Good morning!  Today is THE day!! (we are hoping.)  All the forms are in and the interviews are done and we have been waiting and waiting and waiting for our mission papers to arrive in the mail.  I hope it is today around 3 when our mailman comes.  We sent it all in electronically about a month ago.  Shortly after that, the mission office personnel called us two times one day to check on some of the things on our forms:  when  had I had my bunionectomy, could I walk now?  (it was more than 20 years ago), did I have all my own teeth?, what was the situation around Dad's thyroid cancer?  (a tiny spot in the middle of the enlarged thyroid).  And then Kristin said they called Sean to ask about the plans he had for using us since we had written on our form that we were supposed to be a part of "Elder Rasband's special Phoenix project".   So we knew we were in the works, but now weeks and weeks have passed and we have heard NOTHING.  So I finally asked Heidi if she would see if anyone in the missionary department knew or would tell her anything about our progression through the process.  And she was able to tell us yesterday that our formal papers had been mailed January 30th.  Yaaayyy!!  So now it has been a week and surely, surely we should receive them today!  Right?  Right?  It's hard to wait.  I always thought I was patient, but I said that in Heidi's presence one time and she laughed and said, "NO you are not!"  And I thought about it and decided that she is right. 

As for other news, Heather has weathered her 40th birthday fairly well.  It was a hard day but she rallied and is doing fine now.  She has decided that this is a new phase in her life and she will take charge and do something good with it.  She is looking forward to living here while we are gone on our mission, rearranging the house to suit her own needs, putting away most of our things and bringing out her own.  She has undertaken a healthy diet plan, expecting to lose her excess weight over the next year, and she is planning to be released from Primary so she can attend Sunday School and Relief Society and make some real friends that she can socialize with.  She is trapped now and still doesn't really know anyone besides our associates after being here a year.  Her boss at work is still wonderful and has plans to build his new staff (after the current employees finally peel off) with people like Heather who is a hard worker and is happy to be there.  

We also attended two Barney birthdays:  Sarah turned 13 and Mary turned 20!  Can you believe it?  For about a week all the Barney children were teenagers and then Mary had her birthday.  It was fun to get to party with them.  

Doesn't Sarah look more and more like Lara? So radiant.   And Mary is a beautiful copy of her Grandma Barney.  This isn't the best picture of Sam, but it's the best that Jon could get.  He took a whole bunch of pictures but the kids were making faces and doing crazy things in each one so this is the best of them all.    See Sarah's Dungeon and Dragon tee shirt?  She is the dungeon master for her group at the middle school and there is a teacher that is a member.  He called her up during one of their classes when everyone else was working and asked her something like, "What character do you think I should be? This one or that one?"  And Sam is the dungeon master for his group of friends that meets on Friday nights.  

Dad is going every day to do taxes for people at a school.  He works for Baker-Ripley Centers and does them for free for whoever comes.  It's an organization that has centers all over town for people who need to get it done for free.  They offer extensive training and testing and provide all kinds of supervision so that they know it's being done right for those that come.  He has done about a dozen every day since he started, and it will continue till the middle of April.  He usually gets home about 2 or so and then can relax the rest of the day.  It's nice to be able to help people and also keep his mind sharp.  

We try to go bowling every Tuesday since that's $2 day at the bowling center in Humble.  And yesterday we both averaged over 100 points with our 3 games!  We are definitely improving.  We still throw a gutter ball or two once in a while, but it averages out well.  Dad made 136 points one of his games.  It's nice to see him look forward to something and feel good about improving.  

He wants to lose 10 pounds or so and now that Heather is on her specific eating plan he said he would eat the way I eat so I don't make two meals anymore.  I was cooking for him and Heather and a vegetarian meal for me every day.  So now he is willing to eat vegetarian.   Last night we had some veggie tacos that were quite acceptable.  Him eating with me makes me want to make better meals and not just a bowl of beans from time to time.  I think garbanzo beans made into chicken salad with crackers is awesome as a lunch, and I made a good chili with cornbread muffins one day.  It will be fun to see what we can come up with that he will actually enjoy.  

It is good to spend time with you, thinking of you reading with me.  It's a cloudy, rainy day today; just perfect for staying inside and writing, reading or doing a puzzle.  I think of you all the time.  We pray for you all the time.  We love you with all our hearts and want all the best for you and yours.  We are happy and healthy and looking forward to the future.  We look forward to an eternity being with you and continuing to love you.