one month later

Can't believe it's been a month since Lainey got her mission call. We have been to Indiana to visit my Mom and Dad, to Utah to see the Grandkids, Andrew and Jeremy and Heidi, and the last of the fall tour was cancelled which found Tyler in LA with nothing to do for 2 weeks so He came home...No one knew he was here, we told no one!! In fact he got to spend 4 days here completely alone which produced a fabulous Christmas song, "Wish List". I think when you are in such high demand you have to take some time and go where no one really knows your name!!!
We were home for a few of the days with him before we took off to Indiana and I have to say it is fun to see him be recognized. We went out two times to eat, and both times someone told him how great the music is. It's only really annoying when we are all together as a family and people interupt our time together...most of the time folks are kind and non intrusive.
Anyway Indiana was nice, seeing my family and spending time together. We got home at 3:30pm and left 1 and a half hours later to drive to Utah, stopping in St. George so Kristina could cut my hair!! Tyler was with us and it was so fun as he Dj'd the whole way. Getting the haircut was great fun, Kris's daughter loves Tyler and Neon Trees and she told her Mom before school I want to know exactly where he sits and what he does. So he went in on her bed and we took a picture of him, she was so excited!!!
Time with the Grandkids is always the best. They love so much and are so funny and witty. We played, had fun with Andrew and Tyler came over. He likes to take the kids to the park near Jeremy's house where he reverts to a kid and runs and plays action hero games with them forever!!! Truely fun times.


Family the best.

MISSION CALL

It's quite a moment when a mission call comes in the mail. Lainey had gone to the box for 3 days and nothing, finally on Friday she went before work and the mail had not come. Minutes after she left, YES the mail came. I had waited till the truck left and then drove to the box cuz I was taking it to work to show her. I opened the box and saw a white large envelope and as I touched it I was overwhelmed with the spirit and when I saw Sister Lainey Elizabeth Patterson Glenn written on the envelope I got teary eyed and just held it.
I drove to Mulligan's, walked in and presented it to her. She got a huge smile and was totally overwhelmed for a minute.
I took it home and put it where all 3 of her brothers calls have waited to be opened.
She came home hours later, we shared some personal experiences and cried a bit. At 8 everyone was present for the opening, women who have touched her life-young women leaders and seminary teacher-and our Bishop and his wife. Heidi and the kids skyped in, Jeremy on one phone, Uncle Dave and Aunt Patti on the other and Tyler and Andrew on a conference call!!!
It was priceless- the gasp, the tears, the date of reporting. so very special...


so: CANADA HALIFAX MISSION which is in NOVA SCOTIA!!!!! leaving on JAN 5, 2011

Randomness

I love the random times my kids call me...Andrew on his way to or form work, or his facebook messages always calling me "beautiful". Jeremy today telling me of "animal" being heard over and over in Africa-Kenya to be specific by a friend of his. And Tyler calls really late when he calls-which is random because I mostly follow him on twitter and fb when he is on tour or away. So he calls and tells me about fashion week, djing, being outfitted by top designers and fab food all the while he is walking to the subway, hangs up, recalls me a few minutes later as he is arriving at his hotel in soho and its 2 in the morning. 2 nights in a row. Love it and love they all call me randomly and share their lives...lucky me, lucky me.
And Lainey is at home this semester so she just bursts in the door and says "hey, Deb"!!!

video fun

Neon Trees shot their "1983" video which will air soon! Lainey and friends were in it. Can't wait for the MTV debut! It was a long 15 hours but what a fun time it was.

mission call

Interview has happened. Papers are done and now we wait for the envelope to come in the mail. I have been through this 3 times before with the boys and each time is so very special. Can't wait...she is a little nervous, just in the waiting to see where she will go!

My Daughter

It's August. A plan has been in motion for over a year now. The plan became more real in December and then in March and then again in May...and then the work began and then it got done and now it's time. A year goes very fast when you are working and preparing and thinking and planning. The "button" gets pressed this week...YES, Lainey is going on a mission.
She was baptised by her older brother the day she turned 8, she got her patriarchal blessing the day she turned 16 and now planning as she does, 100 days before she turns 21 to send her mission papers in to be processed and her date of availabiltiy is the day she turns 21.
I guess her PLANNING started a long time ago when her brothers served the Lord, she heard their stories and her fathers and she started the thinking part. The preparing part is on going, both spiritually and temporally.
And last summer in the middle of July she came down one day and told us that she knows she is to serve a mission and wants to go and is planning for that time.
A mission is more than the 18 months or 2 years you serve- there is so much more that goes into it.
It's gone so fast, this year has, she now nearly 21, a junior in college, lived out on her own for 2 years, has had a job for 4 years and is an amazing young woman. I am so proud of the woman she has become and look forward to this next chapter in her life.
I sit in amazement at my children and am proud to be called their Mom.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

Today is my Dad's, Archie Milton Bowser, birthday. He would have been 82 years old. It's hard for me to think of him as gone from this earth. He lived the last of his days in Brazil, and on the day before his death I had this feeling to call him-we talked monthly at least the last few years of his life. But I didn't call him, I remembered the time difference and so I said I'd do it tomorrow but that tomorrow brought a very early phone call saying he had passed in his sleep. That's a really good way to go, sleeping and not in pain.
He was a really cool Dad, when I was young he nicknamed me CHICK, I loved that, he always used it. He played alot with me as a kid, made the best memories and was really an encourager. He took me shopping for new school clothes to Robert Hall and let ME pick out what I wanted and said yes as long as I would really wear it. When I had my first car accident he was more concerned with me and those with me than with the car. He was really a kind man, one who was quiet but loved to watch his kids and very proud of us. He never made me feel inferior, he knew I could do anything I wanted to do and he often provided the way by having me work hard and then swoop in help out with the money or encouragement.
He was so proud when I won Miss Monmouth County..he came to everything I ever did in school. He was a really great son to his parents which is so cool to remember that.
I miss him but I can see that he instilled in me the fun, good parent part.
He got to visit with his kids and grandkids in Cali a few years before his death- he was so proud of them and me for raising them to be such wonderful kids. They only spent 2 weeks with us but the kids all learned about him and loved him so much.
He went to see Tyler sing in a high school performance and told me he was going to be something big someday. He loved Andrews zest for life and his love and kindness. He loved Jermey and meeting Heidi and was so taken with his responsibility and his love of chatter!!! H ewas os excited to have a great grand child in Baylee- . And Lainey he thought was so beautiful and she reminded him of me which was so cool.
We had a family home evening one night and he wrote that he would love us forever and I still have that paper on my fridge.
I love my fmaily and I love my Dad for being the best ever for me and my brother.