Back to CO.

 **I don't think I mentioned that Bill and I moved out of our basement apartment on July 15. Initially we were told that we could stay until our house was finished, but our landlords, the Leflers, had a job opportunity in China, and they had rented out their house to another family. They told us we could stay until the end of July, but we decided that since we had to put everything into storage anyway, we might as well move out and head to UT. We spent 3 weeks with my parents, then 3 weeks with Bill's parents. It was a crazy time.**

We headed back to CO for Mar's homecoming talk in the Meadows Ward.

Our dear friends, the Leaks, had offered to have us stay at their home while we were there.

Saturday, August 14

We went to Boondocks with Tay, Nae, and the girls. V and NJ had fun checking out the arcade games while we waited for our bowling lane.

V loved bowling, but NJ (not bowling) was a little tired and cranky, so I walked around the arcade with her for a bit while the others bowled.

NJ finally fell asleep (with Nae), then we carefully transferred her to me and I got to enjoy holding and cuddling a sleepy girl. I love that.

It was fun to spend some time with this family we love and will miss having nearby.

That evening the Leaks had made us a yummy dinner of Traeger pizza. Mar had spent the day with her friend Cassidey, who had come from Fort Collins for Mar's talk.

Sunday, August 15

We had planned to have refreshments at the church pavilion after the meeting(s). We headed to the church a little early to set up, and found this friend hanging around the pavilion:

Oh, Colorado, I'm going to miss you.

Mar gave a fantastic talk, which our UT family was able to join via zoom (pandemic procedures have made virtually attending church meetings so easy, so I'm grateful for that). Afterwards a few people joined us to visit in the pavilion.

This is the Stewart family (minus their oldest, who attended class ;-)

Lindsey is the sister of one of my dearest friends from Parker, Marci. Her family moved into our ward from Albuquerque NM, and I will be forever grateful to know them. They are the best.

It was great to see a couple of Mar's friends from the Legend Ward - Isabel Otteson and Caitlin Weed.

NJ with Graham McLaws

We love the Leaks. They have been such great friends for so many years.

We also love the McLaws. I am so grateful for my friendship with Alisa and her darling family.

We love the Syddalls! It was so great to spend some time with them ♥

One of Bill's coworkers, Dawn, and her son came to listen to Mar's talk. I'm not sure if they have ever attended a Sunday service for our church before, so it was great to have them there.

We had a large crowd after the second hour of meetings, so things got busy and I didn't get many pics. 

We love the Meadows Ward ♥

Laura Nielson. What can I say? She was Mar's YW leader, and she is amazing. She lived down the street from us in Castle Rock, and we love her and her family so much.

I forgot to snap a picture of our set-up, so this is when things were wrapping up. I am so thankful for dear friends who helped by bringing so. many. cookies. 

Marci, Lindsey, Jeanne, Alisa, and Vernet (who made a TON). 

I am truly blessed to know the best!

Mar and Haley Cauble - we love the Caubles ♥

After the gathering, we headed back to the Leak's home for a delicious dinner that Kevin and Jeanne had prepared. They were such lovely hosts. Tay and Nae came over, and we ate and visited for a few hours.

It was so good to see our CO family and friends. We love you all!

Monday, August 16

We hit the road and headed back to our new home state of UT.

We had to stop by Graff's Dairy in Grand Junction - one of Mar's fave treat places on her mission.

So yummy.

Easter + General Conference.

 April 3 - 4

General Conference

Always uplifting and inspiring. Lots to ponder. I seem to always have so much room for improvement and growth. I'm grateful for prophets and apostles, and grateful for answers and direction from a loving Heavenly Father. Current favorite talk: Room in the Inn. My favorite changes fairly regularly over the six months until the next conference.

Easter

After the first session of conference on Sunday, Tay, Nae and the girls came over. We had an egg hunt (when there are only two little girls participating, they get lots and lots of eggs full of lots and lots of candy and toys).

This year it was fun to see V run and grab eggs as quickly as she could. She's growing up so fast, and now realizes the benefits of diligent and speedy egg hunting.

NoraJane was just happy to have an egg in each hand. Good thing she had Little Billy and her mama to help her gather eggs, or she would have ended up with... two haha.

After the egg hunt, we had some celebratory Easter/General Conference food. 

Tay had requested Sandwich-for-a-crowd, they brought a yummy 7-layer bean dip, and we had veggies and fruit. 

We had a quick Easter lesson for V (conference was going to start in 10 minutes), then I played with V and NJ while listening to the last session. 

Then we went to the park.

We came home and had some wings and carrot cake, neither of which was very memorable. I'm still on the hunt for my favorite carrot cake recipe. We all agreed that the Walmart brand of wings was far superior to the Frank's Red Hot brand. I'm still figuring out my air fryer (which I LOVE, btw), and this was my first attempt at wings, and both kinds were sauced, so crispiness was a non-factor. Tay is the king of wings, so I'm going to keep trying to improve my technique :-)

 NJ was wiped. out.

It was a beautiful day.

We had sent Mar her first BY MAIL missionary package the week prior. I couldn't get everything I wanted in the box, but I got enough. I think she enjoyed it.

Another apartment holiday down. I can't wait until I'm in my own house again.

It will come.

One year down + missionary package palooza.

 February 4-5

Sister Syddall hits the mission year mark.

In 2020, this is how she spent those two days:

Today she is serving in Grand Junction, CO, wishing and hoping she can return to Brazil for her last 6 months. But if not, she's ready and willing to keep on keeping on in her home state of Colorado. It's been a crazy year for ALL missionaries, and I've been so impressed with Mar's resilience, humility, and trust in the Lord. She has spent the year waiting:

waiting for her visa

waiting for her mission to begin

waiting at an airport for 17 hours after her plane to Brazil was diverted

waiting to finish up the CTM and head to her mission

waiting to understand the language

waiting at a Stake Center to catch a plane home

waiting to be temporarily released

waiting to be reassigned to a US mission

waiting to be set apart... again

waiting for an apartment (she spent almost 2 months in a hotel)

waiting for a transfer

and now, waiting to hear if she'll be sent back to Brazil

So. Much. Waiting.

The first missionaries from her mission {Brazil Sao Paulo Interlagos} were notified last week that they would be returning. We don't know how it's being determined or why certain missionaries are being sent back to their original mission. Is there a cut-off date as far as amount of time left to serve? Does an expired visa have anything to do with who goes back and who doesn't? The not knowing is HARD. 

The waiting is HARD.

Sister Syddall celebrated her year mark this way:

Hurrah for Israel!

Here is a quick pictorial of the many packages we've taken/mailed to Mar since she's been in CO (she only got a couple things while in Brazil through a service where parents could order online and the missionary could pick it up - near the CTM, and she was going to get an Easter package through a similar service that delivers to each mission in Brazil once she was in her mission... she never got that one, so we kissed the $$ goodbye ;-) Nothing "personalized" from home, though - I was still trying to figure out the process when she got sent home).

Sunday, July 26

**There have been one or two packages that we took to Mar that we didn't snap any pics of. I know that Bill took the first one up to Evergreen (the one with her passport, missionary debit card, and a few things that she didn't realize she needed to bring with her), plus dinner for her and her two comps.**

Just a little box to BRIGHTEN your day

Sunday, August 9

A late-night-hotel-delivery box ;-)

Sunday, August 30th

ORANGE you glad it's almost Fall? box

+ some dinner items :-)

Friday, October 2

Happy General Conference box

(I dropped off Chick-fil-a lunch with this one, I believe)

(These are Mar's pictures... she got a better close-up)

Wednesday, November 4

Hump Day box

+ some winter boots ;-)

Friday, December 11

Christmas box + 12 Days of Christmas + vanilla cream pie

(Here are a couple examples of what I put in the 12 Days of Christmas packages for Sisters Syddall and Danso. We knew Sister Danso would be going home before Christmas, but wanted to do something fun - and small - for her.)

Mauri spent Christmas with Sister Loder, an STL in her district whose comp had also gone home before Christmas. They both received similar pjs, so I loved the cute pictures they took in them.

AND they made this darling video:

I believe Sister Loder has returned to her originally assigned mission now. Hoping and praying for Mar to have that opportunity. But if not... well, you know ;-)

Saturday, January 2

Birthday box

{Mailed} Tuesday, February 2

Valentine's box (+ she got one from Britt, too) Lucky girl.

Britt had told me she would send Mar a Valentine box, so initially I wasn't going to put one together for her, but I was making boxes for all the grands, and just decided to put a quick one together for Mar, too.

I'm sure there will be more boxes to come... unless Mar goes back to Brazil. We are willing and prepared to accept God's will in the matter.