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???????...................

Brigam's Big Backyard BBQ Birthday Bash

Well, it's been a week since my baby turned 8 and yesterday we celebrated his birthday at a big BBQ in the backyard. All I really had to do after sending out invites was buy food and make the cake. It's great having a Mykalyn around because she eals with all the games. She can really keep those kids entertained!!

We had a pinata which Brigam broke off the hanger after his first swing, Mike had to wrap it up with rope so that all the kids could have a chance to beat on it!

Here's the cake. It's a BBQ grill, don't cha know? It turned out OK especially if I don't compare it to the picture I was copying it from.

Brigam could hardly wait to dig into the candy hot dog!

Now he is looking forward to baptism. He was so funny. Grama and Grampa wanted to buy him scriptures and a scripture case for his birthday/baptism. I took him to the store to get them and found a little pamphlet on baptism that was made for kids. He was reading that thing cover to cover. As you can see the boy is badly in need of a haircut. As he was reading his pamphlet, he asked me, "Mom, when am I going to get a haircut?" I had made a couple of appointments, but something always came up and we've had to cancel them. (Hopefully this Tuesday will be the day.) I told him, "Definitely before you get baptized!" He said, "Good, because I don't want my hair to float up on top of the water when I'm getting baptized because then I'll have to do it again. I have to be immersed." Read, Brigam, read!

He plans on being baptized on September 5th at 4:00PM. We were going to do it the first weekend in August, but Grama and Grampa come home from their mission on the 2nd, so waiting a few days so that they can be there is no big deal! That's Labor Day weekend as well so maybe a few of Mike's family can attend too. We'll see, but for now.....Happy Birthday Brigam!

She's Alright, Folks! She's Alright!

I just have to preface this post to let you immediately know that Mykie is fine. But today we had a huge scare.

Mykalyn had left our house to "drive" the lawnmower back to my parents house, just a block away. After a bit, the phone rang and, of course, no one answered it. I had an excuse, I was in the kitchen up to my elbows in raspberry ice cream so the answering machine came on. I heard an unfamiliar voice on the machine that said, "Um, your daughter just hit into my car...." That was all I heard. I ran out to Mike and told him, "Mykie has hit a car on Perry." He took off like a shot.

As I was waiting I was thinking to myself, 'How could she drive a lawnmower into a car and not know what she was doing?' Then I waited some more and started to get concerned. I was wondering where Mykie and Mike were. I wondered how much damage one little girl on a lawnmower could do and how much time it took to assess that. So I sent Tyler and Brigam around the corner to see what happened. After a few minutes that seemed like hours, the crew all came back with Mykie in front crying. I took her into my arms to let her cry as Mike said, "She went up on the hood. There's a dent in his car." I looked at Mykie and lovingly (but I think I was a little angry) said, "How could you drive a lawnmower onto the hood of a car and not just stop when you just hit the bumper?" Mike said, "Not with the lawnmower. She was on her bike. She ran into a moving car."

That's when I lost it. My baby had been hit by a car. Then I was all over checking out her cuts and bruises, but it was kind of hard as I was in tears.

This is what happened. Mykie was actually heading back to the house after dropping off the lawn mower. She cruised off of 11th and whipped onto Perry Street right into a couple's car that was coming down Perry. She couldn't stop fast enough and he slammed on his breaks, but it wasn't soon enough. She hit the bumper and then hit the hood.

She was pretty shaken up about it, as anyone would. She could remember her phone number, but she couldn't tell the gentleman her name and she asked him if she really just hit his car. He wanted to call an ambulance, but she was adamant that he didn't. I don't know why. Then her daddy came and she felt much better.

Then Mykie spent the next hour replaying the scene over and over in her head. That will drive you crazy! She cried and iced her ankle. As she was sitting on the kitchen floor icing her ankle and crying, I was glad when Tyler came in and said, "What's up Evil Knievel?" Which really lightened up the mood.

She is fine. She says she didn't hit her head, but I think she might of because she has 2 areas on her head that feel like they have bruises. Her ankle hurts a bit, she's multi colored with black, blue and yellowish hues, but she's ok and still with us.

We are just so grateful to our Heavenly Father for protecting her. We've all said our own prayers of gratitude for her safety.

The man that was involved in the accident with Mykie has already called us to check in on her. I made it clear that we weren't angry. It was just something that happened. We realize that it has a bad effect on him as well. It would ruin your day hitting someone even if it wasn't your fault. He was very sweet. He was an older man that was just leaving his son's house that he had been visiting. Thank goodness he was older so he wasn't racing down the street in his car like some of those younger drivers do. His wife ran back to get their son to check Mykie out. He is an EMT. He thought she was OK, but of course told us to keep an eye on her.

Just a reminder to tell your kids to be so careful coming around the corner. Cars aren't expecting kids to whip out there on their bikes!!!

Tyler - there he grows again!

Today was a very special Sunday. After the stake Priesthood meeting tonight, Tyler was ordained by his dad to the office of an Elder and he received the Melchizedek Priesthood.

This was a BIG deal. So much so that I wanted it remembered and decided to do that through food. I planned a turkey dinner complete with stuffing and homemade gravy. We've been salivating over this and speaking about this dinner for 2 days. This morning, I got up early to start stuffing "tom" our turkey. We also had a linger longer after church today, so I was making cookies this morning as well. I had it all organized, the carrots in the pan ready to go, stuffing in it's oven safe bowl, the potatoes are cut up and soaking, the cookies were baking. After I cleaned up the kitchen at about noon it was time for tom to go into the oven. Shortly after that we left for church with Tyler a few minutes behind us. We go to Sacrament Meeting, then Sunday School, then I was in Relief Society when Jeremy came and got me out of class. When I went out there he told me that Tyler was complaining about me being irresponsible. What? Me? What did I do? Jeremy said that Tyler was sitting between Mike and himself. He turned to Mike and said, "Talk about irresponsible! Do you know who is irresponsible? Mom. She left the house today to come to church and left the oven on!" Jeremy said, "Um Yeah, to cook the turkey!" Then Mike got on Tyler about not checking the oven before turning it off and Jeremy said, "I'm telling!" That's when he came to get me. But do you think that Tyler jumped up and ran home to turn on the oven? Or that Mike went himself? No, Jeremy took me back to their class and pulled Tyler out for me. I was trying to wrap my mind around why Tyler would think that a turkey wouldn't need to be in the oven, but that it would miraculously appear right after church for us to eat. As he came out, he said, "I just didn't want the alarm company to call my cell phone and tell me that house was on fire. I was just trying to be responsible." Funny boy, I sent him home to start up the oven again and our 5:00pm eating plans were changed to 9:00pm. But it was delicious - every wit!

Anyway, back to the important stuff - being ordained an Elder. I am so proud of him. I have two brothers, but had never experienced someone close to me becoming an Elder. He is such a great manchild. This church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, prepares our youth to be leaders. It gives them the opportunity to Raise the Bar. They are asked to be more responsible, to serve others, to stop thinking about themselves. When they take this challenge they are on the path that God wants them to be on. They are not perfect, but they are incredible youth. This leaves them free to choose from so many good things they can experience in this life. This Priesthood is a responsibility that is great on an 18 year old shoulders, but I am so proud of him for wanting it and being worthy of it. He's going to be a great missionary. Here's to his future!

Another Year Behind Us

(Um, these are 'graduation caps' that took way too long to make. The kids didn't dare eat them for a whole day. On the other hand, Mike had no problem eating them. Although he did tell me they were cute first.)

Well, the kids have put another year of their education behind them. It was a pretty great year for them all I think.

Brigam really had a terrific teacher, but then almost anyone would have been terrific after the one he had last year!!! He didn't ask me once this year if any school day was Saturday like he did EVERY DAY last year. Mrs. Crandall really made Brigam LOVE reading. Remember last year that he didn't even read on a first grade reading level when he left first grade? Well, this year he is past that. He's been reading things that are 3rd and 4th grade books. Or even older as he proved when he took his $1.00 and bought a biology book at the yard sale next door. I know what you're thinking, "A $1.00 for a book?" but alas Brigam has got my gene when it comes to bartering. Just Can't Make It Happen! Anyway, he loves factual books like Jeremy does. I love the fiction that takes me away. They love to fill their brains with all kinds of stuff that comes back at you in almost any situation.

Brigam even begged Mrs. Crandall to send him to summer school. He said he loved it. I think he forgot having to get up at 6:30 last summer every M-Th while everyone else slept. Mrs. Crandall called me and told me he really wanted to go, but from his testing scores, he didn't need to. I told her that was fine. I am so proud of his growth this year. He is a kid with a bright future.

Mykalyn finished up 6th grade still with that winning smile on that cute face. She learned all about social circles this year and liking "cute" boys. I think she definitely got the beginning stages of flirting down and knows what it feels like when boys think you're pretty. She told me that one day she was staying after in a class to help a teacher finish up some paperwork. She was sitting in a desk. A 7th grade boy came in to the classroom for his next class and realized that she was sitting in his seat. He said to her, "Get out of my seat!" The teacher overheard this and said, "(I can't remember his name), Mykalyn is going to be really hot in high school and you're going to want to ask her out. But she will remember that you were rude to her back in middle school and say no. If I were you, I'd change the way you're talking to her." Then the boy said, "I'm sorry, will you please get out of my desk?" I had to laugh at this.

She really tried so hard in her grades this year and one quarter even got straight A's. She took to middle school so easily. Now she is looking forward to playing sports next year. She wants me to put a program of cardio and weight lifting for her this summer. She is still a great person that is occasionally dealing with hormones and her attitude! She's doing great!

Jeremy is still my ideal "student athlete". He's got the grades, ambition, skills and, apparently, the girls. Yes, Jeremy has discovered girls and they have discovered him. Heaven help us for the next 2 years until he can date. On the last day of school a girl even gave him a kiss on the lips IN FRONT OF HER BOYFRIEND. What's up with that?????? I asked him what the boyfriend did. He told me just stood there and looked confused. I was glad that he just stood there and didn't move into punch Jeremy in the lips with his fist!

He got himself A's and B's this school year too. One of his friends said, "Your parents are so cool. They don't ever ground you because of your grades." Jeremy didn't have the heart to tell him that his grades don't invoke grounding because they are so good. They think because he is fun, funny and athletic that he can't be a good student. They are wrong.

He's now practicing football with Southridge HS. He LOVES his coaches. It is great to see him so happy. He told me the other day, "I think this was the best practice I have ever had in my whole life!" What a change from the coach he had to deal with last year. I guess these guys really coach the kids instead of just tolerate them. He told me that they told the boys to ask questions, that's how you learn (very different than last year.) He told me that when you make a mistake they say, "Hey, Nelly, come here. Let me show you what you did wrong." Then they show the boys and encourage them as they run back on the field to try it again. He said that being treated that way makes him want to try harder to do it perfect just for the coaches. Awesome coaches, it makes me want to cry!

Tyler is done with his formal education for a while. He is looking for a full time job. I wish he would find one. He'd love a warehouse job that he could work at all night, but hasn't found one. He doesn't want retail because he doesn't like to push to sell the items (um, wait until he comes back from his mission.)

He is still planning on going on his mission. He won't be 19 until Feb, so he has a bit to go before he needs the $3,000 we told him he needs to come up with. He'll get there. I am just so proud of who he is. He's a hard worker (when you tell him EXACTLY what needs to be done) and he's a nice brother. What a blessing to have him first to be an example to the others.

I am looking forward to what is to come. I love my kids and love to be around them. They are funny, talented, caring and grateful. Now, I hope I can say that at the end of summer when I have to "share" them with their teachers again! :)

20 YEARS OF WEDDED BLISS

Today's the day that marks two decades of love in my life. Today Mike and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary.

Looking back on the boys that I dated before him, Mike basically "hangs the moon" for me. It's really not fair for me to even compare them to him. He is an extraordinary man. He's honest and funny, smart and competitive and challenging. We've had ups and downs, disagreements that are ridiculous (because you all know I'm right), and fits of giggles. I am so glad that he choose me to live his life and his eternity with. I just hope they have racquetball in the hereafter, or Mike will be one bored puppy!

Happy Anniversary, Honey! I love you!