02/24/07

What’s up Doogie?

It’s 11:28 PM on Friday night and the first I could get to your letter. I have been studying my brains out, taking mock tests like crazy, working my butt off, and having all kinds of family fun. Last night, after being at work for 10 hours, I went to my class by 6:00, then was out of there by 9:00. Came home at 9:30, got some dinner, said good night to the girls, then watched a couple of shows on TraVo with Suzanne. By 11:00 I came back upstairs thoroughly spent and ready for bed. Then Brinlee started coughing and it woke her up. She didn’t stop coughing, in fact, it was so bad that it started to make her throw up. Then her airway began to restrict and soon she couldn’t breathe. She is a little drama queen, so we didn’t know if she was just being overly dramatic, so we kept telling her to breathe normal but she kept saying she couldn’t. She was gasping for breath like crazy. So I sat with her and tried to get her to relax because she was in full freak out mode. She was screaming that her hands hurt and I noticed that her fingers were turning blue and her lips were too. So we rushed her to the ER at Cottonwood. They gave her a nebulizer with some epinephrine and some oxygen. They wanted to keep her there for observation for a while, so we were up till 4:00 AM by the time we were all home and settled down. So after a little after 4:00 AM bed time and a 7:00 AM wake up time to get ready for work and get in there, I am a bit hammered today and it’s already 11:33 PM and I am just getting done with my daily routine. I think I’m beyond tired and running on pure adrenaline right now. So we are still sans letters from you and I got nothing to go off of since it’s already been a while since I have received a letter with some sustenance. So I think this one might be a little short. I haven’t had much time to have any experiences to share. We were going to go ice fishing as you know last weekend, but ended up not going because there were a bunch of slide offs at Parley’s summit with the big storm that rolled through that night before. We could only imagine what Daniels summit was going to look like which is always worse then Parleys. So I was bummed that we didn’t get to go and I hope we can still make it work before the thaw. We’ll see what happens. All of my gear is still sitting right here by me in my office just waiting to go brave the elements with me.

I have my old goggles up on eBay right now because I picked up a brand new pair of Smiths Fuse Goggles that are WAY sweet on that SteepandCheap.com site. I got them for $20 bucks when they normally go for $90. My old goggles are going for 23.99 right now and still a day to go. They close tomorrow sometime and I have 12 watchers right now. So there will be a nice bidding war going on tomorrow. Yeah! I will probably make twice the amount I paid for these ones and I’m getting a big upgrade. I love that site, in case I haven’t mentioned that lately. John bought a pair too, just like mine even after I warned him to get the other color. So now he has my red Columbia ballistic Titanium jacket and the same goggles. We will be the wonder twins up ice fishing or on the slopes. I’m bugged to say the least.

What else can I tell you about here? Aynslee is so cute, she has been smiling and giggling more lately. She’s getting easier to get to laugh now too. Oh, I went to my first Elder’s Quorum Presidency meeting Wednesday night. It was almost 2 ½ hours long. Suzanne had to go visiting teaching that night for a while, so Mom and Dad came over to watch the girls. I don’t know why it took so long to do that meeting. We got a lot done and discussed though, it was cool. But I don’t think it will last that long going forward. We’ll see.

So what happened last Monday? No e-mail access? Would you rather I send letters via snail mail or continue e-mailing? I just need to know your new set up and preferences. I’m good either way. I prefer the e-mail just to save me the overly spendy stamps. But whatever. I’m good with whatever is most convenient for you. I’m excited to get your new photo card and info on your new comp. for the blog. I need to update that soon. I have been waiting for more info since your transfer, but everyone is sans info still. I can do another missionary profile of a family member though.

I guess you have probably heard by now about Donald J. Hein and family coming to SLC. They accepted the job and I couldn’t be more happy about it. I know he’s probably taking a little cut in the standard of living, but come on. He’s closer to family, he’s back in Utah and now I have a Tennis/Racquetball/snowboarding/etc. buddy again. When you get home, we are going to warm up the tennis game and work Don and Ron in a doubles rematch. We won’t go down in flames and humility like we did last time at the Canyon Racquet Club. That was just embarrassing. I think I remember my rotator cuff acting up and giving me fits, so I couldn’t blast them with my rocket serve or any overhead slams when I was at the net. That will all change in a little over a year though. Those two will face the agonizing sting of defeat to their younger, more handsome, and more athletic nephews. K, it’s midnight and I am starting to get drunk from tiredness. I’ll go catch one show on TraVo and hit the sack. I’ll catch you tomorrow.

Ahhhight, I’m back. Just got home from a party at Jeremy Cox’s house. Remember him from our ward in the BarnJarnies house? That was kind of fun, but it’s already 10:25 PM. While we were there, we were there, we played our Scene It TV edition. One of the questions was a clue to guess Doogie Howser MD. I got it of course since I cleaned up in that game, but I had to tell everyone that I just addressed your letter to Doogie. Kind of ironic.

So get this, earlier today, my goggles sold, you know my green Oakley goggles? They sold for $65 bills. Ha ha ha ha ha, I’m laughing all the way to the bank on that. I got those free from Snowbird over 4 or 5 years ago for helping set up an employee sale in the room next to the cliff spa Yoga room. They tossed me a free pair of goggles and that’s how I got them free. It was only an hour of work too. Not a bad deal at all. Well, then I bought these Smiths that come with a nice blue sensor mirror lens, a spare Amber lens for flat light days, and they fit even better than the Oakleys. They came with a Smith Sticker, a new silk bag to carry them in and they look super stylie. To get those for 20 bucks and sell my 5 year old, warn out GREEN Oakleys is a major coups. Oh, I got your letter today too. That was good. Even though it was another promise to write more later. But to be fair you didn’t get my e-mail yet to go off of for the interview and stuff. So when you get to some e-mail, you will have two longish letters waiting for you to reply to. Gonna have to show the love fo sho this week, eh??!!

Nice Superman stamp on the envelope. The post office must have liked it a bunch too because they didn’t stamp over it or cancel it out with those lines or whatever. I could peel it off and use it over again. Thanks for throwing in the bidniss card and the explanation of Superman’s upbringing and source of moral fiber. You are going to have to so some serious marathons to get caught up on the Smallville seasons you are missing. You will be like Mom and her Star Gate marathons.

K, well, I’m going to go read for a while and then go watch some TraVo. I need to do our taxes sometime this weekend too. Well, off to watch a show and go to bed. I’ll finish this and send it off tomorrow. OUT

K, back. So now it’s 8:00 PM Sunday night, I’m getting sick as a dog. I have what Brinlee had I think. Bad croup and it’s given me bad body aches, chills, etc. so probably a touch of the flu too or something. Miserable sickness! I hate being sick.

Church was good today. I got set apart and it was a nice blessing. We are blessing Aynslee next week, so all of the family will converge on our ward. Should be good times. Heard reports on Chad and Elder Yancey today in Quorum. Sounds like Chad is doing well and seeing some early success. That’s great. Yancy Pants is also apparently. Sort of catching fire from what we hear now. Have you heard the story of his Jewish buy baptism? You should ask around and find out about that. Cool story for sure! If you can’t get the scoop, let me know and I’ll throw it in your next letter. It’s just a lot to type and you can probably get an accurate story out there. So let me know.

Here is the quote of the week for you…

“The Lord has no better place to get acquainted with you than when you serve Him in the mission field. When you are serving your mission, He will send you on errands to act in His name. He will give you experience with the power of the Holy Ghost. He will authorize you to teach, to convert, and then to perform the sacred ordinances of salvation in his name. He will come to know you. He will come to know that He can trust you and can rely on you.

- M. Russell Ballard

How true is that? Not only will the Lord get more acquainted with you and who you really are and what you can become, but you get so much more acquainted with Him than you ever will. He has plans for you, he tests you on your mission with small and simple tests that you may not even realize, but it’s how you act in these situations whether publicly or privately that shows what you are prepared for. Prove Him in all things and in all places that you are worth wearing that tag that sets you apart from nearly everyone else in this world. You hold such a sacred responsibility that no one who wears the title of Elder should take for granted. Get more acquainted with the Lord. Take every opportunity to commune with Him. Give him every opportunity to see who you are and what you can do. Where others may trip, fail, drop the ball, whatever, make sure you pick up where they leave off and let the Lord know he can rely on you and trust you. What better way to give back for all that you have been blessed with. Then of course you will be blessed even more abundantly for doing it so that you can never break even, but hey, who couldn’t use a few more blessings is what I always say.

I’m proud of you Mike, like I say every week. I couldn’t find a better investment of my time to write every week, or my money I pitch in every month than to support you in your challenge for this short span of time. I love you and miss you on a daily basis. Do good!

Love,

Trav

02/17/07

What’s up Homes?

How’s the new area of Lincolnton? That silent L in the middle there bugs and always has whenever I’ve had to spell Lincoln. Oh well. Still digging your new compañero? That’s always good when you really like your companion. It’s too bad you were probably transferred out just before your baptism too, eh? Oh well, you earned that one. It’s always good when you can progress an investigator all the way from finding, through teaching, to baptism. So much tends to get in the way of the baptism. You really have to work to keep them strong and fight off any opposition that comes at them at that fragile stage of their progress. I like this quote that came up in my Franklin a week or two ago on my daily quotes. Maybe I’ll make this your quote of the week and get it out of the way early. It says…

“There is strong shadow where there is much light.” - Goethe

How true is that when it comes to new converts right? Just as they are about to commit or shortly thereafter, they are so excited and then out of nowhere comes all this darkness right at them. That is just another testimony builder that there is an evil force in the world that tries to stop goodness. I can’t understand people who don’t believe there is a God or a Devil. It’s just so obvious. Anyway, congratulations on that baptism.

We just finished replacing the rest of our windows in the house, so now it is way more quiet in here, warm, nicer looking, etc. We are pretty happy with them. I’m just looking out my new office window here in the basement at the new neighbors moving in. Our old neighbors just moved out this morning and the new ones are moving in right now. That was a fast turn around. I understand they are members, they have a little kid or two that is about Brinlee’s age I think. They look like a nice couple. About our age. I’m not sure if I’m being set apart tomorrow or not. The EQ pres. Went out of town this weekend. So they might do it next week. I’m in no rush. I guess I don’t have to teach my lesson anyway. So I get a week off with nothing to do if that’s the case.

Has anyone been updating you on Don’s offer? I have been talking with the HR chick from the church who’s in my PHR certification course. She told me that Don is her number one choice and they really want to get him, but they can’t take it any higher than their counter offer they made to him, which is still short of what he makes in ATL and it’s more expensive to live here in SLC. So Don has some deciding to do. That would be a tough decision to make! I hope he accepts it. It would be great to have them back home in Utah. It would be super cool to say of any new temple, “yeah, my uncle designed that” and just be able to talk to him about temple design and stuff. That would be awesome. I asked Emily (that girl from the church HR) if this position was for the new downtown developments or something else. She told me it’s specifically for Temples, stake centers and ward houses. We’ll see what he decides on Monday. That’s when he said he’d let them know.

Here’s Brin…

“some toys. And some ‘nother toys. Some … byeee. Going to the store”.

Well, that was short lived. I’ll have to see if I can get her to say more next time. I don’t think she gets the concept of letters yet.

I picked up a new pair of Oakleys last night after work. I had a $75 gift card to sunglass hut. So on my way there, this Israeli woman stopped me at one of those kiosks. At first I couldn’t understand what she was saying to me because she had a strong accent, but I could understand the international language of cleavage since hers was out there. She knew how to sell to guys, that’s for sure. She took my hand and started buffing my thumb nail with some weird buffer pad. I began to understand some of the words she was saying but she was talking so fast. She kept touching my arm and smiling, which I have read is the ultimate strategy in sales, if you are attractive, and you gently touch the arm of the customer and smile at them flirtatiously, you will make a lot more sales. She was working all the strategies. After she was done with my thumb, it was very impressive what it looked like. I mean, even today, it’s crazy how good it looks. I’m actually kind of sold on this product even though I didn’t buy it. She wanted $50 bucks a box of this stuff that makes your nails look brand new. It’s like a home manicure kit. I was like NO WAY. I told her I came to spend all of my money on sunglasses and I was out of there. She dropped her price to 2 boxes for $50. Ahhhh, the old China Town technique. I’m well versed in this form of bartering and negotiating. Well, I thought, I’ll see how low I can get her then. After all was said and done, and 3 prices after the 2 for $50 deal, I had her down to $20 bucks for the box. I was tempted but said, I’ll see how much money I have left after I spend it on these sunglasses. She said if you walk away now, I can’t give you this price when you come back. I said, sure you will. Otherwise you would have never made that offer to begin with. I’ll see you in 10 minutes. I never intended to see her again in 10 minutes. I just meant to insult her form of bargaining. However, I did tell her that I was impressed with my nail, her product and her masterful selling technique. I went in the store and had the dude in the store check out my thumbnail. He was as impressed as I was. I told her where I just got it done and he said that lady is a good salesman. Apparently he fell prey to her feminine wiles already. Ha ha. So I got a new pair of Oakley Canteens. They are sweet. They are a new line that have only been out maybe a month or two. $100 bills though. Crazy how much those are. Sunglass hut is too expensive as it is. In fact, get this. I couldn’t quite choke down the price, so I told him I was going to think it over. Just as some chicks were walking in the store. I ended up walking out. I left the mall, got out in the parking lot, the setting sun over the mountains hit me right in the eyes and was extremely harsh. I decided to go back in and get them. So I walked back in the mall, passed those chicks again as they were walking down the mall corridor, and walked back in the store. The dude was on the phone and he got off as I came in. He told me those girls that came in just as I left just stole a pair of $280 dollar Prada shades. I was like WHAT?? Did you call the cops? He said no, there’s nothing I can do. I said what do you mean? Did you try to stop them? He said, no, we can’t do anything. The company told us if we do anything like touch a customer trying to stop them and they get slightly hurt or anything, they can sue us and the company made us sign a thing that if they get sued, it will come on us and the company is not liable for any law suits. So he is afraid to do anything. So he just asked the girl if she was going to pay for those and she ignored him and walked out. I said why didn’t you call mall security and he told me that they won’t do anything either. They told him once before when he called for that, that they were there for people’s safety and not for shoplifters. I was like that’s BS dude. I gotta pay twice as much for my pair of shades in this over priced store because people can just walk out if they want with any pair they want. He said pretty much. I asked him if he knew how much SGH was paying for this little piece of real estate in the mall. He said no but I bet it’s a lot. I told him it’s about twice as much as he can imagine. And for that price, the mall OWES you some immediate response time on shoplifters, otherwise, why pay all that money for this little space. I was way bugged. I was going to go stop those Bitties myself. They can TRY to sue me if they want. What are they going to sue me for? Yeah, this guy stopped us from getting away with our $280 dollar glasses, so we want punitive damages, monetary damages, and of course, psychological damages in the amount of 2.5 million dollars. Please! I was ready to go pull a Larry Tate on their action and give them a full line-backer take down. That bugs bad! That guy in the store was so casual about it too. He told me if I wanted to walk out with these Oakleys right now, there was nothing he could do about it. He almost said it like an invitation. Well, anyway, my glasses are sweet.

K, let’s get to your companion’s interview for the Blog. You will have to have his family go to it to check it out and watch for his big debut on the best missionary site on the world wide web. Seriously, I have checked out ALL of the other weak attempts out there, and no one, nothing, no where comes close to the quality, cool features, funny stuff, and good content that you have on yours. I feel pretty good about being the so called Blog-Master of the best missionary site in the world. Past or present. So have him write home to his family to check it out. http://elderalexander.blogspot.com

Elder Van Leeuwen:

First name:

Where he’s lived:

How would he describe himself:

Interests/Hobbies:

How long he’s been out:

What he likes most about his mission:

What he likes least about his mission:

Favorite subject in school:

Girlfriend?:

Favorite music:

Where he worked back home:

What he plans to do when he returns home:

Future career goals:

Favorite TV shows:

If he were stranded on a desert island, what one thing would he want with him?:

Favorite Fast food joint/Restaurant:

I think that will do for now. So get me full details after you have had a chance to interview him. Did he know Riley Hein there at B-right-on? Did he ever call his school B-Right-On? Did he ever ski/ride Brighton? Did he like his hunter orange graduation gown at the E-Center? I’ll want the answers to these questions too by next letter.

Speaking of your letters, I’ll respond to your last one now…

So your card is full now? Have you sent it out yet? Send it to me so I can get it done quick, make Mom and Dad their CD copy and send it back to you. John is doing well. Still working more than ever, still dating LM with no real progress yet. But he still seems really happy having a girlfriend. I think we might try to go Ice Fishing on Monday since we all have the day off for Presidents Day. Remember last year? That was fun. It was Uber-Cold! That’s part of what makes it so fun though. Just playing freeze out.

So you get your pics I sent out of the girls? Brin is growing up fast and Aynslee is cute as a button. I got her to smile and laugh for the first time this morning. She has been laughing quite a bit since I finally figured out her funny button that I can push.

How’s the journal writing going? If you report back that it’s not going well, it takes to long for my rebuke and re-issue of challenge. So just to be proactive and save time, get on that boy! Bust out the Parker® crack open the journal and write down what’s happening lately. It’s barely OK to not write home as much as demand states, but to neglect your journal will be one of your biggest regrets. How’s the room in your journal? How’s the ink levels in your Parker® refills? Let me know if you get low on either one. I’m sure you have heard about Shelli’s wreck by now too, right? She got T-boned by a Mexi that was high on something and un-insured. So that is going to be a huge mess. Good thing she’s OK. I’d hate to revert to our previously discussed scenario if something happened to her. He’s spending some quality time in the jail thinking about what he’s done, so that’s good enough for now, until he gets his butt sued off by Shelli and her insurance company lawyers. Dude is in for a world of hurt. Shelli’s car is gone though, so now she can use her insurance moneys to get that sweet Trans-Am she’s had her eyes on for so long.

I wonder what Pres. Hobbs is talking about when he said he’s going to set you up? He has said some interesting comments in the past, eh? Well, I need to get to studying. I may hold off on sending this letter till tomorrow in case something comes up on Sunday. So I’ll just save now and close out. Get back to you tomorrow.

K, it’s Sunday night at 8:40 PM right now. I’m about to get on and do my module two test on my CD thing right now for class. So I’ll wrap this up and send it off. I just finalized all the plans for tomorrow’s ice fishing trip. I’m way excited. I have all my gear out and ready to go. I’m probably more excited about wearing all of my gear than I am about actually fishing. It's all about strutting the sweet top of the line gear for me more than it even is fishing. I'm like the celebrities that go to Sundance just to show off the latest line of winter wear, more than coming for the films. I’ll get the quality photo ops of course and send you some pics. Hopefully we slay some fish this time instead of the two I caught last year. That was a slow fishing day. John is taking up his new Canon HD Video recorder that’s super small. It records in HD and is way high quality. I am looking forward to checking that action out. I also just registered to take my PHR certification exam in May. Guess how much that set me back? $300 bills. I’m not even kidding. I just dropped 300 bucks to take a 4 hour test where I’ll suffer for all 4 hours and probably not even pass. Only 64% pass this test who take it. I’m dying lately to stay up to speed too and with all the distractions of super busy work life, even busier family life, I can’t stay on top of school life. I’m feeling completely overwhelmed. So I’ll let you know when I get closer to the test time. I’m going to need some serious prayers from family and especially a stalwart missionary who has the Lord’s ear right now to give some extra blessings. Seriously, I really don’t think I can pass it right now and I’m only getting in deeper lately. If I don’t pass it, I can’t take it again for another 6 months and it just gets harder to pass then because I’ve been out of school for 7 months by then and the info is not fresh on my mind anymore. If I don’t pass it then, it’s all over. Oh, and I have to pay the 300 bucks to retake it again too. I can’t afford that, so it’s a do or die scenario for me. I have to pass this first time or that’s it. Failure is not an option for me. K, that’s about it for me. I’ll let you get back to bidniss. Enjoy getting to know your new area and meeting new people to teach. I’ll look forward to hearing back with all the details and getting that interview back for the Blog.

I’m continually so proud of you and what you are doing. Keep up all the great work!

Love you,

Trav

Transferred to his 2nd Area

Finally, after 6 months in his first area, Mike has been transferred to Lincolnton, NC. I have put his new address in his profile to the right, just under his picture. So if you'd like to write him at his direct address, that is it. Here is what we know so far from his last letter...

"i got transfered after 6 months in Rock Hill, its kinda weird being in a new area but its all good, i'll learn to love this area too. So far i'm lovin my new Comp, his name is Elder Van Leeuwen, he's from SLC, and went to Brighton High. He's been here for 6 weeks and just got done split training a missionary."

I will send him a questionnaire to give his new companion so we can learn all about Elder Van Leeuwen. It sounds like there are some new pictures on their way too. We'll look forward to seeing those and posting them on here.

02/11/07

What’s up young Elder?

We just got home from ma’s and pa’s house for dinner. It was good. Lasagna, breadsticks, salad, and some really good cheese cake and lemon cheese cake from Marie Calendars. There was cherry pie too, but for some reason, no one ate any of that. Afterward, we played my last gospel jeopardy game I sent you. Suzanne won, but the interesting thing about how she won was she cleaned up in “finish the hymn” and then rested on her laurels and let everyone else guess on other hard questions in other categories and never answered another question. It was funny to watch her sit there and let everyone compete so hard the rest of the game only to lose. Dad liked it so he copied all 4 of my games so he can use them in his Sunday school lessons. I told him while he’s copying them to send you copies too so that you can use them in District meetings or whatever you wanted to do with them. So hopefully he’ll send some along to you.

Did you get your picture card then? I guess we’ll have another one coming soon to us then, right? Since that other one was full.

We are all dying to know what’s up with Transfers. I can’t wait to check my e-mail tomorrow to see what’s up. I’m not going to make this very long so that you can write plenty of e-mails today. Not to mention, you will just get my letter with pictures either today or tomorrow anyway. So I’m kind of tapped for interesting things to talk about anyway. Ma and Pa are heading out to Texas for the reception Tuesday morning, so I’m going to feed the animals and keep things in order for a couple of days.

I just bought Suzanne some North Face sandals for Valentines day. I’m such a romantic!

It’s this warehouse called steepandcheap.com on the internet that I work right down the road from. They blow out all kinds of sweet outdoor gear at always more than 50% off retail and most times quite a bit more. You can get screaming deals on there. They blow out a product until they are all gone and then another product goes up. I’m totally addicted to this site. I have a desktop alert that goes off as soon as a new product is posted so I can run and check it out. It sounds a bell on my computer and a little box fades up from my tray in the bottom right of my screen, showing me a picture of the product, the price, the retail price and a description. When you go to the site, you see a bar that depletes as the merchandise is sold off so you know roughly how many of each thing is left. I got a sweet wicking material North Face shirt the other day for $9.85. it was normally 55 bucks.

Well, I’ve got to get to my homework. It’s 10:30 PM on Sunday night and I haven’t done squat. So let me pop your quote of the week in here and bail. I love this quote by the way. It’s so bold and will get you pumped as a missionary…

“Since baptism is essential there must be an urgent concern to carry the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. We accept the responsibility to preach the gospel to every person on earth. And if the question is asked, “you mean you are out to convert the entire world?” the answer is “Yes. We will try to reach every living soul.” Some who measure that challenge quickly say, “Why, that’s impossible! It cannot be done!” To that we simply say, “Perhaps, but we shall do it anyway.”

- Boyd K. Packer

Is that a cool statement or what?

That is your challenge. Those of us who have gone before have give our best shot and played our part in the big game. Now you are one of the starters who must go do your part to win and accomplish this huge objective. I’m so proud that you are out there doing it. I can’t wait to see what the next stage holds for you as transfers have come and gone now. You will be awesome wherever you go. I was so excited to get to my second area. I went from Harlem to the South Bronx. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more Ghetto, it totally did! Ha ha. But I loved the crap out of the South Bronx. I loved everything about it, especially the people I met and taught. I made some lifelong friends in that area who I am still in contact with. I also faced adversity like I never thought I would. I faced violence, threats of physical harm, and some of the most Evil forces I hope to ever face. I stared down the face of evil on a few occasions that would make me respect the power of the other side. You are up against a real force, a very smart force who are doing everything they can to stop you, your investigators and the message you have to share. But stay strong, obedient, and work, work, work!

Can’t wait to talk to you soon. Hopefully you are happy with whatever happened in transfers. The important thing is not where you go, but that you bloom where you are planted. Even if that means you are still in the same area for another month or two. Who knows. I was 7 months in Greenwich, CT. I went through 3 companions there. And I loved it as much if not more than any other area I served, and I had some cool areas and loved all of them differently, but the same amount.

OK. I’ve gone on long enough. It’s time to hit the books and to bed so I can get up early for work.

Love you and miss you as always. Talk to you soon. Make sure you get me all the info for the blog you can. Inquiring minds want to know.

Trav

02/07/07

Hey Yo,

So I finally got the pictures developed. It only took 4 different trips to get that done. I don’t know why some things have to be so hard in a world that everything is really so easy. So I hope you enjoy them. I’m sitting here in the front room on my Lapper with Brins sitting next to me, watching Little House on the Prairie. It’s been a long time since I’ve watched one of these. It’s good.

Here’s Brin…

“Some Purple spiders. Computers. Computers!!

Trav: “pretend Uncle Mike is sitting right here by us. What do you want to say to him?”

Brin: “I’d squish him.”

Trav: “You’d squish him?”

Brin: nods and giggles hard.

I guess she’s being shy. Not much else from her right now.

So I guess Mitt Romney has been in South Carolina for a bit. Have you heard anything about that? My EQ pres. is coming over right now to extend a calling. We’ll see what that is about and then we are supposed to go to the ward to talk to the 1st counselor in the Bishopric. I wonder what that is about too. We are guessing a calling for Suzanne since she’s been released just before Aynslee was born. So I’ll update you on that before I end this letter.

So I don’t remember if I told you this or not so I’ll just recap if I already did. Beth was over here visiting Aynslee for the first time and I asked if Parker ever got my message about football because I never heard back from him. She told me that she never gave it to him and started laughing. I was sitting there with barely a crack in the corner of my mouth because I didn’t think it was that funny. I asked her why not and she said that she’s worried about him getting hurt. I was sitting there thinking that’s not how she was selling it that day at M&D’s house. She was acting like he was about to enter the NFL draft and worried for all of our safety. So I was bugged. He never even heard about it. What’s up with that?? So next year I’m going to send him a letter in the mail with no return address on it and hope he gets it that way with a map printed on it and times and details.

I guess your Camera Card is being held up at Mom’s and Dad’s. Hopefully they have sent it out already and if not, that they send it soon. Sounds like you are ready to send home another one soon.

The Cops came to our house the other night. I’m just going to paste in what I sent to Mom the other day about it to save me some time… We had the cops pound on our door last night at 9:30. When I went to the door, they said is Danny here? I told them they have the wrong address. They said is this the Ayala residence? I said no. they said is Christy your daughter? I said no and my favorite color is not green, my birthday is not in March and I don't have any dead relatives trying to contact me so I think we're good here, yes? You could tell they were ethically torn between tasering me for insulting their supreme authority over me and being apologetic for cop knocking my house after reasonable hours by mistake. Suzanne was all wigged out, Brinlee was kind of scared and they woke up Ayns-biscuit. So they deserved the sass. They sat outside my house though with their two cars parked cop hang out style, you know, driver side to driver side taking up my road. So all of my neighbors are wondering how long I've been cooking in my meth lab now after last night. Nothing like earning the Ghetto Fabulous title in your neighborhood through a cop visit and hour long hang out with two cop cars outside your house. They probably stayed so long because I looked out the window like 3 times and had to open the blinds cuz these new blinds don't let me just crack one of the slats to peak. So they might have though I was acting suspicious. I almost called their dispatch and asked them to "dispatch" them elsewhere and tell them to take their donut break at a 7-11 rather than my driveway. But just before I picked up my phone, they left.

That was kind of a weird deal. The weirder thing was that they showed up again the other night and camped out two cop cars right in front of our house. They weren’t in their cars which was the weird thing, but they had their cars out there for over an hour.

Well, I got the calling, it is for EQ Secretary. So that will be a good experience. I’m kind of happy about not teaching anymore even though I was really into my class. Especially since I got my old class back again this year. Aynslee is sitting by me and Brin here and she’s jabbering. It’s cute. She will be a big girl by the time you finally meet her. Well, it’s off to the church now to see what Suzanne’s calling is all about. I’ll check back after that.

OK, back from the church. I was released as a Sunday School teacher and Suzanne was called as a Primary teacher. She will teach the 8 year olds. Or kids just turning 8 I should say. So that’s cool. It’s 8:15 PM Wednesday night, so I better get studying hard. I have a ton of pages I need to have read by class tomorrow. So I will cruise. Anyway, enjoy the pictures. Oh, I’m talking to Dad right now and he said he sent your memory card on Monday with a package. I was going to send it with these pics, but I guess you already have it. So I’ll get these sent and talk to you later.

Oh, get back to me with all the details of your transfer, your new companion’s bio (as much information as I asked for before with Herbert, and whatever else would be interesting for the blog. Ahhhhhhhhight??? OUT

02/04/07

Yo,

How’s it going this week? This letter is going to be short since it’s 11:05 PM right now, I have an early day tomorrow, and I’m dog tired as it is. Not to mention, I have at least an hour of studying I need to do before going to sleep. We just got home from the annual Superbowl party at the Jacobs’ house. It was good, other than the Bears didn’t win as I’m sure you know by now. But good game, good commercials, and good Pool playing. Brinlee had fun, getting her snack on and her drink on. Aynslee slept through everything of course. She is such a sleepy head. I wore my Urlacher jersey and looked stylie in that. Lynn Marie came over but only lasted an hour before wanting to bolt. She was kind of uneasy for some reason. I’m actually talking to John about it on the phone now.

Work is busy, school is busy, I’m struggling to keep my head above water.

I think I’m going to get a new calling on Wednesday. If I’m guessing right, it will be the Elders Quorum Secretary too. We’ll see if I’m good at predictions. I’ll let you know next week.

I got my TraVo up and running too this week. On Friday to be precise. It will record two channels at once while I watch a third if I want. And it will hold 340 hours of programming. Ahhhhh Yeah! That’s the ticket right there. I’m loving it so far. I’ve already loaded all my season pass back on with one additional show in the line up. I’ve also already put like 8 movies on there for future viewing. Thank goodness for the extra capacity too since I won’t be able to watch anything till school is out in Mid April and even after till I take this beast of an exam in May.

I got caught up on 24 and smallville yesterday at Clarks’ house though. I had to stay there till 1:00 AM last night though to do it and then we studied and took a practice test for this PHR class. He’s in there with me. So that is good that we can work with each other and encourage one another.

I took my flash drive to two different places to get your pics developed and both places told me they don’t develop off of that. I know Sam’s club does though, so I’m going there this week. So I’ll bust more of a letter in that when I get ready to send you the pictures. I’ll send it with those. I’ve got more to talk about, just no time this week. So I’ll work on that, and in the mean time, I’m still waiting for your letter you mentioned you were going to send this last week. I’ll have more to reply to then.

We went to Neil’s ward today to bless their new baby Cole. While we were up there, my hand was under his bum and 30 seconds into the blessing, I feel this rumbling and we all hear this Pppppppppppppppppppppppptttttttt. I swear I heard someone snort and catch themselves before they busted out laughing. I peeped my left eye open to see if I could tell who was about to bust up, but didn’t see anyone smiling. I peeped my right eye open and closed my left eye to check my right flank and again, no one there was laughing. I’m glad I didn’t see anyone because I was on the verge. Just then another blast from there shook my hand… Pppppppppppppppppppppptttt. I was thinking to myself, Yo, Diaper, don’t fail me now. You better hold strong or my hand is going to be holding a warm, wet and stinky liquid seeping from his pants. It did hold by the way, as far as I could tell. But it was dang funny when you are trying so hard to be serious and the kid rips a couple of long, juicy blasts into the diaper right in the palm of your hand. Ha ha.

Let me get your quote of the week out of the way right now…

“This is the day when the knowledge of the true Christ and of his everlasting gospel is being preached among men for the last time. This is the day in which the Great God is sending forth His word to prepare a people for the second coming of the Son of Man. This is the day in which the Church of Jesus Christ has been organized anew and given the commission to administer that holy gospel by which salvation comes.”

-Bruce R. McConkie

You feelin’ that? Hopefully the helps with the sense of urgency that all missionaries feel to get out, work their tails off to help get the word out as quickly as possible to help every ear hear the news and have the chance to accept or deny that salvation the Christ offers. You are the messengers delivering the message, they are the recipients who have to either accept and sign for delivery or refuse the delivery and tell you to return to sender. What a shame if and when they do stamp return to sender. Little do they realize it’s far better than the Publisher’s Clearing House 10 Million Dollar prize you were trying to deliver. Try to help everyone understand that. Don’t let them pass this tremendous reward up. Help them understand what it is they are refusing when they chose to accept.

Hey, I’m off. Sorry for the shorty, but you’ll get more in a letter with Pictures soon enough. Sound familiar?? But keep workin’ it to the bone. Keep praying for those back home who need the blessings. Keep making us all proud, especially me. I love you and miss you ever day. Yet another event today that makes me miss you even more, but I’d rather you be there than anywhere else including with me. So make the most of your time and your companions time. I think Transfers are coming up soon too, right? Let me know when that is and update us when they come.

Talk to you soon.

T

A Photo Caption Contest?

Hey Elder, we need a clean up in the mens' restroom again, STAT!!

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!

Hanging out at the... uh... Big G Spot??!! I wonder if that's Big G.

The old MTC companion Elder Stephens at transfers

Elder Leavitt, Post training days

Name this caption contest: Drop your caption for this picture in the comments section of this post. Let's see how creative you all are. Maybe I'll do more of these caption contests in the future if you come up with some good stuff.

Some more pics from SC

I guess they'll teach anyone they can at this point.

More wildlife encounters... close to home.

You are supposed to take the clothes off before putting them in the drier, duh!

That's got to be nice to have the VIP parking in the prime spots.

Cotton Picker!