The Monk Bunch: January 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Best Birthday Ever!

We knew Matt was flying out of Salt Lake on January 24^th , heading for Ventura, California. On the Thursday before he left, we received a copy of his itinerary in the mail. When I got it, it all came to me. . . Wynn was going to Atlanta, Georgia on the same day. Could this really be true? My brain was just a go’in. So, Sunday night Wynn and I sat down at the computer and started figuring where each terminal was and if would be possible for Wynn to “spot” Matt at the airport. Matt was leaving Provo at 6:00 a.m. and his flight was at 10:19 a.m. Wynn was leaving Idaho Falls at 6:30 a.m. and his flight out of Salt Lake was at 8:30. Each were going totally opposite directions. Didn’t look like it would work at all.

I did not sleep at all on Sunday night. Twice I had written Matt and asked if he could call home before leaving for California. He hadn’t responded to either request but my other missionaries got to. I was very hopeful.

I got up early Monday morning and took Wynn to the airport and then couldn’t go back to sleep. I got up and got ready for the day, in hopes I would be chatting on the phone later on.

Just before 8:00 my phone rang and the caller ID said Wynn’s cell. My heart dropped, our plan had not worked out and he was just letting me know. When I answered I heard a voice say, “Hi Mom, this is Matt.” Oh, my heart dropped and the tears came. We talked for just a moment and then he said he would call me back after he got through security.

Wynn had gotten to the airport and went looking for missionaries. He saw a big group come in but none of them were Matt. He waited for a while for some more to come but it didn’t happen. He decided he better get to where his flight was going be. He got upstairs and decided to turn and look some more when another group of missionaries came into the airport. They were just starting to go through security. Low and behold, there was Matt! He went back down and just went over and asked his group of Elders where they were going. Matt turned and looked and said, “What are you doing here?” They hugged and then Wynn handed Matt his phone and asked him to call me. Wynn took pictures with his camera and Matt took some with his. I understand that it was a joyous occasion. Wynn talked to one of the sister missionaries who was in Matt’s group and she was from Roanoke, Virginia. That is where Wynn served his mission. He told her that and she said that Matt had told her all about his mission there. Wynn said Matt looked good and seemed happy.

We found out the day after we dropped Matt off at the MTC that Wynn was cancer free! It was so important for Wynn to see Matt and just give him a quick hug. One of those tender mercies you might say.

After Matt got through security he called me and we talked for a whole hour. It was glorious to visit with him and witness his growth already. He has only been gone 19 days but he has grown by leaps and bounds. He bore his testimony to me a couple of times and I could just feel his spirit radiate through the phone. I couldn’t of asked for a better birthday present.

P.S. Pictures are coming as soon as Wynn gets home :)

Monday, January 24, 2011

Skiing at Harriman

Saturday Wynn and I went cross country skiing at Harriman Stake Park.

Oh, it was so beautiful! I loved it. . .

Cross County skiing sure is a work out.

It was a beautiful clear day.

When we left I.F., it was so foggy.

As we got closer to the Park, it cleared up

and it was so beautiful.

It felt so good just to get out and do

something with Wynn.

It's so good having him finally feeling better!

The snow was really deep. This is what

happens when you take your skis off

and try to walk to the bridge.

Enjoying this beautiful scenery reminds me why

I live in Idaho in the winter.

Had to capture a photo of the two of us :)

One minor difficulty. . . Wynn broke his ski pole

trying to help himself up with it after falling.

A simply perfect day!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Elder Monk & Elder Myers

Matt and Garrett are both in the MTC! These boys have been friends since pre-school! Isn't it cool they left on their missions on the same day? Matt leaves for Ventura, California on Monday, Jan. 24th and Garrett leaves for Mexico City, East mission on March 7th. Garrett sent these pictures to Pam, his Mom and she forwarded them on to me. So fun to finally have a missionary again. I just love it! We have heard from Matt quite a few times and it sounds like he is doing well. He says the MTC is just like one giant EFY! I think that kid can have fun no matter where he is. He is loving it and it I'm so proud.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Cancer free

Last Thursday, Jan. 6th, Wynn went into get his next Cancer

treatment. He had gotten a PET scan in late December and the

results of that is there is NO CANCER! The next

treatment was not needed. Oh, we were so happy!!!

He now will have to go in every six weeks and have his

port flushed and then every 6 months for a treatment that

will be given once a week for four weeks. He will do

this for two years. So happy. . .

Just sent our last child on a mission and then found out

that Wynn is Cancer free. We are so blessed.

Dropping Matt off at the MTC

Today we took Matt to the MTC.

Bitter sweet!

The MTC sign in front of the MTC building is gone.

I was so disappointed.

I have pictures of Natalie and Sam by that sign but

not Matt. We had to go up by the Provo, Temple.

Steven went straight from I.F. to England so I

don't have a picture of Steven by that sign either but

I was sure looking forward to having one of Matt there.

Just a little change of plans.

It was a beautiful, cold January morning.

Jan. 5th, 2011

Matt was so excited and ready to go.

A day we have been praying for for a long time.

A dream come true!

My last child is leaving the nest.

My house is going to be so quiet now.

I'm not only going to miss Matt but all of his

friends too. Oh, they are all such good kids.

After we went up to the temple and took pictures,

we went to lunch at the Old Spaghetti factory.

We had a nice lunch and spent our last few hours together.

Matt wouldn't be Matt if there wasn't some

clowning around. . .

Such neat kids, we are so blessed!

Here we are on the way to the MTC.

I'm secretly holding my breath.

Matt is telling me to please don't cry!

I tried but I just couldn't do it as you can tell.

The welcoming Elders there just took Matt's

suitcases and shock his hand and welcomed him

to the Provo MTC and then he just turned and

left. Didn't even look back.

I couldn't be more proud!

He will be an amazing missionary.

Wynn, Natalie and I then went and did a session at the

Provo temple. Wynn and I have never been to that

temple before so it was fun to see it and I so

enjoyed seeing all the missionaries there.

All the way home I thought of Matt.

Our life is in for a change.

I guess I can greet it with a smile and embrace it

or I can be miserable. I'm going to be so busy

that the time is going to go by so fast.

I'm just waiting for that first letter.

I just want to know that he is happy.

I love you Matt!

Temple Square with Matt

On Thursday, Dec. 30, Wynn, Matt and I went to Salt Lake City to visit Temple Square. We were going to get up early and go but the weather report wasn't good. We lounged around a bit and at about 2:00 we decided to go! It was so fun to have Matt all to ourselves. I'm so glad we did this little adventure because we just visited all the way to Utah and had such a great time. We wandered around Temple Square and Matt took a ton of pictures. He loves to do that and so we just let him go at it. It was beautiful! Cold but beautiful and fun.

Matt even visited with a Sis. Missionary that he knew from Cedar Badge. Her companion was from California and so we had a nice visit about California and missions. Matt even gave them a name of a friend to call and see if he wants to have the missionaries come.

After Temple Square, we went to dinner at PF Changs. It was so fun! The Lettuce Wraps were so good. We then went to our hotel. We stayed at the Little America and just walked everywhere. We stayed up late and laughed and laughed at old Family Home Videos that were on TV.

Oh, we had so much fun. We are really going to miss that boy.

Please enjoy these pictures of Temple Square courtesy of Matt.

SKIING (almost)

On Dec. 29th, we headed for Grand Targhee! All of us were excited and ready for a day on the slopes. If you don't remember, that day was a really snowy day and the roads were terrible!

We slipped and sledded all the way to Targhee. When we got there, there were so many people and it was so cold and foggy. If you know me, you know I am a fair weather skier. I love to ski but I like to see where I am going. Sam took a couple of runs because he has a seasons pass and verified the terrible ski conditions. So, we decided to save our money and go when we could enjoy the mountain. Matt didn't get to go skiing but I don't think he really cared too much, we just had so much fun being together and laughing. We did have a nice picnic in the lodge. Wynn couldn't go with us, he had his PET scan that day. Keep your fingers crossed!