Sister Mandy Day II

You guys will NEVER guess who just ate at my house!! Sister Mandy Freaking Atwood!! Crazy, eh?!

On Monday afternoon the Ward Mission Leader phoned us up and asked if we'd be willing and able to feed the missionaries either that day (Monday) or Thursday. Having much to do on Monday, we opted for Thursday (today). Last night, Sister Morris phoned to confirm the dinner appointment for tonight. I asked her what they'd like to eat and she was all, "Oh anything is fine."

I said, "Okay then, what do you guys eat a lot of, so I can avoid that?"

She was all, "Oh anything, really. Whatever you want. Or anything that you would feed Sister Atwood. Anything she'd like, we'll like too. We have pretty similar tastes."

We then kinda joked about how my sister would be lucky to get a PBJ out of me. Little did I know, that they were going on splits with Mandy (Sister Atwood) today--meaning, Sister Atwood would be eating with Sister Morris at our house! Don't worry! When they realized what was going to happen, they phoned President Craig to get permission. "We're obedient," Sister Mandy declared.

Anyway...Lo! And behold! They came aknockin!! I began to be astonished! We ate poutine (that wasn't so good) and sweet and sour chicken with rice and peaches (just as Dad made it!) that was so good! Sparkly cupcakes too!

Sister Mandy seems to be doing well. Really well. All skinny and tanned...She's healthy-looking and still running each day, so we can assume that when she says her RA isn't flaring up right now, it really isn't. I guess her meds are really helping her. Her voice is still wonky, but not as bad. The work is progressing. She shared a spiritual thought and committed me to a couple of things. Sister Morris is a great girl who has the Spirit with her. Mandy wants Ron to seduce and marry Sister Morris (I would not object!). We'll see how that pans out...

The pictures are glorious, eh? Yep. I definitely look like a GIANT PURPLE PLUM. Seriously, I'm sad that these are really the first pics anyone will see of me being pregnant...Please don't look too closely. I am swollen and OBESE in every way, shape, and form (not even kidding). Mandy looks great though! The far distance pictures are of Sister Atwood (teal top, black skirt) and Sister Morris (blue top, khaki skirt) in action. They went out to the car to pick up a bag of clothes Mandy needs us to store and ended up "OYM-ing" this guy barbequing in our complex.

Anyway, that's about it...Enjoy!

Spring Break Chaos...Preparing for Lucy's Arrival...

Can you ever REALLY prepare? I think not...I suppose there's only so much you can do...It's a good thing this whole process takes at least nine months, eh? Hmmm...

This week of Spring Break has come at the perfect time. Lucy will be here (hopefully!) in just under nine weeks. 9!!! That's less than two hands!! That's insane!! So soon, eh? Anyway, Ryan and I both have this week off from school (he's still working, hence, we're still in town), so we have a list of a bazillion things to do.

First, we set to work on our "spare" room. YIKES!! Pretty much, over the past two years, this room has become a jungle. Exercise equipment, water/food storage, hockey memorabilia, tubs of just STUFF, and most recently, baby items. Anyone want to purchase a great elliptical?! This job was a doosie! We (mostly Ryan) went buckwild on it and now Lucy has living space! Yay! It's not quite 100%, but at least she has some space!

Ryan had the joy of trying to fix the little dresser we have for her (isn't he manly?!). It looked real nice at first, but I think it's still defective... Then we (again, mostly Ryan) put Lucy's crib together. I began to be astonished!! It was extremely quick and easy! Isn't it PRETTY?! We're very excited!

Today, we're off to register. Probably at more than two places...Is that dumb? They give you cool stuff if you do though... Any suggestions on what to pick out?

Now that I've written a freaking novel...Wish us luck with our continued preparations, eh?!

P.S. My sister-in-law and mother-in-law are having a baby shower for us. If you would like to pop over, we'd LOVE to see you! It will be sometime in April, at Kacy's house (Ryan's parents' old house in Tempe). Shoot me a comment or an email with yer address please!!

And her name is.............

LUCY ROSE MILES!!!!!!!! Thanks for your votes. The winner did not even win....ooppss!! Oh well; the parents always get the last vote.

It's a GIRL!!

We are having a baby Girl!!!!

Baby Miles!!

We are so happy to finally say, WE ARE PREGNANT!! I am going to be a dad!! Crazy! We find out on the 29th of December if it is a boy or a girl. Vote here on our blog on the names that we have decided on. We are a bit split on what to name our baby. If you have any questions give us a call or shoot us an email.

Canada

Sister Mandy Day!!!

So today is Mother's Day. Thank goodness fer our beloved mothers! Ryan and I went to church with Ryan's parents fer Mother's Day Sacrament meeting and lo! And behold! Whom did we see?! Sister Freaking Mandy!!

Sister Mandy was just barely transferred from Gilbert to Tempe this week. She's now serving with a few wards, one of which, is the Shalimar Ward where Ryan's parents live and attend! President and Sister Craig were attending that ward today too, so we had opportunity to talk to them, Mandy, and Sister Alder (Mandy's companion)...You think they're going in alphabetical order?! Just kiddin'.

So Mandy...She looks GREAT! Her countenance is light (not that it's ever been dark!), she looks happy and healthy. She's very organized. President Craig said she's working so hard and had wonderful things to say about her and the Stake she's now serving in--some 51 baptisms within this stake--just this year!! Mandy indicated to us that they walked about 10 miles (16km) just yesterday! YIKES!! No wonder she's getting skinnier! Too schkinny! (Fa, Mulan!). I can't believe I got to see my baby sister!! (She'd kill me if she knew I had written that [insert evil cackle here]!!) Her companion seems to be a great girl from Colorado. She's not to into the Avs, but her 'sister's boyfriend is!' Crazies...

It's really strange to think that Mandy was about 5 miles (8km) from Ryan and I throughout the last 2 1/2 months and yet, we've never seen her. Now she's going to be in Tempe fer a fair spell and I probably still won't get to see her...ho hum...I guess that's kinda the point of serving a mission away from home, eh?!

Anyway, this has been extremely long, so it sufficeth me to say that Mandy seems to be doing very well and we miss her (and Ron and the rest of the fam) like crazy. Please continue to pray for her!