July 21, 2013

From Mom: I finally have met several sisters and know some of their names. The Relief Society had a social the other night. I found several who live in our apt complex. One girl, Sam, was asking everyone how to get into labor because she was ready to pop! We found out yesterday that she actually had her baby, a girl, Thursday night, right after the social, I guess. I'll be taking dinner in Tues night along with her neighbor, Heather. Heather was the one who watched the cats when we went to the family reunion. I also was introduced to Kim Dimond, whose husband is a sound man who will help me with my Tabernacle Choir CD I have to send with my application. Thursday I'll get that done! 

Last week I almost contacted your mission president. I was concerned when we didn't get your emails by Monday. I wasn't sure whether to be worried or not. I'm glad you finally sent messages Tues.

By the way, the peppers mentioned in Dad's letter were about the most deformed I've seen, so they wouldn't have been capable of stuffing! I think you would have liked it. I'm getting closer to finishing the Book of Mormon. I'm finally in Mormon. I have an app on my phone that keeps track of how much is completed in my reading. It's fun to be able to mark off chapters and see that I've almost completed 90% of the book.

Michael's farewell talk will be August 25th. We'll see if we get to sing on that Sunday or not. I like doing the song with Karlene but the recommendation is to not have only family members doing anything else on the farewell program. If I have a ward member sing with me or us then we might be able to pull it off. Grandma and Al are supposed to be coming down probably on Friday so they can be in the temple with Michael on the 24th and then see his farewell talk the next day. It will be fun to be able to go to the temple with Michael and Dad.

There have been a LOT of farewells lately. Almost weekly we have another one. Last Sunday was Elder Dylan Knight, this Sunday Sister Devon Trop and next week is another one. Then we have Michael's and one in October, so there's a bit of a break.

I better go. Hopefully you'll get to write Monday morning unless p-day has changed. Let me know.

From Dad: I went swimming with Karlene & Faline yesterday. The water's kinda warm but then so is the air (over 100). I've been talking to some guys about possibly going back into insurance. Mom fixed a stuffed pepper recipe only she just cut them up and put them in the mixture like stew. She said the peppers were unstuffable!

From Michael: I sincerely doubt that I'll be able to go crabbing. So did you get to feed the crocs. Congrats on getting a baptism. these Orson Scott Card books are really annoying when trying to listen to music. I feel like babbling, but maybe I'll weight.

From Karlene: yep and a little boring. I now have 5 friends most of which are adults. I still hope that you are having fun.

Alex just won't stop growing he now weighs 15 pounds.

From Faline: I guess Mom said that we already have pictures of that fruit, although it would be nice to see what it looks like before the outside gets off. It has spikes and smells terrible, you said. There's been lots of missionary farewells in our ward. I'm playing Spyro right now. How are you doing, Summer?

July 16, 2013

To Mom: In Utah the hole state seems to shut down on the 24th.  In the MTC we were annoid with it because we didn't get any mail and couldn't go to the MTC store to look around.  Sounds like your almost there with the aplication for the choir.  This past week one of the sisters got really sick and had to go to the doctor, she's feeling much better now and doesn't want to take it easy.

To Dad: Your 29th anniversary makes me old because I will be 28 in a couple of months.  Happy anniversary.Sounds like grandma is doing alright.   They had a dead chicken for the pinata.  It is always hot here it is just a question if we will get cold from sweat or from rain.  It is very cold when it rains here.

To Karlene: As they say here "jangan risauh."  It means "don't wory."  If you want a lot of rain you should come here and you'll get drenched almost on a daily basis.  Sounds like things are like normal. 

To Faline:  Not much new at the moment just looking for more people to teach.  Do you remember what the fruit was called.  Your summer break is going good I hope.  Till next time.

July 14, 2013

Hi Summer,

From Mom: We went to the temple last night with some of the members of our ward. It was very nice! We were in the biggest prayer circle I've ever seen - there must have been at least 10 couples in it! It was really neat. I have my application and bishop's recommendation for the Tabernacle Choir packet ready. Now, I just need to make my CD. Our new RS President, Sister Yorgason, knows someone who might be able to help me. Also, Carrie is supposed to talk to one of the ladies she visit teaches who just got into the choir to find out how she did hers. Lori said that the choir manager used to be in their ward before it split so he's another resource.

I got to write my own script that would match my personality better but get the same information (at work) and I'm starting to get more sales and convert more people that I call back. There was an interesting posting for a part-time job for the church. It's an MTC Investigator Actor - pretending to be an investigator who will meet with missionaries on a weekly basis to help them get used to that part of their missions. It would be fun if I didn't already have something else to do.

Michael's farewell is August 25th and he goes thru the temple on the 24th. Grandma & Al are planning to be here. If I prepare a song with another member of our ward who isn't in our family I can sing on the same day. I'm working on the same song I did just before we left Marsing, "Fill the Well Within" by Sally DeFord. Karlene was going to sing with me but said it would be okay to have someone else sing with me - she said there's always the family reunion!

I don't know of anything else that is going on but next week will be our first 24th of July in the state of Utah - it's a state holiday as well as a church remembrance and is almost as big as the 4th of July, I think. We'll find out! Karlene should be going to girls' camp at the end of the month. She doesn't think she wants to but I say otherwise. I think she'll really enjoy it, more than she thinks she will, and may learn a thing or two. At the very least she'll make a few friends ... I hope.

From Dad: Congratulations on your 3rd baptism! When you go check out the crocodiles just make sure you're not the pinata. I don't know if they told you but Grandma Doris had eye surgery last Friday. I think she's been watching too many pirate movies - she wants a patch. It's getting pretty hot over her. Your mom keeps wanting to turn up the temperature in the house, I keep turning it down. By the way, we just had our 29th anniversary on the 12th...so does that make us old? Anyway that's all for this time.

From Karlene: It likes to rain here or just this week. I fell asleep and woke up all wet with the area dry and it was raining outside. It kept up for... I don't know how long, but I was still tired.  Alex has been eating from my hand since he got his adult food and Crookshanks likes it, but it makes him sick. Alex still does summer-salts trying to catch a laser that a lady from our new ward gave to Alex. Utah is ok,but I miss Idaho.. 

From Faline: Really? That's Dad's talk. I'm catching up to Karlene, although she's still growing but I'm growing faster than she is right now. We went swimming Thursday, on one of our rainy days. I started reading to Mom last week. So what have you been doing? By the way, you know the type of fruit or vegetable that you had to cut open with a long knife? I want a picture of one of those. That's mainly it.

We love you!

July 8, 2013

To Mom: Today we went to a crocodile farm and watched crocodile pinata.  This last week we had a baptism and it has been a long time in the works (5 months) but we think she is pretty solid (gospel speaking).  Sister Simon was wondering if you could send her a recipe for pumpkin or cherry pie or both.  Things here have been for the most part the same a usual.  We've also been showing the elders that are now in our branch around the area.

To Dad: We had a baptism last week and today we went to see the crocodiles.  Oh ya, last friday we had a closing Gawai party in the branch.  This week we will be having a ferwell pot luck for Goria, a member of our branch who will be going to be starting his mission next week.  He will be serving in the Singapore mission.

To Michael: Sounds like it was a lot of fun.  A missionary who served in Singapore said that on p-day in your mission you need to go crabbing.  Here are some pictures of crocodile pinata, that is what we call it.  All it is is crocodiles getting fed.  I'll show you more when you get home.  We had a baptism this past week and it was awesome.

To Karlene: It seems like I'm in the rain every time it rains and the drops hers are the size of marbles and hit hard.  I haven't gotten the chance to take any video or pictures of it yet because I'm always on my bike when it happens.  Sounds like you guys had lots of fun at the reunion.

To Faline: Eventually the pond will be smaller because you are bigger so do worry about it.  I bet you really liked the reunion.  You don't seem to be getting any bigger than I left you, maybe dad put a brick on your head and you stopped growing.

 Sisters Ballantyne and Black with their investigator and priesthood holder 

Sisters Ballantyne and Black with investigator

Crocodile feeding time

Big croc!

They jump pretty high, too!

Anything for a tasty meal...

July 7, 2013

From Mom: The reunion was fun! I kinda like it not so organized so that most of the time is spent visiting and getting to know each other, although I'm one of the few who circulates among all the siblings and families. Brian, Al's grandson, came with his family bearing gifts. He had just killed a rattlesnake on one of their properties and let us have it. Matt, Lori's husband, butchered the snake and put it in the fridge for us to cook after almost everyone else was gone. I cooked it and some of us ate it. It kinda tastes like mild chicken and has bones like a fish, lots of spines/ribs along the back. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to eat it again but it wasn't too bad. Heather & Tracy's family and our family were the only ones left Saturday night up at the ranch. Sunday morning we took showers and got ready for church then went down to Grandma's and had breakfast. After we went to Sacrament we changed and went to Dee Dee's for lunch. She had turkey, potatoes, carrots, jello, apple crisp and brownies. We were stuffed! It was nice to see Dee Dee and Resa. Resa looked and talked a lot better than last time I saw them. We had to drop in at U-Haul to see Cumorah, then we headed home. We got home around 8 pm so we made good time. Michael stayed in Idaho with Steven and Logan and came home with a cold or some kinda virus. He slept most of the evening last night and the day today. He woke up just before we left for church.

I'm not the stellar one at work anymore but we're all doing well from my training class. The calls are getting more comfortable so my sales should improve soon. My Sales Coach (like a team leader) has been out most of the time because she fell and dislocated her shoulder and cracked the bone in her upper arm the long way. Last week she had surgery on it. It's still pretty fun and satisfying to talk to people I can help get out of their financial situation.

I finally got a visiting teaching route so I'll have to call my partner and arrange a time to go. I have Thursdays off from work so I'll be able to go to the get-togethers the Relief Society sisters have at a different park each week. The new presidency arranged it so we can get to know one another and give us a chance to get out of the house and to let the children play and visit, too. Karlene & I are going to sing "Fill the Well Within" by Sallie Deford next week. It's the same song I did as a solo the last Sunday we were in the Marsing 2nd Ward. I started my application for the Tabernacle Choir. Wednesday Dad & I go see the bishop so he can interview us and write his recommendation, just like any mission papers. I'll have to ask Nathan or Brian Walker if they can help me out with my recording I need to send in with my application.

That's all I can think of for now.

From Dad: We're back to our regular routine. Steven & Logan came and visited us on the 6th. We have new plates for the pickup and will get new plates for the van Monday. Not much new other than that.

From Michael: the reunion was really muddy. I had to change my clothes because I was covered from head to toe almost. After the reunion I stayed up with Logan and Steven in Sweet. While in Sweet Logan and myself befriended some of youth in the ward there and they invited us to activities. In all I had a lot of fun over the last few weeks. And now some pictures from mom.

From Karlene: the reunion was fun and I got a sling shot from the auction. When we got to the reunion everyone was asleep. We went to grandma's house for church and went home. There is going to be a baptism on Saturday where we are too. Logan and Steven came over yesterday to drop Michael off,have dinner, and watch the lightning storm. Unfortunately I was in the one on Friday and that one lasted longer. The rain tickled me as it hit, but I like a good rain. I was almost the only one outside in the rain. I forgot to tell you that I'm going to sing with Mom next Sunday. She wanted to send maximum pictures so here are some more!

From Faline: I liked the pond when it wasn't so deep (at Dry Buck). Then I could actually go swimming in there. Steven and Logan came by yesterday to bring Michael back home. I got to see Whitney again, although I really wish that pond was smaller so I could enjoy it. I really hope that we can go back to Idaho again. I got to play in the creek and be on some tires, too.

Brett & Karen up at Eagle's Nest

View from top of Eagle's Nest

Packing up chairs to go back to the church

Jeremy Clark with Al Moses (grandpa)

Brett holding up the rattlesnake before preparing for cooking

Cooked rattlesnake, yum!

Steven Ballantyne trying the rattlesnake

Michael and Logan Ballantyne trying the rattlesnake

Al and Doris Moses on the way up to Eagle's Nest

Sharon Grover, Kristianna Clark, Clea Simpson and Swanny Simpson

Doris & Karen at Eagle's Nest

Michael with Paul and Tanner Montague

Carrie Peters, her parents Ed & Clea Simpson, Lori Soren, Leland Simpson, Bill Ballantyne, Steven Ballantyne, Doris Moses

Auction stuff - Clea's yummy fudge!

Leland's carvings for auction

New barn

Faline is ready to go swimming

Karlene with Joshua Armour

We won the fox face!

July 1, 2013

To Mom: I got a letter from the Laurals and an email from the YW president.  This week is the 1st week in a long time that I have seen anything from them family since Edward and Leah last wrote.  Sounds like since I'm gone no one came to the reunion.  Still sounds like fun.  Lately we have been rained on everyday and Thursday power went out in all of Sarawak from 5:45 to 8:30pm.  Today I went to Bako again and it was just as good as the 1st time, I didn't take as many pictures and I'll send some next week because I forgot my cord again. 

To Dad: Sounds really neat and I can't wait to see the pictures.  I'll be sending pictures next week also.  On Thursday I had my 1st lesson by candle light because all the power went out in Sarawak, so that is from Miri to Kuching on the island of Borneo.  This saturday we'll be having a baptism so that will be my 3rd.

To Michael: You'll have to tell me about it when you get back.  The oranges here are green.

To Karlene: Sounds like most of the beds I've slept in for the past year.  Zits suck.  Too bad you don't have a picture.  This Saturday I'll have my 3rd baptism and it will be great because there will also be 2 other baptisms the same day.  One will be in the morning and one will be at the same time as mine.  Tell me about the reunion I know you're at next time ok.

To Faline: Today I went to Bako again and we have to be careful because there are different kinds of snakes and crocodiles in the water.  Till next time.

June 29, 2013

From Mom: Since I'm using Steven's computer I'm not sending you pictures but I'll send some next week. It's been fun seeing people at the reunion but there are several people not here. Louis just got remarried last weekend and decided it would be too overwhelming to bring her to such a big event. There aren't very many people here so I don't think it would be so bad for her. Edward and Leah didn't come this time because Edward has a new job and they already came up here in February for their daughter's wedding. Flent & Amy didn't come because Flent had some kind of important meeting back home. Logan and Steven are here so that's fun! Logan has been spending time with his big brother in Utah and they are staying up in Idaho until the 5th. A lot of Ed's family is here but not Judd, who has a new girlfriend after his divorce, after his illness he wasn't able to get the time off from work, and Jake & Jeremy (the EMT) had to work. Nolan, Lureta and Bill and their families aren't here either for various reasons.

At work, I'm doing well! I have the most sales for my class, after a week on the phones. I really enjoy it and know it's helping the people I sign up for our services. Dad doesn't love his job but it makes the money for now. He'd like to be more busy so he's continuing his job hunt. Michael isn't looking very hard but should work over the summer. He'll need to get the battery checked on the van so he doesn't have to keep getting a jump.

I'm going to keep this short so I can visit some more. We stay until Sunday afternoon. Dee Dee wants us to come by as does Cumorah tomorrow. Cumorah didn't sound too positive about being able to come to the reunion because of work.

Are any of the ward members writing to you? Just curious. I can tell from the questions I get that most of the family isn't writing.

We love you and think about you often!

From Dad: Well, we're all up at the family reunion. We went on a hike and tried to walk up to Eagle's Nest, took a wrong turn and went to the wrong peak. Bill & Erin went up there on the 4-wheeler last night and had a tough time finding it and then a hard time finding their way back. They got back after dark. We lucked out ... we're all sleeping in beds in the loft. They are building the new barn up here. It's pretty nice, they have these big posts in the middle that are about 12" X 12" holding the roof up. You have to be careful not to lean against them because they are pitchy (sap is coming out, called curing). They made most of the lumber themselves out of some of the trees from around here. It will take about 6 mos to cure the posts. They need a little more ventilation in the roof because it gets hot even though it's open.

I'm going to let Faline write to you. I'll have Mom send pictures next time.

From Michael: And oranges, and I've never been to Asia. We're headed to the reunion, it's going to be fun.

From Karlene: Well youth conference was fun and boreing at the same time. I didn't like the doorms or the dead sounds. The huge and frogs all were quiet from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AMI also got a farmer's tan. I look funkey, my nose is bright red andI look like prince tsuko from avatar the last air bender. My back started peeling and I asked mom to help in the spots that I can't reach, she found a few sits near my burn. After shewas done with the sits around the burn I fouund one in the middle of the burn and with a little pain poled it. Well the doorms were small and the beds were stiff. The campppus was also too complicated.

From Faline: We got 10 chickens from Bill that we gave to him to raise. (From Dad) I got to see Whitney again. I got to play in the canoe with a little garder snake. I don't know really what else to say.