Boldly Go

{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!}

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You're in Bolivia!!!  I'm so excited for you.  Dad was telling me that the first few weeks there's this kind of terror, like WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO, that sometimes you go to sleep scared and homesick because you didn't realize how hard it would be... You'll have to tell me if there's some of that, or if it's like I said:  Oh, no... I think of Miranda kind of giddy for the next day, even if it's crazy and hard and weird.  Going to bed with an assurance that YES, that day was more different, more off my beaten path than any day I've ever had in my life, but what a ride!  What an adventure... what does the Lord have for me tomorrow?

Let me see if I can sum up our week:

I saw Carlie's play.  Oh my gosh, she was made for the stage.  Here are some of the favorite pics:

Then the kids talked to you on Tuesday:

We had a mostly normal boring week doing the normal school, etc, and then Carlie decided she's going to prom with a random group; the girl is even brave enough to FIFTH WHEEL so she can go, but it's turning out to be a friend group date thing. She has an appointment with Melanie tomorrow to look at dresses (!!) so next letter, we'll have pics because Saturday is Prom!

Tonight we celebrated Marki & grandma's days.

She was so excited to get a vacuum. Apparently she loves to clean the house. Hahaha!

Katie came down. I tried to get the kids to smile for you...

We drove home in a crazy blizzard, and now it's snowing really hard still. Dad couldn't see past the end of his truck on the way to work. 

And the kids came home and played Quelf. Can you see Kierste's article of clothing that includes a chin strap? Hahahaha!

Talking to you was more balm for my soul than I thought it would be. Thank you for being so strong and cute. You're amazing, and I can't wait to hear all your adventures!!!

Love, your mama

Ok PS. Holy cow. When we got off the phone with you, we went to Morgans last () tournament game... the other team was soooo good. They stayed behind that team the whole time, sometimes 12 points down, sometimes only 2... it was a nail biter the whole time. AND THEN. With FIFTEEN SECONDS LEFT, they scored, and they were only 3 points behind. The clock was stopped with SEVEN SECONDS LEFT, David Blake threw it in to Morgan. He dribbled and shot from the 3 PT line and MADE IT!!!  BUT his feet were just on the line so it was a 2 PT shot and they lost. It was the coolest Hail Mary, and I got it on video!  Wish I could send it. But here's his face afterward. I was in shock for a bit, or I would have thought to get his immediate celebrations, but this is much after.  He's so happy.

See how proud Dad is:  =)

The end.  =)