For the mushy hearted missionary mom with a baby boy in far, far away Lithuania–Christmas day is a fabulous thing. Because Christmas, my lovelies, is one of the four days in two WHOLE years that I get to talk to my boy on the phone.
So, at 12 noon, our time—which was 9 pm Lithuanian time—we called our Daney boy. Ohhhh…he sounded wonderful–just like he was sitting right next to me. He said he loved the pictures of the babies…
and of course his BYU loot.
I had no idea that he took that football with him. What a crack up!
He told us about the place that he lives now called Sialulia–pronounced Show-lay. It’s really quite beautiful–cobblestones and snow everywhere.
He said he spends most of his days knocking on apartment doors. Most often, no one is home or they don’t open the door.
He told us that he loves to entertain the kids at an orphanage by talking like Donald Duck. Imagine speaking Lithuanian and Duck at the same time. It makes his nose itch.
Makes my head hurt.
Lily and Beckham sang ABCs and Twinkle, Twinkle. Baby Chompy said, “Oh, wow!” right into the phone.
He read us the Christmas story in Luke–but in Lithuanian. It’s a very curious thing to hear your own child speaking a language that you didn’t teach him. He has worked so hard since last year at this time.
The best part about this phone call was that this was the last Christmas day call and then in June….
ahhhhh, then my boy comes home. I’ll try to contain myself.
That day will be Christmas.
I understand every emotion you are feeling Launi dear. That arrival home day is truly like Christmas!! What a cute son and lots of great pictures.
Whenever I think about it–I bawl. I just miss him so much. Then 2 minutes after Dane comes home…Rhen will leave.
Ohhh…how do people with 6 sons DO this?
Remember you get to talk to him one more time even… and THEN he’ll be home! *:D* That’s sooo cool!!! I’m excited! What an awesome adventure he’s had… it’s been awesome to be even just a tiny part of it!
PS… Maybe he didn’t rEEEally take his football. Maybe he got a football for Christmas for his companion, or the mission president… or… uh… Santa?!? Ha ha ha! Who knows!
Oh that makes me want to cry. I can picture you like a little kid waiting for Santa to come when you got to make that call. Rhen doesn’t leave that soon…does he?
That will be a fun day when he gets back 🙂
As for the football, he didn’t bring it with him on his mission. One of the other missionaries who was about to leave had one, but bequeathed it to Dane.
I know he took his to the MTC but then he sent it home. So it was a mystery to me how he has it again.
The bald kid’s birthday is in July–he’ll be 19. Dane didn’t actually leave until about 5 months after his birthday–which was very hard on him. So we won’t know until they tell him when to show up at the MTC. I do know that I’m not the first or the only mom to do this, but it really has been the most challenging thing to me. I’m just so mushy for my kids. Most parents seem to be much more sturdy when it comes to these things.
I bawl just thinking about him leaving…
Did he tell you that? Wow…that clears up that mystery! Thanks my dear.
I thought the picture of him outside the apartment doors was a picture of him in a restroom outside the stall doors. The doors are so close together! I am excited to meet Daney-boy!
Yeah, those apartments are so sadly tiny. There are probably four or six in that tiny place.
You’ll love this guy.