One Week of My Adventures & Nov 24 Letter of Brian's mission(note:add Katie's and Brian's mission letters)

 Hey dude, 

You asked for letters, and I've been wanting to capture these for my journal, so we'll do the two birds, one stone thing. 

Amy Bird and I went for a "short" hike the other day. The trail starts behind the veteran cemetery and leads to a reservoir. Turns out the walk is pretty short so we decide to try to find the nature trail. I actually knew where the trail head was to the nature trail but didn't figure it out until it was all over. Anyway, we find this foot path (very loose term here, meaning less tall grass than everywhere else) and followed it. It seemed to lead somewhere so, off we went. Eventually we find ourselves on the top of hill, then over a river and at the top of another hill looking down toward a waterfall. We decide to hike down a little bit to the water fall but discovery pretty quickly that distances were a bit misleading, so we head back. Amy had to be back to the school by 10:30 to help as a lunch monitor. She's recently been hired as a substitute. She's not sure she enjoys it or wants to do it, but that's another topic. By now we're getting close on time. We get out of the ravine and now have to find the path back across the river. This is where the trouble began. I wasn't paying super close attention, nor was I putting much effort in really identifying the path back the way we came. Too often I'm a little too blaze about things. Had I known where it would that would lead I would have straightened right out. Basically we spend the next hour or trying to find our way through over-our-head, vine-laced, wall-like sword grass. The easiest going was when we used the pig trails. Two foot tall burrows through the sword grass. Of course it's very muddy, so we're walking through these tunnels hunched down as low as we can get and scooching forward on our feet. 

Most of the going though was created by Amy full body pressing a 3ft section of the wall of grass forward and down so we could walk over it.

Do that for a quarter mile and every muscle in body is screaming at you, not to mention every inch of exposed skin. I was wearing leggings. Amy was wearing exercise shorts. Her legs were tore up! Both of us were wearing short sleeve tshirts, didn't bring gloves, or water. The grass would slide between your fingers and slice you like a really jagged papercut. What were we thinking! Well, we were thinking we were just going to walk to the reservoir. We were going in circles trying to find a way across the river without having to cross 3 or 4 other ravines. You see the river split in some places, leaving 3 or 4 20ft deep ravines next to each other. At one point Amy totally disappears. What I mean by that is one second she's the there, the next she's gone, having disappeard down into the ravine we couldn't see or have any idea was there. 

Amy uses google maps to find the trail and get headed in the right direction. We finally make it back to whatever trail Amy had found and start jogging back to the car so she's not late. She had found the nature trail, with wood boardwalks and all. We both are cut up bad on our hands and legs, but Amy far worse than me. She did most the work getting us out. 

Amy told me later that Christopher had been talking to Henry later that day and said, "did Amy tell you we almost became widowers today?" Funny, but also could have been true. Getting lost out here is a real deal. So is falling into holes you can't see due to the grass. We both loved it! 

I'm super crazy sore in all the ways the next day, so I tell Dad the next morning, "I think I'm going to sit this one out". Dad and I have been working out together every morning for a few weeks now. He just stands there so finally I say, "Okay" and come. More legs. Yikes! Then at 10 am I catch up with Amy, Taryn and Steph for a morning walk and snorkle. I absolutely love snorkling. At one point we think we've lost Amy. She loves free diving and will often go down 50 ft. There's danger of LMC or blackout when doing that so I try to keep a close eye on her, but visibility usually isn't more than 75 feet so I basically have to be right with her. Anyway, it's impossible. We look for her for a good 20 minutes. Eventually I head back to the reef edge and start diving down, looking below ledges and places she might be if she's blacked out. Eventually Steph and Taryn find her up near the shore. Phew, no one died today either. But, because I had been in a hurry my hind quarters are REALLY feeling it. I can hardly walk the next day. 

It's now Saturday. I've made a bunch of promises to the kids, they have events they want to attend and I get a text from the Sevy's asking if I want to come out and see them launch the boat Andrew had spent the year building. How cool is that!? Of course I do, so I rearrange the day in my head and off we go. We drop Ainsley and Victoria (friend who had slept over) off at the school for band practice. Head to the pool with Emi where we wait for Dad so they can see Reed pass his swim test. Last kid, sadness! We wait for over an hour when he said he wouldn't be more than a few minutes to get his pants. Gruh! Turns out he went grocery shopping too. Anyway, Reedo passes!!

Horrah! We swim for a bit more and then jump in the car to meet the Sevy's. They're already out at sea, by the time we get there. It looks like they're doing great. Not long later their sail is down. In a homemade boat, with no motor, sail down = no bueno. So I text her to ask if she's okay. Doesn't respond. So, we keep playing. We find a swing and Japanese Pill boxes with caves that we climb in and look at.

I text again, still no response. I walk a little distance to see if I can see them again. They have gone around the cliff edge to Old Wives. I text again, still no response, so we load up and I drive around to Old Wives to see if I can see them and perhaps assist. By the time we get there they are gone. I assume they've been blown around the edge of the bay of Old Wives as well. That's has hawolling wind whipping around it. You have to be careful. So, I'm starting to wonder if I need to call the rescue squad. But first I text the two members in our ward who have boats to see if they are out. One is at a soccer game. The other is in Stake Conference meetings. 

My texts are delivered but not seen, so best guess is they are probably okay. I text her saying "if I don't hear from you in an hour I'll call for aid." I head back to the school to get Ainsley, and about 15 minutes later get a text from her that two parts on the boat had broken and they had used one broken oar and a small sail to get back to their car. She is 36 weeks pregnant, with 3 year old twin boys and her husband. Concerning. 

By now, I'm coming up on the house where I try to help Ainsley prepare her talk for the general session of Stake Conference the next day when Emi reminds me it's time to take her to the birthday party for her friend at Micronesia Mall, 30 minutes north. It's about 10 minutes into this drive that I realize I won't have time to return home and shower before needing to be at the Barrigata Building for the leadership session of Stake Conference where Dad and I are pianist and chorister. I quickly text Dad asking him to bring me a change of clothes and a comb and drop Emi off, leaving my phone with her so we can contact her when we come to pick her up. 

I arrive at the Barrigata building in wet clothes, sandy legs and feet and rat wet hair. Thankfully Dad comes in as pinch hitter and I'm able to at least change. They broadcast the meetings to the other 4 islands in our stake. I was sweatin' it a bit. 

Now, we're in the next week and I'm trying really hard to behave myself and stay out of trouble. Ainsley did a great job on her talk.

I've begun cutting out the fabric for Ainlsey's Christmas pajamas and I've moved the piles of our "premove cleanout" to the garage, so I'm feeling pretty good. Prep for Thanksgiving is the task for today. 

I'm trying to stay out of trouble. 

Love you my dude!! 

Mom 

On Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 11:05 PM Brian Call <call.brian@missionary.org> wrote:

      Since I for once in the last two transfers have only missed my email for one week, this one will be a lot shorter, but honestly thats alright with me. Those mega emails are a lot of effort. For the record, thos emails gonna be a lil' more complainy but thats just cuz all the good stories are complainy. Here's the skinny:

      1. All You Can Eat, 2. Atwood Nights, 3. Brown Nights, 4. Stake Conference, 5. Goldsmith Board Game Night, 6. Wakolo, 7. Hirinuki Exchange, 8. Terrible Transfers, 9. Temple.

       Matthew is a funny case. I think I've mentioned him before in a previous email, but he's a very spiritual guy, not like "spiritualist" though he sorta rides the line, but spiritual. Matthew recently really wanted to take us to a restaurant, which he refused to elaborate on. According to him, it was really good, special to him, and he wanted it to be a surprise. Elder Black and I kinda went, "alright, I guess," sort of a "no rules against it" situation. Ironic. We plan it out a couple weeks in advance, and we finally get to the day. He sends us the address, and the restaurant is an hour and a half away, which, is about four areas out of our area. Might I add, we had talked to him about areas already, he knew how this system worked. So we had to tell him, "hey man, we can ask the APs but this probably won't fly." So we did, and the APs shot it out of the sky, but they added "if you guys can pick a different restaurant in your area, that should be alright." We relayed this to Matthew, who said, "There's a sister location in [our zone], surely you can make it." We told him that was up to our Zone Leaders, and he said to "trust the spirit" and offered prayer for us that our ZL would say yes. So we called them, expected to get incinerated, and they actually said yes, on the condition we got home in an hour. Thems the rules. I said, "Alright, we'll do our best," let Matthew know the stipulation and we headed over. There were a ton of restaurants and we arrived before Matthew, meaning we didn't know which restaurant he wanted us to go to. I cross referenced with the first address he had given us, and I found exactly one restaurant that overlapped the two locations. He pulled up and introduced us to KaiKai Chicken, an all you can eat Korean Wings place. A little weird, but you know, food is food is food. So we sit down to eat and he orders a bunch of stuff. Like a ton. It is worth added at this point, that I am not a heavy eater. I eat a chicken sandwich (half an avacado, two bread slices, a chicken patty) and I'm full. This was at least six chicken sandwiches, amongst the three of us. Incrediulously, I start eating, and in all fairness, it was pretty gas. He ordered "Goromarou" which I didn't know what that meant, but turns out thats Takoyaki flavor, and for any of you who dont know, I freakin' love takoyaki. Delicious. It was really good. I remind Matthew about two or three more times our leaving rule, to some pushback from all involved parties, and tell Elder Brooks that we'll probably be thirty minutes late getting home, but I tried my best get us to leave on time. Also, side note, first time having wings from a wing place. Good first experience. After twelve wings, three Mac & Bricks, a bread roll, three fried chicken skins, two things of fries and a bunch of water later, the food was consumed. I was on the brink of death, I was satisfied with my performance, and we we're going to hit the 30 minute mark. Then Matthew doubled the order. Side note (again), Korean Chili Chicken is really good. So's Goromarou and Honey Chili. Great flavors. Take note future Elder Call. Already dying, I start on the second round. I can feel the light fading from my eyes as they glaze over, like an animated character getting murdered, and I'm about to die. I looked up, and there were still six wings left. I managed to force down one more, but seven wings (full big wings, by the way, American doubters, check the pictures) and I just about die. Elder Black and Matthew are talking about some rap video of a guy just saying "dis-a-pear" a bunch of times but with different meetings, and I see the light. I've completely forgotten about our time limit as my current objective is to just survive this dinner. I begin to pass into the great beyond, escorted by my feathered messengers in some kind of cruel, ironic, probably-shouldnt-think-about-it-too-hard cosmic prank, when I hear "Well, good job, gentlemen." I'm ripped back into my body as my legs get the message to actually do something for the first time in two hours. Matthew decides to just box up what's left and pay for it, and he does, but not without some "but they're missionaries" haggling which left me very uncomfortable for a minute there, and hands me the box. Now outside, we say our goodbyes to Matthew, and head home, almost three hours later. I'm so sorry, Elder Brooks, I tried so hard, man.

      We had more dinners with the Atwoods! I just wanted to make mention of this one specifically because two major things happened. One, Harry started reading the Old Testament on his own without prompting (huge, desire located), and two, Elder Black and I gave them a Book of Mormon with our testimonies in it. We didn't know what transfers would be (more on that later) and wanted to leave our testimonies with them. I had actually already told them a lot of my story, and I felt prompted to actually write my maternal Grandpa's experience instead, so that's what I did. We had one last hoorah, and left. Its really cool, because the first time we came, they had no interest as missionaries even as an idea, and now, Harry's reading the Old Testament. Huge steps, huge steps.

     We had more dinners with the Browns! We played a few games with them, and Matthew came! Some highlights were: We played a co-op poker game where the cards in the middle (pool? Shared cards?) were by themselves the 2nd highest straight, so that was insane. Photo was taken. In Codenames, I got the hint word fishing, and immediately went for "hook" which was wrong apparently, but to make up for it, in a co-op game where you have to guess a noun from hint words each other player's write, I got "sentence" and "Mongo," and guessed "Alcatraz," with the word being "prison." Still not over that one. Lots of Co-op games as Matthew "doesn't like betrayal type of games" so we picked the coop ones. It was a fun night.

      Stake Conference was fun. We were invited to the leadership session, so we got to go to all three. I actually learned a ton from that leadership session specifically and the general Saturday session. One thing I did not particularly enjoy, might I add, was our friend Paul coming (awesome) and when we said we'd sit with him, choosing to stand at the back of the conference for two hours. Suffice to say, I did not get a lot of focusing in. I was kinda focused on my legs dying from just standing. I don't know why but I feel like it is exponentially more exhausting to just stand than it is to walk. Like I can walk for five hours and be the same kinda tired I am after 45 minutes of standing. Weird. Don't know what's up with that.

      Very board game oriented emails this week. Not sure what's up with that, but we played Catan with the Goldsmiths. Brother Hayu Son came, and he's cool. I got lowkey bullied the entire game. I got robbed about seven ways from Sunday, scammed, and beat up. There were at least three or four times where someone went "you'll be fine as long as ____ doesn't happen." It always happened. Aghhhhh. Catan moment. Some days the dice just don't be liking you, and some days you're the only honest player at a table full of sharks. Some days, its both. It just be that way.

      We had a mission tour this week! Elder Wakolo, a general authority seventy visited our mission. He had a lot he wanted us to do. Important note, all these were given to us three days before he arrived. First, he wanted us to all study four talks and five chapters of the Book of Mormon. Second, he wanted us to carry a Book of Mormon with us at all times, at the flat, in the car, on the street, all the time. 24/7. Third, he wanted us to all prepare two three minute talks on baptism & new member lessons and working with members, but when you study the talks Elder Christofferson mentions a prophet challenging the apostles to write a one page paper on the plan of salvation, where you have to capture all the points in totality briefly to challenge and improve your understanding of the subject itself. I kind of took this for the same thing, so it was actually a lot of work and study to get these two three minute talks done. Then, once he came, we had a predicament. The mission wanted us to be at Karawatha (40 min away) at 7:15 AM to practice our greeting-y thingies until 8:30 AM then spiritually prepare till 9:00 AM then start. The original plan before this was to be there at 8:30, so we woke up at 5:30. Not terrible, but the Zone Conference was supposed to end at 2. It instead ended at 4:30. We were there on less sleep sitting & listening for 9 hours. I don't know how they expected to stay awake that whole time, but we managed. There was a really good missionary roleplay training, he made some really good points, and I was able to learn a bunch. There was also a really good lunch with the best Mexican I've seen in this country, downside, ate too much, and I was falling asleep for the last 4 hours. My bad.

      I went on an exchange with our DL, and while otherwise irrelevant, there was something super nice. Elder Hirinuki sleeps in a different room to Elder Eyre (the door's open and there's only two rooms in their whole flat) because of his snoring problem. For me, this meant I was able to fall asleep in my own room for the first time in 14 months. I had NO idea how much I missed just being genuinely alone. It was maybe the best sleep of my mission so far. Legendary. I would kill for it again. I felt so good the next day. Peak. Grahhhh.

       Transfers were a FIASCO this time. I've never been more drained by transfers. Because of Elder Wakolo, the APs were super busy, so they didn't have time to finish the transfer boards. They postponed it from Saturday night to Sunday to Sunday night. This is why we didn't know who was leaving the Atwoods, but this is just the start. On top of that, Elder Bakae found out he was leaving, which he didn't expect, so he kinda wiffed packing (I don't blame him), and we were late to interviews. At interviews, Elder Matthews told me my new companion, Elder Baldi would be flying down at 2:30, and we'd have to wait until then to leave. You normally leave transfers at 11 for perspective. Frustrating but understandable. Pday is already normally a busy day, so this kinda sucked. We went up to the chapel, and we called family until 2:50 (very nice, very nice) when Elder Mataele (temporary trio member) said that Elder Baldi had landed and they were going to drop him off at the office Elders flat at 3:00. So we go, but a CRAZY rain storm starts coming down. I haven't driven in 3 months, I'm a terrible driver and I can't see squat. Elder Mataele starts giving me great comms that are super helpful for not killing us (actually really fun), and due to the excellent design of Brisbane city, I get walled out lanes. Our 14 minute drive becomes a 33 minute drive, and we arrive at their flat. Problem: apparently they couldn't drive back because of the storm and because of the approacing hail, we need to find cover, so we find a gas station to wait it out. We refill and stall, and drive back when the deluge ends. We wait, and at 4:15, a van pulls up. Only issue, the other AP (the one not driving missionaries gets out) and let's us in, which was nice. We're let in, and we get to wait. I pass out on one of their cushion bed/not-bed thingies, and at 5:45, Elder Mataele calls the APs to ask what's going on, and we find out they had called my dead phone to tell me that the plan had changed to 6:30. After some deliberation, they tell us we can just go get him, so we do. At 6:00, we finally pick up Elder Baldi. One MORE problem, he needs to get his stuff from KP, the place we met for transfers in the first place. We go back and pick it up. Then Elder Matale tells us that he left his bag at the office Elders flat so we have to go back AGAIN. THEN, Elder Baldi tells us that he has a package at the mission office, so we go to get that, and it wasn't even there! Then finally at 7:20, we realize P-Day is over and we don't have food for the week so we do an emergency Coles run, and after all this we finally get home at 8:30 PM. That... was rough. Transfers took, start to finish, almost exactly 12 hours. It was supposed to be four. That turbo sucked, and now, in the last two hours of P-Day, I am writing my email. I just wanna go to bed, man. Soon, soon. My new companion is Elder Baldi, and he's French. I don't really know him, so more to report on next week.

      We also went to the temple! That was fun! We showed up on time, got to wait in the endowment room, and had a really peaceful time in the celestial room. With all the chaos of the last two weeks, it was just so nice to have a break again, to just rest. I'm so blasted right now, I could use another, but for now, sleep will just have to do. I'm going to bed. I feel like there's something I'm forgetting from last week, but I'll remember next week (no I won't). If its important, somebody email me, and I'll remember next week. Love you all! Go to the temple, its really good for you! Bye!!

Love you all,

Elder Call (exhausted)

Ognsnr!:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RhvSSZcg5VxaXFwf7

PS: Some emails would be very appreciated, I am super exhausted and emails would be so very helpful, they make me a lil' happier boi, thanks so much

    

Emmie Funny Moment

E - Mom Strawberry is sick. (Her doll)
M - Oh! How come?
E - She swallowed a fly.
M - How come she would do a funny thing like that?
E - She was outside singing.

Tender Mercy

When Christopher was loading everyone into the car to take Brian out for dinner for his birthday  he had set his ipad on the roof of the car. Unfortunately he forgot it up there until we arrived at the restaurant which was 20 minutes away. Miraculously it was still on the roof of the car, barely hanging on when he went to look for it. 

Heavenly Father is so good to us.


On the downside we have lost all of our pictures on our hard drive for 2014. Because life has been crazy and I hadn't been keeping up with the blog everything is lost to us. We are hoping other people will have photos to help us rebuild our year.

Ainsley's love of Classical Music

When I was just about to deliver Ainsley Christopher and I went to one last concert. They played
WEBERN                       Im Sommerwind
SIBELIUS                       Violin Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY             Symphony No. 6, "Pathétique"

Ainlsey was flipping and flopping the entire piece of Sibelius. She must really enjoy his music. Now that she's been here a while she still enjoys classical music -dancing whenever something catches her groove. 

Emails about Brian

I sent emails to his teachers to find out what we needed to do in preparation for our big ski trip that was going to take place over the SOL tests. After answering my questions his teachers send these.

On a side note, Mrs. Nein and I have been so impressed with how well Brian is doing! He has grown into such a leader and positive role model in class!! We LOVE having him in class. 

Thank you,

Emily Munson 

I am so glad that Mrs. Munson mentioned “The New and Improved Brian Call!”  He has certainly stepped up his game and we couldn’t be more proud of him! J

 Kasey Nein

Mrs. Nein and Munson,

I have been wanting to tell you for some time how grateful I am to you. Brian is thriving in your class. The positive environment, encouragement and opportunities to do his very best has given him the opportunity to spread his wings. Thank you thank you thank you!

Dawn Call

That is so sweet of you to say!  You completely made my day with your email! J

Brian is such a blast!!!  We absolutely LOOOOVE working with him!

Letters to and From Jill Haggerty & Others

Would a lunch someday work better for you? We’d like to say goodbye to you before you leave but also don’t want to add extra stress.

Dawn

Dawn,

So sorry I never responded. I of course would love to go out one last time and celebrate with everyone. I was struggling thinking when would be best so I just didn't get around to responding. This is not widely known at all (I'm hoping to keep it that way as I'm not prepared to tell my family yet), but we are expecting baby number four! Very happy and also very very sick. I feel espically sick around meal times and in the evenings- that is why I was debating and debating! Ha! I of course will try to make it but no one should hold their breath as I just don't know how I'll be feeling.  I am medicated and spending a good portion of my day in bed just to keep my food down. I really feel very yucky almost all the time. It is hard to do basic stuff. Just sharing this so you didn't think I was being rude. I love you lady and am grateful you thought of me. I will let you know as it gets closer how I'm doing. I might be able to meet to eat but then have to go home. The later it gets the worse I feel.

Sorry for the dramatics! Ha! Just life right now! I keep telling myself this won't last forever (just seven months in my case! Ha!).  John has been around a lot lately and his last day is Wednesday so I am getting a lot of help. 

Thanks for setting this up! Hope to see you there!

Jill 

Yesterday was heaven sent! Thanks for looking past my sometimes rude stubbornness and coming to help me anyways. I didn't realize how much I needed it. I gave our FHE lesson about service and we talked about what you did that day (I cried a lot too, I truly am thankful).  I also, thanks to you, remembered how nice it is to be the one that serves. And that maybe a little service towards others is what I need (as soon as I'm able) to help me forget myself and get me out of my own pitty party. 

 Thank you for your example and love yesterday. Thank you for your cheeriness. Thank you for cleaning my house and taking a big weight off my shoulders and for the delicious dinner (which my kids did love!)!  Like I said, you were Heaven sent and an answer to a prayer I didn't even know I had. Thanks for helping my family lessen the wound a bit. My husband is truly grateful too.

You are wonderful and an excellent example of a disciple of Christ. Thanks Dawn. 

And I'm feeling better today than yesterday! :) 

Have a great week. Again I'll see about tomorrow but I am thinking I won't make it.  Oh, and was Jessica Welsh invited? I doubt she would come but I know she would appreciate the gesture.

You're wonderful. 

Jill

hi Jill,

You are most welcome. Are you home right now? Or will be soon? I have a couple things to bring over to you.

Thanks,

Dawn

Dawn,

Thanks so much for all you have done for our family lately. It brought Jill to tears the other day and I know she definitely felt loved and supported. It of course means a lot to me as well. Fortunately, today was my last day in clinic so I should be able to help out more at home. Again, thank you thank you

John Haggerty

John, 

You are most welcome. It was my pleasure.  I would have liked to do more. I hope Jill gets feeling better. 

Dawn 

Jessica, (Relief Society President)

Jill has emphasized a couple times that what I am about to share with you she does not want shared with anyone. If it shows up on facebook or anywhere else it will cause serious external family problems. And as a consequence she is VERY hesitant to let anyone know of her condition let alone receive help. It took me about 15 minutes to convince her at church yesterday to let me come over after promising I would not say anything to anyone. You are the only person I will share this information with. She does NOT know I am sharing this with you. I do not know how John feels about all this. So, with that disclaimer here we go.

Jill is pregnant and has serious illness due to it. She is on double doses of anti nausea medicine that gives her headaches and such when she takes it. She only takes it if she has to go to church or do something else that otherwise would be impossible for her to do with out it. She also has several other illnesses that she is doing physical therapy for on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

- a fiery foot (foot feels like it's on fire which makes it very difficult to sleep) that shoots up her leg and into her thigh. 

- carpal tunnel in her wrists (John mentioned this in his recent sacrament talk)

- there was a third but I can't remember what it was

On days when she has physical therapy that is all she can do. She is wiped afterward.

She has the walk through with her realtor Dec 3rd for her home and they are trying to prepare to move. Thus cleaning is a huge stresser right now. John spent all last weekend cleaning and trying to get ready for the walk through. John's last day is Wed. 

They prayed about having another child and though she didn't think she would be able to do it they felt they should. This is a leap of faith for her and John. She always has very hard pregnancies.

I went over today and cleaned the entire downstairs. It is ready for inspection. Everything from windows to floors. I left dinner on the stove for the family and applesauce and crackers for Jill. Their cupboards are necessarily low due to having to be out of their home in a few days. Plus Jill can hardly keep anything down. Today was a hard day for Jill. She slept all but about an hour.  I also washed all the clothes but didn't dry them because I didn't want to shrink her clothes. She had them laying out to dry when I came back to finish up and the basket of clothes folded.

Upstairs both bathrooms need to be done and her room tidied, everything vacuumed and dusted. The baby's room was fairly clean. Just folding a few blankets. I didn't get a glimpse of Calvin's room.  She is a very organized person and things have stayed in their place well. It took me from 9:30 to 1:30 to clean the downstairs. I am certain the upstairs could be done in that time as well by one person, much faster with two.

Feel free to call if you have any questions. I was going to call her again in the morning to see how she was doing. Daphane goes to school at 9:30 so she won't be at physical therapy before then. I was thinking of asking her to leave her front door unlocked so I could get in to clean but I don't think I could do that tomorrow for so long. I have a few things going on.

 Dawn 

Dawn,

I went to the doctors and then spent the day on Jessica Jones couch. She still has Calvin.  It felt nice to get out of my house if only to the doctors and there. I decided I need to tell a few more people so you don't feel burdened now that you know! Ha! I'm such a pregnant basket case. Anyways I saw a box on my steps that I assume is from you as it has your awesome checklist in there! Very excited to look at it closer a little later but need to rest now. You are so thoughtful. And I do need a little direction with this move as I haven't done one in the middle of the year with the military before and have only had them move me once. Anyways, thanks! 

Jill 

Jill, (I did not share/send this email with her. I typed these into my phone one night before going to bed)

I realize this is probably a little late.  I wanted to share some of the thoughts that have occurred to me since serving your family. 

In the temple I have made covenants to keep the law of consecration and to help bare other's burdens. We each take turns being the one with the heavy burden and being the one who is strong enough to carry it.

We often talk about how the Lord will ease our burdens and make them light enough to bear through His Atonement . It wasn't until serving you that I finally I understood better how, in some instances, he does that. I have felt in making me strong enough to make it through difficult situations and then allows me to keep that strength. But there are also times when he can't or doesn't make us strong enough to carry it on our own. But he still provides a way for our burdens to be made light.

This is what he taught me through serving you. The Lord has giving me empathy for your situation because I've gone through similar things. He taught me through my own struggle the knowledge and skills I would need to help you. And whatever I was lacking in understanding he sent through the Holy Ghost. He can gave me eyes to see needs that otherwise I wouldn't understand. This experience is not unlike the atonement. The Savior suffered the atonement and through it came to know what it was like to be us going through our challenges so he would know how to sucker us. Serving you was similar. By allowing me the opportunity to come serve you he literally allowed me to try to be like him. My family has gone through similar things though have never been sick like you in a pregnancy. My experiences helped me know what it was you needed and how to best help. Whatever I lacked he could send through the holy ghost.

The opportunity to serve you was an opportunity to do what the Savior would do. In this way I feel like the Lord instructs me on how to become more like him. I have found the savior teaches most by offering opportunities to do and try and then teaches through the experience of trying to figure it out.

When I come to help you I carry the burden until what remains is within your capacity to carry with comfort. Is that not also like the atonement if Jesus Christ? If that portion is to much for me, than another should come and together we can carry your burden until it is light. If it is too much for two of us than we get extended help from the ward. He has promised, "come into me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened and I will give you rest. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light." I think that promise is partly fulfilled through those who strive to keep their covenants. This is the heart of Zion.

Some may say "But I can hardly cast what I have, let alone what everyone else expects if me. To that I share sister Hinckley quote: my best may not be as good as your best, but it's my best....
Do not run faster than you have strength, give what you have to give and be able to say within your heart if I had to give i would. This is as true of money as it is of emotional, time, intellectual or physical strength. We each have a time and a season. In done season we are taxed in done areas, in others still others. We give what we have to spare and we serve God with all our heart might, mind and strength. Then the Windows of heaven open and the blessings our down, shaken, pressed down and running over.

3 Favorite Quotes - Marjorie Pay Hinckely

“We are His children, and if we ever got that through our heads thoroughly, understood that completely, we would never do a small thing, we would never say a cross word, we would not use bad language, we would not criticize anybody, we would love everyone the way the Savior loves us.” 

“There is something about spirituality that is central to the life of a woman.  I do not mean the kind of spirituality that only takes you to church on Sunday.  Sitting in church will not necessarily make you into a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage will make you into a car.  I am talking about the kind of spirituality that makes you behave like a child of God.  I am talking about the kind of spirituality that breathes reverence into every act and deed.  I am talking about the spirituality that makes you loving and grateful, and forgiving, and patient, and gentle, and long-suffering.  I am talking about the kind of spirituality that compels you to get in touch with your Heavenly Father every single day of your life.”

“Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans.  This is a time of great opportunity for you to build the kingdom.  When you teach children to love their Heavenly Father, you have done one of the greatest things you will ever do.  If you can be a full-time homemaker, be grateful.  If not, you must do what is best for you.  I for one have never felt a need to apologize for my role as a full-time homemaker.”

Ainsley’s Baby Blessing

This is not word for word, but I tried to capture what was said.

Those in circle: Christopher Call, Cade Call, Erin Walter, Clint Hoskins

Name is given: Ainsley Grace Call

As you begin your journey in this life and grow and develop and begin your time on earth I bless you that you will always feel the love Heavenly Father has for you.

Through this life, you will have many challenges and experiences. You will be blessed with the comfort of Heavenly Father’s love as well as the love of your family here and those in heaven whom you’ve left.

You will have love for others around you. You will find opportunities to serve those around you. 

You will be a peacemaker. I bless you with the Spirit of peace and that you will bring peace into the lives of others at home and in the world.

You have a wonderful life ahead of you. You will have challenges and great moments. You will be safe from harm and will complete your journey here on earth.

Your family loves you as does your Father in Heaven. I leave these blessings upon you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Mrs Boyd's Email About Katie

Mrs Boyd (Katie's 4th Grade Teacher)

I am so glad that you emailed me.  The cupcake was delicious.  I also wanted to let you know that Katie has a helper spirit.  She goes out of her way to help one student in our class that has social challenges.  When no one else wants to partner with him, she always does.

Thank you for sending her to us ready to learn and having a kind heart.

Sincerely,

Christie Boyd

My Response

Thank you Mrs. Boyd. I will forward your email to her (she loves getting email :) ). She will love your email. She is one of the finest people I know. I feel so fortunate to have her. 

Thank you again! 

Mother's Day

Katie did a candle lit dinner for Christopher and me. She printed a menu and served us the food. She is the sweetest girl in the world! Brian would pop in and out occasionally refilling our waters or taking dishes. He made a bunch of paper airplanes and flew in little love messages (written on the wings) during dinner. Christopher and I were surrounded by at least 20 by the end of dinner. Many of them hitting our heads or flying across our plates. Ainsley and Emmie ate on our laps. Ainsley drank milk from a bottle in Christopher's lap and Emmie snacked on my chips.

Brian and Katie both gave me gifts they had made at school. My scanner isn't working very well so I won't post them here but they can be found in the 2014 pictures saved on the computer under "Mother's Day Gifts". Having children is the sweetest experience in the world.

Birthday Party

Brian went to Lauren's birthday party at her house. Her parents had hired a traveling petting zoo for her birthday. The animals were so sweet.

Ainsley Grace Call

I took a lot of pictures today of Ainsley. I'm sure there are many more to come. These blankets are her "baby blankets". I've made a blanket like this brown and pink one for each of the kids. It's the one they all still use.

This striped one is for her car seat and as she gets older I'm hoping she'll carry it around rather than the big one but we'll see.

   

Girls

Katie and Emmie decided to wear their matching shirts and bottoms. You can't see it but their shirts are identical. Katie had held Ainsley until she fell asleep and then laid her gently on the couch.

Emmie's Feet in a Box

Our painting pole came today. Emmie and Christopher had a brilliant idea. She was trying to walk around. It was so tight on her she couldn't move her arms.

Pixar Concert

Due to Ainsley's arrival we planned on Christopher taking the kids to this concert. They had a great time. Meanwhile, Grandma, Ainsley, Emmie and I stayed home and watched Turbo.

Ainsley in her Hospital Bed

Kids Meeting Ainsley on Skype

We talked to the kids on skype the morning after she was born  to show them Ainsley. They are very excited to meet her. Emmie was still asleep at this point. She called about an hour later. They will come to the hospital after school to meet her.

Ainsley's Birth

Christopher did a great job as photographer. They put Ainsley right up on me after she was born while they were working on everything else. She pooped as soon as she was out and then pooped on me while she was on my stomach. She was one big girl! Whoo! I'm glad my first was not that big. It took about 2 contractions to get her out, but they were some very painful contractions. It took 12 hours to go from 1 cm with the baby in a -3 position to dilated to 3 cm dilation and -2 position. Talk about discouraging.

Somewhere between the two I got an epidural. He started me with a 5 ml bolus which is usually enough for most women to feel it working. Some need considerably more for it to work. I was feeling nothing and my blood pressure to go down. My blood pressure is always low so when it dropped 10 points I was feeling like I was going to pass out. The Anesthesiologist gave me about 10 doses of blood pressure medicine (each dose only lasts about 2 minutes) while we waited for the bolus to go away. 2 hours later I was feeling normal again. They started an epidural drip at a really low dose to see if they could get it to work without dropping my blood pressure. Thankfully after that I was good. I used the botton to give myself a slower and smaller dose to take the edge off. That worked well and I was good to go until she was ready to come. Four hours later I was at a 5. Half an hour later I was ready to push.

2-3 contractions later and she was out though pushing her out was pretty painful! With everyone else once their head was out it was over. Not with Ainsley. I had to push every inch of her out. I was thinking "JUST PULL HER OUT!!!!" but was nice and didn't say anything. :)

She didn't even cry after delivery. It wasn't until she got her bath that we heard her first cry. That was a good half an hour after delivery and after I had fed her a bit.

 You can see the poop on her before her bath.

Isn't she beautiful!? Her face was a little swollen afterward but otherwise her head and body was perfect, no cone head or anything. 

Katie's Science Fair Project

I go in for my induction in the morning and Katie's science fair project is due Friday so Katie and I stayed up until 10 pm making her Trifold. Mom came in earlier today and already has been a huge help. Mom put the other kids to bed while Katie and I finished her homework.

Katie has done a great job on this project. She has worked really hard.

Her project was to cook German Pancakes in a glass pan and a metal pan to figure out which way made the pancakes rise higher. Glass won hands down, but I think I prefer to make them in the metal because they are puffier throughout, but that's just me.

While I was in the hospital with Ainsley Katie wrote this letter. I include it here because she refers to her Science Fair Project.

It says,

Dear Mom,

I hope your safe and sound and the baby I don't want to know that the baby died or you. Okay? I miss you already I wish you were home with us. Thank you for making my Science Project worth something. We are having a great time. Brian feels sick. I hope you come home early really early like on Thursday so I don't have to miss you so long.

Your Daughter,


Katie Rose Call

I included to images of the inside to include the whole page.

Trampoline Hair

Christopher told me after I took these pictures that when Emmie would run around the tramp it would blow behind her, sticking straight up and back. Pretty funny!