Quote of the Week...so far, but it's only Wednesday

"Just because you two decide you're eating healthy doesn't mean the rest of us have to suffer!"

By Mykalyn who was very disappointed that I was serving French Dip Sandwiches on wheat hoggie buns instead of the usual white hoggie buns

Chivarly Is Dead, but Mother Guilt is Not

So, today I went to TCCC to workout (in the amazing kickboxing class, I really did kick some amazing boxes, but that's another blog all together). After that I went up to Club Max to work on a bulletin board for an hour or so. Then I was headed home. I walked out to my car with Vicky, started my Silver Bullet up and drove out of the parking lot. I idled at that first light for a bit, but then when I pulled up 3 cars behind the next light in front of the Sunmart gas station, the car stopped. It simply quit on me. This is my beloved Pathfinder.

The vehicle that I am very grateful for and I do count on it NOT to pull this type of stunt on me.

Let me give you a little background on this Nissan. When Mike and I bought it used a few years ago, the people that owned it before us bought that really useful and expensive "EXTENDED WARRANTY" option to go with it. This is supposed to cover everything else that isn't covered in the regular warranty. Yea for us. After having the vehicle for a while, the gas E to F gauge stopped working and the digital reader of distance til empty also went south. So we had to fill the car with gas, then reset the trip meter and watch closely until the mileage was around 300, then we knew that we'd have to fill up again. I got tired of this one day and decided to call the Nissan dealer in Pasco to find out how much they would charge to fix it. When I gave them the VIN number to the car they said, "Wow, you have one of those super cool extended warranty thingies. Bring it on down. This shouldn't cost you a thing!" Key word: Shouldn't. Well, after they tore into the car to see what the problem really was they found out that unfortunately my super cool extended warranty happened NOT to cover that little piece of the car. And it only cost me $100+ to have them find that out. It was going to cost me about $400 more to have them fix it. Not in for that. They wouldn't even credit the $100 towards fixing the problem.

That is why we have had to keep an eye on the gas tank. The Pathfinder registered 266 miles on that tank of gas, so we should have had plenty of gas left. Really though, that was the only thing I could think of that was making it not work. I tried to crank it over a couple of times, but it just wouldn't start, so I did what any person in my position would do....I put on my hazard lights and started making calls on my cell phone.

Even though Mike can't get reception at his new job and he's about 40 minutes away, I took a chance and called him anyway. Just as I expected, no answer. I called Mike and Lorraine (a.k.a. Mom and Dad Stateside) on both their home and cell number, no answer. I called Vicky who just left me a minute ago, no answer. I called Tyler, knowing full well that he is in Idaho, but was hoping that maybe, just maybe he was already on his way home (he actually was, but I didn't find that out until hours later), his phone went straight to voice mail.


As I was sitting there wondering what to do, I noticed that there was a little truck behind me and they had been sitting there for about 3 red lights. Two younger guys, just sitting there. I started wondering if they were just waiting for me to get out and explain the situation to them so they could help push my beloved Silver Bullet out of oncoming traffic, but then I noticed that they were both trying to sit a little higher in their seats. Bingo, they must have finally noticed my hazards were on. Promptly (almost hitting another car) they pulled out into the right lane and stared at me as they drove on by.


Now I was joined by the next car. An mid-50's guy and his woman passenger pulled up. They stayed there FOREVER too. "What is the deal?" I thought. "Are my hazard lights NOT blinking rapidly enough? Do people just wonder why this beautiful Nissan is sitting here in the lane? Do they think that I was trying to obey the new "no cell phone" law and making my calls only while I was pulled over to the side of the road. Forget that it's an actual DRIVING LANE!!!!" Soon Mr. 50's guy pulls out in the right lane and leaves me too (not before passenger woman stares her eyes out at me.)


So I decide to call my bishop. I know that sounds terrible, you know how busy he is, but really, no one was home, no one was stopping to help me and I couldn't push my Silver Bullet backwards, steer and direct the oncoming traffic by myself. He, of course, told me he'd be here shortly. He is a saint.


That's when I decide that I am tired of being a sitting duck in the driving lane and get out of the car. I walk behind my car (between another car who can't seem to see my hazards on) and while I walk, I decide that I had better check the hazards. I mean, they can't all be idiots, right? My hazards must NOT be working. WRONG. Of course, there they were blinking as bright as could be. I just walked on by, not even looking back at the mess I'd left in the driving lane.

I headed into the gas station to ask for the use of a gas can. Um, this was naive on my part. Me thinking that a gas station would have access to a gas can. When I asked for one, the lady said, "We don't have any gas cans you can use, but you can buy one." I headed over to the shelf she pointed out to me and grabbed a 1 gallon one can and headed back to the register. "How much are they?" I asked. I don't know, I'll have to scan it. The result? $9.41 with tax. WHAT???? Give me a break. I did one of my really loud sighs that Jeremy hates to hear, but I used it on the attendant. I said, "I have someone coming in about 15 minutes and he will probably have a gas can with him, I just can't get anyone to stop and help me push my beloved (ok I just added that word) car out of the road!" Then the second girl attendant said that she'd help. Great, two girls trying to push a car backwards on a busy road. Hummmmm.

Then this great "mom" lady about 50 or so who was in the line behind me turns to the twenty-something guy behind her and says matter-of-factly, "Are you going to help this lady push her car out of the road?" To which he replied with a hearty, "Um... sure. Just let me pay for my gas." She was not his mother. I really think she didn't even know him. She just saw a need and did what she could do to help.

Thank you, thank you mom lady for reminding that boy what he could do and should do!!! Chivarly is very clearly dead, but Mother guilt is not. Usually when a Mother (any Mother) tells a boy (anyone's boy) to do something, they seem to hear their own Mother and something clicks that says, 'I should do as I was taught.'

So we went back out into the road, waiting for Mr. Hero (by default of mother guilt) to join us. We needed to push the car backwards in the lane into the gas station parking lot. Only problem was that we were very definitely going against oncoming traffic who didn't care that we needed them to move. So here is gas attendant lady trying to push my car backwards and me trying to steer with traffic coming straight at us. I told her we'd have to wait for Mr. Hero so he could push, I could steer and she could direct traffic. Only AFTER Mr. Hero was pushing the car backwards into the lane did someone else come to help for a minute.

I have to tell you that I am pretty disappointed in society. People still need to help each other. People still need help!!! It sounds like a great FHE for my kids (boys especially). Thanks for that teaching moment, but I could have taught it without being taught that way, I think. Besides, I still wait for both Jeremy and Brigam to open a door for me (Tyler thinks it's funny to open the door just wide enough to let himself in and me on the outside of the door. Funny.) Sometimes I walk through, continue to have my conversation with them and realize that it's a one-sided conversation because they are still back there opening the door for other's behind us. They make me so proud!

Long story made a little shorter: I did go get my outrageously priced gas can, filled it with $2.80 worth of gas and was met by my Bishop by my car where he poured it in for me. That did the trick. Unbelievably it WAS out of gas. How embarrassing, but a relief because that was the only thing wrong with the Silver Bullet.

Anyway, for all you mother's that think your constant requests for service from your children go unheeded and unheard, they might not step up when they should, but just the request of another mother brings back all that familiar teaching that you gave them and they will probably do what is right. There is hope. Keep telling them to serve with a smile!

The Year in Review

I have been sparce on the info/journaling this year. I could use the excuse that I have been busy, but then that excuse is a bit overused. I will do a short rundown of 2009 highlights. OK, you all know me, it won't be short.

January - Jeremy Ordained a Teacher when he turned 14 this year. That was pretty neat. It's so great to see the kids learn, grow and choose what they want to be.

February - Mr Pasco for Tyler. That had to be the funniest HS thing I have gone to in a long time. I love the memories that I have and know that whenever I hear the song "Put a ring on it" by Beyonce I will FOREVER see Carlin Andrew in my head.

March - After 8 months, we finally closed on our new house on Reed Street. It really needed tons of work (and still does), but we are very proud of what we have.

April - We are still a working on the house. Everything has taken a back seat, and I do mean everything to working on the house.

May - This was the month we lost our neighbor and friend, Dean Dickson. Brigam was super close to him and had his first taste with dealing with death. Lessons learned and memories stored.

A few of us, including my BFF went to Womens Conference. Very fun, as always.

June - Tyler graduated from Pasco High School. We were all relieved. I think he bearly made it, but he did make it.

Mykie got hit by a car, but was truly watched over as all she had was a few scraps and bruses, and a busted bike.

Mike and I celebrated 20 years of marriage. That is fantastic, heres to 20 more (and more).

July - Brigam had his big backyard BBQ birthday bash. He had a great time with his friends. Thanks to Mykie for putting the party together.

August - The kids all went back to school. Jeremy entered high school at Southridge. It really turned out to be a great experience for him.

I was called to be the president of the Young Women's in our ward. That was a surprise, but a great one. Our young women are fantastic.

Mike was concerned about our future with his present job and decided to look for another. He received 3 offers, one of which was in Utah. He was so excited, it looked like we were moving to Utah. We put our now "put together home" on the market.

Grama and Grampa Anderson came home from Mongolia. They had served a 23 month church mission. It was nice to have them home again. They moved into our barn as their home is being lived in by Pam's awesome parents, Mike and Lorraine.

Tyler had planned on making at least $3,000 for his mission. He headed to Utah to work for my old boss, Austin, as a gopher in his real estate business.

Brigam started tackle football. The team mom was a little shy of doing "team mom" duties (as we are still awaiting Brigam's "trophy" tee-shirt with the correct spelling of his last name on it. Nelson, not Helson Mam'.), but the coaches were great. He was a Panther just like his brothers before him.

September - Mykie starts her first school sport and that was Volleyball. There were many girls that wanted to play so that there were very many teams. She had a great coach and she had a great time.

Mike went down to Utah to start his new job. We were eager to join him, but needed to sell the house. We had lots of showings and positive comments, but no offers.

October - Mykalyn became a full fledged teenager turning the rip old age of 13. That's fun.

Grama and Grampa Anderson go back to Mongolia to serve their 3rd mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They will be gone 18 or 23 months. I'm not sure if they have made up their minds about the time frame yet.

November - Tyler turns in his mission papers to the Bishop after getting his wisdom teeth pulled. It was not enjoyable and his tounge is still numb!

December - Mike decides that the Utah job is not for us. He was worried about stability and stuff. He comes home. Yea! He gets another job offer (job offers seem to come easy to him) and starts up a week later.

Tyler gets his mission call to Cuernavaca, Mexico. How perfect for him! He loves the Mexican people and enjoys the spanish language.

We went with Tyler to the Columbia River Temple to do his own temple work. It was pretty amazing to be in the Temple with one of your worthy children.

The year in a nutshell. 2010 looks like an amazing year to come. With Tyler serving a mission, the kids growing and becoming, goals to accomplish - it will be a good one.

Happy New Year!

Question: Where will Tyler be spending the next two years?

The answer to that question finally came today. Only after the whole family played "Fantasy Mission Call" based loosely on the fantasy football game. There were a bunch of guesses including Brazil, New Mexico, Kentucky, Argentina, Alaska, Italy, etc. The envelope was opened

(only after Mykie and I ran up to Brigam's school and took him out of class early) and photos were taken in the living room before, during and after. It's all for posterity you know. OK , without further delay.......... Tyler will be serving the Lord while serving in the

Cuernavaca Mexico Mission

He will be entering the MTC in Provo on March 17 (St. Patty's day don't cha know?)

He is excited and a little overwhelmed and I've got to go. I have a bunch of calls to make! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's Mykie helping to get "Tom" turkey dressed and ready for the oven! Butter, Baby!

We did try to get the turkey "dressed" for it's big day. Browning didn't turn out the way we had originally planned, but the turkey was delicious!

Here's to wishing all a happy day full of giving thanks for all the many blessings we each enjoy.

Our Father in Heaven, our Savior, family, friends, happiness, a warm home, yummy food, giggles, laughter, memories, love, and so much more.

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.