Sister Kramer: Hope

It's been so crazy, I'm just glad that I remembered to email the missionary :) And that the wifi that blanked out last night, decided to start working again :)

Bailey is doing great! And that is all I need to know. :)

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your going to have to send me pictures of the new house. i am glad that everything is going smoothy for you guys to move in. i got the cards that everyone signed :) my new companion is sister m, yes she is from Utah lol she is a softball player her and i get along great!

the favourite thing i learned was about Hope  that when it come to the language of the gospel Hope is unwavering, sure, and active. the prophet teach about having a firm hope or a living hope. People that have a faith in God and  Christ hope for a better world because they the know is can happen. to hope is to know something can happen because of your faith.

The Chapel is the same size as the one at home. the ward is amazing here there are only about 60-80 members that come each sunday everyone is so friendly and inviting i feel at home in this ward.

i get my groceries at super store....each missionary has a visa that the mission office puts $$$ on every month plus a extra $$ because NFLD is so expensive.

my companion and i are good we dont need anything :)

i love you guys so much thanks for everything! 

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Wonder

So sometimes the stress gets too great and I need to zone out...So after days of cleaning-packing -organizing-phonecalls-paperwork, I took a less hands on approach to the task at hand, sat in a chair and read a book, while directing traffic, also known as, the laziest approach to parenting ever...

 

But we got crap done. I read an awesome book. And no one revolted. Win-win-win :)

 

I read, WONDER, by RJ Palacio

 

It's a children's novel (right at my level)  and if you ever want your kids to understand the power of kindness,  have them read this book, better yet...read it with them. Loved it. It's one of those books that makes you want to hug those who are struggling a little tighter and be a little kinder...

If you have been bullied or have children who struggle with being bullied or need a lesson in kindness...read it. I love books that make you think.

 Now on to moving.

Moving Meltdown

You know that point where you've got so much to do, that the only thing want to do is nap....Yup I hit that point, before 10:30 am on Monday....
I knew the week between family vacation and moving that family would be busy, but I had no idea all the javelin catching required, would be so emotionally draining...

So many extras, newly required forms, doctors forms..... last minute oh yeah we're buying a house today phone calls, emails and documents....and oh yeah we're moving in five daysI.... I hit my wall...I'm sure there's something that still needs to find a box and I know the oven still needs to be cleaned, but I don't think I have the brain power to make one more decision or sign one more document...giving up sometimes seems easier...

I have had many private prayerful moments, certain in just couldn't do it...there is just no way it's all going to come together and each time...I've found strength beyond my own...and each hurdle is solved....weird :)

So I'm tired but so humbled...Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives...and answers even the smallest prayers. I'm sure there will be many more prayers in the next week too :)

Sister Kramer: Missing Her

So we're back to the short emails :)... I guess after our family vacation, I'm really miss her. I really miss knowing the details of Bailey's life, but know that's part of being a missionary's mom... Glad she gets to stay in NFLD a little while longer and hope she and her new companion have as much fun as she and Sister H did. :)

so in the mission there are transfers every 6 weeks so there is always a chance that you will be moved so that was two weeks ago so my companion an i didnt get moved so we were safe for another 6 weeks to serve together but on saturday we got a call from the mission president saying that he had to do an mid-transfer and that my companion would be leaving in two days and i would be getting a new one! so i am not even done my training and i am the head missionary in my area and my new companion has only been out 6 weeks longer then me! not going to lie i am stressed out right now the last two days have been so crazy with trying to get sister h packed and ready to fly out. 

i am happy that your travels went so well and that disney land was fun.

sorry that i dont have much time to email there is so much to do today.

love you guys so much

sister kramer 

Disney Kramer Style

Family vacation 2014 was a success of the Kramer kind. :)

We never once opened or closed the park, which was smart. Superman went back to the hotel when he had had enough during the day, also smart. We let the kids have more than half the time entirely to themselves, which meant we didn't have to referee...so all in all it was great.

But there were a few "Kramer" moments....

First, I should post the video, but its down right humiliating so just suffice it to say...

I have a new phobia... The ferris wheel...

Not one of my finest moment, really not.

Second, we got stuck on Splash Mountain, on the top of the first drop, for 30 minutes in the blazing sun...until the cast member climbed up to take us out and lead us down several flights of stairs to the bottom.. . 

But first , let me take a selfie....

The path down....

The reward....two of these babies...fast passes to any ride of our choosing....

So we used it for Space Mountain....

And got to the cue, only to have the ride shut down, so we got a new pass....

Only to have Superman get stuck behind a stalled car on Autopia for 30 minutes...I thought it all hilarious...superman went back to the hotel :)  

I also had a guy on a scooter run headlong into me, I was walking right beside the star tours building and had no where to go to get out of his way...he sped right into me and then yelled Watch Out...I was more annoyed that he yelled at me than anything, just a slight bruise on my knee and hand were I grabbed the basket to try to stop the full impact....luckily the star tours people saw the whole thing and apologized profusely and gave the guy what for and the family behind us yelled at him for me too}  :) {note to Disney, your scooters should not be able to go faster than the average person can walk, just a thought}

The Kramer moments, just added to the awesomeness of our vacation. After thinking we might not ever be able to share my love of Disney with my kids, I'm grateful that we have been blessed with a way the last two summers...Disney is wonderful, but I hear a warm sandy beach calling my name next...minus children :) 

Endless Disneyland

{not bad for an iPhone shot! thanks Holly}

Mom, why can't real life be like DISNEYLAND all the time!?!?

It was our first evening in the park, and we were in the middle of thousands of other people, watching the fireworks over Sleeping Beauty's castle...the spectacle far surpasses the 1980's version I remember.

We had had a wonderful day and happy hearts prevailed and the show of lights, music and the flying Tinkerbell and Dumbo really was magical.

The question had sincerity and it started me thinking...through all the fun, the classic getting stuck on Splash Moutain, the getting hit by an old guy on a scooter, the FREAK-OUT on Mickey's Ferriswheel and the endless churros...I was thinking.

So why can't life be like Disneyland ALL the time? You know, happy, fun, magical...

Simple...it's not intended to be....

 We were given this life to learn and grow and experience...not just the joys but the sorrows too...

I will never welcome the sorrows...ever...but the one thing, the couple of decades longer, I've spent on this earth, than my questioning child, has taught me, is this...

Struggle is a masterful teacher. I will never be grateful for losing my parents, long before their deaths, or watching the affects of illness on my sweetheart but I am grateful for the lessons learned and the outpouring of love and understanding I have felt, through that struggle.

Patience, courage, humour...all refined through struggle.

Of course there are wonderful happy, fun magical moments in this life. Moments we are certain, we know what heaven feels like. So why can't it always feel like that magical?

Because now is the time learn... And that is something you will learn.

It's a Draw

We are discovering lots that we've never seen/done before at Disney....

Who'd a thunk the animation academy is a favorite? Anyone can learn to draw...Here's proof...(I'm posting these cause I know they won't survive the suitcases...)

Holly...

Dallyn....

Madison....

Alex....

Loving this family time, 

minus the low blood sugar psychosis, This mamma bear has to eat in the morning BEFORE riding Space Moutain and Star Tours, lesson learned...sorry family.

Also none of us are a fans of the Indiana Jones ride, too bumpy..you do however discover if your bra is providing the correct support...or not... :)

Grateful to finally just feel like just a tourist in my old stomping grounds. :)