Mesa Temple (2/5/2011)

 So today we had the pleasure of being with Dylan when he went to the temple today. It was a real special experience. The bishop and his wife were there as well as bro knudsen, crosby, and the Hustons were there. His 2 aunts also went. It was nice to have some family there. Afterwards we went out to eat at La Parilla Suiza and had a fun time chatting it up.

Passalong Address Cards (2/3/2011)

So this are Dylans passalong cards. We made them as his mission address is so long it was just easier this way. And then he can also give them to his companions so they can have his home address. My sister did this when she went on her mission. And she pasted one in her journal of every new companion that she had. Its kind of cool if ya ask me. Now lets see if he uses them. Bytheway the mission address is his real one if you want to write him.

Distribution Center (2/2/2011)

Well today was a little exciting in a way. Dylan went to the distribution center today after spending a half an hour looking for his recommend, that he didn't need in the first place. He purchased the required 14 pairs. It was fun seeing how picky guys really can be. Or not so much picky but they no what they don't like. Hopefully we got the right size. If not we will be heading back there again.  It was quite fun and made going to the temple a little more closer.   It was also interesting the instructions they gave him about the care of them. Also turned out this sister's son's best friend served in Madagascar. It is unreal how many people are either going or know of someone who has gone.

Seriously...where are you going (12/15/2010)

Since it has been really quiet right now. I just wanted to blog about our reactions when people find out where Dylan is going.
Basically the conversation goes like this...

FRIEND: so i heard your son got his mission call.
ME: yup. we are very excited for him.
FRIEND: ya. so where is he going.
ME: this is so cool...wait for it....MADAGASCAR!!!
FRIEND: Seriously..where's he going?
ME: seriously Madagascar. He leaves April 6th.
FRIEND: I didn't even know there was a mission there. Where is it located?
ME: Its an island of the coast of South Africa. Literally on the other side of the world.
FRIEND: WOW!

Through the Temple Doors (1/4/11)

So tonight Richard, Dylan and I went to do some baptisms for family names. Since Dylan had his temple recommend, we decided to go to the front of the entrance, and see if we could "cut through" to the baptismal font. So I told Dylan what we were doing and he said "I always wanted to go through the front doors."  You know that was one of the most exciting things when I went to get married. Getting to go through the front doors. For 6 years one goes through the baptismal doors, like going through the back door. That in of it self is exciting, but to know that you are worthy to get to go through the front Temple Doors, is just so sweet. The man at the recommend desk said it was fine to go through as Dylan had his temporary recommend as well as his new recommend. He was excited to see the chapel "the singing room" and mentioned about all the mirrors. One forgets about all the mirrors and it is nice to be reminded. Dylan remembered the sealing room where Richard and I were sealed in, pretty good memory since this happened when Dylan was eight.  I think it was also good as Dylan got to enter the temple on a night where it was quiet and empty (we went at 8:30 at night). He got to take a nice long look when it was quiet and when you can feel of the spirit, as oppose to (not that its bad or anything) going in on Saturday when it is really busy and people are everywhere and you are being rushed from this point to that point. I love being at the temple when it is quiet and peaceful. I think everyone who is going to the temple for the first time so go in the evening on a workday. Dylan plans on going to the temple on January 22.

Mission call video- the unedited version

OVERDUE (11/26/10)

Okay. This envelope is really coming today. It better come today. After the pain and agony of no mail yesterday...it really has to be here. Well, we set up the camcorder to again stalk the mailman, and then just waited. It wasn't long before Dylan and I were talking about the mailman and Kenneth was like the Mailman is here. No. what! we didn't hear the mailman. so we run to the window and sure enough he is there. We watch, holding our breath to see if he has that most desired envelope in his hands....wait for it...HE DOES!!!! You can't miss that one. (unfortunately, in the video you can) So I tell Dylan, lets go...and the action begins. check out the video if you want a first hand experience and expression on Dylans face. It was priceless. The excited and pulse pounding rush....Here it is. The call to serve a Mission as a representative of the Lord for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. Years of singing the song I hope they call me on a mission has paid off. Where does he go, when does he leave, what language is he learning....Well I can tell you one thing...I cheated...he's going foreign...the postage is $1.73. And a sidebar. as i was checking out the postage I noticed that the packet was mailed November 23, not the 19th as the computer says. So again, just cause the doc says the baby has a due date, they can also be overdue.

Wait a minute Mr. Postman (12/28/10)

So I put my mind to it today and actually got to the postoffice. This is so going to be a struggle for me when Dylan leaves. I can NEVER get to the post office.

So today, we went to Walgreens and got Dylans 15 passport pics. Cut them up and sent them to the Mission President in Madagascar. NOTE TO EVERYONE. To send a letter to Madagascar it is .98 cents. not .44 cents! Good thing I asked the postman.

Went to the bank and deposited Dylan's insurance check to pay for his speeding ticket. Mailed off the speeding ticket. Hopefully I filled that out correctly. Enjoy the money county of Juab!

Mailed of Dylan's passport and visa application to SLC. Sent it certified to make sure it got there. Would hate to have to pay for a replacement.

THE MISSION CALL (11/27/2010)

So the Stake President was right after all. Because of family working on thanksgiving we decided to have our Feast on Saturday. Dylan's best friend was out of town on a cruise this week and Dylan promised him that he would wait for him to come back. We'll Dylan about killed himself waiting the one day, i don't think he could have waited 2 days till Chase came back on Sunday. As it was,after we got the envelope in the mail, we hung it up on the wall above the map, everytime Dylan walked by it he keep looking at it and touching it. Well, Dayna in all her funness, decided to pull a prank on him. since we couldn't give him a fake mission call we decided to change out the envelope in case he broke down in the middle of the night and open it while we were all sleeping. So we took his envelope and hid it, we replaced it with an almost exact duplicate except there was a big blue stripe on the front of the envelope, so we turned it around. A couple of hours later Dylan gave in. took the envelope off the wall and started to open it. He then resisted and put the envelope back down. Not even noticing that it wasn't the real deal, I hurried and put it back on the wall. Well Saturday came, and he couldn't wait till Sunday so he send out the word...HIGH NOON...he was going to open his call. Good thing we were having Thanksgiving at our house, I was able to clean it, and thanks to my wonderful sister Allison, who cleaned all my windows and my floor in the entry. So people started showing up at noon, we ended up waiting till 12:20, as we were trying to get the computer video up, and people on all the cell phones. It was hectic but great! Finally everyone is here and he starts to open "the call" and then he turns it over and is like...what, this isn't it. Where is my real call. It was so funny. Watch the video if you want to see if live. Anyways he thanks everyone for coming and opens it, and is looking, and starts laughing inside his head, and grandma is like..what..i can't hear you! Then he begins to real it...you are called to service in the ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR mission! NO!!!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS????? That is like winning the lottery ticket. No one in our family gets to go to such a cool place. (Go King Julian) Wow. We were all flabergasted. Wow. Watch the video. It was great. He leaves April 6, 2011. 6 days after his sister turns 18 and right after General Conference. Guess where we are going next year? You got it. General Conference. What an exciting thing to happen. That is only 4 months away. So much to do so little time. Madagascar! Wow.

Saturday Night Adult Meeting (11/13/2010)

This meeting was most awesome. I had to add that. But this post is about Dylan of course. So by now we are thinking that the Stake President had submitted Dylan's papers as Dylan did his part therefor we thought the President did his. So after Stake Conference we are walking out and we meet up with a member of our ward who is a High Councilor and he asked us about Dylan and ordaining him to an elder, and he told us to catch the Bishop and make sure everything was good. And I am like great, oh look, the bishop is right behind you. Too cool. Bishop hits me up and he says, sis thurlow, why don't you go and tell the stake president that the momma bear is wanting to know about the cubs papers. IE...the stake president hasn't turned them in. See the bishop can see on his computer where the mission papers are. i.e. they are in the boys hand, in the bishops hands, or at the stake presidents, in salt lake, or in the mail and on their way back. Well apparently they were still in the hands of the Stake President. Now i have to remember, that we can't rush things, we think we did our part, now all you have to do is to hit the submit button. Well the stake president has to recommend the boy too. and it took me awhile. In fact I am learning that lesson in my calling. We can't rush the counselors or Bishops to do things just because we want them to. All in good time.

Well, I hit up the Stake President after I talked to the Bishop, and the Stake President said he still hadn't turned them in but he promised that he would the next day. He said it would make for a great thanksgiving memory. I am like what. It won't be back that soon. The Stake President just smiled. Then as we are leaving the High councilman we talked to before was still at the door and he said, "if the stake president said he would do it tomorrow, then he will." I believed him. Now we wait.