Mission update

Tomorrow marks one year since my parents left on their mission. One year. That went quickly.

One of the last letters my dad sent he said: I am very envious of your fall weather and the change of scenery. The sun comes up at 6:30 and it goes down at 6:30 every day. The temperature goes up to 108 every day, day after day. The only thing more consistent is either the power or the internet going out (which is did half through his letter and we received half one day and half another day).

Little did he realize that he would be home in a month to experience that fall-like weather. They came home five days shy of a year for medical reasons that we will find out more about tomorrow. Mom wanted to stay and let him come home and get things taken care of, but that wasn't allowed so they are both here. I'm sure this will test my dad's patience like none other. He has never been one to feel comfortable in other people's homes, even his own family. So the fact that they may be hanging out for a month before heading back is something to certainly test him.

We skipped out on mutual Wednesday night and headed to Angie's to visit, although I think Dad would rather just crash somewhere than chat. But he insisted I bring the kids out, so we obliged.

It was great to listen to their experiences and to be grateful for the conveniences we enjoy without much thought like hot showers, good drinking water, washers, dryers, fresh food.

This week I have been thinking and memorizing a scripture found in Isaiah 55:8-9 that says the Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts and neither are his ways are ways. Sometimes we don't always understand why things happen. I don't understand why God just wouldn't stay the medical issue my dad has so they could finish the last six months. I don't have answers for those questions, but I do have faith that one day I will. That is trusting in an all-knowing God.

And for now we will enjoy having them around.

Missionary Letter from Grandpa to Kiersten, Erik, and Nate
Let me share a fun missionary experience with you guys, since it won't be long until you're in my shoes. The guy in the first picture is drunk out of his mind, can you tell by his eyes?

The first time I met him I instantly liked him because he had a good spirit and he was very nice to me when he let me through the gate to go fishing. Then I found out he had been fired from his job for drinking and that's when he started coming around the house and knocking on the door at 11pm at night, always wasted. His breath was so bad that I talked to him with my finger under my nose. I would finally send him home (he lives just across the street) and he would disappear and then reappear the next day, always drunk. 

I decided to have him help me fill in the potholes along the main road with some gravel and pay his wife if he would help. The first day I did all the work and he would stand in the middle of the road and flag down people and tell them the LDS Church was fixing the roads and that he was the foreman. It was hilarious.  He could hardly stand up but he was very friendly with a lot of people. 

The second day he was so plastered that he went over to the side of the road and laid down under a coconut tree and went to sleep after only 25 minutes on the job. One day I told his wife that Jesus was going to fix her husband. The plan was to have the branch president (a cop) arrest him and put him in the drunk tank until he was sober. Then I went to Fanning Island for 9 days. When I returned, he was not in jail, he was in the hospital. He was so continually drunk that he was having liver failure and was about to die. I visited him in the hospital and at home and just simply befriended him. 

You have to be genuinely interested in them and sometimes go and get dirty where they are and actually care about them before you start waiving pamphlets and Books of Mormon at them. That part will come naturally. This other buddy across the street and I decided to take him fishing so yesterday we rented this boat and hauled him with us. 

The picture above is a bunch of dolphins who came racing over to play. These things are a gas. They try to show you all the tricks they can do. 

I prayed all day long that Etuati would catch some fish but it was slow. Then after 6 hours everything went crazy. The picture below is the sailfish just coming out of the water. If you think Lake Powell is fun, try this sometime.

The picture below says everything.  It's not about the sailfish.  It's about the change that happens when Christ and the Holy Ghost come into a person's life.  Notice the change of his countenance.  Isn't the change amazing between picture #1 and #4-5? He came to church last Sunday and he's coming tomorrow with his friends. 

Then in picture #5 he hooked into the biggest wahoo I have seen so far. Thirty minutes to get this thing in the boat and he was exhausted. I asked if he wanted to fish on the way back and he did. Five minutes later the water exploded again but the fight only lasted 30 or 40 seconds. This fish, whatever it was, sliced the line above the leader. My prayer was answered.  Etuati had a great time and brought home a lot of fish for the family. My buddy Timei said to me today, "We caught the big fish yesterday. Etuati was the big fish." 

I couldn't have landed in a better mission for me, even though the conditions are very very harsh. I did not fish one second yesterday although I was aching to get my hands on either of the poles. But it was worth every minute to see these guys have a good time. If you think fishing for these big fish is fun,  try fishing for men. That is the ultimate thrill.  Get ready now. You'll be fishing before you know it and having some of life's most awesome thrills and greatest rewards. I love you guys!

Grandpa

Braces are off

This is the day we have been waiting for for quite a few months. It seems that every time we would go in for an appointment, Erik hadn't been faithful about wearing his elastics thus postponing the big day.

But he finally buckled down and became consistent and it paid off.

Wowzers! No wonder those braces took so long. Those teeth were in bad shape.

Nate's appointment is scheduled for January and the fun starts all over again.

Girls Camp

I can't believe I am already three months post-Girls Camp. There is so much preparation that goes into Girls Camp that I really think it takes awhile to digest it all. I'm in the midst of putting together a slide show for the whole year and have loved going through photos and reminiscing.

Several months prior, Aimee, our camp director, did our activity for us and talked to the girls about anchors and making our anchors strong, strong enough that they cannot break. And what makes strong anchors? The basics. Scripture study. Prayer. Fasting. Worship at church through the sacrament. The gospel isn't hard. It just takes work.

Our theme for camp this year came from our youth theme: "Oh ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength."

The camp theme: Anchored in Christ. What a powerful theme to center all our activities around. Most ideas had to do with an anchor at sea. I also saw it as an anchor in bedrock while rock climbing. One morning I shared Elder Lund's story about the rock climber (see here) during our breakfast devotional. Christ is our belayer. There is no one else who can rescue us from our spiritual fall, no one else who can make us better people by changing our natures.

My young women are wonderful, funny, strong. I love them and I love hanging out with them.

They are sensitive to the spirit.

They are helpful and are some of Mel's biggest cheerleaders.

We also had an amazing group of youth leaders . . . and quite a lot of them!

They are willing to try new things like sun oven pizza and cookies.

I've already got some preliminary plans for next year. What I did as soon as I got home was make a list of what worked and things to remember. 'Cause you know, you think you'll remember stuff, but you don't. Paper and pen are more trustworthy with the details than my brain.

GIRLS CAMP CHECKLIST

*If you are called as a camp director, I suggest coming to activities before camp to get to know the girls if you are not in Young Womens

*Plan on about 3 to 4 activities geared toward gamp

*Plan on attending 4, possibly 5 camp meetings

*Utilize the YW leaders; they are willing to help

Secret Sisters: they like to fill out an all about me form to give to their secret sister. We hand these out at our CAMP KICKOFF, about 2 months before.

Tent Assignments: get input at CAMP KICKOFF as to who they’d like in their tent, but we make the final decision. Jr. leaders stay with the stake.

Cooking: a camp chef really helps with all the meal prep, but is not necessary
                *start buying 1 month in advance, 2 weeks, and then 1 week
                *have a sheet with meals and who is helping clean and prepare
                *do you want to use mess kits?
                *Jr Leaders eat dinner with us
                *Thursday night we have stake leaders and bishopric members eat with us

4^th Year Hikers: will need a lunch provided by the ward when they return from their overnight hike on Tuesday (presidency has made these in the past). They will also need backpacking tents and stoves.

Crafts/Games: they really like downtime as a ward to just hang out

Permission slips: try to get these filled out ASAP/reward for getting it turned back in within the week. Hand out at CAMP KICKOFF.

Packing slips: hand out two weeks prior with a flyer stapled to the front with times for gear drop off and meeting times (Meeting times: always meet at the church; just easier than meeting at someone’s house plus you're loading stuff into the trailer.)
                *BRING A COAT! – it still gets chilly even in July
                *BRING AN EXTRA PAIR OF SHOES – you will get your feet wet with water fights
                *BRING WATER GUNS for water fights

Camp manuals: new girls will need camp manuals;  some wards gather all the manuals and store them

Certification: let YW leaders be in charge of each group to make sure it gets done

Camp Kickoff: a couple of months before, during a mutual night, introduce the theme and get them excited for camp

Devotionals: do we want to use some time for devotionals/maybe use our Junior Leaders for this

Rides: enough to get girls up there along with the camp gear and enough to get ward plus junior leaders and 4^th years home with all their stuff

Snipe Hunt: 4th year girls in charge

Food Specialist
Certification Specialist
Decoration Specialist
Skits Specialist
Devotional Specialist
Music Specialist

Weekend happenings

This weekend wasn't especially eventful. Kiersten left for Boise for a cross country meet. Our house isn't necessarily falling apart, but it's not the new house it once was. Conference began with the women's session. Nate gave his first talk in sacrament. And we got to see a blood moon lunar eclipse that won't happen again until 2033. Awesome stuff.

Every summer I have my kids make goals they want to accomplish for those three months. Some do better than others at accomplishing things, but all achieve something.

Kiersten had a goal to run 500 miles for cross country. That meant running twice a day for a lot of miles.

Nate set a goal of 250. He kind of blew his out of the water.

As a mom, I love seeing my kids grow and develop and become friends.

A month ago I watch a neighbor's toddler who tried out one of my kitchen drawers. At the time I thought he merely pulled it all the way out and I simply pushed it back in. But no, this week I discovered the screws holding the box to the rollers had been stripped with nowhere to put new screws. I dropped it off at the cabinet place to have a new box made. 

And then Alex decided to even things up. His shorts caught on the handle, ripping the door off. The miraculous thing about this whole incident is I maintained my cool. I had just walked in the door from attending the temple when Tyler calmly let me know what had happened. All things can be fixed, right?

Nate gave his first sacrament talk today. I may have set him up for it. When he turned 12, he casually mentioned to me one day that he could give a talk in sacrament. Well, a year went by and nothing. So I casually mentioned it to the bishop and Nate was soon on the speaking docket. He did a fabulous job, talking about his conversion story from his baptism to receiving the priesthood to being challenged by a Sunday School teacher to consistently read his scriptures and pray. Cool under pressure. Didn't read it but spoke from his heart. Told some personal experiences. I had many people afterwards tell me what a great job he did. You wouldn't have thought he was only 13.

All evening we waited for the moon to show and finally as everyone was headed off the bed, there it was. Nate got out his telescope and we tried viewing it through that.

My camera, unfortunately, does not take good photos in the dark of objects far away. I'm always grateful for those who do get good shots and share them. This one below was taken by my friend Mindy Memmott.


Good things
a good, caring bishop
walks around the block
*digital cameras

*I am so grateful for those people in my children's lives who take photos of events that I am not able to attend. I feel like I haven't missed much when they are so kind to share either through email or social media. So with that, here are a few more homecoming pictures I got today.

Trees and faith

Eight years ago we had a big tree come down in a windstorm

and several months ago we lost another.

The first was due to a neighbor overwatering on the fence line causing shallow roots. Our other tree had a bore which weakened the tree. So here's my little life lesson from trees . . . sink your roots deep so that when the winds of change, the hurricanes of life come howling in, you will be anchored. And don't let small bugs bore their way into your life, infesting your soul. They will weaken you. Root your life in Jesus Christ with prayer and scripture study and keep a vigilant guard on the bores of the adversary which will try to weaken your resolve to stand tall and strong.

And sometimes you're going to need some support from others when your roots aren't quite deep enough. Accept their help and know that storms don't last forever. The time to jump ship or have a faith crisis is not in the middle of a tempest. Hold on; better days are ahead. Faith will always trump doubt.

Homecoming

A few weeks ago my Laurels and I started planning a movie night for the girls who didn't get asked to Homecoming. Slowly, one by one, I started getting those "sorry. can't make it" texts.

I was so happy for them.

Kiersten was still in our movie club up until a week and half ago.

Then she attended a seminary morningside.

So for all you younguns wondering whether 6:30 is too early in the morning to attend a fireside, you might want to think again.

Broderick Craig simply . . . and I say simply because so many proposals are anything but . . . approached her with a sunflower from off the side of the road and asked her to homecoming and she simply had to say yes.

No fluff. No wondering. No sleepless nights. No homework not done because time was spent elsewhere. My kind of proposal.

Except he didn't leave a lot of time for dress shopping and we were headed out of town for the weekend. That only really left last Monday. So Monday it was. And I prayed desperately that we might find something.

I mean I literally prayed that we would find a dress.

My Facebook peeps came through. Cousin Ash had one she was sending to the DI, so we graciously took it off her hands and set out to find some shoes at JCPenneys.

Found the shoes and took a quick glance at their dresses.

And we found one she really liked and it was on sale and the clerk used a coupon for us. I really love it when they offer to save me more money. And then she gave us a $10 coupon to use again, starting that day.

Returned the shoes and bought them again, using our $10 coupon.

What a great shopping trip.

Savings from great shopping deserves Zupas. I love Zupas, especially their tomato soup. I'm already salivating just writing about it.

Now for next year we have two great dresses to choose from and hopefully I'll be out a shopping trip.

Have I mentioned that I really don't like shopping. I mean it is one of my least favorite things to do. But for this girl, I'll happily oblige.

And now she's off at her first dance ever. Kevin Astill, our neighbor across the street, found me at stake conference and confessed that watching Kiersten leave for her date made him feel quite old.

Ya, well he's not her mother.

Last 1st day

Tuesday was my last first day of kindergarten. Oh my how we have been looking forward to this day.

Truthfully, I would say at least a year anticipating this day.

It has been hard having a tail end. All the others had someone to keep them company, but not Alex. I'm just as excited for him as he is. He has Mrs. Burge.

Kiersten's first day 2004: Magna (Pleasant Green Elementary; Mrs. Elliott)

Erik's first day 2005: Stansbury Park (Stansbury Elementary; Mrs. Jensen)

Nate's first day 2007: Stansbury Park (Stansbury Elementary; Mrs. Craig) -- I'm not sure why we sent him to school in that shirt. It's kind of got some attitude for the first day of school.

Ashlyn's first day 2010: Stansbury Park (Stansbury Elementary; Miss Womack) -- We moved to Lake Point half way through, necessitating the need to start riding the bus.

And here they all are side by side for comparison. Eleven years has gone by in the blink of an eye.