10 yrs since the MTC.

It turned out that we were in Provo on 6 July, 10 years since I had entered the Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center).  We drove down 9th East, parked across the street and walked over to the entrance of the MTC.  I was planning on getting a family picture in front of the famous sign (where EVERY missonary got a picture taken back in the day), but it's no longer there...so we got this picture by the fence instead.  The important part was showing you kids where dad and I had spent time as missionaries (Dad a few years before me), learning our respective mission languages, sharing our testimonies, and studying the gospel.  It was a singular time and it brought tears to my eyes to think of the special and spiritual time that I spent there.

"10 years ago today I entered the MTC to serve a mission (Canada Montreal Mission) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The 9 weeks I spent there were joyful in so many ways. I am forever grateful that I had such a wonderful companion, Sister Briskey...and for my awesome district and teachers!!" (as posted on Facebook)

Afterwards we drove by the Provo Temple.  It brought back so many memories of crossing 9th East as missionaries to do a session in the temple and being warmly greeted by Sister Rhonda Norton from the PV6th ward.  And then all the wonderful memories of attending the good ol' Provo temple with Dad in our pre-dating, dating, engagement, WEDDING DAY and newly wed days.  What happy times. Afterwards we had lunch at the Creamery on 9th, their famously delicious ice cream and all!  It was a wonderful morning walking down memory lane.

Crèches & Canned Food.

While serving in Quèbec City at Christmastime (2005) my mission companion and I visited a crèches display at the public library.  I loved seeing the various nativity scenes from around the world.  One of my favorite depiction was Inuit with polar bears.  Fast forward 5 years to St. Louis when we attended a similar event put on at the LDS (Frontenac) church.  It was an amazing event with live music performed by local youth and choirs, children craft centers, time period costumes with pictures and all.  At some point along the way I dreamed of collecting crèches and welcoming friends and neighbors into our home to start off the Christmas season in a Christ-like way.  Now that we're finally in a home I decided that this year would be the year to begin.  Dad supported my various projects and ambitions, several ward members lent me their nativity scenes, then the night of the event came.  I told myself to expect no one and was pleased when we had over a dozen adults and more than a handful of children and youth attend.  We had a mix of colleagues, ward members and even a wonderful woman, Becky, from the area that Uncle Matt had met en route to Normal.  She played her flute as Sister Broderick played the piano and Sister Oliphant played the cello.  Their beautiful music was one of the highlights of the evening for me!  The sister missionaries (Sisters Oliphant and Allen) and I also sang a simple, but sweet song entitled, "Mary & Elizabeth."  Other than our dining room display of crèches and quotes, we served refreshments in the kitchen (some people even brought more to share), and had non-breakable nativities and books for the children in the basement.  We ended up collecting a whole box of food items, which we were able to donate to a local food pantry.  It turned out to be a wonderful, uplifting evening.  I hope to hold a similar event next year and maybe it will become an annual tradition.

Father's Workshop.

I was thinking about an experience that I had as a new missionary in Québec City, and wanted to make sure and include it in our family history.

I was called to serve as a French-speaking missionary, but after a short time in the mission field my mission president, President Petion asked me to start learning Spanish during my morning studies.  I excitedly accepted the invitation, but quickly became overwhelmed.  I was over zealously attempting to learn all of the verb tenses simultaneously and quickly {and understandably} found myself frustrated and getting burnt out.  One night before bed as I was kneeling in prayer I voiced to my Heavenly Father my feelings of being overwhelmed.  The thought came to me that He had asked me to learn Spanish because He knew I loved languages and He wanted to work on it as a project together, the intent was never to frustrate or overwhelm!  In my mind I envisioned a father inviting his child into a workshop to do a project together.  It wasn't so much the finished product that would be important, but the lessons learned and the time spent together.

I have often thought of this since.  What other projects has my Father invited me to work on with Him?  What things may seem daunting because I have tried to do them in my own way and inadvertently left Him out of the picture?

Lately I'm coming to realize that this season with Alex may be one of these invitations into the Father's workshop.  I'm grateful for the invitation and know that as I turn to Him each step of the process He will be there to guide me, to provide perspective and share His love.

Oh how much He desires to teach and to bless us and to spend time with us!  God is good.

Princesse.

First off, I have to say that the Lord is trying to teach me to lighten up a bit...to let go and be more open to doing His will.  So when the call came from Princesse (one of my mission companions who was moving from Florida to Utah) to see if she and her cousin Maudeline could spend the nigt, I threw my normally regimented schedule and ever-accompanying stress out the window and said yes.  I'm so glad I did.  It was so wonderful to have them in our home, to take a walk down memory lane (and drive to Ted Drewe's ;0)) and reminisce about the mission.  We had served together for 3 transfers (each transfer is six weeks long).  The first few days together were OK, but we quickly realized how different we were from each other.  (Have I mentioned all of this before?!)  It wasn't until second transfer that we really started figuring out how to work together.  And thankfully it got better from there.  I'm so glad the spirit helped to soften my heart to be teachable because I learned so much from {Soeur} Princesse {DesRose}.  She was street smart, confident, hard working, friendly and a spiritual giant.  If I came home with even traces of those qualities, it's thanks to her.  I will forever remember her saying, "Sister Sheets if you think it's cute, wear it.  If you like it, that's what matters."  If I came home willing to wear shorts (regardless of my pasty white legs) or try out new outfit combinations, it was in large part thanks to her ;0) In any case, I'm so grateful for those 4 1/2 months we got to spend together.  I will forever be better because of her.  Je t'm, Princesse!

I hope they call me on a mission.

(Sunday, 3 June 2012)

Bry is serving in the ward as the Ward Mission Leader.  That means that we frequently see the missionaries around these parts.  It's fun to have them in our home and reminds me so much of my mission.  On Sunday we had the three of them over for dinner (boy can they eat!).  Afterwards they headed outside so Bry could give them a ride home... Alex followed suite.  I loved this view from the doorstep :0)  Can't help but think that someday {hopefully, it's the BEST spiritual learning and growing experience + 2 yrs of service you could EVER ask for.} will serve a mission....once he's grown a foot or two ;0)

Soeur Muntinga.

(4 September 2010)



Betty (one of my mission companions) and her husband Adrian were visiting the USA and came by for a short visit on their way to Memphis. It was SO wonderful seeing her again and meeting her husband.

Je me souviens.

(21 juillet-26 juillet 2010)

A dear couple and friends of ours were sealed (for time and ALL eternity) in the LDS Montréal Temple on 24 July 2010. My Mom made it possible for me to be there...she decided to make it a mother-daughter trip and came along. We had such a special and wonderful time. Thank you, Mom!! And I can't forget to mention Bry. He so thoughtfully took care of Brie the whole time I was gone. Thank you, sweetie.

Lambert-St. Louis Int'l Airport.

Bienvenue à Québec! Welcome to Québec!

Cute Jules and Jeannette, they came to pick us up.

Jeannette making shepherd's pie for dinner.
She knows it one of my favorite québecois dishes.

Dinner's served. Yum, yum.

During Jule's meeting we toured the church building
(where I attended church while serving there).

All us girls in the kitchen, doing dishes and getting ready for dessert.

Jules in his PJ's---ready for dessert and tisane.
Jules & Jeannette are so fun and laid back and totally made us feel at home.

My Mom and me wearing pantoufles, getting ready to head to bed.

Thursday we spent in Drummondville. The highlight was eating at Marie-Hélène's sister's chic and gourmet restaurant, L'entracte. Unfortunately my camera died so all the pictures are on my Mom's. Maybe one of these days I'll do a post about our fine dining experience :0)

Friday--Vendredi

Part 1) Old Québec

** I have to mention that by the second day there everyone knew that they couldn't eat until I had taken a picture of their food :0) By the end of our trip they were calling me Sarah "Schlick Schlick" Sheets Graden because they would constantly hear the click, click, click of my camera as I documented everything. They were good sports! **

(the street performer was playing Chopin's "Raindrop Prelude" and it totally made me think of Bryan. Love that song.

Part 2) L'île d'Orléans

My Mom bought fresh raspberries for us to eat as we drove around the island.

Belgian chocolate-dipped ice cream cones.
The RICHEST ice cream cone I have EVER eaten. Wow.

My Mom was busy writing a card to my Brother Matt so when she went to eat her ice cream all of the chocolate had solidified around her spoon. Oops.

Beautiful, quaint drive.

Part 3) Dinner at L'Astral---A rotating restaurant in downtown Québec City

Looking up at the shaft in the glass elevator.










After bread, soup, the buffet, dessert and tisane...we had been there for 3 hours. It was fun to chat, eat and watch the view of Québec City change as the sun went down.


Our fun waiter.




Saturday--Samedi

Heading out for Montréal
(about a 2 1/2 hour drive from Valcartier)

My Mom and me in front of the Montréal Temple

Jeannette with part of the Garcia Family--a family
that I had known and LOVED in my greenie area.


Soon after their sealing. I love these two :0)

Although we had amazing food for EVERY meal, took in many BEAUTIFUL sights and had a WONDERFUL time in every other way...being in the sealing room for Jules et Jeannette's sealing was definitely the highlight of my trip. What a sacred and special occasion.


Sunday--Dimanche

Sunday I got to attend the ward that I attended while I served in this area on my mission. There were a lot of new faces, but there were a lot of dear people there that I was SO excited to see again after five years!!

Sweet Lucille---I was flipping through some old pictures.

Wonderful Diane.

The Dear Blouin Family
(His wife passed away almost a year ago, after having battled with cancer for several years. Yet they have such a knowledge of God's plan and such faith that they will see her again.)



After church we headed to the Therrien's home for a "light" lunch and to pick out some pantoufles. Soeur Therrien is known for being the "pantoufle lady"...she crochets a bunch and keeps them in a big basket, just waiting for visitors to come and pick a pair or two. What a generous and thoughtful way to share her time and talents.


Meals are never light at her house.
She is an excellent cook and hostess!


The Flamands came for lunch too...riding in style :0)


The missionaries joined us for dinner...


Jeannette, Jules & Marie-Hélène had prepared cheeseburgers AND homemade poutine, freshly made french fries and all.


Before heading to bed we had a little fire out back....


...and Marie-Hélène even humoured me by trying S'mores for the first time.


Monday--Lundi

Jules always seemed to be watching out for us as we were out and about. So when he was in uniform (heading to work after dropping us off) I had to take a picture. He looked like our official body guard or something. Perfect :0)

Marie-Hélène, waiting to see if her cowboy came in. She wants to marry a cowboy and is always on the lookout for one :0)

On our way back to St. Louis.

Oh Mom, MERCI for the wonderful mother-daughter trip. It was such a treat and so spécial. De bons souvenirs. Merci encore.