Saturday, June 12, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
MTC Miracle
We were planning on attending the local Deaf Branch today but Rick suggested we swing by the MTC and see if we could drop off a package for our niece, Kydee, who had just entered come in last Wednesday. Rick not only wanted to drop off a package, but he was really hoping to see her. He was even contemplating how we could possibly get a tour of the MTC. But apparently things have changed a lot since I was in the MTC 21 years ago.
In those days all of the parents came in with their missionaries and they had a big meeting with all of the new missionaries and sang "Called to Serve" and then parents went out one door and missionaries went out the other. I will never forget that feeling of seeing my parents leave, knowing I would not see them for 18 months. I couldn't help but get misty eyed with a big lump in my throat. Well, now days parents don't even get to come in. They have to say goodbye to their missionary in the parking lot. They have also really tightened up security. Not only can you not drop off packages directly to the MTC, but you can not bring food. So the big polite young man at the desk told us this was a "double NO NO."
Well, Rick doesn't give up that easily. He kept trying to figure out a way we could get in but with no luck. This guy was just doing his job and was absolutely not going to bend. I kept signing to him "Let's just go -- he is not going to let you in!" Rick kept talking to the front desk people and finally after about 20 minutes he mentions that we are interpreters for the deaf and did they need an interpreter for any of their meetings that day? The worker said he was sure that they already had interpreters but just to appease Rick he would call the foreign language missionaries to make sure. Soon an older couple came to the front and a very sweet lady said, "You are interpreters? Well, this is really a miracle! Our interpreters that were scheduled for sacrament meeting today had to cancel at the last minute and I haven't found anyone. Would you like to interpreter our sacrament meeting?" Rick lights up, "We would love to." She says the meeting starts in one hour. Then the older missionary says, "Would you like a tour of the MTC?" Now Rick is even more excited and exclaims (as if the idea had never even crossed his mind), "We would LOVE a tour!"
So that is how we and our daughter, Janika, and her friend, Madison got a tour of the MTC. It was so cool, but the pinnacle of the visit was being able to be there for that awesome testimony meeting! (And afterwards we did get to see Kydee and we did get to give her the package.) I should have known Rick would figure out a way to make it all happen. I am so glad he did. What a cool experience to hear these missionaries bear testimony of the Savior and the work they were about to do. Several of them had only come in on Wednesday and said that they had learned more about the gospel and felt the spirit more in the past few days than in their entire lives. Each of them bore such a powerful witness and the spirit was incredible. When we left Madison said, "Wow! That was the best testimony meeting I have ever been to in my entire life!" Both Madison and Janika were really touched and it just cemented their desire to serve a mission. They said, "In seven years we will be back here and can take another picture by the map and sign and then post them side by side. How cool is that?" What a perfect way to start off our EFY week!
In those days all of the parents came in with their missionaries and they had a big meeting with all of the new missionaries and sang "Called to Serve" and then parents went out one door and missionaries went out the other. I will never forget that feeling of seeing my parents leave, knowing I would not see them for 18 months. I couldn't help but get misty eyed with a big lump in my throat. Well, now days parents don't even get to come in. They have to say goodbye to their missionary in the parking lot. They have also really tightened up security. Not only can you not drop off packages directly to the MTC, but you can not bring food. So the big polite young man at the desk told us this was a "double NO NO."
Well, Rick doesn't give up that easily. He kept trying to figure out a way we could get in but with no luck. This guy was just doing his job and was absolutely not going to bend. I kept signing to him "Let's just go -- he is not going to let you in!" Rick kept talking to the front desk people and finally after about 20 minutes he mentions that we are interpreters for the deaf and did they need an interpreter for any of their meetings that day? The worker said he was sure that they already had interpreters but just to appease Rick he would call the foreign language missionaries to make sure. Soon an older couple came to the front and a very sweet lady said, "You are interpreters? Well, this is really a miracle! Our interpreters that were scheduled for sacrament meeting today had to cancel at the last minute and I haven't found anyone. Would you like to interpreter our sacrament meeting?" Rick lights up, "We would love to." She says the meeting starts in one hour. Then the older missionary says, "Would you like a tour of the MTC?" Now Rick is even more excited and exclaims (as if the idea had never even crossed his mind), "We would LOVE a tour!"
So that is how we and our daughter, Janika, and her friend, Madison got a tour of the MTC. It was so cool, but the pinnacle of the visit was being able to be there for that awesome testimony meeting! (And afterwards we did get to see Kydee and we did get to give her the package.) I should have known Rick would figure out a way to make it all happen. I am so glad he did. What a cool experience to hear these missionaries bear testimony of the Savior and the work they were about to do. Several of them had only come in on Wednesday and said that they had learned more about the gospel and felt the spirit more in the past few days than in their entire lives. Each of them bore such a powerful witness and the spirit was incredible. When we left Madison said, "Wow! That was the best testimony meeting I have ever been to in my entire life!" Both Madison and Janika were really touched and it just cemented their desire to serve a mission. They said, "In seven years we will be back here and can take another picture by the map and sign and then post them side by side. How cool is that?" What a perfect way to start off our EFY week!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Heading Up North
Janika arrived home from her Youth Conference and Jase arrived home from his Scout River Trip this afternoon and then we took off for Provo. Janika already wrote about Youth Conference and I will have to have Jase write about his trip (and add pictures for both) later. Apparently Jase got the stomach flu on his trip and threw up about six times. Poor kid!!
Then about 45 minutes into our trip up North, Jenna threw up in the car. She had already had a stomach bug for several days (I went through tons of diapers) but hadn't thrown up. So here I was trying to strip her down and clean her up with wet wipes in the car as best I could until our first stop when I could at least wash out her clothes. Gerilyn and Grandma Jensen met us in Provo at our hotel in order to switch cars. She was taking the kids the rest of the way to Ogden for the rest of the week while Rick and I (and Janika and Madison) went to EFY. We are SO grateful for Gerilyn and her willingness to take our kids so that we can do this. She even went above and beyond by meeting us in Provo so that we didn't have to drive clear to Ogden and then turn around and go back to Provo. We would never be able to Session Direct at EFY if it weren't for her help. I felt really bad leaving her with a sick baby!
We took Janika and Madison for a little shopping and then out to dinner. Rick and I were meeting Kerianne and Eric Hoth in order to plan the upcoming Hands Up 20th year reunion. Jani and Madi opted to eat at their own table while we had out "date" with the Hoths. We had a nice meal and visit with them and then Rick and the girls tried out the hot-tub and pool.
Then about 45 minutes into our trip up North, Jenna threw up in the car. She had already had a stomach bug for several days (I went through tons of diapers) but hadn't thrown up. So here I was trying to strip her down and clean her up with wet wipes in the car as best I could until our first stop when I could at least wash out her clothes. Gerilyn and Grandma Jensen met us in Provo at our hotel in order to switch cars. She was taking the kids the rest of the way to Ogden for the rest of the week while Rick and I (and Janika and Madison) went to EFY. We are SO grateful for Gerilyn and her willingness to take our kids so that we can do this. She even went above and beyond by meeting us in Provo so that we didn't have to drive clear to Ogden and then turn around and go back to Provo. We would never be able to Session Direct at EFY if it weren't for her help. I felt really bad leaving her with a sick baby!
We took Janika and Madison for a little shopping and then out to dinner. Rick and I were meeting Kerianne and Eric Hoth in order to plan the upcoming Hands Up 20th year reunion. Jani and Madi opted to eat at their own table while we had out "date" with the Hoths. We had a nice meal and visit with them and then Rick and the girls tried out the hot-tub and pool.
Youth Conference (Copy From Janika's Blog)
This post is a copy from Jani's blog (With her permission of course) journal4jani.blogspot.com
I went to Youth Conference on Thursday. I was really worried about making friends and such, especially because I was the youngest girl attending. It ended up being so much fun! We went to Warm Springs, Nevada. And get this. They had a spring...and it was...WARM! Haha it was so fun swimming in it and trying to float down it. There were two pools, both freshly filled from the spring. It was sooooo freakishly hot there, and I did get a little burned, but I also got a little tanned too. =) The girls tent was so fun. We had all of our heads in the middle and we stayed up talking all night long. The second night, the Bishop wouldn't stop splashing us in the pool, even when we warned him we'd get revenge. So we stayed up till four in the morning, playing ipod idol in order to keep him awake. So much fun. We all had to pick a song, and turn the volume all the way up so we couldn't hear ourselves sing, but everyone else could hear us. I sang Replay by Iyaz and according to the other girls, I sang with a Jamaican accent.... My favorite part was the devotional that was given by the Bishop (Brother Seamons) especially for the Young Women. We all had to write about the most challenging trial in our lives and he went through and read everyone's experiences. Mine was on moving to the deaf branch. It was a really spiritual experience and I really enjoyed it. The last day I had to leave early so I could get home in time to leave for EFY. I rode home early with a family in the ward but on the way back their tire popped. So we ended up waiting for about an hour or two for someone to bring a proper jack to fix it. In the end, I just rode to Saint George with someone else where my dad picked me up. I really had fun at Youth Conference. Except for the bugs. They are gross and very annoying. Haha that was about the only thing I didn't like. That and the heat and the fact that it was outdoors. Other than that, it was fun.
I went to Youth Conference on Thursday. I was really worried about making friends and such, especially because I was the youngest girl attending. It ended up being so much fun! We went to Warm Springs, Nevada. And get this. They had a spring...and it was...WARM! Haha it was so fun swimming in it and trying to float down it. There were two pools, both freshly filled from the spring. It was sooooo freakishly hot there, and I did get a little burned, but I also got a little tanned too. =) The girls tent was so fun. We had all of our heads in the middle and we stayed up talking all night long. The second night, the Bishop wouldn't stop splashing us in the pool, even when we warned him we'd get revenge. So we stayed up till four in the morning, playing ipod idol in order to keep him awake. So much fun. We all had to pick a song, and turn the volume all the way up so we couldn't hear ourselves sing, but everyone else could hear us. I sang Replay by Iyaz and according to the other girls, I sang with a Jamaican accent.... My favorite part was the devotional that was given by the Bishop (Brother Seamons) especially for the Young Women. We all had to write about the most challenging trial in our lives and he went through and read everyone's experiences. Mine was on moving to the deaf branch. It was a really spiritual experience and I really enjoyed it. The last day I had to leave early so I could get home in time to leave for EFY. I rode home early with a family in the ward but on the way back their tire popped. So we ended up waiting for about an hour or two for someone to bring a proper jack to fix it. In the end, I just rode to Saint George with someone else where my dad picked me up. I really had fun at Youth Conference. Except for the bugs. They are gross and very annoying. Haha that was about the only thing I didn't like. That and the heat and the fact that it was outdoors. Other than that, it was fun.
Jase's River Trip
I told Jase to write about his river trip. Here it is:
Last Thursday I went on a trip to the Colorado River in California. It took three and a half hour drive to get there. It was like 110 degrees during the day. For lunch we had a sack lunch and for dinner we had tinfoil dinners (mine had raw bacon when it was cooked). Before we went to bed I threw up the raw bacon. After that I went to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night and puked again. Then some drunk people next to us had a party and woke every body up at midnight. They stopped at 3 in the morning and I couldn't sleep. Right when I started feeling tired again and almost fell asleep, we had to get up for the trip (it was 4 in the morning). Then before I went to have breakfast I puked again. I barely ate any breakfast before it was time to head out on our boats (the boat was practically just 2 poles and a plank of wood). The leaders got canoes it was so unfair. But I had to go in a canoe because I felt sick. Then I threw up again in the river. We had to go 20 miles and I was in a canoe the whole time. When we stopped to eat lunch I puked again (it wasn't sea sickness it was the flu). When we got there we had to take apart our boats. It took forever. Our water was boiling hot from the sun when we were done. After that we went out to eat at In 'n' out Burger. Then we went to sleep. We had a better sleep that night. When we woke up in the morning we packed up and left. It was a hard trip.
Last Thursday I went on a trip to the Colorado River in California. It took three and a half hour drive to get there. It was like 110 degrees during the day. For lunch we had a sack lunch and for dinner we had tinfoil dinners (mine had raw bacon when it was cooked). Before we went to bed I threw up the raw bacon. After that I went to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night and puked again. Then some drunk people next to us had a party and woke every body up at midnight. They stopped at 3 in the morning and I couldn't sleep. Right when I started feeling tired again and almost fell asleep, we had to get up for the trip (it was 4 in the morning). Then before I went to have breakfast I puked again. I barely ate any breakfast before it was time to head out on our boats (the boat was practically just 2 poles and a plank of wood). The leaders got canoes it was so unfair. But I had to go in a canoe because I felt sick. Then I threw up again in the river. We had to go 20 miles and I was in a canoe the whole time. When we stopped to eat lunch I puked again (it wasn't sea sickness it was the flu). When we got there we had to take apart our boats. It took forever. Our water was boiling hot from the sun when we were done. After that we went out to eat at In 'n' out Burger. Then we went to sleep. We had a better sleep that night. When we woke up in the morning we packed up and left. It was a hard trip.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Happy Birthday Jaiden!!
Jaiden turned six years old today! Jaiden is lucky to always get her birthday on a holiday! This morning she opened her presents and then Janika fixed the family a yummy breakfast of fruit-filled pancakes and cheesy eggs. We all cleaned the house and then I took Jaiden, Janelle, and Janika shopping and out to lunch. I had already promised that I would take Jaiden out to lunch for her birthday but the other two really needed swimsuits and so we made a day of it. The benefit for Jaiden is that she came away with two new swimsuits as well (even though she already has several). On the way to the store I said, "Six years ago on this day I was on my way to the hospital to have a baby!" Jaiden was totally serious when she asked, "Who was it?" Janika and I burst into laughter -- "you, silly!"
Jaiden also got to choose a gift from the money from Grandma Jensen. She chose the game "Cootie." It was a good choice as the kids have all been playing with it and having fun. She and her friend, Boots, even brought the little cootie bugs into the pool and were playing with them there. At first I told them to get them out of the pool but then decided it probably wouldn't hurt the plastic bugs and so I let them go ahead. Anyway, the girls and I went out to lunch and then did more shopping. Yesterday Janika gave both girls a manicure and so Jaiden is showing off her nail polish in one of the pictures. Tonight the kids all went swimming and then we had cake and ice-cream! Janika made this rainbow cake and Jaiden loved it! Jaiden is so much fun! She is very affectionate and is always hugging and kissing. She always says and does the funniest things and keeps us laughing. We love Jaiden very much. Happy Birthday, Sweetie!
Jaiden also got to choose a gift from the money from Grandma Jensen. She chose the game "Cootie." It was a good choice as the kids have all been playing with it and having fun. She and her friend, Boots, even brought the little cootie bugs into the pool and were playing with them there. At first I told them to get them out of the pool but then decided it probably wouldn't hurt the plastic bugs and so I let them go ahead. Anyway, the girls and I went out to lunch and then did more shopping. Yesterday Janika gave both girls a manicure and so Jaiden is showing off her nail polish in one of the pictures. Tonight the kids all went swimming and then we had cake and ice-cream! Janika made this rainbow cake and Jaiden loved it! Jaiden is so much fun! She is very affectionate and is always hugging and kissing. She always says and does the funniest things and keeps us laughing. We love Jaiden very much. Happy Birthday, Sweetie!
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