Crash 'Silver Lining'

Well, last week we had a fender-bender with our car and it is in the shop getting repaired.  It will delay us getting home a few days.  Traffic here is the worst in the world so being that we almost made 1 year without a wreck is beating the odds.  We have a rental car, a big mini van which is very nice with every kind of gadget you can't even think of. 

Last night we went to visit a former investigator.  She is married and has 5 kids.  She is always complaining/bragging about having 5 kids.  She says everyone criticizes and makes fun of her for having 5 kids.  The Elders asked me to tell her how going to Church has been a blessing to me.  I told her how in the Church we consider children a gift from the presents of God.  The Elders asked her to come to church and she started making excuses. The Elders told them it would be our last Sunday and she was very sad to see us go and said she would come.  The best part is we have a car large enough to take her and all her kids.

Abigail on the Move

This was on her birthday. For more Albright happenings you can go to my blog at codyandutahna.blogspot.com We hope Holly get some good video and pics when little Isaac makes his appearance!

Holy Ghost

One thing that I have learned on my mission:  I have always assumed that the feelings you get from the Holy Ghost come inside you because of what you hear or see, something spiritual.  As we sit in on discussions with the French Elders we do not understand what is being said but we feel when the Holy Ghost starts to come during their lesson.  We know the minute that the investigator starts to doubt or gets argumentative just by how we feel for the Holy Ghost leaves immediately.  It is outside us and there in the room.  Something very real and tangable.  Something to think about.....

prepared???

I am the most pregnant that I've ever been. Are you guys praying that I give birth after you get back from the mission??? It would be good to know. Every day I try and think of a good reason or two to not have the baby that day so I won't be too disappointed if it doesn't happen. I am selfish and moody and needy, but I can also be sweet sometimes and I think my family forgives me for the other stuff. Samuel and I and maybe Ethan are a little sick so maybe Isaac will come when we get better. I think we are reverting back to Isaac Henry instead of Isaac Taylor, but who knows?
My smoothie belly button (Samuel now calls it button instead of just butt) is starting to become an outie and one of my pokey moles went through dramatic changes before falling right off. Ethan and I drew you another volcano picture this time with bugs and flowers, but he likes it too much so he wants to keep it. We liked the puzzle card you sent.
We had testimony meeting today and I would like to add that I know that Heavenly Father is aware of and blesses my efforts to be a better Mother and Wife. He knows me and I feel His love.
You are in our prayers. Happy New Years.
holly

Our Last Baptism

We and the Elders met with Nichole today.  She has been coming to church and taking lessons for a long time but has not committed to baptism mainly because of coffee.  Today she told us that when Rene was confirmed and given the Holy Ghost she saw a flame of fire come down and go into him durinig the prayer.  The Elders had her read 3 Nephi 11.  It tells of Christ's first visit with the Nephites. After they felt his hands and feet He taught them about baptism and confirmation and in verse 35 it says ".... and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost."   Maybe because I had my eyes closed or maybe because of my superior sophistication I did not witness this.  But I am glad that she shared this sacred experience with us.  She will be baptised Jan 15, our last Sunday here.

We are so blessed

Awhile back we were briniging home 2 members from the Saturday night session of Stake Conference when we noticed that our warninig light indiciated that a tire was low (20 psi).  We started looking for a tire shop/service station.  Everythinig was closed and we dropped off our people.  Still looking and praying as we went home, we were not happy thinking about having a flat tire at 10 pm in a questionable neighborhood.   We knew that we had investigators to pick up early for tomorrow's church.  Then as we watched, to our amazement the gage started rising.  By the time we got home it showed 30 psi.  We got up in the morning thinking we would have a completely flat tire but we started up and the warning indicator didn't even come on.  We went to church with no problems.  We have been amazed and grateful for how the Lord has looked out for us while we have been on our mission. 

For the love of gum

I've started doing my blog again at codyandutahna.blogspot.com if you want to catch a glimpse of our daily blessings. We tackled Wal-mart today, all four kids and myself, six days before
Christmas. Yes, I am insane. It started pleasantly enough. Corban ran in to
twist all the gumball machine levers and, to his delight, and for the first time
ever, actually got a free gumball! Had I only known the trouble that gumball
would soon cause. We wound in and out of the isles hitting everything on my list
in what seemed like molasses fashion, amidst all the other shoppers and the kids
wanting to show me every other toy we passed by. All too soon Abigail was
fussing to get out of the cart, as well as Corban, who had been riding in the
back, and was getting crowded among the canned goods. So now, single handedly,
my family is congesting the isles. I'm trying to get the kids to stay with me,
to not get in front of the cart, to not grab items from shelves, to not jump out
in front of other people, to not run, to not climb on the shelves... and I've
realized we've moved from molasses fashion somehow to a frozen molasses stage,
culminating with Annali counting out all her pennies to make a purchase of her
own as we check out. Finally we are headed out the automatic glass exit doors,
(which at this point look almost as good as the pearly gates congratulating me
for enduring to the end) when I realize Corban is trailing a bit behind, off to
check the gumball machines again. This time he comes up empty handed, and that
is all too unacceptable, since he knows those gumball machines can now put out
for nothing. He refuses to leave them. Abigail has reached her boiling point in
my arms, and while I pull the cart with one hand, I send Annali and Chandler
back to get Corban. They had to drag the screaming child behind me all the way
to the car. He's 100% ballistic by now, which is not normal for my sweet little
guy. But it is what it is. As they get in and I'm buckling Abigail, Corban
shoots out of the car to make a run down the parking lot for the gumballs again.
Luckily he wasn't hit by a car. I put him back in the car. He tries about 20
more times to open the door and escape while I loaded the groceries. Finally
Chandler got him to calm down by sharing some of his candy with him. And I'm
thinking, "Never again!" But through all of this I was actually able to keep my
cool. I didn't yell. I didn't strangle. I could see the moment for what it was
while I was in it, and so I was able to stay in control. This is a BIG
improvement for me :) I feel like I'm slowly becoming more the mother I'm
supposed to be, and I really feel that it is homeschooling my kids is the road
that is taking me there. And I do have wonderful kids helping me all along the
way. Really, they are, even my sweet little gum-loving Corban. We are so
blessed.

Albright Family Band

You made our Monday!!! :)

And here is our pipe cleaner snowflake Holly wanted to see. Up close it looks kinda spidery, but you get the idea.

Photo Shoot

Took some family photos, not the best quality as far as resolution, so we are doing them again, but here is what we got. I think they turned out pretty good. I finally found what I needed to complete our outfits at the 12th store I had gone to that day, around 11pm the night before the photo shoot... I hate trying to coordinate for 6!

Halloween

we were all sick most of Oct. so when we got better we got tons of candy to make sure that we would not be too healthy. What is everyone's plans for Thanksgiving week. Tanner gets off 2pm on Thurs. on Friday I'm not sure yet what his hours are.

Jill & Tres came to visit

We had a great visit with Jill and Tres when they came to DC to see the signts and see what Grandma and Grandpa were doing on our mission.  They spent a lot of time walking, walking, walking in the mall and even got to try the sedgeways on a tour.  They admitted they didn't pay much attention to the tour guide but instead were trying to race each other.  We almost got towed when Grandpa parked in a no parking zone while we had pizza one night in DC.  Tres and Jill nearly laughed themselves silly watching Grandma navigate with the GPS telling Grandpa how to get to the airport.  Aw well, technology is for the 'youngsters'.  Leaves are changing and there is a snap in the air.  Winter is just around the corner and our time here is winding down. 

Cash Scores a Touchdown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oobpflWp370

Here is a link for a video of Cash playing football. Lucky is doing great also, just learning how to use the camera and download the videos.

Our Prophets and Apostles

Here is Corban @ 3 1/2 with his conference prep song. Conference was so great. My favorite line was Elder Anderson: "[Children] are what God gave you time for." And here is proof :)

Some late pics & news

Corban after water relay at Aspen Grove
Abigail getting blessed.

The kids at the BYU/ Ole Miss game with Dad. Chan opted out of pics.

Abgail gettting blessedLove these boingy curls. Mom, keep the scissors away! No, that is not my rear.

Chan and Corban hoopin it up at Aspen Grove

Chan trying to make a basket with the crazy balls

Abigail snoozin in her Albright shirt

Annali Joy

Chandler was Mr. $ bags, sharing all his gummy worms with his cousins

Everything good here. Had a great time at Aspen Grove for the Albright Reunion. Having all the fun and craziness of school. Abigail has 8 teeth now and is crawling everywhere, putting every little morsel she comes across into her mouth. Chandler is all revved up about selling gourmet popcorn for cub scouts... I guess he has more of Cody in him than I thought, because that sure isn't from me! :) He is also playing soccer, and gets really into that, scoring some goals. And he is finally enjoying piano, which we started up again. I think I had tried to start them too young, but now he is ready, and I'm going to wait to restart Annali when she's 8. We are doing the Jon Schmidt method, which is free and really amazing. Chandler is working on I Am a Child of God, his favorite. Annali is reading up a storm, and rewrote the book, Eek, There's a Mouse in the House for me as a thoughtful gift. She is right there to always help out with Abigail, and can always get her laughing. Corban is starting to sound out words. He is also my big helper in sorting laundry. As soon as the clothes are pulled out of the dryer he is on them! We all went to the temple today. It was just what I needed. Did a stake youth choir for stake conference last Sunday. It was really fun working with them. Cody is busy with work and scout stuff, but sure is a good daddy when he is home. Love you all!

Sports Day

Wednesday we had a mission sports day.  All the missionaries went to a members farm where he has a summer camp with soccer fields, basketball, etc.  They played what they call Hero Ball. I'm not sure what the rules were but there was a flag in the center that had to be captured and run to the goal line, there were soccor balls being kicked, frisbees being thrown and little socks with flour in that they threw at each other 'disabling' others so they had to leave the field until replaced.  Then we all ate tons of food.  Fun was had by all and we enjoyed watching.  Only 1 twisted ankle in the bunch.  What a fun group of guys and girls.  We're glad we are old.

Monica Boh

Let me tell you about Monica.  She is a member from Cameroon.  She was a teacher in Africa and her oldest son is a catholic priest.  She has 9 children.  She came to US to visit her nephew and they took her passport and made her their servant and babysitter.  They told her that her visa had expired and if she complained she would be put in jail.  Finally she got help from a friend and ran away.  That is about the time she met the missionaries.  She joined the Church and has been to the temple.  She was working as a nurses aid but could not continue because of an injury to her back.  She has no job now but works a few days a week cleaning houses.  She said she was a 10 in Africa (economy wise) but is a 1.5 in the USA but would  not go back because she has found the church here.  She feeds the missionaries every week (all 6 of us) and says she wants to help in any way she can.  She is quite a good cook and usually cooks traditional African food.  She told me this week that when she got her patriarchial blessing they told her she was from the tribe of Benjamin.  She loves the church.  She has become a good friend to us. 

This is a picture of Monica on the left with her daughter Adell who came from Africa to visit her.  She has not seen her in 8 years.  Adell married an African-American from Georgia who went to Africa to find a bride and now both are investigating the church in Georgia thanks to Monica. 

Hurricane

We stayed up until 1:30 Saturday night to see the hurricane. Got sleepy and went to bed.  It was really blowing.  We went to an appointment until about 5 pm and it was raining very hard and I was scared.  The Stake President cancelled church and the Elders were bummed because they had a record amount of new investigators and 1 baptism that got cancelled.  When we woke up Sunday morning it was calm but we noticed a big hole in our green tree wall.  A tree had been glown down about 30 ft from our balcony but blew down away from the apartment building.  A few doors down another tree blew down toward the building.  Hmmm... The Lord is still watching out for us.

Earthquake

Today we were teaching Elvis with the Sister Missionaries when we thought we heard a large dog scratching at the front door then the house starting REALLY shaking.  Dad told everyone to get under the doorway and then the Sisters asked him to say a prayer.  Elvis had been telling us that he believed everything we had been teaching him but he has been praying to God to tell him whether or not he should change churches.  The Sisters promised him that he would get an answer to his prayers when ....  Hmmmm..........  The Sisters were upset and excited.  This is quite unusual for this area.  Glad we weren't at the apartment because it is old and brick but seems to be still standing. 

Sailing

Last Saturday the Senior Couples went sailing and a crab boil.  A Stake President and Patriarch who live on the Chesapeak bay invited us and we had a great time.  I could really like the sailing stuff.  The bay was calm so I imagine on the open ocean it might be ruffer.  The crab was delicious but getting the meat out was labor intensive.  They are trying to arrange a tour of the White House for December.  We are having a great time.  Dad has had the flu the last week but is not on the mend except for a cough.  We love and miss you.

Mission News

We have been meeting with the Elders and teaching a family: Daniel, Zinab, Samual (4 yrs) and Abraham (2 yrs).  They come from Sierra Leon Africa and have been here about 6 months.  They fled Sierra Leon during the war to save their lives and stayed in another country about 10 years trying to get visas to USA.  They are now living with a relative trying to get established here.  They feel so excited about learning about the true church.  Daniel said the Book of Mormon is like food to him; his breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Because they have found this church they are able to sleep in peace for the first time in a long time because their situation is so desperate. They will be baptised on Sunday, July 31 and he said they have decided to fast starting on Friday before their baptism because they are so thankful. He said there were not words to describe how they were feeling about the church.