The Mailman - Acceptance Letter (12/21/10)
I think the mailman is going to be a love hate relationship. We hated him when the call didn't come when we wanted it to. We loved him when he brought the call. Now I hate him because Dylan's acceptance letter has been done for a week and I just couldn't get the letter in the mail. Today I hated him. It took me 20 minutes to stand in line to buy a single .48 cent stamp. We'll today I love him because after I waited in line for that stamp I put that letter in that cold metal chute. Woo Hoo! It's mailed. I can't wait till Dylan's letters come in the mail as he is insistant that he will write with pen and paper. My dollar is on the keyboard and screen. We'll see in 100 days whose right.
Calling the MTC & Speeding (12/21/10)
Okay, so calling the MTC was not really a big deal, but it was totally cool to get to call the MTC, and to speak to them. I called to ask about Dylan's immunization. He needed to have his Hepatitis A shots. Note to self, make sure all my children get this shot. They are a two shot series. So he received his shot on Dec 13 and then needs to second shot on June 13th. Well the paperwork you receive says they need all their immunizations before they get to the MTC, but it also says they can get immunizations there. Well after talking with the Bishop, I called the MTC and said Dylan is to report on April 6th, he needs the second shot on June 13th. The question is should he report on April 6th or wait for the next entry date for his mission which is 6 weeks later. Well the first person and the nurse both said to still report on April 6th, and they will give him his shot (which will cost him $71.00 by the way) as close to his leaving date as possible. I did find out that he will be at the MTC for 8 weeks before heading to Madagascar. So although this isn't a big deal. It is definately a lesson to be learned. Make sure your children receive all immunizations. Dylans reason for not getting the Hep A shot was that it wasn't required as a child and when it became required to enter High School he was a junior and therefor exempt. Dayna on the other hand did need to get it. So even if they don't really need it, get it anyways. It will save some time and the $71.00 Dylan now needs to pay for an shot that insurance would have covered. They won't cover it now because his referring doctor won't be the one administering it. Bummer. But good to know that Dylan will be calling me on Mothers day from the MTC and not from Madagascar where I have to call him.
I also found out from a good friend of mine how to request a "No Criminal Report" from the police department. Apparently, there are some countries who require a letter from your local police department stating that you have no criminal record, before a visa will be issued. Yup, Madagascar and parts of Argentina require this. So if your missionary needs this just head to your local police department and go to the records department and tell them what you needs and they will get it for you. Note: This can't be done sooner than two weeks before you report. Well, at least for Madagascar. Can I say that again....Madagaaaascar! Yup. I like to say it and hear it and read it. What can I say, according to dear husband, I am obsessed with Madagaaaascar. Although I would love to post a picture of this letter, i can't as April 1st is still a bit aways, I can post this picture for your entertainment. Yup, you guessed it. Good thing speeding tickets don't go on your criminal record....if you pay the $115 fine.
It just HAS to be here today(11/24/10)
Man this is a killer, so remember the title "DUE DATE". well waiting for this letter is like waiting for a baby. You know it is coming, all the signs are there, but its just not coming, you want to induce but the doctor says no, you are not ready.It will come when it comes... UGGHH!! The suspense is killing us. So mailman comes...and check out the video.
Hey Mr Postman...(11/23/10)
Well another day of hunting down the mailman. making sure my video camera has enough space. It is a fairly new video camera. So we set up the camera again. Just hoping. Today has to be the day. It doesn't take mail this long from Salt Lake. But it is a large envelope- coming bulk mail. COULD...take this long. But come on!!! The mailman is always here around 2-3. The mailman eventually showed up and we saw no big letter in his hands, oh what a let down.....till tomorrow
Wait a minute Mr. Postman. (11/22/10)
So today is the day. Dylan's mission papers should be here. We got the video camera out and set it up to watch the mailman, in case we missed him. Well we didn't Dylan and I were stalking the mailman. The mailman was like "what..am I special today?" us: "yup, you sure are if you have a large white envelope that is being delivered to that bottom right box." Mailman: "nope. no white envelope" us: oh man...bummer..it should be here. Its not like it is Christmas or anything...just Thanksgiving week." Mailman: "well tomorrow and wednesday Charlie will be delivering the mail, maybe he'll be your special delivery man"
Bummer didn't come today. But we got some great video of the conversation, and of course our dissapointment. Richard wasn't disappointed as his bets are that the call will be here on Saturday.
Bummer didn't come today. But we got some great video of the conversation, and of course our dissapointment. Richard wasn't disappointed as his bets are that the call will be here on Saturday.
The Due Date (11/21/10)
Okay, so today we were at church and talking with the Bishop and of Course dylans name comes up, and the Bishop tells me that "the papers" have left Salt Lake. WHAT!! So he pulls out his handy dandy IPAD(wish i had one) and shows where Dylan's papers are. Now I must make a disclaimer here- People say you can track exactly where the mission papers are, well you can't really. You can only see what location they are at. So he said Dylan's mission call left Salt Lake on the 19th. Last Friday. That means they should be here tomorrow.(bishop didn't say this though-its my guess) Salt Lake is only like 2 days in the mail. totally excited. So Dylan wasn't being very nice so we were withholding this very exciting news from him. Finally we give in and tell him that his papers should be here tomorrow. Oh man did the lights in his eyes sparkle. Well we have our map up and again stared at the map wondering about all the places he could serve. We are so video taping his trip to the mailbox. Now (SPOILER ALERT) while I was watching mission calls on youtube, one of the guys said if the envelope has more postage that you are going foreign. So don't want to tell Dylan but well see.
Letter from Stake President (12/15/10)
So we have nothing planned today, so we got excited when in the mail today we received a letter to "elder shaw" from our Stake Presidency. Didn't expect it. All very exciting talking about making an appointment for his temple recommend, and when he needed to make an appointment to be set apart and an appointment for his exit interview. Then on the very bottom bottom part of this now non exciting letter is the words that have been floating around in the air as we all try to pretend that we aren't hearing them. And I quote..."there are to be NO mission farewell or open houses." I understand the farewells, they have just gotten to be so out of hand, and the stories you read.. oh mylanta. But come on no goodbye open houses. What a let down to not be able to have all your friends come and wish you good luck as you venture into a new world in the service of your Lord. And I know that, that is why they no longer have the open houses because people don't focus on the reason why you are leaving but more on the fact that you ARE leaving. But right now? Just when my son gets ready to leave. Oh the injustice of choosing to follow the rules. But like a good good friend said, "they haven't said anything about a welcome home party." On a SIDE NOTE, I am so sad that you no longer get to go inside that great learning institution called the MTC. Thanks to the N1H1 breakout as of 2009 they have changed the way you drop off your son or daughter. You drive up to the front of the MTC, a "valet" opens your sons door, dad gets the luggage, mom hugs goodbye, and you are wisked back into your car and your son or daughter are wisked upto the building, and in record speed of 5 mintues or less. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS. I feel so jiped. Maybe because I was never allowed to go with my parents when my older siblings left for a mission and as I never served a mission, I never got to go. NOW was my chance to get that imfamous photo of you and your boy infront of the WW Building. And a picture in front of the Christ picture. ohh longing for the past. I have a plan though. Since he reports on Wednesday, we are going to show up on Tuesday and get our pictures, and then when they try to shew him away I can say he's mine for one more day. I'll let you now in 105 days if that really happens though.
Passport and Acceptance (12/14/10)
Things to do today:
1. Apply for passport
2. Write Acceptance Letter.
Well round 2 of applying for passport. So we heard through the grapevine(knudsens) that the best place to apply for a passport is the Post office on Center Street and Main. The reason for that is all others (except 1 location) you have to make an appointment and this post office is all walk ins.. So we took their advice and headed to this post office. So we pull up and there are ALOT of cars. oh boy, there is going to be a line. Well we head up with our application, original birth certificate(glad i ordered lots when he was a baby because I am now down to one) and his drivers license, and 2 passport pictures. GREAT! No line. Step right up and the man in the blue uniform will be right with you. We'll 30 minutes later we are still waiting for the man in the blue uniform to show up. Interesting side note, while we are waiting a gentleman shows up who needs to get a replacement as he lost his passport in Yuma, and needs to get a replacement asap as he has a dentist appointment in Mexico in two weeks. Had a very nice chat with this man. Turns out he grew up in Mesa, knows alot of Mormons (isn't one mind you), has a great respect for boys who are willing to leave family for 2 years to serve all around the world. Nice man. Back to story, man in blue uniform shows up, give him passport, birth certificate and passport photos. Very smart man, looks at Dylan's information and already deduces that he needs his passport expedited. Anyways checks it all out and the grand total is $196.00 check or money order please. WHAT? State department clearly states that it takes credit and debit. No. So now we need to head to the bank, get a money order from then(they don't charge WF customers a fee for money orders, unlike the post office. Get money order and can pay for the post office $25 fee with a credit/debit card. (how kind of them) Come back to post office and at least the man in the uniform is still there, Pay the fees and watch him put the application in an overnight envelope to head to the state department. Note to reader: money order does not get payable to post office but to the state department. Good thing i didn't fill that out. would of had to go back to the bank. UGH! So 2-3 weeks to wait for that expedited passport.
After the passport we have a few minutes so I decided to take my new missionary to Pomeroys. Getting a little nervous. Now have a reason to go there. Anyways head in to take a gander as we have lots of time(says the salesman). Apparently the number one top quality item to have in Madagascar are good shoes. No chintzing on this one. Get ready for this $110 smack a roonies for a pair of Hush Puppies. Which for this mission the sales person recommends this over the Rockwells. Hush puppies are water resitance and the souls are better attached. (Salesperson had a good friend go the Madagascar and did agree that this mission is very hard on the shoes) WOW $110 and we need 3 pairs. Well after that shock, although glad we went, Dylan tried on a few suits, very cool, my little boy is growing up. Learned a few things about suits and their armpit sweat catching pockets they have. Everyone should at least go to Pomeroys. Just for the experience. Very nice salesman. Home for about 2 years. He also helped with the sticker shock of mission clothing setting you back 1200-1600 depending on where you go. So glad there are options when it comes to clothing. I love my boy but he doesn't need brand new everything. Especially as he is going to a third world country. Dylan did show me on the globe that they have in Pomeroys that Arizona and Madagascar are literally on the opposite sides of the world. If dylan wanted to get away he surely is. Can't get any further than the sweet island of Madagascar and King Julian. (see madagascar disney movie to find out who King Julian is). So after we get home from Pomeroys, Dylan wants to go out before his many interviews with Bishop Walker (we love you Bishop!) Well Dylan needed to write his acceptance letter to the First Presidency, and he still hadn't yet. I assumed the letter was already written and you just had to sign it. NOT. They actually have to write a letter to the First Presidency stating they will accept this mission call. The nerve of those men asking these boys to actually touch a piece of paper and pen and think about writing something. This was really hard for Dylan. Image that, not being able to use his cell phone and text the First Presidency his acceptance letter. I am glad when I found out it wasn't a preformed letter. How many times do you actually write to the First Presidency of the church. I did once. It was very cool. Even cooler to receive a letter back. Well, needless to say. Dylan wrote his letter and took it with him to the Bishop because Bishop needs to sign the letter also. bishop signed it(thanks Bishop!) and next thing i know is Dylan calling and asking about a Temple date. Oh very exciting next step
1. Apply for passport
2. Write Acceptance Letter.
Well round 2 of applying for passport. So we heard through the grapevine(knudsens) that the best place to apply for a passport is the Post office on Center Street and Main. The reason for that is all others (except 1 location) you have to make an appointment and this post office is all walk ins.. So we took their advice and headed to this post office. So we pull up and there are ALOT of cars. oh boy, there is going to be a line. Well we head up with our application, original birth certificate(glad i ordered lots when he was a baby because I am now down to one) and his drivers license, and 2 passport pictures. GREAT! No line. Step right up and the man in the blue uniform will be right with you. We'll 30 minutes later we are still waiting for the man in the blue uniform to show up. Interesting side note, while we are waiting a gentleman shows up who needs to get a replacement as he lost his passport in Yuma, and needs to get a replacement asap as he has a dentist appointment in Mexico in two weeks. Had a very nice chat with this man. Turns out he grew up in Mesa, knows alot of Mormons (isn't one mind you), has a great respect for boys who are willing to leave family for 2 years to serve all around the world. Nice man. Back to story, man in blue uniform shows up, give him passport, birth certificate and passport photos. Very smart man, looks at Dylan's information and already deduces that he needs his passport expedited. Anyways checks it all out and the grand total is $196.00 check or money order please. WHAT? State department clearly states that it takes credit and debit. No. So now we need to head to the bank, get a money order from then(they don't charge WF customers a fee for money orders, unlike the post office. Get money order and can pay for the post office $25 fee with a credit/debit card. (how kind of them) Come back to post office and at least the man in the uniform is still there, Pay the fees and watch him put the application in an overnight envelope to head to the state department. Note to reader: money order does not get payable to post office but to the state department. Good thing i didn't fill that out. would of had to go back to the bank. UGH! So 2-3 weeks to wait for that expedited passport.
After the passport we have a few minutes so I decided to take my new missionary to Pomeroys. Getting a little nervous. Now have a reason to go there. Anyways head in to take a gander as we have lots of time(says the salesman). Apparently the number one top quality item to have in Madagascar are good shoes. No chintzing on this one. Get ready for this $110 smack a roonies for a pair of Hush Puppies. Which for this mission the sales person recommends this over the Rockwells. Hush puppies are water resitance and the souls are better attached. (Salesperson had a good friend go the Madagascar and did agree that this mission is very hard on the shoes) WOW $110 and we need 3 pairs. Well after that shock, although glad we went, Dylan tried on a few suits, very cool, my little boy is growing up. Learned a few things about suits and their armpit sweat catching pockets they have. Everyone should at least go to Pomeroys. Just for the experience. Very nice salesman. Home for about 2 years. He also helped with the sticker shock of mission clothing setting you back 1200-1600 depending on where you go. So glad there are options when it comes to clothing. I love my boy but he doesn't need brand new everything. Especially as he is going to a third world country. Dylan did show me on the globe that they have in Pomeroys that Arizona and Madagascar are literally on the opposite sides of the world. If dylan wanted to get away he surely is. Can't get any further than the sweet island of Madagascar and King Julian. (see madagascar disney movie to find out who King Julian is). So after we get home from Pomeroys, Dylan wants to go out before his many interviews with Bishop Walker (we love you Bishop!) Well Dylan needed to write his acceptance letter to the First Presidency, and he still hadn't yet. I assumed the letter was already written and you just had to sign it. NOT. They actually have to write a letter to the First Presidency stating they will accept this mission call. The nerve of those men asking these boys to actually touch a piece of paper and pen and think about writing something. This was really hard for Dylan. Image that, not being able to use his cell phone and text the First Presidency his acceptance letter. I am glad when I found out it wasn't a preformed letter. How many times do you actually write to the First Presidency of the church. I did once. It was very cool. Even cooler to receive a letter back. Well, needless to say. Dylan wrote his letter and took it with him to the Bishop because Bishop needs to sign the letter also. bishop signed it(thanks Bishop!) and next thing i know is Dylan calling and asking about a Temple date. Oh very exciting next step
On Your Mark, Get Set, GO! (12/13/10)
It has been 15 days since we received Dylan's mission call. It has been an exciting first week. Second week Dylan went with his buddy to Salt Lake and had a most exciting time. Not one I would recommend but Dylan had fun. Anyways so here it is Monday and we have a list of things to that his papers said to do IMMEDIATELY. I guess boys don't know the meaning of immediately as it has taken us two weeks to get started. Anyways today first thing on our list was
1. get shot records from Pediatrician.
2. get passport pictures taken
3. apply for passport.
4. write acceptance of call letter.
5. mail acceptance letter.
6. if we have time stop by Pomeroys. (This store has the NY Macy's effect. Its the store to shop at in NYC, if, you have the money. Any store would do but one just has to go there to say they were there)
7. Go to Doctors appointment to get Shots that dylan needs.
Items on list that got accomplished #1,2,6
So that day went something like this. 8:20 time to get up dylan, I am taking the babies to Amandas so we can get some of this stuff done. 8:55 leave for amanda's, Dylan is still in bed. 9:15 get back from dropping kids off at Amanda's, Dylan still in bed. 10:00 we are finally ready to leave. We head to the Pediatrician, get his records transfered, find out that they have no copies of Dylan receive any immunizations. Turns out he had received all his shots in Tucson, before we moved here. I had the only original shot records. Glad I saved it. Nurse suggests we go to county, as I was sure he received some shots there, turns out he didn't. Then she suggests we try the High School as the school is supposedly required to keep records for 5 years. (Nurse Elle says the school isn't required to keep any records, but since Dylan graduated last year she still had his shot records-YAY) Turned out she had the same exact shots recorded that I did. So we head back to the house, Dylan decides he needs to go see Dayna at school. 1 1/2 later back at the house he comes. While he is gone I decide to check out the passport place and times cause i was sure they closed at 2 and we were pushing time. Turns out none of the Passport/Post office Locations are open. They are all closed at 2. bummer! Rushed for nothing. Well we head to Walgreens to get passport pictures. i should have taken a picture but Dylan is wearing his tie and suit jacket with shorts one. Funniest thing around. We wait for 20 minutes just to get the picture taken. Note to self- stay away from walgreens right before all the kids get let out of school, all the moms are picking up pictures, doesn't help that it is christmas and everyone is picking up Family Christmas Pictures. Anyways we finally take the pictures, they are horrible but i guess they will work. It gets the job done. Note to everyone out there. Passport pictures are 2 for $9.99. If you have the pictures taken at the Post office they are $15.00. So we head off to the doctors get there, talk to the doctor about why we are there, Any the doctor wonders why anyone would go to Madagascar. Then ah hah! the light goes on in his head...you must be mormon! that we are. Anyways fun part of the appointment is Dylan got 4 shots. Typhoid, DTap booster, Menengitis, and Hep A. The bad part is that the sec
ond dose of Hep A has to be given exactly 6 months from now. MTC paperwork says he needs all his shots before he enters, but then it says you can get shots there. But if he is only in the MTC for 6 weeks then he will leave the country and can't get them. OR he stays in the MTC for 3 months and will then be able to get the shots before he leaves. So question is- who do I call to ask about this? this part to be continued. Dylan did great getting his shots. 2 in each arm. A small sacrifice for the Lord.
1. get shot records from Pediatrician.
2. get passport pictures taken
3. apply for passport.
4. write acceptance of call letter.
5. mail acceptance letter.
6. if we have time stop by Pomeroys. (This store has the NY Macy's effect. Its the store to shop at in NYC, if, you have the money. Any store would do but one just has to go there to say they were there)
7. Go to Doctors appointment to get Shots that dylan needs.
Items on list that got accomplished #1,2,6
So that day went something like this. 8:20 time to get up dylan, I am taking the babies to Amandas so we can get some of this stuff done. 8:55 leave for amanda's, Dylan is still in bed. 9:15 get back from dropping kids off at Amanda's, Dylan still in bed. 10:00 we are finally ready to leave. We head to the Pediatrician, get his records transfered, find out that they have no copies of Dylan receive any immunizations. Turns out he had received all his shots in Tucson, before we moved here. I had the only original shot records. Glad I saved it. Nurse suggests we go to county, as I was sure he received some shots there, turns out he didn't. Then she suggests we try the High School as the school is supposedly required to keep records for 5 years. (Nurse Elle says the school isn't required to keep any records, but since Dylan graduated last year she still had his shot records-YAY) Turned out she had the same exact shots recorded that I did. So we head back to the house, Dylan decides he needs to go see Dayna at school. 1 1/2 later back at the house he comes. While he is gone I decide to check out the passport place and times cause i was sure they closed at 2 and we were pushing time. Turns out none of the Passport/Post office Locations are open. They are all closed at 2. bummer! Rushed for nothing. Well we head to Walgreens to get passport pictures. i should have taken a picture but Dylan is wearing his tie and suit jacket with shorts one. Funniest thing around. We wait for 20 minutes just to get the picture taken. Note to self- stay away from walgreens right before all the kids get let out of school, all the moms are picking up pictures, doesn't help that it is christmas and everyone is picking up Family Christmas Pictures. Anyways we finally take the pictures, they are horrible but i guess they will work. It gets the job done. Note to everyone out there. Passport pictures are 2 for $9.99. If you have the pictures taken at the Post office they are $15.00. So we head off to the doctors get there, talk to the doctor about why we are there, Any the doctor wonders why anyone would go to Madagascar. Then ah hah! the light goes on in his head...you must be mormon! that we are. Anyways fun part of the appointment is Dylan got 4 shots. Typhoid, DTap booster, Menengitis, and Hep A. The bad part is that the sec
ond dose of Hep A has to be given exactly 6 months from now. MTC paperwork says he needs all his shots before he enters, but then it says you can get shots there. But if he is only in the MTC for 6 weeks then he will leave the country and can't get them. OR he stays in the MTC for 3 months and will then be able to get the shots before he leaves. So question is- who do I call to ask about this? this part to be continued. Dylan did great getting his shots. 2 in each arm. A small sacrifice for the Lord.
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