Richardson Report

I'm not going to get around to putting mission photos on here.  They'll be emailed, on Instagram, or occasionally on Facebook.  Just takes too much work.  I have Brynne's insta account that she said I could post pictures to occasionally, and that's by far the easiest way. But I have other kids and topics to write about, so that's okay. School is in full swing around here now that we are midway through September. I think Logan is excited for most of his classes.  He doesn't love writing and English, so he opted for the lower level junior English.  I was kind of bummed.  He could stand the challenge, but not my choice.  However, he's making up for that with two science classes and of course AP U.S. History.  I know lots of kids that push themselves with 6 AP classes and sports and stuff.  I really don't see the point of that and don't encourage my kids to overwhelm themselves.  I have some other thoughts on that.  Every family a...

Brynne emailed some photos that her companion emailed out - here they are!!

This trip turned out to be better than we could have hoped.  And not because we went to Hawaii.  I mean, that's an amazing place and it definitely lived up to our expectations.  But Brynne was able to go with us and for the last week before her mission we were together as a family.  THAT is the part that made it super amazing.  And that's something that I plan to repeat for all future missionaries in our family.  It probably won't be as luxurious as Hawaii, but finding a place to be alone as a family is a must. We flew out of Portland and had an afternoon to kill on our way up there.  Josh loves the Japanese Garden and so his vote was to take the kids there.  I don't know if they appreciated it as much as the entrance fee....but since the cost of our entire family is basically a year family membership...we did that and will have to go back at least once in the next 12 months.  Maybe combine it with a zoo visit or something cool like that...

We sent off our missionary almost two weeks ago.  The time has flown by!  I think it was most helpful that she had a year at BYU-Idaho so I got used to having her gone...and then this summer when she was home she wasn't really HOME much.  Between work and her social life, our time with her was precious. I've never been part of a missionary setting apart, so I was looking forward to that experience.  Our stake president and his wife came to our home on Monday evening.  He spoke for about 10 minutes with some advice and thoughts on missions.  His wife spoke for less than 2 minutes, and then starting with me, we each had an opportunity to share our testimony and say a few things to Brynne.  It was a precious, sacred evening.  It was powerful to hear our younger kids bear their testimony and share some of the deep feelings that they have for their sister.  We finished with Brynne having a few minutes to share her testimony with us and then Jo...

To start, Josh and I drove to Idaho and helped the girls move out of their apartments; Hannah and Keaton to Rexburg and Brynne to come home to prep for her mission. it was so nice to see them again after four long months!! Day 1:  Hopped a shuttle to the SLC airport from Pocatello and flew to Rochester NY, rented a car and drove to Palmyra.  Stay at the Best Western - it's about the only place in town worth staying. Day 2:  Drove out to the Peter Whitmer Farm.  Had a fantastic tour there with a great missionary. Peter Whitmer farm kitchen - so cute! As we were leaving Brynne got a text that her mission call was available to be read online.  Drove the 40 minutes back to Palmyra and went straight to the Joseph Smith Farm.   This is where Brynne opened her mission call.  It was so exciting to be in the Sacred Grove where it ALL began for this dispensation. However - it definitely made the rest of the day a blur for ...