Cha...Cha...Cha...Cha...Changes

So, life once again is changing. Not that the house has sold or anything. But change is inevitable none the less.

This is a picture of Tyler as he leaves to head to the Bishop's house to turn in his mission papers. Yes, my boy is committing to serve a mission. I always knew that he would, but now the day gets closer and closer. We will probably find out where he will be headed to in about two weeks. Foreign? In the United States? Tyler doesn't care where he's called (although Japan is not big on his list. He doesn't like fish - any kind), he just wants to get on with his life and he wants serving a mission to be a part of his life.

It's been great to hear about where all his friends are going. Several to Brazil, one to Boston, one to Armenia. It's amazing that these young men are headed to spread the gospel abroad. I know that our Heavenly Father is in charge of all missions. Who else would send 19 year old "boys" out to spread the most important message that one can hear? It is through these young men that people learn how to turn their lives around and get on the path to eternal life. It's only with the Holy Ghost that hearts can be changed. Young boys bring the Spirit into people's lives. They help facilitate change for others, but they inevitably bring that Spirit and the message to their fellow brothers and sisters. They gain a love of their fellow man that they couldn't gain any other way.

11-25-09 Today was the day that Tyler continued in his quest to serve a church mission. He drove to the Stake Center to meet with the Stake President for a mission interview. One step closer. The Stake President, after the interview, pushed the "send" button to forward his missionary papers to Salt Lake City. He should be hearing from Salt Lake by December 10th.

Wow! It all seems closer and my tears are closer to the surface as well. I love this boy. For all of the stuff that parents and kids clash about over the years, he didn't dish out too much trouble. He is funny, smart, athletic, thoughtful and has a gift for making other's feel comfortable. He will be a great success.

I want Tyler to get on with the greatest days of his life - mission, schooling, marriage, family etc. I am so excited for him to get on with it. But I am also missing that little boy who told me in 5th grade that he would never stop holding my hand OR kissing me goodbye in front of his friends (so all of his words are not solid gold). The one that tells the other kids, "don't talk like that to Mom", the one who has such great wit and makes me think I'm actually funny!

My one wish is that he does leave for bigger and better things. Get on with his life. There is so much to enjoy. But I do have one more wish, I wish that he will always want to come back (and maybe, once in a while, want to hold my hand).

I miss my Michael!

Mike has been gone for about a month. I miss the love of my life. I wish we could be in Utah together.

Testimony Meeting

Today it was Fast and Testimony meeting at Church. I love Fast & Testimony meeting because what is shared is usually unscripted and totally prompted by the Holy Ghost. With Brigam being baptized the night before, it is usually a tradition for Mike and I to both share our testimonies. Mike was the very first one up (but not necessarily the first one at the mike. There's always that one guy every month.)

I think he'd been planning it for a while, so that didn't surprise me. When Mike sets his mind to something, he does it completely well. He did a great job of sharing his joy in Brigam's baptism. He announced that the rumors that were circulating were indeed true - we are moving.

He keeps his composure pretty well during testimony sharing, unlike me who tends to tear up as soon as I stand up to make the long walk to the microphone. He did actually get emotional this time, however, when he was talking about Bishop Ladow.

Bishop Ladow is such a GREAT example of service. He serves others continuously. I don't know how he has the energy to do it, but he does. We truly have been blessed by him. His example is one thing that makes this ward great. When you're with him, you want to try a little harder to be a little better. He is awesome and we will miss he and Sister Ladow so much when we leave.

Throughout the next few testimonies, I leaned down to Brigam and asked him if he was going to bear his testimony. He said, "What's a testimony?" That is a slight wake up call. Something we attend every month and he isn't aware of what is going on? Somewhere I passed up a teaching moment. So I proceeded to tell him that Testimony Meeting was when one shares with others what he believes and knows to be true. How you feel about family, church, Heavenly Father - that the Holy Ghost guides what you say. He kept asking me, "Should I say this? Should I say that?" I said, "You decide." He wanted me to come with him and whisper in his ear what he should say. I told him that if I did that, I would be telling him my testimony. It wouldn't be his. He wanted to go, but I was slow to get up. I have to wait for that complete butterfly-in-the-stomach-take-over before I can even think about rising to my feet. I just wasn't feeling it.

Soon my dad got up and I told Brigam, "You can go sit up there with Grampa and wait your turn." He did. Such a brave boy.

After Grampa finished sharing his testimony, Briggy got up there. He did really well. He spoke of how he wanted to share his testimony and how he loved church. He went on for a bit, but then got stuck. I actually thought he forgot how to end the testimony and was telepathically saying, "In the name of.......", but still he was frozen. Then he turned to the bishopric and one of them prompted him - he continued, "I love my family, I love my teachers that teach me and am thankful for them....." then he concluded with the right words and returned to his seat. I was so impressed with him.

As he sat down I told him that he did a good job sharing what he felt with us. He told me that his stomach got all weird. I asked if it felt like there were a bunch of butterflies in it. He giggled. I told him that that is how most of us feel. He said it was easier for adults to do that. I told him, "Doubt it!!!"

After another minute he asked me, "Mom, did I mess up on my testimony?" I told him, "You can't mess up on sharing your testimony because it's your testimony. What you share is who you are and you did great sharing!" After some more time (I was still awaiting my own butterflies) he said, "When can I do that again?" Next month, bud. "Cool." I told him that it was his job to now spend the next month looking for spiritual experiences that he could share with others. How the Holy Ghost has helped him during the month. He was excited.

When it was really getting close to closing the meeting time, I finally got my own set of butterflies and proceeded to the stand, following my Mother incidentally. She shared then I did. It's hard to keep your composure while telling the things in your heart.

I did share that I was so grateful for Brigam's choice to be baptized and what a great and special kid he is. Then I spoke of my gratitude for the great ward I am in. I said, "I've always told my kids that a true friend is one that makes it easy for you to be yourself. You don't have to change who you are to be with them. This is how this ward has been. True friends that allow you to grow and become better because you don't have to worry about impressing them or being something you're not."

To be quite honest, I've been worried about our new ward in Utah. When we moved here, we left a super ward in Sandy, Utah. In our interim between Utah and Washington we went to another ward, but it wasn't very friendly. I was worried to go back because my brother has been disappointed in his ward in Utah. But then I thought, "Whatever ward you end up in, you will be an asset to it." Being an asset certainly makes you feel like you belong and that is the one thing you want to feel in a ward. Wherever we go, we'll be fine. We will find good people that love the Lord as we do and great people that will teach us to love Him and serve Him even more. We'll be fine, Heavenly Father knows where we're at and He will be with us. Besides, it was His idea that we should move. And who can argue with that suggestion?

Brigam's Baptism

Yesterday Brigam was baptized at the stake baptism along with 7 other kids. He was the only one that was baptized by someone other than his dad. It was Tyler that baptized him. It was so awesome to see both of my boys in white. What was really great was that my 18 year old kept himself worthy to hold and use the Priesthood to baptize Brigam. I am proud of Tyler. It can't be so easy to be a teenager and to keep yourself clean in this world.



We started in the chapel where we opened with song, prayer and a talk on baptism. They they excused 3 of the children along with those who wanted to witness the baptisms to the baptismal font. It was great to see Tyler and Brigam walk down into the water together and for Tyler to baptize his first person. My dad and Mike were the witnesses.

Watching Mike was funny. He's kind of a perfectionist and a control freak. He had Tyler and Brigam practicing at home the proper hand position and immersion part. "Squat Brigam and lean back." As he was up acting as a witness and Tyler finished the prayer and was laying Brigam in the water to baptize him, Mike couldn't help but squat too. That was funny. I giggled.


We then went back into the chapel and they excused the others to be baptized as well. When we all returned, Brigam saw his friend, Shirley Dickson, sitting with some of our other friends, but, without Dean, he felt she was still alone. He chose to go sit with her so she wouldn't be lonely. He's really the best.


My dad gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. It was great. He went with a sports theme and spoke of the Holy Ghost as our coach in the game of life. Pretty good for a guy that doesn't particularly LOVE sports. And with the BYU/Oklahoma game being played that night, I am sure that plenty of people were listening.


After this we all went to the Bishop's office where Brigam was confirmed a member of the Church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost by his father's hands. It was neat to see Tyler up there with the other's using their Priesthood for this ordinance.


We then came back to the house/barn actually, to celebrate. We were blessed to have our friends there with us. Bishop Ladow and his great wife, Lola, Mike and Lorraine Jensen, Scott and Pam Nielsen and their family, Harold and Sally Sanders and their granddaughter, Emma, my parents and us. We all ate and finished off the gigantic ice cream cake from DQ. It was a great evening.


I am so proud of Brigam. He really loves to help people. He is a true example of our Savior in word and deed. Some days he says, giggling, "Mom, I just can't stop saying I love you to you." He really has touched people in his life. He makes friends easily and has a quick smile. He is such a great asset to our family. My life would not be complete without my Briggy!

Back to School

Today marks a week since the kids have been in school. I guess I have been a little busy to journal it; better late than never!!!

Jeremy is now a 9th grader so he had to go for the "Freshmen Only" day at Southridge. He LOVES high school. Every single day that I picked him up after football practice, all he had was good to say about it. "We can do this" and "We can do that" and "So much better than middle school." He played his first HS game under the Friday Night Lights on the 4th. He was so cute!!! Once in a while, from the sidelines, he would flex his monsterous, hard as granite calf for us. It was a treat to watch!

Mykalyn is now in 7th grade. Her reports of school were not as positive as Jeremy's. I guess Desert Hills is implimenting some new discipline and the rules have become a little tedious for Mykie. All week she did tryouts for the volleyball team. We find out what team she'll be on on Tuesday.

Brigam started 3rd at Lincoln. He loves school. What I think he loves more is walking to school every morning. It's fun to hear what he has to say on our walk. Brigam started Grid Kid's Football this year as a Panther. He is so dang cute in his football uniform too. How does that happen to all my boys? He informed me that in the rules (that I am sure that only he knows) it states that moms have to watch each and every practice. He gets very frustrated when I have to leave to take care of some other child. "Yes, honey, mommy's still watching!"

And what is Tyler doing through all of this? Sleeping. He came home for a couple of weeks for fantasy football (dumb) and to baptize Brigam (really cool). He's not going to school. He happens to be staying with my old boss working as a gopher for his real estate business in Utah. I am glad he is working somewhere because when I asked him for help here (OK, OK, more like yelled at him to help me here) he told me he was on vacation. 'Nuf said about that subject.

Besides school starting this week, Wednesday the 2nd marked the day that my Mom and Dad came back from Mongolia. We were at the airport to meet them. It has been 23 months since we've seen them in person. It's so nice to have them home. They are with us, living in the barn, until they leave again at the end of October. Oh, didn't you know they were going again? Yes, back to Mongolia for another 18 months.

Thursday was the day that Brigam got two of his teeth extracted at the dentist's office. Anything to do with teeth is bad enough, but now I had to be there while the dentist tugged on two UN-loose teeth???? Just KILL ME NOW! That was a mom of the year moment for me. You know how I hate teeth unless they are stuck firmly in the mouth! Poor Briggy having to put up with laughing gas, shots and pliers. I didn't even look inside his mouth to see the damage until Saturday. I JUST COULDN'T DO IT!!! This week it's off to the ortho to get spacers put in. Fun for me and my budget! Dang it kid!!! Go brush your teeth!

Saturday is when we signed papers to list the house. I think we have it too low and Mike thinks it's too high. I guess we know who put all her sweat into fixing the place up - am I right?

Needless to say, a busy week. I haven't even written the annual "back to school" letter for each of my kids. I usually do that on the first day. I better get on that before all my "missing you while you're at school" feelings vanish!

Oh, just in case you wanted to know what Mike was doing during my busy little week. You look great honey. No you really got a lot of air that time. Really!

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back In The Water

You know, most of the times in my life when I feel that I am totally on the right track - mainly that I am right with God by doing those things that bring me closer to Him, that's when the switch on the track gets changed and I am sent far off in another direction. This just happens to be one of those times.

As you know from my last post, I was called to be the Young Women's President in our ward. We seriously have fantastic girls. They are the nicest, most accepting girls I have ever met. I remember not being as fantastic to the other girls in my ward when I was growing up. That is NOT the way it is here. That was one reason that I was so excited to serve in this calling. Who could ask for a better calling than one that puts you with youth that want to have a good time and want to have it with each other. They love life! They are successful in so many different fields: church, music, leadership, school, friends, family - they really are diverse, but they accept each other. They are great. But just when you think the water is safe to swim in, someone flushes and you are thrown in a turbulent swirly wondering where you will end up.

Well, now I know where I will end up.........................................

Utah.

Yup, you read that right, we're headed back to Utah.

Let's get you up to speed.

We moved here from Utah in 2000. Mike got his safety job out at the Umatilla Army Depot then and has been steadily climbing the ladder of success ever since. Mike's great ability to take things seriously, have a major talent at storing and recalling many items in his large brain and his commitment to personal integrity has moved him up the ladder.

This job is about to shut down, in a couple of years or so. Things out there have been getting pretty hairy. Many people have been quiting to find a job that is 1) going to give them longevity and 2) not so stressful and moral busting. Mike has been one of those worrying about both items lately. He would get kind of frustrated and the way that he would get over that is the he would come home, get on Monster.com (or some other service) and look for a new job. It soothed him.

Recently he found a couple of jobs here in Hanford through his old boss, but he also (finally) found one in Utah. Mike has been looking on and off in Utah since we got here. He really planned on returning there about 5 years after we got here, but it just never happened. They don't pay very much in Utah and the cost of living is higher. Yadda, yadda, yadda. The bottom line was that it looked like Mike would never make it back to "this is the place". He would have to settle for visiting his family there and always sleeping on an air mattress (if he was lucky).

But while Mike was on line he found a job posting for Utah; Provo, Utah to be exact. He ended up applying for that one and the two here in Hanford ---- his interviews were set up quickly and had all THREE of them on the same day. He was a busy boy that Friday.

By the next week, Mike had been made his first offer. It was for one in Hanford. Not the one he really wanted, but he really liked who his boss would be. The offer wasn't what he was making currently and the benefits weren't good, but Mike liked the guy. Then he got a phone call from Utah. "We like you, will you come see us in person?" Mike says sure, but reminds them again what his current salary is. Can you get close to that? He asks. Then they say "Sure, that's doable" and "How about Thursday?" Mike flew down. His hopes were up and, besides, he was visiting Mike's "happiest place on earth" (or at least the place that is closer to the Ski Resorts and Lake Powell). The interview lasted from about 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. He interviewed with many people, went out to lunch with who would be his staff and toured the plant. He was impressed with their attention to safety. Mike was a happy boy. He came home and got a call from the second Hanford job that offered him $2,000 more a year with a great benefits package to come work for them. This was the job he wanted in Washington. It looks like we're staying.

Looks can be deceiving.

This past Monday, Mike is told that the Utah company wants to have another guy interview him on the phone. That one took two hours. Then he is told that he will be having another interview that night. That one took an hour. "Thorough" Mike says, "that's good." By Wednesday morning, Mike has been called with an offer from the great state of Utah. "Out of 100 applicants, Mr. Nelson, we feel you're our man. Here's the offer." And really it falls flat on it's face. Its actually 11,000 LESS than what he is making now.

Mike comes to me and wants to know what we can cut out. I scoff and then realize he is serious. I pull out the budget book and say, "Food and electricity?" It's not like we've been putting away 11,000 a year towards savings or anything. I finally have him admit that we can not live in Utah on 11,000 less than what we are making now. He sadly dials the number and tells the nice HR lady that it is too small. He sadly continues with his work day knowing that he has a new job that pays better and will be starting there in two weeks. A couple of hours later, the nice HR lady calls again. She offers up another number along with a potential bonus that gets us to what he is making now. Mike is back on cloud nine, calls me and starts in on how we can make it. I told him that I don't buy groceries once a year with a bonus and the electric company wants to get paid monthly. The bonus is nice, but it won't help us month to month. We could live in Utah, but we wouldn't be doing anything outside the 4 walls of our own home. That sounds like fun, especially when you know you have left free money at a job in Washington. And, we have a missionary pretty soon. Do you want me to have to work full time? I already have a full time job and I am QUITE irreplaceable.

By noontime, Mike sadly (again) agrees with me and is calling Nice Utah HR Lady back to brake the news. In his explanation to her, he mentions the other job offer and what they are offering. He just can't walk away from that for this amount they are offering. She says goodbye (sadly too he thinks) and Mike makes a call to Hanford to tell them when his first day will really be. HR Man in Hanford tells Mike he has to tell someone else of his new start date and gives him the number so he can tell that person the news of his impending arrival.

While he is on the phone with HR Hanford Guy, Nice HR Lady from Utah calls back and leaves a message. Mike retrieves the following message before calling Hanford, "Mike, we have a new number for you. Call me back." He makes the call, his heart not really in it because he has resigned to the fact that he is staying in Washington, visiting Utah and his family for the rest of his life. "Hey, nice Utah HR Lady, what do you have for me?" She proceeds to tell him that not only will they MATCH the number that he has been offered from Hanford, but they will also include 1 more week of vacation AND there is a potential bonus of $5,000 included in the offer. Mike is floored and basically says, "When do you want me there."

Then he calls me and wonders how we'll move the kids in the middle of their school and sports. Um, WHAT????? and WOW!!!!!

At this time, I happened to be to lunch with my BFF, celebrating the fact that we are staying in Washington when he calls to give me the news. I can't even finish my orange chicken. I need to get off the phone. I need a Dr. Pepper. I am floored. I can't look Pam in the face. No, I am not crying, I have something in my eye. What a wild ride and I wasn't even at Silverwood (or Lagoon for you Utah folks reading this.)

I am not depressed. I believe it is an opportunity. Mike makes the money and in my opinion, he needs to be happy at his job. If that is what this will offer, where's a box? I'll get to packing. I love him and will follow him anywhere he goes.

I am sad to leave here. I have great friends and a BFF that took me about 8 years to find. That is sad, but it's been hard for me to "act right" when I tell others that I am moving. When they are sad and deny the fact that I am leaving, it's hard to look so sad about it. The reason I guess is that it is in my personality to deal with change like this (to coin a phrase from one of our great Apostle's mother), "Come what may and love it." Change is easier for me to swallow when I know we've prayed about it and Heavenly Father is in agreement with the plan.

Life is full of changes. It would be miserable to be depressed and discouraged at them all. It is better to realize it is what it is and how can we make the best of it? Yes, I'll miss it here. My friends are really top of the line and our ward family is truly unbelievable. They may be translated soon and I might not be there. But it is what it is. My BFF Pam gave me the greatest support the other day and I didn't even have to ask her to do it. She texted me, "OK, I'll support you." THAT is a true friend. That's why I love her. That is why she better come visit me and bring her mommy with her. I will miss them both.

So that is my big news. I just had to get my feelings down about it. I'm still swimming, wonder what's up around the next corner?

There's Nothing As Constant As Change

Well, it's been a bit since I've written. Almost a month. I will give myself a break, a month between journal entries is not half bad. I mean it could be like Mykalyn's and be about a year (kidding, but I think I'm pretty close).

On the 16th of this month, I was given a new calling at church. My BFF Pam had to move out of the ward. They got a super awesome house with 5 bedrooms, two living rooms, a swimming pool and a cabana (my fancy talk to describe the room where you can change into your swimming suit and go potty.) It is FAN tastic!!! But it did mean that she had to move out of the ward. Now I have to drive about 10 minutes to see her at her house. She swears it's 5 minutes, but Pam, you cannot start the timer ticking at Fred Meyer when the light is green!!!!

Anyway, Pam was the Young Women's President in our ward, but now the opportunity has been given to me. I really am excited. I've been in the RS presidency as the enrichment counselor for some time now. I have enjoyed it, but given the opportunity to work with a bunch of fantastic young women----could it get any better?

As one of the first activities in my new calling, I went with the Priests and Laurels on the Priest/Laurel River Float down the Yakima River. Mike actually went with me which was really nice. We had about 17 kids and about 8 leaders. We floated on tubes down the river, actually, DeAnn and I were in raft. I figured that if I was in a tube floating down the river for a few hours, my rear would freeze right off and that would leave me with an odd shape. Unflattering! So the raft was really the smart way to go. It was so fun. We didn't get to stay together much as a group, but with the girls I was able to float with, it was great getting to see their personalities a bit more. The night before the float we camped and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning which, as you know, is really a feat for me. Staying up isn't so tough, it's the actual being nice while I am up after 7:00 pm that is hard for me, but I did it. The kids played a game called Mafia and it was so fun! Chris Blodgett and Tyler Morgan took turns being the narrator for the game. They made it so fun.

Like I said, I am excited. When they sustained me that Sunday I swear I heard a quiet, but enthusiastic, "YES" as my name was called and it wasn't even from Mykie. That's got to make you stand a little taller while they sustain you. Mykie is so excited to have me in there. I am so glad that she is mine. She is very awesome and I heart her dearly.

My whole family knew of the calling since about the beginning of August and they all kept it a secret. They are so good with the secret keeping!!! Bishop LaDow and Brother Marrott came over and showered me with words of encouragement and built me up by telling me of their faith in me. These are awesome men (and not just because they said nice things about me.)

Well, that is the news of the week. Stay tuned for more...........

There is more.........

Aren't you dying to know???????...................