Julia Hippopot

{For 18 months – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

Um, I've been sorting the family pictures to organize the folders and share them with friends/ prepare everything for scrapbooking... and I watched & weeded through all your Julia Hippopot videos... I want to go back in time and squeeze & smooch all of you so much.  Thank you so much for making those videos.  I love that you even continued shooting at Grandma's house sometimes.  =)

Let's see...   Monday we went to the Westfield Elementary play of Wizard of Oz.  So amazing.

Tuesday, we went to the Stake Laurel/Priest Lip Sync contest... the Stake leaders and the 35th Ward were amaze.  Check out Carlie's impromptu outfit... she is ligit.  =)

Wednesday was Pack Meeting & Court of Honor... Derek got his Tenderfoot - No pictures.  =(

Thursday was chill.  Friday, Dad went with Derek on his overnight "campout" at the bishop's cabin. Snowmobiling, etc.  =)

Saturday, we went down to Allen & Martha's bakery to help clean the property because they're opening a store front in the building to sell their bread... so exciting for them!

Then we came home and threw a birthday party for H&K.  They played Hurricane for the first time ever,

They had a treasure hunt, watched Moana (while Dad & I soaked in the newly filled & cleaned hot tub

and watched Carlie having a picnic with her friends and calling Morgan & Paul to come join them for more fun),

Then H&K blew out their candles,

and played in the hot tub & did night games.

Today, we celebrated at Grandma's, and they chose Black Forest cake and got dresses from Arianny & Mark, and a certificate to go to Dinner & Beauty & The Beast with Grandma & Grandpa on Tuesday.  They're so excited.

We've been thinking a lot about you this week.  I explained to the kids while we were on our way to help Allen at the bakery, that we can study about Christ all we want, and we can know all the right things to do to come closer to Him, and in a way, we already draw near to Him by doing that.  But until we get off our seats and go DO, we aren't actually becoming more like Him.  We emulate Him by serving any chance we get.  I told them that because of your encouragement to come close to Him and grow our testimonies, we were headed out to help, instead of just preparing for a birthday party all day.  =)  Thank you.

Love you so much!!!  Mom

P.S.  I finally got all our letters printed, and come Conference talks, and I'm mailing them tomorrow.  You'll have to tell me what day they get to you, and what day they arrived at the mission home, just so we can gauge for future deliveries.  =)