Seth

A busy week has already begun. As mentioned, we are preparing for Tess' graduation, and also checking in with the boy's mission experiences. Seth sent this picture through email today. It is nice to see him with the people he is teaching. It is easier for my mind's eye to imagine him working and helping to spread the gospel when I see images like this. He looks happy and his letters are upbeat. I wonder...what's with the short tie he is wearing? I am pretty sure that must be a new Dominican Republic tie because that wasn't one he left with. His companion has a shorter tie too...must be the fashion of the Dominican Republic. Anyway, both boys are happy and working hard. They just a few weeks away from being out 8 months. I realized a few days ago that when we talk to them on Christmas, they will be over half way through their missions. It must be all the grey days we are having lately that remind me of winter and Christmas. A little sun would be nice!

Class of 2010

As we approach the final two weeks before Tess graduates from High School, we wanted to share her Senior Photo. This year's Senior Photos became a Laurel Activity at youth night. Tess really likes this photo. The flowers are beautiful as is the lovely girl in the middle!

Graduation is Saturday, June 19th followed by a family luncheon at the Rumbaugh Home. We decided to have a Hawaiian-themed luncheon to celebrate Tess going to BYU-Hawaii. She will be leaving for Hawaii the last week of August.

Luckily, we will be able to talk to her on the phone and share her experiences together. She is looking forward to living on her own for the first time, as well as being a "grown up" college student. We can't wait to see the adventures that await her over the next several months.

Graduation is Nearing!

This was the big event of our lives just one year ago! Our first set of graduates from high school. We are nearing the same event in just a four weeks...Tess is graduating! As most everyone is aware, she will be heading off to BYU-Hawaii in the fall. Here are some amazing facts about Tess:

1. Tess has lived a life faithful to her baptismal covenants, is a worthy young woman, who I am very proud of!

2. Tess is an amazing artist! She can draw, paint, sculpt, engrave, and envision the most beautiful things I have ever seen!

3. Tess is kind and considerate to others. Tess is able to see the needs of others and steps up in her willingness to be others friends.

4. Tess is beautiful! She has beautiful brown eyes, a sweet smile, and most importantly a glowing spirit.

5. Tess is a leader. She is the first in our family to head to college! Although the boys are living out of the country, Tess is the first to take on the academic challenge of college. Luckily, I can call her on her cell phone everyday.

6. Tess is brave! Tess has faced many challenges in her 18 years. Some are personal, some are just the "regular" types of things all teenage girls face, but Tess has been amazingly brave as she has become a woman.

7. Tess is faithful. Tess has a strong testimony and a strong sense of right and wrong. She will be able to use this gift throughout her life.

8. Tess has good common sense! Tess can sense danger, she can seek out good friends, and is able to listen to the Holy Ghost as she grows and learns.

9. Tess is strong. Tess has the ability to say "yes" or "no" at the right times. She is not afraid to walk away from temptation, she is willing to move forward as she chooses the right and seeks out the good things of this world.

10. Tess is loved! We are so proud of Tess, she is our oldest daughter, whom we have loved and cherished. We will continue to do so, but feel that we must now share her in a way we have not felt before...

Tess will do great at college, and we are already thinking of her coming home at Christmas...or perhaps we should have a family Christmas Hawaii! Aloha!

Mother's Day Phone Calls

Mother's Day is a special event for any mother, but for those with sons and daughters out on missions, it is especially exciting. We began our evening by calling Travis (Elder Nuttall) in Japan. I was worried because I couldn't get through and couldn't understand the Japanese voice on the other end of the phone. So, I called a ward member who spoke Japanese and she told me that I was getting his answering machine. She suggested that his companion was on the phone with his family. I waited a while and tried back. Travis answered! He sounded so great. He has that missionary enthusiasm. Everything is amazing, awesome, and he is so excited to be serving the Lord. He said that he can speak Japanese pretty well, but cannot understand much of what is said. About 15 minutes into his call, my cell phone rang. It was Seth! Seth sounded much farther away...the connection on the phone was not as clear. He got cut off a couple of times. He sounded great....humble and mature.

Seth is having the opposite experience with Spanish as Travis is with Japanese. He can understand everyone, but has trouble speaking. Both boys sounded like themselves, I was wondering if they would sound totally different from what I remember. Their voices were familiar, and the things they shared made me feel at peace with them being so far away.

We managed to trade two phones around the house for the next 30 minutes. Everyone spoke to everyone and we ended the calls by putting Seth and Travis on speaker and letting them speak to each other. What a blessing this was for them. They have not spoken since Travis left last October. They enjoyed the time to talk. It felt like the family was all back together again. If I were to close my eyes and just listen...we were all back in the kitchen as a family. It was wonderful and a little bit sad at the same time.

Travis has had his first baptism. Baptisms are not common in Japan, so this is a big event for him. He was thrilled to have taught someone the gospel and see them progress to baptism. Seth has had many baptisms, the work moves more quickly in the Dominican Republic. Seth mentioned that the names of people are so long that it makes it tricky when someone is baptized! How different the missions are. How different the boys experiences have been. Yet, they fit the personalities and strengths of each of them perfectly. These are the tender mercies that I am so thankful for.

Happy Mother's Day!