But have you ever KILT anyone?

{For 18 months – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

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This week, Morgan & Carlie had records done for braces!!!  

Dad & I went to see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Hale Center Theater... it was amazing.  

And the twins had their actual birthday.  On Wed night, they got roller blades

and a sewing machine!

While the doggies slept

 

Thurs they had their breakfast in bed.  Here's Halle:

And Kierste:

Then we girls went to Salt Lake for a girls' weekend.  I promise we'll do it with you right when you get back.  =)  

We stayed at the Grand America,





put quarters in the gumball machines for other people to find at the Gateway Mall,



saw Beauty & the Beast, ate at Rumbi,

watched Lemony Snicket's while we did our nails & faces,

shopped at the mall, tried on fanciness,

and the twins rode the train.  =)

Then we came home for the Women's Broadcast.  We are so excited for Conference!!!  Cannot wait to be fed spiritually.  It's so refreshing.

Miranda, we love you so much.  We talk about and pray for you all the time.  The twins talked about how much more fun Girls' weekend would have been with you there.  I hope your spirits have been high and that you are seeing blessings in your life every day.

Today, Kristen Edwards taught the Gospel Doctrine lesson, and she talked about a hen gathering her chicks under her wing.  She asked if there were any more comments about it, but mine seemed too private:  I think of you under Christ's wing while you're on your mission.  It was my job to look after you before you left.  Ultimately, I needed to check where you were and that you were being fed, that you had shelter, emotional support, spiritual strength, personal safety.  You had a lot of freedom, but your welfare was still my responsibility.  As soon as you got set apart, He gathered you under His wing, and I gave up that ability to check on you... I trust Him, and I trust in your ability to look to Him.  

You are strong.  You're going to find out how strong you are.  I'm excited for you; not because everything will go perfectly, or that you'll always succeed, but you're going to find the boundaries of your personal strength, and discover new ones.  You're going to widen the circle of what you thought you could do, and learn to know Christ and how He works in your life; how interested He is in the lives of the people you're serving.  It's a wonderful, beautiful time.  Grab onto every day, because before you know it, you'll get the message that it's time to come home, and you'll lament.  =)  Every time I see Carly Goff at church, I'm reminded that it will come so soon.  The people will seem a world apart; the work and energy of missionary work will start to fade, and you'll miss it.  Carpe diem, little girl!  And go boldly!!!  I miss you and love you with all my heart.  =)  Whole face.  Mom

I sent these to Miranda separately.

Just because Oh my Gosh.

And because they can't speak without their hands:

And I also sent her separately:  Tommy & Emily are engaged!

Julia Hippopot

{For 18 months – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

Um, I've been sorting the family pictures to organize the folders and share them with friends/ prepare everything for scrapbooking... and I watched & weeded through all your Julia Hippopot videos... I want to go back in time and squeeze & smooch all of you so much.  Thank you so much for making those videos.  I love that you even continued shooting at Grandma's house sometimes.  =)

Let's see...   Monday we went to the Westfield Elementary play of Wizard of Oz.  So amazing.

Tuesday, we went to the Stake Laurel/Priest Lip Sync contest... the Stake leaders and the 35th Ward were amaze.  Check out Carlie's impromptu outfit... she is ligit.  =)

Wednesday was Pack Meeting & Court of Honor... Derek got his Tenderfoot - No pictures.  =(

Thursday was chill.  Friday, Dad went with Derek on his overnight "campout" at the bishop's cabin. Snowmobiling, etc.  =)

Saturday, we went down to Allen & Martha's bakery to help clean the property because they're opening a store front in the building to sell their bread... so exciting for them!

Then we came home and threw a birthday party for H&K.  They played Hurricane for the first time ever,

They had a treasure hunt, watched Moana (while Dad & I soaked in the newly filled & cleaned hot tub

and watched Carlie having a picnic with her friends and calling Morgan & Paul to come join them for more fun),

Then H&K blew out their candles,

and played in the hot tub & did night games.

Today, we celebrated at Grandma's, and they chose Black Forest cake and got dresses from Arianny & Mark, and a certificate to go to Dinner & Beauty & The Beast with Grandma & Grandpa on Tuesday.  They're so excited.

We've been thinking a lot about you this week.  I explained to the kids while we were on our way to help Allen at the bakery, that we can study about Christ all we want, and we can know all the right things to do to come closer to Him, and in a way, we already draw near to Him by doing that.  But until we get off our seats and go DO, we aren't actually becoming more like Him.  We emulate Him by serving any chance we get.  I told them that because of your encouragement to come close to Him and grow our testimonies, we were headed out to help, instead of just preparing for a birthday party all day.  =)  Thank you.

Love you so much!!!  Mom

P.S.  I finally got all our letters printed, and come Conference talks, and I'm mailing them tomorrow.  You'll have to tell me what day they get to you, and what day they arrived at the mission home, just so we can gauge for future deliveries.  =)

🎵 No pinchy shoes!!! 🎵

{For 18 months – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

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The subject title is because of Carlie.  She was gorge.  Just wait.  

K, so I snuck into Teachers' Quorum Mutual this week because Carly Goff was doing Q&A about her MISSION for them at the Edwards' house.  I was enraptured the whole time; they asked all kinds of funny, weird questions, so we got to hear awesomeness that wouldn't come out in her homecoming talk.  I was so happy.  She was SUCH A GOOD MISSIONARY.  She had a thing with obedience too.  All the good ones do.  =)

So we are super boring and didn't really take any pics this week except when David (hi David!) texted because he missed us. :) so here's what we sent him:

Morgan reading Unwind for school

Kierste hanging out after bath waiting for Halle:

Carlie scouring the pantry for junk food:

And us texting David:

Right?!? I know. 

Then basically Carlie hit LPHS like a boss:

Yes, your prom necklace.  =)

She went with Spencer, whom she met a few days before, and we are all grateful Olive found him for her, because it means she got to go... She was going to be FIFTH-WHEELING with Jaxton (broke up with him awhile ago remember) etc. so we are so glad for Spencer.  =)  Sweet Spencer.  =)  I'm sorry, he was just so formal with me about when I wanted her home, etc.  It was like I stepped back in time to the '50's and he was so serious about it.  Such a good boy.  SO HAPPY that he was driving them to Salt Lake... I didn't worry about them at all.  =)

She's just as gorgeous as her sister, which was going to be a tough one. =)  

Not to change the subject from gorgeousness, but we finished the Book of Mormon!!!  Talked a lot about the promise of the BofM, so tomorrow I need to challenge them to pray about it.  =)  We went to IHOP to celebrate... didn't take a picture.  I am ashamed. 

It has been heaven to have Carly Goff home and hear her talk about your peeps.  The tears started flowing today before she even started talking for her homecoming. I could see you in each of the stories about these dear people, and why did I even bother putting on makeup?  I was a faucet - your mission is so special.

Love you so much!  Can't wait to hear your adventures, even your misadventures or hardships.  You are so amazing, and I know it's not easy.  All of it makes me so happy because you're where you're supposed to be right now.  My strong, faithful, trusting, loving, hard-working darling girl.  Boldly Go, Miranda.

Love, Mom


And in other news, Halle & Kierste went skiing with Jeff.  They were superstars and were so tough.  They're getting to be so good!







Carlie had her Spring Concert at school... she's the cute redhead.  =)



Then a pic of their Prom day date: Space Camp.