Ryan in Nottingham

Feeling better

I am better this morning. I'll just have to live with a messy house until tomorrow when "I" will have to clean it, because it will be driving me crazy. And you're right Andrea, if I boogey on the dance floor tonight it will definitely help me "fell" better. Sorry, couldn't resist! Love ya Andrea!!

Frustrations-You can skip this one, I'm just complaining.

DISCLOSURE- Below is me complaining. Be warned that this is all it is. So only read on if you really want to.

So, I was talking to someone about blogs tonight, and they mentioned they use it as a release. Well, I guess I need a release. First of all I want to thank Marlene for letting me help her prepare for the wedding reception tomorrow night by assigning me cutting vegetables. I'm sure she had no idea I would need that. I was able to take out some frustration on the vegetables which was good. But, I'm still worked up so hoping if I write it down I'll feel better. I'm frustrated with the men who actually think a teenage boy is actually going to tell his mom what's going on. Apparently there is a campout tomorrow night that I just found out about last night and that was because it was brought up in casual conversation last night with some of the people in charge of the shooting thing on Saturday (which I did know about), they mentioned the boys were camping the night before. SURPRISE!! So, Brandon tells me he needs to bring all of his meals. OK I'm fine with that. So, today I asked Kyle about food and he tells me not only does he have to bring food for him, but for everyone else in his troup. HELLO!!!! Shouldn't someone else be telling me these things, or at least making sure I'm aware of this???? I've complained about this already, but I feel like it might get brought up at a meeting, but sure that will be all that happens and not necessarily his fault. But, I have complained about this before to the boys leaders and nothing was resolved from it then. Heard this campout was announced in priesthood. Oops, I missed that one. So, the one thing I'm asking is they put their announcements (especially ones that affect the parents) in the bulletin. Is that too much to ask??
Anyway, after talking to this person about it, thought I was over it. Until I came home from a fun baby shower and found nothing that I had asked to be done before I left was done. Absolutely nothing. In fact it was worse than when I left. This has been happening quite a bit lately, and this time I snapped. Yes I snapped. I started yelling at my poor children. Not only yelling, but saying things I shouldn't be saying because I feel like this is the only way they might listen to what I'm saying, because they would actually know I'm mad. So, after I got my yelling out, I started chopping vegetables. Didn't take me very long at all. Probably faster than it should have. Well, at least it's done. And I will get a break from my kids tomorrow night and Saturday. I think I need it. Just wish they would actually do their chores before they leave like I asked. Kyle did step up after I got mad and helped out. Brandon did what he had to, then went to bed. Typical. Thanks for letting me gripe. I'll be past this by tomorrow morning now.

Feel the Excitement

Well, here is my first take on blogging. I found I still had a Super Bowl party picture on my camera here in Iraq so I thought I would share the excitement. It is a little piece of home to remind me of all the good friends and things I could be doing instead of hanging out in the desert. Having the Olson's over was nice. We were definitely happy to have the space to host a get together like this since the Olson's and others have so graciously hosted us for years. I have been glad to hear Eric is carrying on with the boys in basketball and has recruited some great help to replace me while I am here. I actually hope I can pick-up some good stuff from James, who has been helping Eric since I left, when I get back. I learn a lot from Eric and can use all I can get until I am to decrepit to play anymore.

That having been said, I also have a picture to share of the Oasis at Al Asad. I got this picture from someone else and I am sure it has been passed around a lot. I have not yet had a chance to go to the Oasis. It does not appear to be particularly clean which is unfortunate. I hope they are doing a better job of preserving it now. Al Asad is the airbase I am deployed to in Iraq. So far this has been a good deployment as I have met more LDS folks here than on my last deployment and they interact together more often. The Oasis here is believed by many to be the well that Abraham stopped at while on his journey reference in Genesis. I have done a little research and cannot figure out where that belief originates but it does seem clear that it is not the "Abraham's well" from the scriptures. The one referred to in Genesis is actually located in Canaan from all I have read. I learned about the well though this past Easter weekend and it was something that I found interesting to investigate a little and think about. The Abraham and Isaac story is the key type of Christ's sacrifice which led to his resurrection which is what Easter is all about for us anyway. Well I have covered Super Bowls and Easter in one blog. I doubt that is very logical but I guess I will get the hang of this as I go.

Ryan's letter

I hate emails sometimes, I just spent the last 20 minutes writing an excellent email, and then it failed. I hate that. Because then I get frustrated, and the second one is never as good as the first one. So I am sorry. Man that stinks.

Gosh. well I have had a good week. The teams in my district are doing really well right now, as are we. We have two baptisms on Saturday. That will be cool. Lets see, I have had a good Easter, but nothing really exciting. We tracted and went to church. That was exciting. Mom asked who the misionarries are in my ward here. They are Elders Nordquist, Sessions, Walker, Christie, Patterson, Lee. Sisters Anap and Wileman. We are looking to have a quite a few baptisms on the the 12th of April. So that will be good. I have been really humbled by all the success here. I hope it keeps going.
Yes mom i am training as well as being the district leader. I think I have the hang of it. I am pretty experienced in both areas. Well I am sorry that this is short, I am almost out of time, but I have had some pretty sweet experiences this week. We have a really cool investigator Shelley, being baptized on Sat., she has come a lonng way and is really excited to be baptized. And she asked me to do it. so that will be exciting. So how are things there? the weather? school? work?
I am happy and healthy, but it is cold, and has snowed the last few days, not today. Well I wish you well, Love you all!

Elder Ryan lee

I finally have furniture in my living room

Well, we finally moved into a house that has a living room. For a while there we didn't have any furniture in a couple of our rooms because we've never had those rooms before. Well, we have all of our rooms filled now. I feel like I'm finally moving up in the world. Just kidding. But it has been fun being able to decorate my house. Still have quite a bit to do. Things like curtains now. Today a valance for my bedroom. Tomorrow, the sky's the limit. Need pictures on that blank wall.

My Dorky Friend Andrea

Well, Andrea told me I needed to add pictures to my blog. And since she has me listed as Lia Bia on her blog, and she won't change it,  I had to figure out a way to get even. So here it is Andrea. Ran across this picture tonight by accident believe it or not. Thought it was cute of you. Bring back memories? It was a fun playground! I will eventually get more pictures on my blog, but had to start somewhere.

New to this.

OK, so I'm not one for blogging. But my friend Andrea keeps telling me I need to. I'll try it for a while and see what happens. Ryan has transfers this week, so haven't heard from him yet. Imagine he must have been transferred since I haven't heard from him. Chris is in Iraq, and their VOIP phones were down so haven't heard from him this week either, except email where he hasn't said much.

My house is finally coming together. Still have a lot of painting to do. Hate painting ceilings, but only have one more to do. That's the kitchen. Will get to it soon. For now will live with it. Trying to sew my valance for my bedroom, but have been uninspired due to exhaustion and business. Seems like there's something going on all the time. I finally have tonight where I didn't have to do anything, and I'm just to tired to do anything except play on the computer. Trying to figure some things out. Especially since Chris changed all of our emails to gmail. I can't get the boys accounts to work at all. And mine is kind of frustrating, because if I don't log on the same computer all of the information is different. So I need to set up the networking system he got and said he would setup but I don't have the patience to wait that long.

Well, this is just a start, will get better at it. Will also attach pictures soon. Once I get the network system up and can download pictures to the computer.

Keep in touch.