this is for you connor...

caitlin's mission call is here...

love you much, son.

maybe...

maybe it's because i have one just called.  maybe it's because i  have one already out there.  maybe it's because i have the possibility of two more waiting in the wings.  maybe it's just because this message carries with it the real truth of why they do what they do, {all 54,000 of them} - finding the one;  even when that one may appear to be the most unlikely of ones, and doesn't even know they are lost.

whatever the reason, this was the perfect way to begin my saturday morning...

with the spirit.  and a good cry.

even the lord can't say no to her...

while she worked hard to tune her desires with those of the lord, she was really hoping and praying to be sent somewhere cool and exotic - and not necessarily...here, stateside.  by thursday, she had accepted that where ever she was called to serve, it was of the lord and would be fine with her, even if it was boi... well, we won't mention any names.  but she couldn't hide her relief when she opened her call thursday evening and read that she would be serving in the....

ARGENTINA SALTA MISSION!

she reports april 25th, 2012.

she is thrilled, and nervous, and excited, and all of those many other things that come with pursuing the unknown.  but above all she is confident and at peace that this is what she needs to be doing with her life at the moment, and feels blessed and honored to be entrusted with the wonderful people of argentina.

we love you, caitlin.

and with the click of a button...

the first submission.

this one goes to the bishop - caitlin still has to meet with the stake president before the final recommendation is submitted to the first presidency.  she's nervous, and excited, and completely committed to this endeavour;  and i'm loving having her back in our ward, sitting beside me in church on a sunday afternoon.  our family spot on the pew has felt sort of empty since she started going the singles ward, connor left on his mission,  and steven took his spot in the bishopric seats.  the arguing over who gets to sit beside me is pretty nonexistent - so that's been a plus - but, as much as i love madeline and liam, it does feel a little lonely with just the 3 of us.

of course i better get used to it, because with any luck, by early next year it'll be just the 3 of us again!

and that's a good thing.

forget the title; let's just get on with the announcement..

caitlin has decided to serve a

M I S S I O N!!!

while her decision to go seems to be a swift and sudden one, in truth she's been considering (read...suppressing) the idea for a little while now.  unbeknownst to the rest of us!

between a seemingly innocent, but i'm realizing now, inspired, conversation tuesday night, and a priesthood blessing from her dad yesterday, the choice was all but made - she just had to say it out loud.  and she did...about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon!

we are so excited, and couldn't be more thrilled - i know we've each been led by the spirit to help her arrive at this decision.

she'll meet with the bishop sunday and get all the paper work started. it's amazing to think that if all goes well, she could have a mission call by christmas!  it's kind of blowing my mind that we'll have two children out at the same time!

i'm getting that deja-vu feeling...

didn't we just do this!

we're going hi-tech...

this is one of my favorite pictures.  it was taken at the temple, the day before connor left.
i love his hands:  the thought of them blessing the people of oregon makes me so happy.

elder scarlett's mission website is here...

i found this missionary website through another missionary mum.  i need to finish updating the photos, and then make a valiant effort to keep it current.  i figured since i don't have a lot of the australian family emails, or the american family emails for that matter, this might be a good way to keep you all in the missionary know!

on the left side of the page there's a link to currents letters from connor, and if you click on the "dearelder" link you can actually write to him.  there's money on the account - use it. please.  just write your letter, click send (to the mission office), and the good people there at the mtc mail center will print and post it for you.  eazy-peazy!

the cat's out of the bag...

on october 1st, the church is kicking off a media campaign in our area...and a few other areas here in the western united states.  as part of that campaign, local members were asked to complete an "i'm a mormon" profile.  after perusing some of the profiles already posted, and especially after watching most, if not all of the video profiles, i felt more than a little inadequate.  those people are so stinkin' cool!  i mean, i like myself well enough...but seriously - i'm not one of the most interesting people on the planet.  i'm just regular folk!  i've never started my own company. i don't restore things.  i still have all my limbs, have never lost a child, (misplaced one for a little while once!), and i've never had, or recovered from, some debilitating health crisis!  how am i supposed to compete with all that?!

i finally realized i don't have to.  and nor should i.  the purpose of these profiles is to introduce a whole plethora of "just regular folk" to the gospel of jesus christ, and help bring them to an understanding that they are, quite literally, sons and daughters of god.  the god.  the same god who made the earth, and the universe, and everything in, on, and around it.  that god!

and in reality, doesn't that fact make us all so. stinkin'. cool!

so this is why
i'm a mormon

yes, i do have other children. but they don't send me letters that i can just copy, paste and post...

HEY EVERYONE!!

Sorry this letter is coming in on Wednesday, but transfers have been crazy!

So I've got some exciting news...I'M A DAD!! (in the mission).  I'M TRAINing a new missionary!! =)  Crazy, huh?!  That's what I said too!  But the Lord feels I'm ready to do this, so I can only lean on Him and go in faith.  My companion's name is Elder Ketchum, and he is from Goodyear, AZ. - yeh yeh! AZ boys, reppin' in Eugene Oregon!

This week has been literally crazy.  Elder Fig and I had been doing work with English and Spanish, but he wasn't called to Spanish speaking...therefore he does not speak it - SO that really opened my eyes to this work, and how the Lord really does take care of us.  So we did this thing called missionary baseball - you get your phone, go through it and call everyone single person you don't know on your contact list because it cleans out your phone of people that aren't interested, or numbers that don't work anymore.  We've also been tracting a lot...because we have to find the elect!  We taught Alma Mendez, and after we were done she goes "Elderes quieren comer?" (do you want to eat?), and we both looked at each other and said, "yes!"...then realized that we have  another dinner in 1 hour...haha...so we ate at BOTH appointments!  and it was hard!  I guess that's why I've gained 26 pounds so far... =/   But, I'm reaching my end goal of 185! =)

Investigators are doing great!  Little hard to get them to commit to certain things...like read the book of mormon, or pray, or come to church...but then again, ya know that's just missionary work - the Lord works in his own time.  We also had an appointment with Jose Reyes again, and he is so ready to come unto Christ, but he just has to keep reading to Book of Mormon. Then on Sunday we had fast and testimony meeting and i have found that I don't always have to bare my testimony, but that it's nice to hear everyone else's testimonies, and how the gospel has blessed their lives.  My testimony has grown so much over this time on my mission. (I don't like to think how long I've been out because it just makes me think of how much little time I have left!)

But anywhooo...back to training...I'm stoked!  On Monday all the trainers met at President's house, down in Eugene, and it was so cool so see everyone =)   I love Sister Young - she is like my mom with her little quirks - so she is mom on my mission =) (Love you, my real Mom =) )  We got a packet on how to train, and what are some things to do right now in the first 12 weeks of this new elder's mission.  Oh...also, I forgot extra clothes at my apartment, so I slept in my suit pants, haha, and then took a run in President's shoes, and my suit pants, and my white shirt!  haha...stud i know! =)  When the new missionaries came it was so cool!   Elder Ketchum and I are now living with 2 other missionaries - Elder Puertas and Elder Bell - super cool missionaries!  So Friday we are going to figure out what areas we need, all that kind of stuff.  But I'm so stoked to be on a mission!!

I love you all, and hope and pray for your safety.

Have a great week =)

Elder Scarlett

elder scarlett...

welcome, to the oregon eugene mission...

they all scrub up nicely, don't they?!

connor finally arrived in oregon on june 14th - along with 21 other bold, bright and somewhat bewildered young men. fyi...connor is front and center, standing beside the mission president's wife. doesn't he look so handsome? pres. mcdonald and his wife recently returned home, having completed their tour of duty. pres. young took over the reigns, and after a recent visit with him, connor's official report to us is that he's "awesome!"

connor's first area is salem - oregon's capital. he is loving it there. he says the city is just beautiful, his apartment, which he shares with his companion and two other elders, is pretty nice, and, he assures me, they're all fed really good, authentic mexican food each night by families in the area. he's even put on 10 pounds just to prove it!

his address is:

Elder Connor A. Scarlett

Oregon Eugene Mission

55 West 29th Avenue, Ste. A

Eugene OR 97405

USA

it's easier to just send it to the mission office and they'll forward it, than to try and keep up on his current area address. he'd welcome a letter - and you might even get one back!

this is more like the boys we sent out!

this was on their first p-day - a field trip to the state capital building and assorted other sites of interest.

elder pimental and elder scarlett

oregon grove

july 19, 2011

elder scarlett's most recent update...

(spoiler alert...he had his first baptism!!!)

HEY EVERYONE!!

This week has been so awesome! Ok, so for p'day last week we cleaned our apartment and hung out and just had a chill p'day. But since then we've been teaching and talking to a number of former investigators, and lots of other people - so that's good! =)

On Wednesday we had a combined District meeting and that was awesome, cause our new mission president was there and we really learned a lot about how to plan our days better, and how to just be better better missionaries. =) We also had personal interviews with him and his wife about our lives and about what he wants us to accomplish =) Pres. Young is great, and so is his wife!

So mostly this week we just did our best to teach people and everything - then on Saturday...we had a baptism for Gohan, the 9 year old boy we've been teaching. Sadly, his dad could not baptize him - so i did!! It was so, so, so aweseome! i loved it! =) Then, on Sunday, my companion, Elder Pimentel confirmed him, and gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost. Other good news - we also set a date for Mario Maciel to be baptized on the 30 of July! Setting a date for an investigators baptism always feels good! I am loving my mission so far. =) Transfers are coming up soon - it's already been a month since i got here - the time goes so fast, its crazy!! But ya other than that... nothing too exciting...

Love you all.

Have a great and safe week.

Elder Connor Scarlett

prom 2011...

the theme for the evening was

"putting on the ritz"

madeline and colin played the part very well.

very ritzy.

very ooh la la...

madeline and colin

{her junior prom. his senior prom.}

may 2011

it was just a matter of time...

from this...

...to this.

and from this...

...to this.

and this...

hey everyone,

this week was so great! I love singing in the choir. even tho i can't sing its still fun to learn and try, haha!

well the TRC(training) was cool - we took a family to church and they had questions about the church, and ya, then we taught them about the plan of salvation and for them to get baptized but they want to know some more stuff before they do. i have been getting pretty good at spanish - not gonna lie! haha, and i have been reading like crazy... trying to get as much knowlege as i can before i leave here =)

my district, or group of missionaries, are so good to me and we keep each otehr in line =) love my teachers and i meet new people everyday. i met an elder that is going to my mission, spanish speaking, and i gave this random elder a hug... haha =)... casue i knew we are going to be companions. haha.

well today is p-day and we just got back from the temple. Nothing else really interesting - just learning and studying as best that i can. i am also trying to make it work with my companion because i love him, but... he just needs to relax! haha but whatever - i'm happy. i finally realized that i am here for a reason, and i am slowly starting to figure out what that reason is.

thank you to all of you for your examples you are to me!!

love you all,

Elder Scarlett

and just in case you feel inclined to drop him a line...

he'll love ya for it!

and we lived after the manner of happiness...

i have a hand and you a have another...

put them together and we have each other.

and lest we get too, too carried away with the lovefest...

{thanks, to michele flamm for these wonderful memories}

romans 10:15...

"and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,

how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,

and bring glad tidings of good things!"

Elder Scarlett...

"And whoso receiveth you, there will i be also, for i will go before your face.

I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts,

and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

D&C 84:88

{a larger version is available on my facebook.}

my cup runneth over. and over. and over...

i don't even know where to begin.

it's a rare moment - but i am having trouble expressing what i've been feeling these past few months. words and thoughts run through my mind like a hamster on a wheel. constant. tireless. somewhat frenzied at times. they sense the outside world, wanting to make their presence known, but at the first sign of escape they withdraw - suddenly all too comfortable with the familiarity of their surroundings. undeterred, i type a few words...only to find myself tapping the delete key, like i'm sending some desperate s-o-s. i take another stab at it. pause for reflection...this time applying a more steady, even pressure to the deletion process - perhaps as a symbolic attempt at peace and calm.

i'm not sure what it is. maybe some things are too sacred, and i'm not supposed to share them. sometimes, by sharing the countless blessings i feel we've received since connor put in his mission papers, i fear i'd be bragging, or pouring salt on someone elses open wound - there are so many, so much more worthy than us, facing challenge after challenge. sometimes...i just don't know where to begin.

but my heart is so full; it's like a dam ready to burst it's banks after a downpour. the windows of heaven have indeed opened, and i have hardly room enough to receive it all in. i need to find the release valve.

in 24 hours connor will be set apart as an elder. ordained to share the gospel of jesus christ, for the next 24 months, to all who will listen. in less than 48 hours he'll enter the missionary training center where, over the next 9 weeks or so, he'll learn how to do it in spanish. he is excited and eager. he is on pins and needles. he's scared. he's trusting. he is full of faith. while i've loved him all my life, i love him all the more now, because of his willingness to step forward, amidst the fear, and do what he knows the lord requires of him. it was a decision he came to for himself, and for that i am prouder still. the adversary is real, and he has wasted no time in making his presence known. he has tried his hardest this past while to dampen the enthusiasm and increased spirit that has brightened our home and family - it's doubtful he has the notion to back off any time soon. but his efforts have been in vain. i'm compelled to admit it hasn't all been sunshine and happiness around here. i'll admit it's been one grueling, spiritual workout; but it's been one that has only proven to strengthen our family's faith and resolve to trust the god who has never been anything but good and gracious to us. and i am highly doubtful that he has the slightest notion of backing off any time soon.

and for that, i am eternally grateful.

ok. last one...

Reality Check…

By Sharon Scarlett

Imagine if...

the world was square

Would life’s wild, ride be any bumpier than it is already

Imagine if...

cats and dogs decided to get along

Would we follow their example and try a little harder ourselves

Imagine if...

the ocean waves refused to roll

Would we appreciate the calm without the chaos

Imagine if...

men became the birthers of babies

Would the words brother and sister suddenly become obsolete

Imagine if...

I hadn’t found you

Would you still be searching for me

Imagination is all good and well

But I’ll have to keep my reality

Since life without you would be unimaginable

toby...

this afternoon i stole the baby from next door. i told his mama i would take him for a while so she could get a few things done, but in truth i took him for purely selfish reasons. what little light of day that remained wasn't really conducive to taking pictures, but i how could i not. seriously. how?.

haiku-ka-choo...

haiku |ˈhīˌkoō; ˌhīˈkoō|

noun ( pl. same or -kus )

a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world.

#1 - something from nature

waves chomp at the shore

devouring sand and children

forever hungry

...

#2 - something about ourselves

wife and mother shared

trying to keep in balance

success seems fleeting

...

#3 - something of our choosing

winter sun come in

warm the spot by the window

i'll go fetch my book

this is what i did tonight in lieu of dishes and laundry...

delicate sensibilities

by sharon scarlett

honesty is heard

in the desperate, 2 am squall of a newborn;

hungry and cross,

not yet convinced

that this new world of hers

can really hold up to the whispered promises

of eager young parents.

naive, and

full of hope.

honesty is felt

in the hands and heart

of the weary young mother as she deftly

raises the infant to her chest,

gently brushing a cheek back and forth

across the black, velvet down of the babies head,

her heart stretching easily,

willingly,

all the more widely,

to accommodate the breadth of this newly found

love affair.

honesty is the soft scent

of newborn skin.

laundered and lotioned.

powdered and primped.

a hint of her mama’s perfume resting gently upon it,

soft and soothing as an old, worn blanket.

honesty is in the nibble

of each ear, and every finger and toe.

in the kiss of every crease.

it’s lost in every nuzzle of her neck,

and found with each peck on her pink, plump lips.

their flavors combine. sweet and pure as sugar cane.

the young mother just can’t get enough.

smiling to herself she realizes why she can’t lose the baby weight,

and without hesitation decides it’s a fair trade,

and leans in to take another bite of a cherubic cheek.

honesty is seen

in the babe’s clear, bright eyes

as she beams at the sight of her mother’s face drawing near.

she stretches, a soft coo escaping through the hint of a smile.

disinclined to resist,

she quickly gives herself over to the love

found in the clear, bright eyes shining back at her.

mother and child,

lives eager.

ever hopeful.

full of promise.

we're doing poetry again...

if i were in charge of the world

by sharry

if i were in charge of the world?

i'd make the years last twice as long, so they wouldn't pass so quickly.

10 am would be the new 6.

and babies would know how good they've got it and show their appreciation by sleeping through the night.

if i were in charge of the world?

there'd finally be world peace,

and all the beauty contestants would have to come up with something else to do with their lives.

there'd be love, and kindness, and patience enough to go around. even for beauty queens.

and cheerleaders.

if i were in charge of the world?

you wouldn't have to work nights, or weekends. or maybe even at all.

you wouldn't have to worry about knowing how to say the right thing when life goes a little awry. you'd just know.

you wouldn't even mind what you see in the mirror each morning. in fact, you'd love it -

or at the very least be able to laugh at the irony, that in a perfect world...

you are perfection personified.

if i were in charge of the world.

it's official. really...

elder connor alexander scarlett

has been called to serve his mission in the

Oregon Eugene Mission

Spanish Speaking

he reports april 13, 2011

congratulations connor.

we love you, and are so proud of you.