Melchezidek Training (11/9/2010)

So tonight was Dylan's 1st training meeting. I didn't know they had training. He said it was all about what the priesthood means and what you can and should do with it. Very interesting Dylan said it was him and a pair of twin boys. President Gardner was teaching. Dylan liked President Gardner. I do to. He is really a very humbling man.

Deadline for Real(11/7/2010)

Dylan's deadline is here. Has to have the book read by today. Still in Ether. So the Stake President lets him slide as the Dentist apparently hasn't turned in Dylan's paperwork. He got 1 day reprieve. Lucky Dylan. So all day monday he is reading while I am at the Dentist. Well turns out I have a dentist appointment that day and the great dentist that we have actually let me delivery the exam papers to Bishop. I do, turns out Dylan didn't sign it. How can the boy sign the paper if the paper isn't filled out yet. DOn't get it but ok. Well turns out Dylan never sign the medical exam form either. So Dylan has to go to the bishops house and sign it. Then the bishop took the paperwork to the Stake President, but the Stake president does NOT go to the church building on Mondays. So we had to wait till Tuesday.

As of Monday Dylan still had a bit to read, so him and I sat down in his room and well, Dylan managed to get a head of me reading (because I got sick) and I started where he was and we finished together (reading silently of course). It was way fun. Very exciting. So Dylan called the stake president and told him he was done. I think the Stake President might be sick of Dylan now. I wonder if the old Stake President, who just left for a mission in July, would have gotten a kick out of Dylan and all his texting. This, I am sure, was a lesson for this Stake President. It was all very exciting. So although Dylan didn't technically meet his goal, he still accomplished it and actually got some exciting stuff out of it. I now know that Abinidai is his favorite hero. I still need to get through Alma, but I read everything before and after Alma. I think Captain Moroni is my favorite. A true warrior and if I might say American.

Halloween(10/31/2010)

So today was Dylan's deadline to read the book of Mormon, like he told the Bishop. We'll apparently it was a self imposed deadline and that he really didn't have to finish it until Nov 7th when he meet with the Stake President. So the heat is really on he now has 1 week to read the book of mormon. We'll apparently he started a little bit. I agreed to read with him. I never had cover to cover read the book of mormon, and since I was doing it anyways I might as well start over and do it with him. Well he wasn't doing it, so I started to read it myself from the beginning and I kept telling him where I was, and guess what he started reading. I have never realized what an awesome book this is. 2nd Nephi is so awesome!!!

Good Goals! (10/10/10)

So the past month has been very interesting. Almost like walking on eggshells. One doesn't want to push very much but when the decision has been made...well...lets go! So Dylan came home today and said, "moms here's the plan(thanks for including me, son)
A. read the book of mormon by October 31st.
B. Meet with the Stake Presidency on Nov 7th to submit mission papers and have Melcezidek Priesthood Interview
C. Nov 14th be receive the Melcezidek priesthood and be ordained to the office of an elder.

WOW!!!!

He sure has the ball and is running now. I was so excited to hear this. Dayna was just as surprised too.

Paper work, paper work and more paperwork (12/28/2010)

So today was little exciting. I actually got to do some stuff for Dylan.
*I got his visa paperwork ready and copied.
*His passport and pictures ready to mail and made copies.
*I put all his mission paperwork into sheet protectors and binders. (that is a major plus for me)
*Paid Dylan's really nice speeding ticket (now he doesn't have to fear having a warrant out for him).
*Made our todo list- so he isn't cranky when I have a list of things for him to do in the near future.
*I also filled out his little calendar of when we have to do things.
*I called church Headquarters to get his Line of Authority researched. *Called the temple and made his appointment to go to the Temple on January 8th at 5:30 p.m.
*I called the MTC travel office because they had his name wrong on his visa.
*Called back the MTC travel office to see if they wanted to me mail his visa and passport now or to wait till March 23rd when I get the letter from the police department. (i have now called the MTC 4 times)
*Had Richard fix his passport pictures and uploaded them to Walgreens (he needs to take 15 passport photos with him to Mada for visas. They only give out 90 days visa, so every 3 months the mission has to reapply for him).
*I also got to email and get an email in return from his Mission President assistant.

It has been a very productive day. Now tomorrow lets see if I can get to the mailbox and actually mail all this stuff.

FRIENDS, FRIENDS, FRIENDS (12/27/2010)

So you know the sayings, birds that flock together stay together...you know something like that. You know the other saying that friends influence friends...no that one doesn't work either. Well Dylan just found out that one of his good friends received his mission call to Paris and is reporting to the MTC on April 6th. The same day as Dylan. We also found out that a lady who use to be in our ward, her nephew is serving in the same mission that Dylan is and reports also on April 6th. Then there was this guy from Florida that found us and he also is serving in Madagascar and also reports on the same day as Dylan. Then there is Dylan's best friend Chase who is submitting his papers and also has a chance of being in the MTC at the same time. And then there is Zach who is in our ward and is 2 months younger than Dylan (we have been in this ward for 10 years the same as Zach) and he just needs to hit the submit button and he is ready to go. He also has the same chances as Chase to be in the MTC with Dylan, especially as Dylan will be in the MTC from April 6 to June 1st. This is so amazing to see all these guys who has grown up together, gone to school together are now serving together. I saw my brother do it and is still friends some 18 years later. Friends are amazing. is all I can say.

Passport & Visas (12/27/2010)

Today, Dylan's passport arrived in the mail. It was very quick to get here, I was just thinking to myself earlier in the day, I wonder when it will come, it should be here soon.

Anyways, it arrived today. VERY COOL. I have never seen a real passport, even though my sister and father had one. Its just kind of neat. Dylan's picture isn't the best but it will do also.

So now that the passport is here, the next step to do is to fill out the visa and sent it and dylan's passport to the MTC. But we also need to send a letter from the local police department stating that he has no criminal record. Interesting huh. I wonder how many countries require that. I also thought his Visa has to be mailed to Madagascar. Turns out there is a Madagascar Embassy in California. I do however, need to call the travel department because I don't know if I am suppose to wait and send all this information in when I receive the police record, which has to be no earlier than March 23rd. Yet the visa application has to be to them by April 2nd. Which is when we will be leaving to head to Salt Lake for General Conference and then we are going to do some sight seeing and then drop Dylan off in the MTC. Should be a very exciting weekend. I really need to start making a timetable to do list. There are SOOOO many little things that are now needed to be done.

Missionary Song

Temple Recommend (12/26/2010)

So today was the big day. Dylan went to meet with the Stake President to have his temple recommend interview. I, as his mother was very excited. I couldn't tell if he was excited, but I guess boys are different than girls, and when I think back to my first recommend I can't remember anything about it. Well, the Stake President signed it and Dylan's temple date is January 8th, unless the temple says they are full that day. We are going to try to get into the 5:30 p.m. session. I as a LDS mother is very excited. We try so hard to teach our children that they need to prepare for temple, yet we know it is their choice. They must choose to go to the temple on their own, and then choose to live this lifestly as member of the church. It is a big commitment. It has made me take a step back and reflect on how I am teaching my children about this gospel, and am I teaching my children that living this gospel is a daily choice. We choose to get up everyday and continue to have faith in Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father, and to be a member of this church. It makes me happy that one of my children has chosen to take the next step, a step that will take him closer to receiving exaltation.

Temple Recommend Part I (12/25/2010)

So I wondered if I should say anything about this subject as it is very special and should be treated as such. But since part of this purpose is to share in the whole planning and not knowing all the workings of a mission, as the stuff I would say is nothing that isn't on the internet I figured I'd put it in. It's not much but by now you should now that you must meet with the Stake President on Sundays to have a interview for your recommend . Well in our stake you need to send an email to request an appointment with the Stake Presidency, and they only read their mail on Saturday. So I have been quietly urging Dylan to send an email, as two weeks ago the Bishop issued Dylan his recommend,. and this week is Christmas and next week is New Years Day, and the following weekend is when we would like to go to the temple. Anyways short story long. Dylan has an appointment tomorrow to meet with the stake president.
I am excited. I hope Dylan is too. The church now encourages the young men to go to the temple as soon as they receive their call. Dylan has now had his call for 1 month.
I guess I have no patience. When you say jump, I don't ask questions, I just jump. Ready to go.