Humpday is over - On the downhill

Hump day was October 22nd! MIB has been out a whole year now - Only one more to go! It's all downhill from here : ) I'm excited to know that this time next year I'll be giving him lots of hugs and kisses and hearing more about his mission adventures!

Not only does this month mark his 1/2 way through his mission, it also included his birthday. He is no longer a teenager! (Which also means, I'm the mother of an adult child!!! Wow!) Thank you to all of you who sent him a note this month. I know he loves to hear from you all!

Pictures, pictures. Get'm while you can. All the viruses from the Internet cafes eventually killed MIB's camera through the memory card, so he won't be sending home pictures via email. It may be a while before we get more pictures from him. Enjoy the pictures!

MIB was also transferred to a new area. "Friday we went to Bacolod for transfers and I am now in Inayauan :D its really really south and bukid and way way pretty here :D my new companion's name is Elder Raymundo :D he seems pretty koo!"

Anybody know what "bukid" means? Yah, he throws foreign words in his sentences lots!

The fam' here is doing well. I've been asked for more updates from home. So, here we go: We are well adjusted here.

Princess jumped right into soccer. She just finished up her season and didn't miss a beat to get started into basketball. She keeps busy with sports, school work and friends. She has made a nice group of friends here and is enjoying it.

Those of you who know me, won't believe this, but I didn't take any pictures for the soccer season. Princess's friend's dad had sweet lenses on his camera and is putting a bunch of pictures on CD for the whole team. NICE. (I can see know how much Princess's team appreciated the basketball CD we gave them last year. I can't wait for the soccer CD!) Which reminds me, (Angela) that we haven't yet seen a trek CD from Princess's trek this summer. : ) She missed the reunion, so we didn't get a CD.

DK is living up to his name - He is in the high school play, "Bye Bye Birdie". That is a big commitment. It has interfered a little with tennis. He has really taken off with tennis. He'll be able to get back into tennis when the play is over (November, just before Thanksgiving). That is, if it isn't at the same time as basketball?! He is working hard on scouting. Yesterday he was working all morning doing service, planting trees and bushes for the city. He and the others that volunteered their time did a great job. It looks beautiful. Just a few more merit badges and time as a star and he'll be ready to do his eagle project. He's been trying to come up with an eagle project. He has a list of ideas going. If you have any ideas - please do tell!

Naws is growing up! He is thoroughly enjoying kindergarten. He has several good friends in the neighborhood. One just a few doors up is even in his school class. Having boy friends that live so close is a new thing for him. I guess princess movies and playing house are things of the past. Now it's lots of lego, star wars and the Wii. Naws tried tennis a few times and seems to really like it. He has his own little racket (thanks to Grandpa passing on the kido rackets) and some fun drills we do at home - Mom drops the ball, he hits it and tries to hit Dad who is sitting out in the grass. It's such a thrill to try to nail Dad with the ball! Tennis is quite entertaining, plus he gets to be a big kid, just like his big bro, DK. He is also doing basketball this year. He is so excited to start in the family tradition!! Today he has his part for the Primary Program. He's ready to go!

Hubby and I are doing just fine. We are enjoying the beautiful fall weather. We've enjoyed several visitors. Thanks so much for coming to see us! We love visitors. I was a bit disappointed when the marathon came and went and we didn't get a visit from those of you who I know where here! I guess that just means that you'll be making another trip down just to see little'ole me. : ) I'm sure as the weather continues to grow colder up north, some may have a little more encouragement to come south!! We continue to run into old friends here. It's fun to see people I haven't seen for years and catch up on what's is happening in their lives. It amazes me that other people's kids grow up too. Wow. It's true!

I've blogged LOTS today - so I hope you "feel the love" and know we think of our friends and family far away lots! I am reminded frequently how much our friendships touch our hearts and how important friends are.

Enjoy!

Less than 400!

Did you notice the count down - less than 400 days until we see MIB again!! But whose counting, right?
I'm so excited for the experiences he is having. So is MIB; he said, "The missionary experience is awesome. I wouldn't trade it for the world. There is so much about this gospel I am learning out here and so much about the world too. It's awesome."

These first few pictures are from his current area (I think). But the others, I believe, are from a previous area. I am just now getting the pictures. He's been trying to send home all his pictures a little at a time. Since they are all new to all of us viewing them, I figured you'd enjoy them whether recent or not. Enjoy!

News from this week is about the expansion of the ward where he is now. He is so excited about the growth. "So this week went pretty good. We are getting to visit with the new bishop, his counselors and some in-active members :D So our meeting house is supposed to be fine to meet in by Sunday. I went through it and compared it to all the churches I have been in in the Philippines. Its way nice (all of ours in PG that I remember are still way bigger but hey it's all good). I'm way way excited to get to meet in it."

"It used to be tiny before I came and now it's huge, bigger than the stake center. Everyone is way way proud of it. haha To me it is awesome; I'm way way excited :D"

"My comp is awesome. We are teaching tons of teenage girls and they all have different religions, so it's kinda fun. haha For example, some of the girls believe God and Jesus Christ are one person and a spirit."

MIBs birthday is in a few weeks. It's a great excuse to send him a letter. I'd love for you to share your testimony with him - share with him what you believe in and what you know to be truth! Just in case you've misplaced his address, here it is (postage is 98 cents):

Philippines, Bacolod Mission Office

PO Box 660

Bacolod city

6100 Negros Occidental

Philippines

No excuses! Share the love! Take a minute to send him a letter! Thanks for your love and support!

Elder Espitero‏ and Old Sigay City

MIB is in Old Sigay City with Elder Espitero. The two have faced a lot together, including the death of Elder Espitero's father. What a dedicated servant of the Lord that Elder Espitero has been to remain in the mission field during such a difficult time.

It has caused me to reflect how quickly circumstances in life can change and how much we really need our loved ones.

Thank goodness for the gospel of Jesus Christ where we can know that we will again be reunited with our loved ones after our mortal life on earth.

I have received few written words from MIB the last few weeks, but lots of photos.
Here is the majority of what I have heard from him and some pictures for your enjoyment!

"So we had a baptism on Saturday :D Bengie :) I got to baptize him :D Only problem is my camera died, so the Pres. took a picture with his and his camera is film. I will have to wait to get it. Umm, we had some exciting stuff but I have to save some stories for when I come home. haha. Well, I hope everything is going great over there even though I'm not there. haha"

Until next blog...

Views of Zions NP

While looking for a picture of Hubby to include in my last post, I ran across these pictures from our last venture to Zions National Park.

I thought you may enjoy seeing some of what we captured there. Zions is one of our family's favorite places.

I didn't take near as many pictures as everybody else did! I was able to sneak a few in, but mostly somebody else was snapping pictures, including NAWs!

There is something therapeutic about nature and Zions has lots of it!

Enjoy!

Jesus Spoke in Church Today!

Today's little storey is just too funny not to share.

Those of you who have not seen my Hubby in the last year may not recognize him these days. He has been growing his hair out. Along with his "longer than ever before" hair, he also has a beard and mustache. (His latest idea is to grow a beard long enough to braid...hmmm. Maybe he'll get another idea before he fulfills that one.)

Here is a picture of him so you can see his new look. I love the curl!

Now for the Jesus Storey:

Hubby and I spoke in church today. Yep, we did and survived : )

After the meeting, our neighbor came up and shared with us a story of how Hubby had truly inspired their 3 year old to pay attention in church.

They noticed early on in the meeting that he was staring at the program and studying it more than usual. The picture on the front of the program was of John the Baptist baptising Jesus. He continued to look at the picture, and then look up at the stand and then back at the program again. When Hubby stood up to speak their son stared at him and watched him so closely. Then after listening for a few minutes he turned to his Dad and said, "Jesus is speaking at church today."

Yes, it's not the first time Hubby has been called Jesus. When going out, Jared would endearingly refer to Hubby when saying, "Jesus, you sit up front with me." However, I don't think Hubby's look ever encouraged Jared to pay any more attention to what he had to say as it did the 3 year old in church today.

Too funny.

Ocean Baptism

Guimaras

MIB loved his time in Guimaras. It was his first time being the senior companion and group leader. He really loves the people of Guimaras!

One of the things he had so hoped for on his mission was to be able to baptise in the ocean, and HE DID! Here are pictures from that baptism.

MIBs ability to speak the language has improved so much. He doesn't admit to it, but when he is struggling to find the English words in his emails, I know he must be doing well.

I promise I won't go months without blogging more. Check back again soon!

When the phone rings...

I failed to mention, but we did get a phone call for Mother's Day! It was wonderful to hear MIBs voice! Everybody enjoyed talking with him. I enjoyed talking with him AND I enjoyed listening and watching everybody else talk to him too! I think everybody's spirits was lifted by the conversation with MIB. Home just isn't the same without him hear and we feel the void in our daily lives!

However, I wouldn't change a thing. MIB is exactly where he needs to be right now and he is doing a great work for the Lord!

Here are a few excerpts for your reading pleasure: "Yesterday we went to the ocean and planted mangroves, or something like that. It was, ahhhh... interesting walking in nasty mud."

I eat fish and rice everyday. Peanut butter and jelly is just too expensive on my budget. I have eatin fish eyes, fish head, little fish, big fish and weird shrimp not to much big shrimp. I have had crab twice and love it. Its the best, haha, except annoying to brake out of the shell."

"On Saturday we went and taught this elderly guy named Miguel and his 10 year old son named Kenneth. We were reading 3Nephi 11 and teaching him how Jesus was baptized at the right age, by authority and baptized the right way. He asked if he is allowed to get baptized again because he was baptized when he was a baby. We told him he could. Then he asked where he should get baptized. We told him that our church had authority from God to baptize. He then asked, "Well, who can baptize me (thinking it had to be the prophet or some one in America or something very difficult to do)?" We told him that we had the authority as missionaries of the church. He got a huge smile on his face and was way excited. Then he asked how much it cost. When we told him it was free, he got way way excited. We told him its not just basta-basta (like ummmm, not just something you do with out thinking about it) and told him in our next visit we would talk about the steps to baptize and repentance. He smiled again and told us next time we came we had to teach him how to repent. He wants to set a date that he can be baptized :D That's way awesome huh? And he walked with his son to church yesterday and payed more attention to what everyone was saying then anybody else there, including the high council men :D I'm so excited for him :D"

The most beautiful place on Earth!

At the first of May, MIB was transferred to Guimaras. "Pretty much I LOVE IT HERE :D I am on Guimaras (the little island between Negros and Panay). Remember Elder McCook talking about his area that they built a thing in there backyard for church? Well, that's where I am now :D We have two "groups," its smaller than a branch. My companion is the group leader of the group that meets in my back yard. I go to a far away place in our area to attend the other group. My companion is Elder Parrenas. I am his first white companion. This area is so beautiful; I can't wait 'till I get a new card reader so I can send you pictures :D " Above is a beautiful sunset on Guimaras.

Right: MIB and his new companion, Elder Parrenas.

"To get here we road an ocean jet (pretty much a jet in the water) to Iloilo then a different kind of boat from Iloilo to Guimaras. While on Iloilo I got to meet Elder McCook. It was like meeting someone I knew."

As a little background on Elder McCook - His mother and I began emailing just after MIB received his call. She helped me in preparing for MIB to leave home and continues to share stories from Elder McCook's experiences there. She has become a great friend to me and our sons have come to know each other through the stories we've shared of emails and such. Elder McCook comes home this fall, so it was wonderful they were actually able to meet! Who knows, maybe there is still a chance for them to be companions before Elder McCook's mission there is finished.

Prior to leaving Silay City, MIB had some other experiences to share:

"This week was interesting, to say the least. I lost my companion for half a day. I rode a carabao (pictured at left with Elder Winegar and Elder Lecheminant) and almost got eaten by a monkey (luckily he was chained down and I was just out of the chains reach). I think I can send pictures so I'm going to try. We should have 10 baptisms on the 25th of April and I'm way excited for that :D" A little "small world" side note: MIB and Elder Lecheminant lifeguarded together at SevenPeaks a couple summers ago. Small world!

"General conference was amazing. I learned a lot about ahhh everything! Especially Elder Holland's talk (he would have to be my favorite). I learned a lot about the atonement and that God had to leave Jesus so he could feel spiritual death just as we do when we sin. I had actually been thinking about how Jesus knew our pains when we sinned since he never did. I had thought about it almost every night this last week. It is amazing how the Lord works through the Apostles and speaks to us. We only got to watch Sunday conference so if anything stuck out to you during Saturday, please share. If Dad or Josh could do the same with priesthood session. Thanks tons! Oh, by the way, a thought that came to me while I was listening to several people talk about the importance of going to the temple. Since I can't go to the temple, ahh ever for the next year and a half (yes 6 months is on the 22 :D) Will you and Dad try to go every week for me? :D"

It's hard to believe that MIB has already completed 1/4 of his mission! It is wonderful to get to share the experiences with him through email and pictures!

Leave of Absence due to Withdrawals

It has been SO very long since I last blogged! Please excuse my "leave of absence." I was suffering from withdrawals. Withdrawals, that is, from not receiving pictures of MIB nearly every week. I was so spoiled for a few months of getting pictures in is weekly emails. I was surprised the first couple weeks that he didn't send pictures. So, the third week I asked for pictures. It was then that he enlightened me with the information that the internet cafe that they use to email no longer allows jump drives. Therefore, no more weekly pictures for me. I'll have to wait until he's able to burn a CD.

Blogging without pictures just isn't as much fun! I went through a little "withdrawal" period and am trying to move on. There is still plenty to tell... it just takes so much more to blog with words alone. Pictures say so much on their own. I will however, include a picture - although it isn't current. It is still a fun one to enjoy.

This picture is of MIB at age 8 for his baptism day. At the time we had the picture taken, I thought it was a great future missionary shot. Who knew the time would come so soon that he would be a missionary, wearing the title of "Elder."

Now picture this boy narrating these stories he sent home from the field. The first is from 3/08/09: "It was awesome. The little girl I baptized Friday, Fenze Ann, is kinda shy. Her mom is inactive. When we asked Frenze Ann to share her testimony after her baptism, she shied away. Her mom shared her baptism instead. It was all in Ilonggo, but I could feel the spirit way strong and had to hold back some tears."

In response to a few questions I asked, he responded, "Laundry is fine. It's not too bad when you tell yourself that washer and dryer machines don't exists." "There is peanut butter here. Thank Goodness; I would die without it!" "I miss eating Dad's oreos. They do have them here, but they are waaaay expensive and I'm trying this new budget thing."

On Sunday, March 22nd he spoke of an upcoming baptisms. His biggest concern was memorizing the girl's Filipino names.
He says that it's so hot and humid there that he feels like he should carry a towel around with him. "I love the heat so much better than snow!"

Many have asked about MIB wearing a skirt as he was looking forward to it. He did find a skirt in the closet of their appartment. However, they believe it belonged to a sister that lived there before them. The people there don't wear skirts. Maybe his next area? There was some talk of his next area. However, the next transfer isn't until May, so we'll see if MIB ends up in the mountains speaking yet another language.

MIB wasn't able to email today, as they had a zone activity. I look forward to when he can email again. Once again I apologize for my "leave of absences." I hope to be past the picture withdrawals and be back on track for blogging! You can look forward to more pictures, whether they be past or current!

Happy Palm Sunday! Please be sure to spend some time this week contemplating the incredible gift that Christ has given us. What would be MIB's purpose in the mission field, or our purpose everyday if he had not atoned for us?!!

Happy Easter!

Writing In the Sand

The beach is one of my favorite places to be. I have many fond memories of writing in the sand myself. Normally the things I chose to write were the names of my latest crush. Obviously, that was not MIB's idea here when sand writing. I love this picture - it is so "me," and I wasn't even there! Way to think like your mom MIB!
Second, is a picture of MIB with his companion, Elder Labii, a Philippine native from Cagayan. The third man in the picture, I'm guessing, is an investigator. Something I should explain about the hand gesture near the neck: It almost looks like a gesture to strangle a person, but it means "handsome." MIB isn't running around pretending to strangle every person he takes pictures with : ) Elder Labii actually speaks 10 different languages. MIB says that he often interchanges the languages while speaking. I can see that happening. Any of you with the multi language knowledge may concure. Let me know.
When I asked what yummy food MIB has been cooking, he said, "I can make really really good mango shakes :D Mangoes and pineapple are the greatest things ever!" I could go for one of his shakes right now. Ummmm, yum.
The next picture is one that maybe MIB should have seen earlier. This is a group of people crossing the river. They are on a float (possibly made of bamboo) and pulling themselves on a cable or rope across the river. This was a good demonstration for MIB, maybe he'll try this next time - rather than wading across and getting soaked crossing the river.

All dressed in white

MIB had his first baptism a few weeks ago with the Roble family. Here they are pictured, all dressed in white before the baptism. I can see the joy just radiating from MIB's face. He looks very happy! This was his companion's last weekend before he went home. Elder Sibbet has been in the mission field for two years now. Training MIB was his final task before returning home to the states. Thank you Elder Sibbet for the great example and teacher you were for MIB. We know he was in good hands with you by his side!

MIB has a new companion now. "I got a new companion. He is awesome, but a complete opposite. He touched a basketball for the first time Thursday night. He is teaching me how to cook if I teach him how to play basketball. Haha. He is 5'5''." MIB also seems to be enjoying the area. "The area is getting better and better. Sunday I fried my brain. I have never had to coordinate so much in so little time with only a translator." I can see he is learning and growing so much already!

He did manage to share a few Ilonggo words. The first is "basta," it means "anyway." The other is "kuwa," meaning, "my name is."

Basta, it sounds as though things are going well and he's loving the work. I can't wait to hear (and eventually taste) what MIB learns to cook. I'm hoping it has a few different ingredient than sisig. Otherwise, I may just observe the cooking rather than taste it. Oh bother! Why not live a little? If MIB cooks it, I'll taste it!

Hoop - There it is!

As basketball season is nearing an end this month, I thought it would be fun to include some pictures of Princess and DK on the court! Here is Princess (#13) dribbling down the court in one picture and fighting for the ball in the other. She is one tough cookie! I'm sure living with three brothers has helped condition her!

Next is DK (#3) on the court with nice form. Watching them play basketball is one of my favorite things! There haven't been as many games to watch without MIB here this season. I'm sure he gets as much time as he can on the court - we just don't get to watch him play!! Naws is doing Itty Bitty ball this month, so he's getting some court time too. I'm sure in no time we'll be cheering on the sidelines at his basketball games!

I even had the opportunity to get some court time in myself... As the Moms and sisters beat the girls freshman team! Yes, I put in my time on the court and managed to take some pictures too! I must admit, the girls didn't seem to be near as competitive at our game as a few of the Moms did. But it was fun, and they kept us wanting to play them again. Maybe a rematch next year?

Hubby has taken MIB's place in coaching DK's team. It's been fun to watch him work with the boys. Here he is during a time-out, with DK right beside him.

And of course, no game would be complete without the most faithful fan - Naws. He's always there watching... or playing on the side line!

Why do I love basketball so much? I do believe that it is one of the few sports (inside, where it is nice and warm) where I can be close enough to see what is going on and possibly even be heard when I cheer for my favorites! I do believe that probably the biggest reason why I love the sport is because my children love to play it! I love to watch them do what they love to do! It is definitely something that the whole family can do and does do together. We love to go as a family and play ball! Bring it on!