Called to Serve Again

I can't figure out how to add pictures from the internet, and I don't have the pictures I would use on the computer I am using, so I guess this picture from Russia will have to do the illustrating. . .

Some of you may know, my parents served a mission for the LDS church for 18 months in Russia. They arrived home on Valentine's day. We were happy and a little sad to have them home. I say sad, because while they were serving, I could feel the blessings that our family was receiving because of their service. I can't point to any miraculous thing, but I could feel we were being blessed because of their willingness to serve. We were delighted to have them home for the obvious reasons, and they only lived two miles away. There are some crazy things that happened that in retrospect we could see the intervention of a loving Heavenly Father who knew that they needed to serve again and sooner than later. For instance, about two or three weeks after they came home, we went on an entire family reunion -- crazy at the time, but if we waited for "a more convenient time" they would be gone. In March, after they came home, they told us they had been asked to go to CHINA to teach English!!!

This was not in our plans, and it wasn't what we wanted or thought was best, but I am grateful that I was raised by such good parents that taught me at a young age, that you do what you are asked by the Lord and you will be blessed somehow. This time around, in some ways, it is harder, we all know the ropes that are being jumped, the kids are already praying for them in China -- Spence didn't believe Grandpa that he wasn't in China already when Grandpa called to talk to him -- but yet again, I know that we will be blessed while they are gone, and our testimony's will be strengthened further because of their service.

In China, they won't be proselyting, they will just loving the people they come into contact with and learning from these people. But they have been asked and with faith, they will go. We will miss Grandma and Papa, but we are blessed to live in a time when the internet and communication is so close at hand and we know that somehow, someway, we will learn from this experience and be better people because they are going.

One last note, funny thing actually, when I was a Junior in high school, I had to write about my life plans (and put it in a book which I found this week). Well, that is a long time away and I had basic plans, but nothing concrete, and this teacher wanted concrete. . .so I wrote about how I would travel and see the world and named a few countries, that as a junior I thought sounded intriguing, but could never see traveling to in my younger years (my parents had never been to Europe when I was in High School) -- but I put that someday I would go to France (haven't been there yet), Switzerland (went to my SIL's sealing there when Spence was a baby), to Russia (went to see my mom and dad), and to the Orient (I plan to see my parents in China) -- so I guess those randomly chosen places weren't so random after all, but who would have guessed I would go in my "not so old" years?!!

Good luck mom and dad, we miss you already, and we are so proud of you -- thanks for the good example!! I just hope you do better at blogging over there than you did while you were home :)

Photo Actions

Ok, I know that you have seen almost all of these pictures before, but I just have to display this cool action that I got from a website that you use with your Adobe photoshop. The pictures are all ones that I took, but don't they all look professional - well that might be pushing it, but you know what I mean. So, I just had to show this cool thing I got and learned about recently. If you have pictures that you want me to play with -- the actions do more than turn to black and white, but I love this color -- let me know. Or if you are interested in the actions, I will figure out where I got them for you!

 

 

 

Only in Arizona!

This afternoon we heard raindrops! Jake went out to enjoy the rain and Spencer and I went out to jon him -- Spencer brought a jacket (because it is sure cold here in August) -- actually it is because it is raining and we have jackets and we only get rain occasionally (we live in a desert don't we) -- and we use jackets so infrequently that Spencer equated what I did when I was little -- rain = jackets!

 

 

Spencer Helping Dad

When Spencer got home from playing with his friends this morning, Jake was working on the yard (it was late and hot outside) -- Spencer had to find his cowboy boots and help dad!

 

Spencer added the extra pull on moving the trampoline -- good thing he was there to help, or I would have had to help :)

 

He can even push the lawnmower -- watch out Jake or you are going to be out of work!

 

Fill in the Blank

Hi all, I stole this from one of my friends blogs and thought it would be fun, and since nothing noteworthy or postworthy is going on at our house, and I want a new post -- well here you go: Should be fun!


Copy and paste this into a comment
and then fill in the blanks. Try not to look
at other people's answers. I can't
wait to read the comments... and make
sure to post it on yours too so I can
fill in your blanks. :)

Where did we meet:
Take a stab at my middle name:
Do I smoke:
Color of my eyes:
Do I have any siblings:
What's one of my favorite things to do:
What's my favorite type of music:
Am I shy or outgoing:
Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules:
Any special talents:
How many children do I have:
Describe me in three words:
If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing that I would bring:

First day of Preschool

 

Spencer got to go to his first day of preschool today! His teacher is Maestra Limon (It is a bilingual school) and he LOVED it! He thinks it is wierd to say some Spanish words and to have the encouragement to say different words than what he knows, but it is good for him, right?

 

He was pretty excited about his Blues Clue hat that he wore home, and at the school they baked blueberry muffins that he shared with me -- so far I think we will love it!

 

First Day of School

Today is the first day of school for Jacob and Ryan. I just dropped them off at the bus, yes, dropped them off to the bus. I know, what kind of mom drops her kids off the first day of school? That is what I am wondering -- I planned to drive them, planned to do lot's of things, but THEY insisted that they would ride the BUS -- so they are iff fir their great adventures and won't get the big hug from mom, or the reassuring push to go off. I guess it is ok, my mom just drove me the first day. I called Jake when I got home, wondering if I should follow them i the car and he was like I am glad that you didn't drive them! My mom NEVER drove me the first day, so if you are a DeGraffenried, and you remember your mom driving you -- post a reply, because he needs to be reminded. My boys will be fine, and they will be home with many exciting tales, but until then, well, Spencer and I will find some fun things to keep us busy!

 

Ryan was excited to go off to first grade. Ms Schmidt will be his teacher this year, and she seems like a really nice lady.

 

Jacob will be in fourth grade this year, and his teacher is Mrs. Washburn. She seems like she will be able to appreciate Jacob for his quirkiness, she had SIX boys and TWO girls, and told me that she had all kinds of challenges with her kids. Last year, Jacob's teacher had never had kids, and it was a tough year. I am crossing my fingers!