Hi Girls,Dad and I are in Palm Springs, California. We are staying at a nice place called Marriott Desert Springs Villas. Our place has a big living room an d kitchen plus a bedroom and bathroom. There is a shower in the bathroom and a huge tub with a jacuzzi!I have meetings all day today from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. While I am in meetings Dad is going to go to Joshua Tree National Park which is about 75 miles away I think.This whole area is a desert. It is hot here - about 99 degrees.I hope you are feeling better Michelle. Gabe said you were doing fine when I talked to him yesterday.Hannah I know you are doing a good job being obedient to Aunty and Gabe and Susan.I think Aunty was going to give you spam musubi for lunch today. Did she?I love you girls very very much. I will be home on Saturday. Please remember to be kind always and to be helpful too.Love,Mom

Fall Travel - Church History Tour

Well we have our Fall travel plans made - tickets paid for and reservations made. We'll be doing a self tour of the following church history sites:

Palmyra, New York
Smith family farm
Hill Cumorah
Martin Harris Farm
Sacred Grove

Kirtland, Ohio
John Johnson Farm
Newell K. Whitney Store
Kirtland Temple

Independence, Missouri
Liberty Jail
David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery Gravesites
Monument to Alexander Doniphan
Adam-ondi-Ahman

Nauvoo, Illinois
Carthage Jail

We are going with our friends the Frosts who are good traveling companions. We'll fly into Cleveland then drive to Kirtland and Palymra (with a stop at Niagra Falls) then fly from Rochester to Kansas City, Mo. We'll drive from Kansas City to St. Louis (seeing Nauvoo enroute). And...we'll do it all in a week (Nov. 5-12). Best of all - our upgrades have already come through!

Looking forward to the opportunity for travel with good friends to see sights that will definitely reaffirm my testimony that God lives and Jesus is the Christ.

Anyone care to join us?

Weekend Thoughts

This is kind of a different weekend. No church services - General Conference is broadcasted via cable or internet (or you can go to the church and watch via satellite). So we will be doing the internet option - which will keep me tethered to the computer (my monitor has no speakers so I gotta use headphones).

Looking back on the week I give it an A. Why?

1. I had 2 meetings that went well.
2. The family is healthy.
3. Got to see Susan this week.
4. Got an email from my sister Susie - with pictures of our older sister Jay who is now deceased - what a great surprise to see those pictures! this year would have been Jay's 40th class reunion.
5. Got a letter from my missionary - YAY!!
6. Grey's was great this week...even without George.
7. Got all reservations etc. made for next week's trip to Palm Springs.
8. Got a new cell phone -a Blackberry Curve - and I love it! It has Hi-Fi ringers, finally. So Gabe's custom ring tone is Frank Sinatra singing "Luck Be A Lady"
9. Had a chance to organize my family history files - had ignored it for years
10. Spent a good chunk of time doing some family reunion planning

So I am prepared for a relaxing weekend and a great meeting next week in Palm Springs! Gene and I leave on Monday night and get back on Saturday. Its in the upper 90's in Palm Springs!

I Miss

In His Own Handwriting

Thought I'd post Jacob's most recent letter so you can see his excellent penmanship. Getting his letters or email is the BRIGHT spot in my day. The letter is hard to read as it appears below BUT if you move your cursor directly on each page and click it will open them in a separate window and enlarge the print etc.

Thanks so much to those of you who have written him!

Pole Dancing in Scotland

This is the trip that I paid $6,200 for...

Defying Scottish Gravity

So here's a picture of Gabe in Scotland. Wow - talent!

No Disappointments

Well it was great. The season premier of Grey's Anatomy was as good as last season's finale. I downloaded it from itunes yesterday and spent the morning glued to my ipod. Well worth the time.

Everyone needs a good cry (and a few laughs) every once in awhile.

Life goes on (without George)...

News From My Boy!!!

Short but sweet from the BEST missionary in the world!

"heya mama!1) i dont need another suit atm2) i got the second one3) sam has my safebox4) sure, id love a copy of my pat bless5) and of coursethanks for all the great ways you guys are helping me! and tell aunty thanks for the box please =Dwe are running realllly late atm so i dont have time to make a lengthy and heartful response right now =[ill be sure to mail you tomorrow tho! even on Pday we are booked solid!love you guys, jake (ill get back to gabe soon, probably in a letter tho)"

Its Going to be a GREAT Week

Ten top reasons it will be a GREAT week:

10. I am setting up for tradeshow today and stay overnight at HOTEL!
9. Gene's going to stay there tonight too!
8. Just subscribed to givesmehope.com automatic update emails!
7. Internet won't be working at hotel today so 1 whole day no email!
6. Today's my beautiful sister Kathy's 21st birthday! (okay so I'm lying a little. Its just that people always say we could pass for twins so I think of her and I as being the same age)
5. Going to get a pedicure!
4. Free seated chair massage everyday at the tradeshow!
3. Got an invite to a party at the church on Saturday!
2. Tomorrow's Tuesday - email from Jacob day!

And the #1 reason this is going to be a GREAT week ...
-
Grey's Anatomy New Season Begins Thursday!!!!
(and we don't even have t.v. - thank goodness for itunes!)



(alas - no George - cry, sob, weep)

Gives Me Hope

Go to http://www.givesmehope.com/?page=1

It'll change your perspective.

Oh - take kleenex with you.

Birthday Celebration

Tonight I am going out to dinner with some gals to celebrate a very special friend's birthday. I have known her for about 16 years. She has lived near - she has lived far - but no matter where she has lived she has been there for me. 13 years ago when I was going through a serious health crisis she flew in to run my business while I recuperated.

Last weekend - when she learned of our most recent tale of woe she rushed over.

And I love her for that.

And I love her more for one more thing she did when she came over.

She remembered Michael.

Its been 10 years, but still she remembered his name.

God bless you Kuuipo.

Bright Spot

Got an email from Jacob today - which made my week!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Excerpts below. Anyone wanting to drop him a line may do so:

Elder Jacob Wright
Idaho Boise Mission Office
111 South Cole Rd.
Boise, ID 83709

Thanks!

From Elder Wright

Heya mama, i just got the letter about the girls today. It made me sad. but then i stopped letting it bother me . so either i am really an emotionless android or god is helping me cope with it. for my sanity, i am inclined to go with the latter.

i am in an area called "Jerome" atm. we also cover hazelton and shoshone. its a bunch of farmers. literrallllyyy 99% of the people here have at least 1 dog. most average 2 dogs, some, cats and a horse. we were giving a lessson to a less active and his dog got into a fight with the other one across the street, so we helped him get his dog in the house 0_0

there is just so much ffaaaarrrrrrmmmmmm everywhere!! i cant wait to get transferred into the city, or at least the forestyy area of the mission. BUT the people here are all really wonderfully pleasent and nice!=]

gracias amigo for el pancakes!

we went to the temple today also. it was sweet.

i am eating mostly ceareal (shocker) eggos, and bananas. also PBJ sandwhiches and saimin for lunch. we ge4t fed every night from the memebers (WE COVER 9 WARDS) and almost always have4 leftovers.

MISSIONARIES LOVE: mail, Walmart, and p-day.

=P

so hows home going for you guys now? hopefully its not too quiet in the house with the girls gone =[

we were close too baptizing this one investigator, but he is getting deported to Mexico because he entered the country illegallly.

we have several baptisms lined up tho.

i will checkmy email every tuesday, so thats when i can respond to them.

people are crazy(er than me)

after gen conference we gotta wear suits every day, bummer.

how is Bull "Gene" Muscles doing? i often finding myself asking "How would dad handle this situation?" i then do the opposite. lol, j(us)k(iddin). dad is an inspiration for me. i love you too mom. your awesome!!

well, i g2g. ill write home...i think if i can today. gots lots to do! getting lost in the work is easy. c ya!

love, jake

p.s. "I used to rule the world, and see it rise when i gave the word, now in the morning i sleep alone, sweep the streets i used to own" -coldplay, Viva la Vida

Questions

Life really boils down to just 2 questions:

1. Should I get a dog?





OR


2. Should I have children?




Made you smile, didn't I?

Thanks to all who have sent their warmth and love.
You made me smile again.

Resolve

Regular readers of this blog will notice I put the old family photo back up as the header and will, thus, understand my cryptic post of yesterday.

We are well...and cradled in the arms of His love.

More later.

From Jacob - But What Does It Mean?

Heya mom, wussup?

So i am in the mission field now. im really tired because we had to get up at four o clock yesterday and i havent had the oppourtunity to make up that sleep yet. -___-

so we taught our first family right after i got to my new place to stay (we are 4 elders liveing with the eggberts, really nice semi-elderly people themselves.) upon arriving at the house (of the family we were going to teach), i was promptly attacked by a middleaged man with a samurai sword O_O luckily in high school i was renown for my skills with the bo staff, and was able to defend myself. to bad i left my numchucks in my locker. anyways they were really nice people.

we went to another family and taught them, then on to a mexican family that could speak english, but decided to only talk in spanish =/. i sat and prayed for the gift of tongues for 35 mins while my companion taught them in spanish. i recognized the words "uno, si, and tacobell'

oh yes, and my firsty compy out of the MTC. He is from Brazil and speaks portuguese, learned spanish in the MTC, and is now learning english. and his first name is "Washington" -_O

i dont really get idaho humor yet, but i pretend to and laugh when everyone else does.

there was a cinnabon at the airport =D

My first area is a driving one, so that is pretty sweet for the most part. biking would be fun in the summer tho.

btw, can you find the notes for "Viktor's piano solo" from corpse bride and email it as an attachment please?

i went to walmart today and i bought enough food to last me till next transfer in 6 weeks. this time next week will be one month for me i just realized.

im not sure if you sent me any new info on that because we havent been able to check mail since last friday night in the MTC.

there are a lot of crazy people out there, and you must be as mad as a hatter to survive it. which luckily, i am >;)

so much to say and so little time! i'll send you my mailing address later (unless you already have it)

well, i love all of you guys. tell them i say "hi'

love, jake

p.s. i have realised that world domination is far too much responsibility for me.

Pivotal Day

I don't want to say much but today is really a pivotal day for our family. Today we will get some news - although I don't want to reveal subject matter yet. Suffice to say its a trauma drama day.

We have been praying about this day/event for the last little while. It's one of those "Thy will be done" kind of things.

It helps tremendously to know that we are never alone, that everything happens for a reason, that God has a plan for us.

Now if that's not enough mystery...don't worry - everyone is healthy.

But I do want to mention that I went to a movie the other night with my friend Cynthia. the film was Departures. It is a Japanese film that won an Oscar for best foreign film. It is a must see. It makes you think about how you treat the ones you love. It is a film filled with such respect, dignity, beauty and love. I highly recommend it!

What He Said

So before Jacob left we met his girlfriend's parents. Her Dad relayed the following story:

Him: I asked Jacob to describe his parents.

Me: What did he say?

Him: He said my mother is an extremely beautiful woman.

Okay!

So now you know my son is gifted!

Excerpts from Email from Elder Wright (MY SON!)

Heya mama, i forgot my old email so i made a new one. how are things at home?

Everything is pretty fun here at the moment. pretty hard too tho. Lots of work to be done in the world i guess.

We had a lot of really good speakers and teachers, which really helped make things run smoother and made everything easier to learn.

We went to the temple again this morning which was nice. now we got back and i am doing laundry while typing this to you. thanks again for the package, it was awesome. mail is a highlight of the day for everyone here.

if you responded to my last email, can you copy it to this one or remind me what it is? as i said, i forgot the login name.

You guys should invite the soliais/laumatias and sams family for dinner sometime so everyone can talk about how wonderful i am. i have fun doing that, so of course everyone else will!

i got sick for a day, then got better really fast. so i am good to go again. then my compy got sick, so its like i had 2 sick days in a week =P

sometimes we can be a bit rambunktious (i know that i butchered that word) altho we were told to put "childish things behind us."

We went to the wrong meeting last night by mistake. the one we went to ended up being one for good hygeine to elders going to third world countrys. so we were getting lectured on water and stuff liek that LOL.

how is susan doing nowadays? tell her i say, "hi."

and how is aunty leo? i wrote her a letter.

hopefully everything is floating on okay back at home then.

so much to do, so little time here. we really are on the lords time, so every moment is scheduled here. time goes by both fast and slow here, if that makes any sense. we go to boise next week.

i wrote to michael ann also. she will join the church eventually.

i had a dream i was a jedi the other night and remembered it, and lots of people i knew were in it by the way. may the force be with you.

im not to stressed over the spelling/grammar errors here, so just ignore them ;]

hopefully gabe hasnt killed anyone yet, but now at least we have some "crowd control" for those chickens lol

well, love you guys. c ya laters!

love, Jake (aka elder wright)

p.s. we all float on alright.

p.p.s. there is an elder from canada whos sings opra in the shower, occasionly "les mis'erables"

Serious Illness - Know the Cure?

Well, we've got it - WANDERLUST.

Our travels (Gene's and mine) have taken us to Canada, England (4 times?), Scotland (3), Wales, Ireland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Italy (2 times), Switzerland, France (2 times), Belgium, Netherlands, Germany (maybe 5 times - lost count), Luxembourg, Ireland (2times) and to almost every sector of the U.S. But still we've got the illness.

In 2010 our travel group (FOG) is planning to go to Oberammergau in Germany. That'll be in Sept 2010. But that won't cure the illness - that's too far away!

What to do? What's the cure?

Only one thing - to quote Willie Nelson "...on the road again!"

To get us on the road to recovery we MUST plan 2 short getaways (this does NOT count my business trips - cause Gene will have to stay home and watch the keiki while I'm on those!). We are saving our pennies - cause you all know we travel on the cheap, cheap, cheap.

To avoid complete debilitation we MUST go this fall/early winter. The cure will only last about 4 months so we MUST have our second dose around late winter/early spring 2010 (like maybe February).

But where should we go? Your thoughts, dear reader? (Do NOT suggest Utah)

Not more than 4 days on the ground plus 2 traveling should make us GOOD AS NEW. (We have babysitter complexities as you all know!)

So far the contenders are:

1) Church History areas (Palmyra (NY), Kirtland (OH), Nauvoo (IL) etc.)
2) France (only 1 day in Paris though - the rest in the country)
3) Krakow (Gene's been wanting to go there forever)
4) Croatia (you can rent a lighthouse to stay in just off Croatia!)
5) England (my relatives in the Lake District make the whole country so special!)
6) Ireland! (ah! heavenly!)

Anyone want to GET HEALTHY with us?

FOUND!

I was looking for a dear friend who I saw in Utah this summer - even though she lives in another state...

I posted a plea here this morning - and not an hour later got an email from her with her email and contact info!!!

I won't tell you her name right now - but soon...

I will share her info with all of you so that you can all forward your spam email to her! You can also post her number in truck stops across the U.S. Also, if you call her directly (and I will post her phone number) she will even PAY YOUR BILLS!!!

You will want her on speed dial!

Fix What You Can Fix

This is my new mantra.

Adopt it yourself and see how it works.

It has already helped me have a brighter outlook on this new day!

Email from Elder Jacob Wright 8/24/09

So i finally got to set up my email account here. We have like a time limit so i am kinda rushing at the moment. everything is great here, the food and people etc. Hows everything at home? I sent a letter a last week so you should get it in the mail sometime this week. My companion is really great, his name is elder crook, and my roomies are really cool too. I am really liking it here and am learning a ton, time just flys by so fast. I will probably mail home some letters for other people i dont know the address to (Skyla and Nancy atm, more later tho) I've never really been one to go on in a letter, so i'll probably be better prepared next time to write a better email haha. this is our first p-day and we got to go to the temple and that was nice. ill send some pics home later. Izzz cold here in the mornings, but gets better as the day go's on. 2 more weeks and ill be goin out into the fiels teaching people, and i know ill be ready for it. we have already talked to investigators over the phone which was fun.

You will hear more from me soon,
Love, Jake (Elder Wright) ;)

True Confessions

On Sunday I traveled from Salt Lake to Honolulu - taking 4 flights to accomplish this. When I arrived in Las Vegas I had about 25 minutes to kill before my flight boarded for Los Angeles. There were no seats available in the waiting area by my gate or any of the gates nearby.

What to do?

The only seats available

Were at the slot machines in the middle.

So I sat.

Well of course you know...

Those seats are for players only

So...

I had to play.

Penny slot.

I put in $1

And won $3.

I decided to let it ride

And bet the max on all lines.

I won $48!

So that's my confession.

Filthy lucre...

All mine!

Some Utah Photos

Well I am sitting in the LAX Admiral's Club waiting for my flight back to Hawaii. Gene and kids don't get back until Tuesday.

Some random photos of our stay in Utah. We stayed in a great townhouse in downtown Ogden. It had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, full kitchen etc., could sleep 10. And all for only $70 per night! It was so convenient to everything! We will definitely rent this place again the next time we come.

Hannah loved the stairs and was usually crawling up and down them head firts. I got her to pose on one of her climbs.

Here's a picture on Michelle sitting at the kitchen bar.

Gene and I both slept really well at this place - sleeping in until 7:00 on some days - unheard of back home in Kaneohe!

We went to dinner our first night in Utah with the Boman Family. It was just the beginning of our "over-eat" vacation.

I cooked at the townhouse several nights - one night we had our old friend Dave Monobe over for dinner.

The Bomans had a nice BBQ for us one night! Steaks and all the works. It was great visiting with them and with the Hillstroms, both old friends from our former life in Ogden.

My deaf friends had a BBQ for us too on Friday night at Cindy Tuckett Kerr's house in West Layton. It was great to see her, her family, Chris Brown, Heidi Ercanbrack, Pam Tuckett Bowker and Cindy Frew. It felt good to sign again and to understand sign language. I was surprised at how quickly it all came back...and also how patient these gals were with my signing!!!

On my last night in Utah we went to Steve and Kathy's for another BBQ. it was fun to see all their grandchildren! Hannah turned the water hose on all the kids and got them all soaked. Steve and Kathy have such a nice family.

We also went to our niece Rachel's wedding on Saturday at red Moose Lodge in Eden. The temperature was supposed to hit like 106 but, thankfully, it didn't. The chairs were in the shade so it was a very nice afternoon. I'll post wedding pictures later.

So now I'm headed home to see my Carly and Lehua! Can't wait!

Elder Wright

Here is Jacob the day he entered the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah (Aug. 19). I made him take off his glasses cause he has some that go dark when you go outside. I thought he looked so handsome in his new charcoal gray suit. He tried it on, with no intention of wearing it that day, but once he got it on and looked at him self in the mirror he said, "I'm wearing this. I look good!"

We dropped him a little before noon. He looked happy and excited! One last hug and he was gone...and I cried all the way from Provo to Thanksgiving Point.


So proud of him. He gave his Dad his cell phone and Gabe a BB gun. He gave me an IOU on an arm massage.

Humbling Morning

This morning we went to the Ogden Temple with Jacob. It is the same temple we were married in.

It was so special - the temple workers treated Jacob so special, the temple president was so kind to him. I am so grateful for such a great son who has kept himself worthy in every way to enter the House of the Lord.

His maturity and readiness to serve the Lord were very much in evidence today.

I am truly blessed.

Today's the Day

Hi Hannah & Michelle

By the time you read this it will be Monday and on Monday night you will fly on the airplane with Susan to utah. You will actually fly on 3 planes. The first plane will take you from Hawaii to Los Angeles, California.

On that first plane it will be a good idea to go to sleep. Susan can help you if you need to use the bathroom on the plane. You will be on that plane for about 5 hours. You will be sitting in row 11.

You will get to California in the early morning. You will be at the airport in Los Angeles for about 1 1/2 hours. During that time you can go to the bathroom and maybe eat something for breakfast.

You will then get on the 2nd plane which will take you from Los Angeles California to Dallas Texas. You will be on that plane for about 3 hours.

You will arrive in Dallas at about lunch time. Maybe you will get something to eat at the Dallas airport. You will be there for about 2 hours.

Your 3rd plane will take you from Dallas to the airport in Salt Lake City Utah. You will arrive in Utah at about 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. We will be at the airport to get you.

Please be obedient to Susan. Remember to go to the bathroom before you get on every plane because the airplane bathrooms are small. Do not wait until the last minute to go to the bathroom.

On Tuesday night we will have dinner with Aunty LeAnn and her family. Maybe we will get to see Heather that night. Heather will cut Hannah's bangs. Heather is Vanessa's sister. You will like her - she has a dog and she is going to have a baby!

I love you girls and am so excited to see you very soon! Remember to be kind to your friends and Susan too (especially as you travel).

Love,
Mom

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

This morning Gene, Jacob and I drove to Salt Lake City to attend a live broadcast of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I have attended many broadcasts but this one was somthing special.

Why you ask? Well..it was the final song that made it so special.

Can you imagine seeing and hearing the Choir in person as they sang "Climb Every Mountain"?

Simply awesome!