Christmas Survey... Merry Christmas everyone!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper
2. Real tree or Artificial? I love the smell of real trees, but fake ones are easier to deal with. I just want ANY kind of tree in my home this year! (I don't think we're getting one!) :(
3. When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? First of the year or when I have time
5. Do you like eggnog? I have to say I've never tried it but just the smell takes my mood from wanting to try it, so i probably wouldn't like it.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A bike or some toys like Polly Pocket.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad, he never gives any insight to what he would like.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My brother Craig or my sister Sharon. Except for the year I decided to get her clothes...
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No! I would love to get one to put up! (it would be nice to get things to decorate the home for Christmas, I love looking at the Christmas items in the stores)
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I haven’t got one
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Depends what's going on. If I'm moving to Utah in the middle of the month, I don't go until the week of Christmas. Fortunately, this year, it's pretty much done now.
14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? All the goodies and wassail :O)
15. Lights on the tree? I like all white or multi-colored. I tend to like the pretty white lights with the glass bulbs.
16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes, if i sing the song.
17. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. But I don't have a tree or a star this year...
18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning, but I like to open one Christmas Eve every year. Alex keeps asking me if he can open his biggie Christmas gift now, he knows what it is - he's just 'oh so excited' -- but he gets to wait.
19. Favorite ornament theme or color? Just something that looks elegant.
20. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Ham or turkey, my family makes wonderful food.
21. What do you want for Christmas this year? Uh.. ? I'm pathetic I guess.
22. Have you been naughty or nice this year? I'm sure a little of both
So I'm tagging 3 people... Laura, Danielle, and Jetta
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
On a happier note
The first snow of the season has arrived! At least, the first snow that we needed to utilize our snow scraper for. Man its COLD out there! But with it comes the knowledge that life moves on, as do our lives.
We are pleased to report that Cindy successfully passed the Idaho State Insurance Exam last week and is now working full time for Bell Black Insurance. She gets to be like her husband and call people all day. She is only a few blocks away, so she gets to come visit for her lunch hour.
School for Alex is fine. He's been doing lots of accounting lately even though this is supposed to be the easier half of the semester for him.
David, Cristina and Josh are going to come to visit us this weekend! We are stoked to have them here. We are going to show them the great hi-lights of Rexburg. From the $10 date night at the movies to the squirrels eating us out of house and home.
We are always happy to read blogs from our Family & Friends. Thank you for keeping us updated. We'll try to do better by doing the same.
We are pleased to report that Cindy successfully passed the Idaho State Insurance Exam last week and is now working full time for Bell Black Insurance. She gets to be like her husband and call people all day. She is only a few blocks away, so she gets to come visit for her lunch hour.
School for Alex is fine. He's been doing lots of accounting lately even though this is supposed to be the easier half of the semester for him.
David, Cristina and Josh are going to come to visit us this weekend! We are stoked to have them here. We are going to show them the great hi-lights of Rexburg. From the $10 date night at the movies to the squirrels eating us out of house and home.
We are always happy to read blogs from our Family & Friends. Thank you for keeping us updated. We'll try to do better by doing the same.
It's over...
I'm going to keep this brief and to the point. I'm so glad this election is over. I don't know what the future holds, but I pray for our future President, as well as the spiritual well-being of our nation. In the past week I have experienced multiple situations of trying to get involved in the issue in a friendly manner, only to be brutally and harshly dealt with when I express my opinion. And I thought I hated politics before....
Thursday, October 30, 2008
3 Fold Fear
So throughout today's activities, I've found myself worrying about 3 different things.
Item #1~ School. Enough said, right? I'm not exactly doing school like my brother David, attacking 18+ Credit hours per semester. But I'm still thoroughly occupied some nights with HW to the point that in consumes my entire evening. The good news is, that I really do feel like I'm a good student, and that I can still do well this semester. While my mid-term grades aren't where I'd like for them to be, I can still take action to raise them.
Item #2~ Prop 8. I don't live in California, but I really feel like what ever happens on Tuesday will have an impact on my life. I've had friends contend with me on the subject, as well as random strangers on Facebook. The saddest part is, they try to make me out to seem like a narrow minded person that is trying to steal away their rights! As I read these stories about the debate going on, it makes me so sad for the people living there. There are already schools pushing the Pro-Gay agenda, and if Prop 8 fails, it will only grow and flourish there.
Item #3~ The well being of my fellow man. I'd like to put this in parable terms. Today in my Book of Mormon class, we were talking about Jesus Christ teaching his gospel to the Nephites. My teacher made the point that the Be-attitudes come after the commandment to repent and be baptized, therefore, they are covenants to be lived by MEMBERS of the church. Christ then compares them to the wise man and the foolish man, both of whom are saints of God, but only one of which builds his life on the firm foundation.
I have friends and family, whom in recent years I have seen make the transition from wise to foolish. It breaks my heart to see one of my loved ones distributing anti-mormon literature and setting themselves firmly on the opposite side from the Lord. There is only so much I can do to encourage them to realize the errors of their ways. No one returns to the Lord because a friend lightly suggested it. These people usually only return when they are compelled to be humble, and even then sometimes its too late. I pray for them, that they may have their hearts softened.
Item #1~ School. Enough said, right? I'm not exactly doing school like my brother David, attacking 18+ Credit hours per semester. But I'm still thoroughly occupied some nights with HW to the point that in consumes my entire evening. The good news is, that I really do feel like I'm a good student, and that I can still do well this semester. While my mid-term grades aren't where I'd like for them to be, I can still take action to raise them.
Item #2~ Prop 8. I don't live in California, but I really feel like what ever happens on Tuesday will have an impact on my life. I've had friends contend with me on the subject, as well as random strangers on Facebook. The saddest part is, they try to make me out to seem like a narrow minded person that is trying to steal away their rights! As I read these stories about the debate going on, it makes me so sad for the people living there. There are already schools pushing the Pro-Gay agenda, and if Prop 8 fails, it will only grow and flourish there.
Item #3~ The well being of my fellow man. I'd like to put this in parable terms. Today in my Book of Mormon class, we were talking about Jesus Christ teaching his gospel to the Nephites. My teacher made the point that the Be-attitudes come after the commandment to repent and be baptized, therefore, they are covenants to be lived by MEMBERS of the church. Christ then compares them to the wise man and the foolish man, both of whom are saints of God, but only one of which builds his life on the firm foundation.
I have friends and family, whom in recent years I have seen make the transition from wise to foolish. It breaks my heart to see one of my loved ones distributing anti-mormon literature and setting themselves firmly on the opposite side from the Lord. There is only so much I can do to encourage them to realize the errors of their ways. No one returns to the Lord because a friend lightly suggested it. These people usually only return when they are compelled to be humble, and even then sometimes its too late. I pray for them, that they may have their hearts softened.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Eagle eye
Last night we went to a $3 showing of Eagle Eye. It was the first movie we've seen in the theaters in a while. We both liked it. Plenty of car crashes and things blowing up to keep it interesting. For those of you considering seeing it, I highly recommend it if you like mysteries. It's a new twist on some older movie concepts (as well as a video game or two). From watching the ad's for it, you should know its a little 1984ish (the book not the year).
The down side, highly unbelievable. There are a couple times throughout the show that you find yourself thinking "OK, even if I did buy everything else up to this point, THAT definitely wouldn't have happened the way it did."
I'll let you judge for yourself. I'd usually post a picture with this review, but I'm not really happy with most of the ones that are out there. So I'll just leave it at that.
The down side, highly unbelievable. There are a couple times throughout the show that you find yourself thinking "OK, even if I did buy everything else up to this point, THAT definitely wouldn't have happened the way it did."
I'll let you judge for yourself. I'd usually post a picture with this review, but I'm not really happy with most of the ones that are out there. So I'll just leave it at that.
2 Unbelievable Prop 8 Stories
Absolutely Ridiculous,
Hayward, CA – Parents at a K-8 charter school in Hayward were shocked to learn this week the extent to which their school is promoting gay and lesbian ideals to their daughter in kindergarten.
The parents were shocked to see a poster announcing that "Coming Out Day" will be celebrated at the school this coming Thursday, October 23. The school, Faith Ringgold School of Art and Science, chose not to tell parents ahead of time, but it is in the midst of celebrating "Ally Week," a pro-homosexual push typically aimed at high school students. When one mother asked her daughter earlier this week what she was learning in kindergarten at the school, the 5-year-old replied, "We're learning to be allies." The mother also learned that her daughter's kindergarten classroom is regularly used during lunchtime for meetings of a Gay Straight Alliance club.
Later this week, the school is slated to talk about families. The parents have noticed several posters promoting families, all of which depict only homosexual families. More controversial discussions can be expected through next week, as the elementary school continues to celebrate Gay and Lesbian History Month. On November 20, the school will host TransAction Gender-Bender Read-Aloud, where students will hear adapted tales such as "Jane and the Beanstalk."
These parents are being advised by attorneys from Pacific Justice Institute. Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, "Do we need any further proof that gay activists will target children as early as possible? Opponents of traditional marriage keep telling us that Prop. 8 has nothing to do with education. In reality, they want to push the gay lifestyle on kindergartners, and we can only imagine how much worse it will be if Prop. 8 is defeated. This is not a scenario most Californians want replayed in their elementary schools."
Any other parents whose elementary-age children have been subjected to pro-homosexual propaganda should contact Pacific Justice Institute for counsel and possible representation.
If you are able to support PJI, please click here to contribute now or visit www.pji.org/getinvolved.
AND
This Tuesday October 28 at its 10am meeting, the San Diego City Council will vote on a Resolution which states that the City of San Diego officially opposes Proposition 8. This implies to other Cities and States, that you, as a citizen of San Diego, do not support Proposition 8: that you oppose traditional marriage. This Resolution by the San Diego City Council will attempt to be passed without any public polling, rather, the Resolution will be based on the unilateral opinion and decision of the San Diego City Council.
What can you do?:
TODAY!! Call or email the City Council members listed below and tell them that you support Proposition 8. Remind them that they are ELECTED officials, elected to represent the WILL of the people, and not make unilateral statements on behalf of its citizens without proper polling! Urge them to drop the City Resolution on Proposition 8 entirely and not make a statement at all regarding Proposition 8. Tell them that, with regards to Proposition 8, they do not speak for you!!
Please do not hesitate, your call and/or email is urgently needed, please do this now!!
We must all bond together in one loud voice to ensure this Resolution is not passed.
Please forward this to at least ten people asking them to do the same.
Mayor Jerry Sanders:
Email: JerrySanders@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6330
Fax: (619) 236-7228
District 1 / City Council President Scott Peters
E-mail: scottpeters@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6611
From North County (858) 484-3808
Fax: (619) 236-6999
Chief of Staff email: mpintar@sandiego.gov
District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
E-mail: kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6622
Fax: (619) 236-6996
Chief of Staff: johnrivera@sandiego.gov
District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins
E-mail: toniatkins@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6633
Fax: (619) 595-1481
Chief of Staff: dzprice@sandiego.gov
District 4 Councilmember Tony Young
E-mail: anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov
Phone: (619) 236-6644
Fax: (619) 236-7273
Chief of Staff: jslack@sandiego.gov
District 5 Councilmember Brian Maienschein
E-mail: bmaienschein@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6655
From North County: (858) 673-5304
Fax: (619) 238-0915
Chief of Staff: lwitmondt@sandiego.gov
District 6 Councilmember Donna Frye
E-mail: donnafrye@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6616
Fax: (619) 236-7329
Chief of Staff: shadley@sandiego.gov
District 7 Council President Pro Tem Jim Madaffer
E-mail: jmadaffer@sandiego.gov
Phone: (619) 236-6677
Fax: (619) 238-1360
Chief of Staff: afaucett@sandiego.gov
Consultant to Rules Committee: elowe@sandiego.gov
District 8 Councilmember Ben Hueso
E-mail: benhueso@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6688
Fax: (619) 231-7918
TELL THESE PEOPLE TO RUN SAN DIEGO...NOT TELL SAN DIEGO TO VOTE FOR GAY MARRIAGE.
UPDATE:
The San Diego City Council has been flooded with so many phone calls complaining about their pending resolution opposing Prop. 8, the California Marriage Amendment, that they are now trying to sabatoge our event. THEY HAVE MOVED THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO MONDAY, OCTOBER, 27, 2008 at 2PM. This is clearly an attempt to stop our big turnout on Tuesday.
Hayward, CA – Parents at a K-8 charter school in Hayward were shocked to learn this week the extent to which their school is promoting gay and lesbian ideals to their daughter in kindergarten.
The parents were shocked to see a poster announcing that "Coming Out Day" will be celebrated at the school this coming Thursday, October 23. The school, Faith Ringgold School of Art and Science, chose not to tell parents ahead of time, but it is in the midst of celebrating "Ally Week," a pro-homosexual push typically aimed at high school students. When one mother asked her daughter earlier this week what she was learning in kindergarten at the school, the 5-year-old replied, "We're learning to be allies." The mother also learned that her daughter's kindergarten classroom is regularly used during lunchtime for meetings of a Gay Straight Alliance club.
Later this week, the school is slated to talk about families. The parents have noticed several posters promoting families, all of which depict only homosexual families. More controversial discussions can be expected through next week, as the elementary school continues to celebrate Gay and Lesbian History Month. On November 20, the school will host TransAction Gender-Bender Read-Aloud, where students will hear adapted tales such as "Jane and the Beanstalk."
These parents are being advised by attorneys from Pacific Justice Institute. Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, "Do we need any further proof that gay activists will target children as early as possible? Opponents of traditional marriage keep telling us that Prop. 8 has nothing to do with education. In reality, they want to push the gay lifestyle on kindergartners, and we can only imagine how much worse it will be if Prop. 8 is defeated. This is not a scenario most Californians want replayed in their elementary schools."
Any other parents whose elementary-age children have been subjected to pro-homosexual propaganda should contact Pacific Justice Institute for counsel and possible representation.
If you are able to support PJI, please click here to contribute now or visit www.pji.org/getinvolved.
AND
This Tuesday October 28 at its 10am meeting, the San Diego City Council will vote on a Resolution which states that the City of San Diego officially opposes Proposition 8. This implies to other Cities and States, that you, as a citizen of San Diego, do not support Proposition 8: that you oppose traditional marriage. This Resolution by the San Diego City Council will attempt to be passed without any public polling, rather, the Resolution will be based on the unilateral opinion and decision of the San Diego City Council.
What can you do?:
TODAY!! Call or email the City Council members listed below and tell them that you support Proposition 8. Remind them that they are ELECTED officials, elected to represent the WILL of the people, and not make unilateral statements on behalf of its citizens without proper polling! Urge them to drop the City Resolution on Proposition 8 entirely and not make a statement at all regarding Proposition 8. Tell them that, with regards to Proposition 8, they do not speak for you!!
Please do not hesitate, your call and/or email is urgently needed, please do this now!!
We must all bond together in one loud voice to ensure this Resolution is not passed.
Please forward this to at least ten people asking them to do the same.
Mayor Jerry Sanders:
Email: JerrySanders@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6330
Fax: (619) 236-7228
District 1 / City Council President Scott Peters
E-mail: scottpeters@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6611
From North County (858) 484-3808
Fax: (619) 236-6999
Chief of Staff email: mpintar@sandiego.gov
District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
E-mail: kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6622
Fax: (619) 236-6996
Chief of Staff: johnrivera@sandiego.gov
District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins
E-mail: toniatkins@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6633
Fax: (619) 595-1481
Chief of Staff: dzprice@sandiego.gov
District 4 Councilmember Tony Young
E-mail: anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov
Phone: (619) 236-6644
Fax: (619) 236-7273
Chief of Staff: jslack@sandiego.gov
District 5 Councilmember Brian Maienschein
E-mail: bmaienschein@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6655
From North County: (858) 673-5304
Fax: (619) 238-0915
Chief of Staff: lwitmondt@sandiego.gov
District 6 Councilmember Donna Frye
E-mail: donnafrye@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6616
Fax: (619) 236-7329
Chief of Staff: shadley@sandiego.gov
District 7 Council President Pro Tem Jim Madaffer
E-mail: jmadaffer@sandiego.gov
Phone: (619) 236-6677
Fax: (619) 238-1360
Chief of Staff: afaucett@sandiego.gov
Consultant to Rules Committee: elowe@sandiego.gov
District 8 Councilmember Ben Hueso
E-mail: benhueso@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6688
Fax: (619) 231-7918
TELL THESE PEOPLE TO RUN SAN DIEGO...NOT TELL SAN DIEGO TO VOTE FOR GAY MARRIAGE.
UPDATE:
The San Diego City Council has been flooded with so many phone calls complaining about their pending resolution opposing Prop. 8, the California Marriage Amendment, that they are now trying to sabatoge our event. THEY HAVE MOVED THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO MONDAY, OCTOBER, 27, 2008 at 2PM. This is clearly an attempt to stop our big turnout on Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Preserving Marriage
I felt impressed to share this with you all about a week and a half ago, but for some reason or another decided against it. But after tonight, I realize that I should have and so here I am.
I'm not a very political person. I find myself having little to say in political discussions, partially because I consider myself a good listener, and I will probably just end up agreeing or disagreeing with whatever is being discussed. But lately I've been feeling very strongly about a subject going on in the political world, that I feel a necessity for us to take part in. Proposition 8 in California.
There has been quite a bit of talk about the whole gay marriage topic for a few years now. But it wasn't until recently that our Prophets and Apostles have urged us to take serious action. Yes, SERIOUS ACTION. Like, if you aren't doing something about it, then you've missed the boat on the message your Heavenly Father was trying to get across to you.
Tonight we attended the Broadcast that was specifically for Members of the Church in California. We were invited, since we are in an area where there is a high concentration of Young single and Young married members. The official reason for the Broadcast was to address members of the Church and educate them about the situation currently going in California with Proposition 8, and what it means for the future.
However, Elder Ballard and Elder Cook also spoke directly to Cindy and I in urging us to spread the word through the means of Electronic Media. Lets just say that while Elder Ballard asked us to "Write on our walls" he knew that even though he didn't 100% understand what he was saying, that we would get the point and act on it.
My family, Jesus Christ and his church want all of us to get behind this movement. Whether you are resident of California or not. Whether you can donate 1 hour a week or 10. He wants us all to be actively engaged in this effort. I will probably Blog again within the next couple weeks about what the consequences are for our World wide church if this law doesn't pass in California. (Thank you to Craig for identifying that correction for me)
It's pretty late, so I'm gonna get off my soapbox. But if any of you want to join me in this effort, feel free to contact me. You can get more information at http://www.preservingmarriage.org/
I'm not a very political person. I find myself having little to say in political discussions, partially because I consider myself a good listener, and I will probably just end up agreeing or disagreeing with whatever is being discussed. But lately I've been feeling very strongly about a subject going on in the political world, that I feel a necessity for us to take part in. Proposition 8 in California.
There has been quite a bit of talk about the whole gay marriage topic for a few years now. But it wasn't until recently that our Prophets and Apostles have urged us to take serious action. Yes, SERIOUS ACTION. Like, if you aren't doing something about it, then you've missed the boat on the message your Heavenly Father was trying to get across to you.
Tonight we attended the Broadcast that was specifically for Members of the Church in California. We were invited, since we are in an area where there is a high concentration of Young single and Young married members. The official reason for the Broadcast was to address members of the Church and educate them about the situation currently going in California with Proposition 8, and what it means for the future.
However, Elder Ballard and Elder Cook also spoke directly to Cindy and I in urging us to spread the word through the means of Electronic Media. Lets just say that while Elder Ballard asked us to "Write on our walls" he knew that even though he didn't 100% understand what he was saying, that we would get the point and act on it.
My family, Jesus Christ and his church want all of us to get behind this movement. Whether you are resident of California or not. Whether you can donate 1 hour a week or 10. He wants us all to be actively engaged in this effort. I will probably Blog again within the next couple weeks about what the consequences are for our World wide church if this law doesn't pass in California. (Thank you to Craig for identifying that correction for me)
It's pretty late, so I'm gonna get off my soapbox. But if any of you want to join me in this effort, feel free to contact me. You can get more information at http://www.preservingmarriage.org/
Sunday, October 5, 2008
General Conference
Its been a while since we've blogged. So I'm gonna go ahead and share with you all some of my thoughts on the recent conference.
1st of all. I see that everyone is filling their new shoes just fine since the reorganization of the first presidency. That is including, but not limited to, Elder Quentin L. Cook.
My favorite talks were during priesthood session, where President Uchtdorf taught us about "lifting where we stand." There is something about knowing that at any given time, we are able to do something that will make a difference in the world, even if we feel like we could so much more than the menial tasks assigned to us, or in contrast, if we are feeling like the calling is too big of a burden to bear, we can always "lift where we stand." I also appreciated the opening where Elder Scott had a Priesthood interview with every Male in attendance.
I always appreciate general conference time, but this was the first one where it was just me and the wife. We enjoyed being together all weekend. We almost always spend our entire weekend together anyway, but this one seemed somehow special.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Well, I did it!
No, not the exercising thing. I do intend to keep trying, but lets just say we didn't spend enough time at home to really get into the groove to make it a regular thing.
But what I DID do was grow my goatee! For those of you who haven't seen it, well nows your chance. What started out as a curiosity has changed into something my wife actually admits she is sorry to see go.
But school starts on Monday, and the Lord has asked me that I attend this school "clean shaven." That actually makes me stop to think for a minute, had I not gone to BYU-Idaho, would I have never successfully grown a Goatee?
But what I DID do was grow my goatee! For those of you who haven't seen it, well nows your chance. What started out as a curiosity has changed into something my wife actually admits she is sorry to see go.
But school starts on Monday, and the Lord has asked me that I attend this school "clean shaven." That actually makes me stop to think for a minute, had I not gone to BYU-Idaho, would I have never successfully grown a Goatee?
Monday, September 1, 2008
Wow! That was easy!
So I'd like to recognize the state of Utah for their friggin awesome DMV service of which I just partook. I've been needing to update my address (for a while now) and so just now I thought I'd look on the DMV website to see what number I needed to call in order to take care of this. So after a small bit of diggin around on the site, I find out that I could do it right now! At 11 PM! On Labor Day! With no lines or anything. I've got to give them props for finally getting some of the really easy stuff available to those of us who need it and are too lazy to actually pick up the phone and call someone.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
A summer time update...
Well, I must say that we can't complain about not doing anything during our 7 week break. It really feels like we haven't spent much time at home between just our 2 visits to Utah. We went down for the first week of August for my cousin Caleb's Wedding. You can see the photo update on the wedding here.
So then we took a bunch of stuff home, and as soon as we got settled in at home, we recieve the unfortunate news that my Grandmother Kenney passed away. So we packed up the following weekend and came back to Utah again for the Funeral.
On the brighter side, my big brother Ben came to town for the funeral, so we've been able to spend a good amount of time with him, and its been a ton of fun. Lets just say we played through 2 full games of Axis & Allies, and if any of you have ever played even one game, you know what kind of adventure it is.
So we decided to stay and spend the little time we have left before Labor day with family while we have the opportunity. It sure has been a lot of fun, and we'll be sad to part from our family until Thanksgiving.
So then we took a bunch of stuff home, and as soon as we got settled in at home, we recieve the unfortunate news that my Grandmother Kenney passed away. So we packed up the following weekend and came back to Utah again for the Funeral.
On the brighter side, my big brother Ben came to town for the funeral, so we've been able to spend a good amount of time with him, and its been a ton of fun. Lets just say we played through 2 full games of Axis & Allies, and if any of you have ever played even one game, you know what kind of adventure it is.
So we decided to stay and spend the little time we have left before Labor day with family while we have the opportunity. It sure has been a lot of fun, and we'll be sad to part from our family until Thanksgiving.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Final Report
Today I bring you, my mission. . .
I'll warn you, this post is quite long. This is my "Final Report" that my Mission President asked me to write upon going home. I figure, a blog is supposed to be journal right? I've done a lot better at keeping this journal than any other one I've had, so this may be the best place for me to record this.
I'm also hoping that those of you who have the time to actually read will have a greater understanding of the experiences I had on my mission. ENJOY! (by the way, I scanned the document from my hard copy, then spent about 30 minutes fixing spelling, grammar and puntuation issues from the scan, some may still be there)
Final Report of Elder Kenney
So, you've asked me to write about the last 2 years of my life huh? Do you have any idea what kind of task that is? What sort of things would you have to say if I wanted you to tell me about everything that has happened to you in the past two years of your life? It's a lot isn't it? Now not only that, but this has been the busiest two years I've ever experienced! I've had more lessons, challenges, fun & games, trials, tests and goings on of all sorts in the past 2 years, than any other period of my life. Do you know what you are asking? Do you have any clue as to what kind of undertaking that is? Well neither do I, so I guess we will find out.
I had always looked forward to going on a mission. Largely because I knew I needed to get it done to progress with all the other things I would eventually want to do in life, with school and family and such. So I worked hard in saving up, and put the paperwork in. I remember getting a little nervous about where I would go, because, of course, there were some places I really wanted to go and, of course, some places I really didn't want to go. I was getting very nervous and a few days before I got my call, I remember praying, "Heavenly Father, just help me to know that the place to which I am called is really the place you want me to go." I wouldn't have minded a call to Ulam-Bataar Mongolia, but I didn't really want to serve in one of those missions that it seems like everyone gets called to. But after earnest prayer, I received the answer that it would all be OK.
So eventually the call comes, and later that night I opened the call surrounded by family, and on speakerphone to a few more families waiting for me to read the magic line. It of course came to "Washington~ Tacoma Mission" and you could hear the cheers blocks away. I took a moment right then to pray and listen to the spirit confirm, "Yes, it's the right place for you to go" and I then knew that it was.
So a couple months pass by, and eventually I drove 45 minutes south to the MTC. I don't remember a lot about the MTC, except a few little things. I do remember having a good time with my district. Elder Hornsby was my companion. He was a goofy kid. I also remember 2 days before Christmas I threw up for the first time in my life since I was like 4 years old. Elder Conger was there with me, he could tell you how nasty it was, I really wouldn't suggest that to anyone.
I recall the classes and the intense spirit that you could feel there. There was so much comradery and testimony, you could cut it with a knife. We were spoon fed shovel fed the discussions, and then promptly hooted out into the mission field.
I spent the first 6 weeks of my mission in a pretty area, pretty ghetto. It was the Brookdale and Summit Wards in Lakewood Zone. I remember falling asleep at night to gunshots right outside my window, and even the flashes shining into our room at times. My trainer was Elder Davis. He didn't have long left on his mission~ so I'll let you devise what opinion of him that you will, but he taught me many of the- basic things a person needs to know about missionary work.;. How to tract (that is an important one), how to teach, how to commit, and how to baptize (those are too). Elder Davis had spent a lot of his mission working with "project missionaries" and training new ones_ He knew the things he needed to teach me, and he did it well He always knew just what to say to really put me in my place at times.
My first day at church in the mission, I remember after sacrament meeting, having an older gentleman, named Charlie Emmett, come up to us and ask us if he could be baptized, and then, a few hours later, after Sacrament Meeting for the other ward, another older fellow, named Dan Pogue, approached us and more or less requested the same thing. I was starting to think, "Man, this is easy" ... ahh .... what a naive young fool I was indeed. But it was a good way to start my mission. We did a lot of teaching and a bit of baptizing in there with it.
I can't talk about Brookdale without mentioning Teresa. What a great lady she was.
When I was there, there was a great big snowstorm, which left many of the roads, very dangerous to drive on, and most all of the schools closed down. I remember the first day I met Teresa, we went sledding down a huge hill in front of her house with her kids and many of the kids in the neighborhood. I'll always remember that day. We developed a great relationship of trust with Teresa, and despite the terrible (and I mean TERRIBLE) things that happened to her both before and after baptism, she has a solid testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. I will always love her family.
Then President Allen decides to send me to the exact neighboring ward, into another zone called Puyallup South. So, I crossed Canyon Road barely and moved into the Pioneer Valley ward. I had a great time there. My follow-up trainer Elder John Hanson and I were together for 3 months there. I remember he tried to kill me just about everyday by sending me (on my bike non-the-Less) up and down hills that seemed to be about the size of Mt. Rainier.
We did some good work there, and I was privileged to get to know the Hoagland family. Brother Hoagland was baptized during my stay there, which was one of the many miracles I've seen on my mission. He is an astounding person and a great member of the church. I was very grateful also to be able to witness him being sealed to his family a bit later on. What a very special event that was also. He may not know it, but his conversion really helped establish my own testimony of missionary work.
I remember thinking Elder Hanson was very different from my trainer. He pointed out certain things, which I was originally taught one way, and explained to me that there are of course other ways of doing things. I think that is something that happens with everyone's second companion. He never explained the way things were done or anything. He was a great teacher by example. If there were ever something he wanted to teach me about, he would never bring it up, he would only do it himself and make sure I was watching him very carefully to try to pick up on the things he did well. I know Elder Hanson really cared about the Savior, and had an inherent desire within him to share his testimony of the atonement with others.
It was during this time that we were given the new "Preach My Gospel" program.
We were able to participate as one of the first missions to use it. It was great to be able to work with the old and the new way of doing missionary work. It was a testimony to me of modem revelation through the leaders of the church today.
After 3 months of serving only in Pioneer Valley, they sent away Elder Hanson and pair me up with a missionary in the neighboring ward of Gem Heights. His name was Elder Aisen. I learned a lot from my time with Elder Aisen. I remember he was a very hard worker and had an enthusiasm for the work, which apparently forced him to talk to (and attempt to teach right then and there) just about every person we came in contact with. We had our differences of opinion here and there, but with a lot of effort, we were able to work effectively together. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve with Elder Aisen. We were even able to help share the gospel to Sharon Pechoes and help her into baptism.
I think it was also at this time the my Heavenly Father must have decided to focus on me a bit more, because I really started to learn some lessons at that point in my mission. Specifically, he began a very long and drawn out lesson about humility which has been very important for me to learn. He began by compelling me to be humble, and as soon as I realized he was compelling me to be humble, I GOT HUMBLE.
After a month and a half with Elder Aisen, I was transferred to the Gig Harbor and Wollochet Wards in the Tacoma Stake. Gig Harbor is a very affluent area, and missionaries in the past had been having a bit of a hard time having any success there at all. I served my first 6 weeks there with Elder Graff. He was a nice-enough guy who had been in Gig Harbor for a while. He had a way of doing thing-s and really enjoyed being with members, so we did a bunch of member work.
I remember seeing a few Part-member families become complete member families while we were there. We were also able to work with a young lad named Colin Masterson and assist him in coming closer to his Heavenly Father by joining the church.
I continued to learn more, bit by bit, about humility. And then after those 6 weeks, I was joined with Elder Steve Hansen. Elder Hansen had been out a while and felt like he had a firm grip on how to live mission life. We disagreed on a lot of ways of doing things, but not wanting to rock the boat of the companionship boat too much, I conceded on many occasions.
It was then that God turned up the "Compel to be Humble" notch. With far too many experiences to explain, allow me to summarize by saying over this period of time, I really learned, not to lean unto mine own understanding, but leave all problems up to God. I remember it became very clear to me how important obedience on a mission is, and what kind of a difference it can really make in a person.
I was then able to continue to serve in Gig Harbor with Elder McKenzie. He was a great guy, and Heavenly Father allowed for me to try out the new lessons I had learned about recently. It was also here that I was asked to serve as a District Leader and that brought still more humbling experiences about.
I had then been doing member work for quite some time, and up to this point I had only seen true success through member work, so we continued to work that way. We had some great families that we worked with such as the Himmers, the Boyers, the Rischens, and the Cutlers. Elder McKenzie had a great way of talking to people and we spent a lot of time trying to teach people whom the members would refer to us, and trying to obtain those referrals.
I was then rushed from the beautiful shores of Gig Harbor, to the dark winter in, what seemed like upon first arrival, the middle of no-where. Here I was in Yelm, a growing town about 30 minutes from the nearest Wal-Mart in any direction out of town. I was able to follow-up train Elder Stevens here. What a great kid he was too. Never have I seen someone so humble and innocent and yet be able to share some great life stories. He was from a small town in Utah, and yet we discovered that we knew a few of the same people. Elder Stevens could be anyone's- friend. I remember he- had an ability to know just what a person needed to cheer them up, whether it be a spiritual message, or doing something so goofy to really make them laugh.
Elder Stevens and I worked hard in teaching the Haggett family. They were baptized and are a great group of people. Shay Haggett has got one of the sweetest hearts I've ever seen; she just loves her children so much.
After 6 weeks with Steve-Or he took off and they sent in another one for me to follow-up train. Elder Sanford from the bright lights of Vegas to little old Yelm. He and I worked well, and saw some good success together. We worked our hearts out for the Lord and he really blessed us. Elder Sanford was excited to be on his mission. He had come from being trained by a couple of Zone Leaders in another small town, and had some great ideas as- to how to boost the work where we were at. I remember he 'always had the right attitude about work and really desired to be successful, and he really got his desire there.
One experience I'd like to share. We were digging in at a dinner appointment at the local Mexican Restaurant, when the waitress hands me a note, which apparently had been given to her by another customer to hand to us. The note is from a young lady, named Sarah, who had taken the discussions before and, to put it mildly, her parents said no to her baptism. Well, now she had recently turned 18 and figured, what Ma and Pa don't know won't hurt them, so she progresses and eventually is baptized. That was really neat to be a part of.
Next part of the story. So it is the day of Sarah's baptism, and we have an hour before we have to depart to go to Lacey for the baptism. I applied the previously learned lessons of humility, obedience and diligence and we decided to go tracting. But where? We kneel down and pray for guidance, and as soon as the prayer is finished, Elder Sanford jumps to his feet and runs over to our oversized map and "randomly" points on the map. "Figberry Court." Well a1right, so we get in the car and drive there. It was about 15 minutes away, which leaves us about half an hour to tract 6 or 7 houses on this tiny little cul-de-sac.
So we knock around, and with about 10 minutes left, get to the second to last house.
We meet a guy named Robert Parkhill, bigger guy, with a beard, skull rings, skull T-shirt on, and confederate flags decorating his car and trailer. I remember we were both surprised when he accepted our invitation for a church tour. So he came to the appointment, and eventually the next, and even to church. After each of these, when asked what he thought of it, he would respond, "it was different" .... good enough for us. After about 3 weeks, he and his wife Susan are baptized and absolutely love the church. And to think that we found them with 10 minutes to go before we had to rush to a baptism. They are a personal testimony to me of the people whom the Lord prepares in our path and of blessing us when we approach him in humility and obedience.
As you can tell, I quickly grew to love all the people in Yelm and it holds a special place in my heart. The wards there were very supportive. Time flies when you are having fun, so much so, that before I knew it, I was on my way to my next area, Port Orchard.
When I first arrived in Port Orchard, I was assigned to Elder DeGraff in the Sinclair View and Manchester wards, which are the wards on the north side of Port Orchard, which is the town on the south side of the Sinclair Inlet. Elder DeGraff and I worked, and worked, and then we worked some more. Elder DeGraff was obedient. He always did what he needed too and would be able to follow directions to a T. As long as he had good direction and encouragement, he would perform well. My first six weeks in Port Orchard were a bit more difficult because Elder Degraff was having a bit of a hard time, and I didn't encourage him in the way I guess 1 was. supposed to. So it was partially my fault.
After those 6 weeks, I then received Elder Despain as my companion. I had known Elder Despain for a while. He was in the same zone as I in Puyallup, then served in the office (and everyone knows the office Elders) then around him again for a while in Gig Harbor. So we were pretty good friends before we served together. The other thing about the next 6 weeks, w2S that we covered all of Port Orchard on our own. We officially covered 4 wards in two separate buildings. Sinclair View and Manchester in the Hoover building plus they added onto us- Southworth and Olalla. wards in the Mullenix building. Not to mention another assignment of Belfair, which we would go to by appointment on occasion.
So we were quite bus-y_ And we saw some great .successes. Our first week we baptized a young lady named Cory Bryan who was taught the previous Elders and had already made the decision to be baptized. She became a. good member and friend. Elder Despain and I also tracted into Robin Howerton and her son John, both of who progressed well and were baptized. We also tracted into a family with an ll-year-old son named Alex who responded well to the message of the Restoration and was himself baptized as well. 1 remember his mother didn't respond at that time to the church, but 1 am sure one day will be willing to talk with some Elders.
And then there was also Jim Moyer. 1 remember working harder with Jim than any other investigator I ever had. It's not everyday that you arrive on the scene of a member referral and you are taught Adam God theory and the Plurality of Gods on your first contact with the person. Jim is an incredibly smart man (almost too smart for his own good), and definitely deserves the testimony that he has received; he has earned it.
All that plus a few more cherries on top really makes for a lot of great work in an area. Elder Despain and I would go to church on Sundays at 2 separate buildings, each doing 2 missionaries worth of work while we were all alone for- about 8 or 9 hours, and come home completely exhausted: Now that was working will all your might. This all kind of turned into another lesson on humility, cause we were just too tired to put up a fight.
Working 4 wards like that only lasted for 6 weeks though, then they took 2 of our areas and- put us in kind of a different way. They gave us the Sinclair view (Northwest part of the town) and Southworth (the South east part of town) which met in two different building:; at the same time, so we still needed to divide for church on Sunday. They gave Manchester and Olalla wards to two other missionaries who came in. (1 wonder why they did that?)
Elder Despain had a knack for missionary work. He knew it inside and out and knew which things were really successful to do, and which ones weren't. He thrived on the spirit and always desired to do the most effective AND efficient thing possible. With a great care for the people we worked with, we really enjoyed our time there together. Despain was a good friend and 1 really enjoyed serving with him. 1 am glad that I could be the one who "killed him off" or was his last companion. He finished his mission there in Port Orchard with me and then they transferred him to New Mexico, and me to a place that seemed just as far from the mission office; Port Angeles.
The furthest place from anywhere in the mission. The upper corner of the entire mission. And 1 was put there into an area with 3 other completely new missionaries who hadn't ever served there before eithe1:. Elder Andrews was. my official companion, but we were in a foursome companionship with our new zone leaders, Elder Laitinen and Elder Huff. We had the whole town to ourselves concerning missionary work. Not to mention the 4 or 5 more towns that were to the west of us all the way: out to the west coast. So we all gut there and started trying to figure some things out.
We all lived together in a giant apartment called "Fort Watson". 1 remember it was good for all four of us to live there so we could have room- for all of us to live, work, plan, and when the time came and it was appropriate, release a bit of aggression with some intense hghtsaber battles. 1 must admit_ that being quadrupled- in. like that was a reminder of humility. When you hav-e-4 opinions. all at the same time,-you have to be willing to listen to the spirit to decide which one to follow_
First to mention is about. my companions. Elder Andrews was at that point in his last transfer. So I went from killing Despain to killing Andrews. He was a good guy who worked hard all the way to the last day of his mission .. H~ had a bunch of experiences to pull from, and was-very optimistic about serving in the far. end of the mission being quadrupled in.
Elder Laitinen.. was a really cool kid with a subtle opinion. He would also be very considerate and compassionate of the people around him. He could relate very well with people and the things they were going through. He was very sincere and never would want to mislead anyone. He has his way of doing things, which is always good, but is willing to listen to other ideas. Which was good, cause of Elder Huff, who always has an opinion ... about anything.
No I'm serious, Elder Huff has an opinion on EVERYTHING and he will probably let you know what it is. Elder Huff is also probably one of the most dynamic people I've met He was always engaged in missionary work. Elder Huff has also been described as "not afraid to talk" which is all too true. I remember he would argue his opinion till either you or he were blue in the face and then be done with it. And if later circumstances would call for it, he would readily admit fault and humble himself (or at least by the end of my time would be willing to do so).
As for the work, the first thing we wanted to do is get ourselves established in Port Angeles itself. We lived in this city and had no clue of anything about it, so we familiarized ourselves with it thru a lot of tracting. Thru this, Elder Andrews and I found a nice lady on the 4th of July who eventually got baptized. We all worked very hard and got ourselves situated with the area. The next step was to branch out, so Elder Huff began attending Forks by himself, and I attended the Joyce Branch by myself.
You can read Elder Huffs final report in a few months to find out more about Forks since he is the one who went out there. But on the few visits I made, I could tell that the Lord was upon the people out there, because of the preparation of some of the people Huff worked with and baptized out there, more or less by himself.
But I would like to report more about the Joyce Branch. Even though during the time I was there I only saw one baptism, and she more or less came to us, I grew a great love for that branch. It was very neat to see such a great group of members all coming together with a concerted effort to reactivate and do missionary work to truly strengthen their numbers in their own little tiny town~ I remember the Branch presidency there was great. I must also mention one of the other great helpful families there,. the Johnston family. What a great people they were. And there were many more, but too many to mention for this short report.
After 6 weeks, Andrews went home to Roy, and they sent in Elder Robins into the foursome. We kept working as a foursome, but moved into separate apartments. We almost had to dissolve our foursome in the middle of the transfer, but we were working all too well to allow for that, so they gave us until transfers.
I would describe Elder Robins as a devout follower. If for a good cause, I remember he would follow someone to the ends of the earth. He had a good attitude about taking care of his body and lived a very healthy_ lifestyle.
And so things went for another 6 weeks. Elder Robins and I, on one of his random bathroom stops in the middle of town, were able to meet Krystal Sterling. We worked hard, and I know the Bishop and ward did too, to help her come into the church, but eventually she-did so and was able to receive some stability in her life
So of course by this time I've only got 3 months to go, you would think that they would just leave me in that one-area to die. But no, they wanted me to train a brand new Greenie, in the center of the mission so I headed back to a. ward that bordered one of my first. areas. South Hill And-not only that, but the mission. was also nice enough to allow me to slim down a little bit before I go home, so its back to the bike. Well, Elder Greenwood and I worked very hard in this area. I remember a few days of tracting absolutely all. .. day .. long WHEW! Man,.. that can- really make a boy tired. It's a good -thing that I knew all about humility by this point (Just kidding). So tract we did and we met a few nice people along the way.
Elder Greenwood was a good kid, and after the second week, I had to keep reminding myself that he is a greenie. But it didn't hold him back. He was very hardworking and a headfirst kind of missionary. He never had any desire to stop working even for one minute. Elder Greenwood was willing to learn the characteristics and attributes of good missionaries. He regularly was looking to improve.
We got to know Dawn DeLay and her family. She and her daughter Tyran were baptized when I had about 3 weeks to go. I remember meeting them while tracting the afternoon of the ward Halloween Party. Halloween Parties in the church have always been my favorite, and now I have a new reason why. Dawn and her girls came to the party and made some good friends. It was especially nice because they had just moved in about a week before. We also had a random part-member family show up to church one Sunday and the wife, Lory, told us that she was ready to be baptized. So she was baptized along side Dawn and her daughter as well.
The members of South Hill were very helpful. It's never easy being doubled into an area,. especially on bike. They warmly accepted us as their new missionaries and were very supportive since day one. Whenever Elder Greenwood and I were in need, whether it be food, ride, or warmth, we always seemed to run into a member at just the right time. And were also very good in fellowshipping of the converts we brought to them:
Well, I've had quite the wild ride. I of course was not able to mention all the people, places, and events that I would have liked to. I also was not able to report on all the lessons that I had learned or a bit about the person that I've become. I would like to leave my testimony of this work. I know I am a child of Heavenly Father. I know of his love for me. I know of his love for all of his children. I know of hi~ character and personality better now than any other point in my life. He is just as much an existing, thinking, breathing person as you or I with the same sort of passions, love, and laughter that we all possess. I testify of His Son, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are made possible. I testify of his truly merciful spirit and his love for me as well. I testify of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Church he restored. I also testify of The Book of Mormon as the true word of God today, written for today. I testify of Gordon Bitner Hinckley, the Prophet and Seer of the world today. I know this is God's wm-k upon the face of the earth today. We are his favorite thing, his everything, his only things. I know he loves us all and blesses us with everything we have. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I'll warn you, this post is quite long. This is my "Final Report" that my Mission President asked me to write upon going home. I figure, a blog is supposed to be journal right? I've done a lot better at keeping this journal than any other one I've had, so this may be the best place for me to record this.
I'm also hoping that those of you who have the time to actually read will have a greater understanding of the experiences I had on my mission. ENJOY! (by the way, I scanned the document from my hard copy, then spent about 30 minutes fixing spelling, grammar and puntuation issues from the scan, some may still be there)
Final Report of Elder Kenney
So, you've asked me to write about the last 2 years of my life huh? Do you have any idea what kind of task that is? What sort of things would you have to say if I wanted you to tell me about everything that has happened to you in the past two years of your life? It's a lot isn't it? Now not only that, but this has been the busiest two years I've ever experienced! I've had more lessons, challenges, fun & games, trials, tests and goings on of all sorts in the past 2 years, than any other period of my life. Do you know what you are asking? Do you have any clue as to what kind of undertaking that is? Well neither do I, so I guess we will find out.
I had always looked forward to going on a mission. Largely because I knew I needed to get it done to progress with all the other things I would eventually want to do in life, with school and family and such. So I worked hard in saving up, and put the paperwork in. I remember getting a little nervous about where I would go, because, of course, there were some places I really wanted to go and, of course, some places I really didn't want to go. I was getting very nervous and a few days before I got my call, I remember praying, "Heavenly Father, just help me to know that the place to which I am called is really the place you want me to go." I wouldn't have minded a call to Ulam-Bataar Mongolia, but I didn't really want to serve in one of those missions that it seems like everyone gets called to. But after earnest prayer, I received the answer that it would all be OK.
So eventually the call comes, and later that night I opened the call surrounded by family, and on speakerphone to a few more families waiting for me to read the magic line. It of course came to "Washington~ Tacoma Mission" and you could hear the cheers blocks away. I took a moment right then to pray and listen to the spirit confirm, "Yes, it's the right place for you to go" and I then knew that it was.
So a couple months pass by, and eventually I drove 45 minutes south to the MTC. I don't remember a lot about the MTC, except a few little things. I do remember having a good time with my district. Elder Hornsby was my companion. He was a goofy kid. I also remember 2 days before Christmas I threw up for the first time in my life since I was like 4 years old. Elder Conger was there with me, he could tell you how nasty it was, I really wouldn't suggest that to anyone.
I recall the classes and the intense spirit that you could feel there. There was so much comradery and testimony, you could cut it with a knife. We were spoon fed shovel fed the discussions, and then promptly hooted out into the mission field.
I spent the first 6 weeks of my mission in a pretty area, pretty ghetto. It was the Brookdale and Summit Wards in Lakewood Zone. I remember falling asleep at night to gunshots right outside my window, and even the flashes shining into our room at times. My trainer was Elder Davis. He didn't have long left on his mission~ so I'll let you devise what opinion of him that you will, but he taught me many of the- basic things a person needs to know about missionary work.;. How to tract (that is an important one), how to teach, how to commit, and how to baptize (those are too). Elder Davis had spent a lot of his mission working with "project missionaries" and training new ones_ He knew the things he needed to teach me, and he did it well He always knew just what to say to really put me in my place at times.
My first day at church in the mission, I remember after sacrament meeting, having an older gentleman, named Charlie Emmett, come up to us and ask us if he could be baptized, and then, a few hours later, after Sacrament Meeting for the other ward, another older fellow, named Dan Pogue, approached us and more or less requested the same thing. I was starting to think, "Man, this is easy" ... ahh .... what a naive young fool I was indeed. But it was a good way to start my mission. We did a lot of teaching and a bit of baptizing in there with it.
I can't talk about Brookdale without mentioning Teresa. What a great lady she was.
When I was there, there was a great big snowstorm, which left many of the roads, very dangerous to drive on, and most all of the schools closed down. I remember the first day I met Teresa, we went sledding down a huge hill in front of her house with her kids and many of the kids in the neighborhood. I'll always remember that day. We developed a great relationship of trust with Teresa, and despite the terrible (and I mean TERRIBLE) things that happened to her both before and after baptism, she has a solid testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. I will always love her family.
Then President Allen decides to send me to the exact neighboring ward, into another zone called Puyallup South. So, I crossed Canyon Road barely and moved into the Pioneer Valley ward. I had a great time there. My follow-up trainer Elder John Hanson and I were together for 3 months there. I remember he tried to kill me just about everyday by sending me (on my bike non-the-Less) up and down hills that seemed to be about the size of Mt. Rainier.
We did some good work there, and I was privileged to get to know the Hoagland family. Brother Hoagland was baptized during my stay there, which was one of the many miracles I've seen on my mission. He is an astounding person and a great member of the church. I was very grateful also to be able to witness him being sealed to his family a bit later on. What a very special event that was also. He may not know it, but his conversion really helped establish my own testimony of missionary work.
I remember thinking Elder Hanson was very different from my trainer. He pointed out certain things, which I was originally taught one way, and explained to me that there are of course other ways of doing things. I think that is something that happens with everyone's second companion. He never explained the way things were done or anything. He was a great teacher by example. If there were ever something he wanted to teach me about, he would never bring it up, he would only do it himself and make sure I was watching him very carefully to try to pick up on the things he did well. I know Elder Hanson really cared about the Savior, and had an inherent desire within him to share his testimony of the atonement with others.
It was during this time that we were given the new "Preach My Gospel" program.
We were able to participate as one of the first missions to use it. It was great to be able to work with the old and the new way of doing missionary work. It was a testimony to me of modem revelation through the leaders of the church today.
After 3 months of serving only in Pioneer Valley, they sent away Elder Hanson and pair me up with a missionary in the neighboring ward of Gem Heights. His name was Elder Aisen. I learned a lot from my time with Elder Aisen. I remember he was a very hard worker and had an enthusiasm for the work, which apparently forced him to talk to (and attempt to teach right then and there) just about every person we came in contact with. We had our differences of opinion here and there, but with a lot of effort, we were able to work effectively together. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve with Elder Aisen. We were even able to help share the gospel to Sharon Pechoes and help her into baptism.
I think it was also at this time the my Heavenly Father must have decided to focus on me a bit more, because I really started to learn some lessons at that point in my mission. Specifically, he began a very long and drawn out lesson about humility which has been very important for me to learn. He began by compelling me to be humble, and as soon as I realized he was compelling me to be humble, I GOT HUMBLE.
After a month and a half with Elder Aisen, I was transferred to the Gig Harbor and Wollochet Wards in the Tacoma Stake. Gig Harbor is a very affluent area, and missionaries in the past had been having a bit of a hard time having any success there at all. I served my first 6 weeks there with Elder Graff. He was a nice-enough guy who had been in Gig Harbor for a while. He had a way of doing thing-s and really enjoyed being with members, so we did a bunch of member work.
I remember seeing a few Part-member families become complete member families while we were there. We were also able to work with a young lad named Colin Masterson and assist him in coming closer to his Heavenly Father by joining the church.
I continued to learn more, bit by bit, about humility. And then after those 6 weeks, I was joined with Elder Steve Hansen. Elder Hansen had been out a while and felt like he had a firm grip on how to live mission life. We disagreed on a lot of ways of doing things, but not wanting to rock the boat of the companionship boat too much, I conceded on many occasions.
It was then that God turned up the "Compel to be Humble" notch. With far too many experiences to explain, allow me to summarize by saying over this period of time, I really learned, not to lean unto mine own understanding, but leave all problems up to God. I remember it became very clear to me how important obedience on a mission is, and what kind of a difference it can really make in a person.
I was then able to continue to serve in Gig Harbor with Elder McKenzie. He was a great guy, and Heavenly Father allowed for me to try out the new lessons I had learned about recently. It was also here that I was asked to serve as a District Leader and that brought still more humbling experiences about.
I had then been doing member work for quite some time, and up to this point I had only seen true success through member work, so we continued to work that way. We had some great families that we worked with such as the Himmers, the Boyers, the Rischens, and the Cutlers. Elder McKenzie had a great way of talking to people and we spent a lot of time trying to teach people whom the members would refer to us, and trying to obtain those referrals.
I was then rushed from the beautiful shores of Gig Harbor, to the dark winter in, what seemed like upon first arrival, the middle of no-where. Here I was in Yelm, a growing town about 30 minutes from the nearest Wal-Mart in any direction out of town. I was able to follow-up train Elder Stevens here. What a great kid he was too. Never have I seen someone so humble and innocent and yet be able to share some great life stories. He was from a small town in Utah, and yet we discovered that we knew a few of the same people. Elder Stevens could be anyone's- friend. I remember he- had an ability to know just what a person needed to cheer them up, whether it be a spiritual message, or doing something so goofy to really make them laugh.
Elder Stevens and I worked hard in teaching the Haggett family. They were baptized and are a great group of people. Shay Haggett has got one of the sweetest hearts I've ever seen; she just loves her children so much.
After 6 weeks with Steve-Or he took off and they sent in another one for me to follow-up train. Elder Sanford from the bright lights of Vegas to little old Yelm. He and I worked well, and saw some good success together. We worked our hearts out for the Lord and he really blessed us. Elder Sanford was excited to be on his mission. He had come from being trained by a couple of Zone Leaders in another small town, and had some great ideas as- to how to boost the work where we were at. I remember he 'always had the right attitude about work and really desired to be successful, and he really got his desire there.
One experience I'd like to share. We were digging in at a dinner appointment at the local Mexican Restaurant, when the waitress hands me a note, which apparently had been given to her by another customer to hand to us. The note is from a young lady, named Sarah, who had taken the discussions before and, to put it mildly, her parents said no to her baptism. Well, now she had recently turned 18 and figured, what Ma and Pa don't know won't hurt them, so she progresses and eventually is baptized. That was really neat to be a part of.
Next part of the story. So it is the day of Sarah's baptism, and we have an hour before we have to depart to go to Lacey for the baptism. I applied the previously learned lessons of humility, obedience and diligence and we decided to go tracting. But where? We kneel down and pray for guidance, and as soon as the prayer is finished, Elder Sanford jumps to his feet and runs over to our oversized map and "randomly" points on the map. "Figberry Court." Well a1right, so we get in the car and drive there. It was about 15 minutes away, which leaves us about half an hour to tract 6 or 7 houses on this tiny little cul-de-sac.
So we knock around, and with about 10 minutes left, get to the second to last house.
We meet a guy named Robert Parkhill, bigger guy, with a beard, skull rings, skull T-shirt on, and confederate flags decorating his car and trailer. I remember we were both surprised when he accepted our invitation for a church tour. So he came to the appointment, and eventually the next, and even to church. After each of these, when asked what he thought of it, he would respond, "it was different" .... good enough for us. After about 3 weeks, he and his wife Susan are baptized and absolutely love the church. And to think that we found them with 10 minutes to go before we had to rush to a baptism. They are a personal testimony to me of the people whom the Lord prepares in our path and of blessing us when we approach him in humility and obedience.
As you can tell, I quickly grew to love all the people in Yelm and it holds a special place in my heart. The wards there were very supportive. Time flies when you are having fun, so much so, that before I knew it, I was on my way to my next area, Port Orchard.
When I first arrived in Port Orchard, I was assigned to Elder DeGraff in the Sinclair View and Manchester wards, which are the wards on the north side of Port Orchard, which is the town on the south side of the Sinclair Inlet. Elder DeGraff and I worked, and worked, and then we worked some more. Elder DeGraff was obedient. He always did what he needed too and would be able to follow directions to a T. As long as he had good direction and encouragement, he would perform well. My first six weeks in Port Orchard were a bit more difficult because Elder Degraff was having a bit of a hard time, and I didn't encourage him in the way I guess 1 was. supposed to. So it was partially my fault.
After those 6 weeks, I then received Elder Despain as my companion. I had known Elder Despain for a while. He was in the same zone as I in Puyallup, then served in the office (and everyone knows the office Elders) then around him again for a while in Gig Harbor. So we were pretty good friends before we served together. The other thing about the next 6 weeks, w2S that we covered all of Port Orchard on our own. We officially covered 4 wards in two separate buildings. Sinclair View and Manchester in the Hoover building plus they added onto us- Southworth and Olalla. wards in the Mullenix building. Not to mention another assignment of Belfair, which we would go to by appointment on occasion.
So we were quite bus-y_ And we saw some great .successes. Our first week we baptized a young lady named Cory Bryan who was taught the previous Elders and had already made the decision to be baptized. She became a. good member and friend. Elder Despain and I also tracted into Robin Howerton and her son John, both of who progressed well and were baptized. We also tracted into a family with an ll-year-old son named Alex who responded well to the message of the Restoration and was himself baptized as well. 1 remember his mother didn't respond at that time to the church, but 1 am sure one day will be willing to talk with some Elders.
And then there was also Jim Moyer. 1 remember working harder with Jim than any other investigator I ever had. It's not everyday that you arrive on the scene of a member referral and you are taught Adam God theory and the Plurality of Gods on your first contact with the person. Jim is an incredibly smart man (almost too smart for his own good), and definitely deserves the testimony that he has received; he has earned it.
All that plus a few more cherries on top really makes for a lot of great work in an area. Elder Despain and I would go to church on Sundays at 2 separate buildings, each doing 2 missionaries worth of work while we were all alone for- about 8 or 9 hours, and come home completely exhausted: Now that was working will all your might. This all kind of turned into another lesson on humility, cause we were just too tired to put up a fight.
Working 4 wards like that only lasted for 6 weeks though, then they took 2 of our areas and- put us in kind of a different way. They gave us the Sinclair view (Northwest part of the town) and Southworth (the South east part of town) which met in two different building:; at the same time, so we still needed to divide for church on Sunday. They gave Manchester and Olalla wards to two other missionaries who came in. (1 wonder why they did that?)
Elder Despain had a knack for missionary work. He knew it inside and out and knew which things were really successful to do, and which ones weren't. He thrived on the spirit and always desired to do the most effective AND efficient thing possible. With a great care for the people we worked with, we really enjoyed our time there together. Despain was a good friend and 1 really enjoyed serving with him. 1 am glad that I could be the one who "killed him off" or was his last companion. He finished his mission there in Port Orchard with me and then they transferred him to New Mexico, and me to a place that seemed just as far from the mission office; Port Angeles.
The furthest place from anywhere in the mission. The upper corner of the entire mission. And 1 was put there into an area with 3 other completely new missionaries who hadn't ever served there before eithe1:. Elder Andrews was. my official companion, but we were in a foursome companionship with our new zone leaders, Elder Laitinen and Elder Huff. We had the whole town to ourselves concerning missionary work. Not to mention the 4 or 5 more towns that were to the west of us all the way: out to the west coast. So we all gut there and started trying to figure some things out.
We all lived together in a giant apartment called "Fort Watson". 1 remember it was good for all four of us to live there so we could have room- for all of us to live, work, plan, and when the time came and it was appropriate, release a bit of aggression with some intense hghtsaber battles. 1 must admit_ that being quadrupled- in. like that was a reminder of humility. When you hav-e-4 opinions. all at the same time,-you have to be willing to listen to the spirit to decide which one to follow_
First to mention is about. my companions. Elder Andrews was at that point in his last transfer. So I went from killing Despain to killing Andrews. He was a good guy who worked hard all the way to the last day of his mission .. H~ had a bunch of experiences to pull from, and was-very optimistic about serving in the far. end of the mission being quadrupled in.
Elder Laitinen.. was a really cool kid with a subtle opinion. He would also be very considerate and compassionate of the people around him. He could relate very well with people and the things they were going through. He was very sincere and never would want to mislead anyone. He has his way of doing things, which is always good, but is willing to listen to other ideas. Which was good, cause of Elder Huff, who always has an opinion ... about anything.
No I'm serious, Elder Huff has an opinion on EVERYTHING and he will probably let you know what it is. Elder Huff is also probably one of the most dynamic people I've met He was always engaged in missionary work. Elder Huff has also been described as "not afraid to talk" which is all too true. I remember he would argue his opinion till either you or he were blue in the face and then be done with it. And if later circumstances would call for it, he would readily admit fault and humble himself (or at least by the end of my time would be willing to do so).
As for the work, the first thing we wanted to do is get ourselves established in Port Angeles itself. We lived in this city and had no clue of anything about it, so we familiarized ourselves with it thru a lot of tracting. Thru this, Elder Andrews and I found a nice lady on the 4th of July who eventually got baptized. We all worked very hard and got ourselves situated with the area. The next step was to branch out, so Elder Huff began attending Forks by himself, and I attended the Joyce Branch by myself.
You can read Elder Huffs final report in a few months to find out more about Forks since he is the one who went out there. But on the few visits I made, I could tell that the Lord was upon the people out there, because of the preparation of some of the people Huff worked with and baptized out there, more or less by himself.
But I would like to report more about the Joyce Branch. Even though during the time I was there I only saw one baptism, and she more or less came to us, I grew a great love for that branch. It was very neat to see such a great group of members all coming together with a concerted effort to reactivate and do missionary work to truly strengthen their numbers in their own little tiny town~ I remember the Branch presidency there was great. I must also mention one of the other great helpful families there,. the Johnston family. What a great people they were. And there were many more, but too many to mention for this short report.
After 6 weeks, Andrews went home to Roy, and they sent in Elder Robins into the foursome. We kept working as a foursome, but moved into separate apartments. We almost had to dissolve our foursome in the middle of the transfer, but we were working all too well to allow for that, so they gave us until transfers.
I would describe Elder Robins as a devout follower. If for a good cause, I remember he would follow someone to the ends of the earth. He had a good attitude about taking care of his body and lived a very healthy_ lifestyle.
And so things went for another 6 weeks. Elder Robins and I, on one of his random bathroom stops in the middle of town, were able to meet Krystal Sterling. We worked hard, and I know the Bishop and ward did too, to help her come into the church, but eventually she-did so and was able to receive some stability in her life
So of course by this time I've only got 3 months to go, you would think that they would just leave me in that one-area to die. But no, they wanted me to train a brand new Greenie, in the center of the mission so I headed back to a. ward that bordered one of my first. areas. South Hill And-not only that, but the mission. was also nice enough to allow me to slim down a little bit before I go home, so its back to the bike. Well, Elder Greenwood and I worked very hard in this area. I remember a few days of tracting absolutely all. .. day .. long WHEW! Man,.. that can- really make a boy tired. It's a good -thing that I knew all about humility by this point (Just kidding). So tract we did and we met a few nice people along the way.
Elder Greenwood was a good kid, and after the second week, I had to keep reminding myself that he is a greenie. But it didn't hold him back. He was very hardworking and a headfirst kind of missionary. He never had any desire to stop working even for one minute. Elder Greenwood was willing to learn the characteristics and attributes of good missionaries. He regularly was looking to improve.
We got to know Dawn DeLay and her family. She and her daughter Tyran were baptized when I had about 3 weeks to go. I remember meeting them while tracting the afternoon of the ward Halloween Party. Halloween Parties in the church have always been my favorite, and now I have a new reason why. Dawn and her girls came to the party and made some good friends. It was especially nice because they had just moved in about a week before. We also had a random part-member family show up to church one Sunday and the wife, Lory, told us that she was ready to be baptized. So she was baptized along side Dawn and her daughter as well.
The members of South Hill were very helpful. It's never easy being doubled into an area,. especially on bike. They warmly accepted us as their new missionaries and were very supportive since day one. Whenever Elder Greenwood and I were in need, whether it be food, ride, or warmth, we always seemed to run into a member at just the right time. And were also very good in fellowshipping of the converts we brought to them:
Well, I've had quite the wild ride. I of course was not able to mention all the people, places, and events that I would have liked to. I also was not able to report on all the lessons that I had learned or a bit about the person that I've become. I would like to leave my testimony of this work. I know I am a child of Heavenly Father. I know of his love for me. I know of his love for all of his children. I know of hi~ character and personality better now than any other point in my life. He is just as much an existing, thinking, breathing person as you or I with the same sort of passions, love, and laughter that we all possess. I testify of His Son, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are made possible. I testify of his truly merciful spirit and his love for me as well. I testify of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Church he restored. I also testify of The Book of Mormon as the true word of God today, written for today. I testify of Gordon Bitner Hinckley, the Prophet and Seer of the world today. I know this is God's wm-k upon the face of the earth today. We are his favorite thing, his everything, his only things. I know he loves us all and blesses us with everything we have. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Our Facebook Dilemma
So, for those of you who don't know, apparently Facebook got a new overhaul on something this past week. So after one day of it not working, we thought it was a problem on facebooks side. Oh no, after almost a week of not having our usual connection to the outside world, we've decided that it is something our internet is having a problem with. Today we just barely discovered a way to view our facebook, but with only limited interaction through a "proxy server." Anyway, we've been hoping to get the problem fully fixed soon.
Oh.... and I think I've decided to start growing a beard during my 7 week break.
Oh.... and I think I've decided to start growing a beard during my 7 week break.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
a little update
So, as expected, this whole "Summer of fitness" idea has been trickier than I'd imagined. But b/w finals week and getting thoroughly derailed from routine with my cousins funeral, I still think i've done pretty well. Without giving nitty gritty details, I will tell you one thing. Before this last weekend, I dropped 10 lbs. I'm pretty impressed with myself, but its a drop in the bucket in comparison to what I want to accomplish.
Monday, July 14, 2008
In loving Memory of James Bodell
I'd like to take this moment to remember one of my life-long closest friends. My cousin, James Bodell, passed away this afternoon. He was my closest cousin in age, and from day one of his life it was known that he would lead a life of difficult circumstances health-wise. Throughout our lives together, James' spirit was always one of wit, intelligence, and friendliness. Though the 2nd half of our lives was spent in different states, I was always very grateful for the time I was able to spend with him. I decided not to go on a senior trip after graduation, so that I could instead travel with my other cousin Caleb to go see James and his family. That trip will always be one of my cherished memories.
As I write this, I can feel James' loving spirit around me. He has parted from us lesser mortals, and gone into the great beyond into the loving arms of his Savior and Heavenly Father. It is my continual silent prayer that the loving spirit of Lord will also dwell with his family whom he leaves behind.
James, I love you, and God be with you till we meet again!
And you thought YOUR beach was crowded...
My sister Nikki sent this to me, thought I'd share it with you all...
When you need to relax and just get away from it all..... may I suggest 'A Day at the beach' in . .. . . . .. . CHINA???
WONDER WHERE THE TOILETS ARE?
When you need to relax and just get away from it all..... may I suggest 'A Day at the beach' in . .. . . . .. . CHINA???
WONDER WHERE THE TOILETS ARE?
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Our 4th of July Mega-Vacation
We had quite the time down in Utah. It all started with a weeks worth of extra studying in order for us to really appreciate our time in Utah. It was painful, but we got it done. Upon our arrival we spent the evening with Cindy's parents and she was able to spend some time with her Kitties that she has been talking about pretty much since the day we left town.
Friday we slept in and then went to the Zoo with a couple of our Nieces and a Nephew. It was really fun, but Hogle Zoo has changed a lot since I was there. They apparently completely took out the Hippo house and the large cat house. The Hippo exhibit was replaced with a big Carousel. Ya, cause when I think Zoo, I think Merry-Go-Round. Anyway, the cat house was replaced with a large asian animal exhibit.
After the Zoo, we went back to the my parents house for the Party/BBQ. Cindy's parents came along as well, so it was nice to spend time with both sides of the family. At night we walked to Sugar House Park to watch the show. We went to the Highland High Soccer Field which was right next to where they launched the rockets from, so we had a great view! So great, that the debris from the fireworks fell on us throughout the show. Kinda scary actually, there was even a little girl who got nailed by a falling firework that was still on FIRE! She was ok, but I wouldn't blame her for being kinda freaked out.
Saturday, we went to the Pool with my sisters and their kids. It was so much fun to be able to spend time with my nieces and nephews. We had a blast. That night we went to Provo to go to Dinner, Ice Cream, and bowling with my cousins.
It was so nice to spend time with many of those whom we don't get to see as often anymore. It was a very nice weekend.
Friday we slept in and then went to the Zoo with a couple of our Nieces and a Nephew. It was really fun, but Hogle Zoo has changed a lot since I was there. They apparently completely took out the Hippo house and the large cat house. The Hippo exhibit was replaced with a big Carousel. Ya, cause when I think Zoo, I think Merry-Go-Round. Anyway, the cat house was replaced with a large asian animal exhibit.
After the Zoo, we went back to the my parents house for the Party/BBQ. Cindy's parents came along as well, so it was nice to spend time with both sides of the family. At night we walked to Sugar House Park to watch the show. We went to the Highland High Soccer Field which was right next to where they launched the rockets from, so we had a great view! So great, that the debris from the fireworks fell on us throughout the show. Kinda scary actually, there was even a little girl who got nailed by a falling firework that was still on FIRE! She was ok, but I wouldn't blame her for being kinda freaked out.
Saturday, we went to the Pool with my sisters and their kids. It was so much fun to be able to spend time with my nieces and nephews. We had a blast. That night we went to Provo to go to Dinner, Ice Cream, and bowling with my cousins.
It was so nice to spend time with many of those whom we don't get to see as often anymore. It was a very nice weekend.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Summer of Alex
For those of you familiar with Seinfeld, there was a time when George decided to have a self proclaimed summer vacation. It happened right as George got laid off from his job, and he just decided he needed to take some time off from life. His summer consisted of watching TV from his fancy chair with a built in mini fridge. Eventually, he fell down a flight of stairs, temporarily paralyzing him. It was quite funny actually (insert canned laughter here).
Well, I've been inspired to proclaim a summer of my own. This weekend being the inaugural ceremony for the summer months, I've decided to put the next 3 months to good use, with or without a full summer vacation.
And so, without further adieu... ladies and gentlemen, I give you... The Summer Of Alex!!! Marriage has been kind to me, a little too kind actually. Between married cooking and breaking my leg, I've put on 20 lbs over the cold winter and its time to work it off. I'm setting a goal to work out 4 times a week. Rain or shine, School or work, sleep or insomnia. I'm going to do my best. So hopefully, by the time the fall equinox is upon us, I shall emerge a beautiful butterfly... I mean, a leaner, healthier individual. Wish me luck!
Well, I've been inspired to proclaim a summer of my own. This weekend being the inaugural ceremony for the summer months, I've decided to put the next 3 months to good use, with or without a full summer vacation.
And so, without further adieu... ladies and gentlemen, I give you... The Summer Of Alex!!! Marriage has been kind to me, a little too kind actually. Between married cooking and breaking my leg, I've put on 20 lbs over the cold winter and its time to work it off. I'm setting a goal to work out 4 times a week. Rain or shine, School or work, sleep or insomnia. I'm going to do my best. So hopefully, by the time the fall equinox is upon us, I shall emerge a beautiful butterfly... I mean, a leaner, healthier individual. Wish me luck!
Monday, June 16, 2008
the Kenney courtship saga continues...
Well, now that the computer is up and going again, I see no reason to further delay the story of how Cindy met Alex. Last note we mentioned in the story was the point that Cindy has come to refer to as when we "hooked up."
Me being the impatient natural man that I am, insisted as strongly as possible for Cindy to cut her trip to Kentucky short so she could come home and we could get to really solidifying our relationship so it seemed more realistic. Eventually we comprimised that she could stay out for the full duration until August, but she needed to come home for a visit in June.
It was a pretty interesting time in my life to say the least. School had just let out a few weeks previous, I had an interview for the job that I now have, and was cutting back on the hours at my original job at the movies. We had a big family reunion at the beach houses in Cali. And it all ended, with Cindy and I flying to Utah on the same day. I didn't get in until really late though, so we didn't get to see eachother till the next morning.
I remember that morning being a blur. I woke up early enough to preen myself more than any date I'd been on in probably an entire year before. We had already made the plan that I would go to her house that morning and she would make me waffles for breakfast. I made the long drive from my house to her house for the first, but most certainly not the last, time. I pulled up to the house, and felt a huge anticipation swelling up inside of me. Here it was, this girl whom I'd already been 'dating' for a month and a half, and I was about to see her for the first time in a light other than co-worker. I rang the doorbell and she answered it looking incredibly beautiful, she pushed the door open for me to come in, then turned away and said something to the effect of, "I can't find my phone."
Very eager not let the moment pass, I just said in a stern and insistent, yet calm voice, "HEY." She stopped dead, turned about face, ran at me and gave me a huge hug. We still joke about her turning away from me the first time we saw each other on a personal level.
That trip in June was incredible. Without disclosing details, we had our first date, our first kiss, our first I love you (exactly a year ago today) and our first conversation about being married, over the next 4 days, not necessarily in that order. By the time she left, we were both completely infatuated with one another, and even though it wasn't set in stone, we were both pretty keen on the idea of spending the rest of our lives together.
Me being the impatient natural man that I am, insisted as strongly as possible for Cindy to cut her trip to Kentucky short so she could come home and we could get to really solidifying our relationship so it seemed more realistic. Eventually we comprimised that she could stay out for the full duration until August, but she needed to come home for a visit in June.
It was a pretty interesting time in my life to say the least. School had just let out a few weeks previous, I had an interview for the job that I now have, and was cutting back on the hours at my original job at the movies. We had a big family reunion at the beach houses in Cali. And it all ended, with Cindy and I flying to Utah on the same day. I didn't get in until really late though, so we didn't get to see eachother till the next morning.
I remember that morning being a blur. I woke up early enough to preen myself more than any date I'd been on in probably an entire year before. We had already made the plan that I would go to her house that morning and she would make me waffles for breakfast. I made the long drive from my house to her house for the first, but most certainly not the last, time. I pulled up to the house, and felt a huge anticipation swelling up inside of me. Here it was, this girl whom I'd already been 'dating' for a month and a half, and I was about to see her for the first time in a light other than co-worker. I rang the doorbell and she answered it looking incredibly beautiful, she pushed the door open for me to come in, then turned away and said something to the effect of, "I can't find my phone."
Very eager not let the moment pass, I just said in a stern and insistent, yet calm voice, "HEY." She stopped dead, turned about face, ran at me and gave me a huge hug. We still joke about her turning away from me the first time we saw each other on a personal level.
That trip in June was incredible. Without disclosing details, we had our first date, our first kiss, our first I love you (exactly a year ago today) and our first conversation about being married, over the next 4 days, not necessarily in that order. By the time she left, we were both completely infatuated with one another, and even though it wasn't set in stone, we were both pretty keen on the idea of spending the rest of our lives together.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Adventures in Zoology
So, here at Byidaho, I'm taking a Zoology class. I'll admit it isn't half as exciting as my "World of Dinosaurs" class that I took at the U, but it has its moments. My teacher is a little out-there. I won't give you all the details of what he tells us, but lets just say that one story ended with a dogs skull on his desk, and the other a tapeworm in a jar. Anyway, he showed us this video in class, I think its pretty cool, so I decided to share it with you all.
WARNING!!!
Nature in Action, not for the faint at heart!
WARNING!!!
Nature in Action, not for the faint at heart!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Finally updated
So I know its been a long time. So I figure, "I've got a few minutes and update my blog." My original intent was that after I got out my digital camera (and my computer was back in commission) I was gonna post some pictures of our home. Unfortunately, my camera has clicked its last clack and won't be supporting us in our bloggin adventures from here on out. We do have Cindy's camera, which is nice, but then I look around the apartment and realize its out of batteries. So the alternative is... to send you pictures taken before we moved in! Hooray! So here you are.
Here's the picture of our entry-way
Here's my office, this is more cluttered than it is now, but I do have a smaller desk (Grampa's old one) and a much smaller office chair.
Here is our living room. This is the furnished look anyway, so it actually is pretty close to what our living room looks like now.
And Finally, our dining room/kitchen. The picture they provided us with for the kitchen half is pretty messy, so we'll leave that one out for now.
So ya! This is our place. I'm planning on getting some pictures of the outside of the house, maybe with the 2 of us in it. Now if I could only find those batteries...
Here's the picture of our entry-way
Here's my office, this is more cluttered than it is now, but I do have a smaller desk (Grampa's old one) and a much smaller office chair.
Here is our living room. This is the furnished look anyway, so it actually is pretty close to what our living room looks like now.
And Finally, our dining room/kitchen. The picture they provided us with for the kitchen half is pretty messy, so we'll leave that one out for now.
So ya! This is our place. I'm planning on getting some pictures of the outside of the house, maybe with the 2 of us in it. Now if I could only find those batteries...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Squirrels close to home
Rexburg is full of squirrels. Well, at least our backyard is. Our deck has a little squirrel feeder on the railing that we put peanuts in. As the weather has gotten warmer, they have been chowing down out there! Unfortunately, the only evidence we have had of this is the broken peanut shells we find all over the ground and the fact we have to keep filling it up every few days. Early this morning I went out and saw that
half the feeder was empty. As Alex and I were eating french toast later this morning, I noticed that there was a squirrel out on the railing eating a peanut. Alex grabbed the camera, and we got some cute pictures of the squirrel eating his breakfast next to us. He kept chowing down the peanuts for a good 15 minutes, one peanut after another. After the squirrel decided it was finally finished eating, well there was just a few peanuts left in the feeder!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Down time
So I've now officially had my first class at BYU-I (Accounting; I'm reminded why this is my 3rd time taking it.) I've found myself in a situation where I've got an hour and a half to sit in the building and dink around. Since I don't have any homework yet, I instead pulled out my laptop and started checking things out while I eat my lunch my sweetie made for me, YUM.
Anyway, as I've been sitting here, I've decided how incredible this blogging atmosphere is. This would have been so helpful on the mission. Even though its been years and years since I've spent some quality time with certain cousins of mine, I feel like I'm getting to know their families better and better every day. I think its cute that both Leland and Tara are into Princess stuff. And not only that, but its also a great way for me to update all of you on how we are doing. I just think its really cool, and I'm feeling very grateful right now.
Anyway, as I've been sitting here, I've decided how incredible this blogging atmosphere is. This would have been so helpful on the mission. Even though its been years and years since I've spent some quality time with certain cousins of mine, I feel like I'm getting to know their families better and better every day. I think its cute that both Leland and Tara are into Princess stuff. And not only that, but its also a great way for me to update all of you on how we are doing. I just think its really cool, and I'm feeling very grateful right now.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Last stop, Rexburg! .... End of the Line
We're here! We are in our beautiful new place. Sorry for not posting pictures here, but i'll see what I can do over this next week to help you all get a feel for the place we are now living in. Today will be our first day at church, and tomorrow morning school starts. We've been really busy unpacking and getting our new home stocked. I think the number one thing Cindy is excited about, is the fact that she doesn't have to share her kitchen space with 5 other girls.
Update on previous post
The cartoon I found online to post of moving was disturbingly accurate of how our move felt. My Dad did an incredible job of getting all the stuff in our "need" pile packed onto and into the truck. We covered it with a tarp, and then put a spiderweb style bungee cord over it. As soon as we hit I-80, after about a mile, we saw Cindy's backpack go flying out the back of the truck! So we pulled over, and my Dad and I engaged in some driveby acrobatic retrieval maneuvers, and got it back on the next pass. The next 2 hours consisted of us driving behind my Dad incredibly tense watching the tarp flap all over the place and us just thinking about what the next precious item we are to lose next.
Update on previous post
The cartoon I found online to post of moving was disturbingly accurate of how our move felt. My Dad did an incredible job of getting all the stuff in our "need" pile packed onto and into the truck. We covered it with a tarp, and then put a spiderweb style bungee cord over it. As soon as we hit I-80, after about a mile, we saw Cindy's backpack go flying out the back of the truck! So we pulled over, and my Dad and I engaged in some driveby acrobatic retrieval maneuvers, and got it back on the next pass. The next 2 hours consisted of us driving behind my Dad incredibly tense watching the tarp flap all over the place and us just thinking about what the next precious item we are to lose next.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Moving
So the time has finally come for us to spread our wings and leave the nest... even though its been 4 months almost since we got married. Anyway, we have spent this past week packing things up getting ready for the big move. Its been quite busy and tiring, but we've gotten a lot done. We've both noticed that when we spend the time packing apart, we tend to get distracted easier and don't move as fast. So we've tried to stick together for the purposes of staying on task. It works usually, but we get tired and sit down together and find it harder to get back up if we are sitting together. In any case, by this time tomorrow 
we'll be on the road on our way to our new place (that we haven't even seen) and will be spending the remainder of our weekend unpacking and getting settled in.
we'll be on the road on our way to our new place (that we haven't even seen) and will be spending the remainder of our weekend unpacking and getting settled in.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
10 things about me, by Cindy
So Laura tagged me a while back and I've decided to report on the 10 random things about me...
1. I like to make up words. I'm not sure where they come from, but where ever it is, they are quite profound. One of Alex's Favorites is "Yancy" which is to mean... Nervous, Dancy, excited, jittery.
2. I'm open about burping in the open, apparently more than I should be. I wouldn't really say I burp in "public," but I have no reservations about letting one out when surrounded by family/friends. This one time, when I was 14, at a family reunion drinking home made root beer, I let out a really big burp at the table while everyone was eating dinner. Everyone stopped eating to look at me. One kid said "Nice one," while my Aunt Kathy elbowed me pretty hard.
3. I LOVE strawberry Ice Cream. Especially Breyer's brand. I bought a quart of one every week for 6 months, (I think every Wednesday) while in Kentucky last year.
4. I went 4 years without going to the dentist, (November 2003- November 2007) and I didn't even get any Cavities... I've never had a cavity my whole life!
5. I've never broken a bone or had stitches. I suppose I should knock on wood, but I'm still pretty proud about that.
6. This last few months on the way to institute, I notice I always get really hot in the car. And on the way home, I always get cold. Alex was freezing in the car last time while I had the A/C blowing on him. What a sweetie for enduring my temperature uniquenesses.
7. I have MONO. Oh, and I love cats.
8. I enjoy playing games with family and friends. Especially competitive games. No one gets more competitive than my brothers, even though Alex likes to say I'm worse than them.
9. We have a family home video of me when I was 4 singing "I am a Child of God." Apparently I didn't know how to end the song after starting it. So while singing the song, when I got to the line "teach me all ...." I would ramble for a couple seconds then return to "... lead me, guide me..." and sing it over and over and over again.
10. To finish this off with a big one, I would say I'm usually concerned about those around me than I am with myself. Not that I worry about their opinion, but I always go out of my way to try to help everyone I can, and help everyone around me to be happy.
I am grateful for my friends and family, especially my husband Alex! He has brought a lot of joy into my life.
So I guess I'm supposed to 'tag' 5 other people to tell us 10 random things about them. So here it goes: Craig, Carrie, Tiffany, Courtney, and Jake.
1. I like to make up words. I'm not sure where they come from, but where ever it is, they are quite profound. One of Alex's Favorites is "Yancy" which is to mean... Nervous, Dancy, excited, jittery.
2. I'm open about burping in the open, apparently more than I should be. I wouldn't really say I burp in "public," but I have no reservations about letting one out when surrounded by family/friends. This one time, when I was 14, at a family reunion drinking home made root beer, I let out a really big burp at the table while everyone was eating dinner. Everyone stopped eating to look at me. One kid said "Nice one," while my Aunt Kathy elbowed me pretty hard.
3. I LOVE strawberry Ice Cream. Especially Breyer's brand. I bought a quart of one every week for 6 months, (I think every Wednesday) while in Kentucky last year.
4. I went 4 years without going to the dentist, (November 2003- November 2007) and I didn't even get any Cavities... I've never had a cavity my whole life!
5. I've never broken a bone or had stitches. I suppose I should knock on wood, but I'm still pretty proud about that.
6. This last few months on the way to institute, I notice I always get really hot in the car. And on the way home, I always get cold. Alex was freezing in the car last time while I had the A/C blowing on him. What a sweetie for enduring my temperature uniquenesses.
7. I have MONO. Oh, and I love cats.
8. I enjoy playing games with family and friends. Especially competitive games. No one gets more competitive than my brothers, even though Alex likes to say I'm worse than them.9. We have a family home video of me when I was 4 singing "I am a Child of God." Apparently I didn't know how to end the song after starting it. So while singing the song, when I got to the line "teach me all ...." I would ramble for a couple seconds then return to "... lead me, guide me..." and sing it over and over and over again.
10. To finish this off with a big one, I would say I'm usually concerned about those around me than I am with myself. Not that I worry about their opinion, but I always go out of my way to try to help everyone I can, and help everyone around me to be happy.
I am grateful for my friends and family, especially my husband Alex! He has brought a lot of joy into my life.
So I guess I'm supposed to 'tag' 5 other people to tell us 10 random things about them. So here it goes: Craig, Carrie, Tiffany, Courtney, and Jake.
Hit and run....
Well last night was definitely an exciting evening for our household. After work, Cindy picked me up and we went with my mom to go see her new house being built. Because we got there after close, we had about 45 seconds to run through the model home before it closed. Then took a a longer look at the house being built.
As soon as we got back, we invited Cindy's mom to come with us to my favorite restaurant, Famous Dave's. It was wonderful, as usual. By the time we were getting out, it was nearly time for us to pick up Sharon from work. So we swung by the Megaplex where she worked and picked her up. Apparently Sharon hadn't had lunch or dinner, so we drove her to Arby's to pick her up something.
Cindy and I waited in the car while Sharon and Colleen went inside the restaurant. After about 2 minutes, Cindy and I heard a very loud crunching noise, coming from behind us. We turned and looked at the street to see a very large black Truck backing up, and peeling out to leave very fast. There was a guy in the road screaming at the top of his lungs, "Somebody catch that (Blank) (Blank)."
I immediately jumped out of the car to run to the corner, yelling to Cindy that I had to see if anyone was hurt. I ran out to the middle of the intersection where this guy and his son had probably one of the worst rear endings I'd ever seen. They were in a newish small sedan, and lets just say the back left end had been crunched to nearly the drivers seat. There was a kid in the passenger side so my next instinct was to call 911. I asked the guy if he was hurt, but he said he was fine, with the exceptiong of being incredibly angry (I don't blame him), and the kid said he felt ok too. As I turned to survey the rest of the scene I realized that he had actually hit 2 other cars as well, and there were at least 4 other people, including the guy in the middle of the street who were all on their cell phones. I figured one more call will probably just slow the process down. I stayed for a few minutes just to see if there was anything I could do to help, but there really wasn't. So after the police arrived, we wished them luck and left. The whole experience left us all feeling a bit shaken, but at the same time, feeling very grateful the rest of the night, that it was not us involved in the accident.
The picture posted is the closest I could find on the web to a similar accident, only it was a smaller car, and the back end was crushed about twice as bad.
As soon as we got back, we invited Cindy's mom to come with us to my favorite restaurant, Famous Dave's. It was wonderful, as usual. By the time we were getting out, it was nearly time for us to pick up Sharon from work. So we swung by the Megaplex where she worked and picked her up. Apparently Sharon hadn't had lunch or dinner, so we drove her to Arby's to pick her up something.
Cindy and I waited in the car while Sharon and Colleen went inside the restaurant. After about 2 minutes, Cindy and I heard a very loud crunching noise, coming from behind us. We turned and looked at the street to see a very large black Truck backing up, and peeling out to leave very fast. There was a guy in the road screaming at the top of his lungs, "Somebody catch that (Blank) (Blank)."
I immediately jumped out of the car to run to the corner, yelling to Cindy that I had to see if anyone was hurt. I ran out to the middle of the intersection where this guy and his son had probably one of the worst rear endings I'd ever seen. They were in a newish small sedan, and lets just say the back left end had been crunched to nearly the drivers seat. There was a kid in the passenger side so my next instinct was to call 911. I asked the guy if he was hurt, but he said he was fine, with the exceptiong of being incredibly angry (I don't blame him), and the kid said he felt ok too. As I turned to survey the rest of the scene I realized that he had actually hit 2 other cars as well, and there were at least 4 other people, including the guy in the middle of the street who were all on their cell phones. I figured one more call will probably just slow the process down. I stayed for a few minutes just to see if there was anything I could do to help, but there really wasn't. So after the police arrived, we wished them luck and left. The whole experience left us all feeling a bit shaken, but at the same time, feeling very grateful the rest of the night, that it was not us involved in the accident.
The picture posted is the closest I could find on the web to a similar accident, only it was a smaller car, and the back end was crushed about twice as bad.
Monday, April 7, 2008
No, that would be silly..... The tiny man who lives in my Finger hired the crew
Do you ever find yourself singing the same part of the same song over and over in your head? On Saturday, after conference, for some reason we popped in Muppet Treasure Island. It was pretty good, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it even after probably almost 10 years since I saw is last.
Anyway, this morning I went up and went to work. And this whole morning I've had the song "Sailing for Adventure" stuck in my head. Specifically the part where Fozzy says "Sailing for adventure on the Big Blue Wet Thing!"
Friday, March 28, 2008
3 Month Anniversary
Well, today is our 3 month anniversary. So I find it appropriate to continue telling the story of our courtship. We left off at Red Robin, our first time alone together away from the movie theater. It was a nice night. I paid for her meal even though she insisted she wasn't hungry. It being a Monday the restaurant was pretty dead so we were pretty much the only people there for 2 1/2 hours. When we said goodbye, I really thought it would be the last time I'd ever see her, it was a pretty sad thought.
So I go off to tropical paradise during her last week in Utah. My original suspicion was right, as I was unable to see her before she went to Kentucky. We texted back and forth a couple times while I was in Hawaii and as she remembers it, we even talked an hour or two on the phone while I was there. When she left for Kentucky, I had accepted the fact that nothing would probably ever happen between us, but for the time being I had made a new friend with whom I found I could talk to about just about anything. And talk we did. Quite a bit actually. I guess her phone bill for the first 2 months in Kentucky were actually $40 - $50 higher than normal, so she had to get her plan extended to cover all the
communication happening b/w us.We talked about all sorts of stuff. Family, work, school, movies, and I would talk about girls I'd been seeing. She didn't talk about guys at all, cause there virtually were none for her back there. Now I had actually been actively dating quite a number of girls, none of which were working out the way I'd hoped. I even got to the point where I had 4 dates cancel on me, in a 3 day period. This frustrated me to the point where I came to the decision to swear off dating and girls altogether for a full month. I wouldn't think about them, I wouldn't ask for numbers, I wouldn't call numbers I had for dates. And when some of these girls asked me to go out, I had to tell them no. This was my "Dating Fast".
Now of course I told Cindy all about this while it was going on. But because I had no expectation of anything happening with her, I saw no reason to cut off communication with her. And so things went on. And as the month came to a close, I realized that I should probably consider who to take on a date at some point once the fast was over. I talked to Cindy about that too. I remember one day, the fast had just recently come to a close, and I was talking to Cindy about how I was questioning whether or not I should call a certain girl for a date. About an hour or two later, Cindy calls me up during class, I can't answer it, so I call her back after class is over. She tells me, "It made me uncomfortable when you were talking to me about asking that other girl on a date..."
Well great, now this friend that I had become very comfortable talking to about anything, was telling me that there was now something I shouldn't talk to her about. So I said, "OK, then I just won't tell you about the girls I'm seeing I guess."
"No, I want you to feel like you can talk to me about anything"
"But you don't want me to talk about seeing other girls"
"No"
...............
..................................
........................................................
"So....... you're telling me you don't want me to see other girls?"
.............
"Ya, I guess I am."
WoW! This was definately something I didn't see coming. Long story short, we both feel really good about it. I thought to myself, I've had such a great time on my dating fast, why not just continue it another couple months.
So I guess I'll have to end things here for now. And just so you know, the pictures that were posted throughout this blog were the ones that we sent to eachother while she was in Kentucky.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tender Mercies
Due to circumstances happening within the close people in my life, I've found myself reflecting on the most important aspects of our time here on earth. So I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize many of the big players in my life, and the impact they've had on me.
First I'd like to recognize my parents. After all, as my mother has said, she "Endured many painstaking hours to bring me into the world" so they really deserve my thanks. I've had a few conversations with my parents over the past couple months regarding life and the choices we make. My Dad said something along the lines of, "You do realize, your ability to choose good has very little to
do with the way your mother and I raised you right?" When I asked him to expound he told me about how he and my Mom have looked at each of their children and seen how different each of them have come into the world. He told me we each have very different characteristics and talents. And that he cannot claim responsibility for the good people we have each become. He says that it has been a blessing in his life to see each of his children choose the proverbial 'good over evil' and that its not due to our upbringing, but do to the nature of our spirits. While he may be right, I still know that there isn't much point to having a good nature if you aren't taught how to use it. So I'd like to thank my parents for helping me learn for myself time and time again how to guide my own life in the way that I should.
I'd also like to thank my family. My brothers and sisters, as well as members of my extended family. Without naming names, I'd just like everyone to know that almost every lesson I've really learned in life, I've learned it by example from my family. Life isn't always going to be full of sunshine and chocolate bunnies... sometimes when you're down, and thinking you can't get up, what it takes to get you up is someone kicking dust in your eye to get you to jump to your feet... sometimes when your leg is broken, its ok to ask other people to do things for you, and even after you've healed, its still ok... if you see someone having a hard time, there are things you can say other than, "Hey are you OK", sometimes they just need a "Hey, lets get outta here and forget life for a while...
I wouldn't be the person I am today without the experiences I learned on my mission. Soon we'll be moving to Idaho for school, when that time comes, I'll be forced to go through some old mission stuff and find my old missionary journal as well as my final report. I'd like to think that when that time c
omes i'll be able to include a couple excerpts from it for this blog. But off the top of my head, I'd just like to hit a few key notes. President Allen is one of the greatest men I've ever known. He was the one who cleared up some questions I've had about life, specifically, sometimes, when you think you understand whats going on, and you know whats right is right, and whats wrong is wrong, you could still be an idiot sitting on your head. I met many amazing people on my mission. Teresa, where ever she is, is probably one of the strongest willed people I know, and loves her Heavenly Father. John Hansen taught me that it isn't what I want that matters, its what the Lord wants. He wasn't a perfect person, or a perfect missionary, but he never claimed to be. He just knew that I needed to find out what was important on the mission, and helped show me the way. Jon Hoagland, the proof to me that the Lord provides a way for any task in life. He's got a strong heart, a strong mind, and a wonderful family. The Himmer Family is probably one of the most selfless households I've ever felt a part of. Curtis Stevens taught me all I'll ever need to know about being a role model, and I thank him for the humbling opportunities he brought to me.... this section is actually getting a little long, so I'll cut it off here for now, but there will be more to come.
Last, but certainly not least, is my beautiful Bride. Cindy Olsen Kenney. I remember the first day that I met her, someone told me that I shouldn't even try to catch her attention cause she was already taken and I'd never stand a chance. So I didn't, and yet somehow I find myself next to her still at night. Someone may need to explain that to me someday, but no
rush, I'm perfectly happy not knowing right now. She has brought new life into me. Everything in my life has led up to me meeting and marrying her. I feel like I don't really know what to do next. But she's there to hold my hand as we take the next few, and eventually next many, steps in life together. I love her with all my heart and thank my Heavenly Father each day for sending her into my life.
Thats quite enough rambling for now. I'll try to pick up this soapbox another time, hopefully soon.
First I'd like to recognize my parents. After all, as my mother has said, she "Endured many painstaking hours to bring me into the world" so they really deserve my thanks. I've had a few conversations with my parents over the past couple months regarding life and the choices we make. My Dad said something along the lines of, "You do realize, your ability to choose good has very little to
do with the way your mother and I raised you right?" When I asked him to expound he told me about how he and my Mom have looked at each of their children and seen how different each of them have come into the world. He told me we each have very different characteristics and talents. And that he cannot claim responsibility for the good people we have each become. He says that it has been a blessing in his life to see each of his children choose the proverbial 'good over evil' and that its not due to our upbringing, but do to the nature of our spirits. While he may be right, I still know that there isn't much point to having a good nature if you aren't taught how to use it. So I'd like to thank my parents for helping me learn for myself time and time again how to guide my own life in the way that I should.I'd also like to thank my family. My brothers and sisters, as well as members of my extended family. Without naming names, I'd just like everyone to know that almost every lesson I've really learned in life, I've learned it by example from my family. Life isn't always going to be full of sunshine and chocolate bunnies... sometimes when you're down, and thinking you can't get up, what it takes to get you up is someone kicking dust in your eye to get you to jump to your feet... sometimes when your leg is broken, its ok to ask other people to do things for you, and even after you've healed, its still ok... if you see someone having a hard time, there are things you can say other than, "Hey are you OK", sometimes they just need a "Hey, lets get outta here and forget life for a while...
I wouldn't be the person I am today without the experiences I learned on my mission. Soon we'll be moving to Idaho for school, when that time comes, I'll be forced to go through some old mission stuff and find my old missionary journal as well as my final report. I'd like to think that when that time c
omes i'll be able to include a couple excerpts from it for this blog. But off the top of my head, I'd just like to hit a few key notes. President Allen is one of the greatest men I've ever known. He was the one who cleared up some questions I've had about life, specifically, sometimes, when you think you understand whats going on, and you know whats right is right, and whats wrong is wrong, you could still be an idiot sitting on your head. I met many amazing people on my mission. Teresa, where ever she is, is probably one of the strongest willed people I know, and loves her Heavenly Father. John Hansen taught me that it isn't what I want that matters, its what the Lord wants. He wasn't a perfect person, or a perfect missionary, but he never claimed to be. He just knew that I needed to find out what was important on the mission, and helped show me the way. Jon Hoagland, the proof to me that the Lord provides a way for any task in life. He's got a strong heart, a strong mind, and a wonderful family. The Himmer Family is probably one of the most selfless households I've ever felt a part of. Curtis Stevens taught me all I'll ever need to know about being a role model, and I thank him for the humbling opportunities he brought to me.... this section is actually getting a little long, so I'll cut it off here for now, but there will be more to come.Last, but certainly not least, is my beautiful Bride. Cindy Olsen Kenney. I remember the first day that I met her, someone told me that I shouldn't even try to catch her attention cause she was already taken and I'd never stand a chance. So I didn't, and yet somehow I find myself next to her still at night. Someone may need to explain that to me someday, but no
rush, I'm perfectly happy not knowing right now. She has brought new life into me. Everything in my life has led up to me meeting and marrying her. I feel like I don't really know what to do next. But she's there to hold my hand as we take the next few, and eventually next many, steps in life together. I love her with all my heart and thank my Heavenly Father each day for sending her into my life.Thats quite enough rambling for now. I'll try to pick up this soapbox another time, hopefully soon.
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