Some days I just miss Brooke!

Some days it just seems like my eldest daughter lives a million miles away. Okay, I'm exaggerating, she lives between 4000 and 5000 miles away. Anyway, today we got her our usual weekly email and she sounds so great. She has this incredible enthusiasm for missionary work and she loves the people, loves her companions, loves it all. Those emails definitely get me over my own little pity party when I start to throw one. I wouldn't change where she is for the world. For example: I love this picture of her that she sent last week. She and her companion were visiting some members and they put her companions plaque on their daughter and she walked around with Brooke to show off her early missionary skills. It is just so fun to see that beautiful smile and feel that enthusiasm!

I remember my own mission very vividly and the experiences that I had there were life altering. I grew up (mostly, some would argue it has yet to take place), I grew a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I learned that I was loved by my Heavenly Father, I learned that I can't worry about others opinions, nor can I get in the middle of how others think or feel, I learned that the scriptures really do have the answers to life's difficult questions, I learned that I have something to learn from everyone that I meet and that I was stronger than I realized (and that's just scratching the surface, I am still learning from those experiences). Those were things that I was never going to learn or do through religion classes or in my own daily life. Those classes were useful and good, but it was actually living the missionary life that made the difference. I know that her experiences will be completely unique to her and her needs (she is far more spiritually mature than I was I went out). I am just thrilled that she has the opportunity to learn the lessons she will need in her life. I can't wait to get to know her after her mission.

Yeah, I can wait, but I am really looking forward to it!

Florida has weather!

So living in Florida is like California and not like California. Not like it, in that it rains and rains and rains, but always in the afternoon, leaving time for beach, pool, walking, etc. in the morning to mid-afternoon. Like it, in that the weather reports are always the same, in California "Sunny and warm" in Florida "Weather in the 90s with afternoon and evening thunder and rain". Kind of funny (I am easily amused).

The boys are off to an encampment with the church, down at the church's ranch to the south of us. The big news at the end of day one was that the storm hit them so hard that many tents were completely flooded and the administration tent collapsed, although the word was that the boys were all having a great time, weather notwithstanding. I can't wait to get the real low-down when Stephen and Lars come home with Randy later today. Should be interesting. I didn't let them take their phones as I didn't want to hear if they weren't enjoying themselves and to prevent Stephen from spending the entire encampment texting his girlfriend... I am such a mean mom =)!

I like to move it, move it...

I feel like the lemurs in Madagascar. After losing touch with myself for a while, (I am going to blame the move) I have gotten my body back in motion. I walk with my friend Darcy, who is awesome to get out with me. I am doing yoga again and I started swimming laps in our backyard pool. All I can say is having my body back in motion makes me happy! All those years of walking, running, weights, aerobics, step aerobics, dance, you'd think I would remember that I don't do particularly well without exercise. As my friend Tracy would always say "Why doesn't it hurt to get out of shape?" Well the emotional and mental benefits that I am enjoying far outweigh any pain I may have had to endure to get back into the groove! Woohoo!

The Police!

So, Friday night we went to the Amway Arena in downtown Orlando to see The Police in concert. Can I just say OH MY GOODNESS, THEY WERE AWESOME!!! The opening act was Elvis Costello and he was really great as well. We had seats on the floor, dead center, about 10 rows from the stage, it could not have been better. The downside was that we couldn't hear very well for quite a while after the concert, gratefully my hearing did come back and yes, I would definitely do that again. Check out their tour dates and if you can go, for heaven's sake do it!

What I really couldn't get over was the incredible musicianship of this group. I really thought they used keyboard or synthesizer for some of their songs and they don't! Just a guitar, a bass and a drummer/percussionist, it was so fun to watch them perform, they know how to play to the audience and it was just fun all the way around. They had incredible energy, plus Sting still looks phenomenal! Wow!

Stepping into the blogosphere

I have officially stepped (read: been pushed, thank you Andrea) into the blogosphere. I have so enjoyed reading all the blogs of family and friends and want to get into it as much for my own amazement as any other reason, plus this way our parents can keep up with us a little better. Now this is all assuming that I will actually do this consistently. fingers crossed...

We are living in Longwood, Florida, a suburb of Orlando. Yes folks, vacation central and we are there. We moved here this past December, arriving December 19. Want a fun idea for turning your kids against you in no time at all? Just register them for school one day before Christmas vacation and actually make them go, all this after having driven all the way across the country at the start of the week. It all ended up forgiven as we took them to the biggest redneck park ever, Gatorland, and then bought everyone an annual pass for the Universal Theme Parks for Christmas. Kind of helped blot out that initial experience...

Anyway, here it is. And away we go...