Eric is going to be a family history missionary!

Pres. Egbert called this afternoon. He received Eric's mission call for the Family History mission today! Since earlier this week Elder Brandon's office had sent us an email with some forms to fill out (but not telling us that Eric was accepted), it wasn't really a surprise. We thought the extra paperwork meant Eric was accepted, but we weren't 100% sure.

The surprise was when Eric reports to Salt Lake--my birthday, Friday, December 7th, which is 6 weeks from yesterday. I was freaking out just a little. Eric says he is excited. I'm excited too, but still freaking.

We were thinking it would be January or even February. I had been hoping that we didn't have to wait around till February and was even wondering last week if December was even possible. But now that it's happening that way, I am feeling this is all so unreal.

So, with Eric leaving for 2 years in December, Ryan hoping to leave for his mission after winter semester, and then Hannah wanting to go on a mission when she turns 19 (and she turns 19 just 5 days before Eric's mission will end), we might go 3 1/2 years or more without us all being together. I know plenty of families have gone longer than that, but it's just mind-boggling.

Still freaking out.

So much to do.

So excited.

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Trunk or Treat at Church:

Eric, dressed as the Nyan Cat--part cat, part poptart, at the ward party
click here for a totally annoying clip of the nyan cat's song

Alex, dressed as a school kid--see the Alfalfa-like hair sticking up in the back?

Becky and Hannah starting a new project

Salt Lake Temple project, completed

My project was easier, though not as pretty as theirs: clean the headlights using toothpaste, a rag, and some water. Took 2 minutes and it made a big difference:

before:

 after:

my sister's talk on the power of words

My most wonderful sister recently spoke at a Relief Society Retreat. She sent me her talk and I have posted it on my other blog. Check it out.

Here is a teaser:
If it is not OK for you to constantly barrage your children, your neighbors, your co-workers, your spouse, your friends, with complaints and name-calling and put-downs, then why in the world do we think it is OK to do this to ourselves? Do we really think that our Father in Heaven is perfectly fine with this? It is just as wrong for us to do this to ourselves as it would be for us to do this to someone else.  YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD AND YOU SHOULD BE TREATED THAT WAY, EVEN BY YOURSELF!!

http://mypensieve-beth.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-sisters-talk-words-that-inspire.html