because it was so yummy. I didn't want to eat all of these desserts . . .okay, that's not true. I really did want to eat all of them but I was stuffed after eating a fabulous dinner.  So, I compromised by getting one of each dessert and trying one bite!

 Next we loaded up on candy, popcorn, ice cream, and soda, and headed for our seats.

Where we thoroughly enjoyed the game. The Blazers barely won. I don't remember who they were playing.  Some other professional team. They were tall and fast - that's all I remember.

 Joseph came prepared with his Blazers jersey on, and he had a fantastic time.

 

He tried to follow and understand the game and he cheered enthusiastically.

 

The rest of us had fun too.
 

 Now, the rest of the story.

A few weeks ago the banker offered Dan two more tickets to a Blazers game. I would have loved to have gone with Dan as a fun date night, but the correct choice was obvious . . . Bailey, who missed out on the fun last time, was Dan's date for the evening. Reportedly, they had a really fun time. This time the Blazers played the Utah Jazz, and they won!

FHE

There are a lot of types of family home evenings which take place in our home.

• There's the kind that didn't actually happen despite our best intentions because we got busy and someone had too much homework or life just got too crazy. That's not so good.
• There's the family home evenings well-prepared ahead of time by Dan or I with a short lesson, some sort of activity, and a big treat afterward.  That's good.  What's even better is if all the kids are sitting up and awake and participating without spending significant time in time out.  That's really good. That doesn't happen all the time, needless to say.
• But, by far, my favorite kind of FHE is the type that the kids prepare and present themselves.  Each of them has taken a turn doing a fantastic lesson recently.  All on their own - the preparation, the activities, the insights and testimonay.

If there is any payment for this really hard job called parenthood, this is it. To hear my children explain gospel principles and testify to the level of their understanding. To see them learn how to give an effective lesson and lead a discussion. To have a chance to better understand their thoughts and their unique personalities.

On Sunday both Joseph and Aubrey wanted to give the lesson (Aubrey has play practice on Monday nights, so for now FHE is Sunday evening).  So,we had a two part lesson and they shared the teaching assignment.

Joseph found a story in the Friend magazine that he wanted to share - it was about choosing appropriate media. He cut out the figures from the story and wanted to tape them to popsicle sticks so I could hold them up for him during the lesson. When he couldn't find popsicle sticks, he settled for taping them to plastic forks! During the day he and I also did a craft he found in the Friend - it involved crayon shavings, wax paper, and an iron, and created these really cute hearts.

Our art project also made a tremendous mess of crayon shavings all over the counter, but that's the price you pay for true artistic expression.

Aubrey had prepared a lesson on the Plan of Salvation. She was passing off a goal she had set in the Personal Progress program. She created a great visual, gave clear explanations, led a discussion, showed us a wonderful Mormon Message that supported the theme, and then closed with her sweet testimony.
Everyone listened, everyone participated, nobody was in time out, there was a peaceful feeling and the Spirit was present in the room.

These are the family home evenings that make me feel great.

82 days!

This missionary is coming home in only 82 days! 

We absolutely can't wait to see Brandon. The two years have really flown by and we are so grateful he has had the chance to serve a mission. Right now Elder Porter is braving the Ukrainian winter for the second time and is continuing to work hard. His letters are a lesson in optimism despite challenging circumstances.  He has become a true student of the scriptures and studies them hungrily, looking for connections and greater insights. 

Hopefully he will be able to keep his mind and heart focused on his mission until the end . . .but as for us at home, we are getting "trunky!" We can't believe how soon we will get to give Brandon a big bear hug, see his smile up close and personal, and enjoy his sense of humor again! We made a paper chain countdown and wrapped it around the banister - one link for each day remaining until we see Brandon again.

Now we're working on ideas for his big welcome home at the airport and "transition to real life" gifts we will have waiting for him at home. Anyone have any ideas??

Here's a look at a few of the images from the past two years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We know that Brandon will have many stories to tell about his adventures in Ukraine. 

 Stay tuned . . . (82 days)!

Seasons

The other day I was looking back through pictures on my computer that I neglected to record in our family blog. I found these pictures and was struck by a few things.

I can't believe how fast the seasons fly. I snapped these photos in early November. Now, in February, spring is starting to show its green promise outside my windows. And yet it feels like this was just the other day.

Time flies, whether I want it to or not. On this day Joseph and his friends Alex and Chase were gleefully raking leaves in the front yard for the express purpose of jumping into them and throwing them up into the air to create a leaf shower.

 
 
Their joy was so complete and contagious that I stood and watched them for a long time as the sun set inexorably.

I could sense that this was a memory moment. A memory for Joseph, as he buried his head in the leaves and breathed in the pungent musty smell of decaying leaves and raced with his friends across the lawn and into the hastily raked piles.
 

And a memory moment for me, as I watch my youngest steadily and surely move through childhood days. I'm not sure I'm ready for those days to end, but that won't change the fact that the days and even the years are marching onward. So quickly it seems. Seasons pass on - and every new season has joys and challenges.

I am so privileged to be present in this season of life. I feel lucky to move through the seasons together with my kids and husband. I wouldn't wish away this time for anything. These are the moments that are engraving themselves on my heart.

 

Mormon Celebrities

I'm not into celebrities - I completely avoid any magazine or news show that prattles on about the lives of celebrities.  I just seriously don't care one bit about any celebrity's latest love interest, beach body, baby bump, or children.  In fact, I have a secret desire to go on the "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" game show (and I would spend all the money I earned to take us on a Disney Cruise, of course), but I just know that I would be stumped by the inevitable questions about popular culture and celebrities.

But there are a few celebrities that I get excited about.  I wish I had been as lucky as my sister Ali and been up close and personal with President Monson and Elder Holland (at the Kansas City Temple dedication last year).  I've never been that lucky.  But, at the Time Out For Women conference last November I was able to meet one of my few celebrity idols.  

This is a blurry iphone picture, but do you see the really cool thing about this picture?  That's me in the upper left hand corner and that's Sheri Dew smack dab in the middle. Yes - that is Sheri Dew taking a picture with me and a bunch of my friends.  You might notice that Sheri doesn't look exactly thrilled to be posing with a bunch of giddy women, and I don't blame her.  After her amazing talk at the Time Out for Women event in Portland last fall, I'm pretty sure she was trying to hightail it out of the building before she was mobbed. However, my friend Kristi (to Sheri's left) used to sing with Young Ambassadors and also performed at different events for church leadership.  Apparently, years ago, Sheri Dew paid Kristi a nice compliment about her performance, and Kristi wanted to thank her for it.  Because Kristi delayed Sheri long enough for the rest of us to run up to her, we all were able to snap a quick photo like a bunch of drooling celebrity enthusiasts.

Sheri Dew is one of my favorite women who I don't even know personally.  I love to listen to her speak. She is intelligent and spiritual and she doesn't mince words.  When I listen to her talks or read her books I feel inspired to be better  - more intelligent, more spiritual, more charitable, and a greater student of the scriptures.

This was an extra fun Time Out for Women event - it included teenage girls!  I bought tickets for both Aubrey and Bailey to attend.  The TOFW event was Friday night and all day Saturday, but the promotional materials for the Time Out for Girls said that there would be no separate programming for the girls on Friday night but that they were welcome to come with their moms.  Aubrey decided to come with me anyway on Friday, but Bailey decided to stick with her previous engagement - a Mia Maid sleepover with her friends from church.  

It wasn't until we got to the convention center that we found out that the plans had changed and the girls did have their own Friday night program, which included another of our very favorite Mormon celebrities.  Just look at who Aubrey met on Friday evening. . .

John Bytheway (!!)  who is a great speaker who has done many, many inspirational and hilarious talks for LDS youth. He was the surprise addition to the speaking schedule at Time Out for Girls.  Our kids know by heart every talk John Bytheway has ever recorded and we all love them.

Like I said, we didn't realize that Bytheway would be a speaker on Friday night.

So, while Aubrey was meeting one of her favorite celebrities, this is what Bailey was doing.
 
She had fun at the sleepover, but when she heard how much fun Aubrey was having, she wished with all her heart that she could join us. This was our text conversation Friday evening:

Me:  So, I just shook Sheri Dew's hand!  I'm on cloud 9!

Bailey:  Oh my gosh, Mom!!  You're famous!

Me (one hour later):  OK, even better.  In the Time Out for Girls, John Bytheway was there!!!! We are standing near him right now!  

Bailey:  YOU ARE KIDDING ME!!!!!!  NOOOO - I WANT TO MEET HIM!

Me:  Yep, we are standing in line to meet him!

Bailey:  Mom, you are KILLING me!!  Will you please tell him I'm a big fan?!?!  Oh my gosh, Mom.  I want to be there so bad right now.  (I did pass along her message - when we met Bytheway I very awkwardly said something like, "my 15 year old daughter wants you to know that she is your biggest fan."  It was very awkward and weird and I should have kept my mouth shut!)

Me (an hour later):  So, there's a chance John Bytheway will be there tomorrow.  As we were all meeting him, he told everyone, "see you tomorrow."  

Bailey:  Did you personally talk to him?!?!

Me:  We did talk to him. And shook his hand, got an autograph and took a picture.  

The next morning we picked up Bailey at 7 a.m. from her Mia Maid leader's house.  We drove to Portland and I got the girls and their friends settled in their conference room and then joined my friends in the main room.

A few minutes later I got this message:

Bailey:  JOHN BYTHEWAY IS HERE AND I'M GOING TO GET A PICTURE WITH HIM AT BREAK!!!!!!


Me:  Hooray!!!!!!!  (We were very liberal with exclamation points this weekend)

And she did get a very grainy but awesome picture with her favorite speaker/celebrity.  It's a good thing John Bytheway was so patient with all the teenage girls!

On a related side note, I have always meant to pass along my own thank you to John Bytheway by email or something. It wasn't the right time to do so when I had my 5 seconds face to face with him surrounded by 100 other women and teenagers (plus I was busy awkwardly tripping over my words and sounding like a stalker.)   But, this is what I wish I could have said/have always meant to say to John Bytheway:

"It is a hard thing to raise kids to be righteous, strong, and immovable in this increasingly morally dissolute world. My husband and I try to take advantage of every tool available to reach our kids and strengthen them. One of these tools which has been very helpful is the recordings of talks by you and other great speakers. For many years our kids have listened to the talks over and over until they have memorized them. I don't know how many times over the years I've tucked in the kids one at a time at night and heard a different Bytheway talk playing in each of their rooms. Many times the kids will reference a scripture or story or principle they learned in one of the talks - the principles of the gospel are being written on their hearts and are becoming part of their inner governing principles.  One of the ways this is happening is that they are consistently listening to uplifting and spiritually strengthening media.  Thanks for showing the youth that learning about gospel truths isn't boring - it's fun, and it's more than okay to have a good time doing it. And thank you for giving us some great tools to use as we do our best to parent our kids."

On Saturday we had a splendid time walking briskly through the beautiful fall weather to a restaurant for lunch.

What a fun weekend with my two favorite girls in the world!  I'm such a lucky mom.

This is a photo with all my friends who were at the conference with us.  I coordinated the ticket purchasing and rides for most of the group - it was a little complicated but worth it!