Brittany's Mission Call

My sweet baby girl was called to serve in the Brazil Londrina Mission. She will report to the Brazil Missionary Training Center on March 23, 2011. I just can't believe it!!!! It doesn't seem real. I am so very very happy, excited, proud, and on and on of her and the beautiful person she is. She is going to be an AMAZING missionary. Look how happy she is!!

Just as she was about the read the call she DROPPED the paper!!!! We all screamed!! In California and Utah! I didn't know how to react when she read her call....I wanted to hug her so so so so sooooo much but we are miles and miles apart. But now compared to how far apart we will soon be Provo seems like just a hop, skip and a jump away!
I love the picture below....look at the smile on her face. She is happy and she is doing what she is supposed to be doing!
This is as close as I got to her. Oh how I wish teleportation was possible (Ashlie and I talk of this often). I am so thankful to friends and family who came over last night to be apart of skyping her mission call. It was really hard to hear her. I am so thankful for all the people in Provo and here in Sacramento that supported her in this amazing experience. Not just this experience but throughout her life.
How amazing it is that so many people would be around her to celebrate this life changing moment. Life is good. The Gospel is GREAT. I am so grateful today I cannot even begin to put it into words. I am grateful...so very very grateful.

I included the picture below because I just LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Such a great shot!

When I look at this picture it seems like just yesterday I was trying so hard to keep this (giant) bow on her head for this picture and then I realize she leaves in a few month for her mission. She is an amazing person, she makes me a better person. I am who I am today partly because I was given the opportunity to be her mom. I love this girl more than I can explain and I know this is the Lord's plan for her, but I am still going to miss her.

After everyone left last night I went to the bathroom and cried. It felt good to just get it out. I am such a worry wart, every fear I could think of ran through my mind and I cried like a baby. I trust the Lord and know this is His plan and I am so grateful Brittany has chosen to serve a mission but for just a few minutes I fell apart. I'm ok now...it's going to be awesome, but look at that baby....that baby is going to Brazil!

My list of things to be grateful for is long these days...my cup is full, overflowing even. I love my family, my husband and each of my children. They are amazing, they teach me things daily (not that I want to learn them all :)).

Life...after becoming unemployed!

When we came home from Florida I knew I was coming home to being unemployed. I also knew I was going to stay home for awhile without working. I had mixed emotions about that to be honest. I like working part-time. Full-time would be hard to get the boys to all of the stuff they are involved in but part-time is great. I was uncomfortable the first day everyone went on there way and I was at home. I cleaned the stove for 2 or 3 hours....it was so clean and I felt like I had accomplished something. Anyway I have gotten into a grove and feel like I am making good use of my time as a stay at home mom. EXCEPT that I don't blog anymore!! Apparently I am a terrible worker....because I mostly blogged at work....so I am going to try to fix this issue and blog more often because I know you have all been sad without constant updates about me and my family! :) So here goes a few!!! We have a new beautiful grandson!!! His name is Noah James Eilmas. He was born on October 20, Aaron was hoping for the 22nd (his birthday) but I think it was close enough. Amber did a great job, she is such a kind, calm, easy going mother...which is to say she is the exact opposite of me....she is amazing. And Noah....well that boy is super sweet!!

The week before Noah was born we went to Apple Hill. Amber takes her family every year. I on the the other hand have never taken Jason and Aaron only once when he was really little. It was only a sort of fun day for me. Jason had a melt down....I made the joke that everything was made out of apples at Apple Hill. UGH! He was starving and melting down quickly and I asked him if he wanted nachos to eat (which he eats all the time...everywhere) and he said no and freaked out. Later I found out he didn't want to eat apple nachos....he thought they would be gross! The whole thing was out of hand...ask Amber or Derek or Aaron to give you the whole story...it's just to embarrassing to blog about. I love that Jason boy he is so much like me. Somtimes that is good...and sometimes that is bad.