December 2023

 Since coming back to from vacation there has been a lot of Young Women stuff on my plate.  We had two activities in one week because I was able to get tickets to “The Savior of the World” for all the YW.  I had never attended this event so it was a great experience.  I really liked the view of Thomas and his struggles and doubts.  He was a disciple that is easy to relate to.  

We also delivered Christmas cards and treats to the ward for the bishopric and of course our weekly activities.  

We had our ward Christmas party, where I volunteered to bring a casserole, we had to set up tables and chairs and decorate a few tables.  Part of the activity was to collect items for the teen center for the school district.  We ended up helping to take the donations to the high school.  

A neighbor/friend in the ward had her 26 year old daughter pass away so I have been there to visit several times and I got to help the RS go clean her home today.  

Since Adam is in the Elders Quorum presidency he was asked to hand deliver Christmas invitations for our Christmas program on the 25th.  Anyway, it seems like between our family and callings we have been very involved with church things lately.  

It has been great getting to talk to Avram.  I am so impressed that he has kept such a great attitude even though his companion is not making life easy.  So far Avram has loved the food, loved the people and loved the lizards.  In the past couple of weeks it snowed a lot.  It has also become really cold! You know that bitter cold, its not so fun.  But we will get a white Christmas.  It has been a few years since we had a white Christmas.  

One of the snow days adam didn't go to work until 12:30 So we decided to go steal Quentin for the morning.  He was so cute.  As soon as we pulled into the driveway and Q saw the house he started giggling.  It was so cute.  He loves the train on the tree.  He had a blast running around the house.  

Adam has been trying to get a couple of roofs finished up in island park so he had to go there couple times this month.  

 

We have really enjoyed watching the World Cup this year.  It was especially fun to watch Argentina play in the final game and WIN!  

 I helped briggs clean the red truck really well this week and we listed it on KSL.  It sold in one day! That means we are down to 3 cars!  It feels so good to have another car gone, both for space and financial savings. 

Last year after Christmas, Ila found an Elf on the Shelf toy for really cheap.  She has always wanted one but I told her there was no way I was going to start doing the elf on the shelf stuff every day.  She said she didn't care she just really wanted it, so I bought it.  Adam had a little fun with it this year.  I attached a picture of one of Adams mischievous set ups of the elf pooping in the sink.  

The Christmas season flew by.  It always goes by too quickly but this year it didn’t really feel like Christmas.  It is amazing how quiet our home has become since Avram left. We did get to talk to Avram yesterday, because it was Christmas for him.  He only talked for about 5 mins because he was busy and heading out to a BBQ.  It actually makes Adam and I really happy that he doesn’t want to talk much.  That means he is doing well.  

Bandon Oregon

I had never heard of Bandon Oregon, so when Adam told me he wanted to go to Bandon and play golf for Thanksgiving I thought he had miss understood the plan.  Now that we are here I can tell you it does in fact exist but if you aren’t coming to golf there isn’t much more here. That being said… it is a perfect place for us to be for our vacation.  There is nothing here but beautiful views and golf.  The nearest town is about 10 mins away and the only fast food restaurant there is Dariy Queen.  There are a couple small stores for groceries and then a cute little board walk with a few little tourist trap stores.  

Adam has been golfing, Briggs has been his caddy, and Ila has found a friend. I have enjoyed watching World Cup soccer, catching up on work and a few little outings to see the beauty here.  

Life after …

Adam planned a gold trip with some of his golf buddies.  I didn’t become involved in the plans until after Avram was gone so Thursday we decided we would actually leave and go on this trip for Thanksgiving.  That gave us one day to prepare and leave.  Friday I spent most of the day doing laundry and trying to catch up on my side job of book world for Modern Mountain Builders.  Which left us with a million things to do Saturday morning before we took off.  

Adam was busy taking care of a car situation and buttoning up a few things with work so he could leave.  I was able to get the house clean, laundry done, dog poop scooped, chickens fed and taken care of, dogs taken care of, leaves cleaned and drain by walk out cleaned up in case of storm, garage cleaned up so mom and dad didnt have to go through an obstacle course when stoping by, garbages out, trip food packed, myself packed and thankfully a shouter before we left at 11 am on Saturday. If this sounds exhausting and too much…it was!  

We were able to get to Reno on Saturday and spend the night with the Oneil’s. (Adams good friend/ comp from his mission). 

After spending the night with the Oneil’s, we woke up early and started our 2nd day of driving.  It has been a long time since I have been on a road trip this far.  15 1/2 hours of driving later We arrived in Bandon Oregon.  

Our two smugglers are stuck in the same bed together.  LOL.

I had never heard of Weed California

I think this is Mount Shasta. 

First Phone call

After a week in the MTC we finally heard from Avram.  I will say, this was a dream come true for me.  There was nothing more I wanted to hear then the following… “ Anyways me and my companion have been putting the extra hours on the books in comp study we have about 2 to 3 comp studies a day and i don't regret a second of it i can feel my testimony and faith grow stronger every time along with my knowledge of the gospel we go work out and yes Isaac there is a weight room here not any kinda racks but dumbbells benches and all kinda core and cardio machines i've been spending time on the bikes and they have T.V.'s here and i just biked and listened to elder holland that guy has such great talks on being an effective missionary and i ended up hearing this at the perfect time. Anyways I love it here. I love the Christs Gospel  and the Book of mormon and I love BYU chocolate milk.”

When we talked to him on the phone he couldnt say enough about how great the MTC has been.  He also could hardly get through a sentence without laughing with another missionary about something.  The light of Christ truly changes people and fills us with true joy and happiness. 

MTC

I was very skeptical about the Home MTC.  Looking back, Im sure several weeks of home MTC could be more challenging, but the week and 1/2 Avram was in the home MTC was one of best weeks I have ever had with Avram. 

1. The spirit in our home was amazing.  

2. Every hour or so, Avram would come upstairs and tell me all about the things he was learning

3. Avram and I had some great gospel discussions.  It was the first time I felt like I was talking with Avram, instead of preaching to him.  

4. It just so happens that our Stake had a “missionary week” for the youth.  So Tuesday evening, Wed morning and evening, Thursday morning and evening, the youth went to the stake center to learn about missionary work and do different activities.  Avram was able to go to a couple of the meetings, which meant either Adam or I went along.  

5. Once in awhile Avram would come up stairs and say something like, “I need to teach you …” or “I need to share my testimony about ….” 

Avram had a P day so he and his companion decided they wanted to meet up for lunch.  His comp is from PG and just so happens to be one of Jared, my nephew, best friends.  We decided to meet at the church office building for taco Tuesday.  Avram and Elder Whitiera hit it off immediately.  They had a lot of fun together and a lot of laughs.   Mom and Dad were able to take the boys around so they could get pointers from the sister missionaries on temple square.  

Adam and I were able to meet Elder Whitieras parents, who are from New Zealand. 

It was also so comforting when we dropped Avram off at the MTC, because he already knew a bunch of missionaries, the missionaries in his district and he was super excited to start his adventure.

This was the night before Avram went into the MTC.  We all got in a good cry.

Below is Avrams last time with Q.  Crystal, David and Q came over in the morning and we had breakfast together.  

Avram has gotten really close to Q the past couple of weeks.  Crystal has been over a lot and we have done a lot together.  It has been a really fun time.  

The MTC final good byes. 

This is the hardest picture for me to look at.  These two have grown up together and been best friends.