Happy Birthday, Jeffrey!!

Today is Jeffrey's 20th birthday! Just one short year ago, he was at home for his birthday. Now he's celebrating on his mission in Veracruz, Mexico.

Here's a picture of Jeffrey at the beach with his companion and two other missionaries. They were jumping for joy over the fact that every companionship in their zone had baptized someone the week before. The ones in white (including Jeffrey) were the ones who had done the actual baptizing.

I love this photo. It truly expresses real joy.

I hope Jeffrey has a wonderful birthday today. I'm sad I don't get to see him or talk to him on his birthday, but I'm so proud of him for choosing to serve the Lord by going on a mission. He's a wonderful young man, and I can already see how much he's growing as he serves the people in Mexico.

Jeffrey, I love you very much and I'm proud to be your Mom.

(By way of explanation to any non-members who might be reading this - the missionaries were given permission to go to the beach for their Preparation Day. However, missionaries are not allowed to swim, so they just played in the sand.)

Over the Hill!

It's official! I'm now 50 years old. I am over the hill!

Last Day

Today is my last day in my 40's.

I shall now go sit in a corner and get older.

Happy Birthday...to ME!!!!

It's now after midnight, so it's officially July 21st - my birthday!  I now begin my last year in the 40s.   Man, I'm old! 

Happy 21st Birthday, Brian!!

Happy 21st birthday to Brian, serving his mission in the Dominican Republic!  Here he is, newly born:

Here he is after a long, hard day walking all over Niagara Falls:
I love that picture!  You can just tell he is thinking, "I can't go on anymore"!

Here he is in 5th grade, after winning the Arizona Fleming Elementary School Spelling Bee for the 2nd year in a row:
Here he is in May of 2007, holding the envelope containing his call to serve a mission in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission:
Here he is on August 29, 2007, after eating one last meal at IHOP:
He entered the Missionary Training Center a couple of hours later, ready to begin his new adventure as a missionary!

Today he is turning 21 years old!  He has served 20 months of his two year mission.  I can't wait to see him in four months!  

Brian, I'm so proud of you for sacrificing your time to serve the Lord.  I know you are being blessed for your service.  I love you, and I'm proud to call you my son.

Happy 21st birthday!!