An adrenalin rush happened today

DeWayne Savanio from Salt Lake Church mission headquarters called today. He said he had gotten a call from a General Authority who was out in the world at his assignment ("somewhere" out there is what he said because he can't tell us who or where he is) saying that he needed a senior couple desparately in his area to do an "adventure mission" asap. Bro. Savanio said there was us and one other couple that met the needs for that mission call and could we possibly go March 1, 2010 instead of May 1, 2010. He said we were unusual in that we had our health and the funds needed. Most couples that go are either in less good health or did not have the needed funds for these adventure missions or they did not prefer to do the more strenuous adventure missions. He said our background experiences also contributed to us being good candidates for this particular mission call.
Exciting! It has been 6 days since Stake President Sinclair sent our application in and they are already looking at a position for us.
Tom and I talked about how could we possibly have him retire the last Friday of February and us show up at the training center the following Monday. Possible but not without challenges we decided. Tom called Bro. Savanio back and discussed it and left it that if the Lord wanted us in March then we would make it happen. The other couple are available March 1 without problems so he said he would recommend the other couple to the General Authorities but if it was decided that we should go then he would try to get us a little time to get there.
I really hope that this or another adventure mission is where the Lord puts us. I am wanting to roll up my sleeves and really get to work where our help in truely needed and we can have an impact on the work of the Lord. It is so hard for me to be patient!! I hear that President Hinkley had a problem with patience too so at least I am in good company. I can hardly stand to waste time just waiting-we could be busy learning a language, or getting appropriate clothing, or learning local customs, or getting our cell phone service set up, or, or , or, but NOOOOO - I have to just twiddle my thumbs and wait! Maybe we'll get another call today, just maybe...

CTR 8 Graduation and Christmas Partty!

From left to right: Chaz Bird, Kyler Kennett, Griffin Bischoff, me, Lauren Smith, Kate Legge, Jane Legge. Aren't they an awesome looking group?!! I love you guys!!


We had a birthday party for Jesus! Here is his birthday cake. We had birthday balloons too! We wrote our birthday gift to Jesus on gift tags, attached the gift tag to the balloons, then went outside and sent the balloons up to Jesus. We also had a Christmas tree and gifts from Heavenly Father to each child - a baby Jesus in the box.
Here is Griffin and his parents, Randi and Collin, with the quilt I made for him. It has his very own foot prints on the border. I am so proud of Griffin and how much he has grown this year. He has been a great joy to have in class. He has been the most changed person I know since his baptism. He wanted to make clay statues of Jesus for everyone in class. He learned to read this year and read the 10th Article of Faith in class.

Chaz Bird and his mom hold the quilt made for Chaz. The colors used in the quilts are based on what the child told me their favorite color was at the beginning of the year - of course by the end of the year and after the quilt was made I was told that red was no longer his favorite color. I hope you like it anyway Chaz! Chaz is so smart and I will not surprised if he grows up to be just like his dad and does great things for his family, his church, and Heavenly Father's children.

Kate Legge and her mom, Sarah. The squares are embroidered pictures of various lessons we had throughout the year. The footprints on the border are made from tracing their foot on Sunday Jan 11,2009. The words on the footprints say: Follow the Prophet, Happiness is found by walking in Jesus foot steps, Walk upright before Heavenly Father. I know you can do this Kate. Kate was the first to memorize all 13 Articles of Faith. I am so proud of her!!

Lauren Smith is hiding behind this yellow quilt below. There are darling little bumble bees on the quilt fabric that seemed appropriate since she is from Utah, the "beehive" state. I am so proud of Lauren for understanding the block about The Plan of Happiness. I will miss the little notes Lauren wrote to me through the year. I love you Lauren!

Kyler Kennett and his mom Lyndee. The embroidered squares are a reminder to Kyler and the other children of the many things that Heavenly Father has given them to help them find their way back home to Him such as: Prophets, prayer, scriptures, temples, Jesus, families, baptism abd even CTR class. I expect Kyler will stay close to the Lord and do great things in and out of the church. He gave a Book of Mormon to his friend the same day he was asked to share the book with someone. I cried when I thought of how quickly he followed through on that assignment. I see your name with "ELDER" in front of it someday and then "BISHOP" in front of it someday.
Jane Legge was the only one not at the party. She had swollen tonsils. Ugh! But here is a photo of her quilt. I missed her terribly and wished she could have been there. I am so happy about how much Jane has grown and learned this year. Jane found 4 leaf clovers and gave them to each person in our class so we will have good luck obeying the commandments. Thanks Jane!

Relief Society Christmas Brunch

The Relief Society President wanted to give away these church desert goblets and asked if I could create something with an angel theme to give to the sisters that attended the brunch. I made little pasta angels and hot glued them in with some "clouds". Sing Choirs of Angels...

For table center pieces I cut out 8 wooden angels with stars on dowels. The cotton batting made the clouds. Melanie Wing and Vandi Miranda helped...THANKS!!

We had a terrific attendance and everyone shared good feelings for each other. Sister Fordham spoke of how we need to be angels to one another all year long. Great event! I love the Fishers 2nd Ward.

Celebrate! Prayers anwered...

Got word tonight that the buyers of our home have finally "re-sold" their home in Spokanne Washington so now they can complete the purchase of our home!! Many prayers answered!! We thought our home was sold and so we moved into an apartment in September 2009. After we moved we learned that the buyers home sale fell through and they needed a new buyer. Against all advise we let them rent our home until they could re sell their home. And now they have done that. Not selling the house would have prevented us from leaving on our mission so we are very grateful for this news.