Email from Mom: Saturday, April 23, 2022
From: Mom
To: Kaitlyn.garcia@missionary.org
Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022
Subject: Hello from Havasu
Happy Saturday. How are things? How has your week been? How did your
exchanges go and even the dreaded social media? (I cringe even just
typing the social media word just so you know) How is sweet Sister
Scioli this week? Is your bathroom still fixed and working 100%? 
Were you able to get a voice email off to Elder Rose? I’m sure it will be nice to have the same Pday again this week yeah?
We made it to Lake Havasu. I was dreading this trip because I didn’t
love love the time we came before. I don’t know if it was because it was
just as the world was shutting down with Covid or if it was just early
enough that the weather wasn’t great or what but I didn’t love it and so
coming back just wasn’t exciting for me. Brooklyn however could not
wait for this trip and so I put my feelings aside and embraced happy so
she stayed excited. It’s hard for us to find things that scream happy
and excitement for her with you guys gone. We left on Tuesday and drove
to Mesquite. We stayed at the casino and it was fine. Breaks up the 8.5
hour drive you know? Wednesday we got up and started the rest of the
drive to Havasu. We had an issue with the boat trailer so Tyler found a
boat shop that could get it in and taken care of quickly. We only had
about an hour to linger (we went next door to the Wendy’s) which was
sure nice. Once we got to Havasu we just took it easy. The vrbo that we
rented is fine. The pool doesn’t have a vacuum built in so it was so
freaking gross! Tyler went and bought some pool tools to try and clean
it (he took it back) buy with no vacuum it was pointless. The pool guy
showed up Thursday morning thankfully and did what he could. It’s been
dirty and gross all week and weekend. :/ The Millers arrived Wednesday
night and the sun was set to begin.
Thursday the pool guy showed up as we were getting ready to go to the
lake. He informed us that this weekend is ‘Desert Storm’ weekend on the
lake. There was a boat parade for the big speed boats on Friday and a
race on Saturday for them too. We thought cool and headed out. We got
on the water and I was shocked to see some speed boats racing by with a
helicopter hovering just above them flying and videoing them! It was so
freaking cool and scary all at the same time. I guess a boat got up to
like 160 miles an hour last year. That is so dang fast! And scary too!
Brooklyn was first to surf. She couldn’t wait. And she nailed it. She
even carved the wave which was fun, and all while wearing a new cowboy
hat too. Kynlee went and got up, Boston gave it a good try but didn’t
get it figured out until later when Jason got on a board with him, Jurni
was promised ice cream (& the sheet size of Jurni says that she
will never say no to ice cream) so she got out on the board with Jason
(& almost drowned him!) and got up too. Dresden was
forced…literally…into surfing. Jason was on the back swim deck holding
the board and told Dresden to come stand by him to feel the water. Once
he got there Jason grabbed the hook on the life jacket and drug him
kicking and screaming (& trying to climb over the board while Jason
is setting up to go), we tossed the rope to Jason and Tyler took off.
Jason got him up and even though you could see a smile here and there,
Dres was not happy about any of it! But…he got up and surfed and
admitted later that he was so glad he did. Akaela doesn’t surf like I
don’t so Tyler let me drive him for a couple of pulls and then we called
it a day. We did go in for lunch to the little area we walked around
last time (where the red phone booth thing is) and it was jam packed
with people! Way busier than when we were here for sure. Covid doesn’t
even exist anymore and it is very clear to say the least.
Friday was 21’ colder than Thursday and it was windy. So, at 71’ we went
and stood on the bridge and watched the parade of speed boats. I have
never laughed so hard in my life! Try and picture the biggest white
trash/redneck parade of million dollar boats filled with guys driving
them who have clearly the smallest wieners ever and the skankiest girls
riding in the boats with them on display. It was hilarious and awesome
all at the same time. I couldn’t quit looking. It was a train wreck at
every corner. Poor Jason Miller just kept laughing and saying that no
matter how hard you tried you simply couldn’t describe what was
happening in front of all of us. After the parade we came back to the
house and just hung out. The kids played a little in the pool and a lot
in the garage. There is a pool table and a ping pong table too. They had
a speaker blasting and spent almost all day in there. I think the kids
are having a blast.
Today is windy. More than yesterday but the sun is out. The plan was to
take the boat out and let the kids do their thing and maybe watch some
of the speed boat races. As everyone was getting ready to go, Tyler and I
had a run in so they all left and I stayed back. I couldn’t bring
myself to even want to be in his presence. Ugh. Akaela called and I
ignored it. I don’t want to deal with any of it right now. Maybe an
afternoon apart will be good for both of us. I spent some time in the
sunshine by the pool and finished book 2 of my 4 book series and I’ve
gotten packed up so we can leave in the morning. Tyler and Brooklyn
showed up and she took off. I guess she started her period on the boat
so Tyler brought her back and taken care of and then they left again to
go do lunch with the Millers. I’m currently sitting in a chair watching a
little tv before the baseball game will start. I’m anxious to get home.
It feels like forever since I have been home for any kind of time.
Maybe that is why I am on edge and was so easily set off with Tyler this
morning? Going down Kauai to immediately coming here, sleeping in
different beds, living out of bags, etc. It is all starting to wear on
me. I’m pretty much done and looking forward to home. We are supposed to
go to the cabin on Friday the 29th but I can’t. I need to get my feet
resettled at home. This go go go has worn on me. I don’t know how you do
every transfer and the possibility of ‘new’ on the other end. I am
learning that I like home more than I know and I enjoy my own personal
stuff more than I ever thought. One more reason to admire the sacrifice
you continue to make day in and day out.
Anyways, one more week behind us. I cannot believe that April is just
about done. This year has literally flown by so fast! I think B has like
28 days total left of school for the year. I know she is looking
forward to it and counting down until she is done. Volleyball starts in
May on Monday afternoons and I know she is super excited about that. I
hope she can get it all figured out and that tryouts will be good for
her. I love that she is as excited about it as she is.
I sure love and miss you. I hope you are able to embrace each day and
live it to its fullest and love every second of where you are right now.
I have you always on my heart and always in my prayers. I am so excited
you get to be inside the temple this week! I seriously cannot love it
enough that this opportunity is here again for you. Enjoy every minute
you get inside those walls. 
Remember I love you for forever and for always.
To the moon and back,
Mom
