random items

 one year.  it was HUMP DAY last week for Ben!!!  i can't believe he's over the hump.  when he left it seemed like even ONE year would take forever, nevermind two!!!  absolutely amazing that we are at this point.  i hope that Ben enjoys every minute of this next year.  and that he doesn't feel too badly when it is time to leave.  although, i'm sure he will since he loves it so much. 

 just some cool clouds

 here is something rather sickening.  can you imagine eating this?  i am almost 100% positive that Ben actually bought and tried these.  i will have to ask him how they were.  GAG

 look at the places Ben gets to see.  it's like something out of a movie.  something i would definitely comment on...and boy, would i ever love to see this in person!

 lucky us!  we've had snow already!!!  sigh.  it maybe is going to be a LONG WINTER

 i dunno.  i just do not know.

right now i have two children who are doing geneology work.  they are finding names to take to the temple.  that need work done.  in october there is a huge stake event for the youth...they will take their names to the temple.  they have asked every youth to find 2.  Ayden has found many so far.  i am so impressed by this!!!  i love the many ways that the Lord's work is hastening at this moment.  i have the sensation that the end of this dispensation is coming to a close.  i think we have that innate sense inside of us- if we will just stop and think  about it.  hopefully we can all remember why we are really here- and where we want to be.  this life is so short- so important, yet so short! 

i sure do admire some people.  you know the kind that are content to just sit in the background, quietly...they are kind, they do good, they help others.  they are good examples.  i feel sorry for some who always seem to have to have attention.  they go about it in strange ways sometimes.  unimportant ways.  scary ways even.  so many who are quiet are never really recognized- but it's okay.  they will be.  if not now, then in some other sphere. 

when you lose some part of your health, you stop taking it for granted.  when it returns- even if only for awhile- you appreciate it so much more.  other things become so much less important.  you feel happy to just feel happy.  you don't care what size you are at the moment, or how your hair appears to total strangers.  i've always felt that i have the worst luck with health.  always always i have multiple problems at once.  head, eyes, ears, jaw, teeth, neck, back, pelvis, legs, feet.  always had something that affects every body part.  always!!!  it is overwhelming.  some days are completely exhausting and hard.  i realize it could be worse and am happy to report that it's getting easier to see the big picture for me.  on the good days though, those are the days where i just feel happy to feel healthy.  a good day for me always includes a backache- and probably at least another ache...but it is still a good day. 

hard to believe that Tessa turns 17 tomorrow and Ayden turns 14 on friday.  how did this happen!  how is this happening so quickly!!!  you get married and have kids- but don't think you're ever going to get to the point where the kids are actually GONE.  well, 4 more years and Ayden will be gone.  i'm just crossing my fingers that someone takes their time getting married so they can live at home for a long time!  HA!  or maybe i will invite a kid, spouse, and a baby to move in.  just to think that that stage of life is coming right up is completely freaking me out.  yeesh!!!

wow, we've had some great weather lately.  looks like it will last a few more days then start to cool down.  i heard we were going to get a bad winter, so we shall see....

Tessa and I had a great shopping outing on friday.  we went everywhere we could in Leth- which isn't much.  but it was a good time.  some things we bought were random, so that was fun!  we bought Ben an ostrich bookmark in regards to his statements about riding to Zion on an Ostrich.  hopefully he will get a laugh about it.  i found some good wax melts- since my friend Betsy stopped selling Scentsies, i have been on the hunt.  i bought myself a "nightmare before Christmas" t-shirt.  why?  because it has been my favorite show for about 25 years!  Pete thought it should be for him for some reason.  oh yeah, and Pete tossed my tumbleweed.  it was the greatest tumbleweed you've ever seen...i am sad.  he says he will replace it for me, but we shall see. 

(Ayden)

This is Ayden. I have found 17 names to take to da temple! Woot! WOOT! My life is good... How about you? i turn 14 this week. so i will be a teacher! Woot! WOOT! hala!

my kids love notes

 (above is just a cute picture of Tess at YW's the other day)
but below is where the note-fun begins. 

this and that

 yes, school started this week, as per the post below this one.  it is funny/weird that both kids are in high school together now.  the first week went pretty well.  well, other than for Ayden who had to get braces on his first day of school.  unlucky!!  but he lived to see another day.  they have already had homework...and a dance.  only Tessa went to it.  Ayden was planning on going to the stake dance on the 20th, but they just sent a letter around stating that nobody is to show up before their 14th bday.  so that is the end of that big plan.

 i hope to blog more.  i want to have special guests blogging more often.  stay tuned to see if that happens or not.  i want to write more ideas, more opinions, more personal.  more like a real journal.  i hold back all the time- but i'm pretty sure only about 2 people read this, so i'm not worried. 

here below is a picture i got from facebook.  i guess the mission leader posted it.  i think his name is Johny Lingo.  but that can't be his real name...can it???!!!!  anyhow, he said that Elder Wright ate about 6 pieces of chicken more than Elder Law.  and Elder Law is the one putting on weight??

 and Ben is looking all posh and unmistaken in his new bluey-purpley- suit! 

 okay.  last saturday.  i suddenly had this plan a few days before to make up about 20 crock pot freezer meals.  thank you pinterest!!!!  anyhow, i got all the meat and stuff from costco.  the main cost was the meat.  and the worst part was chopping vegetables.  all in all it took Tessa and I 3 hours.  thank goodness she was willing to help, or i might have actually died.  we ended up with 19 meals because i wasn't sure anyone would like the curry one.  i will though.  we have already had 2 of the meals and they have been pretty decent so far!

 the kitchen was a gigantic mess when we were done...but i think it was for sure worth it!  i would sure like to see cupboard doors again some day. 

this week for labour day gma and gpa B came over for lunch after their temple shift.  we had burgers and corn which was yummo.  sadly, Pete hit their car when backing out of the garage.  and now we have to repair 2 cars.  we should be getting used to this though.  when Ben left on his mission i kept hearing about all the blessings we were  going to get!!!!!  well, one thing is for sure.  they are NOT blessings of $$ and they are NOT blessings of health.  BUT i will say, just having him out there and knowing what he is doing is the hugest blessing!!!  he is so happy and that is also the greatest blessing!  so yes, there are blessings...just not the ones i thought. 

it is so strange to think that he is half done.  i can't really believe that.  when he left 2 years felt like forever...it was terrible!!  now, i almost feel badly for him- that it will be over so soon. 

i have finished a book by John Pontius about his personal spiritual quests that brought him close to the veil.  i do not know how i feel about it yet.  he seems like a really GOOD person, and i respect that a lot.  he has gone through times of extreme fasting and other experiences to experience a higher level of spirituality.  i think it's interesting.  i DO believe there are higher levels of spirituality to achieve here in this life...but it seems like a lot of work.  maybe it's not.  i am not sure.  i do think that probably most of us don't reach that high.  but what do i really know about other peoples personal lives.  anyhow, when i finished the book i felt rotten.  like i could never achieve what he had- if it was all indeed true.  and that i am just so average!!!  i usually feel pretty okay about myself, so these were bad thoughts to have.  if a book makes me feel that way, then who needs it.
however, one thing i liked was how much he wrote about the Spirit, and living to have it with you more each day.  he said how most of our thoughts actually come from the spirit.  especially if they are positive.  they are not necessarily our own thoughts!!  and if they are negative or critical...or wrong (of course) they come from the big bad guy.  SO...we need to go along more with what we think or feel even if it seems like such a minor prompting.  by doing so, we become more in tune to the spirit and how it feels and what we can do day to day.  i also did like many blogs he wrote about Jesus.  but still...some thing just didn't feel right overall.  

i keep wanting to blog about friends.  but it's a tough one- because this is not private, i dont' know how much to say.  suffice it to say for now- you do learn who your friends are when you're having a tough time.  friends do not have expectations, and they certainly are not critical of you.  they are just there.   many times friendship seems conditional.  not-  "you don't phone me often enough, i am done being your friend"  .  i really do appreciate the people that can BE FRIENDS...even if we are not always on the phone, or a  person is going through something that makes a close relationship tricky for awhile. 

anyhow.

guest blogger??!!  :

back to it

early morning conversation

i was up really early today, so i managed a few lines of convo with Ben.  i didn't want to do too much, because i realize he doesn't have as much time to email in this area...here it is..

Hello lass,

Yeah, I like to cut myself, is this any new news?  I cut my thumb with a steak knife yesterday... Serves me right using it every time a bagel needs buttering I suppose.

Yeah, the exchange with Elder Goldsmith was good, he is a machine haha.  Well, the girl we stalked through Barnstaple actually had to cancel due to her boss being on holiday and her work being upped.  So we will see her soon.  The psychic... basically they had no commitment, so we are leaving them.

No, no... A cream tea is something Devon is pretty famous for, but what it is, is traditionally English people get a cup of tea, being a non-tea-drinker, I get hot chocolate instead.  With the tea comes a scone (not the type of scone you just thought of, it is more like a biscuit, but not quite...) and jam and clotted cream.  You cut the scone in half and put the cream and jam on it.  It is really good!

Yay!  School is back in for winter!  I am sure there is much joy in the Wright residence this day.

Elder Law is...(EDIT)

I should get you a video of Elder Law singing let it go if you love it so much!  It may break your ears though.  But seriously, I even hear it waaaaaay too much out here!

Yes, I do concur, Andrea Bocelli is the man!

You should find out if Lloyd Clarke's mom is named Wattie somehow.  If so, I know someone who was in his primary in Epsom.

So on Wednesday, we had to go to Newbury, then Staines, then Plymouth, then Saint Austell, then home.  It resulted in me driving for 11.5 hours (With a few hour break at Staines) and 535 miles!  It was a long day, we got home at 11 and left at 6:30.  Staines was good though, I got to see some old friends, which was a treat.
That day, I took a wrong turn at one point and saw the bridge over to Wales ahead of me, so I almost got to go to Wales!  Elder Davies did the same thing one time, and he was really scared because that would look really bad for him to accidentally end up at home haha.

I watched someone's dog while my companion was in the toilet the other day.  He came out, and was surprised to see we had a new pet.  I don't know why I am telling you this, but I thought it was funny at the time.

I have been looking to get a new suit for hump day, and then I saw a deal I couldn't turn down, so I have a new suit now!  :D

We went to a hog roast the other day near a member's home.  They put applesauce in their pork buns!  It is really good!  We also did "Wellie Wanging"  where you throw Wellington boots as far as you can, and Elder Law won, and I got second place haha.

Maybe I'm just arrogant, but I keep getting stuck in silly gospel debates with stubborn people.  I was told the other day that 99.99% of people beyond the veil accept the gospel, I kinda asked for the source of that statistic, and I was just told I should listen to people who are older for once, and I should just accept things if they feel right.  Naturally, I said it didn't feel right.  So, once again, I have upset our branch mission leader (Johnny Lingo who added me on Facebook)  Haha, oh well, I will probably continue to offend with my lack of tact in gospel discussions :P.

Anyways, love ya!  Have a good week!

Church is true!

1890!

Elder Wright



ME  Hey, what was for lunch today?

BEN  I ate some Tiger bread for lunch.  I chose that over pork pies. 
ME   knew you just had lunch and was curious,,,
BEN  Ah, I see, on P-Days, I usually skip lunch... So I have more time for activities!  ;D
ME  Skip lunch?  GAH!!  You know I don't approve....
BEN   Well... That is just a shame...  Because I have done it for one year, and I will probably continue :D
ME  But I thought you liked food more than that!  Hahaha...oh well what can I say,
BEN   I do, but I like money more!  :D
ME   Oh.  Wll there you go, that is why you haven't gained weight on your mission!
 Hahah.  Do you have a pic of your new suit, and where did you get it?
BEN     I have not gained any weight, but Elder Law has already gained 15 pounds almost!
I do have a pic of my suit, but it's not a nice pic.  I got it at Burton.  It was on a deal where it came with a free pair of shoes, and Elder Law was stuffing his shoes with plastic bags, so he was in need.  So I bought the suit and sold him the shoes!

ME   Very light blue?  Like seventies...wedding blue?
BEN  Yeah, I keep telling him how much chubbier he is.  I think he is getting tired of it ;) Yeah!  I look like Buddy Holly even more apparently!  Do you... Like it?
ME   Not with a haircut,  hahaha
Have a lovely day.
BEN   You don't like my haircut?
ME    Oh!  Yes, it looks great and you look very posh
I like the cut of it.   Oh yes...I meant you look less like buddy with a haircut.  I always love haircuts, you know me.   Oh!  Yes, it looks great and you look very posh
I like the cut of it.

BEN   Really?  Or is this sarcasm?
ME    This is not sarcasm.
BEN   Oh good!  Glad you approve!  I was a little worried you wouldn't like the colour.
ME   The color or colour is great!
BEN.  YAY!