Hey everyone! Amber's going to CHINA!!!

How are you? I have been very busy these last few weeks. The year is already cruising by. My husband and I took a fast trip to Utah this last weekend to pick our daughter Amber. Amber is going to China!! She leaves on Monday and I can't believe it. Amber is going to go there to teach English to the kids. She will have her friend Jenny with her and they will meet in San Francisco and then fly to China together. I didn't know that her group has already been there since Feb 14th.
They have to fly to Shanghai and then on to Quindo or something like that. It looks nice its close to the Ocean. I am alittle uneasy about the two of them by themselves traveling. They need to be very careful for sure. I think they are in for culture shock.
My little princess will have to deal with tons of people everywhere and not knowing what they are saying, will be very hard at first. But I think they will get used to it quickly. She will be gone for 5 months and then come home in August.
The olympics will be in Bejing and she wants to go and see them at the end of her stay. So they will travel once again alone there and then fly home.
She will grow. This will be a once in a lifetime experience for sure.
Maybe she will want to serve a mission after this trip.

We will then have our son Justin Home from his mission in Russia in October 08. That will be great to have them home for about a month or less and then gone again to school. I will be sad.

Lots to look forward to in the coming months!

Jonathan is playing Lacrosse on the High School Team!! I love that game. I hadn't seen it played before this. Its fast and exciting to watch. We took years off playing sports and I am glad that we have him to cheer for now!!!

Happy February?

Hey Happy February!! I can't believe that this month is cruising by. Sorry about the weird ads on my blog. I added google adsense and sometimes the ads are terrible. Right now it says cheating wives...Whatever. I will have to let google know that this is unacceptable. Anyway!
I am happy to report that my son is on his way again to Moscow today and has to travel many hours by train to get there. He has to renew his visa again. It is every three months now because of the Orthodox Church. Oh well He gets another vacation.
We only received three lines in his email this week. The weeks fly by when we can hear from him every week. Hey my daughter Amber is coming home from BYU in two weeks to go to China for 5 months. Scarey and an awesome experience for her. She will be there when the Olympics start.
Valentines are funny aren't they. I love February its also my husbands Birthday!!!!
Have a great one.

This year is going by too fast already!

I can't believe it is already Feb 08. I am having anxiety about my son coming home from his misson in Russia. He is talking to me about going to school and all. He wants to be here with us for a couple months before going away again to school. Me Too!!! I want him to stay but he is 22 in May so its his choice.
I have found the neatest things about Russia. I love the Ice and snow festivals with lights and all. Justin never complains about the snow or cold at all. He is a stud!

I love my family. I love my grandsons. They are a joy to me. This week I have been thinking about my family, my church etc since the passing of my dear Prophet.

I miss him Gordon B Hinckley so much!!! I know that he is with his lovely wife Marjorie.
He was the greatest man ever. He contributed so much to our church and our lives.
We have a new Prophet Pres. Monson and we are so excited for the new chapter in church history!
I love the lord Jesus Christ and want to be as his servants are Worthy and of Service to others. Full of Faith and Hope and Love for all mankind. loves

Yeah I passed my State Real Estate Exam!!!

I am so excited and tired. I finally passed my Real Estate Exam! Third times a Charm right? That would be great but I still have to pass 3 more exams. My brain isn't like it used to be. I have to concentrate or I can't keep my mind on the things I need to study.
I guess I have too many interests and distractions.

I am a Notary signing agent, United First Financial Agent, A Grandma, A Mother, A wife, a sister, an aunt, a daughter etc and I am now soon to be a Real Estate Agent. And not necessarily in that order. HA
Wow my life is full isn't it.

Happy New Year!!!

New years eve was a blast!!
We went out with our friends the Dave and Rachel Bulloch. Cedar Creek Inn for dinner. Beautiful atmosphere. Garden with heaters and a Jazz band with candle lighting. Perfect evening.
Later we went to the halls for food and games.
Wow this year went by so fast. Amber is going back to BYU this weekend. We will miss her. She is planning on going to China to teach english with a group from BYU.
I can't believe our son Justin has been on a mission for 14 months. Jonathan after breaking his wrist and having surgery he went snowboarding. Fun times.

Talked to my son in Russia for 2 1/2 hours

Merry Christmas!!! We called our son in Russia on his mission. We tried to talk to him on a calling card and we paid 30.00 only 19 minutes each. So we threw that money away after we found out about skype. We paid 10.00 and talked for 2 hours and 45 min. We only used 9.67 cents of it. Wow we had a fun time talking to him. He is doing so well. He sounds so grown up and he is a man.
All of his sisters and brother talked to him and they were so happy.
We joked around and asked him alot of questions about the food and the area and what his companion is like etc. He is so loving his mission. He was most excited about the investigator he had that committed to baptism in his last area!!
He is in -38 weather right now and says his face freezes as well as his eyelashes and eyebrows.
They have to check eachother for white spots. That means frost bite for sure.
We had such a wonderful Christmas. We sang alot and had family parties. Fun times.
The most fun I had was to sing with my friends the Yuletide Carolers to the Elderly and the children at Choc Hospital!!!!

New letter from my son in Russia!!!!

You got that crazy look in your eye! Yeah I know. He is always telling me about the work there. I'm so happy for him. So what we were thinking is that when we got back from our missions we would go to BYU and do that thing you were talking about. Getting us a place and living there with amber. I don't really want to go straight into school but if i have too that's ok, I guess. Then we could make a trip back to Russia on spring break. That would be really cool. Or a year later whatever. So you guys need to work on getting me into BYU and doing whatever I have you do to get in. If not I'll go back to Idaho and then transfer. So be thinking about that k. I know I have until Oct before I get home but that will come quick. So here are some pictures of my trip. everything went smoothly. I am in my area. I love my companion. He was in chiley with me. his name is Elder Olsen. He is very obedient and motivated. He is just what I need. We are in a small district of four and as of yesterday we all live in the same apartment until they find there own. The first day we found a family who was ready to hear the Gospel. They are a wonderful family, who was looking for something to strengthen there family. I'm very excited about them. Last night we had a meeting with another investigator who has a testimony in the church but is a Little scared to make the commitment of baptism. He has a twin who isn't that interested but hangs out with us when we come by. Sacrament meeting was awesome. It's the smallest branch I've been to so far. But we will take care of that with the lords help of course. I love the work and it will go forward. I am trying harder for this area. I love it and there is a lot of potential here. I love you all. Hey dee write me and tell me how everything is going. Amber and Jono. I haven't heard from you in a while. Remember I don't always have time to write but you sure do. You have all week. So write me something please. Oh tell jon I said hi and I hope he's doing good. That's a bummer you guys had to move back in but its great because its an empty house now. So its a good thing. Giving you lonely people some company. I love you all and I want you to know that I love the work and that I have a testimony that this is the true church. And my testimony grows every day. Pray for me and the work in Surgut and for my language study. I'm speaking good. There is always room for improvement of course. The Russian language is amazing and I love learning it and speaking it. Missions are great but you don't have to be full time to be a missionary. Help the work in cali. they need you. It is so much easier for the work if you just invite one of your friends. It is worth it. I wish I wouldn't of been afraid back home. Its easier for our friends to believe in our word than it is to teach a stranger. I love you family. Serve others and they will see your greatness and example. Elder Harper