THE FLORIDA MORRILL'S

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

May 28, 2013~ Letter's To Mom

Today for some reason was a tough one for me...not sure why..Just kinda felt blah all day and had a really hard time focusing at work.   I was SOOOOO happy and thankful that not only did I get ONE letter from her, but I got TWO.

I'm seriously humbled. Heavenly Father truly knows my heart and what I need at any given moment. I know Jordan's mission is going to be a blessing to her and the people she teaches. But I'm amazing that in just the past 6 days, Heavenly Father has poured out so many little tender mercies to me and our family!

I KNOW God lives, I KNOW His Son, Jesus Christ lived and died for us. I KNOW the atonement makes it possible for us to live with him again. I KNOW that we all lived in Heaven as brothers & sister's and that Heavenly Father had a plan for us. I KNOW that He wants us ALL to return to Him again!

I KNOW that this is the right place for Jordan at this time in her life. She's sooooooo happy!!!! And that makes me happy for her.

Now....for the updates....
Just updating a few pictures and notes for my missionary. Jordan entered the MTC (Missionary Training Center), on May 22, 2013. My sister and her family met her at the SLC airport and took her down to Provo, UT.

Jordan is SO happy and excited to serve the Lord. She will be at the MTC for at least 6 weeks. From there, it will depend on how quick her visa comes. (Hoping and praying it will be fast!!) We are so proud of Jordan and her decision to serve our Heavenly Father, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It is a sacrifice.  The girls they are gone for 18 months. They can write letters to family & friends, and email once a week, but the only phone calls they make to home are on Christmas Day & Mother's Day. Their total focus is on the Lord's work. AMAZING!! I'm in awe of their bravery, courage and faith!

Jordan LOVES letters!!! If you want to drop her a line her address is:

MTC Address:** (For the first 6 weeks)

Sister Jordan Ashlee Morrill
MTC Mailbox # 72
BRA-FLO 0702
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

She can write letters when she can, but only has access to email once a week. They are very busy learning the language and are in classes for most of the day. One COOL way to keep in touch with her is http://www.dearelder.com. You can write her a letter through here, and it is delivered to her the next day in letter form. I'VE LOVED THIS. The info you need for it is in the above address. I put July as her estimated leave date.

Here are some pictures from our AWESOME~ SISTER MORRILL

This is TRULY how I've felt this week.
Very thankful for many things.

Makes a Momma so HAPPY!!! :)

LOVE her silly goofy notes on the back!
It's so Jordan! :D

I think this is ADORABLE!

Tony Smith is from our ward in Florida.
He's with Security at the MTC.
I LOVE having him there!!! Makes a Momma feel better!
Such a great guy!!!!

Perfect picture...The badge with the Temple! PERFECT!!!

SISTAHS!! ROCK!!

Jordan's district at the Provo Temple

So weird to see that badge with her name on it.
Makes it wayyyyyy real!
Proud Mom! To me it's like a 'Dog Tag for The Lord'.
GOD'S ARMY!!!

This is what:
FAITH, DIVINE NATURE, INDIVIDUAL WORTH,
KNOWLEDGE, CHOICE & ACCOUNTABILITY,
GOOD WORKS, INTEGRITY & VIRTUE,
looks like!!! BEAUTIFUL Young Women!!

Friday, May 24, 2013

May 24, 2013~ SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER...SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER!!!! (Not)

Last day of school for my Jaycee!!! YAY!! She'll be a Junior next year!! CRAZY!!!

She is a busy girl this year! She was on the Mock Trial team and DID AWESOME at competition.

She was in Key Club, Tarpon Leadership, & also Art Club.

She also volunteered for Relay For Life this year to raise money for Breast Cancer! She ended up planning and pulling it all together in two days, when some of the team didn't follow through with most of what needed to be done. Jaycee is DEFINITELY at born leader with a love of life.

So love my girls!!!!

So proud of Jaycee! She's a hard worker, sweet girl, beautiful smile and laugh, and loves her friends and is in love with Owl City...Forever!

Good year Class of 2015!! Happy Summer!!

May 24, 2013~ Little Missionary Miracles (Tender Mercies)

Day 2~ Awesome miraculous day! I know God loves me and watches out for me. Even for things I may feel, that God may think are silly. Today He let me know again, He knows my heart and even small things bring great joy !! Today GOOD things came in 3's!

#1~ Text from and to my dear friend @ 12:22 pm.

#2~ Sweet post made on my FB page from my secret angel @ the MTC.

#3~ @ 4:20 pm Miracle sent from my dear, inspired sister.GOD IS GOOD!!!

The tender mercies of the Lord, never cease to amaze me.

He loves us sooooo much!

I'm very blessed!!

May 23, 2013~ Day 1 Counting UP!!!

Day 1~ Yesterday I was a mess. After Greg & I dropped Jordan off to the airport, he had to go to work, and I took a drive to where else??? The harbor by my house. I sat there as the sun came up and just prayed for pretty much everything and every one. I decided I'm not counting DOWN the days, I'm counting up..Such a better way to look at life.

Today I'm good and made a decision. Instead of a "Mission Countdown" calendar, I'm going to make a "Mission Experiences Count UP" calendar. I'm counting up because all of the blessings Jordan will receive.

I'll be counting the days that she will: meet and influence others, teach other's about our Savior, receive blessing & blessings for our family, she will see miracles happen, she'll have answers to prayers, she'll learn how to work hard, learn to love all the people in Brazil, learn to accept rejection, learn the blessings of being obedient to God's Laws, strengthen her testimony as well as those around her, she'll be a light to everyone who meets her, she'll have life changing events that will impact the rest of her life.

So I'm counting up and not counting down. I'm happy for her and am looking at all she has to look forward to. COUNTING UP!!!

Charlotte Harbor~May 22, 2013

Beautiful sunrise on the harbor.

Bayshore Park @ Charlotte Harbor

May 22, 2013~ THE BIG DAY

Well, the time preparing for her mission is now here! So many emotions for a Mom. SOOOO incredibly happy, proud, excited, inspired, blessed, and did I mention proud...of Jordan and her decision to serve a mission for our Lord. At the same time I felt my heart breaking with the thoughts of not getting to text her, call her, see her happy face, listen to her silliness, and just be around her amazing love of life for 18 months. But everything she is going to do in Brazil will be nothing but good for her!

She has a light that draws people to her. She loves EVERYONE unconditionally. She loves the Gospel, our Heavenly Father & His Son, Jesus Christ. Most of all she loves serving others. She will do great things. She's already a great girl!!

LaDawn kept me up on everything they did from the time they picked Jordan up from the airport, to the quick stop they made in SLC @ Temple Square to see some of her missionary friends she met while she was at school last year, to finding my nephew, Alex & his cute wife Anna, to the final drop off at the Missionary Training Center in Provo.

Great pictures from the day is soooooo appreciated! Thanks LaDawn!!!

The Johnson Welcome Wagon for Jordan

Lots of helpers

Little Helper

Diggin' the Brazil or Bust

The gang

First Stop~Temple Square
Salt Lake Temple

Cousin's unite! Jordan & Alex Jubitz
(hugs ok, they are related) :)

Jordan, Alex & Anna (wife of Alex)

Jordan & one of her missionary friends from Temple Square

The Sista's

Almost there....to Provo, UT..Missionary Training Center

STOP!!! Mission Time...No turnin' back now

Unpacking is as rough as packing..

There goes our girl! Sister Jordan Morrill
Entering the Missionary Training Center

Provo Temple across the street from the MTC

And she's gone...God be with you till we meet again!
We love you Jordan!! So proud of you!!
Go ROCK Brazil!!1

May 21, 2013~One Day More...

With one day to go, the night before the missionaries are given a blessing and set apart as a full-time missionary.

It was a beautiful, heart warming & spiritually uplifting night. Greg & I were blessed to have Jack & Edith Alexander (my cousin's), Bishop MacDonald, Abby Anderson, & Pres Clover (Our Stake President, who gives her the blessing) there. Poor Jaycee has had final exams all week and had SO many projects to finish and things to study, she just couldn't do it all. Love my Jaycee!! This is why she did better in school and I did! :)

The night was wonderful! It was so much more than I expected! Definitely a beautiful night with people that we love so much!