Joyous Day

2010-10-25T21:07:00.002-06:00

MIB gets home on Thursday! It doesn't seem real! He will be speaking in St. George and in Pleasant Grove. I hope you can make it to one or the other.
October 31st in St. George at 11am at the East Brigham Road Stake Center.
November 14th in Pleasant Grove at 1pm at the 1300 West Chapel.
We'd love for you to come visit at the open house following each service.
See you there.

We have a DATE!

2010-10-03T21:51:00.003-06:00

Yes, we have a date for MIB's return. He will be home on October 28th! Wahoo! We would love for you to come to his "Homecoming" at church on October 31st. What a great way to spend Halloween!! Trick-or-Treat at our house after. Sacrament starts at 11am at the Brigham Road Stake Center. Let me know if you need directions or have questions.

We are so excited! MIB is coming home. MIB is coming home!!

Double Digits!

2010-08-01T16:52:00.004-06:00

Wahoo - we are into double digits for MIBs return! He has been extremely busy the last few months. Here are a few excerpts from the last 3-4 months:

5/2 "Some things that happened this week: On Monday we had our Zone Activity which went really well. We kept it simple and just played games and ate lots of food. Tuesday we went and ate one of the best burgers I have ever had. After that we had one of the best ice creams I have ever had. Then we went to the doctor and wasted 4 hours there waiting for him to show up and then the actual appointment. I have an infection in my toe and am taking medicine for it.
Wednesday we had to go out to one of the sister missionary's apartment (spiritual story for when I am home and feel like it's time to share it.). Thursday we found out that our investigator, who had a baptismal date set, is actually a witch. : ( We have talked to her lots about the power of God and priesthood and everything (including that if she were to be baptized she can no longer be catholic) by the end of the week she dropped us. (Dropped = not investigating anymore). Friday we had a district c.s.p. (c.s.p. = community service project) where we built some one's house : ) Then afterwards we went on exchanges with the other District Leader. I had a good time with his companion. Later that night, about 11 pm, we felt an earth quake. haha. It was kinda cool; nothing to big but enough that everyone felt it and stuff was moving. Saturday had some cool stuff happen and depending on how things go, I'll tell you about it next week. On Sunday one of the coolest things that happened was right after church - I got to bless three different people for their sicknesses. :D So lots of fun stuff. :D"

5/16 "This week we had a baptism on Tuesday. We baptized a girl that is 14 years old. Hopefully she will continue in the church and her mom's heart will open up to us.
On Friday we had transfers. Elder Pullicar left me to go be with Elder Ridd in Sagay. My new companion was actually my District Leader last transfer. He stepped up to Zone Leader and is now my companion :D His name is Elder Eslava and he is native. Way funny guy, it's going to be a good transfer.
Well, that pretty much sums up this last week, but I want you all to know I love you and pray for you."

5/31 "So what I wanted to say to you is I really, really need your prayers. Working on trying to help people change their lives (missionaries and in-active members as well as our investigators) is overwhelming. I have been working on changing myself a lot too and Satan is working his butt off over here. Only having time to eat once a day, getting sick, running all over the zone, being on exchanges with other missionaries in their areas, rainy season starting up hard and fast, this week... I will have four days looking for apartments, working on strengthening the ward and branch we are over right now before they fall apart, preparing for the big mission split and huge batch of missionaries coming in (32), and still dealing with Satan's daily temptations is really working on my butt. I feel like I have aged 20 years just these last couple of weeks. Ahhhhhhhhhhh"

6/21 "Right now my companion and I have two areas. Next transfer, Friday, they will split. I will be in Alijis and he will be in Tangub... On top of that the mission is splitting July 1. As of 3 hours ago, my stress hit a peak. I now need to make sure everything in my new apartment is ready and that everything we need is in it. I also have no one to share the load with. So this week I'm going to be doing some serious soul searching and have some very long serious prayers. My focus on the work has to be at the top of its game."

6/28 "hah. Last week we had 32 missionaries arrive here to prepare us for the split. That is a huge bat (ours used to be the biggest with 16). I am a zone leader as well as training a new missionary. His name is Elder Ili and he is from Samoa. He is so, so awesome. I'm so excited to be his trainer. We have already had some way good times together. We also have seen some bad (not in the companionship just with in-active members.) The good is - we saw a 180 kilo pig. haha He tells everyone it looked like a small bear. haha. We also shook hands with a monkey and lots of other fun stuff. Sad thing that just happened about 10 minutes ago - he lost his wallet on a tricycle : ("

7/12 My companion and I are awesome. I made a request last night that we stay together another transfer. The work is really pulling together. :D. I'm finally starting to see people change and seeing those people that the Lord is preparing for us. (Once again stories to save for when I get home. haha.) There is so much going on and it's so hard to explain it all. Don't worry, 3 and a half more months and I'll tell you everything. haha. I get reminded like every hour of everyday that I am almost on the plane ride home. haha. It's not really distracting, just frustrating because I feel like I still have a long time, but not long enough. If that makes any sense at all."

Here we see what MIB is really missing about home:
"So apparently Dwayne Wade just picked up two of the best teammates ever; LeBron James and Chris Bosh. I expect the few games I miss here to be recorded and waiting for me to watch when I get home. haha. But I'm actually being serious about that; I really want them to be recorded. They should start the last week of October so there should only be like 1 or 2."

It's a great testimony builder for me to have MIB on a mission. The growth that we feel in his weekly emails is tremendous and we wouldn't change the last two years for anything. I'm so very excited to say, "We are in double digits in the number of days until he returns home!" I will keep you posted as to the date of his arrival and talk in church - just as soon as I know it myself!!

1000 words OR 1 more Picture!

2010-05-02T14:51:00.005-06:00

Well, 2 pictures actually. So that is really almost 2000 words!!

Enjoy!!

FYI - I just fulfilled my promise to post again before 3 months past. : ) I just wanted to point that out for anybody who may be counting. Check! (Although I didn't really count this one since there wasn't too many real words.)

Hair Cuts, Disney, Romeo & Juliet, 5 going on 13!

2010-05-01T18:31:00.020-06:00

The rest of the family does still exists. My hubby CUT his HAIR. Yep, he will forever now have sympathy for what "up keep" long hair requires. Here are some of the pictures of the hair cut. He was able to donate to braids to locks of love. He has no desire to grow his hair out again. : (

Princess has finished up basketball season and is now on to golf. The girls here in "golf country" definitely know how to golf. It's been fun for her to have to stretch to keep up with them! The music department made a trip to Disney Land last month and enjoyed being able to work with some Disney musicians to play their music to a few animation clips. She had a great time, of course!
DK enjoyed a season of basketball as well and continues to play tennis several times a week. He is currently involved in another play. He's doing Shakespeare. I never thought I'd see the day he'd go for that. But yes, he is Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Although the school year is winding down, we are gearing up for the activities that the summer will bring!!
NAWs loved playing basketball this season. He did notice that he enjoyed the games more than the practise. Surprise, surprise! He enjoyed Easter so much with his cousin here. He is now hard core into riding his bicycle. He seems to be 5 going on 13!
Me? I am concerned that after Princess gets her driver's license, I'll still have two more kids to experience the driving thing with. Uuhhg! Will I survive? : ) I recall being so frustrated when I was learning to drive (on a stick-shift no less) while my father ate crackers and gave very little direction. I wanted more help, insight, something. However, I wish my poor daughter had my father to be so laid back and CALM as a licensed driver next to her. I KNOW she would enjoy the driving experience so much more that way than with "up tight" me. How did that happen? As a teenager, I always thought my dad was so up-tight, but that's nothing compared to me in the passenger's seat with Princess behind the wheel! : )

6 Months and Counting!!

2010-05-01T16:14:00.007-06:00

Yes, MIB really only has 6 months left and then we get him back home!! Finally, I have some more pictures. You know me - a picture speaks a thousand words - so why blog without one!! : )

MIB is now in Alajis and Tangob with Elder Pullicar. I do believe he is staying busy. "I'm doing good today. Last week on Saturday we had a baptism :D An elderly lady and her granddaughter. I'll send pictures next week because we have our zone activity in like one hour and we still aren't all the way ready. (Being zone leaders we are kinda in charge of doing the zone activity haha). Oh, tomorrow I might go to the doctor for my toe. It's kinda swollen and might be infected. We haven't gone yet because, to tell you the truth, we don't have time to go to the doctor.

Last Tuesday we went on splits with one of the district leaders. I had a good time with him and tomorrow we go on splits with the other district leader.

Yesterday we tried to teach a lady who only knows Tagalog and she didn't really understand us haha. We could kinda understand her but that's about it haha. I plan on working on Tagalog when i get home though."

MIB did something that I consider to be very clever. A few weeks ago when he had little time to email, he just sent me his companion's, Elder Pullicar, email that he had written to his mother. Why write it twice, right? : ) So, here is a story from MIB through the fingers of Elder Pullicar. (Thank you Elder Pullicar!!)

"Well we just had an amazing conference! The priesthood session was amazing as well of course as the Saturday and Sunday sessions. Saturday's was possibly better (Hollands anti pornography talk was awesome! It "Blew a crater in my mind!"). We also had a very interesting experience. We had committed several different inactive families, recent converts, and investigators in Tangub ward to come to conference with us, to which they all agreed. We arranged for a member in Alijis to drive down in his jeepney and pick us all up Sunday morning by the road. One family, the Villar family, is a full member family who is now entirely inactive. Their father died 3-4 months ago and have gone inactive partly because of his death, and also partly because the oldest, a son who is 21, changed to baptist. He was a strong and great member before, but he had a baptist band to which he was the lead singer for. He eventually got baptist indoctrinated and then became a member in their church.Anyway we have been working on them for several weeks now, trying to reactive them. No luck. Anyway this past week we committed the entire family on Tuesday to come to conference (after teaching about the importance and relevance of living prophets), to which they all agreed. We visited them again on Thursday and recommitted, and they were good to go; however on Saturday we visited one last time, and mom, her oldest daughter, and son, all pulled out. The oldest daughter suddenly had a trip to Cebu she didn't know about, and Mom had a meeting to go to in the morning. They were being truthful and sincere. Satan really didn't want them to go. Anyway we committed mom and son to go (oldest daughter really did have to go) for only the afternoon session so they could go to their meetings.So back to Sunday-day of. We got up and left right away and went to our investigators in Tangub at 7:00 to gather them together and then wait for a jeepney. The first when we got there was gone, apparently she left for Sumag. The second family did meet us and we waited for the jeep. When it arrived we all left and drove to pick up some people we committed to go in Alijis Branch. The driver of the jeep ran into his house while we picked up one family who piled into the jeep, and then while we were getting one more at a different house, we came back and the jeep was gone. I don't blame them because by the time we got back to where we left the jeep conference had already started. Anyway we payed for her fare and rode a jeep and then a trike to the chapel and missed the first 15 minutes of Dieter's talk. We gathered together all our investigators and went into the sacrament/cultural hall and found there wasn't any good seats. We went to one of the smaller rooms and sat at the very back where you couldn't see/hear the talks very well. It really wasn't that great to be totally honest. After first session we left our group and rode back in the jeep to Tangub and picked up the Villar family while everyone else ate snacks the ward provided (an anti-going-home measurement taken which had no effect, everyone ate and then went home anyway). We got there just in time as the second session was starting. It was nice because of course everyone had gone home for lunch and nap-time so the hall was EMPTY. The first talk started going and I closed my eyes and prayed for 3 things. 1. That the small kids wouldn't be a big distraction. 2. For a miracle, I wanted the talks to be hand tailored for their needs. 3. That they would listen, feel the spirit, and apply the things that they heard. It was a MIRACLE! I couldn't believe my ears when FOUR times raising a family as single mother as referenced, 4+ times rescuing in-actives was talked about, and of course the powerful testimonies born about the truthfulness of the church. It was exactly what Mom and Son needed. The spirit was very strong, I know for a fact they felt it. Everything they needed to hear at that moment was spoken about beautifully. Amazing... It is obvious why we started reactivating them 3 weeks ago, why we felt it so important that they needed to go to conference no matter what, why Satan was working so hard for them not go, and its amazing how God orchestrated everything so perfectly when they finally did go."

I've been promised more pictures and I PROMISE TO BLOG AGAIN BEFORE 3 MONTHS HAVE PASSED!! : )

Ring in 2010... with a phone call!

2010-01-10T18:53:00.015-07:00

Our New Years Eve plans were halted until we received a call from MIB. He was into his first day of 2010 while we were still in 2009. He had much to tell us about the future : )
We had a great conversation with him – it was great to get to hear from him! He has been in Inayauan for the last couple of transfers. It’s a bit more remote than his last area (see the map). He is enjoying it and is really immersed in the work. He sounds wonderful. Only 9-1/2 months left! WOW!!
Last week we were up north and able to visit our old ward/church. We’ve only been gone for 6 months, and yet I could see some real changes in the children there. Many of them seemed so much more mature. It’s amazing that while you are right there among them, it’s hard to see the transition. Yet, when you leave for even a short time, the changes are so significant! It was like being with family to be back in our old ward and visiting with old friends. You truly are wonderful people!
It scares me, just a little, to imagine the transition that MIB is making in the mission field. When he left, I considered how much his younger siblings would change in his eyes. They have changed so much already, just as I know he has too. I know that Hubby has changed a lot, at least physically, since he has left. He comments on those changes already. We never seem to see our own changes. Have I changed since he left? I wonder if I’ll seem changed to him. Who knows – just have to hope that the changes are for the better!
I have to admit that I’ve been hording some photos MIB sent. I have been enjoying these pictures and have yet to share them. So… here they are. Enjoy!

Humpday is over - On the downhill

2009-10-25T09:14:00.021-06:00

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!

2009-09-20T20:50:00.008-06:00

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

2009-08-30T17:10:00.014-06:00

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

2009-08-30T16:10:00.018-06:00

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!

2009-08-30T15:16:00.004-06:00

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

2009-08-18T21:04:00.006-06:00

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...

2009-05-25T03:52:00.010-06:00

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!

2009-05-25T02:36:00.011-06:00

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

2009-04-05T20:10:00.008-06:00

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

2009-02-16T12:38:00.010-07:00

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

2009-02-08T20:36:00.006-07:00

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!

2009-02-08T19:06:00.008-07:00

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!

In with the new!

2009-01-23T20:20:00.018-07:00

It's been exactly one month today since MIB left the states. I miss him more than ever! This week's e-mail brought quite a delight with lots of stories and several pictures! The pictures really brought to reality that he is out there working as a missionary. It definitely is a year of "new" for MIB. The WELCOME picture was actually sent to us from the Mission President with a letter letting us know that MIB had arrived and where he would be serving. He is pictured here in between his Mission President and his wife.

Following are a few tid-bits from MIB's email with a taste of what he has been doing in Silay City. "We have been teaching a man named Lito and he is awesome. We told him there was a prophet and he was like, "Really? Ok, come teach me on Sunday. I want to hear more." We went and taught him and he is way, way interested. He is a way cool guy."

I wouldn't be surprised if the children in Silay love MIB as much as the children here. After all, MIB is just a big kid himself! The next picture is MIB with a few children of one of the families he and his companion are teaching on the ocean. Notice the beach behind him and the fisherman with their big fishing nets!

On the same day he taught this family by the ocean side, he also experienced all the climates and terrain the area has to offer. "It rained. It was hot. We walked through jungle, farm and a river." Yep, to save time, he and his companion cut across a river! "We walked an hour and a half to get to these referrals that we got. When we finally got there they weren't there so we taught the rest of their family. When we were leaving the house they told us if we walked through the river, that the road was only 15 minutes on the other side. We were already late for all of our other appointments, so we walked through!" I'm wondering if this picture on the bridge was the next time they needed to cross a river or if this was just the old way of thinking before they went through the river. : )

MIB has tried a few new foods, both of which he enjoyed. One is a candy called Chocomuch. He loves it! The other is Sisig. It consists of pig brain, ear and "other random stuff." He says, "It sounds nasty, but it is way tasty!" (Mmmmm. I'm so disappointed I can't get that at the local market.)

Good news - MIB did finally get the Christmas package and a few letters we have sent. I haven't quite figured out the postal timing. REMEMBER - dearelder.com is an easy way to send MIB a letter. You just go online, chose Philippines-Bacolod mission, put in his name, type your letter and click the "send letter" button. It's FREE and it's EASY!!

I'll leave you with one more image.

This last pictures of is the picture of how he does his laundry. I shall never again complain of having to remember to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer - or if I've left them too long in the dryer and the clothes have wrinkled. I'll take my washer and dryer and the simple task of laundry here to his very primitive way - bowls in the shower!

"Thank you!" to all of you who write letters and words of encouragement. We so appreciate the support and prayers to make this opportunity such a great experience!

I know MIB is doing the Lord's work, spreading the light of Christ and teaching His gospel!

Christmas and the end of 2008

2008-12-30T12:48:00.015-07:00

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!

2008-12-14T09:14:00.003-07:00

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

2008-12-14T08:55:00.005-07:00

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

2008-12-14T08:40:00.003-07:00

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

2008-11-20T21:27:00.004-07:00

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

2008-11-09T09:26:00.005-07:00

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

2008-11-09T09:01:00.004-07:00

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

2008-11-01T08:44:00.005-06:00

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!

2008-10-24T19:42:00.006-06:00

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...

2008-10-12T12:18:00.004-06:00

Here are more pictures for your pleasure. Enjoy!

As Promised

2008-10-12T12:05:00.008-06:00

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"

2008-10-07T21:16:00.006-06:00

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?

2008-08-24T08:53:00.007-06:00

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?

2008-08-17T08:27:00.004-06:00

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...

2008-08-12T19:57:00.002-06:00

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!

2008-08-06T13:57:00.005-06:00

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

2008-07-29T08:35:00.002-06:00

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

2008-07-24T16:50:00.003-06:00

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.