Austin's 19th Birthday (December 8, 2014)

This birthday was bittersweet for me.  It was the first of many that will not be spent with the rest of his family at home.  As he is now out on his own I know that this is the beginning of a different time in his and our lives.  I am so very grateful he is serving a mission for the Lord and I know that the people of South Korea are blessed to have him there just as he is blessed by the many wonderful people he has met there.   

19 things about our missionary

1.  He did not eat spicy food before his mission. At. All!  I don't like spicy so I don't cook it.  He can now handle spicy food!

2.  He has lost some poundage while serving in Korea and is looking quite dapper!

3.  He can speak Korean...I find this amazing.  I know that the gift of tongues is truly one of the amazing blessings that the Lord blesses our missionaries with!

4.  Austin does not have air conditioning or central heating in South Korea! Yikes! He hasn't complained about it all.  

5.  Austin loves to give talks in church even in another language.

6.  Austin loves disney music. :)

7.  Austin plays the piano and has been trying to improve his skills while on his mission.

8.  He loves to sing and has continued to do that while serving the Lord.

9.  He is tenacious.

10.  He wants to do some acting when he comes back.

11.  He is an Eagle Scout.

12.  He is a hard worker.

13.  He is faithful.  He has gone through some hard things on his mission and his faith has never waivered.

14.  He has a strong testimony of his Savior, Jesus Christ.

15.  He wants to be an English professor.

16.  He likes Naruto...he will have some catching up to do when he gets back.

17.  He loves reading and is constantly asking for new church books for us to send him.

18.  He will be attending BYU Provo in the fall of 2016.

19.  This may be obvious but, he has dedicated 2 years of his life to serving a mission for the Lord.

We are very proud of Austin and the man that he has become! I am grateful he choose to serve the Lord for 2 years.  I am SUPER excited for February 2016 when I can give him a big HUG!

Noel's 8th Birthday

Noel was baptized this year and it was an amazing day!! 

8 things about Noel...

1.  She is still my big helper!

2.  She has a tender heart and is a very sweet big sister.

3.  She wants to grow her hair out to her feet!

4.  She wants to go everywhere I go. She is my little shadow.

5.  Noel loves to do my hair and her own hair.

6.  She loves gymnastics.

7.  She has a servants heart.  She likes to serve those around her.

8.  She wants to be like Jesus and that is why she choose to get baptized.  She is such a blessing to our family and I feel truly blessed to have her as part of it. She has helped me to be a better mom these last 8 years! We love our NoelyJelly!