Email from Mom: Sunday, March 27, 2022

From: Mom
To: Christian.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Sunday, March 27, 2022
Subject: Good morning

Happy Sunday!

I hope you have had a good week and that this week has come to a close with lots of positive and happy included as well. How did this week go? How were the ami's that you are working with? How have the trickier ones progressed this week? How is Elder Meline doing?

This week at home was good. Brooklyn had a dermatologist appointment on Tuesday that was fine. She is still working through Accutane one month at a time. She had her final orthodontist appointment on Wednesday. There is something to be said about finally! She had her final round of pictures and it was Brynlee who got to take them. It was fun to catch up with her and hear her talk about her and Bryson's wedding. She is super cute and super not loving the adult world. They went and looked at apartments this last week and she was pretty bummed to learn that they start at $1600 a month for just a one bedroom. She is excited to get married and take this next step but she is learning that being that adult is more spendy than she ever imagined. Bryson wanted to buy a truck but then they learn what a monthly payment would be so he is now driving a VW Jetta. Just things like $4+ more a gallon for gas doesn't make sense with a truck or even a car with lifted tires, the ridiculous cost of food at the grocery store, you know...all of it. Even though it was fun to chat with her it got me thinking of you guys out on missions. Life is pretty easy for you guys. You have a place to live that has utilities taken care of for you, you have a card that has funds added to it that you aren't 'working' for (you know what I mean), and you have a schedule that you put together for yourselves with a goal in mind to share the Gospel day in and day out. I am worried that real life when the mission is over is going to be harder than one could ever fully anticipate. It was a good eye opener for me to listen to her talk about all she is working through.

This weekend weather has been absolutely amazing here at home too. We spent all day outside working yesterday. We got up and Tyler and I were able to sit out on the porch and chat about life and what we wanted to try and accomplish out there while the sunshine was starting to warm up as it made its way up into the sky. We pulled weeds, we pulled overgrown grass that was in the flower beds, we raked up so many leaves I am certain the whole city of Herriman must have dropped them all in our front yard! Tyler worked on the water feature. It hasn't been on for forever because it was struggling to hold water for some reason. Well, as he got into it he realized that there wasn't just one reservoir tank but instead there are 4!!! Yeah, 4! So...he dug them all out and cleaned up the gunk and rocks that were clogging it up ridiculously good, and I *think* or maybe I *hope* that this will remedy it. I love the sound of the water running and I really love watching the birds play in it too but what a total pain in the butt. While he was putting that back together I got the front lawn mowed and used the leaf blower to clean up after myself. Once we finished up there we headed out back. I started on the lawn while Tyler was working flower beds. He started to trim the grasses out there like we had done out front. The grass is coming in nice and thick. Holy cow...the lawn mower hated a couple of spots! I love the smell of the fresh cut though so I kept at it. The back lawn took much longer than I anticipated but in the end, so so pretty. And it just looks ready and clean you know? Tyler and I ran to lunch in the Rzr (it was out so B could take it for a spin since it hasn't been driven in forever) down to Chipolte. It is new at the Mountain View Village. It was nice to be able to sit outside and eat. Then we headed home to tackle the pool deck and see about what we can do with the whole pool issue....So here's the deal, the pool plaster was super expensive and we picked that one so it was super smooth. Then we paid the pool company last year to maintain chemicals and keep it all in line. Well, when we opened the pool Tyler discovered that the plaster is ROUGH. Like rip your skin off rough! So...call to the plaster company to find out just what in the heck and learn that chemicals are way off. (No kidding!) There are some options: put a chemical in the pool and see if that will break down the buildup that is there, drain the pool and have it acid washed ($$$), or drain the pool and use a diamond bit to go through the whole thing and have it polished ($$$$$$$). To say ticked off would be an understatement. Tyler did some research and found an acid that we can pick up just at the Home Depot so we went down and got it while he drained the pool on the swim deck to uncover the small step in the corner. When we got home and the small step was out of the water he poured the acid on it and it immediately started to bubble and fizz. I panicked...that is expensive plaster!!! But...in 5 seconds it was as smooth as ever! So...now to get the pool open so that we can dump in a ridiculous amount of this acid and have it work through the entire pool and pray that it will work. And from here on out add a little of this product all Summer long and for sure at the end of the season each year too.

Church today should be eventful. Jason Miller has let us know that he is being released as the Elders Quorum President. He says Chris Colling was mentioned as his replacement which means there is an opening in the 1st Counselor spot for our Bishopric and Ryan Balls' name was mentioned as the filler of that spot. You have got to be kidding me! That is the counselor that I work with in my calling and I refuse to work with the Balls at all. They have proven that they cannot grow up and get over whatever issues they have with our house so it would be impossible to have any cohesiveness there. :/ To say I am frustrated...well, you get it. I am sure if this is how it all plays out that there will be a bunch of eye rolling that takes place during all of this. Mine included. I also bagged 60 pieces of fudge from the candy store down the road too. The month of March is the celebration of the birthday for the Relief Society so I figured a treat would do in order to recognize it. I sat by the fire pit outside and tied them all up while Tyler finished his experiment in the pool. I have Ward Council at 11:30 as well and then I am already to tap out for church for some time. (We won't be in town for a single Sunday in April so I guess I will take a month off!)

I hope you have a good week ahead and that you are able to knock out some personal goals as well as some that you have within your companionship. I hope you and Elder Meline continue to thrive together and that you are able to feel and see the hand of the Lord in all things. I hope you are happy and that you are making the most of your time in Africa. I love you and have you in my prayers always.

Love you,

Mom