A few months ago, Bonnie turned 64. If she read these blogs she may be a bit (understatement) upset that I told the world, or the two who read this, that she just turned 64. Yep, you guessed it, the house was ringing with the Beatles "When I'm 64!" Will you still love me, will you still want me when I'm sixty four. It was ringing through Sam's house all that day. It is till ringing through my mind, when I'm sixty four.
My body feels one hundred and sixty four, but I am healthy. Every morning when I crawl out of bed, I feel another, different ache that wasn't there yesterday. They seem to come every day. I guess that occurs when one is either 64 or approaching 64. Today we have 64 days until our M day, or June 9th. Sixty four days..... that is not very many days.
I am thoroughly thankful that we can still crawl out of bed, get going and DO things when we are as old as we are. I know there are many who cannot at our age. It is certainly a blessing that we can qualify for a mission at this advanced age.
A young lady at a social event yesterday was watching a performer and she said that the one in question was old. She should be younger, like a teenager. She was so old. When asked how old she was, she replied, "Well she is probably at least 30." If she is OLD at thirty, then what am I?
I remember when my father turned 50. We held a surprise party for him. He hated it. I remember thinking as we were getting ready for his party that we should probably go together as children and purchase him a casket. He was going to be needing it in a few days. He was OLD. Of course at that time I was about 23 years old. Now I am 12 years older than he was then. Maybe I should be asking for a casket for my birthday?
I guess "OLD" is determined by the one who calls someone old. A new born baby can look at his/her parents and think, they are old, really old, when in reality with my ancient-hood, I can look at those same parents and think them babies, having babies, since they are only in their twenties or even teens.
I guess some may even call me a baby compared to those who are approaching the century mark. I guess it is just from where you look, your location as you look at others who are either younger or older than your present state. What is OLD? I am NOT!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
DAY 65 -- Hawaii, Siberia, or Where?
When you get to this stage of our mission preparation, funny things happen. Our preparation has been completed. At least the paper part of preparing and putting it all in someone else's hands. Now we wait for interviews, the Brethren deciding where will will go, and when we will go.
During this waiting period, we have so much to do. Before, the things we had to do were figure out when we had this surgery, that medical condition, and onward and so forth, and scooby do. That being done, now we have to plan what else needs to be done and start moving forward toward those things.
The other day I was talking with my bishop telling him he would have all our required paperwork in his hands in the coming few days. He said that now is the time we need to decide if we really want to go. I sort of laughed in my mind, of course we want to go. But he said that we need to realized the things we will miss, not be doing for the coming months, etc. I think we have been doing that for a long time, but as we continue it will be interesting if that compounds itself in our minds.
Now those "funny things" I was telling you about. Every time I tell someone we are going on a mission, or we have just submitted our papers, everyone has a story. And they are very intriguing stories. One couple put on their papers that they could not go anywhere that was cold for the sister had a condition that would be very serious if they did. They were called to Siberia. Another couple was called and started preparation and the Headquarters called them and said they were changing their mission call from being a missionary couple to being a Mission President. Another couple was called, without requesting any location or type of mission to Hawaii. (Tough mission/vacation, right?) Perhaps we will have one of those "funny" stories???
The stories keep mounting up about what "could" happen to us now that we have our papers in. Again, I reaffirm that we will go where He wants us to go and be happy. Whether it be Siberia, Hawaii, Tooele, or even Salt Lake City.
Yes, we are ready, and yes we are ready for almost any situation or funny occurrence in our path to our mission. It will be interesting.
During this waiting period, we have so much to do. Before, the things we had to do were figure out when we had this surgery, that medical condition, and onward and so forth, and scooby do. That being done, now we have to plan what else needs to be done and start moving forward toward those things.
The other day I was talking with my bishop telling him he would have all our required paperwork in his hands in the coming few days. He said that now is the time we need to decide if we really want to go. I sort of laughed in my mind, of course we want to go. But he said that we need to realized the things we will miss, not be doing for the coming months, etc. I think we have been doing that for a long time, but as we continue it will be interesting if that compounds itself in our minds.
Now those "funny things" I was telling you about. Every time I tell someone we are going on a mission, or we have just submitted our papers, everyone has a story. And they are very intriguing stories. One couple put on their papers that they could not go anywhere that was cold for the sister had a condition that would be very serious if they did. They were called to Siberia. Another couple was called and started preparation and the Headquarters called them and said they were changing their mission call from being a missionary couple to being a Mission President. Another couple was called, without requesting any location or type of mission to Hawaii. (Tough mission/vacation, right?) Perhaps we will have one of those "funny" stories???
The stories keep mounting up about what "could" happen to us now that we have our papers in. Again, I reaffirm that we will go where He wants us to go and be happy. Whether it be Siberia, Hawaii, Tooele, or even Salt Lake City.
Yes, we are ready, and yes we are ready for almost any situation or funny occurrence in our path to our mission. It will be interesting.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
DAY 66 -- Lessons Learned
It is interesting that we seldom talked about our mission the first two hundred days or so. We talked once in a while about it. Then the last 100 days, we have been talking about it perhaps once a day, still quite a distance away. Now, with less than 70 days to our mission, (or at least our anniversary) we talk about it almost constantly.
Now that we have our papers in, the frequency will diminish as we wait for our interviews. But as we continue to count down the days, we are going to feel pressure because there is so much to do. Besides the excitement to know where we are going, we feel pressure to get it all done.
Never left on a mission before, at least with my wife of forty years. At least we can do these things together and not have to do them alone, as I once did long ago.
I feel a relief not worrying about all the things they ask for before submitting our papers. It is now all recorded and in the hands of those with stewardship over us. It was a large task to think of all those things we needed to do, but it is now behind us.
Isn't that true about any goal or dream? I remember when we moved to Brigham and started to run a restaurant and snack bar. I asked Bonnie to be the inventory lady. She would count what we had, what we needed, order what we needed from suppliers. I remember like it was this morning she approached me and said NO. She felt she could not do it. It was just too difficult and she knew she would get it wrong and then everyone would suffer. Well, within about one week, she was a master at it. I never had to worry about it and knew it was getting done. She even did cost analysis of the prices we were paying. She was perfect. But to start, it was ugly, scary, and she did NOT want to do it.
The same things happened with our papers for our mission. They are done and I would assume we could, would do them again. Hopefully that won't be necessary. But this is definitely a lesson learned about goals, dreams, insurmountable challenges, etc. They are all surmountable. But our inadequacies make us think there is NO WAY. This is just one more small lessons learned in these days of preparation for our mission.
Now that we have our papers in, the frequency will diminish as we wait for our interviews. But as we continue to count down the days, we are going to feel pressure because there is so much to do. Besides the excitement to know where we are going, we feel pressure to get it all done.
Never left on a mission before, at least with my wife of forty years. At least we can do these things together and not have to do them alone, as I once did long ago.
I feel a relief not worrying about all the things they ask for before submitting our papers. It is now all recorded and in the hands of those with stewardship over us. It was a large task to think of all those things we needed to do, but it is now behind us.
Isn't that true about any goal or dream? I remember when we moved to Brigham and started to run a restaurant and snack bar. I asked Bonnie to be the inventory lady. She would count what we had, what we needed, order what we needed from suppliers. I remember like it was this morning she approached me and said NO. She felt she could not do it. It was just too difficult and she knew she would get it wrong and then everyone would suffer. Well, within about one week, she was a master at it. I never had to worry about it and knew it was getting done. She even did cost analysis of the prices we were paying. She was perfect. But to start, it was ugly, scary, and she did NOT want to do it.
The same things happened with our papers for our mission. They are done and I would assume we could, would do them again. Hopefully that won't be necessary. But this is definitely a lesson learned about goals, dreams, insurmountable challenges, etc. They are all surmountable. But our inadequacies make us think there is NO WAY. This is just one more small lessons learned in these days of preparation for our mission.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
DAY 67 -- To The Bishop
April 4, 2012. We are only about two months from the "M" day, when we will see the imagined goal, the initial goal of this blog, of this journey, of our dreams. Almost 300 days ago, I began to dream of June 9, 2012. It has been a slow process counting down 365 days until our 40th Anniversary.
We have seen many miracles in the first 300 days. I am sure there are many miracles coming our way as we continue to prepare for our mission. Miracles come from our own health. Miracles in the lives of our children. Miracles in the way others react when we tell them we are leaving to go on a mission. Many miracles. There have been many miracles happen that we know not of as yet. Father is good to us.
Well, last night, April 3, 2012 WE SUBMITTED OUR PAPERS TO OUR BISHOP. Now he will review them, make sure they are correct and interview Bonnie and I to assure that we are worthy, ready,and all is in order. Then he will pass them on to our stake president and he will do the same.
After those two Priesthood leaders have approved of our representation of us, they will pass them on to the Church Headquarters. Then they go through many more examinations to assure that we are fit, healthy, a good possibility of being a great missionary couple, and even consider what we put in our preferences.
Our Preferences: We listed that we would like to go to Africa. We would love to go somewhere where I could use my Spanish. We would like to go to a CES mission location. Now we will see where the Lord wants us to go.
So now we wait. There are many things that could happen before we get a call, but we won't talk about possibilities, we will just wait, talk about what DOES happen.
We are excited. It is now in the Lord's hands and we wait.
We have seen many miracles in the first 300 days. I am sure there are many miracles coming our way as we continue to prepare for our mission. Miracles come from our own health. Miracles in the lives of our children. Miracles in the way others react when we tell them we are leaving to go on a mission. Many miracles. There have been many miracles happen that we know not of as yet. Father is good to us.
Well, last night, April 3, 2012 WE SUBMITTED OUR PAPERS TO OUR BISHOP. Now he will review them, make sure they are correct and interview Bonnie and I to assure that we are worthy, ready,and all is in order. Then he will pass them on to our stake president and he will do the same.
After those two Priesthood leaders have approved of our representation of us, they will pass them on to the Church Headquarters. Then they go through many more examinations to assure that we are fit, healthy, a good possibility of being a great missionary couple, and even consider what we put in our preferences.
Our Preferences: We listed that we would like to go to Africa. We would love to go somewhere where I could use my Spanish. We would like to go to a CES mission location. Now we will see where the Lord wants us to go.
So now we wait. There are many things that could happen before we get a call, but we won't talk about possibilities, we will just wait, talk about what DOES happen.
We are excited. It is now in the Lord's hands and we wait.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
DAY 68 --- It is Time- Leave it in His Hands
Well, after conference, having those wonderful testimonies ringing through my mind, last night I was dreaming about our mission. I was going over in my mind all the questions on those 54 pages of application. I was reviewing the commitment that we are required to make on many pages. I was reviewing the many medical appointments we had, and I was reviewing about the many talks with our family and our bishop.
I feel it is time. We need to push the button. I do not have all the royalty, the crowns in my head that I need, but they are in process, and thus the dentist will give me the report to be delivered, in a sealed envelope, to my bishop. Then we push the button and submit our papers. Then a few interviews later, they will submit their papers and we will be waiting on the brethren.
It is time to finalize the preparations. It is time to leave it all in Father's hands, and thus we submit our papers and let others, ultimately our Savior decide where we will serve for the next 18 months. We are totally excited, humble, and peaceful in leaving it in His hands.
There are so many miracles that have brought us to this point, to be ready to submit our papers. Thanks Father for the many, many miracles. I am sure we will see more as days get closer when we are able to leave and serve.
I feel it is time. We need to push the button. I do not have all the royalty, the crowns in my head that I need, but they are in process, and thus the dentist will give me the report to be delivered, in a sealed envelope, to my bishop. Then we push the button and submit our papers. Then a few interviews later, they will submit their papers and we will be waiting on the brethren.
It is time to finalize the preparations. It is time to leave it all in Father's hands, and thus we submit our papers and let others, ultimately our Savior decide where we will serve for the next 18 months. We are totally excited, humble, and peaceful in leaving it in His hands.
There are so many miracles that have brought us to this point, to be ready to submit our papers. Thanks Father for the many, many miracles. I am sure we will see more as days get closer when we are able to leave and serve.
Monday, April 2, 2012
DAY 69 --- Conference, Last Day
Because of recent conferences, I was sure that the Prophet was going to announce another few temples. He did not. There are so many places in the world waiting for the coming of a temple. I know there are many efforts being performed daily to prepare for upcoming temples, but now we wait until October. Yes, I know that once in a while a new temple is announced outside of conference.
What a wonderful experience it was to listen to the Apostles, Prophets, and other leaders. Each one had prayed and prepared for knowing what needed to be said. Each one was blessed with the Holy Ghost as they presented it to us. Each one "felt" their words. I loved sister Beck. You could tell that she was totally involved and sold on Relief Society.
I use conference as my battery recharger. As I listen, I glean inspiration for me personally, what I should be doing, thinking, saying, and feeling. I can't wait to go out into the world and put into practice the lessons I have learned today. As this is read, (Monday) I hope I am involved in doing what I was inspired to do through the talks.
As I sat through conference, I again received an insight that wherever we are going to be going is going to be where Father dictates. I know there is a certain place that needs our testimonies and talents. I know He is in charge, knows of us and the preparation we have had at His hands through the past years. I am just impatient in learning where that is, and how soon we can go and do.
I am thoroughly excited about taking my companion with me. We shall be one in the mission field. We still have differences of opinion and things we discuss, but after discussion, we most often are on the same page and united. I am looking forward to serving with this wonderful daughter of Father at my side. We will do all that the Spirit directs wherever we may be. We will be more and more unified as we go and have the same goals, dreams, and hopes.
Yes, leaving children will be hard, but finding new and beloved friends and brothers and sisters will be an enormous joy. What a great blessing serving together will be, in only a few months.
We will be pushing the button within about one week. Of course then we have to wait until we go and interview with the bishop and stake president, and he will have to push the button also, then to the Church, and we wait.
What a wonderful experience it was to listen to the Apostles, Prophets, and other leaders. Each one had prayed and prepared for knowing what needed to be said. Each one was blessed with the Holy Ghost as they presented it to us. Each one "felt" their words. I loved sister Beck. You could tell that she was totally involved and sold on Relief Society.
I use conference as my battery recharger. As I listen, I glean inspiration for me personally, what I should be doing, thinking, saying, and feeling. I can't wait to go out into the world and put into practice the lessons I have learned today. As this is read, (Monday) I hope I am involved in doing what I was inspired to do through the talks.
As I sat through conference, I again received an insight that wherever we are going to be going is going to be where Father dictates. I know there is a certain place that needs our testimonies and talents. I know He is in charge, knows of us and the preparation we have had at His hands through the past years. I am just impatient in learning where that is, and how soon we can go and do.
I am thoroughly excited about taking my companion with me. We shall be one in the mission field. We still have differences of opinion and things we discuss, but after discussion, we most often are on the same page and united. I am looking forward to serving with this wonderful daughter of Father at my side. We will do all that the Spirit directs wherever we may be. We will be more and more unified as we go and have the same goals, dreams, and hopes.
Yes, leaving children will be hard, but finding new and beloved friends and brothers and sisters will be an enormous joy. What a great blessing serving together will be, in only a few months.
We will be pushing the button within about one week. Of course then we have to wait until we go and interview with the bishop and stake president, and he will have to push the button also, then to the Church, and we wait.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
DAY 70 -- Conference
It was a joy to sit and sustain the leaders of our church. I feel it an honor to be able to raise my arm to the square to sustain the 15 prophets and apostles of our day. When I do that, I realize again that there were many ages that did not enjoy the leaders on earth of Christ's church. What a sad day that would be, without Priesthood nor leaders on the earth to lead us, comfort us, give us direction, and share the will of Father for His children.
I loved the music of the day. Even in Priesthood meeting, we sung Ye Elders of Israel, and the closing song was Praise to the Man. The hymns in the other two sessions were wonderful hymns that we all knew. That is so great. Last week in Sacrament, we sang a song that no one had ever sung. It was a joke. I looked at the words, tried to sing it, and it was a total failure. Many in the audience felt the same way. I can't understand why so many feel that we need to sing songs of Zions that no one has ever sung. I mean why not sing those songs that everyone knows and appreciates. Why not sing a song that we can sign with feeling, understanding the meaning of what we sing, rather than be struggling to just try to sing the words to something we have never heard.
It was a wonderful conference listening to many leaders. When Elder Uchdorph, or however you spell his name, was reading the names, it is sure apparent that we are a international church, and not just an American church. It was interesting to hear him try to read some of those names. I am sure they come from all over the world.
I love the fact that the whole first presidency speaks in Priesthood session, so we were privileged to hear from all three of them, and also Elder Bednar and a few others. Tomorrow we get to hear (today, for I am writing this Saturday night) the rest of the twelve, six more.
I love to hear those brethren share feelings testimonies, experiences, and encouragement. President Monson was fun and inspiring in Priesthood. I wonder if we get any new temples tomorrow, or not? I can't help but wonder where we will be in six months. Will we be hearing, watching, or missing the sessions of conference? Will we be doing it in the middle of the night? It will be fun, no matter when.
Well enough for tonight. Will write more tomorrow after the Sunday sessions.
I loved the music of the day. Even in Priesthood meeting, we sung Ye Elders of Israel, and the closing song was Praise to the Man. The hymns in the other two sessions were wonderful hymns that we all knew. That is so great. Last week in Sacrament, we sang a song that no one had ever sung. It was a joke. I looked at the words, tried to sing it, and it was a total failure. Many in the audience felt the same way. I can't understand why so many feel that we need to sing songs of Zions that no one has ever sung. I mean why not sing those songs that everyone knows and appreciates. Why not sing a song that we can sign with feeling, understanding the meaning of what we sing, rather than be struggling to just try to sing the words to something we have never heard.
It was a wonderful conference listening to many leaders. When Elder Uchdorph, or however you spell his name, was reading the names, it is sure apparent that we are a international church, and not just an American church. It was interesting to hear him try to read some of those names. I am sure they come from all over the world.
I love the fact that the whole first presidency speaks in Priesthood session, so we were privileged to hear from all three of them, and also Elder Bednar and a few others. Tomorrow we get to hear (today, for I am writing this Saturday night) the rest of the twelve, six more.
I love to hear those brethren share feelings testimonies, experiences, and encouragement. President Monson was fun and inspiring in Priesthood. I wonder if we get any new temples tomorrow, or not? I can't help but wonder where we will be in six months. Will we be hearing, watching, or missing the sessions of conference? Will we be doing it in the middle of the night? It will be fun, no matter when.
Well enough for tonight. Will write more tomorrow after the Sunday sessions.
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