Christmas was Joyous, I got to see my son. Skype is a blessing when it works!

I have a lot of friends and family that have asked when our son can call home and talk to us, and even further discussion on what the mission rules are on correspondence. I have taken a little time and have done some research since I am a new missionary mom, and some of my family and Duncan's friends are also new to this process. Here is the concatonated version :

COMMUNICATING WITH FAMILY
Write to your family each week on preparation day.
Limit correspondence with others.

Calls to your immediate family on Christmas and Mothers day are to be no longer than 30-40 minutes.

E-Mail.
You may communicate with your family and
mission president by e-mail, according to approved
guidelines. Missionary use of email is a priveldge and can be lost entirely if misused -- heres an update frm the standard rules that I just got. 

.http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865578404/LDS-missionaries-now-allowed-to-email-friends-priesthood-leaders-and-new-converts.html?pg=all

Its pretty straight up. Duncan can write letters on Preparation day (snail mail) to anyone he likes to. On Mondays, he can email his dad and me and friends within reason. He can write to his sisters, brother, grandparents, etc and they are encouraged that these emails be uplifting. If you would like regular mail and dont email much, I highly recommend sending Duncan a self addressed stamped envelope. The boy is not big on words . Email cannot be misused. If it is, he will lose his priveledges entirely. Yes, even if you feel like family.  (and we love you for feeling that way). 

Whew.

Duncans address for now is still in McKinney Tx. I do not forsee a transfer right away so If you want to send a postcard or letter, just IM me, and I will give you his address.

On another note, I heard from him today, and he is doing well. Biking is pretty hazardous where they are right now. He said they are often fored to bike inside of construction zone cones and areas to avoid drivers too near them at 60MPH. He thanked me for sending him with reflective gear, and by now he will have his amazon love gift of an even better vest, some spoke lights and a snazzy tail light. 

I am really grateful for all the cards and letters and love gifts that everyone sent duncan at Christmas. Thank you from me and from him  :)) Oh, and he told us Christmas day that he met a Navaho man on a bus, and that after finding out Duncan has a little skosh of Cherokee in him, he gave him a Navajo name.He was touched by the mans interest in him. :) . 

Thanks, friends.

Christmas is here early in McKinney, Thanks to some kind members!

  It looks like the ward Christmas Party Had a Jolly Santa...

Who had a good sense of humor!

A Happy Companionship. Looks Like our Elder is lucky to live in a great place

where the member take good care of them. I love thier smiles. 

A good time was had by all!

Follow up training in Dallas

Yesterday was followup training for the new Elders in the Dallas Texas Mission. I am subscribed to the facebook page for the mission. President and Sister Taylor, do an amazing job of photo documenation of their meetings. Elder Saxey was there, and in plenty of the many photos, so Im going to post them here!  This blog is mostly for family and friends so I figured you might all like to them.

Theres a few photbombs as well but I fugured Id skip those -- they guys were having a really good time! Thanks for stopping by, feel free to leave comments.

Monday Momday and a classic car meets wild pig

Happy MONDAY! Who says Mondays are bad? Well up until a couple of months ago, I would have agreed they were not my favorite day.Putting a son on a mission, and knowing its the one day you get email from him changes your whole outlook. So today was awesome. I had a chance to get way more information about how the Elder Saxey is doing. Ive been living off of a sentance here or there....so heres the wrap:

This is the ride that the Elders are proveledged enough to go to Church on every Sunday. Duncan is a car guy thanks to me, so it was the first thing he sent me. He said that last week they barely missed a 200 pound pig on the road! a 200 pound pig? I would hate to see that happen, but it would be way worse to see him run into one his bike! Im hoping he packs that camera with him everywhere JUST in case they run across one thats not too mad!

This weeks request: please send me some new Tshirts (which is funny if you had been shopping with hin before he left) so I hooked up with Threadless and sent him some new shirts with a Native American theme. He'll love them.

"Im great, Elder Robbins is great, I ove it here. The members keep us fed so that is keeping food costs down YAAAAAY. I get to stop at QT now and then (a major treat since they have the best Mountain Dew on the planet) Josh Haws will get a kick out of that." " Hows Leah,  and how is Dad?" " EVERYTHING IS AWESOME" and "Im getting mail, yay!" Other than that he wanted me to rescue his hoodie from his sister (of course he knew she had it LOL).  I also have his tiny Christmas wish list so if you are interested I think a card would be grand. I cant post his address here, so just give me a holler at lisa.saxey@gmail.com

Today I  got a giant brand new bike 10% off of the sticker price i also got some things to keep the bike in good repair . the dogs name is buster he is a lab and great dane mix. he looks like a lab with the size of the great dane he is awsome. 

Here we are at Dinner with The Fords in our ward, just before Thanksgiving. 

First Week in McKinney

Hi Mom,

Everything is going well, I get my bike tomorrow i was borrowing someone elses  for the week. I am going with a bike enthusiast that will know what bike will last me my mission YAY.

Elder Robbons is my trainer comp.

I am living with a member family they are the Vrskas - they have a dog named buster, I love having him around but i still miss Delilah. There is a family named the Ferggisons i laughed when i heard that. I have a Duncanvile and a Sachse (sounds like saxey) in my misson - lots of jokes about that but I am loving it here. It is 29 degrees out - good thing i have that jacket it helps a lot. i love you all.

Love,

Duncan

Elder Saxey just met his new Companion from Rexburg Idaho - Elder Robbins. They are a doubled in companionship serving in McKinney Texas. McKinney is a suburb of Dallas so they are really close to the mission home. As a new missionary mom, I have been happily blessed with hearinf from other moms in the mission - even before being added to the moms facebook page. The technology we have is amazing! Ive discovered that there are more kids from our state in the same Mission and that the Dallas Mission has had a lot of turnover -- new young men and women in and many going home.
I was releived to hear that the members in his area are taking good care of the missionaries and having them in to dinner. I wondered how they woudl get groceries if the last missionaries went out as a pair. Good luck in McKinney - Prosper First Ward
!!

Finally -- Texas!!

Elder Saxey has Landed in Texas! 

Hi all, here is the update Ive been waiting for!!

"We just want to let you know that your missionary has arrived in Dallas and is part of a wonderful group of 20 new missionaries today!

Attached you will see the pictures taken at the Dallas Temple as they came in from the airport. The group had lunch on the way, and are spending the afternoon and evening in orientation and training. They will have dinner at the Mission Home with President and Sister Taylor and their family. Then they will stay the night with a nearby companionship, and in the morning will be introduced to their trainer. After a little more training together, they will leave for their area and begin their work. We will follow up with a letter letting you know where they are serving and who their trainer is.

You will receive another email after transfers are complete with the actual location of your missionary. Monday is their preparation day, so you should receive an email from them next week telling you about their first week in the Mission. I’m sure you’re looking forward to that!

Thank you for sending us your missionary! This will be a great experience for them."

I'm looking forward to hearing from Duncan next week. Heres a sneak preview: Ive received a text from a nice lady in his ward boundaries already!