My Parent's Are Moving To....

Any Guesses?
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Most people who know my dad have thought they've known where he was going since they got the call....
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They were right......
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PUSAN KOREA!!!!!

This is the same mission that my dad served in thirty years ago!

We have been very fortunate (as many of you know) to have gone back to Korea on multiple occasions, and therefore feel like we've got a bit of a head start! My mom, dad, and I have already been to the mission home (they got a new one a few years back) and already know the country, culture, and so many of the members so well!

Growing up we always knew that there was a reason my dad has been able to maintain his fluency in Korean for thirty years- literally he is still fluent. And we've always known there was a reason why we were always surrounded by Korean people. So when the call came, we weren't at all surprised that he'd be going back!

He is so excited to go back and to be able to really interact with those he taught so many years ago, since so many of them have high callings in the church now he'll be able to associate with them quite often!

He's at a HUGE advantage- because he already knows most of his missionaries!!! My dad has been in the branch presidency over the Korean branch at the MTC for the last 18 months, and will continue to serve there until right before they leave. So he and my mom will know every single missionary that is in his mission before he even goes!

Anyway, we knew we REALLY had to wait to tell everybody since Dad knows so many people already in Korea that we knew the news would spread very, very quickly once it got out. It's been so hard to keep a secret.... so we are SO excited that we finally got the OK from the Church to announce it!

So there you go!!! For the next 3 years Lynn & Cindy will be in Korea!

Called To Serve

President and Sister Gilbert

______________ Mission

July 2011-July 2014

That's right people... My dad has been Called to Serve as a Mission President!

President Eyring and the Church Missionary Department asked that we don't say where he'll be serving until it's officially announced in the Church News... We're hoping that'll come out in the next couple weeks so we can actually talk about it!

It's been a crazy few weeks trying to figure out how in the world we're going to survive without my parents around- especially since I am having a baby in 10 weeks and am realizing I'm not going to have my mom around to teach me how to be a mom... that's been a rough one!

I was actually lucky enough to have a bit of "advanced knowledge" that something was up and that they may be getting called- because the "Office of the First Presidency" called for my dad when he was in China- and I happened to be the one to take the call! Just for the record, when you ask to take a message and they say it's the Office of the First Presidency- it gets your heart racing a little bit!

Anyway, Dad received the first phone call Oct 29th from Elder L. Tom Perry's office saying he would like to meet with Dad. After that interview Dad has heard from the Missionary Department of the Church a few times, and then when they called to office to get ahold of him, Dad knew something was really up. He told me not to tell anybody because he didn't want anybody making a big deal... that was a HARD secret to keep!

When they got back from China, they got the call the a member of the First Presidency would like to meet with them (at that point they couldn't tell me who it was). I rearranged Dad's crazy work schedule so he could squeeze it in- and was DYING to find out what the meeting was about... but they told me that they wouldn't tell me- but that we needed to have a family meeting.

The next night we all got together for a Family Meeting and my mom handed Erika a note and asked her to read it out loud... it said,

"Gramma and Bop are going on a mission in July!"

**Warning- tear jerker story**

Erika looked at my mom and said, "Gramma Cindy what does that mean?" My mom said, "It means Bop and I are going to go on a Mission right after you turn 6!" Erika said "How long will you be gone?" and my mom replied "Three years.".... at this point Erika hopped off my mom's lap and ran into the other room sobbing! Jen immediately went to take care of her and I tried to regain my composure for a minute, after a minute I went in to check on Erika and she gave me the biggest hug and was just sobbing so hard she couldn't breathe. It absolutely broke my heart!

Let's be honest- none of us were all that surprised at the cal... we've all seen it coming for a long time. But the shock was still there! Imagine me (pregnant) and Jen (postpartum) hearing that our parents are going to be gone for THREE years! (Needless to say- there were a lot of tears!) My poor husband has no idea what to do with me- I've had two minor breakdowns (and I NEVER cry) and he just has no idea what to even do. I'll be totally fine and then I'll think of having to say goodbye at the airport knowing I'll only see my parents maybe once or twice in the next three years, and then I start crying. Or I'll think about little things like when my baby learns to crawl, and my mom won't be there... and then I start to cry. Or if I am needing a blessing- knowing that I can't call my dad to come assist Dustin. Little things like that get me. Given, I know I have an amazing big brother and an amazing brother in law, and my Uncle James who are always willing to drop ANYTHING to help us out- but wow. These little things are killing me.

On a happier note, we have absolutely no doubt that we will be so blessed through their service. There is absolutely no question in any of our minds that they need to go serve with all their hearts for the next three years (but it still hurts)...

Anyway, there's the big news in the Gilbert family! I'll be posting as soon as I officially can where they're going!

PS Sorry for the long post

Don't Judge..

I am still in the "catch up" phase of blogging- I'm pretty sure this is an eternal phase.

Anyway, back before Christmas my family decided to do the "Polar Express" thing they do on the "Heber Creeper." Of course I didn't take ANY pictures, but my sister did! So (as usual) I stole some photos off her blog.

This was definitely an experience for sure! The whole experience was not what I expected at all- but seeing how excited all the kids were when Santa hopped on the train? Totally priceless!!! My niece Mya, who is so insanely shy, was so excited! When Santa came up to talk to her she said "Oh Santa!!!!" And covered her mouth like she was so happy she didn't know what to do! It was pretty dang cute!

Mom, Dad, Dustin, and I... there wasn't a whole lot of leg room so our legs were all intertwined- it was pretty funny! Especially since Dad, Dustin, and I have abnormally long legs!

Mikey, Chelsy, Mya, and Baby Gilbert- Apparently Chels was REALLY excited about getting her photo taken :)
Debbie, Eduardo, and Camila
And the Paxman gang! Jen, Landon, Erika, and Aaron

Thanks Mom and Dad for a fun Christmas Memory I know we'll all cherish!

Nephew #2

As I said in a previous post, I have a nephew!!!

Mr. Austin is probably the most angelic little guy ever! He is so smart- he already has himself on a 3.5 hour schedule and already has this world all figured out. The only way you know he's awake is by the little noises he makes! To this day I still haven't heard him cry, or even whine for that matter!

He sure makes me excited to get my little guy here healthy and happy and totally makes this whole bed rest idea totally worth it!

Jen wasn't planning on having little Austin that day, and I was at work and got a text from her saying she was in L&D for observation, so I left work and took the kids so Aaron could be there with her. A few hours later she said that she was going to have the c-section, but we still didn't want to tell the kids until we knew everything was ok. Dustin, Michael, Chelsy, Mya, Erika, Landon, and I were at dinner at Texas Roadhouse when we got the call that they were prepping her for her C-section so Michael left the restaurant and went down to help give her a blessing. About 45 minutes later we got the picture of little Austin!

That day we were incredibly grateful for prayers! Not only did we have a surprise arrival way earlier than anticipated, but my parents were in China (hence why Dustin and I had the kids) and my mom called my sister in a bit of a panic because my dad was very very very sick and they were afraid they wouldn't be able to get him out of the country. Anybody who's been to China can attest that the medical attention you'd receive there would be less that acceptable, so Mom asked us to call everybody and have them pray for him. It was a pretty amazing experience as I called each of my mom and dad's siblings, my siblings, as well as some close family friends and asked them to pray for him. My parents said they could very distinctly feel the power of prayer from around the world. Dad was able to make it home and has since fully recovered! We felt VERY VERY blessed that day!

Anyway, here are some pictures of sweet "Baby A"

This is Austin getting ready to go home- in the pictures he almost looks a little bit chunky but he is definitely not! He was born at 6 lbs 6 oz but lost 10 oz in the hospital- so he's a tiny little bugger.



Paxman Family of 5!!! CRAZY



Michael, Chelsy, and Mya with Austin- Mya apparently wasn't so happy about the idea of her mom holding another baby... hope she gets used to it quick! Mikey and Chels are expecting baby #2 in June!

My cute hubby- it has been SO fun to see him with Austin. He is seriously the best Uncle ever- my nieces and nephew LOVE him because he plays with them all the time, but it was fun to see his sweet, tender side with Austin. Every time he sees and holds Austin he just keeps saying how excited he is to meet our little guy!

Erika is so cute and always makes sure Austin's eyes are shaded since he hates bright lights so bad... she's such a good big sister and won't even go in the same room as Austin unless she has scrubbed her hands. And any time I pick him up she makes sure I scrubbed my hands and that I don't have to wear a mask :)

Landon's reaction to Austin was probably the cutest thing I've ever heard! As soon as he saw him he said, "Hey! Hims gots my nose! Hims looks just like Mr. Potatoehead!" It was so cute!!! Now he always says stuff like "Mommy when Austin comes to school I will pwotect him- because I am hims big bwudda" it's so cute!

One Year Down... Eternity To Go!

WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!




Dustin and I celebrated our 1st Anniversary this last Saturday!!!!


Apparently we've both "lost it" a little bit... but we've made it all the same!






We didn't do anything super exciting thanks to me being on "modified bed rest" at the time, and the fact that we are doing a way fun weekend away in February (going to see Brian Regan.... SO EXCITED!) I am so grateful that I wasn't on strict full bed rest at that point though, because I got to have a fun day out with the hubby!

We just went to Park City and bought some baby clothes and a bunch of stuff at the Nike Outlet for Dustin, then we came home and I laid down for a while (high blood pressure really does kick your butt) and then a few hours later we went out for dinner at Tepanyaki (My all-time favorite restaurant) and then we went and bought the baby's car seat and stroller!

It's crazy to think that a year ago we got married, and this year we're preparing for our first child! It's insane! But we're so happy and so excited! We are definitely anxious to get this little guy here! Now I just need to listen to my doctors (and everybody else that keeps yelling at me) and stay in bed so that my blood pressure will go down and we can make it to full-term and have a healthy happy little baby!

Gettin' Ready

So since we're down to 11 weeks...

Dustin and I decided it's time to REALLY start getting stuff ready for this little guy's arrival!

We got the crib and changing table a while ago on a killer sale, but I didn't want to put it up until we crossed the crucial 24 week barrier.

Now I'm just under 29 so I figured it's time to start getting things ready for him!

(It's a good thing I did because I was put on modified bed rest last week, and as of about an hour ago I am officially on strict bed rest... this ought to be interesting!)



Dustin putting the crib together


Here's the 28.5 week belly shot! We're getting there!
Don't worry- that isn't how the "nursery" is going to be decorated, I haven't gotten that far yet :) At least we have the crib together and a few quilts and blankets made!


Then on Saturday (Our Anniversary) Dustin and I went up to Park City and bought TONS of baby clothes! Love the Carter's outlet! It's my best friend! Then when we got home we decided to go ahead and splurge and buy our stroller and car seat.

The car seat in the stroller (with the car seat cover my mother in law got for me)


I had done a lot of research on car seats, and between that and the advice of my awesome nurse/sister we finally decided on one! Yay! We love it because the tan part is a microfiber material so it's really soft!