Another Week

Hi Elder Penrod,

How are things going? How was your baptism? Did you get pictures ? How are things with Elder Brown? Are you both still getting along?

It was a pretty routine week last week but with a little more time in the office for me. I feel like I need to go in a little more than I usually do because of a project we are working on right now. It does make it hard sometimes. Like on Wednesday, was in a meeting in Riverton when I received a sweet little text from Cameron asking it he was being picked up by Grandpa still from school.It was a half hour after he was supposed to be picked up so I panicked and excused myself from the meeting. I hurried and made phone calls and Laura was kind enough to run over there. She arrived at the same time as Grandpa. Cameron did teach me something though. He wasn't mad about being left, instead he sent me a text saying it was ok and that Grandpa was doing what was important, spending as much time with Grandpa Great as he can. So instead of making it about himself, he was trying to see it from Grandpa's perspective and was able to forgive Grandpa easily. 

Saturday was pretty busy too. We were at home taking care of cleaning, homework, laundry, shopping, etc. Curtis was at the State Dual Championships with wrestling and was doing JV matches when his opportunity to wrestle with the Varsity kids came. The kid that usually wrestles 175 was out with a concussion (things that happen way too frequently and make me nervous about wrestling B) so he showed up and said "Put me in, Coach!" He ended up dominating the match. All of the team was watching and cheering, he said it was pretty cool.

I think the new Sunday schedule throws me off a bit. We don't go to church until 12:00 so we tend to sleep in a little, procrastinate my lesson plans for Primary (we played bowling with a giant tennis ball and sang Once There Was a Snowman in our best Opera Voices, it was pretty fun), make a large breakfast, and then take a lot longer than usual to get ready. When we get home, I forget that we already spent half the day and it is time to walk a dog, cook dinner, and prepare for the week.

The talk was alright. It was fun from all the other moms. I guess Jordan Arrington still hasn't arrived in Columbia and may not ever make it there. But he is learning that it doesn't necessarily matter where you are called to but to who you are called to. Mia Moffet only has 8 days before she comes home, I can't believe how fast that was, I feel like we just said goodbye to her. Kyle Barker is learning to recognize the spirit even with his Asbergers. I guess that makes it hard for him to feel emotions but has had several miracles happen where he has felt the spirit testify to him that this is the true church. lan is experiencing the joys of DC and Camille says that it was a testimony builder that he was called to speak French.

Amanda talked about Payton and it is interesting to see the different challenges his mission has compared to your mission. And Jodi Green talked about how she would have never guessed that her Courtney would have the courage to be out preaching the gospel but not only is she doing that but she is preaching boldly, knocking on car windows to share and opening her mouth to complete strangers.

One last thought for you. I want you to know that the little things matter. Those little impressions to reach out and say something do make an impact on people. Your dad did that recently for your uncle, David Ace. Dave has been inactive for a long time now. He has fought against the church on many things and had his name removed from the records. This was something that cut deeply for your Grandma. Dave had served a mission and I think that was when he was truly his happiest was when he came home. He was so full of joy. I am not sure when he chose another path but he did. Well, Dad just happened to be in Roy for work. He was visiting the auto shop at Roy High School and decided to drop by and say hi to Dave since he was in the area. Dave had already been wanting to make the changes in his life to come back to the church and he said he renewed those efforts after that short visit from Dad.

What didn't feel like a major revelation to Dad, left an impression on Dave that Heavenly Father was aware of him and it is time to come home. Pray that Dave will continue to work through things to come back to being fully active in the church.

I love you bud. I look forward to chatting with you today. I hope that everything is going well.

Love, 

Mom