Happiness

  Today I want to talk a little about Missionary Work. I loved my mission that I served in January 1999-July 2000 (over 22 years ago) in the Spain, Bilbao Mission. It was amazing. I loved teaching anyone who would listen to us about the restoration of the Gospel and about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and their love for them. It was hard and challenging but I think about it almost every single day of my life as one of the most influential experiences that influenced my love of service and my testimony of the Gospel. Now, I have twin sons who are out in the field serving missions- Ethan in Idaho Falls and Jonah in New York City. This makes me so happy and I am so very proud of them and the work that they are doing! Who knew when they were younger that this day would come so quickly. Asher will go in two years as well.  How proud of them I am for the work that they are doing for the Lord. I know that the Lord loves them and is supporting them in each of their trials and effor...

  Ethan and Jonah got their mission calls! Jonah will be going to the New York City Mission (the North and South missions have been combined) Spanish Speaking starting online MTC on Monday July 4th, 2022. He is super excited about it!  Ethan is going to Idaho, Idaho Falls Mission. Starting online on Monday, August 1st. They will be about a month apart. This is where my Grandpapa (my Dad’s Dad) lives in a care center (he is 96!) and where my Uncle lives. Ethan is super excited to go serve too. We are so very proud of them and the hard work they have put into preparing to serve the Lord for two years on their own dime. Ethan has worked and will pay for most of it. Jonah has worked and will pay a part of it as well. Yay, go Elder Abbott and Elder Abbott! We sure will miss you but we are grateful for weekly FaceTime options and for your sweet spirits!  

My beloved Spain! Via Online My mission- Bilbao, Spain. So gorgeous! Via online Yesterday, through facebook, I found a link to an inactive blog from 2 years ago from my mission- the Spain Bilbao Mission. They dissolved the mission in 2010- so sad for me- and this blog was from that time period. I loved looking at the pictures of the mission, reminiscing about a few of the same places I had been to- the mission home, Bilbao, La Coruna, Victoria. One member that I knew now has two children who look to be 7 and 5. She was engaged when I knew her and we weren't sure things were really going to happen, so it was great to see that. Two things that struck my mind. It seemed like the mission was running normally. Same kind of Elders- tall ones, shorts ones, funny ones, smart ones. Same kind of sisters- cute ones, Spanish ones, happy ones, serious ones. Same kind of Mission President with his wife. Although they are definitely different people, it seemed to me as though it was the same play...

I normally don't blog on Sunday, but Asher said the funniest thing just right now and I had to document it before I lost it! He said "Can we have light sabers?" (It's right before quiet time and they usually can't have toys) and I said "yes, for right now." Then he said "You are in jail!" with the meanest look. That was funny but then he said "say your prayers!" That was a little more funny but the funniest of all was when Jonah told Asher (and this was a while back) "Say your prayers! (Asher learns everything from his siblings!) and Asher replied... "Dear heavenly Father, Thank you for the day..." I wanted to reply that when said it to me now, but I just laughed. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott. p.s. Afdab didn't attend Church today, but I hope with more discussion he will come another time.

It's very chilly outside today! This morning we woke up to FROST on the inside of our window and an outside thermometer read of -1 degrees! Needless to say, I canceled the trip I had planned for the gym at 8 am today! I already have to go outside to take ELIZABETH to BALLET lessons! Aaah! What is this California girl supposed to do? Josh will take the boys to a class at Lowes and pick up my blue paint for me. We signed up for the Missionaries to come help us paint, but then we didn't want to really work that hard this weekend, so we called and canceled on Monday. Last night, at 9:50 pm, we got a call from the Elders asking us if they could help us with anything else today. It is so cold, the Mission President told all Missionaries to stay inside today! You know it's cold that the MISSIONARIES can't even go out. They go out in the freezing rain. Everyone here is way hyped about the INAGUARATION. There are supposed to be 3 million people attending it on Tuesday. Hotel...

Hi, Everyone, I had a wonderful missionary experience this morning and just wanted to share it and ask for your prayers of faith. As some of you know, I joined Golds Gym in November, right when I started taking Lexapro (my depression medicine). This was so that I could get off of it as soon as possible. Anyways, I began to talk to the regulars who go there. This morning, after not going to the gym for a week to two weeks because of Christmas break, sickness and injuries, I committed to going no matter what. It was freezing and icy outside but I went anyways, despite the kids protest not to "go to the gym." I asked them to turn on Regis and Kelly for me and began walking next to one of the regulars- Aftab- although I didn't know his name. He asked me where I had been and we started talking. We talked politics and he took a break for some water. Upon returning, he said "Que passa, chica?" I replied "No, mucho? y tu? I s...