Kristin

I don't know how many of you that actually read my blog know my sister Kristin. But for those of you who do, and want to keep in touch with her while she is on her mission, I will do my best to keep current information updated on here about her. Even if you just put a little quote or something in the mail every once in a while to her, I know she would LOVE it! Mail really keeps a missionary going (speaking from experience!) She got to Virginia last Wednesday. She was able to write a letter to my parents in the mission home, which my mom was so good to put on their blog. To read it, and other letters from her make sure and check their blog frequently as well (www.elderandsistercarter.blogspot.com)

Kristin's first area is in a little tiny town in Virginia I guess. Here is the address to her directly. This will change as she gets transfered obviously, but I will post her addresses when I get them.

Sister Kristin Carter
1411 Wilson Road
Smithfield, VA 23430

Our Canadian Adventure

For Bryant's break from school this quarter, we were able to take a trip up to Canada. I was really really excited. I had wanted to go last year, but hotels, etc were just so expensive. My dad was so nice and used all of his hotel points to get us an absolutely great place to stay in Whistler...where they had many of the Winter Olympic events this last year. Whistler is about a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive from Vancouver. It is a very small town, that sits right in the mountains, and it is just charming. We could walk everywhere. Once we got to the hotel, we parked the car and didn't get back in it again until we left to come back home.
Celeste and Jeff (Bryant's siblings) were able to come with us. They flew into Seattle and we picked them up Monday night, then headed up to British Columbia Tuesday morning. It was so fun to see a new place and to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a while. Especially since Bryant could actually spend time with us and didn't have homework and stuff to study this past week!

I will post more of our adventures later, but here is a "sneak peak" at some sights and stuff from Whistler!


This is the front of our hotel/vacation condo place. It was REALLY nice! Thanks Dad for making this trip possible for all of us!


We decided our one big splurge would be doing the "Peak 2 Peak" ride. Basically you go on a ski lift for about 25 minutes all the way to the top of Whistler Mountain. Then you get on a big Gondola that takes you from the top of Whistler Mountain to the top of Blackcomb Mountain. The views were breathtaking! And little Miss Gracie has NO fear. Here she is crawling behind me with about 3 inches of glass between her and a 7000 foot drop! Don't worry, it was totally safe and secure...but I wouldn't have been brave enough to do that!


A view from the Gondola


From the top of Blackcomb Mountain


The family in the Gondola

A Day of Good News

First of all, for all that are interested to know, we had the big ultrasound for this baby today. It was so cool to watch the baby moving around and see how much it looks like a real baby! As far as we could see, and get from the ultrasound tech, the baby looks healthy and is growing well.

And the verdict is......IT"S ANOTHER GIRL! Thanks for participating in our poll though. It was kind of fun to see what everyone's guesses were! We are very happy with another girl, and I think Gracie will be such a good big sister!

So, last week I know my post seemed very sad and depressing. It was how I was feeling that day however, and now I am able to share. I have felt a little overwhelmed the last month with the news that my parents will be serving a full time mission to Mongolia. One thing I have learned as I've gotten older, is that a girl is NEVER too old to need her mother...especially when she is having a baby! Luckily, I have some great in-laws who have been so willing to step up and help us out during this time. More stressful that this however is that Bryant's internship in Eugene starts less than a month before the baby is due, which makes not having my mom around a million times more overwhelming to me.

Last week, we got some bad news. We learned that one of Bryant's internships in Boise was no longer going to be able to have him come. I guess they didn't have enough staff to support an intern or something. We also found out that his second internship, at St. Lukes Hospital in Boise, was not a for sure thing either. So, all the months of talking to the internship coordinator trying to get a back to back internship was for nothing. The main problem is that Bry HAS to have an acute care internship (in a hospital), and now there are very slim pickens for acute care internships. Since it's really not possible to move a toddler and a newborn around every 10 weeks, the situation seemed bleak for me. It looked like I would have to stay with the babies by myself, and be separated from Bryant while he took whatever internships were available. Kudos to all you military wives out there...I could not do it!

Well, today we heard from the internship coordinator. St. Lukes (Bry's acute care internship) has officially confirmed that they are planning to have him come! YEAH! Talk about the relief! She also said she is working on another internship possibility in Boise to replace the one that fell through. In any case, there is an internship in Ontario, Oregon that he can have, which is close enough to Boise that he can commute if needed. It's about a 45 minute drive, but definitely do-able. And at least we won't have to be separated!

So, today has been a great day! Bryant is done with Finals, we got to see our baby, and we can still plan on being in Boise next year!

Boy or Girl?

We find out on Friday if this little baby is another Girl or our first Boy! We will be excited either way. Another girl would be fun. I already know how to deal with girls, plus we have all the clothes and girly stuff we will need. A boy on the other hand would also be fun. Having one of each always has it's perks. And I can only imagine how handsome our little boy will be, especially when you look at who his daddy is:) We want to know what you all think, so take a guess and let us know!

Overwhelmed

Have you ever felt super overwhelmed by everything going on in your life? I have felt like I am barely keeping my head above water lately, and just as I feel like maybe I'm getting a handle on things, something else comes up that makes me feel like I am going to drowned. The worst part about everything that is making me feel like this, is that it is all completely out of my hands. They are not consequences to bad choices, or really anything that can be prevented. It's just all happening at the same time!
We got a bit of bad news today, that I'm not ready (or allowed) to share quite yet. It is putting a bit of a damper on all of our plans for the coming year however. We will know more this week hopefully. Part of my feelings come from simply not knowing. I'm not a patient person, and I like to have a plan! Especially now, since we have to plan to have a baby in the middle of all of this!
Somehow, I know it will all work out. It always does! And I know Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives....my life, and he will help us figure this out! In the meantime, here's hoping to better news this week!

One Missionary off...Two to go (I hope my heart can take this!)

Well, yesterday at the crack of dawn, we got my baby sister Kristin aka Sister Carter off to the MTC. She got set apart as a full time missionary Tuesday night. It was a really beautiful blessing, and one that I know will get her through the hard times she will have as a missionary.

I did really really well sending her off. My mom cried a little, and my poor dad was so strong until she turned the corner in the security line at the airport and we could no longer see her. He just sobbed. His baby, his youngest child, is off on a new adventure. He can't call her or text her anytime anymore to see how she is doing. It was a rough day. My mom went to work, but my dad had the day off. Every once in a while, he broke down. I know he will miss her...I know we will all miss her. My parents won't see her until a few months after she gets home since they will still be on their mission in Mongolia.

I have really never had to send a missionary off. My brother Troy left on his mission just shortly before I left on mine, so it was a little different. Last night, we were sitting on the couch and all the sudden it hit me. I was sad. I was really missing my Kristin. I couldn't help but cry just a little--but I quickly gained control. I know what a wonderful opportunity this is for her. I know she will grow and have life changing experiences as a missionary. I know because I experienced it myself. There is no doubt this is what she is supposed to be doing and her life will be blessed forever for her service and sacrifice right now.

I couldn't help but look at the clock every once in a while today and think of what Kristin was doing at that time. Had she eaten lunch already? Did she like the food? Was she in her district having class? Was she at a fireside or devotional maybe? I hope she has a good companion. I hope she has a good district. I hope she is having a good experience. My mom and I did get a little goodie box together for her today though. She had been asking for no-bake cookies that never got made--so we made them this morning and have them all ready to go (along with some other things of course!)

I will keep everyone posted on how Kris is doing, where she is at, and any fun missionary news she sends from Virginia! And if anyone wants her address, let me know and I will get it for you!

We love you Kristin!

Witnessing A Lifelong Dream Come True

My parents are two of the greatest people I know. I know I may be a bit biased, but I think there are many many others who would agree with me. Not only do they excel at what they do career wise (my mom is an elementary school teacher....which in and of itself is a labor of love, and my dad does Human Resources and has helped hundreds of people get good stable jobs), but they love people. I think mostly, they love our Heavenly Father, so for them doing things for people just comes naturally. I know there are several people whom they have helped, and those people don't even know it. Truly, my mom and dad are wonderful, good hearted people inside and out.

Ever since I was a little girl, and I mean I was little--maybe 4 or 5 years old, I have heard my mom and dad talk about how one day they were going to serve a mission together. It has always been a dream of theirs. My mom served a mission to British Columbia Canada when she was younger, but my dad is a convert to the church and never had the opportunity. He has been looking forward to serving a mission for the church since the day he was baptized I think!

I remember when I left on my mission. Parents were still allowed at the MTC then, and I remember after watching the video they show my dad looking over at me a little teary (which doesn't happen often!) and he said "April, you are so lucky. You get to serve the Lord as a missionary." I knew then that going on a mission was truly one of the greatest desires of their hearts.

Well, yesterday, this much anticipated event became a reality. My mom and dad got their mission call! I have to admit, ever since their papers went in, I have been hoping and praying that they wouldn't leave until November so they could be here when our baby is born. I know that is SO SO selfish of me because they have put this mission off several years already. My grandmother had to go and live with my parents a few years ago, which made it impossible for them to go on a mission. She passed away last July.

Now, my parents are very smart people, with a lot to offer. I would have guessed they would be sent maybe to work with the Native Americans or something. My dad could offer job skills, etc and my mom could help teach the children. Something like that, I totally could see. I NEVER NEVER in a million years would have guess that they would be sent to......

The Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mission

Mongolia! Seriously?! That's like the place you joke your are going to send your wayward teenager to!




They have been called to be CES missionaries working specifically in Darhan Mongolia (which is quite literally "Outer Mongolia") right next to the Russian boarder.


(if you click on the picture, you can see where Darhan is)

They report to the MTC August 9---just 2 months before our baby is due. I was so so sad about that, but then I realized, this is truly my parents Lifelong Dream. It's finally coming true for them. They get to do what they love the most....serve the Lord!

I am so happy for them. I still can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that they are going to Mongolia. To be honest, no matter where they would have been sent, I am going to miss them. And, my little Gracie is going to miss them! She LOVES LOVES LOVES her Bubby and Grandpa. But, despite our little bit of sadness right now, we are so Proud of them. They will be wonderful missionaries, and I know they will have great influence on the people they work with!

LOOK OUT MONGOLIA--YOU ARE ABOUT THE LUCKIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD--GETTING THE TWO GREATEST PEOPLE FOR 18 WHOLE MONTHS!