well, that must have been weird! what a coincidence! or was it? .... better keep your eye on her.
:)
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Singapore
This Tuesday we got up very early to head down to Singapore. Singapore is a small island city/state just south of Malaysia - near the equator. It is a three hour flight from HK. I had been told by many people that I would love Singapore - even more than Hong Kong. I think those people know me very well. I have loved it. It is beautiful. It is hot. It has an ocean. It has great food. What better combination can you have. Hong Kong has most of those things, but Singapore is much more tropical and feels almost like a resort. The office here is smaller than in Hong Kong with about 30 people. It has been great meeting the people in the office, seeing the island, and just enjoying the weather.
To give you a better understanding of the two places, Hong Kong is like NYC but hotter and in the mountains. Singapore is like Phoenix, but more humid and green and with an ocean. I love both NYC and Phoenix, but for the same reasons I like (and thus live) in Phoenix rather than NYC are reasons I think I like Singapore more. Tevia has loved it because of the sun. It is almost like Mexico but more cosmopolitan and clean. I didn't feel right about leaving Tevia and the boys in HK alone the week after I flew them out, so bringing them down seemed the best option. I think they have liked it.
To give you a better understanding of the two places, Hong Kong is like NYC but hotter and in the mountains. Singapore is like Phoenix, but more humid and green and with an ocean. I love both NYC and Phoenix, but for the same reasons I like (and thus live) in Phoenix rather than NYC are reasons I think I like Singapore more. Tevia has loved it because of the sun. It is almost like Mexico but more cosmopolitan and clean. I didn't feel right about leaving Tevia and the boys in HK alone the week after I flew them out, so bringing them down seemed the best option. I think they have liked it.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Mansion and Beef Sushi
So i started being a nanny for this family up in Alpine and it has already been a very very interesting experience. First, the house is house. I would say up to 10 million dollars... Jacob has corrected me however, and thinks it is far less. But i dont know! what i do know is that it is HUGE! the biggest house i have ever been in by far! It has its very own gym, not a work out gym, but a gym, like the one that has a basketball court and it is indoors. It is SO cool! It also has the prettiest outdoor setting with a huge pool and not just any water slide going into it but one that you would honestly find at a water park and then a big hot tub! Then a huge trampoline in the ground thing and all these fancy plants. It really is something else. The thing i love the most though is the master bedroom. because its not just a master bedroom. Its a master suite. The suite has 4 rooms. The actual bed room, the tv and fire place room, the window outlook room, and then of course my favorite the AMAZING bathroom. The vanity mirror is like taller than my apartment wall, the spa in there could be qualified as a pool, the shower wraps around the corner and is probably 4 times the size of any of our entire bathrooms in our house and then there are the closets, one for the dad and one for the mom which are both bigger than my room at home. There are also like 5 fireplaces, an island kitchen with a big table, a thousand bathrooms, and like 7 spare bedrooms. Oh ya also one of my favorite parts is in the kitchen they have this ice maker the size of a dish washer and the ice is soft and small and there are always like a thousand ice chips in it! MMmm its so good!
Anyways, the place is insane. And i work there and its definitely been quite the experience. For many reasons. One, simply because its a mansion. Two, because the children do not have very good discipline or any at all. That is because the father is always gone. He actually goes to San Fransisco for school to get his MBA and his job requires him to fly all over the world at least once a week! And the mother is too nice and never actually raises her voice or punishes them. She lets them get what they want. The father will "talk" to them, but again hes always gone. So they need help because she is often alone and also pregnant and due at the end of October. So the kids think they can get aways with everything... probably because they can! So its been kind of difficult when a problem arises to make peace or solve something because each child will have a fit. They are 2, 4, and 6 by the way. And yesterday the 4 year old, Grant ran upstairs crying when i told him to get out of the way of his brothers bowling came, screaming, "you are not my mother." I was like oh boy but we had a talk and things went good after that. I told him that in order for us to have fun we have to listen because thats what friends do and read him this funny elephant story and he was actually really happy. It sounds weird but i think kids like discipline sometimes.
But we did have fun yesterday and i already have fallen in love with them. They are fun kids and so cute! The mother's family is half hawaiin and half japanese so they are kinda dark and just cute. So for dinner the mom's mom made this beef stuff wrapped in seaweed and it looked like sushi so i was a little apprehensive to try it but OH my goodness it was so good! She is gonna give me the recipe. I am excited to be a part of this new family but am still debating whether or not to stay because the drive is like 35 min both ways and its only 10 an hour. We'll see. But i just wanted to let you know whats going on over here.
School is going good as well and i love my classes especially my marriage and family relations one. It has taught me so much, as has my D&C one. My sign language is still tough but im getting by and its still fun and enjoyable so i am very pleased so far with this semester. Also i want to tell everyone to decide about christmas because I NEED TO KNOW! =) k I love you all
Anyways, the place is insane. And i work there and its definitely been quite the experience. For many reasons. One, simply because its a mansion. Two, because the children do not have very good discipline or any at all. That is because the father is always gone. He actually goes to San Fransisco for school to get his MBA and his job requires him to fly all over the world at least once a week! And the mother is too nice and never actually raises her voice or punishes them. She lets them get what they want. The father will "talk" to them, but again hes always gone. So they need help because she is often alone and also pregnant and due at the end of October. So the kids think they can get aways with everything... probably because they can! So its been kind of difficult when a problem arises to make peace or solve something because each child will have a fit. They are 2, 4, and 6 by the way. And yesterday the 4 year old, Grant ran upstairs crying when i told him to get out of the way of his brothers bowling came, screaming, "you are not my mother." I was like oh boy but we had a talk and things went good after that. I told him that in order for us to have fun we have to listen because thats what friends do and read him this funny elephant story and he was actually really happy. It sounds weird but i think kids like discipline sometimes.
But we did have fun yesterday and i already have fallen in love with them. They are fun kids and so cute! The mother's family is half hawaiin and half japanese so they are kinda dark and just cute. So for dinner the mom's mom made this beef stuff wrapped in seaweed and it looked like sushi so i was a little apprehensive to try it but OH my goodness it was so good! She is gonna give me the recipe. I am excited to be a part of this new family but am still debating whether or not to stay because the drive is like 35 min both ways and its only 10 an hour. We'll see. But i just wanted to let you know whats going on over here.
School is going good as well and i love my classes especially my marriage and family relations one. It has taught me so much, as has my D&C one. My sign language is still tough but im getting by and its still fun and enjoyable so i am very pleased so far with this semester. Also i want to tell everyone to decide about christmas because I NEED TO KNOW! =) k I love you all
Sunday, September 23, 2007
how dumb are we?
When we left the house for the Poconos on Wednesday evening, we really weren't in any big hurry. there were no kids to yell at, it was only a 2 hour drive ahead, and we were in a relaxed mode. dad had just ran his IBM 5k, so he was tired, but happy. I always worry about leaving the house alone while we are gone, so I went around and closed and actually locked all the windows, which I never take the time to do. ( we know from experience that you can put a hole through a screen and get the screen out and if the window is unlocked, you can be in our house in less than a minute.) (and all the ground floor windows already have holes in the screens.)
When we arrived home, through the garage, and came upstairs, we noticed our kitchen was full of moths. (we also always leave our kitchen lights on.) Our first thought it someone had broken in a window and there was a window wide open somewhere in the house. It only took a few seconds more to see that our patio door was standing wide open! The gate for patio was still closed, but dad had me stay down by the door as he searched the house. No one around, of course. Yes, we were that dumb. We let Daisy sit out on the patio every day in good weather, and she had been out there that morning. We left the house locked up and closed except for leaving our patio door wide open for 3 days! Lucky we live in a safe neighborhood, and also lucky that the gate was closed, or we could have had more than moths! (Daisy was not home, she had gone to visit Logan Mongelli for the 3 days) We couldn't believe we did that. :)
When we arrived home, through the garage, and came upstairs, we noticed our kitchen was full of moths. (we also always leave our kitchen lights on.) Our first thought it someone had broken in a window and there was a window wide open somewhere in the house. It only took a few seconds more to see that our patio door was standing wide open! The gate for patio was still closed, but dad had me stay down by the door as he searched the house. No one around, of course. Yes, we were that dumb. We let Daisy sit out on the patio every day in good weather, and she had been out there that morning. We left the house locked up and closed except for leaving our patio door wide open for 3 days! Lucky we live in a safe neighborhood, and also lucky that the gate was closed, or we could have had more than moths! (Daisy was not home, she had gone to visit Logan Mongelli for the 3 days) We couldn't believe we did that. :)
Hong Kong - 2nd Round
I have an advantage over Tevia in that I have been here before. I was here for 4 weeks and pretty much know my way around, what foods I like, etc. Coming back was easy and wasn't even "exciting" like it was the first time. For me it is pretty much back to usual: working most of the day and coming home to the family at night. I feel for Tevia who doesn't get that routine. But she will soon. Hong Kong has been great to be back to. I found the little bus route to my work from my new apartment (which is also much cheaper than the shuttle route I used at my last apartments). I have ventured off to find some great lunch places. One day this week I found an Indonesian place that is tiny. I had some awesome Mango Fried Rice with a tall glass of coconut milk (divine!).
This week we head down to Singapore. I decided to bring the family as I felt bad leaving them the first week they are here. It will be worth the extra money to have them close and also the opportunity to see a new country (newer!). We will be there a week. Unfortunately two of those days are holidays in Hong Kong, so I will miss out on them since they are not celebrated in Singapore. Oh well. I still have a bunch of days off that I need to take.
Work has been a little different since I came back. With a new boss (different from the one last month) it has taken time to get used to her style and work. She is not quite the dynamic leader that my last boss was last month (he is based in London but was here on assignment until a replacement was found). I honestly think this will be a big part of my decision on whether to stay (of course, the family's feelings come first). So who knows, we may be back in PHX early in 2008. Who knows what they will do with me in PHX. It would be interesting. But I trust the Lord and the talents he has given me.
Yesterday was a lot of fun as we went to Stanley and walked around the market. Then we had lunch and Tevia ordered some canelloni that was amazing. In the afternoon the boys and I (sans Enok) tried out the pools since their suits came. It was a lot of fun. They have a huge kiddie pool that is shallow that the boys loved and Enok will, too. That evening we went to a big mall and had hamburgers and found a voltage converter for the Wii. So now we can play Wii. It works! So it survived the trip.
We should be back on internet when we get back from Singapore (Oct 3).
This week we head down to Singapore. I decided to bring the family as I felt bad leaving them the first week they are here. It will be worth the extra money to have them close and also the opportunity to see a new country (newer!). We will be there a week. Unfortunately two of those days are holidays in Hong Kong, so I will miss out on them since they are not celebrated in Singapore. Oh well. I still have a bunch of days off that I need to take.
Work has been a little different since I came back. With a new boss (different from the one last month) it has taken time to get used to her style and work. She is not quite the dynamic leader that my last boss was last month (he is based in London but was here on assignment until a replacement was found). I honestly think this will be a big part of my decision on whether to stay (of course, the family's feelings come first). So who knows, we may be back in PHX early in 2008. Who knows what they will do with me in PHX. It would be interesting. But I trust the Lord and the talents he has given me.
Yesterday was a lot of fun as we went to Stanley and walked around the market. Then we had lunch and Tevia ordered some canelloni that was amazing. In the afternoon the boys and I (sans Enok) tried out the pools since their suits came. It was a lot of fun. They have a huge kiddie pool that is shallow that the boys loved and Enok will, too. That evening we went to a big mall and had hamburgers and found a voltage converter for the Wii. So now we can play Wii. It works! So it survived the trip.
We should be back on internet when we get back from Singapore (Oct 3).
Saturday, September 22, 2007
fun in the Poconos
We arrived in Bushkill, PA on Wed night, and kathy, Fred, Mike, and Marsha were already there. Kathy and Fred bought into one of those vacation points systems, and they got this condo for almost nothing. it had 2 bedrooms and baths downstairs, and a loft upstairs where dad and I slept, a nice kitchen, dining room, and family room with fireplace, right on a lake. there were tennis courts, basketball courts, game rooms, 3 pools, etc. very nice place. on Friday, we went hiking through a park called Bushkill Falls. it was$9. to get in, but so pretty. there was a small river or creek that had lots of falls throughout its path. they built wooden stairs and bridges all over and around it. it was beautiful. the rest of them hiked the long trails, and dad and I hiked the short one, then had corn dogs and a rootbeer float and shopped the little trading post and relaxed. it was a really cute place. dad and I would love to go again, and even take all of you there. we enjoyed getting to know Marsha better. I had make 50 little pieces of paper with 50 memories on them for Michael for his birthday. ( this was all done for his 50th birthday celebration next week) so we had fun pulling out the memories and questions all the time and talking about each subject, like, what was your favorite tv show as a kid, first kiss, first job, best teacher, when did you first meet Carol, what was your earliest memory, etc. It was a great idea and kept us talking from morning until night. I love my sister and brother. it was a very bonding weekend.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Not Quite As Tough Stuff
Okay, I am really laying it all out there for you guys. Bret says I am very transparent in my feelings and moods so it does no good to try and hide it all behind words on a blog.
I am not made of the tough stuff I always thought I was. I am finding that I am pretty lame, fearful, anti-social, whiney and well just not tough. I thought it would be a piece of cake to come out here and just go with the flow. I didn't realize that the flow here was super-lightening speed. A speed at which I and my kids just don't operate at. I get frustrated and angry becasue I want to be able to do it all by myself, but I just can't. I really, really loathe that feeling. I have never been good at accepting the fact that I am not all powerful to control my every situation. It is a strange sensation to be so helpless.
Here is something else that is unnerving to me. There are all these domestic helpers here from the Phillipines and wherever. They are generally tagging along "helping" these English, Austrailian, American... families. I happen to look like these helpers. I don't get a lot of the mothers talking to me becasue they think I am just a helper. Now, you may be thinking, "well that is dumb, why don't I just say hello and they will hear my american accent?" Well that would be because not a lot of them even look at me. They think that since I am hauling around three boys I must be a helper. No other woman in her right mind would have three kids to begin with and then take care of them by herself. That would be insanity! :) So that has been strange. I know these things are all probably bigger problemes inside my own head, but that seems to be where I have been living the last week.
The reason I am posting this on the family Blog is for one reason only. You guys already know I am crazy and still like me. I don't think I should share my crazy with all the rest of the people reading the other blog. Being crazy is a strange thing. Some days I feel absolutely normal, while other days it is all I can do to make it through the day without being admitted to the looney bin!
Anyhow, I have gone on far long enough. I am sure I will eventually carve my happy little rut here and make some friends. I will get more confident to go places with three small children and not worry about them holding everyone up. I will do this becasue it is either adapt or get run down, and for me, the second is not an option.
I am not made of the tough stuff I always thought I was. I am finding that I am pretty lame, fearful, anti-social, whiney and well just not tough. I thought it would be a piece of cake to come out here and just go with the flow. I didn't realize that the flow here was super-lightening speed. A speed at which I and my kids just don't operate at. I get frustrated and angry becasue I want to be able to do it all by myself, but I just can't. I really, really loathe that feeling. I have never been good at accepting the fact that I am not all powerful to control my every situation. It is a strange sensation to be so helpless.
Here is something else that is unnerving to me. There are all these domestic helpers here from the Phillipines and wherever. They are generally tagging along "helping" these English, Austrailian, American... families. I happen to look like these helpers. I don't get a lot of the mothers talking to me becasue they think I am just a helper. Now, you may be thinking, "well that is dumb, why don't I just say hello and they will hear my american accent?" Well that would be because not a lot of them even look at me. They think that since I am hauling around three boys I must be a helper. No other woman in her right mind would have three kids to begin with and then take care of them by herself. That would be insanity! :) So that has been strange. I know these things are all probably bigger problemes inside my own head, but that seems to be where I have been living the last week.
The reason I am posting this on the family Blog is for one reason only. You guys already know I am crazy and still like me. I don't think I should share my crazy with all the rest of the people reading the other blog. Being crazy is a strange thing. Some days I feel absolutely normal, while other days it is all I can do to make it through the day without being admitted to the looney bin!
Anyhow, I have gone on far long enough. I am sure I will eventually carve my happy little rut here and make some friends. I will get more confident to go places with three small children and not worry about them holding everyone up. I will do this becasue it is either adapt or get run down, and for me, the second is not an option.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Abuot the other Blog
Hi, just wanted to inform everyone, in case you weren't aware, but not that it matters too terribly much, but the other blog is inclusive of many of our friends, the kids teachers, PT, etc...
So, if there is something you want to post that is of a nature not inteneded for people other than family, you might not want to post it on the other blog. Unless of course you don't mind who reads it and responds to it.
Thank you kindly.
So, if there is something you want to post that is of a nature not inteneded for people other than family, you might not want to post it on the other blog. Unless of course you don't mind who reads it and responds to it.
Thank you kindly.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Time
I'm sitting here in class and just thinking about time. I think as it (time) goes on I find how more and more valuable it really is. As a child, teen, and even young adult, I never thought much about it... it came, it went... Oh blah di blah da! However, as I am finding more and more time has so much greater value. I'm pretty sure the days last as long, I think there are the same number of hours in a day as there always have been... right? (perhaps in my younger college years there were some days that would bleed late - very late - into the night... but for the most part each day was 24 hours long). Jacob, you are still an exception to the rule of hours in a day... averaging about 3 hours of sleep a week... you're just not human.
But my point(s) is(are) this:
I have less time (I think) because I own less time. My days are all but planned out for me from sun up to, well, beyond sundown. I get up at (or around) 7 and go to work. I'm at work all day. After work I rush to class where I live until 8:30 (some nights extend my stay a bit longer). From school I go home and the few hours from the time I leave class until I choose to go to sleep are all I own. They're all the hours I have to dictate what I do. Unfortunately they are not my without constraint... strings seem to be attached to most every facet of my life these days... I have homework... and LOTS of it. I'm not trying to complain. I know most of you can pretty closely relate to such a schedule in your own life.
I wonder... How is it that the technological advances of our day - designed to save us time or streamline duties, etc - tend to have an opposite effect?
Where are all the hours going?
Does it ever get "easier"?
But my point(s) is(are) this:
I have less time (I think) because I own less time. My days are all but planned out for me from sun up to, well, beyond sundown. I get up at (or around) 7 and go to work. I'm at work all day. After work I rush to class where I live until 8:30 (some nights extend my stay a bit longer). From school I go home and the few hours from the time I leave class until I choose to go to sleep are all I own. They're all the hours I have to dictate what I do. Unfortunately they are not my without constraint... strings seem to be attached to most every facet of my life these days... I have homework... and LOTS of it. I'm not trying to complain. I know most of you can pretty closely relate to such a schedule in your own life.
I wonder... How is it that the technological advances of our day - designed to save us time or streamline duties, etc - tend to have an opposite effect?
Where are all the hours going?
Does it ever get "easier"?
Sunday, September 16, 2007
From 3 am...
Well I woke up today with Cari elbowing me as usual. Having been up till 3 am the night before with Boomer Hawks and Tom playing SSBM, I was unconvinced that 8:00 in the morning was, in fact, the start of a new day. Regardless, it was a day to be remembered. I had promised Cari she could take a test today since she is a week late. If I had known she would go for the 8:00 am slot I would have clarified the promise with a more specific time. I also made her promise she couldn't take a test without me present so that if negative I could provide as much comfort as a tired insomniac could give...
I woke up again to more elbowing. It felt like I had slept another hour, but Cari reassures me it wasn't more than a minute. Yes, Cari was/is pregnant! I don't remember much else and soon fell back asleep happy to be entering the next phase of life. I'm not sure I convinced Cari of my excitement. But in my defense, I didn't know I was a father until after I stayed up to 3am :-)
Well to sum things up, by the end of the day, I was completely convinced I had not dreamed Cari's pregnancy test and the expensive pee tester had still refused to insert "not" in front of the word pregnant. In addition, our news was overpowered by Nicoles Knutti's engagement announcement! Andrea Scott is also getting married in December and will require us to fly into Washington DC as she is from Baltimore. If Nicole decides to have a white Christmas as well, the PHX extravaganza might be a little difficult to attend. We will know a little better when dates are finalized.
These names are final:
Girl - Hazel Marie Wall
Boy - Speed Zadok Wall
Twins Boys -Speed Zadot Wall
-Dash Allen Wall
Twin Girls - Hazel Marie Wall
Ester Marie Wall
I woke up again to more elbowing. It felt like I had slept another hour, but Cari reassures me it wasn't more than a minute. Yes, Cari was/is pregnant! I don't remember much else and soon fell back asleep happy to be entering the next phase of life. I'm not sure I convinced Cari of my excitement. But in my defense, I didn't know I was a father until after I stayed up to 3am :-)
Well to sum things up, by the end of the day, I was completely convinced I had not dreamed Cari's pregnancy test and the expensive pee tester had still refused to insert "not" in front of the word pregnant. In addition, our news was overpowered by Nicoles Knutti's engagement announcement! Andrea Scott is also getting married in December and will require us to fly into Washington DC as she is from Baltimore. If Nicole decides to have a white Christmas as well, the PHX extravaganza might be a little difficult to attend. We will know a little better when dates are finalized.
These names are final:
Girl - Hazel Marie Wall
Boy - Speed Zadok Wall
Twins Boys -Speed Zadot Wall
-Dash Allen Wall
Twin Girls - Hazel Marie Wall
Ester Marie Wall
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Puppies For Sale
We had a speaker named Dan Clark at our Pru meetings this week. He shared this short movie that he wrote and I thought I'd share with you all. I loved it.
Enok's Birthday
It is hard to believe that a year ago today I was in the hospital pregnant and waiting the arrival of our third child. The year he has been in our lives has been full of joy and laughter and new experiences we didn't get to observe with Jarek and Malik. Enok is happy, delightful, energetic and full of personality. He is sweet and silly and exceptionally LOUD!!! :)
Today is his birthday and because we are in the middle of getting ready to go to Honk Kong I fell like a negligent parent. He probably won't have a b-day cake, like the other two kids, and I haven't hardly thought much about his birthday today as I have a billion things to do. Tonight Bret wants to go get ice cream to celebrate, and we got a couple of small toys for him that will be fun to take to HK. It is a strange day as far as celebrating goes, but I am so thrilled that he is a part of our family and I am a lucky woman to have him as a son. To Enok, I hope you grow up to be as good of a man as your father is, as loving as Jarek and as funny and silly as Malik. You have a lot of potential and I know you will be amazing.
Today is his birthday and because we are in the middle of getting ready to go to Honk Kong I fell like a negligent parent. He probably won't have a b-day cake, like the other two kids, and I haven't hardly thought much about his birthday today as I have a billion things to do. Tonight Bret wants to go get ice cream to celebrate, and we got a couple of small toys for him that will be fun to take to HK. It is a strange day as far as celebrating goes, but I am so thrilled that he is a part of our family and I am a lucky woman to have him as a son. To Enok, I hope you grow up to be as good of a man as your father is, as loving as Jarek and as funny and silly as Malik. You have a lot of potential and I know you will be amazing.
Monday, September 10, 2007
7th grade home and careers
I love to teach! I had to show a movie 5 times today about the difference between fashion and just clothing. I found it interesting, but none of them did. Most of the designer labels are all still made by the exact same company. I didn't know that. One company alone makes 8 different brands of jeans. and good old Tiger Woods, according to this movie, Nike people pick out his outfits for his tournaments a year ahead of time, and then they make cheaper copies of the outfit; hat, belt, and all, and sell these during and after the tournaments. Most clothes are still bought at Walmart. I had fun with these young teenagers who think they are so cool. It is funny to watch them. I had 3 free periods, to read and eat lunch, but I am still tired.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Stake Conference and Sushi
Stake Conference: Today was our stake conference. Jacob and I got up on time and decided to walk to the Provo Tabernacle where stake conference was to be held. We got there a couple minutes late (a couple = less than five) and we told that there were no more seats left. There were a LOT of people milling around outside who had all also been told that there was no room left in the building. So we went home, not really having any other options.
A few hours later, our friend, Frank, stopped by to ask Jacob a question about the internet problems our building has been having. We told him about our funny experience of the morning and about our surprise that the stake didn't plan better for the number of people in our stake. We all got really confused when he told us that as far as he could tell, there were plenty of seats at stake conference.
After a minute, he laughed and informed us that our stake conference was in fact at our stake center, not at the Provo Tabernacle as we (and several other ward members we saw there) thought. Two weeks ago, the location was announced as the Provo Tabernacle. Then last week, they corrected the previous announcement, but we were all in Phoenix for our nephew, Jarek's, baptism. So, we (and many others) showed up at another stake's stake conference, who are probably now congratulating themselves on such a fabulous turn-out for their stake conference. :-)
Incidentally, Frank also informed us that this is not the first time this has happened in this stake. He said he'd remind the high council, again, that they need to be more careful about the announcement they hand out.
Sushi: Since we had so much more of our afternoon today, we had decided to make sushi for our Sunday dinner. As we were thinking about how much to make, we realized that we'd invited about 16 people over for dinner. For those of you who have been to our wonderful little condo, 16 people is do-able, but a bit of a squeeze. We figured we'd have a couple of cancellations, as we often to, and that everything would be fine.
It was a very good thing we had been planning for leftovers. All 16 people showed up and we had a really fun time eating sushi, talking, and playing games. I guess sushi is more popular than I realized. Or maybe it's just us. :-)
A few hours later, our friend, Frank, stopped by to ask Jacob a question about the internet problems our building has been having. We told him about our funny experience of the morning and about our surprise that the stake didn't plan better for the number of people in our stake. We all got really confused when he told us that as far as he could tell, there were plenty of seats at stake conference.
After a minute, he laughed and informed us that our stake conference was in fact at our stake center, not at the Provo Tabernacle as we (and several other ward members we saw there) thought. Two weeks ago, the location was announced as the Provo Tabernacle. Then last week, they corrected the previous announcement, but we were all in Phoenix for our nephew, Jarek's, baptism. So, we (and many others) showed up at another stake's stake conference, who are probably now congratulating themselves on such a fabulous turn-out for their stake conference. :-)
Incidentally, Frank also informed us that this is not the first time this has happened in this stake. He said he'd remind the high council, again, that they need to be more careful about the announcement they hand out.
Sushi: Since we had so much more of our afternoon today, we had decided to make sushi for our Sunday dinner. As we were thinking about how much to make, we realized that we'd invited about 16 people over for dinner. For those of you who have been to our wonderful little condo, 16 people is do-able, but a bit of a squeeze. We figured we'd have a couple of cancellations, as we often to, and that everything would be fine.
It was a very good thing we had been planning for leftovers. All 16 people showed up and we had a really fun time eating sushi, talking, and playing games. I guess sushi is more popular than I realized. Or maybe it's just us. :-)
2 Nephi 9:20
Approximately four years before Kris Prettyman, resourceful mother of five, died of a stroke, another woman approached her young Bishop about a health problem. She had cancer, and the doctor's report was that the situation was grim. The young Bishop had only been a member of the church for 11 years himself and only a bishop for one. He had been converted at the tender age of 21, the only member in his family, and had accepted the gospel and committed to serve a mission. An interesting side note that dose not directly enter our story but has some indirect contribution to it, is that He had been called to serve in the NY mission. Being fully unacquainted with the ways of the church, he had accepted his call and stowed his letter. As it turns out, just 1-2 weeks before he entered the MTC a friend was reviewing the call letter and sees that it reads clearly, you are called to serve in the NY ASL mission. This poor fellow had no knowledge of ASL whatsoever. Of course he learned it and did fulfill a great mission in NY. Now back to the story, hearing the severity of the woman's concern he asked if he can have a week to pray and fast before the sought after blessing was given. This woman was 37 years old and single. She had been a member all her life. She has an identical twin sister married with three wonderful children, but herself still single never married always faithful. So a week later the young and well prepared young Bishop lays his hands on her head and pronounces a blessing that the woman, Lorain Jacobson, would recover from her sickness and that not only that but in addition he promised her that she would eventually be married herself and to a man that already had children and that she would have the opportunity to help to raise these children in this family. For the next 5 years she continually would remind her Bishop of the promise and with that fact she had nothing to fear. The Bishop sweat bullets for five years, but no more, the promises of God pronounced in that priesthood blessing have been fulfilled every whit. Now Kris's mortal experience has come to an end, and Lorian Jacobsen Prettyman begins a new and challenging part of her life. For thy days are known and thy years shall not be numbered less, therefore fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever. So God counsels Joseph in the Liberty Jail, and so it would appear is also true for each one of us. We need to trust God and let him do his great work.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Jarek's Baptism
This last week was very emotional. First I came back to my family after being away for a month. Then this last weekend we had the opportunity to have some family come in for Jarek's baptism. For those of you who did not make it, we missed you so much. For those of you who came: thanks! It was great to spend time with family - especially my siblings as we tended to stay up late talking about things like "fear" and daycare.
On Sunday September 2, 2007 we had Jarek's baptism at 4 PM. My goal was to have a quick, spiritual service as most baptisms I have attended tend to go a little long. Paul Bennion from the bishopric conducted the meeting. Grandpa Webb gave a wonderful talk to Jarek about baptism. The actual baptism went great. Jarek looked so old in his white jumpsuit. He noted the water was a little colder than he expected. I was so proud of him. He is such a good boy. I am so lucky to be his father and friend. His soul is pure and loving. After we came out of the water he said he felt the cleanest he has ever felt - more than when he just takes a shower.
After the baptism Jarek sang a song (My Own Little Lamp) about having his own testimony accompanied by his Aunt Borrego (Tammy). It brought tears to many people's eyes. I believe that Jacob Webb sang this same song at his baptism. Grandma Webb's eyes were crying the whole time. He did a great job. Following this Grandma Wall gave a talk on the Holy Ghost which was also very touching. We then gave Jarek the Holy Ghost. The spirit was so strong to me the entire time. It was a perfect meeting. It didn't last too long and afterwards we had great cookies to eat. Then everyone (family) came over to have dinner. Tevia had prepared Bonnie's Tacos. We spoke with family and enjoyed being with everyone. It was a great experience for me and hopefully for Jarek, too.
On Sunday September 2, 2007 we had Jarek's baptism at 4 PM. My goal was to have a quick, spiritual service as most baptisms I have attended tend to go a little long. Paul Bennion from the bishopric conducted the meeting. Grandpa Webb gave a wonderful talk to Jarek about baptism. The actual baptism went great. Jarek looked so old in his white jumpsuit. He noted the water was a little colder than he expected. I was so proud of him. He is such a good boy. I am so lucky to be his father and friend. His soul is pure and loving. After we came out of the water he said he felt the cleanest he has ever felt - more than when he just takes a shower.
After the baptism Jarek sang a song (My Own Little Lamp) about having his own testimony accompanied by his Aunt Borrego (Tammy). It brought tears to many people's eyes. I believe that Jacob Webb sang this same song at his baptism. Grandma Webb's eyes were crying the whole time. He did a great job. Following this Grandma Wall gave a talk on the Holy Ghost which was also very touching. We then gave Jarek the Holy Ghost. The spirit was so strong to me the entire time. It was a perfect meeting. It didn't last too long and afterwards we had great cookies to eat. Then everyone (family) came over to have dinner. Tevia had prepared Bonnie's Tacos. We spoke with family and enjoyed being with everyone. It was a great experience for me and hopefully for Jarek, too.
so happy together
I am so glad we have had so many opportunities this year to be together! I had fun being with all of you. Jarek's baptism was wonderful!
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Happy Birthday to Cari on the 6th!
Hey Cari, hope you have a fantastic, wonderful, fun-filled birthday! Many many happy returns! Love,
tevs
tevs
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