One Returned, Another Departing

I wasn't kidding when I said life has been super-busy lately. Really.

And even though we've had some great days amongst all the busy-ness, I have to say that yesterday topped all the recent great days, going back to Brandon's homecoming. Because in the mail yesterday, was Cameron's mission call!! One returns, another departs.

Cameron's been working ever since high school, and through the winter he was holding down two jobs plus the paper route. I have to hand it to Cameron -- he does know how to work hard. As a result, he's earned almost all of his mission money. So kudos to him!

Anyway -- the girls and I had a two-hour drive to softball practice last night, so it was 10:30 when we finally made it home, and gathered everyone together for the "opening of the call". We did the same thing with Brandon's call when it came. It's kind of fun to let everyone take a guess on where they think he will end up going. (I was way off: Virginia? NOT!)

Cameron was pretty excited to open it:

Slicing open the envelope:

And then the big smile as he reads out loud to us:

He is going to the California San Fernando Mission, English-speaking!! He reports to the Missionary Training Center in Provo on August 3rd. Two months from today -- after all the waiting, he'll be TOTALLY official!! We are soooo excited for him!

It's interesting that his packet sounds similar to Brandon's for clothing needs. Only one suit, and mostly short-sleeved shirts. Southern California and Jamaica are not that different in temperatures! He was also kind of stoked to discover his mission is not that far from where his best friend is now serving. Perhaps if they have another combined mission conference, he may get to see his friend again -- on their missions.

Now we have the remaining preparations to do...... on MY list is another family portrait. My last one with all 7 of us is, coincidentally, two years old....

If I had a Summer House ...

... it would look like this:

What a view!!!

I'm taking a quick break from the family adventures to tell you about my new best friend. She is truly a-mazing. And maybe one day she'll find out what good friends we are -- after I introduce myself!

She's Sarah Richardson. She's a designer, and in addition to her own design firm, she does a show on HGTV called, "Sarah's House". She's done a couple of variations of Sarah's House, and I am IN LOVE with her latest one: "Sarah's Summer House".

If you were visiting a friend on an island, wouldn't you love to wake up in this guest bedroom?

Better yet, if you owned your own summer house on an island, off the grid, accessible only by boat and your husband's private seaplane...... wouldn't this be a great master bedroom?

And the kids could invite their friends to join them.... since their bed is a trundle bed that gives you sleeping space for that lucky friend:

I have yet to see the episode that features this sitting area.... and I can't wait:

My dream of an island getaway is pretty far-fetched.... considering how far inland we live. In the mean time, I'll drool over Sarah's. My dream job would be Tommy's job -- her assistant. Then I could glean ideas and maybe figure out how to use them in my own house.

Now, THAT would be amazing!!