Letter from the MTC (3/11/2011)

So Dylan received a letter from the MTC today. Quite exciting as you don't think you'll really get any communications from them. But he received a letter telling him to get a flu shot. To watch a few training videos before he goes, and to remind us that only one car is allowed at the MTC and that we need to say our goodbyes beforehand and that there is little time to take pictures.  One of my fav videos of a curbside drop off.

One Voice One Testimony

I am just one voice

But one voice can still be heard

I have made the choice to seal my witness with my word

changed by holy fire, that has burned into my soul

Filled with new desire, that calls me down to go

I am just one voice, but one voice can carry far

along through the noise, of a world so deaf and dark

Shining bright and clear, to those with eyes to see

Honest hearts will hear, the truth that lives in me

One but not alone, a thousand voices sing

Praises at the throne, of our master and our king

With one voice

One voice

I am just one voice,

But a voice of light and hope

Grateful I rejoice as I share the gifts I hold

I will search with all my strength, for the humble and the meek

Praying, they'll receive the simple truth I speak

One but not alone, a thousand voices sing

Praises at the throne, of our master and our king

With one voice

One voice

He was just one voice, but one voice that changed the earth

Teaching love and peace to a lost and weary world

I am just one voice, but one voice that will be heard

I have made the choice to seal my witness with my word

Trip to Salt Lake City (3/10/2011)

One would think that it would be such a big hassle to plan some fun activites in between General Conference and reporting to the MTC. Well it wouldn't be if Dylan wasn't being set apart before we leave. But with trying to stay within the Missionary rules. So here is the plan. we are driving to Salt Lake City, then to Afternoon session of General Conference. Monday we are going to the Salt Lake Temple, Red Butte Gardens and then to the Clark Planetarium. Then top it off with dinner at The Roof and a carriage ride around the city. So Sweet! Then we are going to the Mt Timpanogas Temple and then to Thanksgiving Point. Wednesday we are going on a sunrise hike then a session in the Provo Temple, do pictures at the MTC, then to lunch then back to drop Dylan off at the MTC. It's coming so soon.

Mt. Timpanogas Temple

Salt Lake Temple

Red Butte Gardens

Provo Temple

Thanksgiving Point

The Roof Restaraunt

Carriage Ride

Clark Planetarium

Malagasy Language (3-9-2011)

So Malagasy isn't a language you hear everyday.  In fact when Dylan and I first listened to videos we were like- no way.  But Dylan found some software that helps teach his the language, so he has a feel for it before he is immersed in it. Dylan made some flash cards to help him memorize some phrases. The language is very basic but it takes a lot of letters to make one word.

GOOD NIGHT!

Pre-Shopping, Shopping (3-8-2011)

So tonight a member of the ward, wanted to get something for Dylan's mission. So he came by and took Dylan out shopping. Dylan had a very fun time and came back with 6 of the 9 white shirts he needs and some dress socks. When Dylan came in with two shopping bags I was, like WOW! thinking I can't believe they spent that much on you and with less than a month to go we have so much to do and we are running out of time. It was another WOW! moment to remind me that this is really happening and also that we have a great ward family. It is just going to snowball from here on out! Thanks and love goes out to this wonderful family that bought Dylan his white shirts!

DATE & TIME (3-9-2011)

So we just finished checking the MTC website and it is official Dylan's time to ahem... "dump and roll" (the term now being used for the new curbside dropoff)  is at 1:15 p.m. on April 6th.  He also will be having his Missionary Farewell Talk on March 27th at 8:30  a.m. 

General Conference (2/20/2011)

So Dylan received his mission call and found out his report date I will admit I was a little selfish and the 1st thing I thought about was oh ya we are going to General Conference. I have always wanted to attend General conference in Salt Lake. What mormon hasn't. So we thought this is so cool we will leave friday hit up Saturday and sunday conference session...if we can get tickets. We'll first thing i didn't think about was that Friday is Dayna 18th birthday.  So we can't leave on her birthday that would be just wrong. So we thought we'd drive up on Saturday morning and catch sunday session. So we hit up the Stake President and asked him if this was okay to set Dylan apart on saturday. He said no. I was very upset to say the least. I apparently just didn't get it. Well Dylan, Richard and I talked it over and Dylan really wanted to go to General Conference (yes, he said it would be cool to go). So I called and doing it right this time, made an appointment with the Stake President. At least let me plead my case and tell him all the things we had plan that stayed within the mission rules (kind of as I am sure once he is a missionary he won't be able to go to the church history building).  So we'd stay within the missonary p-day rules.  Anyways in the morning our Stake Presidency counselor was at our building and told us that Dylan could be set apart on Saturday morning and that we could go to General conference. Bummer though SP counselor just turned down GC tickets.  UGH!  Thats okay we can hopefully get some through our bishop.  So how exciting is that to get to go to General Conference with my husband and my missionary.

BUGS, BANKS, and the BISHOP (2/17/2011)

So today was exciting and busy. Hopefully the 1st of many busy days to come.  So Dylan put his VW Bug up for sale on Craiglist. And he sold it in one day. He didn't sell it for what all the adults thought he should sell if but it was enough for his needs and knowing that the bug sometimes was unreliable he felt good about the price. If you want to know how much he sold it for you need to talk with Dylan. So we then headed to see Bishop Walker and tell him the good news and how Dylan is now out of debt (one of the requirements to leave).  Dylan confirmed his Farewell date and topic. Which his farewell is March 27th and his topic is the Restoration. Fitting topic since he reports on April 6th and it is right at General Confernce.  He even has to talk for 15 minutes as oppose to the average 3 minutes. Anyways also turns out that Dylan had a check from the Bishop for some days that he covered for someone at work. It was just enough to get his bank account into the positive with a bit left over. The Lord does bless you when you do service. Says Dylan.  After chatting with the Bishop for a while we then headed to the Bank to pay off his credit card and pay off a few other bills.  Dylan also put me on his bank account so I can put in some money for him if he needs it. Hopefully he shouldn't need any money but one never knows. But I am sure towards the end he will want  some money for souviniers. So this all which wasn't much took us 2 hours to do.  Hopefully all the other stuff we will need to do won't take alot of time to do it.

One of many... (Feb 16)

So, this is Dylan, the other day I had the opportunity to anoint the oil for Joey Brinkerhoff. Brinkerhoff told me Joey said he wanted me to do it. So, asked ma friends to take me home at 8 because thats when he called me! This was Monday night!! Then today Brinkerhoff called me and asked me to bless him! Goodness gracious. Called Bishop to come with me and I did it and just let whatever words come out and they said I did good :), I was sweating after though, I was nervous I guess, and today I got all debt free :)

Demetrius & Happy Birthday (1-30-2011)

So last week Sister Knudsen from our ward found out that a boy she works with just received his call and is going to....yup..madagascar.Demetrius leaves April 27. So Dylan and Demetrius will defintely get to know one another. Anyways the Knudsens invited Dylan and Demetrius over to their house for  lunch to introduce them. The Demetrius came over and I met him. He is a really nice guy. VERY TALL, Very nice kid. Dylan and D will have fun together.

The other cool thing about this day is that it was Dylan's 19th birthday. He is such a big boy :).  All he wanted was a pair of Chuck Taylor converse. We were happy to get them as he can use them on his mission.  He also had four cakes one for 19th, 20th, and 21st birthday and one from his friends, and he had about 36 mini cupcakes from another friend. I was a good birthday from a moms perspective.