September 8, 2013

From Mom: Michael had to order the last of his garments from the distribution center online because his size isn't very common. They came within about 4 days or less, just in time for his birthday! We also got him some nice shaving stuff for his birthday. He has some kind of fungus or something on some of his fingers that we may need to get checked out. They don't seem to get better just very red and scaly. We've tried different oils on him and lotions but nothing seems to help. He got his Hepatitus A shot the other day and the flu shots aren't ready yet so that's all his immunizations for now. He's pretty much ready to go now. I have new days off and new hours so my new days off are Sunday and Monday. My new hours are 9-5 so I can make sure Faline gets off in the morning once Michael isn't here to help. Tomorrow we are going to the Salt Lake Temple (it's the only one open a few hours on Mondays) so he can see a live session.

Today was interesting at church. Five wards went into the meeting and came out six wards. They dissolved one ward and created two new ones. We are in one of the new wards, the River View 7th Ward. Our bishop is from the 4th ward and lives just behind the apartments a few streets over. Bishop McKay sounds like he'll be fun! He reminds me of Darryl Christensen, our recent family member since Grandma's marriage to Al. We will have Stake Conference next week then Sacrament meeting only on the 22nd to hear the new callings. We will have a regular schedule starting the 29th. Our time hasn't changed, just our building so we're still at 1 pm which means I can still go to Music and the Spoken Word any time I decide to (it starts at 9:30am)

It's really cool going to work when I do because the sun is behind the mountains to the east, where Glenn & Carrie live, but I can see the sunlight just to the west of us on the other mountains. That's what the two pictures are of. The other one is a picture from the family dinner we had after Michael received his endowments on the 24th. As you may see, Steven was there and Jake & Amy, Leonard's bunch. When you get home you can see all these cousins since they live around here. We also saw Linda, one of Marion & Paul's children. Marion is one of Grandpa's sisters who lives in South Jordan. It was nice to chat for a bit. We'll have to see Marion & Paul before Michael leaves, maybe.

Faline will sometimes read with me but usually finds other things to look at besides the book. She won't write at school hardly at all and when she does it looks like a kindergartener did it. She will write numbers but they aren't much better than the words. The school is going to have her tested to find out exactly the help she would benefit from and then implement a special plan just for her reading and writing. Hopefully she will figure things out so that she enjoys going to school.

Karlene & I went for a walk this evening and visited with one of our new ward families. We've talked to them before but they weren't in our ward before. Karlene will have a few of her friends she already knows in our ward and her crush is now in our ward - Tyler. We had fun. They have an exchange student from Germany staying with them for the school year. Maybe you can remember a few things you can talk to her about in her native language, although they study English from when they are little so she's very good at that, too.

Well, I better go. Hope you had/have a good week! Dad's working at the state fair for Sears after working at Extend every day so he's going to be very tired by next Sunday!

From Dad: Well, it looks like the stake realigned some of the ward boundaries and we're no longer in the 5th ward. We're now in the newly formed 7th ward - that means that when we go to church we drive by two other buildings before we reach our building. So I guess you'll be coming home to the River View 7th ward, however I think Marsing 2nd is still claiming you. Your mom and I are automatically released from our callings, which is kinda funny because I was just set apart to be a teacher in the Elders' Quorum and haven't had a chance to teach yet! Anyway, I hope things go well. Thought you would find this entertaining. 

I left my Traeger when we moved with Mom and Al. I kinda miss it! I would like to get more of them and cook for a lot of people we'll see. I found a way that I can hook the Traeger up to a batter of the car so we could do some fun tailgating and camping!

Here are some pictures from the family dinner after Michael got his endowments that we had up at Carrie and Glenn's.

From Michael: It's going to be okay so long as I obey  all the traffic laws and then some. 

From Karlene: Michael is not a teenager anymore tpday was his birthday. One of my friends wants me to "spy" on a boy that she likes. The boy is the same as me. Mom thinls he likes me but I don't think so. Alex attacked my hand while I was reading a book. He was on catnip at the time though. I am taking mandrine chinese fpr my second language credit and doing pretty good in it too. The boys name is Tyler and my friend wants me to inform her if he starts flirting with a girl. I dodged her question of if I like him by saying "he is a friend". We got a new ward boundry and we are now in one of the newest wards. I found out that I was supposed to have taken geography last year. I apperently went from social studies strait to honors world civ and so far I have managed to do good in it. 

From Faline: I love you. I got to see some Eureka this week. Nice picture of the passion fruit, it looks like an apple on the outside. The picture of the inside was kinda blurry. I got to see some funny cat videos - they were pretty funny!

Sunrise from the mountains east

Sunrise from the west

Steven just knocked Ellie down. Maddy and Elise are on the left; Grandma and Grandpa are talking to Carrie.

Faline checking out their bridge over the little stream

Michael with Steven and Ellie in background

L to R: Lori, Amy, Steven, Jake, Maddy (in background) and Ellie

Faline had to pet the cat

September 2, 2013

To Mom: Things have gotten better here and at the same time some things can be more trying but Heavenly Father helps out when we need it.  I bet Faline is a genius but doesn't show it because she is board.  Transfers are coming up next week and the way things have gone anything goes.  Here are some pictures of passion fruit and my companion with burnt popcorn. 

To Dad: That's ok there isn't much happening here at the moment either we got some new Chiness elders and next week we find out about transfers.  Not sure what will happen but that's ok too. 

To Michael: A missionary here died and I just don't what anything bad to happen to you while you're gone.

To Karlene: Just remember to fallow what it says in the "For Strength of Youth" book.  Cats are silly.  Not much has happened here.

To Faline: Cats can be really silly.  I sent a picture of Passion fruit to mom so check it out.  Glad to hear you're having fun.  Till next time.

Passion fruit

Passion fruit insides

Sister LeBaron with her burnt popcorn

September 1, 2013

From Mom: Hopefully, things are a little better after last weekend. I'm still waiting to hear anything about the Tabernacle Choir. I got to church today and wondered who was playing for Sacrament. When I found and looked at the list I discovered that I was! Good thing I knew most of the hymns I was playing. We went to Music and the Spoken Word this morning. It was wonderful! There were 15 sister missionaries going home this week who worked on Temple Square giving tours. 13 of them were from places like Lavia, Australia, Ukraine, Germany, etc. The other two were from the U.S. It was really cool being there! I had forgotten some of the stuff I'd seen before. They did the broadcast but there was something in the 1st song that didn't go perfect so they re-recorded it so the delayed broadcast would be right. They also have a channel on youtube.com. A lot of the people at church were talking about change in their testimonies - the fact that it's not too fun. I actually look forward to change so I don't really sympathize with them. My prediction is that we will be with the 4th ward, along with the development right behind the apts. We'll see. That would be great because then Karlene would be with the friends she has made. Most of the kids in our ward go to Jordan High instead of Corner Canyon.

Michael & I went to Berlington Coat Factory to get an overcoat and ended up getting a jacket for winter and a long-sleeved v-neck sweater he can wear with or without his suits. Dee Dee paid for $50 of it for his birthday. He got 20% off the overcoat because it was missing 2 buttons - there was 1 replacement in the little ziplock bag in the pocket but I can't take them from anyplace else so we'll have to go to Joanne's or Michael's to find buttons. Michael has asked to help with the baptisms Wednesday morning with the Young Men so he'll perform some of the baptisms and ordinations/confirmations. I think he needs a haircut and a shave. I'll make sure he gets one before he leaves.

I met with Faline's teacher. The school is going to test her IQ and other things to figure out how to best help her with her reading and writing. I explained what I observed and what I thought the teacher could expect. Faline is starting to sing - I played a MoTab recording when she was doing her homework. They sang "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" and, for the first time, she actually sang with them and knew the words. She has mostly refused to sing with the Primary children - she thinks they don't know how to sing (spoiled by Walkers, I'm sure). She also said that she wants to make friends with some of the girls in her class. Before she didn't really care about being friends with children her own age. Good signs!

Sometimes I think Dad works too much since he started at Extend Health. He's working at Sears also. The fair schedule has him working until 11pm some nights when he has to go to work again 6am. Hopefully he can nap in between. Eventually he's hoping to stop doing Sears but for now, during fair season, the bonuses can be pretty good!

From Dad: It sounds like they're going to re-do our ward boundaries, not sure how they're going to do it but we find out next Sunday. We won't have regular church for about 3 wks because after that it's Stake/Regional Conference. Tomorrow's a holiday, Labor Day, and I won't be working at Extend tomorrow but will start at 6am on Tuesday. I'll be working the next two weeks at the Utah State Fair in a booth for Sears. Not a lot of other new things happened except that it's birthday season around here.

From Michael: Maybe, if timing is right. So what is up.

From Karlene: Yeah I guess I did grow about half an inch. We are getting new ward boundries next Sunday. I'll have to get reaquanted with the new ward if we get moved. Alex is afraid of bunnies. I have started taking him on walks and we faced the "furocious" bunny. He puffed out so big that his tail made him look like a small raccoon with orange fur. I met a boy in school who I kindof like a little. He lives close enough to walk to his house and I just don't think that it is fair that he has long legs, but I can outrun him for a while. He only catches up to me when I want  him to. It happens quite alot.

From Faline: It was fun at Glenn & Carrie's. It's alright (Utah). The rambutan looks nice! Karlene got to play Jack-X with a few of her friends and Michael. I got to watch. I've been watching funny cats on youtube. Some of them are hilarious!

August 26, 2013

To Mom: Elder Wiberg was riding his bike at night and I'm assuming on his way home because it wasn't far from their apartment, and got hit by a car on Friday.  At that point we found out that he had a broken femur, forearm, and shoulder.  Saturday they had him in surgery for 9 hours to fix his bones but also to help reduce the swelling in his brain.  Sunday he was in and out of stability then late Sunday night the Lord gave him his transfer.  Needless to say the mission is feeling rather blue today but the work will go on.  Elder Hierschi was his companion at the time of the accident and saw everything so I'm sure that right now he is being rather hard on himself.

From Mom: Sorry to hear about Elder Wiberg. Hopefully his family will remember that he was on the Lord's errand and sees it as just that -- a transfer.

To Mom: President Mains said that Brother Wiberg, Elder Wiberg's dad also called it a transfer.

To Dad: Thinks are ok here.  We finally got the Book of Mormon in Malay.  We had zone conference so that was good.  Would you all pray for the Wiberg family and Elder Hierschi, one of the missionaries got reassigned to the Spirit World.  Today is sad but it will get better, I'll be ok.  I'm sorry to be a bit of a downer.  I'm so happy for Michael, when he gets home I can go to the temple with him, mom, and you.

To Michael: Be happy, be healthy, be safe.  After your mission I expect to see you and we can go to the temple together.

To Karlene: I'm sure more than that has changed.  I will do the best I can to recognize you but you may need to help me when I get home.  So you finally got taller, is it?  I can't wait to see the picture but it wont have the whole family.

To Faline: Here is some pictures of rambutan.  Glad you are liking school.  Keep it up and you'll do well and maybe you can be as smart as me.  Did you have fun at Glenn and Carrie's?  How do you like Utah?  We got the Book of Mormon in Malay on tuesday.  Till next time.

Rambutan, Malay for 'hairy'. The 'hair' is soft so it won't hurt. The fruit inside is supposed to be sweet, with a single seed that is bitter to the taste - so best to not eat the seed. It's compared to lychee (litchee) and is related to that fruit.

August 25, 2013

From Mom: A lot has happened this week. Dad started his new job with Extend Health, Grandma & Al came down and spent a few days with us, Michael got his endowments and gave his farewell talk, I sang with Karlene and Sister Johnson in our ward and we got reacquainted with some of the long-lost cousins. 

Dad's liking his new job. So far, he's still working for Sears, too. There are some fairs coming up that he wants to work to get a little extra bonus.

Grandma and Al stayed in our bedroom and Dad & I slept on couches the 1st night and then I slept in Faline's bed the 2nd night. We got to soak in the hot tub Friday night and just really enjoyed having them around. I will be glad to sleep in my own bed tonight, though.

Michael got his endowments yesterday. It was a fun day! We had Jake & Amy Simpson and Mike & Genevieve Simpson, Leonard's children, there and would have had Leonard & Swanny but they went to the session an hr later. Glenn & Carrie and Matt & Lori came, too! We all went up to Carrie's house for dinner and visiting afterward. It was really fun to get to know those guys!

Today, we had Michael's farewell. The power went off about 40 mins before everything started, while the choir was practicing, and stayed off for about 20 mins. We weren't sure if we would have power for the meeting but it came on about 10 mins or so before sacrament meeting started. Almost everyone came who was with us yesterday. Leonard and Justin came really early but they made it. Swanny had to fly out for work like she does every week. The only ones missing were Mike & Genevieve. Michael gave a really good talk on testimony. Karlene & I sang with one of the sisters in our ward (because you're not supposed to have only family of the departing missionary as part of the meeting). Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Grandma told me that she thinks I'll make it into the Tabernacle Choir FOR SURE! We'll see. I haven't heard anything yet.

What happened to the missionary? Hopefully you get my messages before you get done on the internet.

From Dad: Yeah, they were just knocking door to door, just getting to know who was in the area. When they came back by again, for dinner and to teach the family home evening lesson, it was a different set of missionaries! I thought that was kinda funny. Mostly, though, this is Michael's week. We went to the Draper Temple where Michael got his endowments. I'll let him talk about that. There were several family members there, including Grandma and Al. Then, at church today they announced that they are realigning the boundaries of 5 or 6 of the wards in our stake. I was set apart as one of the Elders' Quorum Teachers. That will be interesting! I probably have more to learn from them than I can teach them. When I was set apart there was only 1 member of the Elders' Quorum presidency to do the job so they had Michael stand in - that was pretty cool! Other than that, things are going pretty good.

From Michael: I am now endowed, and after words we went to Glenn and Carry. Then I gave my fairwell on sunday.

From Karlene: No I'm sure you will recognize me. I am kindof hard to miss. I will just have shorter hair and longer legs. I think mom will send you a picture of the family including g-ma and Al. Michael had his farewell today and there was a baby blessing. Every time mom saw me I was eating some sort of cookie or candy.

From Faline: School's not so bad. The teacher, Mrs. Watson, is better than all the other teachers I've had. Mom & Dad went to the temple with Michael and I got to play with my cousins, at Carrie & Glenn's. That's it.

L to R: Karlene, Dad, Steven, Michael, Grandpa and Grandma

The whole gang! Karlene, Steven (in front), Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, Michael, Faline, Leonard and Justin.

August 19, 2013

To Mom: Sounds like thing are looking up for you.  This week is Zone Confrance and we are hoping for some news on the book of mormon in Malay.  Things are for the most part same as always for right now but we're expecting some baptisms soon.  Sorry I don't really say a lot but most of the time I don't know what to say. 

To Dad: So, the missionaries just happened upon you, where they knoking or something?  It looks like you found some things you find a lot in Singapore, the exercise equipment in the park.  I wish I had more to report but not much has happened.

To Michael: Not much but you looked like you were having fun on that exercise equipment.  You can find that here in Singapore all over the place.

To Karlene: Michael goes into the MTC exactly 1 year after I got to Singapore.  It feels like an eternity since I last saw you.  I bet when I get home I wont even recognize you and Faline.  Hope you do good in school. 

To Faline: Glad you liked it.  Next I'll send a picture of rambutan.  You may not be too excited about school but you should work to do well in school so later you can do other things.  Till next time.

August 18, 2013

From Mom: Lots to report. Dad passed his test and starts his new job tomorrow, at the same building I work in. Dad also worked the Sears booth some of the time during the Davis County Fair (north of Salt Lake). Tracy is going to apply to do what Dad is doing, only in Boise. Haven't heard anything about my Tabernacle Choir application/audition. The theory test is supposed to be in Sept, with the live auditions in Oct. Dee Dee and Resa are hoping to move down here before winter so we're looking for apts for them. I missed my sales goal for the last pay period. Hopefully I'll get closer if not meet it this pay period. I'll be working an extra hour most days because Dad will work until 5 and it won't do any good to sit around for an hour waiting for him. Karlene and Faline start school tomorrow. It's going to be rough for Faline since she still doesn't want to read or write. The school should figure out how to help her within the first 8 wks of school. I'll help when I can. Michael will be getting his endowments on Saturday and then his farewell next Sunday. Grandma and Al are coming down and Cameron Gibby, Nolan's grandson, says he's coming. Dee Dee & Resa aren't as far as I know.

Well, we had a picnic at the Draper City Park today. I included some pictures. Also, there must have been a fair nearby because I got some pictures of hot air balloons launching and coming down a couple weeks ago just across the freeway from where I was driving to work.

From Dad: Well, it's been a pretty eventful week. It started out last Friday when I went to take my insurance exam for the state of Utah and the power was out. Then I rescheduled it for Wednesday morning and found out they only had me scheduled to take my fingerprints. They don't do fingerprints until after the test has been taken and passed so I had to reschedule it for the next day, at 6pm. I took the test, passed it handily, and then Friday I was given the opportunity to start working for Extend Health on Monday, tomorrow. I spent Wed-Sat at a booth at the Davis County Fair for Sears and we did really well! Then I got to church this afternoon and they asked if I'd be one of the Elder's Quorum Teachers, so they're going to set me apart next Sunday. Also, the missionaries came by Saturday, during the day, not knowing we were members. I let them in and talked to them a little bit. They're going to have dinner with us Monday and then do the family home evening lesson for us. It will be interesting to see how that goes. That's my interesting week.

From Michael: Today we went to the park and had a pick-neck. We played games and had fun. At least I did. So what's up.

From Karlene: I agree, with the talent also comes the knowledge to use it. I drew a picture of what I thought one of the characters in a book looks like. Mom said it looked like Cher. I looked up how she looks and the only resemblence the two have are the arc ofthe eyebrows. I went to girls camp and when I got back Faline had somehow deregistered your kindle. It 's a good thing that mom knows you so well. She got it back to normal within a minute. Mom and I get to sing at Michael 's farewell. He leaves the day before Cumorah 's b-day. I survived the fourth year hike with nothing more then sore muscles from lugging Michael's hiking back pack up a mountain with food, tent, sleeping bag, water, and cloths.

From Faline: I got to play at a huge park! There were lots of slides, some swings and they even have an exercise place. We got to have a picnic there, too. They also have an electronic game thing there that has a bunch of different games we played with. It was fun! There was a water fountain, a rock climb and lots of tunnels and such. School starts tomorrow ... I'm not excited. I guess that's it. Nice picture of the Durian!

Hot air balloons landing

Hot air balloons coming down!

Mom and Dad at the park

Exercise time is fun!

Karlene: Row, row, row your boat...

Michael: Ow! My triceps!

Michael and Faline