Monday, August 31, 2009

Feeling like our old self

We went over to Ronald McDonald house on Friday night and had dinner. They have a beautiful newly renovated place. It is not like Target House. You share the common areas of TV and kitchen and there is like only a space to sleep with your kids that is private. I told Devree that the Lord knew that I couldn't handle that kind of living for 7 months and I was glad to go to Target House 2 which is the roomiest and the best!!!!
Getting our pedicure. Devree choose blood red polish.


Devree and Tayzia doing the foot soak and getting massaged in their chairs.

We had a pretty great weekend. We were treated to dinner and a pedicure by Celest and Tayzia. Our toes look so pretty and even have little jewels in the middle of flowers painted on our big toes. Devree and I thought they were a little rough on her toes but we were glad they didn't make her bleed or anything. They had these awesome massage chairs while we were getting our feet done. I loved that most of all. Connie and Stephanie that is what we should insist on the next time we get a pedicure. The sad part is Devree can't show off her cute toes because she has to wear sneakers all of the time to support her leg braces.

We spent the night and went to church. We said Goodbye to the Germantown ward. Breck and the sister missionaries gave excellent talks about "Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going after this life?" It was perfect because I had talked Tayzia into inviting her friend Paul to church. I told her that Paul needed the gospel in his life and he came to church and stayed the full 3 hours. Breck made me cry because he ended the talk about how wonderful the ward has been to Devree and I. When we went back to Breck and Celest's, I told the story of how my Dad was converted by those 3 questions that the talks were on. Celest, Tayzia and Talon did not know that story about Grandpa Rice and how he was converted by the missionaries that were actually teaching his Mom and brother when he came home on leave from the army. The missionaries were on that discussion "The plan of Salvation". I think Paul knows enough other Mormon kids on the football team that he can really be fellowshipped in the church.

Brenda Griffin is inviting us to dinner tonight for our final farewell. We will check out of Target House and spend our last night in Tennessee with Breck and Celest. We will have our final appointments and then fly home. YEA!

We will surely miss the wonderful people we have met in Germantown ward and at St. Jude's. This has been a challenging and exciting past 8 months. I am glad for the experience but I am glad that we get to go home and start living our life again. I have to tell you one last funny thing. Devree and I were listening to the radio and Miley Cyrus "The Climb" came on. Devree snorts and says "What does Miley Cyrus know about ANY CHALLENGES!" Devree doesn't like Miley Cyrus very much. I started laughing my head off. I said "You don't think that a girl that is worth a billion dollars knows about challenges?" I smiled to myself that as soon as that song was released, at St. Jude's so many parents chose that song as their ringtone for their cell phones.

4 comments:

walkinourshoes said...

Dear Aunt Shana and Devree,

We are so happy to hear that all is well. It looks like you had a fabulous weekend. We are so excited for you to return home tomorrow. Happy trails to you. We love you so much.

Love, Craig, Koe and Kylee

Darcy said...

I'm so excited to see you guys this week! And I really don't like Miley Cyrus either. She's turned into quite the tramp the last time I saw here, but her parents are oh so proud.

PaulaShawn said...

Actually, poor little Miley knows a whole lot about living a challenging life. She doesn't have the anwers to those three questions your brother talked about at church yesterday. And, sadly, because of that she will not only face mountains to climb, but she will end up building many of them. I definitely would take Devree's challenges over Mileys!

Your dad is oozing with joy and happiness anticipating the return of his girls. This is too exciting!

It's finally here, this day of returning home. Sometimes it seemed it would never come. But you are more refined and polished so beautifully, all because you have "fought a good fight, [you] have finished [your] course, [you] have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). Thank you for being such radiant, positive, cheerful, charitable, and humorous examples!

We love you!

Cheryl said...

Yeah, I am excited to hear things are going well. I am super jealous about those pedicures!

Im going to have to agree with Paula about Miley. But then again, so matter what we do or dont have, we all face our own unique challenges. One day you will realize the purpose for the trial you and your family have endured. I hope that you will be able to say it was worth it.

We love you and welcome home!