January 18, 2015

Why hello there!  How are you?  Here's the big question…did you get transferred?...oh wait, that is NEXT week!  lol  Well, until then, I hope all is going well!

Everyone sure enjoys your letters--Grandpa Porter especially.  He tells me that he forwards them on to Grandma Porter (I guess she has her own email account now).  They are so proud of you.  Gpa Porter called yesterday and talked to dad.  I guess he would like to send more money to help support your mission.  We told them that is was not necessary, but we would not refuse.  So, he will be sending another check for about $2000.  Do you know what this means???  If he does send it, he will have paid for 56% of your mission.

Your cousin Kate Bates got her mission call.  She is going to the California Redlands Mission.  Jan's daughter's live in her mission.  Cool huh?  So their family will have 2 missionaries for a while.  Just FYI, dad tell Grandpa that she may need the money more than we do, but he said…"Yep, I'm sending it to her too".  He must be proud to have so many grandchildren who have served, are serving and will serve missions.

Did I tell you that everyone loved your Christmas gifts???  I get a kick out of dad wearing his shirt.  I think it is funny that he feels a little guilty for wearing it…lol

Tiffany LOVES the hat you got her.  She wears it NON-STOP!!!

  Sometimes she puts it on before her hair is completely dry…then she gets "hat hair"…but it is a weird shape because of how she wears the hat.  It sort of has this big bump in the back/top of her head (not real flat like most hats)…lol

The weather has calmed down a little bit.  Right now it is beautiful and sunny!  It was pretty bad earlier this week.  We keep getting fog that has freezing drizzle in it.  Everything turns to ICE immediately.  We had to drive TT to school several times because the roads are all ice and poor Dora had really thick ice on her that did not want to scrape off.

 

It is beautiful when you don't have to drive in it!  In the picture, it is NOT snowing, this is during the fog (although it has been thicker than this).  The white on the trees are ICE not snow!  It is interesting because I don't believe I have ever seen this kind of fog before!

Kayla was in town this last week.  Her husband and his father were "showing" a bull at the stockshow.  I guess the bull won first prize.  I was able to meet with her for lunch.  Aunt Lori and Jenni met us also.  We ended up going to lunch at a place called The Buckhorn Exchange.  It is the oldest restaurant in Denver.  It was a little pricey (even for lunch).  It is like a museum in there. 

 

They have tried to not change the building since it opened.  They have added electricity and plumbing, but the structure is still the same.  I guess it opened in 1893.  The food was alright.  I probably would not go again, but it was fun to see.  Of course, Kayla was a hoot.  She kept trying to make the  spoon stick on her nose…lol

She did NOT succeed.  After lunch her and I went over to the stockshow and walked around.  It was great to be with her, but cows don't do a hole lot for me.. :) 

Ryan and Siera are still going strong. He seems real happy with her.  I worry that he is up at school socializing more than studying. I guess they have only not seen each other 1 day since they have been there.  It was last Sunday.  He was going to go see her and she asked him if his homework was done, he said no, so she told him that he should probably stay home and do it.  lol  Here is the latest picture that they posted on facebook.

I think they look cute together! :)  We will see what happens. I just hope they take it slow!!  Ryan has no source of income other than us.  I am not sure he is ready to be responsible for someone else.  I do think that we will have a wedding before the end of the year (that is between you and me).  That would make it 2 new additions to our family in 1 year…my grandson and daughter-in-law.  ha,ha.

This week, school officially starts.  I am quite nervous.  I am sure once things get rolling, it will be fine.  I always seem to be nervous before a semester starts.  I am not really looking forward to having to drive to Pueblo, but I understand I will get some interesting cases. (aka…lots of wackos).  I did start my on-line nursing class.  It will be a lot more involved than what I originally thought.  I do believe it is doable though.  For that class alone, I will have to read 2 chapters a week.  Do a bunch of quizzes online…I have to make it to "mastery level 3".  So, you keep taking quizzes and the more answers you do right, the faster your mastery goes up.  I was surprised at how much time it took!  Then you do some sort of an assessment on someone and fill out the paperwork for it, and then…there is a discussion board where you must write something (topic given by teacher) once a week and comment on 2 other writings.  Usually, you have to have at least 1 reference for your comment.  UGH!

I am already behind on my Psychiatric reading.  She gave us 10 chapters to have read BEFORE class starts!!! It officially starts on Thursday.  Problem is, each time I begin to read, I get VERY sleepy!  I have not gotten very far :(  I may have dad give me a blessing tomorrow before it all starts.  Hopefully I will be able to focus better. :)

Hey, did you know Brother Lescarbou?  I don't know if you worked with him at all, but his wife wrote a note for everyone…I am just going to copy and paste it here for you since I don't know if you worked with him or not…

My family is no longer in Colorado, I will always consider you as family. So
with great excitement I want to let the world know that Eric (my husband)
has decided to get baptized. February 21st to be exact.
So many of you (or your sons) influenced him in some way. Most of all you
accepted him. So thank you.

Thank you for helping him feel so loved like family. Thank you being part of
our life.

Pollyanna

(Pollyanna is asking the moms who have sons with whom Eric worked, who are
now on missions, to please let them know of this great news.)

Well, I need to go start dinner.  We have the Angell's coming for dinner tonight.  I don't know why, but I felt like we needed to ask them.  Too bad I am so tired.  I would love a little nap, but then I would not sleep tonight.  I just hate this sleepy cycle!

I am so proud of you!  Keep up the good work!  Always remember who you are!  Mind your p's and q's.  Be STRICTLY obedient.  Play as hard as you work.  Know that I love you beyond measure (this is NOT just a saying…I mean every word!)

Love ALWAYS!

Mom