Random April Photos

Aub got braces!  She's been wanting/needing them for years, but money wise this was the best time for us.  Here are her before and during (after? but not AFTER) pictures.

Doesn't she look cute?!

Boys have played sting pong a couple of times recently.  You can't really tell here but Parker's back is covered in welts!  I'm just glad the ping pong table has actually been used twice in the last 8 months.

Have I posted these?  Parker's friend group is in the middle of prank wars.  Boys vs girls.  The girls painted the toes on these chicken feet and put them on the boys cars.  The boys have saran wrapped rooms and left a large grill in one of their front yards.  The girls have also stolen a couple of Xboxes.  Park has been having a great time.

Miss this cute girl! I look forward to each and every Mondays and getting to video chat/catch up with her.

We had an two days of rainstorms which is very unusual here.  Aubrey decided it was the perfect time to play outside.

Park invited Aubrey to go to dinner and Black Magic with him.  These two are a little like oil and water sometimes at home.  It was fun to see them enjoy an evening together.

Sunday night fun.  The Vore cousins were in town in between terms at BYU.  Lft-rt: Kyla McKown, Shari Martin, Ang, Erin Meisje, Kate w/ baby Ryan McKown, Me, Britney, Emily and Aub

 

Honor Society

The boys were in inducted into Honor Society last week.  Honor Society played a big part in my public school life.  I ran for office in junior high and high school and was voted president for both chapters.  I loved having those leadership opportunities.   

I have some conflicting feelings towards the Permian chapter however.  For one, they have the students "buy" service hours.  Rather than having those in Honor Society do group service projects or individually serve in the community, they have them bring monetary donations.  UGH.   I appreciate that it is more than just a "you made the grades so you're in" type of thing.  I HATE that they have them purchase hours.  Literally.  They HAVE to donate at least $40 in school supplies or food donations.  Then for the last two hours, they can buy them or volunteer for them. What the heck.  Not a fan.  

First, there are many families who can't afford that mandatory "donation."  Second, it will be the parents purchasing the supplies 99.5% of the time....including our household.  Third, if you really want it to be more than grades, then have them serve.

Okay...my rant is over!

I am very proud of the boys.  Parker would have been inducted his junior year.  He worked really hard to pull up his grades so he would qualify.  However, he had too many unexcused absences.  I think they may have been from our Disney Cruise family vacation during the middle of the year.  Bummer.  Well worth the trade off for sure!

When the letters came in the mail, Parker got a little grin and nodded his head.  I think he was glad that he would have a little bit of bling on his graduation robe.  I was happy for him.

Tanner opened the letter, glanced over it, tossed it on the floor and said, "I decline."  

That's Tanner for you.  

Parker got his form signed and turned in.  

I tentatively reached out to Tanner a few days later to see if he was going to turn in the form.  I was pretty sure he was not going to.  He was like, "Oh, there is a form on email? Okay, I'll check and turn it in."  I was surprised but pleased.  (Back to...I love Honor Society, and it played a big part in my early years.  Plus it looks good on college applications.)

Well, thanks to Covid we could choose to join the ceremony in person or online.  The boys chose online.  We watched for a little bit on the computer.  We couldn't really understand much of anything that was said, but that is okay.  We weren't really paying close attention anyway.  We celebrated with Chic Fil A for the family, and Tanner even came through with this lovely outfit dressed up for the big day.  Crazy boy.

Now I guess we may be out $120 to "buy our way in."

 

Choose God

 Brinley's letter April 26, 2021

I think one of the reasons I was called to Idaho was so I could learn from the people here. 

It seems that every time I meet a new family I have the thought "I want to be like them someday" or "I want to implement that in my family" or even just "wow they're the coolest!!" 

Seriously the amount of Christlike and loving people there are out here is so amazing to see. The highlight of this week was definitely meeting a family who I'll call the Smiths.

We saw the Smith family almost every day this week because they helped us weed a lady's backyard, pack someone up to move, join in on a lesson we were teaching, and fed us dinner. 

It seems like every time there is a service activity, the Smiths are the first to sign up. They are always looking for ways to serve others.

What makes this selfless service even more impressive, is the fact that they lost their 17 year old daughter unexpected almost exactly a year ago.

The Smith family has every excuse to turn inward and take a break from helping other people, but they don't. Instead of being sad or bitter, they are one of the most Christlike families I've ever met. 

We asked them how they could be so willing to help all of the time when they are going through this hard trial themselves. 

Sister Smith told us that in those first weeks after her daughter's passing, they read lots of articles about loss. The odds of a family staying together after a trial like that was very slim, and the statistics showed it clearly. It was very disheartening to read, and eventually they came to a realization- the choice they had was very simple:

They could choose to turn inward and be bitter and upset, or they could choose to turn towards God. 

So they chose God.

Within the first week, Sister Smith bought a notebook. She didn't have the strength to write sentences, so she just made bullet points. 

"Tender mercies from the Savior"

She wrote down a little description every time she saw one. And the tender mercies poured out. She said in that first week she had already filled pages.

In the following year, the Smiths decided that service is what helped them survive, so they make it their family motto.

I want to be like that family!! 

I think one of the biggest realizations I've had on my mission is that the happiest people don't have anywhere close to a perfect life. They don't always have the most money or the nicest clothes or the perfect family conditions. No person is without trials, even if they seem like they have everything going for them.

What these people DO have in common is that they choose God. 

They teach their kids to pray. They choose to serve. They read the scriptures as a family. They aren't anywhere close to perfect, but everything seems to fall into place.

Because they choose God!!

I want to choose Him too.

Hope you have the best weeks🥳

-Sister Gwilliam

Pics:

-Laura surprised us at church!!! (She is our friend from Boise)

-Call ins with the sistas

-Cute drawings of me and Sister Maycock

-Helping people move😎

-Spot Sister Maycock

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

April 19, 2021

This past week I hit 9 months on the mission,🥳🥳 my brother got his mission call (to Ghana, Africa👀) and Rachell got baptized!!

Sooo it was pretty exciting. And in honor of Rachell's special day, I wanted to share a part of her story.

Rachell's journey started 25 years ago, when her friend gave her a Book of Mormon and asked her to promise to read it. She immediately agreed to do so and then went home, placed it on her shelf, and didn't pick it up again.

Fast forward through 25 years, and Rachell felt so lost and alone. She'd made a lot of hard choices, and she didnt believe there was any hope for her. 

One of her roommates invited her to come to church with her that Sunday, and she agreed. It was a Sunday where anyone in the congregation was invited to come up and share their beliefs and experiences about Jesus Christ.

Rachell told me later, that as people talked about Christ during that meeting, she felt a warm and peaceful feeling that she had never felt before. She knew immediately that she needed to be a part of this church. 

And that's where me and Sister Maycock were lucky enough to enter in! 

The very first time we met Rachell, I handed her a Book of Mormon and started to explain how we believe in Jesus Christ, and that both the Book of Mormon and the Bible testify of Him. Before I could even finish talking, Rachell was flipping through the Book, and landed on a random verse. With emotion in her voice she told us how relevant this verse was to her and told us that this Book must be true. 

Every lesson following that was just as amazing to be a part of. Rachell was "hungry for Jesus"😆 and we couldn't teach her fast enough. It was amazing to see her eyes light up as we talked about how because of Him, death is not the end, and sin doesn't have to be. She was so relieved to know that no matter her past choices, she has limitless potential to be like Him. 

At her baptism on Tuesday, Rachell hugged me and said "Thank God for Joseph Smith. Thank God for my sweet sisters."

It was such a special experience, and I was thinking a lot about why those things must be so important to her. 

As I was thinking about it, I thought about the stories of Jesus.

Before my mission, when I heard the phrase "the stories of Jesus" I'd think of Him in New Testament times: walking on water, teaching revolutionary sermons, healing the sick, etc. 

But over these past 9 months of being a missionary, my perspective has changed. Now when I think of the "stories of Jesus" I don't just think about the miracles He preformed back then, I think of the miracles He preformed today.

I think of how He changed Laura's life, or Rachell's. 

Or how He is constantly changing mine.

And as I thought about why the story of Joseph Smith would be so important to her, I realized that was the answer.

The story isn't important to her because it's the story of Joseph Smith.

It's important to her because it's the story of Jesus Christ.

And even more than that, it's the story of Jesus Christ being willing to enter someone else's story.

If Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are willing to enter a 14 year old boy's story, then why not Rachell's? Why not Laura's or Mo's or anyone elses?

I have a firm belief that the stories of Jesus are not limited to the New Testament times. 

Jesus Christ is an intimate part of thousands of stories TODAY. 

His original New Testament church is on the earth TODAY.

If you you look for Jesus Christ in your story, you will find Him. Isn't it so cool that the stories of Jesus are also the stories of us?

I love you all!

-Sister Gwilliam

Parker's Senior Prom

Parker and friends were invited to have dinner over at Austin Jacobo's house.  His group travels in large groups.  So Austin included 20 plus kids in the invite.  Let me just say...it was absolutely stunning.  It was Prom before Prom!  Maribel decorated according to the casino theme and had Italian food catered.  

Sweet Maribel...the hostess

Parker, Bethani, Kamryn, Reese

Cole, Reese, Kendyn, Parker, Cade, Harper, Austin, Luke & Ashton

Most of the group...

They made a good looking couple.

His two besties: Cole Brannan and Harper Terry

Between the kids having cell phones and taking pictures and the parents taking pictures, pictures lasted FOREVER.  Honestly, I think they took more pictures than I did on my wedding day.  It felt like it anyway.  Most of the kids were done, but there were a couple of moms who just kept gathering different groups to take pictures.  ("Okay, now all of the Senior boys."  "Now everyone who went to Reagan."  "Now the Panther Paws." and on and on and on it went.)

Reese, Park, Cole, Luke, Austin, & Harp

The group moved on to the Marriott for the big dance and then to Cole's house to hang out afterwards.  Parker said he had a good time.

 

Parker's Mission Call

Parker sent this picture Tuesday morning to our family group text.  WHAT?!  We thought it might come in that Tuesday, but I was not expecting that early.  Brinley received her call almost exactly a year ago and hers came later in the afternoon.  Parker had plans to go to the Permian baseball game that afternoon, and so he invited family and friends over to watch him open that evening at 8:00.

That was a long wait!  I didn't know if he would be able to not peak.  He waited though.  I'm so glad we were able to witness his reaction first hand.

A couple of hours before he was home I decided to run to the store and grab some treats.  We had a good spread of chips, dips, cookies and drinks.

Tanner, Char and Ella

I love how he invited his school friends to join in, and I especially appreciate how they came to support.

Loved Grandpa in the middle of the friends teasing and joking (and explaining a little about "no movies, no tv, no swimming, no dating for two years".)

I put a map up in the kitchen and everyone was writing down their guesses of where he would be called.  We were also writing down guesses from our extended family who sent their guesses via text, and Facebook friends who commented on my post.

Lauron, Gram & Aunt Ang

Lft-rt: Charity, Jake Davidson, Grandpa, Gram, Ang, Braddock, Hudson, La & Aub

Only THREE people even chose the right continent...so this picture gives you a big clue of where he is not serving for sure! (When he turned his papers in, he was thinking/hoping for Mexico or S. America.  He thought it would be really cool to learn Spanish while he was serving.)

Lft-rt: Cole, Luke, Harper, Haley, Abby, Bethani, Austin & Harris

We had Facebook live going and lots of family and friends watched live as he opened his call.  I was so glad too.  There is such a sweet spirit present whenever a mission call is opened.  You can just feel the power of God in the room.

Here is the video.  I love re-watching it.  Love my Parker Bryce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUiS--1Iylk

The Ghana, Accra mission, English speaking, reporting July 15, 2021!  He was flustered and couldn't remember where Ghana was exactly. Pretty fun, exciting and crazy!  Also, Brinley started her mission on July 15, 2020.  Kind of cool. 

I'm so proud of Parker.  I love my little boy.  I know he is going to learn and grow so much from being willing to serve a mission.  I will miss him.  Over the next few days, several of my family, friends, and Parker's friend's parents asked privately how I really felt about him serving in Ghana.  I am 100% excited.  I love this opportunity for him.  I also think it's so cool that he gets to go foreign but doesn't have the stress of learning a language.  

Charlotte guessed Africa and was thrilled she was the closest to his mission!

Parker has spent a lot of time online learning about Ghana and reading missionary blogs etc.  He told me he was so excited he wished he could go right away.  It will be an adventure.  A mission is such a blessing.  I grew so much in my 18 month mission.  I know as he serves the Lord and those in Ghana, he will reap many blessings as well.  That is just how God works.  He always blesses us with more.

 

Conference and an African Safari

Conference fell on Easter this year which was perfect.  I loved hearing about Jesus Christ and his resurrection.  Our kids watched all four sessions too.  LOVE!  

I am writing this over a month after conference.  I don't have a lot of specifics, but I did want to include this family gathering we had at Gram's for one of the sessions.  (Grandpa was in Africa on his safari!!)

Gram making quacamole.  We all brought snacks and had brunch type food to eat during conference.

Chris, Ang, Aub, Park and Bri

The kids rotated into the office some and took turns on the massage chair.  (Aub is in the massage chair.  Tanner has a hand held massager on La's back.)

Charity, Jake & Park

Here are a couple of cool pictures from Grandpa's safari.  He would send a few everyday.  

I think he was gone 17 days.  It was a long time.  We took good care of Gram.  (She doesn't drive due to poor vision, and she is careful going outside during the springtime due to allergies.)  

I would go over in the morning and most evenings.  I would also pop in throughout the day.  Brian and I did a movie/date night over there one Friday which was fun.  Brit and Braddock came over and stayed 2-3 hours during lunch most days.  Ang and Chris and various family members brought over dinner and visited every single night the first week.  I took care of evening meals the second week.  Kerry stopped by a few times when he was in town.  All in all it worked out, but we all missed Grandpa...especially Grandma!

He missed her too.  Once he got back his negative Covid test and was cleared to fly internationally, he booked his flight a day early and surprised Gram.  She burst into tears when he walked through the front door.  It was adorable.