Life in a Northern Town: FAMILY LETTER 12.10.17

Dear Loved Ones,

Hello from wind-swept, no-snow Livingston! We are grateful we have had clear roads but we are really missing a snowy landscape this month. This has been another busy, blessed week for us.

Monday night we had a fun family night painting rocks with uplifting messages to scatter around town, and then we took treats to our “grandparent” neighbors. I can’t remember what we did Tuesday, but Wednesday was crazy busy. Uncle Jess came to visit us before heading up to the capital for an energy summit on Friday, so he brought over pizza for dinner and visited. I took Addie to the Depot to sing at the tree-lighting ceremony, then took Heidi to get some stuff to lead a craft at her Young Women’s activity, then brought them home in time to grab some pizza and head out to Scouts and Young Women with Rich. The little boys and I stayed home and had cocoa and finished Christmas cards. Thursday Ammon and Niles were home sick with a coughs and fevers—it’s that crazy kind of cough that’s horrible at night, but they feel okay during the day and get stir crazy—lucky me. I still managed to get some treats made for care packages, catch up on laundry, make dinner, then in the evening I went to a make-and-take event at my friend’s coffee shop (we made essential oils room sprays, Christmas scents, for gifts). I stopped and delivered one to Robyn Jones because she has been sick and we had a nice visit. Friday Addie was home sick as well as the little boys. I got my hair cut and mailed things at the post office, then snuggled my sickies and rested in the afternoon. Friday evening Heidi had a friend over and we made Korean food. Rich went on a dinner date with his brothers Jess and Mike, and we worked on music for the ward Christmas party and chilled at home Friday night. Saturday we did morning chores, then the kids drew each other’s names and we went Christmas shopping in Bozeman as a family. It was a little crazy but we made it home at 4pm, just in time for us to get ready for a double date to see the Foo Fighters in Billings with Matt & Naomi Johnson. We had so much fun! The show was totally amazing. They rocked non-stop for an hour, then Dave did some introductions and covers, then they rocked another solid hour, and a great encore ending with “Everlong”—a 3 hour show. So much energy and natural talent. And I was pretty impressed that we old people could stay out until 2am and be at meetings at 9am ;) We can’t do that very often, though—I’ve caught the boys’ cold and I am draggin’ tail today.

Sunday—today—was the crowning jewel of the week. The choir sounded like angels at practice today, even though we only got to practice for 20 minutes. Sister Hansen and her daughter spoke in sacrament meeting and gave great, focused talks. We slept like the dead during our naptime from 2-4pm. Then we fed the kids and Grandma Melin came over to stay with them while Richard and I took Adeline to Bozeman to receive her patriarchal blessing from Patriarch Marlowe. She faithfully fasted the whole day and the blessing was like nothing I have ever heard before. Rich and I were blown away and ugly-crying. It’s amazing and humbling to think that we brought this blessed creature into the world. She is going to make it so much better and we feel so grateful to be her parents. We are privileged to have five tenacious spirits in our care—it’s exciting to imagine what’s in store for each of them as we think about all the things we learned about Addie tonight. I’ll tell you one thing: the work is hastening forward at break-neck speed. All those things we sing about in Hymn #2 are happening and progress is accelerating exponentially. I picture the stone cut out of the mountain without hands rolling forward, accelerating, and if we don’t roll WITH it, we will rolled over BY it. So we hasten. We’re lighting the world in small ways every single day, the best we know how, and not just for 25 days (although that has been super fun!)--Exciting times!

We hope you are all well and happy. Have a great week and keep in touch!

Love, Jamie and Rich and Family