Because I am.......

Oh, make no mistake about it friends. I am. The favorite aunt.

The end.

(And no, I didn't have to send them any money to write this card!)

Monday Missionary Update...and a whole lot of rambling

sorry i forgot to tell you guys that i cant email today, our p day is thursday love you guys!!

Yup. That was our email yesterday. Are you kidding me? I had some VERY specific questions that I really can't wait until Thursday for the answer. Like - let's confirm the time for the Christmas day call. Do you have fleas? If so, I need to prepare. You know, things like that. Now I have to wait clear until Thursday morning. And that's if he'll even answer them. I really shouldn't worry about it. I won't let him off the phone on Friday until he's answered. That is, if we get to talk to him Friday. Yes, a test call went through, but the woman who answered didn't speak English and our fab friend who is letting us use her free international calling doesn't speak Spanish - so there you have it. We don't even know if we have the right number. If it was even Chile we will be calling. Should be lots of fun, and NO, I'm not stressed at all about it. Not.one.bit.

Christmas is this week. Friday. I don't even care. Okay, maybe a little since Sissy will be opening her presents and we may or may not get to speak to our missionary, but other than that, I really don't even care. I just want the week to be over and next week to be here. I will say we have the majority of shopping done, just a few little things left over, but I'm sure I'll get some screaming deals the day after Christmas so why not wait, I have time, right?

My house looks like it's been thrown up in. For reals. You can barely walk in the front door. I don't cope in clutter. I think that is why I have been hiding in my room with the door shut. That and the noise of the machinery that Splenda is using scares the living crap out of Jordan and she sits shaking and cowering in fear. I have some SERIOUS work to do around here in the next several days.

However, I am on call this week, so my time is limited. No days off for me ('cept the holidays of course), so I just weave my way around the crap strewn about everywhere and plot about just loading it all on the trailer and sneaking it to the dump. Okay, not everything, but really, do we NEED all this crap?

Speaking of being on call, and having the archaic pager. Every time it beeps, I remember poor Kasey. It would scare him and he would spend all week in a nervous breakdown. I miss that stupid dog. Today's snow storm would have put him in 7th heaven.

I have realized what a huge loser I am. I have gotten the CUTEST Christmas cards the past several days. I mean CUTE! Cute kids, cute families, cute sayings, on and on and on. I have not sent ONE. I think I stopped sending them the year my oldest got married and life was absolutely crazy. Major upheaval and I couldn't barely think, let alone do one more thing. And, I just haven't picked it back up yet. Maybe next year. Or not. But to everyone who has sent me cards....... LOVED 'EM! You are winners. I am not.

Funny Bone Friday - Things I may have heard, or said, or just thought in my head

Nurture them, or beat them. Take your pick.

Just get a canary and if it dies, you know you have a problem.

She's the anti-crust.

BFF - Brownie Fart Friend

A poinsettia is like a hamster. We all know how it's going to end.

No! You may NOT call me Gigi

I just keep googling until I find the answer I like

If you really want to know, you're gonna have to look yourself.

I really was born with half decent looks. Pretty sure God's pretty pissed at what I've done here.

Slang Gang Word of the Day - two-fer special

December 16: immaculate congestion

When traffic is backed up for miles on a highway, crawling along -- and then suddenly everyone returns to normal high speeds without passing an accident, stalled car, or road construction.

We spent 45 minutes bumper-to-bumper for no reason?!? It must be immaculate congestion.


December 17: Chipmunk gift

A seemingly generous present that will benefit the giver as much as the receiver.

On an old Chipmunks Christmas album, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore give Dave a gift. He's overwhelmed with their generosity until he discovers it's an empty bag, which the Chipmunks say is for him to fill with presents and give back to them.

My friend gave me such a Chipmunk gift this year. She bought me a CD by HER favorite group and then asked to copy it because she's too cheap to buy her own CD AND a present for me.

That back bedroom at my mom's house is freezing! I hate staying there when we visit. Is it too much of a Chipmunk gift if I buy her a space heater for Christmas?

My husband took me to the Monster Truck Expo for my birthday. Jeez, what a Chipmunk gift. What was he thinking?

Thankful Thursdaay - got a tissue?

I am so thankful for awesome blogger friends that find beautiful videos on YouTube, post them, thus inspiring me, and then being kind enough to allow me to post it as well.

Time Flies - thanks for this today!




And......to anyone who ever has, does now, or will in the future, serve our country in the most selfless way one can.....I thank you!

Monday Missionary Update

Parents,

Well another week has gone by and just a couple to do. This week went great and really fast. We saw some great miracles and we are working really hard here. Its difficult that I will be seeing another baptism before I end my mission, but that’s okay, at least I will be leaving some for the next two missionaries that come here.
Thanks for the letters that you guys sent me. I know that the time is going by really fast, and the time is coming when I will be home again. I am very happy and sad at the same time, I guess if you guys could imagine those two feelings at the same time. Should go by really fast this week. We got interviews, and activity and a conference of all of the leaders in the mission. I love the idea that you guys have about giving some of the money to a needed family cause really there are some families that do need it, but it actually is against the rules to give out money, just as a missionary. It was a good idea though.
As far as the pizza tower goes, we are doing alright, we just don’t have anymore money to spend on pizza, it really Is expensive here. What was cool was last Monday we went the coast of a river called Rio Calle Calle. There they have what is called Lobo Marinos which are like sea liones. They also have a fish market which is really cool! We watched some guys gut fish and prepare them. Also I got some sweet videos of the guys feeding these sea lions. We got pretty close to some of them. I am going to send you guys some pics so that you can see. I also picked up a living crab which was kinda weird. I thought that it would pinch me, but it was all good. To add to the fun, we made a really cool thing in our house. We have one of the basketball hoops that you can hand on your door and shoot. Well we put this on the curtains and then pulled them out to make it into one of those games that you see at nickel cade where you shoot. I guess you will have to see the pick better to get it, but it is really cool!!!
Well thanks so much for all that you guys do. I love you guys and miss you!! See you soon!!

Elder Catmull




**And then I came home to find this letter in the mail......
As much as I am ready for him to come home, I admit, I will miss some of these tender mercies.

18 more days.**

Twilight ...... my last dig. I promise!

Really. You know it's true.

I'm done now. For reals.