Telephone Conversation with Sasha

Last night at 11:00 p.m. we called Sasha, with the help of Marissa's friend Riley, who went to Ukraine on his mission. We all didn't realize how much we miss him until we heard his cute little voice.

"Mama Lori? Papa Michael? Mawissa?" (Quinn was fast asleep, and Gage was at work.)
"Yes, it's us. How are you? Are you fine?"
"Dah." Then in English, "How are you?"
"We're all fine. We miss you."
Then in English again, "Please come."

Those two words about brought tears to our eyes. We then had to break the news to him that Ukraine would not let us come on the dates we had requested, Sept. 7, 8, 9, or 10, because it was too close to our dossier expiring. We told him we had to start all over again on the paperwork, and we could hear the terrible disappointment in his voice. He got very quiet. We told him we were working as fast as we could and that we would try so, so, so hard to be there in November. He said "Okay."

We then asked him if he was being a good boy. He said yes. We asked him if school had started. He said yes. We told him Quinn misses him and that his bed misses him and is waiting for him. He giggled. Marissa told him she couldn't wait to ride bikes with him, and he giggled and said, "Okay."
We said, "We love you." He said in English, "I love you."
And that was it.

So now I can't wait for two months to pass to go get him, but now I'm dreading two months to pass because Gage leaves November 4. Gage will not see Sasha again before he leaves for his mission, and that makes me sad, and Gage will not see Eric again before his mission, and that makes me sad.

I have decided being a mom of big kids sucks. All you do is say good-bye all the time and then spend your days missing them and wondering about them. I liked it better when they were all little.

Marissa Accepted into Respiratory Therapy Program

I forgot to mention previously that Marissa received the great news that she was accepted into the Respiratory Therapy Program at Weber State in conjunction with the Intermountain Medical Center. Yahoo! This means free tuition and books for the next two years. We're very proud of her. Getting into the program was quite competitive, and she has worked very hard to get to this point. So she's finishing up her prereqs this quarter at Weber. She gets up very early to catch TRAX and then transfer to a bus downtown. She doesn't want to put the miles on her car. The Respiratory Therapy Program will begin in January.

Temple Day for Gage

Gage received his temple endowments Saturday, August 29, four days after he turned 19. It was a very special day. He chose the Draper Temple, and it is just beautiful. We had a small turnout of family members: My mom and dad, Bruce and Janet, and Linda. But we had a very large turnout for the family dinner at Sweet Tomatoes! (Shoot. I forgot to take pictures at the restaurant.) Eldon and Susan Hjorth, Gage's YM leader, also came to the temple. It was so nice of them. Thanks so much to everyone who came and supported us. Some drove very long distances to be with us.
Dad, Mom, me, Gage, Michael, Janet, Bruce, Linda

Eldon and Susan Hjorth