This time tomorrow he'll be home. I wonder if I'll be able to sleep tonight? I'd love to skip work tomorrow to continue sprucing up the house.  Tomorrow is going to seem longish I fear...at leastuntil we see and retrieve Colby.  I'd better try to sleep!

Rhyme for a time

A few days ago I woke and was thinking of Colby's return from his mission. I was giddy, so I shared the thought on my Facebook status. "Oh thank heaven, we're down to seven"  I'm now kinda obsessed with the silly little game of sharing my lack of literary skill.  It's been fun and I 'll keep it up. It is obvious that I spend a good chunk of my weekdays with Kindergarteners. Life is to be enjoyed!!  Here are the Status that are terrible/silly rhymes about Colby's return date:

7- Oh thank heaven we're down to seven.

6 - Time ticks, now we're at six....

5 - Jump & jive, he'll arrive in five.

4 - How many more? You guessed it, 4!! :D

3 - Momma said it yesterday: "whee, only 3"...can it be?? Slap my knee.

There are still a few more days, then I will stop it with the terrible rhymes.  Probably.

13/14 October, 2012

 Well, as expected, I had a wonderful time at conference. In my notes, I put stars next to my favorites that I need to look up and study as soon as possible. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Sat. morning, Robert C. Gay Sat. afternoon, D. Todd Christofferson Priesthood, Jeffery R. Holland Sunday morning, Daniel L Johnson Sunday afternoon. One of my questions was how do I take what I have learned and become and make it stick in my old environment? I not only got answers on how to do it, but as I consistently thought of the question that I had, I received a desire to do the things that I needed to do. And I just need to say how much I love David A. Bednar. He speaks clearly and powerfully and is organized in every single word that he says. 

 Other than that, This week was pretty intense. We went on 3 companion exchanges. I am continually impressed by the quality of the missionaries in my zone. They really are all top notch. Elder Woolsey, who just moved in, is a new senior and district leader in a new area and he is doing really well. He is very crisp. That is just the word that comes to mind. Sharp.

 One of our really great investigator friends came to english for the first time. His English is actually pretty good it turns out. Every week, I teach the Advanced English which turns out to be just practicing our conversation. Anyways, he came for his first time and despite his super good english, he didn't have an english name. So I wrote three names up on the board that sounded kind of like his Chinese name and gave him the option. He picked Logan. Good name. He is really cool and has big thick rimmed glasses. He is actually from the place that my companion Elder Bailey just came from. He is progressing along quite well. 

It is always an interesting experience to teach somebody who has no belief in God and see them slowly start to believe as they do the things that we ask them to do. It may take awhile longer before he is baptized, but he has started to make that change. It really is a feeling. And it comes over time by exercising faith. I am grateful that I have had a chance to meet this cool kid, Logan. 

 My companion and I have a chance to go up to the North to do a training on the culture of our mission. There is something that we say. it is "You2 Ban4 Fa3". It pretty much means, there is a way. When we are faced with difficulties, we often say "you ban fa" and then find a way to make things work. This is a way to display faith. The presentation is going to be pretty fun and intense. We put together a monologue from the scriptures and are also giving them a book mark with the definition of "you ban fa". Elder Bailey owned a business before coming on his mission, so it is really fun to do presentations with somebody who knows what he is doing. 

 I hope you have a wonderful week!

-Elder Sanford

Wasn't General Conference glorious!!!  As the word of the adjustment of missionary ages came out of the Prophet's mouth tears streamed down my face.  I love missionary work, it's near and dear to my heart!  Colby will be returning from Taiwan in a few short weeks.  With the change of ages Claire will be eligible to serve in February.  She'll finish her Dental Assisting Course in the summer, and then she wants to go on a mission.  I'm so excited for her. Logan will be going in 2 short years. (Looking forward it seems short, but while he's out it'll probably seem long.) He no longer will have to wait a year after his High School graduation until he's 19. Honestly, it's a blessing and answer to my prayers.  I've seen friends of Colby as they've waited until they turn 19 to go on the mission.  The waiting game has been hard on some of them.  Logan said, "I'd better start saving my money now."  He had thought he'd have a year after High School to work and save. I keep rambling.  I'm so happy!!!  Jeff and I both served fulltime missions.  As I heard Conference I felt the desire to get back out there.  We plan on going on a mission, but that'll have to wait at least 8 more years. We'll just keep trying to serve here where we are.  The Lord is good!  The Gospel is true!!!!


Colby's two year mark as a missionary is on the 13 of October. He returns the 6 of November. We are all anxious to see him.

I miss her

She doesn't work at our school anymore.  She's helping out at the University now. Good for her! Sad for me.   I don't see her as often.  We don't get to talk to each other as much as we used to.  I know it needs to be this way.  Children need their own lives. It's supposed to be this way, but I still miss her.

Happy re-Birthday Elder Sanford

For Colby's 21st Birthday he got to baptize two people. Yay!!! What a fabulous gift. He's sharing his birthday with these two sisters.  It's now their "re-birthday."  That's what it's all about!  :)

It seems I post most of my thoughts on Facebook these days.  I seldom am near the computer long enough to write on the blog. Elder Sanford has been the main focus of the blog these almost past 2 years.  Colby entered the mission field on October 13, 2010 and he'll be released on November 6, 2012.  A lot has happened in these years!

I just wanted to do a little update on me...I have drafts started of things I'd like to say.  It's a little scarey putting my thoughts out in the open.

I have what will be a long entry about my wonderful Father.  He passed away almost a month ago. Emotion wells-up in my throat making me uncomfortable and tears escape my ducts.  I'm not quite ready to finish that entry.

So, I'll move on to something a little less painful.  I've been trying to lose weight. It's a day to day process, but I have a program that really isn't too difficult to follow and I'm seeing results.  It's nice to have people notice and comment. I think that most people could do this on their own.  I need help to stick to a plan, and going through the company I do, I DO have the boundaries set in place that I need to help me. The program is "Take Shape for Life" fueled by Medifast.  It's working, and I am feeling more healthy overall.  I still am tired a lot, but honestly it's because I stay up too late to comfortably arise at 5 a.m. daily.  It's something I'm working on. I appreciate the encouragement of my family, especially Jeff.  They have all been wonderfully cheering me on!

Have a happy Saturday!!!   More later.