Corona Virus and missionaries

Our missionary is coming home and then to be reassigned. He is part of the logistical team and is too busy to really process what this means for him. 

He called today from the office. He had a short time to enter the missionaries information into a database (?). His first step, but probably someone else’s twentieth. We don’t know when the exodus will happen. We don’t know where he will be reassigned. Really, he doesn’t either. He just knows he has a ton of work to do before he can worry about that stuff. 

He is sad. Sad to be leaving Peru. Sad to be leaving his investigators. He has one with a baptismal date and others he is working with. He is sad to leave his bro’s. He is sad to see things come to an abrupt end. 

I am sad for him. But so grateful to know the Lord is in charge. I have been seeing pictures on Facebook of planes full of missionaries on their way home. The Lord’s Army is moving out. It devastates  me on one level. It fils me with pride one one level. It is awe inspiring to see the strength of the Church line that. 

I just saw a video on Facebook of two elders singing Do You Want to Go Teach Someone (to the tune of Do You Want to Build a Snowman from

Frozen). I couldn’t figure out how to link it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax9mjeiS9vY&feature=youtu.be

And I laughed and cried. 

I imagine I will laugh and cry when I see my sad boy when I see him next. There won’t be a crazy welcome ho e party at the airport. Just a small wick grab and go home. But he will get time to finish. Maybe we have have the triumphant return then. 

Beauty and the Beast

Boaz steppes our of his comfort zone in a big way this year. He was talked into trying out for the musical, Beauty and the Beast. 

This was my first experience with a musical. He went to practice for months. We wouldn’t see him until 7 and then during the performances it was 9:30. His whole world became dance practice and singing. I have no idea how he stayed up with his school work. 

I was a back stage mom twice and we had tickets twice. Craig and I were astounded at our shy boy up on that stage. He put his heart into it and shone. Of course I am his mom and know my bias is clearly on display. But honestly, he was awesome. We got some pictures by stalking Facebook. 

This was the picture in the playbill. I am in love with this picture. I am so grateful for the talent and skill of the photographer. 

He was a candle seller in the opening number. 

Lefou was played by a girl. He actually connected with her glasses one night and felt horrible. 

Singing. 

He was a dancing spoon. He complained about the dancing during practice, but he did a great job. The spoons were strapped so tightly, it must have been uncomfortable. But they had to stay put. 

Working themselves up to storm the castle. 

Distracted by Babette and burned by Lumiere. I had no idea he could jump that high. 

The girls loved making him a bit uncomfortable as they practiced their flirting skills on him. 

He came alive on the stage. He emoted . His face was expressive. He sang his heart out. He made good friends. I hope he does it next year. I am also dreading it a bit. But I will try and be a bit more involved. 

I am so proud of him. 

New job

When we returned from Hawai’i, I started a new job. I am a pharmacy tech in training. I work 40 hours a week, all standing on my feet. The first week was brutal. My feet ached even when I had them raised in the recliner. But on the third week, it’s bearable. They are a bit tingly on my fifth day, but they are good. 

So I haven’t walked the dog in three weeks. I need to get back to that.  She is going a bit stir crazy. 

I started just before the Corona Virus panic. It is a crazy way to learn this job. We can’t seem to catch up with the demand. I am trying to learn on the fly. I can do drive thru, registers, dispense and fill the robot. I am working on learning the computer screens for problems. 

I like the people I work with. There is one other new tech like me. And one pharmacist quit. So we are short handed. 

There is no hand sanitizers, Clorox, disinfecting wipes, rubbing alcohol, and we are super short on toilet paper. We have had out of state people come to shop in our little isolated community. But our shelves don’t look like the pictures posted on Facebook of more populous areas. 

The panic is crazy to me. I am so grateful the Lord has prepared us for home church. We can break out the wheat and have some food storage. This came so fast. 

I am also grateful I have a job to go to. I know I am not productive when I am home alone. 

Hawaii

Thea lives in Hawaii. Our Christmas, birthday, anniversary to us and Boaz was a trip to see her. I haven’t posted the pictures yet. It’s been about 3 weeks since we’ve been back. 

It was great to see Thea. She lives on Oahu. We played in the ocean and stopped at the Dole Plantation. I loved the flowers. 

Boaz gives scale to this plant. 

A pineapple flower. 

A baby pineapple. 

A Chocolate tree. Notice the pods. 

Close up of a pod. Deliciousness comes from this!

We went from all out winter to this. 

The people of Hawai’i Th ought it was cold. It was lovely!

Craig begins the camera. 

Our memory trip was a boat ride with snorkeling. I love this company. 

I loved the crew. 

The navy seal is in the royal blue. The retired army is in the black. He was a bit more reserved. 

Craig pulled in a barracuda. 

Fantastic excursion. It was fun for me to get back in the water and remember how to trust it again. 

Thea got me a lei. Smelled marvelous. 

We saw someone we knew at BYUH. Boaz and I walked around the campus. Super cute. 

Last day of having toes in the sand. 

Loving Hawai’i and not super happy to head back to Idaho. 

This is why.