My Joy is Full

The two long years of waiting ended yesterday at 12:26 when Elder Petty returned home to open arms. The whole family arrived at the airport early with great anticipation. For security reasons we had to wait in a lobby area. They had a big screen that we could watch as the passengers unboarded the plane.

When his flight landed everyone began to watch for Elder Petty.

Brigitta was glued to the screen.

Kendrick was ready to rush forward at the

first sight of him.

Everybody took their positions.

Cameras were made ready.

Even the little ones were waiting patiently.



Here he comes!




The first hug!

A mother's joy.

A Father's love.

This is the closest he has come to girls

for the past 2 years.

Kendrick is so happy to have another

boy (man?) around the house.

Brigitta and Arianna

After the airport we were met at home by one of Elder Petty's favorite companions. We then had Navajo Tacos, a meal that he requested upon his arrival. The rest of the day was spent just enjoying Elder Petty's company. It is so great to have him back home. His release came at 6:00 that evening. There are mixed emotions with a release. It is a difficult transition for many young missionaries to make. One of the hardest things for him was taking off his missionary name tag. As parents we work so hard to prepare our young men to serve, but no one prepares them to re-enter civilian life. It is really a culture shock. As the family gathered and watched him unpack we listened intently as he shared stories of his mission. Everyone was so enthralled with him that he didn't have a single moment to himself. Last night before going to bed, Mar-Kell and I had personal planning and serious gospel discussions. He has such a tremendous testimony of the gospel. He has developed wonderful habits on his mission that he intends on carrying forth in his life. This is only the beginning. His mission has not ended but has just begun. I know that he will continue to engage in the work for the souls of men and woman. He can't help it, that is who he is.

WELCOME HOME MAR-KELL

WE LOVE YOU!

The Amazing Life of Kendrick

The look on your sister's face says it all.

"Welcome to our family!"

We have enjoyed watching you grow!

You constantly amaze us with your ability

to sleep anywhere in any position,

even while standing up.

You have cultivated a great love for the outdoors.










We were quite worried about you for several years
as you were constantly getting hurt.
At a Father's and Son's outing you fell into the fire
and received 2nd and 3rd degree burns on your hand.
Less than a year later you fell at the park
and broke your wrist, which required surgery to fix.
You were abducted during a family reunion and
then lost at Disneyland.







You must be a Superman to have come out of
all of these situations alive.



May the force be with you
always Kendrick!

What an amazing young man Kendrick is.

He has led quite an eventful life.

He is surrounded by girls in our family but has

three older brothers whom he looks up to and adores.

Although they are several years older

and two of them are married with a son of their own,

he calls them almost everyday.

It is wonderful to see how much he wants

to be a part of their lives.

We are so grateful that you are a part of our family.

We love you Kendrick!

Happy Birthday!

Meet the New Neighbor

As the children were taking the dog for a walk this afternoon, they literally ran into our new neighbor. Shocked by what they saw they raced straight home, not because they were afraid, but because they needed to get the camera so that their mother could blog about their adventure. Do I have them trained or what?

The new neighbor actually went from

door to door to introduce himself.

I am afraid most of us were unfriendly and one of the neighbors

even called someone to come and remove him from

the neighborhood. I can't say I am sorry to see him go.

Piano Merit Scholarship

Shantell won the TMTA Merit Scholarship Audition over the weekend with the following selections:

• Sonata in F Minor Op. 57 by Beethoven
• Danza del gaucho matrero from Danzas Argentinas by Ginastera

Both are exciting pieces that take a lot of energy to perform. I love Beethoven and am learning to appreciate Ginastera more. His music can be very dissonant, yet exciting. This particular Ginastera piece is what I like to call a "WOW" piece. A "WOW" piece is one that sets you on the edge of your seat and draws you in. It fills you with excitement and captivates your full attention. It is almost guaranteed that at the end of the performance your jaw will drop open and the only word you can utter is, "WOW!"

There was a small group gathered outside of the audition room listening as Shantell played. When she came out of the room a woman came up to her and said, "WOW, WOW!" and then she walked away. Shantell and I looked at each other and chuckled.

Ultimate Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie

This is one of my favorite cookie recipes, a guaranteed crowd pleaser. The secret to this delectable cookie is the oatmeal flour made from regular or quick oats.

Cream Together:
2 Cups butter at room temperature
2 Cups white sugar
2 Cups brown sugar

Beat In:
4 Eggs
2 Teaspoons vanilla

Stir Together and Beat into Mixture:
3 Cups all purpose flour
1 Cup whole wheat flour
5 Cups oatmeal flour *
1 Teaspoon salt
2 Teaspoons baking powder
2 Teaspoons baking soda

Oatmeal flour

*Take 5 cups of quick or regular oats

and blend into flour in your

food processor or blender.

Stir in:
4 Cups chocolate chips (2 bags)
3 Cups coconut
2 Cups chopped pecans

Take enough dough to form a ball the size of a golf ball.

Place on ungreased cookie sheets.

Place 2 inches apart and bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

Makes 5 dozen.

You can take this basic recipe and make a variety of cookies by adding:

• Cinnamon, Raisins, and walnuts with a drizzled glaze
• M & M's and peanuts
• White chocolate chips and Macadamia nuts
• Chocolate Chunks

The options are limitless.

ENJOY!

Final Letter to My Missionary

May 12, 2009

My Son,

This is a sad day for me as I sit and write your final letter to you in the mission field. I have loved writing to you. I have looked forward with great anticipation each e-mail and letter. I have treasured sharing your joys and sorrows and watching you grow into a fine young man. Most of all, I have cherished the opportunity to grow closer to you as mother and son.

Over these past two years, I have witnessed your hard work and devotion to the Lord. The measure of your success lies in how well you have obeyed what the Lord called you to do without complaint. I have observed your heartaches and happiness. These experiences have helped to build a strong foundation for spiritual growth that you can add upon throughout your life. The friendships you have formed with companions, other missionaries, members and converts will last eternally.

As your mission draws to a close you will experience a feeling of finality as you pack your bags. There will be the last interview with your beloved mission president. He has been your father, friend, counselor, teacher, and Lord’s representative throughout your mission. You will experience a great nervousness as you say good-bye to everyone and board the plane home. The time on the plane will be one of great reflection. As you step off the plane you will be reunited with family and friends. As hands are laid upon your head for your release, you will experience the realization that your mission has come to a close. Tears will be shed, but I want to tell you that it is only the beginning. Your mission is just a part of life’s greater mission. It is an eternal mission.

The weeks and months that lie ahead are important in your success. The transition will not be easy, but you already know that as you have witnessed first hand the return of two older brothers.

I have a few suggestions that I would like to share with you that will help your transition back into the world a little easier.

o Plan for each day
o Continue to pray
o Study the gospel daily
o Read your scriptures daily
o Write in your journal
o Look for opportunities to serve
o Keep yourself clean and unspotted from the world
o Attend the temple often
o Spend time with your family
o Continue to follow the same image of a missionary (Please no facial hair) :)
o Do not lower your standards to “fit in”
o Monitor your forms of entertainment
o Follow a daily exercise program
o Do not expect anything but the best from yourself
o Continue to share the gospel

If there was one thing that I would caution you about, it would be to not let yourself relax too much. In other words, DO NOT WASTE TIME. There is so much out there to tempt you; mindless and profane music, television, movies and Internet. Some young men will glut themselves with worldliness upon returning because they have gone without for so long. Always be anxiously engaged in a good cause. ( I know you have heard that from me all your life. Some things never change.)

The lessons you have learned and the habits you have formed over the last two years are priceless. Use your missionary experience as a launching pad to even greater spiritual heights. You can bring your mission home with you. We are all anxious to share in your stories, be strengthened by your testimony, and feel of your spirit. I personally can’t wait to debrief you.

We have missed you so much! We are so grateful for the service you have rendered. Our lives have been greatly blessed. May you continue to progress on your eternal journey.

See you soon!

Love,

MOM

Sweet and Sour Carrots

We have an over abundance of carrots from the garden and so I will be sharing with you a variety of recipes that my family enjoys. This particular recipe is a favorite of ours. It is sweet and tangy all rolled into one. The recipe is supposed to be served cold but my family also enjoys it warm.




5 Cups sliced, cooked carrots
1/2 Cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 Cup chopped onion
2/3 Cup sugar
10oz. Can tomato soup
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 Cup Olive oil
1 Teaspoon prepared mustard
1 Teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Pre-cook sliced carrots and set aside. In medium saucepan, combine remaining ingredients. Boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Pour over carrots. Chill thoroughly.
Makes 12 servings.

*Try serving warm over rice for a quick light dinner. When I do serve it over rice, I add in broccoli. It not only tastes great but adds color to the meal.