Good Experience

Unfortunately, the Mission Training Broadcast aired at midnight around here, so I haven't seen it yet.  I've heard about it... strange waves are on the horizon for missionaries.  I'll wait to form an opinion until I've seen it for myself rather than hearing rumors that spread between missionaries like la peste.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUDREY!  You're gonna be an adult in two days!  That is so, so, so weird.  Then again, you've kind of been an adult since we were, like, 5 and 7.  I'm so excited for the rest of your life.  You're going to have lifechangingly wonderful experiences at BYU, and that makes me so happy.  I miss BYU.  Enjoy every second!

Orbits

Mom, you're the best.  Ha!  I love picturing you writing these things.  You're always smiling when I do.

Audrey has a job?  Gentry's at Girls Camp?  Jed's going for Eagle Scout and owns a pellet gun?  What is happening to my family!!?  It's times like these, when there's a huge change in my life within the course of a week, when I realize how much things will have changed in two whole years when I come home.  Won't G be, like... dating?  *shudder*

Yeah, tons happened this week.  Let's see if I can make this coherent.  It'll be a challenge:

Things Change

Those pictures were so great to see, Mom.  Thank you!  Audrey's graduation party looked so fun (and strangely familiar...), Gentry looks gorgeous and ready for high school (...WHAT!?), I'm thrilled Nan got to come up and liven up the place a bit, good to see a picture of dad in there, and of course Jed is super cool.  You look so young, Mom!  How do you already have 2 kids graduated from high school?

The mother of a dear friend to the missionaries in our ward passed away this week.  Her funeral is on Friday.  I'll probably sing.  She was a very old Brazilian, had only one lung and limited memory, but she was a saint if I've ever seen one.  Carried a picture of Jesus with her wherever she went.  Used to volunteer in the temple every day back when she lived in Salt Lake City.  And she loved the missionaries.  She recognized us every time we went over to their house, even though she could hardly recognize her own family.  Our friend is doing fine: he knows the Plan of Salvation and that his mother is a lot happier and more comfortable now that she has been for a good number of years.  Even so, losing a parent is very hard.  We're praying for him.

Often Fun and Always Rewarding

HUZZAH for the Columbia Basin Ward!  Bishop Merrill was amazing and I love him so much for the support he always gave to me, and I am so excited for Broth...um, Bishop Stock and his family!  In bocca al lupo, davvero!

Mom, don't worry that the email didn't go through last week.  Sorry that this one sarà super short--I opened my inbox to 21 emails!!  Troppo!