Basketball Days

Colton is just praying for a chance to go in.

LETTERMAN

Today, Colton played church ball and Jackson played Jr Jazz Basketball. They both won. Dave and Colton are Jackson's coaches. It has been a fun time for them. Jackson gets really competitive. Today we had a lesson about not FLOPPING and loosing our temper. I am not saying that it is a problem, we just want to nip it in the bud. It is hard for Jackson to listen to Colton as his coach, AFTER ALL, they are the same age. (Jackson thinks).

Here are some pictures of the game.

FYI, I have been face-booking and it is really fun to connect with people. It is more fun than a high school reunion.

Just for those of you that wondered, the MRI was fine, they think I had a deep sinus infection. I am still having small headaches and my eyes are still acting up. However, I did have my day at the day spa today, Massage, Facial and Pedicure, that makes up for the yucky week.

It has been a long week without a letter. (Technically, I did talk to him Tuesday, but he should have written by now.) He better not be kidnapped, dead or hitchhiking across the country. I just wish we knew where in Washington, he is.

He's In Everett!

Well, Britton called today from the airport. As Jackson said, "He sounds so mature, like Kenny." He was proud that his suitcases were both under weight. (One was 46, the other 48) He confirmed that their are 18 missionaries going there today. He said that he was grateful to get out of the MTC and hopes that his next companion will be a hard worker.

He had an experience in the RC (referral center?) He talked with a guy a few days ago that requested Britton to call him back. Britton called him last night and he told him that he really felt the spirit while he was talking to him. He was going to call the missionaries up and set up an appointment. He also asked Britton to keep in contact with him, so Britton got his address and is planning to write him. He was really excited.

Britton has become good friends with Skraznas' nephew Elder Cross. He grew up off of Church Street but went to Northridge. Britton said he has been hanging out with him. They even have the same suit that they wore on the same day from Mr Mac. He was grateful for him because his companion was a little different.

He was really fast on the phone since he had a huge line of missionaries behind him. He said the church purposefully picks the missionaries to sit apart on the plane so they can talk with other people. So out of all 18 going to Everett, not one sat by the other. The mission President was going to pick them all up.

Welcome to Everett, Britton.

Well, we have made it another week

Why do we not learn from our mistakes? When there is a girls choice dance coming up, why don't we remember to keep Colton's room clean? EVERY TIME. Colton went out last night with a girl that's a friend to the Layton High Play, when Dave got a phone call that asked if another girl (a senior mind you) could come and decorate his room. We tried to act natural and not panic since we knew Colton had not cleaned his room for a few weeks. (maybe months or years by the look of it) Dave hung up and ran downstairs to try to make it not ....gross for a lack of a better term. Well a very cute girl rang the door a few minutes later. They put balloons all over Colton's floor.
She was asking him to Sweethearts Dance.

About an hour later in comes Colton and two girls (who must have known) they wanted to see his house. Then I heard all the popping of the balloons. They found the mess. It was fun for Colton, I think he is excited. I bet the mess will still be their in time for the next girls choice dance in May. I try not to go downstairs, for every one's happiness. Sometimes as a mother, it is best to not know everything. Which I don't.....believe it or not.

LETTER NUMBER ONE

We got our first letter from Britton on Saturday. He wrote it Wednesday night. He had a very long day. He told us that after he passed the haircut check and shot check, he got his luggage and went to his room to wait for his companion. His name is Elder Sellers from Minnesota. He said that his first meal at the MTC "wasn't all too bad".

He then went to a meeting to meet with his new district and the branch presidency. They were all assigned to be junior or senior companions. He was feeling pretty good to not be called as senior companion until they called him to be district leader. He said that "as district leader, I control the well-being of the district and am in charge of letter pickup." He was a little confused with what else that entails and a little overwhelmed at the whole MTC experience.

He ended by saying to send his love to all and the Church is True.


We have fared pretty good this week. I can't believe that it has come and gone. I am getting used to the quiet. (Britton was by far the quietest one in our house- that tells you that it is still pretty noisy here.) Last night we went to stake conference and came home to a bunch of Coltons friends ruling the house. Colton was too involved reading his book "DIARY of a WHIMPY KID" to notice that they made themselves dinner, and counted that I have 5 bags of the same chips shoved in the closet. I told them that they were my obsession, and I collected them. We walked in just as they found Britton's foam sword from Zions camp. I am grateful we came then, we might have had a bigger mess if not.

Oh well, so is the life of the mother of teens.

CALLED TO SERVE

Well, we made it. Britton is "safely gathered in" at the the MTC.

If you ask Dave and I, we think that last night, (the setting apart) was the hardest thing. He woke up this morning and was excited and nervous but ready to go. Grandma and Grandpa came over to wish him luck this morning, we met Laurel at the end of her driveway and she followed us to the light and rolled down her window and said goodbye at the intersection of Fairfield and Gordon. I called the bank before we got to the Main and Gentile intersection, so to our delight there were 6 or so First National Bank employees standing on the corner waving and throwing snowballs at us. We honked and waved. (Now would your bank do that?)

Britton got his first bloody nose in the car right after that. He has never had one before. We drove to Orem and honked at UVSU in honor of his best friend, who attends there. We followed the GPS past Provo and it took us right to the Provo Cemetery. (We later figured that instead of 2005 Dave had entered 200 S., FYI if you want to go to the cemetery).

Our lunch was at Subway (one of Britton's favorites), we had another missionary family in there sending their son to Rome. We traveled to the MTC, parked in the lot across the street and walked with the bags to where he dropped his luggage off. There were so many neat people that worked at the MTC it made it a great experience.

He went in one door and checked in and got his name tag. The Elder behind him was going to Pocatello Idaho, so Britton felt pretty good. He had a celestial dot on his name tag that specified him as a new missionary. NOTE TO PERSPECTIVE MISSIONARY MOMS- before you get to the MTC, go through and slice open all his pockets on his suits, I learned too late. Luckily Dave sliced open the one he was wearing this morning so his name tag fit in it.

We took a few pictures and then walked down the hall and they led us into the chapel. We were on the very last row in the back. We missed all the Mormon Commercials that they show, but I was ok with that. They started the session right then. They had a song, prayer, the MTC Missionary President's wife spoke and then the Mission President. They showed the old CALLED TO SERVE Video (the actors in that are my age-it was an 80's show). Then they told us that goodbyes are like Band Aids- rip them off fast and it doesn't hurt as bad. There was a closing prayer and then we said goodbye. He was awesome. He was ready to get started. He went out one side, we went out the other. We did really well. We then got in our car and came home.

It is a little lonely and hard for me to see his car, unneeded stuff that he left still in the front room, his phone, his 9 towels hanging on his weight bench in his bedroom, (that was hard for another reason other than I missed him, he is lucky he is not home tonight) I am so proud that he is doing this. What a guy! I am excited for him to jump in both feet. We marked off the number one dot on the mission calender tonight and there is only 729 to go!

Christmas has come and gone

ODLE FAMILY 2008

COLTON wants: bigger pants

JACKSON wants: NCAA 2009

BRITTON wants: 10 white shirts, ties, washable slacks... And found out that Santa himelf served in Everett Washington 100's of years ago.

CHRISTMAS EVE PJ's

BACK IN THE OLD COUNTRY, WE DIDN"T EVEN HAVE CHRISTMAS!

Well, I took down the tree today. It seemed a little sad to me. The holiday went so fast. We are currently packing a missionary in the front room. It is a strange but exciting time. It will be amazing if we don't forget something. There is a lot of stuff to do to get him in the field. I will be updating you all on his progress.

MISSIONARY FAREWELL PICTURES

It is so weird to have it be January 1, 2009. I remember years ago getting a loan for something and thinking, wow when it is paid off Britton will be almost 16. Well, now I am thinking, wow by the time Britton gets home, Colton will have his call. For the next four years, we are in for some great blessings. We just have to live day by day. By the way when Britton gets home, Jackson (MY BABY) will be in the sixth grade. I wonder if I will have made his Book of Remembrance by then. I am such a slacker.

RESOLUTIONS:

I vow to be positive and supportive of Britton on his mission. Looking for the blessings and not focusing on how much I miss him.

I vow to be more committed on my exercise program. The farewell and Christmas did me in.

I vow to be a better example to my children in studying the gospel.

THINGS I HOPE FOR IN 2009

I hope that Britton settles into the missionary lifestyle fast.


I hope that Colton has much success in school and football.

I hope that Jackson keeps his positive attitude about his school and life.


I hope Dave gets the attention at work that he deserves and continues to progress.

I hope the economy turns around, thus helping me in my employment.


I hope we continue to be blessed in our extended family with more new ones on the way. (not me personally) (that can also be in the form of husbands)


I hope that those in our families that are struggling find peace.

I hope 2009 goes down in the Odle record book as a very blessed year.