Getting answers to Prayers

We are settling in with our mission. This week we had a holiday!!!,,Martin Luther King--so we didnt have to go it. Instead we drove to Park City (forgot to take photos!) and it was the Sundance Film Celebration. We didnt see anyone famous, or maybe we did, but we wouldnt have know it! The sun and sky was beautiful. When we returned I was TIRED, but we had already promised Family Home Evening with the Stubbs.  We played pickle ball. Tuesday at the Family Search we invited our good friends, the Harpers, to learn more about the mission..We are already recruiting.
As a goal of mine has been to serve everyday, I had many opportunities this week. This has been an answer to my prayers.  Even though I was very tired on our "day off" from our mission, I still have the desire to serve and be of value. I am happy to say that I did have my prayers answered! Also, It has been a sunny week and no snow or  ice to slip on!
Tonight we go to an Earth quake preparedness meeting..Do we really need to worry about that here in Utah?  I am still getting used to the weather!
patty

20014 New Mission Opportunities

 New Year 2014- New posts, Jim put a book together of our first mission in Geneva Switzerland,,so now it is my turn to write again,
We started serving at Family Search which is really just across the street and two doors down! I have been able to use my French each time and Jim and I both had America Revolution books to preview. Yesterday I had German, Daughters of the American Revolution and I got to use my Special Education skills in counseling- so this feels like a good fit for us.
We swim.,play pickle ball , and ride the stationary bike and I am trying to keep my Tai chi and yoga up, but it is getting tight for time,,, we are just figuring it all out now.
We both love having the kids close by and pray for our loved ones each day

17 different beda

Since August we have traveled and visited almost all our family,( we
will go to Dallas, Tex, Virginia, and Washington st in 2013 ) and we
have had 17 DIFFERENT beds! Karina had the best pillows, Valerie had
the best view, Derek's bed is high easy to get out of and beautiful.
Nikki had the best home movie set up. Many of the beds we  stayed in
Europe were unique, but now we get our own. Jim has worked very hard
staining the bed and doing the ceramic tile in the down stairs of the
Orem home. I have enjoyed caring for grandkids, organizing, and
preparing the kitchen for move in. Our new address and bed is on 684 E
1200 N Orem Utah 84097.
It has been beautiful and cold here. We enjoyed the change of weather
on our mission and  we will get used to the extra cold morning walks
looking at the beautiful Mountains by Provo.
So. now What?  We are looking forward to settling down , finding
service in the community and church. When I went to the Senior center
to sign up, and I saw that everyone looked like my parents, I decided
that teaching movement/dance/ yoga there would be a better idea. Our
ward has a good mix of old and young, which is what I love.
We want to have company as soon as we get our house in order, which
now amounts to...finishing the ceramic tile, (and then of course all
the clean up after ) and then going to Southern Calif and driving back
all of our stuff, This will happen after thanksgiving. I know I wont
be able to see everyone I love and care for there and I do not look
forward to trying to do that ,as I am sure to miss someone so I will
be there 2 days, one of which I will be at Kaiser for 3 medical
appointments, How does one close the door to 40 years of life  in
which I gave birth and raised all my children, struggled with the
death of my little Erik only to turn it into a blessing by working in
Special Education for 20 years.??? These are fond memories which I
cherish. So we are keeping some doors open there in Simi Valley. What
a great place to raise kids!
So back to the bed...it is built high off the ground with storage
under with a European feel.  In fact, I think it is big enough to be
buried in ,,and maybe this will be my last resting place....BONNE NUIT
Before I send this off,,, Our stake President was just in town and
came over and released us from our mission,,,so now we are officially
done,but do not despair, we are just refocusing and refueling for more
adventures in serving communiity. family and church.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love , MOM < Pat

Victoria's baptism

We have enjoyed the raking and blowing of the leaves..again and again
but now it is getting colder and windy.
I find myself looking for the little spots of sun where ever I go.
Jim is trying to find wool socks and I have learn how to make leg
warmers. Jim is already wearing his every day.  Yes, we served in
Europe and yes there were good winters there, but  we were
missionaries and I believe we had extra warmth with us.
And then the storm Sandy hit America! We got wind and rain here in
Michigan, so we were blessed not to have any destruction.  We were
blessed to just be at the end of it.  We kept warm by the fire
                 
We gave a fireside here in Canton Michigan last Sunday and the
preparation reminded me how much I learned on our mission,how hard we
worked and how much we were blessed.  Tonight we will serve at a
Spaghetti dinner given by Valerie's neighborhood for a family that
lost their dad . There are always ways for us to find opportunities
for service. Jim is always ready.
We are preparing to leave Michigan the day after voting day and begin
our trek back through Chicago to see Jim's sister Tanya who just had
hip surgery a month ago. As we prepare I am reminded of the Pioneers
who crossed just before the winter, praying for a safe trip. Our
Pioneers sacrificed so much and I am thankful they were strong and
overcame so much.
We look forward to more family visits and will continue to see old
friends as we drive west.

But the highlight of this trip was Victoria's Baptism, her sweet testimony and understanding of it all

More family visits and baptisms

Since our last post, we have continued to celebrate birthdays and
baptisms from the Pacific to Michigan.  Some of the Morrison Cousins
celebrated Grandma Celia's birthday at the end of September. Then  we
got to go to Addison s baptism and visit the Oakland temple. After
General Conference we drove East, visiting Jim's sister Jo Le and
Lenny and brother Cedric, ending up in Canton Michigan to celebrate
Victoria's 8th birthday. In between all of this we made the Big
decision to buy a home near the grandkids in Orem. This was done after
much prayer and contemplation.  We will have PLENTY of room for all of
you as soon as Jim finishes all the basement.  We really wanted a home
with one story so that we could prepare for any future old-age
problems, and this is what we bought. The living room and master bed
room are right by the front with a family room and kitchen in the
back. The additional space downstairs is 3 bedrooms and another family
room, which we will prepare for all our friends that want to come and
visit. This means YOU!. We are very close to Provo Canyon and minutes
from BYU, which is just what we wanted. The other added bonus is a SUN
room  and a Loft both of which I plan to take over, for my music,
yoga, and extra stuff!
We continue to feel blessed with this great opportunity to visit with
family and share our love.

the roving Chatterleys

Each day is filled starting at 5am to falling happily into bed each night ,knowing that we are continuing to serve.  Last week we had soccer, swim team, violin, piano, gymnastics, and working on the tree house  Sometimes we play cards and share books and help with homework, The bubble gum contest was for Mariahs school project --who blew the biggest bubble? Karina did! I lost my touch and I am trying to save my teeth!                                                                                               .  We got to drive to Payson to see the building of the new temple there.We hear it is going to be one of the bigger ones.

Getting to personal study time is difficult, thus getting up at 5ish seems to be working. We got to visit and lunch with some of our dear fellow missionaries this week, already missing the missionary spirit that we shared.

Sunday after church we drove through the Mountains of Sundance called Alpine Loop to look at the Fall Colors and we ended up at the  Mount Timp temple. We are so blessed to have 4 temples with in a 15 minute drive.

We have been here 3 weeks and I finally got to BYU campus. I love being on campus for so many reasons, The joy of learning and progressing is still very strong- just gotta find the right fit and time.

This week we will celebrate some birthdays including Terry and Blake,

We miss you and pray for you and your loved ones. For us, this feels like the right place to be and the right time to be here.

where are we now?

Here is just a little note to update those of my close loved ones who are not within a hug or two away::

Our second weekend  in the states we flew to Reno to enjoy the Chatterley family homecoming of grandson, Seth, returning from Paraguay, This was a great experience for us for many reasons, first of all we were in the MTC together to start our missionary training together, Beside being our oldest grandson, he returned with honor from his mission, We got to have a fireside to share a little bit of our love and hear about his love and experiences in Paraguay. It was also a time to renew and visit with many of the new grandchildren. some who we have never seen, since they were born while we were on our mission, The biggest changes we saw were two grandchildren, who went from children to teenagers while we were gone, WHAT a great joy!! To see how lovely and caring they all were, 

Last week we had the blessing of our latest grandchild, Nikolas , Karina 7th child, It is the first time I have been able to be with a newborn grandchild and see so many changes and be able to share the joy of discovery, It is good to live with her family for a while and continue to serve as much as we can.

It is true that the time for study and reading has shrunk to a few moments each day, The time for sharing the love that the Savior taught us is expressed in wiping noses and other body parts, listening to angels sing, violin and piano practice and sacrificing time.

What is next? More birthdays and baptisms, More catch up on stories and memories. The suitcases are empty for now as we help with soccer and swim practice and LOTS of homework, I love autumn time with the starting of school and the beautiful colors that it brings.

Missing the color that you all bring to my life and pray for you a Perfect Brightness of HOPE.