Merry Christmas !!!!

Merry Christmas everyone, and may your days be Merry and Bright. We love you all.

Grandpa and Grandma News!!!

Well what a time of Blessings in our household. Alison and Ashton came for the holiday, with news of a new baby. They are having a baby in June, and we are so HAPPY for them.. This is how they told us: We're Thankful for the Little Things
.....Little hands and little feet, we're
thankfull for our little Jenks!
Happy Thanksgiving Grandma & Grandpa
Alison made a cute card and gave it to us with this saying. Well we couldn't be happier. And our other great blessing is our Missionary Son Brett, and he is doing so much better. We had a great Thanksgiving with Grandma Bringhurst, Ron and Susan, Terry, kesha, John and Diane and all their children. We are greatly blessed, and are Thankful for everything and everyone.

Misssionary Blessings

This spider was in the shower, ugh.......
Thanksgiving with other missionaries...They ate rice and Adobo Chicken.


Happy Elder Loveless, we love this picture :)

• Things are actually really really good. I'm liking it here and me and my comp. are getting along really good and we have a few more families to teach.
• The ward we serve in is maybe 100+ that come to church but the list is over 500. Nobody helps us at all, we do it all on our own. We do something that is called OYM or open your mouth. We just walk down the road and talk to people. We are starting to tract now and it is just to see if it is effective in our mission.
• I am in a city called Marikina, about 45 minutes away from Quezon City. My area is only city.
• Our families we found are really cool, and they say they are really interested.
• I used my raincoat for the first time, I didn't get wet at all, so that was nice.
• Other than that spider in the pic we just live with cockroaches and lizards.
• Have a good Thanksgiving and eat some pie for me.

We are so happy to see the pictures of Brett looking so happy. What a great smile. Who can resist listening to that shining face and happy look!!!

Doing Much Better, and the work goes on.

• I am feeling much better and everything so that is nice. I missed 3 days of work, and I have a big rash on my legs and arms, so they are doing some tests, so it will be interesting to find out the results.
• I have a new comp. He is from Salt Lake City, but also from Tonga. He has 5 months left, but he is really fun. He makes me work hard for everything.
• We are teaching an 18 yr old, his grandma got baptised and he is almost ready too. That is exciting.
• We went as guests of honor to another religion meeting. Inglesia Ni Cristo Church, it is popular here, and we talked to the minister. It was cool.
• I'm starting to talk alot more now and it is making things alot better. But the heat is really bad, its about 100 degrees.
• I hope everything is going well for you guys, keep it up and thanks for everything.

Great Blessings

• This is the report from Sis. Ho Ching on Brett:
• Elder Loveless is taking antibiotics for the pneumonia.
• Amazingly, he doesn't feel that bad, so hopefully the medicine will do it's work quickly. He is doing well, he was happy and smiling when our senior missionary couple took him to the hospital . I expect that by next week at this time, he'll be running full speed ahead. It's amazing to me how quickly, with the help of the Lord, that these young men recover.

We feel great relief knowing he is doing pretty well. They are taking good care of him, and always keep us informed. Thanks for the prayers, and concern, and as always we have to F.R.O.G.

Our sick missionary.

At this time we need your prayers for our missionary Brett. He has had the flu for a few weeks in the Philippines, and has now developed Pneumonia. Please keep him in your prayers, so he can gain his health again, to return to his service to the Lord. I am still waiting for more word from his mission mother, and I will keep you informed too.

I keep picking up my feet each day

• Hey Mom and Dad, how is everything in good old Idaho where there is grass, carpet and yards not to mention no really disgusting dogs running around?
• This week went pretty fast for me. I'm starting to get used to it now. We barely ever take trikes anywhere. We have a pretty small area(I think it's big but I guess its small) and we just walk it all day everyday. Its really crazy. I think I walk about 10 miles a day every day. The cool thing is that I don't get tired of walking, I actually love it, its really fun.
• We had a really cool family come to church with us . It was way cool cause we have only taught them 4 times and their name was given to us by another investigator of ours so that was cool.
• I kinda got a little sick this week but I'm OK now, I just have a cough, but MOM no worries.
• We went to church in a new chapel and it was really nice. And Dad all males showed that all except a few had white shirts and ties. It was so nice.
• But i just keep going and going and picking up my feet .
• Love you guys so so much , Brett

Halloween Fun

A little update on Steve and I and our fun Halloween. I love Halloween, I have alot of fun at school with the kids, then I get excited to treat everyone at our door. We had a fun FHE monday at Curtis's and carved pumkins and had fun. Steve flew off to San Fransisco for 3 days, then came home and it was Halloween. I held the fort down while he was gone. Friday we had no school, so I made Doughnuts and chili, and had a great Halloween evening, with Grandma and George here. John and Diane stopped by also. Now it's time to think about Thanksgiving. Thanks for checking in on us. Maybe I can try some pics one day!!!

Things are a little better now!!!

• Well I miss the fall weather. Here it's just hot and hot and hot, and it rains like nobodies business. It will be perfectly sunny and then all of a sudden rain really hard. Its crazy, but its nice and I'm getting used to the way people live here and so its getting a lot better.
• I have found the food I'm going to live off of the next 2 years. Pancit Canton (like Ramen noodles), corned beef on top of my rice with egg mixed in, and tang mixed in my drink (pineapple is the best) and I eat one orange a morning and I'm starting to have oatmeal. I have it all planned out and everything. IT'S GREAT!!!!! But its getting a lot better here.
• There is a leather person that does work for the missionaries and I got my scriptures all leather bound and my preach my Gospel too. It's really cool.
• I was talking to my comp. and he told me I had nothing to worry about because in 20 months I know I'm going home. That really helped me. And Missionaries have 16 transfers and thats how they tell how long you have been out, so thats better to think about too. But everything is going really good.
• I actually really like washing all my clothes by hand. And the people are really cool. I especially like the little kids. I love playing with them and trying to understand them and try to talk to them so its really fun.
• Everybody is starting to ask me how we do things in the states, especially in the church.
• Mom could you find the movie TOGETHER FOREVER? I NEED IT IN TAGALOG. And I need new insoles for my shoes. I have already worn them out. I love my shoes but I need new pads for them.
• And Curtis you are an awesome example, thanks for everything that you have done.
• Thanks for everything you guys are great. Love to all !!! Brett

Adjusting to the Philippines

• Hey Family, The food is not the best in the world and I'm already sick of rice. The house I live in is 24x24 super small and really gross. Already I have killed 4 cockroaches and its just crazy. Mom get this, no toilet paper. You have to use a bucket with a handle and then use soap wash then rinse. Crazy huh. but its really not that bad. You just get used to going before a shower then its not that bad. Oh and no warm water. Cold only, its nice at night coming in from a hot day but in the morning -not. I sweat all day and all night no matter what. I just carry around a rag and deal with it.
• I wash all my clothes by hand. Could you ever believe That I would do this stuff? But I'm still alive . The people love my name Loveless. They talk to me all day about it and say how it is rare and everything.
• The people here are so humble. They literally live in a clay box. Just one little room like ten feet square, with six people there. But they are really nice and the kids are so cute. There is one little girl named Genesis and I think she is 6 but she is my favorite.
• We watched General Conference this weekend it was so good. Lots of good information and everything. I know the church is true, but it is so different here. The church we go to has little plastic seats in the chapel we sit on and there is no carpet anywhere in the Philippines.
• The people are a little rowdy, its just different from home. They don't wear white shirts, the bishop or anybody, they just wear something that looks nice.
• We are going to the mountains next week for an activity so that will be fun.
• I have lost weight and my pants don't fit me anymore so I need to get some pants made for me and getting my scriptures and preach my gospel leather bound. I will send pictures then you will understand why.
• So far everything is going OK I guess but a lot to get used to and just get over. Love Brett

• So as Bretts mother I feel bad he is going through such cultural shock. I want to be there and make it easier for him. But I also know this is the Lords way of tempering him and making it easier to love the people he is there to serve. I love Brett and all missionaries who find the world is made of someone other than ourselves. I have to F.r.o.g.(Fully rely on God). (Thanks Jennylin)

tagged

Oh, I've been tagged by my own daughter. I'm not weird or anything like that. But my husband says differently. OK, here goes the list.

1. I hate to touch raw meat. I use baggies on my hands or gloves. (Does this sound familiar?)


2. Sometimes the feel of others hands touching mine creepes me out.


3. I hate to ride on snowy roads, I will cancel any trip because of it.


4. Having the lid up on the copy machine at my office drives me nuts.


5. My husband says I blow my nose after I eat.


6. The sound of people popping their chewing gum is gross.


7. Packages that are hard to open, like DVD's , CD's, candy bags, cereal, Etc. really tick me off.

So there you go. I'm not perfect after all. So now I put an end to this!!!!!

First days in the Philippines

• Everything is really different here in the Philippines.Today is Tuesday, my p-day, we were able to go to the temple and then go shopping and now just out working. My trainer is from Hawaii, Elder 'Ulu'ave. My first day here we just took our bags and went out to work. The first person we met was our ward mission leader, cool huh. We talked to him and then Bro. Mojar also the ward mission leader who is a tricycle driver took us to our first lesson, Chito and his wife. They will get baptised when they quit smoking.
• The food is different and they eat all day and it makes me sick but I'm getting used to it, and mom I drink plenty of water so have no worries. The rain is crazy and I sweat all day but its not to bad.
• I don't understand a single thing the people say. They talk so fast and so much slang that its crazy but they say I'm doing pretty good.
• The church is way different, no carpet at all. The traffic is super crazy, no laws, no speed limit, nothing, not even traffic lights really. Everyone just goes and squeezes in and does what they want but I have only seen one accident.
• But everything is going really really good.

Safe and sound in the Philippines

Sis. Ho Ching sent us an email about Brett's safe arrival in the Philippines. We are so very grateful for the good news, and felt instant love for this dear mission mother. Now his adventures begin, but I must say Brett has enjoyed his 9 weeks in the MTC. He has already grown in so many ways, and learned a lot. Growing in the gospel is a journey for all of us.

Brett flies to the Philippines

Well the big day arrived for Brett to fly off to the Philippines, and he was able to call us from the airport. What a great missionary he will make. He is so excited to get in the field, a little nervous, but happy to be going. It is a very long flight from LA to Taiwan is about 13 hours, then 2 more on down to Manilla. Way to go Elder Loveless. I will write more when I hear more.

Meanwhile, Steve and I are busy with our life. I can't believe how busy we stay. And we are truly enjoying our Temple here in Twin Falls. It is wonderful. This is one of our many blessings in our lives.

In the beginning...

Well Hi everyone, and welcome to my attempt of our family blog! This will be challenging for us, and exciting at the same time, and I can keep everyone up on Brett's mission, and our exciting life. Thanks for looking us up!