"Hardest thing I ever loved to do"

Hi Landon and Mason!!!!!

Happy post-Thanksgiving!!!  We are so thankful for both of you and that you are part of our eternal family!  We are grateful for both of you individually and for your service on the mission! 

Here's a little bit of what we have been up to this week...

The beginning of the week I went with a few other mom's (those from Gracie's playgroup) to Thanksgiving Point's "Museum of Natural Curiosity".  Reminded me so much of many days when you were both young and we went with friends to the Children's Museums in either Tacoma or Seattle.  Gracie had a blast.  They had a climbing area that looked like those you would find in McDonalds.  I let Gracie go up so she could go down the slide.  I didn't realize how big it was and on the back side was stairs for the parents to go up.  Well when she didn't come down for a long time I discovered these stairs and went up them.  To find Gracie climbing into this plane hanging from the ceiling.  To get to this plane she had to cross these perfectly safe, but perfectly scary roped bridges.  My knees felt a little weak walking along, but Gracie was a cool as could be.  Guess she's not scared of heights:)

Lydia's Christmas Carol opened last Saturday night.  I snuck into a dress rehearsal druing the beginning of the week.  It was very entertaining and Lydia does a great job.  Here are a few pictures I caught.  We go tomorrow night to see the real deal!  

 Back side of Lydia (with big hair bow)

Scrooge with Christmas Past

THANKSGIVING DAY!
Wow, it's a lot of work, but the day was fun and all the food tasted great.  Sure missed you guys eating all the rolls and loving my apple pie.  But we know those Thanksgiving Days with you will be again!

We planned our neighborhood 5K again!  It was a success.  We had about 40-50 people come.  The weather this year was quite warm so instead of Hot Chocolate we served chocolate milk.  Dad tried to beat Issac Willford but came in second overall and I came in second out of all the females....  Paxton Paty would of probably won but he kept it on the low down instead. 

The Elder's quorum this year also planned a Turkey Bowl.  It was at the same time as our 5K which was kind of a bummer but worked out ok.  After the 5K Dad and Jacob went over.  Dad wanted to show the ward that the bishop knows how to play football;)  And I think he did cause Lydia got a text later form a YM saying "Your dad is a beast at football".  Hahahaha

 It was fun having Grandma and Grandpa, the Findlays, and Fotheringhams here for Thanksgiving.  It was such a nice day that they sat outside while we waited for the Turkey to finish cooking.  

Gracie could hardly wait and insisted on having a roll, so in order to calm her down she started eating well before the food was served.  She is a lot like you two in the fact that she LOVES rolls! And I am pretty sure that is all she really ate for Thanksgiving this year! 

 We ate in Dad's office!  

 This past week we have not only had springlike weather, but we have ended each day with beautiful sunsets.  Here is the Thanksgiving Dad sunset.  When I see beautiful sunset I always thing   it's God's art,  as it really is so so beautiful and I am reminded that Heavenly Father has given us such a beautiful world. 

I forgot to get pictures of all the food, but I did get pictures of all the pies.  All 6 of them.   Yummy, Yummy,  Dad and I enjoyed eating pie after not having sweet for three weeks. 

 We enjoyed a walk to the cemetery and a little frisbee throwing at the park.  

Working up an appetite for pie.  

And some fun "minute to win it" games in the basement! 

Overall Thanksgiving was great!  We felt your absence but you were very much remembered and thought of!  We are so grateful for you!! 

Can't believe it's Christmas season now.  Almost feels too early especially since it's been warmer here.  I heard awhile back that every year SF does a Christmas light parade down main street.  I can't believe we have never been to it.  But this year we went.  You can park along main and sit in your car or go out side.  Lots of pretty floats and festival music.  It was a fun activity (especially for Gracie)!

After the parade we went to the Festival of Lights in SF as well.  We took the truck,  planning on sitting in the back, but in the end decided we like being inside.  So we broke out the hot chocolate and enjoyed the lights from inside the cab.  

Here are some picture of a few of us before church.  

Some things that happened at church this last Sunday....

-Lydia gave a talk on Choice and Accountibity and did a great job!

-She also sang YW during sacrament meeting 

(they sang "Nearer My God To Thee" and it was so beautiful)

-see the doll Gracie is holding, she really wanted to take it to church today, which wasn't a big deal till she started throwing it in the air and and catching it.  When I went to sit by her so she would stop she yelled, go away mommy.  Not her best church day...... and several people committed to me how funny she was at church today.  It's always more funny to others....than the mom;)

-On the way home from church Lydia told us that when Gracie left nursery she was saying goodbye to everyone.  One little boy, said "bye, I love you".  We laughed and asked Gracie, do you have a boyfriend, she said yes and then kept saying "I have a boyfriend" and then she would laugh.  It was pretty funny.  Lydia didn't know who the little boy was so the "boyfriend" is a mystery.  

We hope this find you doing well and enjoying the mission.  This past week I remembered a song I heard along time ago and I looked it up again cause it has more meaning now since you are both on missions.  Remember the Nashville Tribute band.  They have a Missionary Work album and this is the word to one of the songs. 

The song is titled "The Hardest Thing I Ever Loved to Do"  I thought it's words were possibly  very true to the mission.  I will try and get the song and send it to you.  Love you!

The hardest thing I ever loved to do was letting go of everything I ever knew nineteen years of dreams left in my room

as I buttoned up the jacket of my suit And the hardest word I've ever loved to say was goodbye to my mom and walk away choking on my tie and on my tears as I walked down the hall into those years And the sweetest song I've ever loved to sing filled the MTC on angel's wings the chorus filled my soul 5000 strong and I wished it would just go on and on The firmest hand I've ever loved to shake was my trainer's with that big grin on his face he grabbed my bag and put his arm ‘round me and whispered "I'm gonna work those Mr. Macs right off your feet" And the hardest words I've ever anguished for came just before some lady slammed her door my trainer left me hanging out to dry as a minute of painful silence rolled right by But the hardest tears I ever loved to cry fell as I opened up my mouth and testified between the tiny walls of a stranger's living room the Spirit told their hearts my words were true The most wonderful sound I've ever heard is the sound of water running in the church as someone I'd come to love got dressed in white my eyes saw their first glimpse of Heaven's light The hardest thing I've ever come to see is a man down on his knees in agony a drop of blood falls down on olive leaves and for a moment he suffers there for me The hardest thing I've ever loved to do was getting on this plane and coming home to you in a million ways completely torn apart as a land so far away still owns my heart in the most sincere prayer I've ever prayed I thank my God for each and every day For the blessing of the man I've come to be As I walk up and kiss my mama's cheek.