New Year's Eve

 This year it was so fun to have Marissa with us for NEW YEAR'S EVE!  It's our first NEW YEAR'S in TEXAS!  How fun!

For us it was a super relaxing night of comfortable talking, sharing and watching movies. 

All the sudden we realized it was almost midnight.

I had purchased NEW YEAR'S EVE celebration hats, tiaras, and noise makers.  We broke them out, along with some sparkling apple cider and toasted in the new year with a kiss and a swallow.  

 

Week 81: Big Changes

So I am officially in Bangkok (not in Roi Et anymore) and things are just not the same. However, I got some good news! Brother ปิง (ping) got baptized on December 22nd!! I'm so happy for him and for the choice he made to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ :)

Wow this was such a crazy week I don't even know where to begin. To be completely honest, I am writing this email a week late because I didn't really get a p-day last week. But no worries cause I will write 2 emails this week.

To start off, we had transfer day on Thursday and it turned out that most of the mission was transferring. We had a transfer meeting and President asked me to lead the meeting, so right off the bat I had to do things I wasn't used to. Then we had trainers meetings and Mission Leadership conference and I had to pretty much wing all of it. However, I have learned a lot about following the spirit and being confident in myself way more.



My new companion is Elder Sumsion and he is the man. I think I mentioned him in an email a while back, but basically he is by far the best Thai speaking missionary. My first day in the area all the members were telling me how he talks like a Thai person. And he is way chill too so I think this will be a really great transfer and I know I will learn a lot as well!

Overall the first couple of days were a little crazy and way busy I cant even explain it. But I'm learning a lot and having fun too! I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!



Love,
Elder Lowe
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Jessica Tate and Cayson return to Provo, but Marissa stays :)

It was hard to see Jessica, Tate and Cayson go.  They brought such joy and life to the house.  Cayson is so cute.  He has the most engaging smile and infectious laughter.  He runs around all day, up and back down the long hallway, goes around the house searching for Jasper "meow" (especially in our bathroom), and overall joy having them home. 

Friday Fun: Star Wars and Miniature Golf

Friday was super fun.

Tate was super nice and said he would stay home to look after Cayson so Mark, Betsy, Jessica and Marissa could go to see Star Wars IX in the movie theaters.  It is a Christmas tradition (just by chance that all the Star Wars movies come out at Christmas). 

It was fantastic - we loved it.  We wish Tate could have been with us.  I hope Jessica and Tate can see it together back in Provo with the gift card we gave them for Christmas or another good movie.  They deserve it.



After the movie Tate and Cayson met us at the Austin Adventure Center.  First we let Cayson play some arcade games (pretend play).  He was mesmerized by the lights, bells and whistles.

 

   

We played 18 holes of miniature golf.  It was so much fun.  Tate was in the lead with only 26 strokes at 9 holes and Mark was one stroke behind him, but then Mark took the lead on the last 9 holes to win with only 51 stokes, Tate had 52 ... the rest of us were ... well, we had fun.  haha

   

 

From there we went to Red Robin to celebrate an early "Happy New Year" with Cayson, Tate and Jessica (since they are leaving tomorrow), Mark, Betsy and Marissa.  Everyone got exactly what they wanted and we shared laughs, jokes and had a great last night together. 

Back at home, they packed up and prepared for cold weather back in Provo.  Mark and Betsy brought in the Corn Hole game and tried to get others to play with us, but Cayson was the only one that joined in the fun.  He was thrilled to drop the bean-bag into the hole.  "Go Cayson!!!"

It was so wonderful to have their beautiful family here for Christmas and the days prior and after.  We had such great times and adventures.  I hope they had just as good of a time here as we had with them.

San Antonio

12/26/2019 San Antonio Temple:  First stop in San Antonio is to the Temple.  Betsy wanted to do a session with Marissa and Jessica, but then we didn't want to make the guys wait that long so we decided we would do it another time. Plus we found out that the temple doesn't rent clothing so that nailed the decision since Jessica and Marissa didn't bring temple clothes.  We instead walked the temple grounds and found every opportunity to take photos.  We also went to the distribution center where we found a Thai Book of Mormon.  Betsy bought the copy for Mark.  Then she challenged him to read it before Robert gets home.

Families can be together forever

 It was wonderful to be at the temple with our posterity.  Marissa, Tate, Cayson, Jessica, and Mark and I.  Our family means everything to us.

Loving being grandparents to this adorable cutie - Cayson

My daughters are so silly

So grateful for this group

Isn't Cayson the best

Our daughter Jessica and Tate and their son Cayson

Aunt Marissa with Cayson

Betsy with her daughters - priceless and precious

I love these girls with all my heart and I would do anything for them.

I love being a grandma.  If I could I would spend every minute with this cute boy

We love to giggle together

We love to snuggle together

Grandpa loves his time with Cayson too

Awe - so cute!  Kisses

My beautiful, funny, smart and talent daughters!!!

They are my joy (my boys too)

Three musketeers!

Chipotle:  From the temple we drove to the City Center - River Walk. We walked around to find a good place for lunch - we decided on Chipotle.  Delicious and right on the main street.  We saw football players from the University of Utah since Utah will play against University of Texas on 12/28.  Next up the River Walk Cruise:

River Walk Cruise:

The love of my life!

So curious!

Our beautiful little family

Alamo:  After the River Cruise we walked along the river - oh my goodness, it is so pretty there.  We made our way to the Center and went up to the street level.  From there we were able to go to the Alamo.  The line was incredibly long so we didn't go inside (which was just as well - with Cayson) but we toured the outside.  There is so much to see in San Antonio.  We love coming down to the River Walk and central part of town.

Betsy and Mark at the Alamo

Tate, Cayson, Jessica, Mark and Betsy (Marissa taking the photo)

Marissa, Cayson, Tate, Jessica, Mark and Betsy with the Alamo in the background
(and the long line)

DQ: The final treat was DQ on the river.  Everyone got their favorite blizzard (Mark got a slushy) and we enjoyed the 70 degree weather - at the end of December.  WHOOT WHOOT!!!