Christmas and the end of 2008

It was a Merry Christmas at our home - as I hope it was for you. We enjoyed visiting with friends and family. It was a bit non-traditional, yet merry. It was our first year without the whole family. MIB wasn't here. He left the states on the 23rd and arrived in Bacolod late Christmas day. He left inches of snow on the ground here and welcomed the 90 degree weather there. He says he loves it there. He spoke of fireworks going off all the time. From what I understand, fireworks are how they celebrate in the Philippines from Christmas to New Years.

I've included a few quotes from MIBs latest email, as well as a picture of him with his MTC companion, Elder Booth:

"The little kids call us Joe and its funny, but we have started teaching them to call us Elder."

(I'm hoping that we may be getting some more language lessons on the blog soon. It seems as though MIB will be having some learn-as-you-go language lessons himself.)

"OH YEAH, BY THE WAY, we don't speak Tagalog here. Yeah, we speak Ilonggo. Yep. Oh well, I guess I'll be learning languages for the next two years."

(No matter how far from our basketball net MIB may get, his love for the game always shines through!)

"Basketball is huge here. Everyone is always playing it and my new companion, Elder Sibbet loves basketball too. Once again I got a companion that is a lot like me."

MIB has even received the nick-name of Elder Dewayne Wade. I'm sure he is eating that one up!

It's great to hear him so excited an upbeat. I hope that you will continue to write him. DearElder is still free. Just choose Philippines, Bacolod mission. The letters aren't printed as frequently, just on Thursdays for the pouch mail. But there is no excuse to not be able to drop him a few sentences, or more. I know the mail really helps to keep his spirits up. Everyone has been wonderful!! If you want to send a package or mail him through the postal service, just email me for his address.

Princess has been faithfully getting up for her basketball practices and team events. She is even doing her best to put on 10 pounds that her coach told her to gain. She isn't a junk food junky, so we've stocked up on protein bars and whatever else sounds good to her. "Needing to gain weight" is truly a trial I will never have the misfortune of enduring. : )

DK is living up the late nights and not-so-early mornings. He is loving the snow and all the "fair game" goodies that fill our home this time of year. He always seems to be engaged with his friends either here or there. There is never a moment for sitting still - it's go, go, go.

Naws misses MIB like crazy. He is always wanting to set a spot at the table and save food for him for when he comes home. Somehow, dinner or a cookie waiting two years for MIB doesn't sound too appetizing. Two years is a time frame that isn't fathomable for a 4 year old. Naws LOVES school. He is a bit frustrated that even though it is Tuesday today, he doesn't get to go to school today. In his opinion this vacation thing is for the birds. Although, I know he has loved having his older brother and sister home from school.

Hubby and I are enjoying the time with the kids. We'd love to be experiencing MIBs 90 degree weather. For now, we'll enjoying hear about it. We've loved and learned so much in 2008. We've enjoyed having you a part of it. I hope you continue to read and comment in 2009!!

A few Photos!

Top left: MIB competes in a push-up competitions. In the background, you can see a little bit of his living quarters.

Bottom left is a picture taken in one of the many classrooms at the MTC. I believe hes is pictured here (yellow tie) with is missionary companion.

Birthday greetings

My birthday came, as it does once a year, and was wonderful. Co-workers at work made cake, sang, gave gifts and celebrated with me there. Hubby and Naws took me out for lunch. My mother cooked dinner for the whole family, including my niece and nephew who were there. In fact, my nephew-in-law, who works at the MTC (where MIB is) brought me a card from MIB with a recent photo soon to be posted). My children, husband, family, friends and neighbors all made me feel special on this special day!
Short kiddo story: My four-year-old was carrying in his pocket a little jewelry box. There was nothing in it, but he was keeping it in his pocket and distraught about a gift for me for my birthday. After some time, Hubby was able to drag out some more insight from Naws concerning this little box. It turns out, Naws wanted to get me a necklace for my birthday and he knew they came in little boxes. It was very cute!
Cheers to "another 38 years!!" Mabuhay!

Many Hands Lighten my Soul

Friday was my Church's Christmas dinner. 250+ people signed up to attend and at least that many did! It was a great turn-out. It started with a visit from Santa and crafts for the kids. Music, Food, great music and more food came next and then... the clean-up. So many stayed to help clean-up and stuck it out until the bitter end. But because there were so many, the end wasn't bitter.
It was wonderful to see all those, who volunteered, wash dishes, sweep, mop, move chairs, take out trash and ask "what can I do." In the past a few others and myself would be cleaning at the church until 11pm or so. This year - I left by 9pm!
Salamat! Salamat ("Thank you," in Tagalog) to all of you who stayed to help. You really do make a difference. Your many hands lightened my soul! At a time of year where time and energy is in high demand, I personally felt your service!
Mabuhay!

Dear Elder

MIB is doing well. He has a great way of having fun everywhere he goes. He is loving the letters and packages that friends and family are sending. He loves to hear from everybody. We were fortunate enough this last week to catch him on email - so we were able to email back and forth for a few minutes before he had to run off to other things.
He did emphasize that his favorite form of communication is on DearElder.com. It is a great way to get letters to him FAST. In fact, any message sent to them by noon, Monday through Friday is brought to the MTC that same day - so he gets your mail that very day. It's easy and FREE. Go to DearElder.com, select "write a letter," put in MIBs name and select Provo MTC for location. Type your letter and hit send. THAT'S IT!! They print them, stuff the letter in an envelope and hand deliver it to the MTC.
It get's even better - You can do the same thing when he leaves for Bacolod. Instead of choosing Provo, MTC for the location, choose Philippines, Bacolod and they deliver (weekly, on Fridays) up to the Salt Lake City location where the church sends out all the "pouch" mail. It normally takes 2-3 weeks to get to Bacolod from here, but again, it's easy and FREE.
MIB says it works great for him. So, take a moment to send a few sentences to him on DearElder.com :)
MIB send his greetings and thanks to all of who have been sending him letters and packages, the support has been great! He is loving the MTC, enjoying the people there and learning so much.
I try to use Tagalog in my messages to him, for my learning and for his. He said he would tell me how to say whatever I asked. So if there is something you want to learn how to say in Tagalog... just ask!
Please remember MIB in your prayers.
Salamat.

More Tagalog vocabulary

MIB sends his thanks to all who have corresponded with him since he's been in the MTC. He loves the letters and packages. He is somehow, still hungry all the time.

Here are some more vocabulary words to use when you write him -
Gutom ako - I am hungry (He must use this one a lot)
Maganda ko - You are beautiful
Mabuhay - Long live
Totooang simbahan - The church is true
Salamat - Thank you
Mahal Kita po - I love you w/respect

If you only use one phrase this week, I hope it's "Salamat!"

Mabuhay!

Let the Good Times Roll

Good times - Everybody has them, but some choose not to recognize them. Just like the lyrics, "It's wanting what you've got, not having what you want" So, being that it's the month of Thanksgiving - get thanking! Is it family, friends, health, food, shelter, faith, hope, freedoms, what? EVERYBODY has something they can be thankful for, everybody!
I am thankful for my family, both immediate and extended. I am amazed, what I thought the "norm" was, really isn't. I'm glad we functional as well as we do! My hubby and children bring smiles to my life everyday! (They bring other things too, but we are focusing on the good! :)
I'm thankful for my friends, old and new. I learn and grow from them and enjoy their kind words and especially their comments to my blogs!
I'm thankful for the health I have - and the fact that my body works as well as it does even when I don't do the best for it! I'm VERY thankful for my families health!
I'm thankful for all the yummy food I get to enjoy. Especially the fruits and vegis that grow - and the farmers that grow them!
I'm thankful to live where I do. The freedoms I enjoy, the comfortable home I have to live in; the warm bed at night and hot shower in the morning would be pure luxury in some places!
I am so so thankful for my faith. I cannot imagine living without the understanding of purpose and accountablility that I have. The more I exercize my faith, the more it grows and the peace inside me grows!
I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and his atonement, and for Heavenly Father's willingness to let him come to earth.
I am thankful for technology that allows me to sit here in my comfy home and share this with all of you who chose to read it!
Be Thankful - It feels so good! Roll with the Good Times!
What are you thankful for?

Sunshine, beautiful Sunshine

Mail - when anticipated so greatly, is like sunshine! We have received sunshine from MIB!! He's doing well. His companion likes basketball too - so they get along great.

I've always been told that missionaries eat very well at the MTC. In fact, Jared said he gained 21 pounds (in just 19 days!) during his stay at the MTC. However, MIB says that he is always hungry and thirsty. Strange! I'm sure care packages would help his hunger and thirst. I figure that he's being fed so well mentally and spiritually that his physical body is feeling left out. : )
Yet, we can all feel good knowing that they have Sobes (his favorite drink) there, so he's drinking well!

He's having fun with the Tagalog language. Leave it to MIB and his companion to make up songs in Tagalog to brings a smile to all those who hear it.
He did give us some vocabulary, you may want to learn it too and use it when writing MIB, or whenever you have a conversation in Tagalog : )

Kumusta? - How are you?
Mabubi - Good
Magandang umaga - Good morning
A no ang pangulan mo? - What is your name?
Oo - Yes
Hindi - No
Mag- Inggles? - May I speak English

I do believe that I would probably use "Mag- Inggles?" the most, but I'll work on the others as well. Hopefully you'll give some a try too. Check back again for some more language lessons, and of course for more updates.

Magandang umaga!

He's off!

It happened! Wednesday, we packed him up, brought him there, and left him. Wow! That was a tough day. I had no idea it would be so difficult to let my not-so-little boy go. And as Heather said, he won't ever come back. When he returns he'll be a young man with school, family and career to tend to. Amazing what can happen in 19 years!

MIB is now at the Missionary Training Center where he is learning how to spread the gospel in the Tagalog language.

It is so surprising that something that I have hoped for him for so many years is finally coming about. It's hard to accept that it is time. I wouldn't want him any other place, doing any other thing, and yet the selfish side me screams out that I want to keep him here at home with me, where I can enjoy his company! Thank goodness not all my sides are selfish : )

Let me know if you need his address. I'd love for him to be drowned in letters.

I shall blog more as soon as I hear from MIB. I anticipate some kind of communication next week. Until then, here are pictures of the new MISSIONARY! The first is him with his missionary tag. The second is MIB with his very first companion, his Dad. (He was set apart Tuesday night and told that my hubby was to be with him until he entered the MTC. Therefore, my hubby was his first companion.) The last picture is me putting his missionary tag on for him. Memorable moments! Enjoy!

More Missionary Photos...

Here are more pictures for your pleasure. Enjoy!

As Promised

I am back with more photos of MIB, as promised. This picture to the left reminds me of MIB's missionary letter which quoted the scripture John 4:35-36, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together"

Wow! It's been a long while since I last blogged.
I do believe that I was avoiding the MTC count down. As if not seeing it would make it stop all together! (Denial)
So I'm back - with some great photos of MIB! I am so fortunate to have a VERY talented friend that captured Mitchel wonderfully! Check her out at feltphotography.com

Dawn, our friend and make-up artist, did his make-up (a first for MIB). Thanks Dawn!

Here is my favorite GQ photo of MIB (above on the right)

I love this one too - It is all him (on the left)

Okay - pictures are worth a thousand words - so enjoy!

Tune in again soon (yes, I commit to "soon") There are more photos to come.

Know the lyrics?

I keep remembering the lyrics to a song. It's an oldie!! Recently, it plays a familiar tune in my head. "Change, change, change." Do you ever wonder if the things that you continue to be faced with in life are the exact things that you personally need to master? It's often said, "the one thing that will always be constant is change." So true, so true. However, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe I haven't really figured that out yet. Yes, you've read my self-talk about embracing change, just a few blogs ago. Change is good.
I've experienced some more change. I just started a new job. It has been been over 12years since I've worked (except for the year I was at the elementary school with Princess and DK before Naws was born.) I was reflecting on the main accomplishments of my 12+ years ago job. I had to laughed out loud! The world wide change request system for my company was the last big project I managed. It was something that I started dabbling with in the first year I was there. It grew and grew - snowballed and eventually became a company wide project for our offices all over the world. Developing the final phase of the system took over a year and at least that long to get all the affected departments on board and trained.
My biggest project there was to create a system to facilitate change in the smoothest, least intrusive method possible. And of course to document the change to aid in evaluating the change and see where other areas could benefit from similar change. Change, change, change.
I've been working at my new job for 6 days now. Those 6 days have been filled with facilitating change. Is that not ironic? "Don't you think? A little too ironic. Ya, I really do think." (Catch the song lyrics there? Ironic, by Alysa Morteset.)
My single largest function in my new job is to facilitate change. Granted, these are different types of change. Some are life changes, some are small daily changes. I help facilitate change for Jr. High students. Changes that occur when registering or withdrawing from our school when they move, changes from elementary to junior high, changes from Jr. High to High school, changes in their class schedules, change, change, change!
Yes, once again I find myself in the middle of change and helping others make, deal and run with it. Change, yet again, is the center of my world.
So, I guess, I could say, "I'm out to change the world." ... for the good of course!
Hence, in my head, frequently runs throughout the song about change.
Can you hear the song I'm speaking of - about change. Do you know the song? Who sings it? Here are the lyrics.

Change upon faces
Changing hands
Change in my father
And my fathers land

Change, change
Change, change, change, change, change

Change in the weather
And it flies through a flag
Change in the places
I knew as a lad

Change, change
Change, change, change, change, change

Change on the mountain
Where green was turned black
Change on the valleys
That take it all back
Change in a worker
With sweat on his hands
Condemned by a future
To the no mans land

Change in the rivers
Once clean, flowing fast
Made sad and dirty
By the tears of man
Change at my ankles
Holding me back
Change like an icon
Beckoning fast

Change, change
Change, change, change, change, change

How old am I, really?

Do you ever get confused as to your age? Do you have to stop and think when asked how old you are? Do you frequently give the wrong age - on accident? Do you say you are younger or older than you really are?
I remember those teenage days when older was always better. Sixteen was a great age to pretend to be, prior to sixteen. Then it was eighteen after reaching sixteen. Twenty-one was the next age to aspire to be. Many seemed to stay twenty-one for ten or more years. Twenty-nine was another year that repeated itself more than just a couple times.
But how often does a person, after age thirty, refer to themselves as being older than they truly are?
I do that!! Not on purpose - I just spout out older ages than I really am. I don't get it!

This morning as I lay in bed, enjoying the fact that it was Sunday, so I could sleep in. I was reviewing in my mind a few conversations in my mind from last night's "Girl's night out." One conversation particularly was with my new friend Ella. How is it that I can be a week older than Ella, have an 18 year-old, and have only started my family a year later than her, yet she has a 20 year old? I was doing the math in my head. Obviously, my math skills are not up to Peggy's (think of what my quilt would look like!). It was just not adding up.
My mind, knowing me quite well, and not wanting to overheat, said, "let it go." So, I did. I then started doing the math for MIB (my 18 year-old). His birthday is several months before mine. I was doing the whole, "if I'm this old, and he's that old, he'll be 19 on his next birthday...." Then I realized. I'm not 38!! I'm only 37. I said 38 when Kelly asked me. And then from that moment on 38 was the number in my head. I was 38 and I was still 38 when talking with Ella too. So Ella, I'm not a week older than you. You are just a week shy of being one year older than me. The math works now!
I understand people mistaking themselves for being younger than they really are. They've already been that age. It's easy to forget to add another year as the time quickly ticks away. But why would you add years that haven't been lived yet? I've done this more than just this once!
Do you remember, Crystal, last summer, when I thought I only had one more year before I was 40? How did that happen? I've never considered myself to be bad at math. I actually like math - I used to think I was kinda good at it. I even attribute myself for MIB's great math brain. Hmmm.
Maybe I'm ignorant to my real math skills. Or - maybe I want to be older? Or, maybe I'm trying so hard to keep up with time, that I've passed it by. : >
I really don't feel like a teenager that is just dying to be 18. I'm not even a 30-year old that wishes I was 29 again! I'm quite happy to be 37. I don't want time to fly by any faster than it already does. So, as Rabbit would say, "why, oh why, oh why?"
Today, and until my next birthday, I am 37. 37. 37. 37. Got it. Ella, Kelly and whoever else may have been part of our conversations last night, I am 37, not 38. Wow, the math works so much better when I have the right numbers. Peggy, not only do I admire your story writing skills, evidently, I need to aspire for your math skills as well!!
I really am 37.

And then morning comes...

Some days more than others, it is important to remember that the morning will come again tomorrow! Today feels a little like one of those! I read Leslie's blog about Chris leaving and her new church calling and all I can think is "CHANGE" and tons of it! She is handling it beautifully. That is so helpful to those of us that see the change coming in our own lives. I don't just mean they see change in the future, they see it in the NEAR future! Change is inevitable, it's adventurous, it makes life exciting, it teaches us new things and it's everything we allow it to be. It happens whether we want it to or are ready or not. So, it truly is in our best interest to go with it. (I'm working hard to convince myself. Can you tell?)
The less we resist it, the easier it is. The more we embrace it the more we can grow from it. The more we hope for it, the more fun it will be.
After all, if we never did deal with change - we never would have been born. Think of all the change that children look forward to every day of their lives - and don't they seem to love living life everyday! They enjoy the simple things, find joy in everyday stuff. I love watching children. It is no wonder, once again, that we should be more like little children. They have such a better grasp on living.
Thanks Leslie, for handling the change in your life so eloquently. You are a great example to me! Carry on.

The Heat is ON!

Today I let many of you know that I am blogging. So now the heat is on to blog more frequently. I do suppose that is a good type of heat. There is nothing quite like peer pressure to help me do a good thing. Hmmm. That reminds me of a recent case of peer pressure - just yesterday.

I had been wanting to try something new. Not just anything, but a particular thing. It was something I had heard about numerous times but hadn't been adventurous enough to give it a try. My heart wanted to, but my mind, being so much more practical, had stopped me from the possibly painful experience.
I tried to get others to come along with me. I tried to make it sound very desirable, fun and exciting. But even with all my eagerness, I was unable to convince any of my friends to join in. They warned me, "I've heard it's really hard," "I hear it's addictive," and "I don't want to die." But would I listen? No way! It was one of those times where I was NOT giving into the peer pressure to just let the idea go. I HAD to try it.
The time was right. I had checked the schedules, I had responsible kids at home to be with the youngest so that I could sneak out of the house early. I awoke right on time - no alarm, just roosters (chickens and pheasants) calling in the day and the beautiful sunshine peeking through the blinds. I dressed in the appropriate attire and left the house out the garage door. There was no friend or foe to stop me now. I was doing it. There was no turning back!
When I reached my destination, I stowed my purse under the seat, grabbed my water bottle and carefully strolled to the front door.
Here I scanned my membership card and realized there was no way out. "I may die today," I thought as I scaled the stairs and entered the "spin room." Oh no - there was someone I knew. How could my yoga instructor be here? It was true, not only was she a yoga instructor, but she was the spinning class instructor too.
Needless to say - I survived. Yes, it was hard, but I survived. No death yesterday. All of you who said it shouldn't be done - If I can do it, you can do it. Don't try to be a spin expert the first time. Build up to it. But be aware of the peer pressure.
Here's where the peer pressure I am dealing with now came into play.
Today as I entered the room for my yoga class, Megan, my instructor and I visited for a moment. She was pleased to see me back in Yoga the day after my Spinning experience. I mentioned that my shoulders were really tight, as she had warned they may be, from the previous day's spin class. No big deal. We were a small class (only 2 today) so she suggested we could individualize the class a little. Then it happened. She said she knew my shoulders were tight and asked the other yoga-er if she needed to focus on any particular spot. SO, then we spent some extra time stretching shoulders - for me! Do you see what is happening here? She's helping me out, helping me to deal with the spin class, allowing me no excuse to not return to spin class. She knows I'll be back for yoga. So now will she expect to see me spinning again? There is the pressure - the peer pressure.
I thought I was safe to just, "try it once" - no big deal, I wouldn't get addicted after just one try. But, with the pressure there, I may try it again and maybe again and again. Who knows, Crystal may be right - it may be addictive, and then I'm toast, or rather, I'm spun. Will I give in to yet another spin class? I don't know. Only next week will tell.
But just as peer pressure can encourage one to be consistent with something good, such as blogging more often. It could also pressure one into exercising harder than necessary - which is bad, right? So be cautious when trying new things you've been warned against. There may be some other twist that you never expected.
But by all means - do give spinning a try. You don't have to die. You can simply push yourself hard for you and forget about trying to keep up with everybody else spinning along side you!

Blisters

Everyone knows that good walking shoes are a MUST. My walking shoes have been well worn in. I've had them as my indoor exercise shoes for a few years. A few months ago they became my walking shoes as I began walking on a regular basis.
Just this last week I decided to add my ankle and hand weights. Does this change how my shoes rub on my feet? It must. That is all I can figure. All last week and now this week I am getting blisters on my feet.
I keep trying new things to alleviate the problem. I'm wearing longer socks and folding them over for extra protection. I changed to different ankle weights. Today I even used a fancy bandaid padding that only moved to a different place on my foot. I have another huge blister today.
Could I be walking funny? I just don't know what is causing this. Strange to walk for weeks without any problems and then begin getting blisters.
How do I allow the blisters to heal while continuing in my walking routine. Certainly breaking in new shoes cannot be the right answer for this. What do you think?

The beginning of a new

Yes, I'm finally blogging! I've contemplated for a while and am finally giving into the blog side. Thanks to all of you who have encouraged and help me!

My hope for this blog is to keep y'all updated with the happenings of the family. I do admit that the urgency to become blog savvy has come mostly due to knowing that my oldest will be leaving home soon. I have great plans of uploading pictures and updates from him right in this very spot!

I also hope that many of you will feel the need to keep me updated of the events in your families. Many of you already do and have been an inspiration to get me started.

As you may well know, I love help (maybe that's why my children are great helpers). I'm counting on your help to keep me motivated by commenting lots. Let me know what you would like to hear/see more of. Please don't be shy.