After living in Arizona for 20 years, and in this house for almost 13 we found our first scorpion. I have always joked that if we found one we were moving!!! Now I think that it a good idea.
They are nasty little things. This one was dead thank goodness.
Went upstairs this afternoon and it was unusually hot. Didn’t think to much of it, it was really warm today. Then when I went to put Rachel to bed it was still really hot?
Yes it was 85 upstairs!!!!! So we had a family camp out in the family room.
**Someone came out the next day, and it was going to be over $4,000 to fix it. Plus couldn’t do it until Wednesday almost a week) We got a second opinion and they came on Friday and fixed it for less. So we can all sleep in our beds again)**
Today I am grateful for technology and social media. I have been able to connect with a mom in Brandon’s district. She posted this picture today. It was so cool to some across this on my newsfeed today.
Rachel lost her second tooth tonight during a pillow fight with Ethan. She was more excited to take a picture and email Brandon than about the tooth fairy coming.
At tonight's Court of Honor both of the boys took home a bunch of Merit badges and rank advancements.
They worked hard this summer together and earned 3 merit badges: Sculpture, Genealogy, and Fingerprinting.
Ethan also received his swimming and first aid he had previously earned.
By finishing those merit badges Zachary earned his first Eagle Palm.
They both also earned the Thomas S. Monson award. It is a special award created by President Monson. They and 2 leaders in our ward are the only ones who received it. I am so proud of all their hard work.
We got our first email!!!!!! He sounds happy, which is so nice for this mom to hear. His p-day will be Monday in the MTC which is awesome since that will be what it is in the field. His only complaint was he is hungry at night since they have dinner at 4:30, so we are off tonight to make a care package.
I am making a separate blog for all his mission letters and pictures. Follow it a http://elderbrandonwallace.blogspot.com/
This week are switching to a modified traditional schedule. We will get 2 weeks break every quarter. So we had to start early this year to make that happen. It was a little crazy getting ready, we really only had about 4 days after Brandon left to get everything.
Zachary is a a junior, Ethan in 6th grade and Rachel in 1st grade. Next year they will all be a different schools.
** Writing this in OCT. and can’t look at these pictures without feeling all the emotions again.I am sitting here with tears streaming as I write this**
So proud of Brandon’s decision to serve a mission and go to Canada Vancouver and serve among the Mandarin Chinese speaking people.
I can’t describe the feeling’s , but here are our pictures from that day, you can see the emotions we are all feeling: Love, Hope, Sadness, Excitement, Fear, Longing, and Uncertainty to name a few.
He will be a great missionary and so grateful for this example to his siblings and us.
** I am writing this post in OCT. and the emotions are still just as strong**
Today is my birthday and I am an emotional wreck.
It is also our last day with Brandon as he leaves tomorrow for the MTC.
I never knew it would be so hard to let this kid who drives me crazy go. Even though I know he is going to do something amazing, and learn and grow so much, it is HARD!!
I am so thankful for friends who have my back today and don’t ask how I am doing, but just show up with a little treat and a hug.
Tonight we went out one last time for dinner then took Brandon up to be set apart. It is official, he is a missionary. I can do this.
On our way to his setting apart we got a text from Kevin Neus that his plaque was ready!!!
Brandon spoke in church today. He did an amazing job. It just confirmed to be how ready he is to go and preach the gospel. I just don’t if I am ready, I am so emotional about this. His excitement is contagious though.
This evening we also had an open house for friends and family to come and say good-bye.
So thankful that he has such great friends that have helped him get this point in his life. Also for the family who drove out to AZ in the middle of the summer.
