4th of July, almost..

Week 96

Well the 4th of July almost fell on a Pday, but we celebrated it as a District today anyway. We had a BBQ with stake and Sausages. And then we went into our Air Conditioned home, and played Settlers of Catan over cheesecake as all of the American songs on my Ipod were playing. It is ironic to play that game when "This land is your land, this land is my land..." is playing because, no its just my land, not yours.  Elder Jarman won.  Thats the first time either I or Elder Bates havent won, hes grown up so fast.

On top of that this week was super eventful.  WE had a few activities like english and basketball.  there is a new peace corps volunteer named Max who is pretty cool.  We might try to meet with him, he seems to know quite a bit about out Church.  WE met him at Frisbee.  Viktor and Nastya got married and during their wedding they got a call from the building manager of our apartment and he told them that they were leaking water down. And they were, into our apartment and our neighbors apartment.  So we have had no cold water for the last few days and boy is it painful to shower.  Also we cant do our laundry until the water gets turned on... I am almost out of shiny white shirts and clean pairs of socks. Hopefully everything gets fixed before I am forced to "Recycle".

Liza came to church, her family is going through a rough time, hopefully things will get better.  Her mom is sick and in the hospital, which is super stressful.

I am doing super good at not being trunky, President gave us all an invisible box and we are supposed to put all of the not missionstuff inside and only open the box on Pday.  So far its working for me, if I think of something I just right down on the Pday slot in my planner and then think about it on Pday.

Yesterday was Fast and Testimony meeting, which was good. I bore testimony on how God will never desert us and how our trials will be for our good.  I shared a few verses from DandC 121 which was good, and it had a deep impact on the branch members.  Joseph Smith was a great man. This is the Lords Church and he is doing his work. 

Love you all!

Hey Jax,

How are you doing?!?  We have had a great week.  Cam's birthday is today (Sunday).  We had a birthday party for him on Saturday with all the cousins.  We had a swimming party, had pizza and cake with snow cones.  Tonight all the Tboys came over including Ansley (their sister) to have cake and ice cream.  She has been coming over more often lately.  She likes to be included and play with Cam and Kaestli.  They like when she comes as well.  

Josh and Jordy went to Youth Conference this week.  They did a ropes course in Provo and then did boating the next day.  The last day was a service project at This is the Place.  After they had a dinner and testimony meeting at the Kimball's house.  They had a good time.  Me and the younger kids had a great time with both of them gone too;)  We went to see Cars 3 in the theatre and then ate out a few times as well. 

We are still swimming everyday usually once...but somedays up to 3 different times.  It's a blast.  We have been getting raspberries from our garden this week too.  The kids found a toad last week so we've been looking for him again as well.

Tennis and track finished up this week, so I am happy about that.  Jacob's basketball starts up again this week.  The first game is on Saturday.

Curtis and I celebrated our anniversary this weekend since it will be Grandma and Grandpa's homecoming this coming weekend when it's our actual anniversary.

Josh went on a date with a new girl this weekend.  He still works at Subway.  He should get his AP score this week too.

Grandma and Grandpa get home on WEDNESDAY!!!!  Can you believe that!?!  We are all so excited about it!  We are going to go straight up to the cabin and hang out for a couple days.  The homecoming is Sunday and they have invited a bunch of their missionaries from Fiji too!  I think it will be so awesome!  

Ethan is still working on his mission papers.  His bishop is really being slow about it.  Curtis actually called the Stake President to see what is going on.  I guess the bishop has been out of town and is pretty unorganized.  So we will keep you posted on when it actually gets put through.

I went to another mission mom lunch this week.  We finally got to meet Elder Jeffery's mom and dad.  They were in town.  It was fun to talk to her.  She know a lot of details of your Sumy days that I didn't know!  I guess Elder Knorpp is doing the dishes now days in Sumy! haha.  

The summer has really filled up and I feel like you are going to be coming home so soon!  I honestly can't wait!  We are all doing well and just looking forward to having you home with us again!  We all miss you a ton!  I am so proud of you for serving a mission.  I can't wait to hear all the stories you have.  I know this has been a really hard mission and I'm sure you aren't telling me everything.  I'm proud of you for doing so well out there!

Questions-

1-any details on the wedding plans/date etc??

2-How is Viktor and Nastia doing?

3-How is your companionship going?

4-Are you happy and positive?

5-What are you studying in the scriptures right now?

6-Do you consider yourself fluent in the Russian language?

7-What is your favorite thing about serving in Ukraine?

8-Any mail yet?????

9-What are you most excited about when you get home?

10-How often do you do activities with the Branch?

11-Any update on Masha?

12-Do you think you will stay in kremenchuk for your last area?

13-Recording... I really love them.  I liked the one about the son in your book, that was awesome.

14-pics

15-message for me

16- birthday message for Cam

I miss you and love you!  Keep working hard and doing great!  I am so proud of you!

Love you

Mom

1 They are married! It was super low key because they couldnt afford a big ceremony, only their family was invited.

2Good, we recommited them to pray together last night.

3Super good, we love each other

4Yes

5 Doctrine and Covenants, that is what we teach for sunday school, I am almost finished with it.  Other than that it changes often right now humility.

6To a point yes, I can understand 98 or more percent of what everyone says, and I can speak maybe 90 percent correctly depending on how strong the spirit is.

7 Honestly, Ukrainians are the funniest people ever, some are super irritating, but you can laugh at them later.  So I would say the people and the change they have made in me. My sense of humor is a bit different and I have learned several valuable lessons from them.

8One letter from you and one from Sarah, we are still good friends.

9The family of coarse, I cant wait to pick sis up and just squeeze her to death.  Other than that, Elder Jarman has made a list of things I need to watch, and told me I need the Lg G5 for my phone, and I am excited for college.  I am excited for that first night( if possible I want to be released that night) because I will finally sleep and not have to worry about someones salvation being delayed if I dont wake up at 6:30

10 Once a week we have a "branch/missionary" activit which is usally sport night one week and the next week something else.

11 Nope, I think she is probably even over me, because she hasnt seen me in so long, and when I write her it is super NOT juicy.

12Maybe, I think that makes more sense than me moving, but who knows.

15 I miss you and love you so much and I am so happy that I have had this opportunity to be away from you for 2 years so I can fully appreciate how much I love being around you. I love you!

16 Happy Birthday Camers! I love you and miss you! I will be home really soon so you wont have any more birthdays without me!