--> {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!}
Oh Miranda. The subject title is because of some terrible tragedies that are happening. I will tell you later on in the letter. Don't skim the letter for it; it will unfold. =)
So on Monday night I caught this moment, when everyone was waiting for scriptures & prayers.
On Tuesday (YOUR BDAY!!!!!!!), the kids had their class Thanksgiving Feasts. =) Guess which one is your brother. Oh my gosh.
H&K's class combined with Mrs. Biggar's class:
Wednesday started Thanksgiving Break. So I took the kids to the theater (+Dylan & Nathan) and we divided into those who were going to go see Coco, about a little boy and El Dia de los Muertos. SO CUTE!!!
And those who were going to see:
The kids said it was off the sick hook dope chain.
On our way home the sky was lit up in this beautiful burning explosion of pink. Here's what Morgan got on his phone. #nofilter
And here's Alex's by the temple. Kind of off the sick hook dope chain too.
On Thursday all happy thankfulness broke out. Here are Arianny & Whitney showing you the development on the house. =)
We set up the Miranda shrine =) for people to write on your letters and look at your book that has all your letters (blog posts) printed out.
Yumminess ensued. Here's everyone saying Hi to you!
Right when our family dinner was over, Connor went to this little birthday party with his friends... bowling. I would have LOVED to see him bowling. Hahaha!!!
During dinner, Jeff got a call from our friends, Marcus & Tara. Their little boy Conor (2), has had brain tumors in the past, heart problems, and many surgeries. He's been running into walls lately, throwing up, and other funny symptoms. When they took him to their young oncologist a month ago, she arrogantly told them there was no way his tumors could be back, and she wasn't going to run tests. Dad said the only way he would be calling anyone if it were his child, would be on his way driving to the ER. So they went. We just had to hold on and wait for news.
Hanging out after the feast... or during the entire-evening feast. James & Jenny brought their 3 month old baby June... I almost died of happiness when I got to snuggle her sweet self. She's SO DARLING. The little kids kept asking me if I wanted to have another baby. Oh my gosh what do I even say.
Hahahahahahahahha!!!! Stacey writing to you... he didn't think you'd remember who he was (cry laugh face). I should have told him, Of course she'll remember you. You're her token black friend.
The littles playing Jenga... they were so funny about it.
When I got home, Dad brought me my phone, and I had some terrible news on it. Martha's brother Robert, your age, was hit & killed by a drunk driver while crossing the street in Taylorsville. It is such a blow. Her parents have shown incredible strength, immediately wanting the police to let the lady (in jail) know that they have no bad feelings for her, only forgiveness, so she wouldn't have to deal with that guilt. OH I HOPE I CAN BE LIKE THAT IF ANYTHING LIKE THAT EVER HAPPENS TO ME.
We still had our Levie Thanksgiving dinner on Friday. The Levie's are handling it so well; super super sad, but so comforted and strong. =) We reserved the Stake Center, but we got pre-empted by the Ashworth's father's funeral (Serena Fackrell's grandpa). He's the one who looked like Santa, and would always wear green or red and suspenders during the Christmas season. I don't think he was terribly old; I don't know what happened. So we were in the Westfield building. Our family is getting so big, it's hard to imagine fitting everyone in the house anymore! There were only 38 of us. =)
Derek gnawing on a turkey leg long after dinner's over... this is what he considers dessert. =)
The little girls & boys were running around the church, writing on the chalkboards, playing in teams & in the nursery. I think they were all in heaven. I'm glad I didn't know what entire-building clean-up was ahead.
Carlie playing electronic Heads Up with the girls:
Dennis when his life was only half fallen apart. His uncle had died the day before,
then the girls went to the mall. Dennis had put his 6s on the top of Carlie's hood... When we went searching for it, this is what we found. Dennis has to buy his phones himself...
This is the boy who, when I told everyone the papers were available to write you notes, he went over immediately, took one, and left the room with a pen. I was heart-broken for him. =(
Saturday, Derek had his paintballing party. He had the normal posse: Paul, Dylan, Bobby, Mitchell, Sam, Rex, and Ryan.
When he got home they watched the Lego Batman Movie, and Derek got a hat, legos, and $93... holy cow.
And last tragedy. When Derek's party was over, Dad called me from work and told me Marcus & Tara's little Conor has stage 4 cancer and isn't expected to make it through. We immediately said we would fast tomorrow. I was a puddle of tears. So much death this week.
When Derek got up this morning, he TRIED SO HARD TO SMILE. Out of 35 pics, this is THE ONLY smiling one. He must have been so tired! Pizza, chocolate milk, and a Twinkie. Lucky duck.
Then, I volunteered to feed the Elders when I thought we were staying home for Sunday dinner. But we needed to celebrate Derek's bday, so Grandma ended up saying we should just invite them to come to her house with her. I'm so lame. So we did!
Doesn't Grandma's Christmas decor look amazing?
Marky COULD NOT WAIT for cake, so we had her help us get it ready finally... the Dr. Seuss cake. We accidentally put marshmallow frosting for the bottom layer, so it was super slimy & slippery. =)
THIRTEEN!!!
The memes. Only ones that have to do with birthdays, family, overeating, and Studio C. Plus faith + healing:
Had another dream that you were home. You were just like, "Hey, I just said I wasn't coming home FOR GOOD. I'm still going to go back in about 3 months to finish the last 8 months. I was just taking a break." It was the weirdest.
There is just so much sadness right now, and Daddy & I are getting on a plane for Hawaii. It's the weirdest. There is no way, if I could go back in time, that I would have scheduled this vacation right now! We even looked into cancelling, but it would have cost about $500 to put it off... so we're just leaving.
I have to go pack! It's 9:22pm, and we're leaving for the airport at 4:15am, and I haven't packed a single thing! But your letter was super important.
I hope when you have Hangout time, we are on a layover!!! If we miss you, we still love you SOOOOOO much. =) Love, mama
