A Siren... No just Mom.

Hi gang.. I think Roostifer Jane has taken over Mom's blog. I really wanted to voice my concern over Mom's singing voice... well.. let's face it... SHE CAN'T SING !! Like I've said before,we have our nightly roostine, walk in my pink Mercedes, showers, Conan O'Brien ( he's so funny) prayers, scriptures, and 3 primary songs. Talk about a tin -ear -tone -deaf wanna be Spice Girl. It's so sad, she tries so hard. It takes all my mighty strength to not howl at the moon. The crazy thing is , she won't stop trying to get those high notes. My poor cute little ears are just throbbing in pain by the time the 3 songs are over. Poor Mom... "Lolo... what are we gonna do with Mom? Just love her, that's all we can do ... is love her" At least I am not a circus Zebra dog anymore. I have faith the ambien nights are over. Mom flushed those hallucinogenics down the loo. Life at night was getting just a bit too dangerous. Don't get me wrong, I like living on the edge, but the night she put me in my Benz... then put the Benz in the front seat of Pimpy and propped me up like a "loser" in the car and raced to the post office to mail a package for Lolo. My nerves were shot by time we made it safely home. As Grandma G.G. used to say " God bless it, we're home" never rang truer. Lolo is doing really good, and we are praying she stays in Palmyra to finish up her service. We like the fact that she can see the Palmyra Temple and teaches on the Historic Sites. Quiet nights in the Sacred Grove with the fire flies twinkling in the grove sounds like Heaven. We are planning on having our Lolo home on the 21 st if October. That is 2 months or 9 weeks, or 63 days from today. Yayyyyy Lolo !! Then Mom can say " Well done my wonderful daughter...you did it", and boy oh boy is she proud. Why just this morning we were thinking about her departure at the MTC, when she had to say the closing prayer in front of 500 peeps. It seems like just yesterday she left. Mom and me both agree that the "tender mercies" of a loving Heavenly Father help those long days just zoom on by. Now.... if we can get her singing under control : )
Like the church hymns say "Lift up your voice and sing" Mom's just following the rules. Did I tell you we got a post card from Holiday Bryn...from HONG KONG !! Oh..that Bryn, she's wild Spice Girl. Coffee , tea or lets just jet it across the Atlantic to seek out an adventure . One of these days, when Mom's done painting, carpets cleaned, beds freshened, me groomed, and Mom's roots are touched up ( she's a platinum -chained blond thru and thru) , Mom will tell you of the many last minute miracles of our Lolo, but for now, she just can't think about it. Remember that quivering lower lip and half smile, her emotions are too close to the surface, so until Mom can pull it together to actually pen the miracles Lolo has experienced, I'll be the one to say " Stay on the Right Side of the Light Side" Thank-you to all who support our Lolo with encouraging letters and love. We love you too. Love Roostifer Jane and a Trunky Missionary Mom.

Life's a Circus ! MOMMMMMM!!!!!

"Lolo ..... What are we gonna do with mom? love her, just love her" that little quaint little phrase is getting a bit old, when you're the Guinna pig living with her. This is Roostie, other wise known as the Zebra Maltese. I thought I hid the ambien, but like the Psych says' the sub-conscience remembers all" Mom listened to her sub-conscience and found the ambien, in a container in the Pimp mobile. She was really beat... I don't blame her, but come on. I am black and white like a mini circus Zebra. What was mom thinking.. I am counting the days Lolo gets home. I would dial 911 for help, but they wouldn't understand my voice. It seems to have an irritating effect on most people. I guess that is one of the reasons, I still love her, Mom puts up with crackers in the bed, me hogging the blankets, snoring, continually barking (so back -off it is my way of communicating) And she does sing me to sleep after prayers. It's been another tough week, no hospital trips, but when the pimp mobile exploded at the car wash intersection, Mom ran around it, in her dress , saying Hail Mary's. I thought... poor mom what else can happen to her, then while painting the bathroom she slipped and really, really banged up her leg, she is so pathetic sometimes, then her lip quivers and her half smile appears and all is forgiven. At night she takes me and my Pink Mercedes Benz out for a stroll and lets me run and play, then gives me water , no wonder I love her so much. Mom's last minute miracle was that, once she limped the dead pimp mobile to the car repair shop, they checked it out real good and said you need a new water pump, rack and pinion, $$$$$ etc. So a nice gent took her home to me, I tried to calm her, but she was so sad. One hour later the car guys called up and said. Ms Burns. Well.... your car.... only needs a exhaust hose. WHAT !!! That is our last minute miracle. Pimpy is once again a smooth ride and Mom scrubbed me raw with Princess Borgessee purple soap and I am pure whiteness once again. Ahhh..... Life if good.. now off to spoon and sing, and pray and read scriptures. Even thought mom painted me like a zebra in her sleep, I still love her despite her ambien nights. " Stay on the Right Side of the Light Side" and Holiday Bryn if you're running through the airport, don't trip and say a prayer for us while you are in the heavenly skies. And if you see me on the red-eye to Hong Kong rescue me. Love you Roo and a bit broken down Mommy missionary . But don't worry , I gots her back. oxoxox

Oh....Mom!!!

Hi its Roostie again, I snuck away from Mom while she is getting the paint out of her hair. Okay, it goes like this.....Mom didn't sleep Sunday nite cuz she went to the Gong's house for crazy -out -of -this -world yummy dinner, then they did this other adult thing where 60 students who are learning Chinese..ma..ma..ma..ma..ma... ( its a Chinese story Bro. Gong made up, and Susan tells it very well... ma) and listened to the famous Dr.Roger Keller speak about religions. Mom came home so fascinated with the brains these people walk around with she didn't sleep too good. The next nite, Mom gets up and says," I'm getting ice". That's pretty normal. But I wait.. and wait... and wait..I hear banging and noise, but that's mom when she sleep walks, so I wait and wait longer. A little while later, she is crawling back into bed and we resume spooning. Well.... surprise, surprise this morning. Mom has green hair, bed, clothes, ME!! covered in green paint !. She was up painting the bathroom in the middle of the night. I said" mom did you take a ambein? she slowly nods her head Yes. We looked at ourselves and laughed out loud, cuz we knew Lolo would love that story. Lolo has seen Mom sneak and hide snickers candy in her panties,get dressed up like a "woman of the evening" stilettos and all. make projects for Young Womens, make matching pajamas for us, she just cut the sleeves off her nightgown and they made a perfect nighty for me. Mom even remembered to make 4 legs holes..... all in her sleep... and always on ambien. We are weaning her off... before I end up on the red eye to China. Other than that.... all is well. Lolo doesn't have P-day until Thursday because of Zone Conference. So Mom will write about the "last minute miracle" along with other cool stuff. So Bryn.. lets all say it together, cuz I know you're running through the airport reading this: "Stay on the Right Side of the Light Side" and we will love ya later. love Roo Oh... PS. Mom did get pictures of Bryn in Hong Kong. Holiday Bryn even though I bark, I still love ya. Roo

Roostie's Reflections.....

Hi everyone, it's me again Roostifer Jane the bundle of pure whiteness, love and dog diva. It's a wild and crazy world. I think I forgot to tell you, but Mom splurged and bought me a Mercedes-Benz . It's pink and has paw prints on the side, everyone points and says" is that a dog in that buggy"?. We ran into a couple of her girlfriends tonight and I was just walking around and from underneaths my tail was a psssfttt..sound, I just looked around and kept on skipping and they were rolling on the ground laughing as hard as I've ever seen. As Jill McCloud says" the whistle before the train. Jill's full of one liners, she makes Mom and Grandma in the garden laugh. Why just today me and Mom were reflecting back on Lolo's day's in the mission field. We were watching the video's she sent home. There was the one about.."Jump aerobics", and the "Transfer dance" by the Elders. Painting the Elders toenails on P-day, dancing with the members of Rochester.. ah ... it was glorious, then out of the blue I felt something wet on my pure white fur, what the....? then another drop... I looked up at Mom with my perfectly dark round eyes and saw she was tearing up. I think she really misses Lolo. Last week was a toughie, July 18 was the last day of the Palmyra Pageant, and Mom was really sick and had to go to the emergency room. Poor Mom, sitting there with all sorts of strange and unusual people ( she actually fit in quite well- she forgot her tooth, poor Mom.. what are we gonna do with mom... love her..just love her..that's all we can do) on Lolo's last Pageant day, when she really wanted to write a heart-felt letter to her one and only daughter serving the Lord . Lolo had a great story about a " last minute miracle", Me and Mom read and re-read her letters of how the Lord works and brings light into the lives of investigators. What a Onederful( Hinks) blessing we have with the gospel of Jesus Christ guiding our lives. I think I have every song from "Called to Serve" CD totally memorized. Did you know Mom plays it 24/7 and hasn't stopped playing it since May 14,08. It brings her comfort and peace, even though I thought I brought her comfurrt and psssfftt. : ) She says that music invites the Spirit. And I have seen it happen. Not... a last minute miracle. Oh yes. The fun part of the blog.... Holiday Bryn!!! Mom and me got some pictures from Holiday Bryn on her favorite holiday. The 4th of July parade in Midway... guess who's she sitting by?... The Romney's... and everyone's smashingly decked out in red-white-and blue, how much more patriotic can you get. Wow.. Holiday Bryn is amazing, next thing ya know, she'll be sending pictures of her bad self in Hong Kong , Yankee stadium or some other far away land. We love our Holiday Bryn, she's better and prettier than any Mattel squeeze toy ever invented ....Mom just informed me it's time for prayers, scriptures and bed. She has her roostine just like clockwork, she's not very spoontainous ( little diva dog joke there) she is gonna write about Lolo's " Last Minute Miracle" at Palmyra Pageant next blog, I have totally convinced her I need her more. Stay on the "Right Side of the Light Side" Thank-you for your loves and support for Lolo and Mom. You all are our earth angels, and we love you. Love from a Missionary Mom, Kathy and little Roostifer Jane "the Lamb of God"

Roostie's Letter

This letter to Lolo is from Roostie, Laura's beloved Maltese.

Hi Lolo, how is Palmyra? I wanted you to know I think about you all the time. I miss your laugh, your bright smile, your pretty fingers, your red hair and how you take good care of mom. I love how you read me the Book of Mormon and said I will be with you forever. I love how you gave me so many names like Roostifer Jane Cragun.. the Dean of Roostifer Jane University. You have a talent for nicknames. bloosey coo, Baby, Kidia, Kathabeblion, winder's, warm cozy, cuddle front,spoony and almost everything in the house has a nickname.Mom's writing as I talk to her, remember I don't have oppossible thumbs, or a baby box. But did you see my face today? I am so cute. Mom is crazy about her new Doctor. Lolo...What are we gonna do with Mom?... remember you said that? then you said" love her... just love her..that's all we can do" I am proud of you and your decisions, no matter how much I miss you... I am beaming like Mom does. It takes a strong , determined and un-selfish person to go on a mission and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I say prayers with Mom every night and we always bless you and the investigators. Well I need to go help Mom get ready, you know how she gets tangled up in her clothes. Sometimes I need to stop her at the door and adjust her a bit. Then I remind her to
"Stay on the Right side of the Light Side" and off she goes. I love you Lolo and I am planning a big wing dinger of a party for your return....everybody clap !!
Love little Roo and Mommy too !
PS Hi Holiday Bryn, be safe in the skies. and sorry I bark so much, just trying to get a word in edge wise. LOL xoxo

Laura's Journal

........It's starts like this...." oh Mom, I can't wait to read you my journal" Okay, Lolo, you know my hormones are out of whack, then she says" we had a personal tour of the Sacred Grove by the grounds keeper, Bob Parrot, Oh... if those sacred trees could talk". Stop smalls your're killing me. I love the experiences she shares with me, and I can't wait to listen to Her read her journal. All I can say about that is "PRICELESS".
Seriously folks, I almost can't talk. Through the miles... and on a computer printing out black words, I could feel her spirit. Amazing !!!
Since I am almost speechless I will write in her words a fun experience that happened at Zone conference.
" After spilling my water bottle everywhere, nearly destroying everything we ( all site sisters) were sitting at lunch by Elder Ryan and Despain I walked to Elder Ryan and said "Thanks for being the testosterone at the table" and he said straight faced, " Oh, I thought you had that covered". Everyone busted up laughing, then he said" Burns... you know you were the only one I could say that too" So then, I'm walking towards the bathroom and Elder Despain is too and I was like" well...apparently I have a lot of testosterone.so that means I can go to the men's room too" I was pretending to follow him into the men's room, and I ran smack dab into President Hemmingway as he walked out. The place erupted in fits of laughter. As embarrassed as I was, I knew it was a great story and memory". Having the distinct honor of being the Mother of Laura, I was so happy that her easy going personality had shone thru and the other Elders and Sisters were able to be themselves while serving the Lord. It also reminded me of a story when I was her age at Hancock Collage and I walked into the men's locker room (a double dare) and pretended to be one of the guys. I stayed in there until the Coach walked by. So I can't say "What ever possessed that child to do such a silly thing"
Serving in Palmyra for the tail end of her mission, is like icing on the cake. Can you imagine how it must feel to stand where Joseph Smith received revelation and restored the true Gospel of Jesus Christ? Can't go there.... this is my little red haired wonder, my baby goat, my magnificent daughter, who put all things in her life aside to do missionary work. The daily gem last week says, " Missionary work is the greatest, most powerful service one can do"
We can all be missionaries, where ever we might live. We must stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things and in all places" by our example we can bring others into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My favorite song these days...besides "Halo" is the primary song " Sent his Son", in it's simplicity, it states how we should be living our lives .... Like His Son. It is Onedurful ( as Pres. Hinckley would say). Next time you have a moment listen to the words and imagine how hard it was for our Heavenly Father to send his beloved Son to earth and die for our sins, so we could ALL return back to live eternally with him. The Atonement of Jesus Christ was done for us and every day we need to show gratitude and thankfulness to our Lord of Lord and King of Kings. How blessed we are to be here on earth, learning, growing, perseverance thru trials and finding Joy in the Journey ( Pres. Monson)." Some days are harder than others, every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the bird don't sing and bells don't ring. Yet in spite of the discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result" ( Joseph b. Wirthern)
How proud I am of my little Lolo for her sacrifices and hard work. I am truly a blessed Mother in Zion.
I was also blessed to have Holiday Bryn stop by this week. Have I mentioned how cheerful and wonderful she is? I learned something new... Holiday Bryn's favorite holiday is the 4 th of July.
The joy Bryn brings me is grand, and she calls me Mama Kathy. I'm lovin it !!
Thank you for your letters to Laura, you are all so wonderful to take the time to send her a letter, it is so appreciated and treasured. Have a happy 4 th of July!!
As always....Stay on the Right Side of the Light Side.
Love a Missionary Mom, Kathy
PS. if you don't have the words to "He sent His Son" I will print next time.

White House

Happy Friday everyone,
Laura has given me the new place of living address:

603 St route 21
Palmyra
New York
14522

Laura's new residence is called the "White House" It is directly across the street from the Palmyra Temple, and Hill Cumorah is 2.5 miles away. She says" we are close to everything!!"
I guess being out in the boonies for so long, she is thrilled to be able to take a stroll after her work is done. Look out Palmyra... you could wake up to a red town. Lolo's on the loose. Well...Not really..... but I needed to spice up the address blog. : )
Loves to you all, Missionary Mom Kathy
"Stay on the Right Side of the Light Side" Holiday Bryn loves that line.