So it’s been 3 months since my last blog entry. Wow, I have no idea how so much time goes by between posts. Oh, well maybe I do. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that life as a wife, mommy, and missionary, just never seems to slow down. I love my life as all of the above, but am also very grateful for breaks, which is what we’re enjoying right now (not that I’m getting a break from being a wife or mommy or even a missionary, HA!) as we’re in the States for four whole weeks – two with my family in Oregon and then two with Loren’s family in Pennsylvania. Our arrival here in Oregon was somewhat of a covert op as we were trying to surprise my mom for her 50th birthday. We arrived on December 9, but my mom was under the impression that we would arrive on the 13th. So my sis picked us up at the airport after a very long day of traveling with 2 little ones on 3 different planes, and the plan was to meet Mom and Dad at a restaurant the next day to surprise my mom. We would all be seated at the table when Mom and Dad arrived at the restaurant. Some unexpected car problems made us late leaving. We drove in 2 separate cars. Jen and I with 3 of the kids in one car and Nathan (Jen’s husband) and Loren in the other car with the other 2 kids. As we got close to the restaurant, Nathan (my sister’s husband) called us to tell us he had spotted our parents’ car, and that we needed to take the back way to the restaurant to avoid being seen. So we snuck our way around the back all the while keeping our eyes out for my parents silver Audi. When we finally met up with Nathan and Loren, we cautiously made our way to the restaurant. Suddenly Nathan yells out, “It’s the Audi!” so we all stop and do a 180 to make a mad dash for cover. Only, Jen and I weren’t able to make such a speedy getaway as we had the 2 three year-olds in tow, one of them in clogs. So as the Audi came around the corner, and we realized that we were helplessly and completely exposed with no where to hide, we just froze and watched as the Audi drove slowly by. Trying to hide behind Jen, I peaked past her to find to my relief that it wasn’t them. False alarm! My 3-year-old niece Jazmyn was crying hysterically. We realized that in the frantic haste of running away, both of her shoes had fallen off, and she was standing in just her socks. I’m pretty sure we laughed the entire way to the restaurant. The hostess took us to the table they had reserved for us. Thankfully Mom had her back turned to the table, so she didn’t see when we came in. When we were all settled in our seats, the hostess went to get my parents. The look on my mom’s face was priceless. As she made her way over to our table, we started singing “Happy Birthday,” and to my surprise I wasn’t really able to finish singing because she was crying and it was making ME cry! Ah we did it. We surprised her. Months of planning and scheming paid off. Now we can all breathe a little easier now. So after a weekend of celebrating my Mom’s birthday, we plan on taking this week to do some relaxing, more Christmas shopping, mailing out our newsletters and Christmas cards, and of course just enjoying time with my parents, my sister and her husband, and our 2 nieces and 1 nephew. Yea for vacation!
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