Batch #2 of Pictures...Last week at the MTC

Today I received a letter and his memory stick from his camera. I LOVE getting letters, but especially pictures! He told me he has been living off of celery and spinach at the MTC because the food is horrible. Guess the yogurt and banana is something else he has had!! lol Anyway, he looks so happy and sounded happy and ready in his letter. I LOVE seeing him smile. Again, put more pictures on his blog and more about his letter. Check it out there. Just so happy today.

WADE CALLED TODAY!!!!!

Wade was allowed to call today from the airport as he was headed on a Delta one way flight to Honolulu, Hawaii! He has been in the MTC 3 weeks and is finally on his way! He sounded amazing and I think I cried the whole conversation...almost. I miss him terribly and especially loved hearing his voice. He really seems focused and ready. I am beyond proud. Most of my conversation with him is documented on his blog, but I wanted to write about it here as well so I would never forget the gift I received today with that special 40 minute call. Having a son on a mission is so hard, and so wonderful all at the same time. I love him so much and know he is doing the Lord's will. That is a wonderful feeling. Now, Mother's day is less than three months away! That's the next time I'll get to speak to him. YAY!!! Life is good.

HALEY IS MARRIED!

Feb 19, 2011 we were able to go to a reception for Haley Palfreyman! The Palfreyman's are our dear friends from Texas. Haley was married on Jan 15th in Houston. Her new husband is from Utah so we were lucky enough to be in attendance at her reception here. Leanna and Krista miss them so much so we had a very fun evening catching up and visiting. Devon came too!!! He's at BYU until his mission which is at the end of this year. I loved Haley's glass slippers...she truly looked like Cinderella! LOVE YOU PALFREYMAN'S!!

DES MOINE, IOWA!!!!

On Feb 17, 2011 Wade's best friend, Michael Hess, opened his mission call. He is going to Des Moine, Iowa!!! We are so excited for him. He checks in to the MTC June 8, 2011. There were about 30 people all gathered to watch him open his call. Cool thing is that KSL film crew was there to interview him and film the opening. They are doing a special in between conference about the MTC and it being the 50 year anniversary of teaching there. Wade was entering the day they filmed at the MTC and so we are excited to see this and if he was filmed at all that day. NOW it looks like Me, Krista and Leanna could be in this because of Michael! (However, I tried to stay out of the camera's path.) We are just thrilled to know that Wade will see Michael open his call (on film). I know he would have wanted to see it. His mission includes many states. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, little of Arkansas and Oklahoma I believe. Crazy! Right in the heart of Pioneer history. He's gonna love it! Michaels brother had JUST BARELY come off the plane (the night before) from his mission in the Ukraine. (He's sitting by him wearing the suit and name tag.) It was awesome watching him read his call and see his brother get emotional and shake his head yes as he was reading about what the next two years would bring. What a moment. The rest of the evening we just played with Piper! She is the cutest! Michael's niece. Anyway, it was a wonderful day.

DESTINATION HAWAII package

So this is my last package I sent to Wade while he is in the MTC. (Had to send it today since Monday is a holiday and he leaves Tuesday morning). I was pretty darn proud of it! I'm sure this will be his most favorite one yet! I am so lucky I live in Utah where I can take advantage of Same Day delivery service to the MTC. That has truly been a blessing. It's almost been three weeks since I dropped my baby off and now next Tuesday he's off to Hawaii. That's why I named this package "DESTINATION HAWAII". It was filled with surprises and things that will help him as he flies over 8 hours to the islands. I can't even begin to describe my feelings of excitement for him. I love that boy so much.

Labor of LOVE for my sweet boy.

I've been collecting letters and photos for about 2 months to compile this surprise for Wade. He leaves on Tuesday, Feb 22 for Hawaii. I am so excited for him. I had this idea right after he received his call. I know that it was inspired. I felt the overwhelming love each of those who contributed had for Wade and know without a doubt this will be a tool for good on his mission. So many inspirational words of wisdom, stories, and personal experiences that you can't even begin to imagine! I believe now that EVERYONE needs an Encouragement Flip Chart! Truly would make the world a better place. I can't wait to hear how he felt when he opens it on the plane (I left him specific instructions about that!). Anyway, more on his blog. Just wanted to post so I don't ever forget.

Package #4 to the MTC

Today was Wade's last Preparation day at the MTC. He will be headed out to Hawaii next Tuesday. I look forward to receiving his emails every Wednesday. I got TWO today. I was thrilled to hear he was doing great and feeling the spirit so strong. Sounds like he has made a lot of lifelong friends (See picture above! Elder Grbin is his favorite!) and is enjoying being a missionary. His letter details are on his blog. I sent him a "Recipe for Success - Chocolate Chip Cookie" Package today with Red Vines attached (from Rob). I hope he likes it! OR better yet, his district does! Sounds like he doesn't need more food, so I am happy about that! At least he is getting enough to eat! Anyway, we are hoping to hear from him by way of phone next Tuesday before he gets on the plane. I have been working ALL week on his last package I am planning on sending Friday of this week. I think it will be called, "Destination Hawaii" care package. Filled with Plane survival stuff and the amazing "Encouragement Flipchart" I am feverishly working on! I can't wait for him to FINALLY get to Hawaii and start living the "real" mission experience every day. I am BEYOND excited for him. I'll post pictures soon of everything...

VALENTINE Sunday Dinner - 2011

Today was wonderful. The sun was shining and love was in the air! Seemed like everyone wore pink or red, in some fashion, to church (including me!). Rob kept leaning over and kissing me all through sacrament. It was cute. We had a plan to make grilled pizza's, caesars salad, greek pasta salad texas sheet cake and brownie pudding for dessert. When church was over we walked home (one of the things I love about Utah, except when it snows), and I got cooking. Brooke (my cute niece) came for dinner. We LOVE having her over. She brings such happiness to all of us. Krista set the table and when Brooke got here they started rolling out the sugar cookie dough. They made the CUTEST small cookies and dipped them in chocolate. I made mini grilled pizzas and we literally had a party topped off with Sonic Ice and Sparkling Apple/Grape Juice. We enjoyed watching the girls open their special valentines day cards with a small token attached. We got all three of them a necklace that represents how we feel about them...Leanna got a small dove charm necklace because she is our sweet peacemaker, Krista a heart locket to remember how much we love her, and Brooke a rhinestone small heart charm to remind her that when she comes over she brings light and sparkle to us and we love her. THEN we started eating. SOOOO good. I haven't had grilled pizza's in a LONG time it seems. I love this recipe. I'm posting again, because it's so yummy. Then we watched My Big Fat Greek Weeding together and Sherlock Holmes (because Rob is feeling no love with all these girls around LOL). Talking, Laughing, Eating, Dessert-ing, Valentines Day feels totally real this year.

Valentine's Day Package for Wade

Yes, I sent him a package full of love. I hope he loves it!

MY MISSIONARY

That drawing was on the back of the letter I received today. It cracks me up! I was thrilled to get a nice long letter from Wade with a little memory stick from his camera inside! I was ecstatic! Cried looking at the photos as they loaded up. I am so proud of him. Look at my sweet boy with a smile! Go check his blog for more details www.elderwadejohnson.blogspot.com There is a link on the right.

1st Letter from ELDER JOHNSON!

Rob came in yelling up to us "WE GOT A LETTER!!!!". We all gathered around the kitchen table and I immediately started to cry with excitement. It was short, but I was expecting this because a friend told me they have the missionaries write on the first day so parents know they are fine. I was grateful for this quick correspondence. His handwriting has ALWAYS been bad, but it's his. I think it's funny he isn't liking the food. I'm not surprised since I've made him a lunch everyday since he had cafeteria food in kindergarten. He came home that day and said he will never eat that again. Hopefully the food in Hawaii is better. I have a feeling it will be. Anyway, it was a wonderful day getting this from my boy.

COLD WEATHER TREAT

This is Krista's favorite recipe. She literally will eat this for days. When she comes in from school, the cold weather and catches a sent of this stew in the air she just gets giddy! When she eats a big hearty bowl I think she sounds like Bob at the dinner table in the movie "What about Bob". I was thinking of all my Texas family today who are freezing with the cold air and snow that recently fell and thought I'd share my secret to staying warm. Enjoy!

TREATS for a MISSIONARY MOM!

So, Wade leaving has been hard, but rewarding! The day he left I had 4 voice lessons that afternoon. One of my students, Brynne Bonham, brought me ICE CREAM! She said she couldn't drive to Texas, but thought this would do. I love Ben & Jerry's so it was good. NOT GREAT like BlueBell, but it did help. Yesterday evening my friend Michelle Kendall brought over HONOLULU COOKIES. She is the mother of Wade's good friend Chandler Kendall who is leaving March 17 for Johannesburg, South Africa on his mission! She just got back from a vacation in Hawaii and thought of me. Those cookies are YUMMY! I have great friends. I am blessed everyone is concerned about me. I am doing fine, it's just certain moments when I see his guitar and miss the sounds I heard him play every day...things like that. I did get a call from one of his best friend's mom (Michael/Suzanne Hess) who works at the MTC and happened to be there the day Wade checked in. It was WONDERFUL to hear that he came in with a smile and the same determination he left us with. She was the one who pinned his name tag on! Lucky. She told me to watch general conference during the break in between because KSL news was filming all the missionaries the day Wade entered. They were filming to celebrate 50 years of Formal Training of Missionaries at the MTC. He could be on there, but for sure, some of his friends going to Hawaii will. That made me happy! She has quite the job. I'm jealous. She also told me his companions name is Elder Brough from Syracuse, Utah. I'm so glad to know he is alright and happy. I know he is an amazing missionary already.

GREENIE PACKAGE

Today I sent Wade a package. I wanted to send him one package a week while he's in the MTC (3 weeks). This weeks package was the "Greenie" package. He's new and fresh and it's DAY 1 in the MTC so I thought it was appropriate. They have wonderful places up here that have same day delivery so I got lucky. I created this package filled with green items and even made shamrock cookies with green icing! I hope he will be surprised and enjoy the box of goodies. I even had a letter from me in green ink! Yes, I'm over the top I know, but he's my BOY! I have the file all saved and ready for other family missionaries entering the field this year. Anyone that wants it just email me or leave a comment and I'll send it to ya via email.

THE DROP OFF

Today was Wade's MTC day - Feb 2, 2011. He checked in at 1pm. Before the drop off we had a busy morning. Waking up early, making him MaltOMeal (he loves that stuff!) and toast on his "Wade" plate he's had since he was a toddler, packing, Missionary haircut, Father's blessing and a tearful goodbye from Dad and Mom. I seriously shouldn't have even bothered with eye makeup! Anyway, we then left and met cousin Brooke at his favorite restaurant in Utah...California Pizza Kitchen. We had a wonderful conversation as we watched like 4 other missionaries and their families have their last lunch too! I think that is the "hot spot" for pre-mission drop off. Then we drop up the hill to the MTC. Wade was able to call family and say last goodbyes over the phone and saved Great Grandpa Wade and Great Grandma Vivian for his last call 10 min before entering the MTC. Nothing like hearing counsel from his Grandpa Wade. Wade told him he will continue the legacy of the "Wade" name and make him proud. Special moment. The MTC no longer does a orientation meeting with families like they did when my brother Donny served. They have you drive up in ONE car per family and pull up to the curb, get out, unload his luggage, say VERY QUICK goodbyes and leave. I DON'T LIKE THIS METHOD. However, it didn't give us time to really cry. I've been crying for days now so I do know Wade knows how I feel so it's alright. Surprisingly I felt peace and comforted the drive back home. I didn't even cry. I think Heavenly Father is blessing us already. Yes, my heart is full, but I am BEYOND excited for Wade and know he will be OUTSTANDING over the next two years. However, I am glad I had 4 Voice lessons to teach that afternoon so I could stay busy.