Canada, Eh?

Cody has arrived safe and sound in Montreal(letter below). He was able to call home and talk with us for about 40 minutes while he was at the airport. It was so good to hear his voice. They were a group of 29 missionaries(more than has ever went there together) that headed to Montreal. It sounds like he is settling in & doing well. He spoke a few sentences in french. He is sounding like quite the french-man in just a few weeks. I can't wait to skype with him in December! We are posting his weekly letters @ www.elderritz@blogspot.com

Elder Lloyd & Elder Ritz standing on Mount Royal in Montreal.

Bonjour ma famille!

First off, I am writing on a French keyboard, so pardon my grammatical errors. Second, I already love it here! It's sooooooo nice to be out of the MTC! It's good to be back in the eastern time zone, as well. Also, I loved seeing the pictures from that BYU game! I can't believe Riley got on ESPN! Better be careful though, I don't think BYU would have a football team anymore if they played an SEC team, let alone Bama.

The trip here went pretty well, aside from the fact that I didn't get my check-in bags until a day later! They came on a later flight, but that had me and a few other missionaries pretty stressed out. The city here is so beautiful, lots of cathedrals almost everywhere you look and almost everything is in French! It's crazy how many languages are spoken here! And so many different types of people live here from all of the world. It definitely is like the French New York! The drivers and roads here are pretty crazy though--don't worry mom, we are being careful. The weather here is pretty nice right now...there were a few cold days, though. They felt like a Georgia day in January, so I'm definitely in for a beating this winter. We are going to get winter clothes after this email actually.

My new companion is Elder Norman, a California boy who has been here for 15 months. I really hope I can speak French like he can by that point in my mission because right now I am pretty limited as far as conversations go. We have been working with a Haitian family...the mom's name is Geraldine, and they are pretty close to baptism. She has 4 kids and a sweet little grand-daughter, as well. We are actually having Family Home Evening with them at the bishop's house tonight. The members here are soooooo nice, and we have already been to see a few families! We are definitely trying to get used to our new area because my companion and I are re-opening this area up after it was closed down for a transfer, so the members are eager to see elders again. We are in a place called Longueil, right off the island of Montrèal. We can see the entire city from the roads we drive down, and it is beautiful. Our ward is called the Lemoyne East ward. The members here are so diverse. It's definitely a testimony builder just to see all the diversity.

We are staying in a member's grandma's basement right now. We call her grandma. She has been housing missionaries for almost 20 years, and she is not even a member herself. But she says she loves to have the missionaries staying in the basement. I think it's incredible that she has been doing it for so long, and she is sooooo nice and tells some pretty great stories.

The people here say I sound like I'm from France. They say I have a French accent when I speak because I articulate my words really well. Sorry Kaitlyn, but it looks like I speak the better French...TELL RYAN I SAID HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO!

I am still trying to adjust to life here, but I am enjoying being immersed in the diverse culture. Our area is heavily French, but most people here are bilingual. It's weird driving on the street and seeing everything in French, but I love it. Hopefully the language learning comes quick for me. Going to church was such a testimony builder to meet people from all over the world and to attend a church entirely in another language. It just reminds me how unified people all over the world can be through the gospel--it really is just incredible.

Also, the milk here comes in plastic bags...wut

I am loving the experience so far and am working as hard as I can! I just gave my second blessing to someone while out here on my mission as well! So many growing experiences! I wish I had time to fully explain them all! Rest assured, I am working hard and loving every minute of it! I will email y'all next week and send a few pictures)!

Love, Elder Cody Warren Ritz

Happy Birthday to our Ry Guy!

Ryan had his 12th birthday this past weekend. He is now a pre-teen. He is also our caboose, so it is all pretty bittersweet. I love being a mom, and I have enjoyed every single minute of these last 12 years with our Ry. He is sweet, sensitive, caring, and reminds us often that we(Casey & I) will always have a place in his house when we are too old to take care of ourselves - Thank you Ryan!

12 fun facts about our pre-teen:

1. Everything is awkward

2. Everything is embarrassing

3. School is not cool or fun

4. Still loves imaginary play

5. Loves playing the x-box

6. Starting to care what he wears

7. Loves ice cream cakes

8. Looking forward to participating in school sports

9. Loves to be involved in adult conversation

10. PB&J's are still the last thing he eats at night

11. Still doesn't like to be upstairs alone

12. Has always been a peacemaker

And he hates having his picture taken(can you tell)?

Happy Birthday Ry! We love you forever!!

September 11, 2001

Ryan came home last night with a homework assignment asking for his mom and dad to describe where they were 13 years ago when 9/11 occurred. It had me reflecting a lot about that day. My life was different in so many ways. Ryan wasn't part of our family yet, we were living in another town, family members that have since passed were still with us, and a security in living was being taken with each moment that ensued. To those that weren't born yet, it is a feeling that is hard to describe. I remember sitting in the living room that morning, having just taken the kids to school and watching Good Morning America as it was happening. My first thoughts were, "What is going on?" "Are there people in those buildings?" Nobody really knew yet the "whys?" and "whats" to what was unfolding on national television. I felt a vulnerability I had never experienced before in my lifetime. I wanted to go and pick up my children from school and hug each of them. I will never forget how it made me feel and continues to make me feel for those that lost their lives that day and for their families who also lost mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, husbands, wives, etc.... As story after story unfolded I was astounded at the bravery of those who were called upon to help and those who just felt a need to offer assistance in any way they could provide. Our lives are what they are today because of those who are willing to sacrifice their time serving our country and the citizens who live in it. It made me proud to be an American, where we saw the best of mankind in the worst possible of circumstances. I am thankful each day for the service and sacrifice they, and their families make for each and every one of us to live in the land of the free.

Scholarship Recipient

We could not be more proud, and it could not have come at a better time! Kaitlyn spent her summer interning in New York. It was an unpaid internship, so when she announced that she had been nominated and given a scholarship from a few of the professors in the Art department we were very excited. It couldn't have come at a better time. She is a working girl, but over the summer her account was funded by us(mom & dad), so upon coming home and starting school it was pretty much near empty. Thankfully, just a week before school started the scholarship arrived(just in time) into her bank account. She has worked so hard over the last 3 years, so we are very excited for her to receive this honor.

This past Friday we attended her scholarship ceremony. It was a fun Friday night!

Great Job, Kaitlyn!!

Missionary Moment

He is on his way to Utah and will enter the MTC on Wednesday at 1:30 in the afternoon. He is nervous, anxious and EXCITED to get started. We will miss him dearly but are thankful he is willing to sacrifice this time in his life to serve the Lord.

If you would like to keep up with Elder Ritz and his missionary work, you can follow his blog - http://www.elderritz.blogspot.com - Other contact information is listed below and can be found on his blog as well.

e-mail: cody.ritz@myldsmail.net

He will be at the MTC in Provo Utah for 6 weeks. His address is: Elder Cody Warren Ritz/ SEP16 CAN-MON/ 2009 N 900 E, Unit 112/ Provo UT, 84602

After the 6 weeks if you would like to send a package or letter, you can send it to: Elder Cody Ritz/ Canada Montreal Mission Office/ 470 Rue Gilford, Suite 300 /Montreal, QC H3P 1V5/Canada

Now, please excuse me while I grab another tissue...

Alabama

We followed Casey on a work trip to Alabama. It involved some beach time, good eats, history lessons, and quality family time! It was so much fun!!

This was our first time on the Gulf Coast. It was beautiful, and the beaches seemed so clean and well maintained.

It was also full of really cool shells, which was so much fun for Ryan. He spent most of his time shell hunting.

On our first night we went to one of the seafood restaurants we wanted to try. It was so good! We wanted to try everything!! I ordered a really good salad and we shared some fried pickles. We all enjoyed our meals that night. In fact, we went to another restaurant the next night and were not pleased at all with the food, so we went back to LAPS for our 3rd night at the beach. It was so delicious!!

Once of Cody's requests for the trip was boiled peanuts, so we found a really good place that made them hot and fresh. We made a couple stops for peanuts - a southern treat!

One of our days was spent touring the USS Alabama. It was amazing. I cannot even imagine living on a ship for an extended period of time. The living quarters were cramped and the air quality minimal. They had to have been in good shape for all of that stair climbing. I was exhausted after just an hour on board. I left with a whole new respect for those who serve and protect our country.

They had a place for everything. A Dentist, a Chapel, A doctor, multiple kitchens, cramped sleeping quarters, A post office, a cobbler, and so much more. It was amazing.

You can read more about the ship here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Alabama_(BB-60)

The hotel had a pool and hot tub that we also enjoyed. We loved our late night swims.

This was Casey's favorite activity while we were there.

Our hotel looked out onto the port where ships come and go most of the day. We had to make a stop by the local Bass Pro Shop and buy a pair of binoculars for Casey to be able to enjoy the view from a little closer vantage point.

On the way home from dinner our last night I was trying to get the boys to stop for a picture. They, of course, were not interested. When we finally made it to our room I reminded them that I had the key, so the entrance fee was a picture with their mother. Cody reluctantly complied.

We had so much fun. It was our last hoorah before Cody enters the MTC and leaves for his mission in a few days. It was wonderful!! I want to go back!!!

Because....

THE END!

Temple Day

We spent the day at the temple yesterday. It was a very good day, but it was also a very hot day. So, taking a few pictures outside was not a high priority for anyone. Poor Seth was very hungry and hot, not a good combination. We managed to get one picture with everyone smiling. It was my favorite photo of the day. Look at that cute baby!

I think baby Josh was the only one happy and smiling during our short photo session. Such a little sweetheart!

We had trouble convincing everyone else to smile...The heat was pretty intense.

Seth was a trooper.

Here are a few pictures of our future missionary...just a couple more weeks left at home.

We are so excited for Cody to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What a wonderful two years he will have serving the people in Montreal Canada.

I am so happy to know that families can be together forever. This life is not the end. What a comfort this knowledge gives me every single day. I cannot wait to be reunited with family members who are on the other side. I look forward to the day we will be together again. I know it will be a sweet and joyful reunion!

If you want to learn more about mormon temples you can go HERE.

And one more cute photo from our temple day. Oh, how I will miss this boy not wanting me to take his picture!!

New York, New York!!

What an experience! It was beautiful, exhausting, exhilerating, delicious, exciting, delightful, addicting, and yes, a bit intoxicating.

Day 1: This was my first experience in New York City. I really didn't know what to expect. One thing I wasn't expecting was the fast pace of life that everyone seems to be living there in the city. I thought I was in shape from my own personal running regimen, but New York pace is a whole different story. I could not keep up. It was a very brisk walking pace, but from what I could tell it probably matched my running pace. I came home the first night with multiple blisters on my feet and purely exhausted! We saw Radio City Music Hall, walked through central park, saw the Plaza Hotel, and ate lunch at Rockefeller Center. We covered a lot of miles that first day and my feet definitely told the story(bottom left).

Day 2: I bandaged up my feet and set out for another day of sightseeing. There are beautiful cathedrals all over the city. The architecture is amazing. We also found some good eats along the way. There are so many places to eat in New York, which made it really hard to make a decision. We found the location of an Italian Restaurant on our cell phones, and since it was close and we were tired and hungry, it was the winner for the day. It did not disappoint. I decided on a Calamari dish with fresh veggies. It was a hot dish, and I still think about how wonderful it was, wishing I could have more - Best dish I've ever eaten! On our way back to the apartment we found a cute french candy store filled with lots and lots of Macaroons(Kaitlyn's favorite).

Day 3: Our first stop was a tour of the Guggenheim. Kaitlyn knows a lot about art, so it was wonderful to have our own personal tour guide. We also made it over to FAO Schwarz, a huge toy/candy store. It was the best. I love candy stores. We picked up a few goodies and were on our way to lunch. We ate at a Mexican restaurant where they made the guacamole in front of you. It was really good. We always ate lunch around 2-3, so lunch was always a welcome break accompanied by lots of water! On our way to lunch we zoomed passed Times Square and the New York Temple. I always had my phone out for pictures as we sped walked through the city.

Later on in the evening we went to see Les Miserables on Broadway. I cannot even begin to describe the experience. It was preformed with a live orchestra and was absolutely amazing. I had finished reading the book last year and watched a high school drama club preform the play. I also went and saw the movie, but nothing compares to seeing it on Broadway. A beautiful story preformed so perfectly. It was amazing, and I loved it!!

Day 4: We were preparing to head home. We did a little grocery shopping and saw a few more New York City landmarks(the diner that was featured on the sitcom Seinfeld in the early 90's). We grabbed a quick bite to eat at a local Greek Restaurant, and packed up our things to catch a cab before they shut down for the day. It was a wonderful 4 days girls retreat in New York. Thank you Audra and Kathy for being such wonderful hosts!!

I'll photo dump the rest of the pictures I took while I was there - Good Times!