Where in the World is Mike?

The house has been a little emptier than usual for a little over a week, and Adam and I will continue to rattle around for almost another week. What's Mike been up to?  Where in the world is he?  (Anyone out there remember Carmen Sandiego?)  I'll let you see:

He's been in Bangalore, India for work, and his Indian co-workers are very hospitable and schedule new and different activities for him to try on the weekends and in the evening.  (I heard he's going to watch a cricket match while he is there.)  Looks like he's having fun, but we're anxious to have him home.  Maybe I'll go with him next time. . .  I've never ridden an elephant before.

Still Basking in the Glow

Last Sunday was Mother's Day, and in spite of being separated from two of my children--Matt in Honduras and Rachel in Georgia--it was the best Mother's Day I've ever had.  I honestly can't remember when I've felt so showered with love and blessings.  I simply could not stop smiling all day long.  If that's what heaven feels like, I want to be there!

The Millers came for Mother's Day.  I'd like to say that they just couldn't be away from me on the big day, but I'm guessing it had more to do with the Skype sessions we were allowed to have with the missionaries for Mother's Day.  I'm not proud.  I'll take visits from my kids and granddaughter any way I can get them.

Didn't get the greatest pictures of the missionaries on
the computer.  I think I was too excited or something.

Hard to see here, but we actually got to three-way Skype
for about ten minutes.  It was awesome, especially to hear
the two missionaries swapping stories and insights.

Sometimes I'm happiest just observing my family, and it was immensely  enjoyable to watch everyone so tuned in to what Sister Young and Elder Young had to say.  Pure joy!  We were finally all in the same room again. . . kind of.  It really warmed my heart.

Unfortunately, this may have been the view the missionaries
saw most of Emily.  It's hard to ask a one-year-old to pay
attention for very long.  They enjoyed seeing her toddle around.

We were unable to attend Emily's official birthday bash, so we saved her presents for her to open a week after the big day.  I even remembered to unearth the present Rachel left with me sixteen months ago for Emily's first birthday.  It brought a little tear to my eye to see Emily tear into it. Auntie Rachel has been magnificent while she has been gone.  The weekly homemade cards/letters she has sent to Emily are amazing.  I hope she'll let me share that project sometime.

Emily with her gift from Rachel.  Sister Young even wrapped
it before she left.  I was impressed!

Loved her focus.

Mama knows best.  Karen tipped me off that Emily might
like a shopping cart, and it was a hit.  She was so cute
pushing it around.  She looked a little too grown-up, however.

We took a few minutes for some quick pix before church on Sunday.  That was fun.  I love this sweet family.  They light up my life whenever they come.  

Now, who are you again?

This little soul just makes me smile, always.

She and Mike kind of like each other as well.

My new favorite picture of Emily. 

Life is good, so very good.  These happy times will sustain me when life isn't as good and when challenges come.  For now, however, wow!  Life is good!

Halfway Day

Today marks one year since Matt officially became Elder Young and entered the MTC.  I'd like to say that it has gone fast, but I would be lying.  For some strange reason,which I have yet to figure out, it seems like he has been gone longer than Rachel (who returns in 2 months and 16 days, just in case anyone was wondering).  Don't know how that's possible, but it feels that way.  I miss him, but I certainly wouldn't wish him to be anywhere else.



So far, Elder Young has had a great experience on his mission and is learning a lot about himself, the gospel, and how to serve others.  I know that he doesn't share some info with me that he knows will freak me out, but I also know that Heavenly Father will protect and guide him.  I may be learning just as much about faith as he is.  When we talked to him on Christmas, we learned that he had been robbed "only once so far."  Perhaps it is more by now, but he may not tell me until he gets home.  He has also been sick a couple of times, but as he wrote me once, "Don't worry, Mom.  The Cipro usually helps me feel better."  Better living through pharmacology, I guess.

He's had some rather primitive living conditions.  This is his
"bathtub" for his first area.  He said it was kind of outside.  Nice.

He says he eats well,  These lovely concoctions are some sausages
that the zone leaders made for them.  Looks like internal organs to me.

Some of the food is more recognizable.

Matt has also gotten to serve in various ways on his mission.  He has used a machete to cut back overgrowth, painted, worked on a farm, and also helped to build a clay brick oven.  He will be pretty resourceful when he gets home.

He has grown to love the Honduran people and the opportunity he has to share the gospel with them.  Of course, there have been frustrations and disappointments as well, but overall, he is happier than he has ever been and will hopefully be willing to come home in another year.

With "an awesome member family"

At one of his first baptisms

No, he has not grown a foot since he left.  Hondurans are
generally quite short.  He sometimes looks like a giant.

His first Christmas away was okay.  Having the Millers here
kinda lessened the loneliness.  Next Christmas, Rachel will be here!

This is what they call a "family picture" in the mission.
It is Matt with his trainer and the first missionary he trained.

He sent this picture with the caption, "Me, ready to go!"

I'm so grateful for the opportunity that both Matt and Rachel have had to serve missions.  Of course, I miss them, achingly so some days, but their missions help them to grow and bring a unique spirit into our home.  You won't read this for another year, Elder Matt, but I love you and miss you and hope that the last half of your mission flies by. . . at least for me.  Return with honor!

May 4th Birthday Girls

May 4th has become known to many as "Star Wars Day", as in "May the fourth be with you."  That's pretty clever, kind of like "Pi Day" on 3/14, but May 4th in our family is simply Auntie Rachel's and sweet Emily's birthday.  Sister Young got what she called "the best birthday present of [her] life" when Emily burst into mortality a short year ago.  Oh, how excited Auntie Rachel must be to meet her namesake Emily Rachel Miller in just two months and twenty days!  (But who's counting, right?) I, personally, am very excited to see the two of them make their first acquaintance.  It's going to be so fun!!

I have been captivated by this little baby, maybe more so than I ever was by my own children, perhaps because I wasn't so completely exhausted from giving birth and feeding the infant every three hours that I could actually observe her growth and development.  Being a grandma is certainly different from being a mom.  Very different.

Seems hard to believe that this precious little
bundle has grown into. . .

. . . this amazing one-year-old.  I got this picture on my
phone with the caption "Birthday Bedhead."  Awesome!

Curious Emily was so transfixed that she grabbed
her candle and got a tiny burn on her finger.  It's already better today.

Unfortunately, I had to work on Rachel and Emily's birthday (due to my having to schedule around Adam's track meets and still fulfill my weekend requirements), and I felt tortured all day long.  You heard it first here:  I will move heaven and earth to be at her second birthday party.

Evidently, she had a few presents to distract her from the
pain of Nana and Granddad not being there.  At least she wasn't suffering.

My parents also made a special trip down to visit their great-grandchild.
At least someone came through. . . epic fail by Nana!

I was also desperately missing my amazing Rachel as well.  How have 23 years passed so quickly?! Doesn't seem so very long ago that I was holding my own baby girl in my arms and falling completely and totally in love with her.  If I were queen of the universe, all parents would have the option of spending at least an hour or two with their kids on their birthdays.  All in favor?

Sister Young is thriving in the Atlanta Georgia North Mission.  She's presently stationed in Dacula (pronounced "Duh-Q-Luh") and has just two months and twenty days of service remaining.  Oh, did I already mention that?  Her mission has been a tremendous blessing to her and to us as well.  Her letters radiate the Spirit and bring such a nice feeling into our home.  I'm so glad she decided to serve!

Rachel has had two new greenie companions recently,
straight from the MTC.  Her mission has gone from having
12-14 sisters to 41 as of last Wednesday.  Hooray!!

This is Rachel with her most golden investigator, Rebecca.
She will likely be baptized in the next month or two.  Sister
Young is hoping she can travel back to her baptism.

Evidently, the pollen gets pretty bad for a week or
two every spring.  Yellow powder coats EVERYTHING.

P-days are usually busy but pretty fun.  I can't remember
what this picture was all about. . .

She has even gotten to fish on her mission, literally!

Hoping she hasn't converted completely to the University
of Georgia.  Adam may not let her back into the house.

How I miss both of these girls!  I get to see Emily in five days when they come for Mother's Day weekend, and I get to see Rachel in, you guessed it, two months and twenty days.  Yes!!

Adam Goes to Prom

Miracle of miracles (according to him), Adam found a date for prom.  I don't know what he had to do to bribe Micayla to go with him, but it must have worked.  Tee hee!  In my very biased opinion, I think this kid gets more handsome every year.  He actually cleans up pretty well, and I happen to think that he would be a really fun date.  I'm glad the girls seem to think so as well.

The last time he wore a tux was for Karen and Andrew's
wedding reception.  He wasn't terribly thrilled about it then.

"Little Man," as he was called by us and his siblings for the longest
time, isn't so little any more.  What a good-looking guy!

His date is a senior and seemed to be a very fun girl.  The group he went with was delightful--mostly runners, lacrosse players, and just good kids.  They had a lot of fun paint-balling, eating Japanese food, going to the dance, and watching a movie after prom.  They are all a fun-loving group of kids, and most of them haven't really paired off yet.  They'll have plenty of time for that.

I think this was about half of the group. . .  Handsome guys, pretty girls!

Some of these young men already have mission calls.
How cool is that?!

Adam's recent growth spurt has made him taller than most
of the girls--phew!  Makes dating a little easier.

He looks much more like Matt now that he has grown
 a little.  He could even end up taller than his big brother.

So glad he can have fun at this age.  Like I said, he has plenty
of time for serious relationships in the future.  Plenty of time.

The requisite crazy-faced picture.

Seeing all of these pictures makes me realize that Adam will follow in his siblings' flight paths and leave the nest sooner than I ever expected.  That's a good thing. . . I think.  I've so enjoyed the child-raising stage, and I suspect I'll find great joy in the next chapter as well.  Being Nana is pretty fulfilling, and I know Mike loves being Granddad.  Fun times ahead for the Youngs.  Buckle up!