Magnificent Seven

In search of something.

2010-03-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

Marc and I have the opportunity to attend the most amazing Sunday School class. Our teacher is a man with great wisdom and insight into the human frailties of men. Today we were talking about finding your passion. When I was searching for times when I felt passionate about something, I thought about the trip Marc and I were able to take to Haiti. There were many nights that were spent with no electricity so as soon as the sun went down, my mind went to work. I wondered why these sweet people lived in such dire poverty, but I also wondered why happiness is so hard to find in America where we have most every convenience at our beck and call. I ran across this quote and know it is time for me to help and hope that this will bring some direction to my search for what I can do to do more.
"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it.”

“Well, why don’t you ask Him?”

“Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.”

(Anonymous) -a quote from A Hole in the Gospel, by Richard Stearn, President of World Vision
I know of wonderful charities that give 100% of donations directly to those in need with no costs towards admistration. One is here and the one I want to become involved in right now is here.
C.S. Lewis said, ”I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare…If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us,… they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures excludes them.”

Is it really 2010?

2010-01-28T07:26:00.000-08:00

Okay there have already been two birthdays this year. I want to post pictures of my two birthday kids from January so this is just Jordan's letter for now. I recommitted to read scriptures daily with the family and I am admitting publicly to the world that once again we haven't been the shining example sooooooooooooo, of course our missionary is reminding us to do it. OUCH-so if you see me ask me to keep me accountable how we are doing on marking our scriptures as directed by the boy in Paraguay. Here is his letter and I hope it will touch your heart. Once again, thank you to all of you who love him and have played a part in helping him to be the wonderful servant that he is.
> Familia, les quiero mucho,
>
> Well once again the Lord has blessed me with another amazing companion. My last Comp, Elder Lytle moved up to AP cause hes a stud, and President put me with ELDER OLSON!!!!!!! who is just a missionary machine!! this elder was just born to be a Missionary, lives in Placentia, near Anahim(sp), comes from a family of 10, youngest of 8 who have all served missions, and whos parents are currently in Mexico serving a mission. i hope that helps you understand what im working with here. Im pretty sure as a child when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up the answer was A MISSIONARY! and he probably said it in Spanish. Just know that im really excited and feel very blessed to be with him.
>
> Zone wise. everythings going great we have 2 brand new district Leaders who are looking for guidance and molding which i love cause we all going to be on the same page this change. and Elder Laughter my homie from the young years is in my zone as the other district leader. and on top of all of that they opened two new areas in out zone. which makes 26 missionaries!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! its going to be great, last change i did a lot of worrying and stressing out but i think i have a better understand of my calling and what the Lord expects from me and im going to do all i can to complete that following and trusting in Him.
>
> Well you all sound great, Basketball season is always an interesting time for Liberty. Logan just keep being a Baller, someday somebody will realize the Game and the blood you got. Until then you just gotta keep your head. and the jerseys should be there this week or the next they were sent the 30 of diciembre.
>
> side note thank you Grandma for the package`i i loved it and am reaping the blessing of american taco seasoning and koolaid.

Also just wanted to share something about my personal study that i have been doing. President Callan challanged the entire Mission to re-read the entire Book of Mormon tapa a tapa marking all references to the Savior. His names, his attributes, his words, his Doctrine. each one of those in a different color. counting how many times the Book of Mormon talks of Christ. Almost every page in my book looks like Rainbow from all the marks that i make. i have found a better understanding for the Book of Mormon and my testimony has grown from doing so. By taking this challange i testify with more power and clarity everyday. those that read this aswell are invited to do the same go by a brand new copy of the Book of mormon and read at least a chapter a day marking all references to the Savior, Jesus Christ. i promise you that your testimony of Him and the Book of Mormon will grow and your understanding of the two will be strengthen.
Ps those in immediate family, i would like a response to my invitation, Dad down to Melanie.

pss the other day i started laughing mid-read thinking if our family was the family of nefi mason would be jacob, in ch 4 ver 1 when he was complaining about how hard it was to write on those stinkin plates. haha. kid never could write a clean sentence. jk Mason Ether 12 26 God gives you weaknesses to make you strong and someday you be scriptist (word?)

Ive been praying for you dad and i hope everything turns out great with whitney, the place changes lifes. testigo de eso.
pss how is Carla Lewis doing as well as uncle Dale. i have been praying for them a lot. but i havent received an update.

k gotta go love you all and feel the power of your prayers daily. i lvoe being a missionary.

Sweet Sixteen in Every Way

2009-11-17T14:01:00.001-08:00

My little boy Logan is now sixteen. I know he is not little but for his entire life he and Mason were the little boys. It stuck and I need it now for psychological reasons, so just humor me. I am amazed at how fast his life has flown by. He has truly brought joy into my life for all sixteen years. He has a smile for everyone he meets and tries to keep peace. I have tried to make him dance at Stake dances and he has put his foot down so that is a battle I have given up. He love his sports and we are very impressed with how hard he works to succeed at whatever athletic event he is currently involved in. He is a great brother to Mason and he will sit and watch Melanie's favorite shows with her. I know that the friendships he has with his brothers and sisters will last forever. His favorite people are Talia and Tristan and he plays with them and never tires of it. He has always loved kids and still does as he plays with his cousins no matter their age and loves to be the ring leader. I feel grateful to have him as my son and look forward to the next two years of high school, then his mission, and then college. It will be a great ride.

Fall

2009-10-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

I miss Box Elder canyon. I love living in California BUT I could love moving to Utah and seeing the splendor of what it has to offer.

Once a Patriot always a Champion

2009-10-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have to admit it. I was dreading the BHS vs.Liberty football game. I want to die watching my boys play football. I worry they will get hurt, I worry they will hurt someone else, I worry they will miss their tackle, etc. etc.. Pretty much the worry cycle of a mom. Well I left after Logan's game to take Melanie to a birthay party and the just tried to waste time before the Varsity game because I was just too nervous to go face the game. I waited in line for Logan's dinner for 20 minutes at Jack in the Box and finally got to the game 15 minutes late. At Jack in the Box I could hear the screams of the crowd but wasn't sure shich way it would be going. Well imagine my surprise when I arrived and we were in the lead 7 to 10. Yipee, skipee for us! The game was amazing and I was nervous the whole time. We were leading by 10 points with 4 minutes left and people were leaving. HELLO did you not know BHS came back last week to beat Stockdale? It ain't over until .... Well when the game ended this fat lady SANG! I had a smile on my face the whole night- so happy for my two boys and the great games they both played.

Monday's update on the Missionary

2009-09-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

hey so im writing again im just doing it slower then the dickens. (mom why did you always say that and what does it mean) so im writing from a computer out here in acahay and im pretty sure this was one of the first editions from 1984 it was sweet back then but come on can i get SOMETHING to open up with in my tour time limit. Well i hope everythings going great back home. We are doing great out here. My comps learning fast hes understanding a lot better he is still a little bit timid about talking so he stops a lot in lessons to ask me if he said that right. its kinda funny. but im thinking by the end of this change he will able to teach all the lessons without my help, well thats the goal. He keeps me laughing all day cause he just gets so excited about everything, even if its something small like some someone saying that theyll come to church during a contact. Most people just say that they will come to get us to stop talking but he just has so much faith that they are going to be there on sunday. Which i guess is good cause in Ether it says we cant receive any miracles unless we have faith. So hes really been helping me have more faith in these people.
we are still pretty house empty we have beds and a closet and a fridge, but no silverware or bowls or plates or any cooking item. so for the past 6 days we have had sandwiches, oranges, cookies and cereal from the bottom of a cut out water bottle and the top of a can of chocolate used as a spoon and thats about it. so im pretty stooked for the new kitchen were getting next week.

Miracle wise we were expected heavy rain this Sunday and we had blue skys!!! huge blessing and now everything is set up for Conferencia General. We have a baptism of 13 planned as a District if everything goes well. Which it will cause our district is amazingly obedient and all guapos (means hardworkings in paraguay, cause we actually got some pretty ugly looking dudes out here. i think thats why they sent them our here in the sticks) Im really excited for our Family, Familia Domínguez, they are all super pumped for there baptism, they all read and pray and even have question about what they read sic you love as a missionary casue you know that they are actually studying. The Dad is going to be the make or break for this week. They arent married yet and hes not 100 percent sure if hes ready for it. but we taught him the law of Castidad and he felt kinda bad i think he knows he needs to do it he`s scared. so pray for him a lot please (fermin). Paraguari the area that i was in last week is also having a baptism of 5 so thats way exciting. This week is going to be great we are going to need a loto f fasting a pray but i think it will go great.

This is the Lords work and there is no greater work sobre la faz de la tierra.

Love you all spell check forgive me please
Dont forget to pray

hey mom got back on to print off the email from president callan. just to let you know i have pdays every monday and once every two months i have it on wednesday for changes so ill let you know when i have wednesday pday. also i will be getting on early now in the day casue we dont meet together anymore cause its just to far to travel out here. so it would be better to write me sudays. also we arent moving again we just havent received our kitchen stuff so that will be here tomorrow. i feel like a little kid at christmas.

Words of wisdom passed along to my posterity

2009-09-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

Here us a picture of the luxiourios Hotel del Paraguay. Bug netting is included in the price of the room.
Jordan started his letter with a quote he remembered from his mother. Ohhh, I hope there are other things he can recall besides the random thoughts that came out of my mouth and into the ears of my children.

The term "the dickens" means "to the point of ridiculousness"

Therefore saying "slow as the dickens" means you are being ridiculously slow

(Writer Charles Dickens was known for the fact that is his books he would often take a minor detail and exaggerate it for sake of comedy)

Missionary Monday on Wednesday ;)

2009-09-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

So, I must be following in his footsteps as he is always listing his top five or top three but I have to say this might be one of my top 3 favorite letters. I was laughing out loud as I read his play by play of the bus fiasco and then picturing him and his companion running towards each other on the streets of Paraguay. In my mind it is in slow motion with legs and arms flailing and music is playing in the background as they reunite after the 13 block run. We miss having him in our house with us but we sure feel his love coming to us. It is a great experience and I am grateful for two more sons who have made it their plan to also serve a mission.
Hey family how are you?
Sounds like a lot happened this week and a lot
is going on in life. I love life when its busy it makes it mas fun. Logan with a nasty pick against Clovis stud. Make sure we save a video of that.
Que pucha varsity didn’t hold them off its alright you guys can just regulate in the Valley Championship game. Im just glad you left concussion free. Ha that was so funny slash scary last year. I still laugh thinking about it.
And Melanie’s swimming!!! That’s awesome. I knew she was going to be good at swimming, I remember she used to race the kids during swim practice and always won. When’s you first meet Melanie? How do you like it? It’s probably a little tough right now but give it another week or two and you’ll adjust. Im excited to hear how its going next week from you.
K funny story. Every Monday we take a bus from Paraguari to Ita. Its about 30 to 45 mins. Depending on how full the bus is and what year it was made. Luckily this morning it filled up quick, as in all the seats filled and two people standing up in front of every seat if that’s sense. It was a bus meant for 40 with 102 on it. If that makes it easier to picture. So we didn’t stop for anyone along the way cause it would be impossible to get on. Mom would go cray claustrophobic on these buses. But this morning the bus flew and we got there in like 25, and the whole time my comp and I were talking and didn’t realize that we got there. So we had to push our way to the front and were like jumping on people and stepping on them cause were a good three times bigger then the rest of them. Anyways my comp made it to the front grabbed his backpack and got off with me following but i couldn’t find my backpack! So I started looking for it and the bus took off without my comp!! and me without my backpack panicking a full. So I'm grabbing all the bags trying to find mine. And the sun was in my eyes and I could see anything so I couldn’t tell which one was mine and I wanted to cry cause the bus was just going fast and fast. And people were all looking at me weird cause I was alone and they could tell I was about to have a panic attack so I finally yelled CAN ANYONE SEE A MOCHILLA NEGRA!!!! And some kid handed it to me and I ran to the front got off now a solid 13 blocks from my comp and started sprinted to my comp, I cant remember running that fast in my whole life. After 3 blocks of running I say my comp at a dead sprint as well coming towards me. The only thing he said was WHAT HAPPENED YOU WERE RIGHT BEHIND ME?! I just laughed. It was pretty funny and i don’t think im going to forget that feeling again I was scared straight. Dang now I only have 5 min.
So I went to the temple for the first time in 7 months and felt so good. Like being clean after a baptism again. I also had an Entrevista con el Presidente that was wonderful. He still kinda scares me but I like him a lot. He says hes happy with the way im working and that helped me out a lot. Cause sometimes I just feel so little. Like im working my hardest and there just isn’t enough time or hours in the day to get everything done and we just aren’t having the result we want. I think part of that problem is we have been working in 4 areas trying to do the work of 6 missionaries with just us two. But President said that he sees a lot of potential in our areas especial in Acahay so next week myself and a new missionary are headed out there to live and work all the time focusing on priesthood and Families. I'm really excited Ive been thinking about a lot of things that could help those people out and I think we are going to have a lot of success.
Other note we went to Guasuqua and found a little house to sleep in ill sent pics next week of it. And we found 15 people and got 30 other referencias so we pumped about that next week were going out there again. Ill let you know more about it next week. But we need to go back and clean the pension its gross. Also tomorrow Elder Audikitus is coming and we are having a Mission Conferience im PUMPED. That man knows how to drop the cane. K I love you all.
Your amazing and I cant wait to hear from ya next week. Good luck in the Freedom Bowl. When one of you scores, dedicate a sammy sosa to me.
Ps I Got the Package it was sweet!!! Thank you so much Candice and Nicole. I didn’t even eat that chuchi of candy in the states. And that Tie is beautiful im wearing tomorrow to the conferencia. K I love you all

2009-09-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

Today Marc and I went to a memorial service for Debbie Austin. She was the youngest in a family of 10. We knew her as a bundle of energy willing to offer her opinions as well as her love. As I listened to her family share thoughts and memories of growing up in a large family I was overcome with memories from my own life.
I thought of the time when I was only 4 or 5 and I was feeling left out in a house filled with teenagers. I was sitting under a chair in the dining room of our California house. My big sister Susan came to find me and comforted me while the house was filled with her own friends. She told me she would always be there for me and she was.
I remembered my sixteenth birthday when my sisters Teresa and Shelly planned a surprise birthday party for me at our cabin. My friends were hiding in the playhouse out back. They were both at busy times in their lives but took the time to make a spoiled little sister feel loved and adored. I also remember that my sister Teresa didn't kill me when I wore her beautiful red leather "soft as butter" shoes and ruined them. I don't know where I wore them or what I did but I know that somehow somewhere I did in fact ruin them.
I think of a small arrangement of flowers sent to me by my sister Dayna (Steve's wife) when my friend Melanie died and I thought my heart would burst. They were in law school and I am sure that a floral arrangement was not in the budget but it truly soothed my heart to know that they would know I was hurting.
I remembered driving to deliver treats to football players while my mom came up with clever verses and rhymes, all the while laughing at our clever selves.
I thought of my Aunt Beth and her stories she would tell us during the time she spent living at our house and her famous BINGO games as well as her books filled with stories about nurses.
I really have a horrible memory and can hardly remember anything about my childhood. When we have reunions and everyone reminisces, I wonder "where was I?" since I don't remember most of the things they are talking about. It was nice to have my mind opened and feel the love of my older sisters. I feel grateful to have sisters that I was able to look up to growing up who had the patience to deal with their little sister. I had a wonderful childhood and am grateful to not only be blessed with the family that the Lord sent me to but that I was able to marry into a family that I would choose to spend eternity with. Life is good and I am so grateful that I am able to have my children with me - and my heart aches for my friends the Austins who have wonderful memories of their sweet daughter and would choose to continue making more memories that include her. But that was not part of the plan. Sister Austin is an example of everything wonderful, graceful, and strong that embodies motherhood. She was a hero in my book today as I watched her countenance shine with love for a daughter that left too soon.

2009-08-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

hoooooooooooollllllaaaa!!!

hey hows life fam? im so pumped for football this year i better get good updates. you two better wreck some fools. your probably all in school right now. LOCO!!!! Masons a senior, i cant believe it.

k so this week was mas o menos. we had a lot of downs but luckily the ups out numbered the downs. i let you know what the downs were first. the first and mas grande was with Tomas and Maura. they didnt come to church last week and we ewre like alright their not realy to progress so we dropped them. then they called and said that want to come to church and get baptized. so yours truely was dumb and believed them and we took the to Asuncion to get Mauras cedula aka identification. And they were all happy and reading their book of Mormon they had questions and were just golden then i dont know what happen they said they would be there Sunday we tested their faith and let them try and come on their own. Didnt work so we went and looked for them and Maura saw me coming and ran from me. i wanted to cry. the day before she was showing me here marked scriptures and telling me what parts she liked out of 2 nephi 31 and the next day she acted like she didnt know me. And had no interested in going to church. so i told here if you change and want our help and the lords help come to church but were not going to there house anymore. So that was a bummer. The other bummer was everyone in Acahay was mad at the president cause he said they were lame-o´s for not coming to church last week and going to the party. So we got problems to fix and we have to try and do it in Guarani which is like asking an marc Urmston boy to fix a computer. its just not going to happen. so there is my venting now for the Bendiciones!!!!

So yessica aka stud of the year came to church again this week. she even came home from Carapegua where she works a good 30 mins in bus from Acahay to make it. And she had a big-o smile on like always. Anyways my comp went out there on Sunday and gave the sunday school lesson and taught lesson 2 the plan of salvation. and then gave a talk as well and taught lesson 1 the Restoration. it was perfect. so were going out to acahay tomorrow to do the interview of her and Manuel a 9 year old who has been coming to church that we already thought was a member, habia sido, hes not! bendiciones 2 so were going to baptism the two on saturday. In a River!!! im so excited, especially for Yessica shes so ready. i just hope she can get work off.
Other blessing this week in paraguari we had a bunch of poser good investigators but none of them showed up on sunday. i wish i could just MAKE them understand how important this Gospel is for them. But i think someone already tried that plan, and it didnt turn out that Hot for him. (i guess i should say "it didnt turn out so cool for him" ha you know what im saying!) Anyways i was kinda bummed out on sunday cause no one really came to church. but come to find out Gayoso a recent converts, his mother is not baptized and she come to church every week. But we thought there had to be something wrong with her if she has not been baptized yet, like she need to get divored or algo asi. but we asked president and he was all. Oh i forgot to tell you last week she talked to me and wants to get baptized. we were like what!! OK!! so we went to her house and are going again tonight and hopefully she can get baptized this weekend. YIPEE. i love baptisms.

Other good news this week we are going to guasukua, a little pueblo of about 500 that had about 20 members and a couple investigators that need the lessons. so were going thursday on a bus through a dirt path for an hour and a half. the the only problem is that the bus gets there at 10 and then leaves at 11, and there isnt any other buses. So the President gave us two options go for an hour teach a full and run back to the bus. OR go buy hammocks and find two trees load up with mosquito spray and stay the night!!! we picked number two. Im so pumped its going to be crazy. The best part is there is already2 families that have enough assistencias get baptized now! so thats another huge blessing.

So what i need to do is grow up take our trials like a man. Put more faith in the Lord and appriecate the Blessing that come. When life gets hard and i fell like giving up there are two things i like to do one is read Ether 12, which is all about faith and the testimony that comes after the trial of our faith. And the other is to read a quote that Elder Pitcher likes to shared one time that helped me out a lot. im not sure who ts from but it says

True faith is shown when the mountains dont move and the waters dont part.
mom thought(this might be one of my new favorite quotes!)
So just push through your trails and keep that eye of faith and the Lord will bless you ( a good friend ones shared d yc 121 7-9, that one really helps me as well.)

k gotta jet i would send you some pics but some punk kid erased the last four months of my mission yesterday. i want to cry. but next week there will be pics of baptisms!!!

also a small wish list

efy cds
skittles
starbusts
new pants, the dark brown ones form walmart are my favorite. Puritains 34 x 32
for christmas the Iron Gym for pull ups and the full body work out.
mike and ikes
fireballs people down here freakout with those.
and thats it for now

k love you all be happy and good luck with school and the big game this week.

Young Women's Camp 2009

2009-07-23T15:39:00.001-07:00

How can one week be so amazing? Our theme this year was "Because I Believe". Each day we tried to have a daily theme that built on the day before. Tuesday it was Strengthen Home and Family, Wednesday was Stand with the Savior, Thursday was Live Temple Worthy, Friday was The Light of the Gospel shines through Me, and Saturday was Be an Example. The food was organized, cooked, and served by ladies who can do it all. The kitchen at camp is one of my favorite places to hang out. They get it all done all while laughing and building up everyone around them. I worked with ladies who this year all roped our husbands into coming and helping out. We truly relied on their support for so much of camp. I am overwhelmed by the number of people who take time off work and family responsibilities to share all their wonderful talents for a week at Big Meadow. We had almost 200 girls in 6 different groups this year and each group had leaders that went above and beyond in every way. Thank you, thank you for all you do. It was another year filled with the spirit, fun and work.
In one of Jordan's letter he commented on how work was fun and I truly will have to agree that doing the Lord's work is fun. I just wanted to post and tell anyone who reads this thanks for whatever part you played in helping to pull together camp this year. I truly feel that the Lord was pleased with the hearts that were touched and the testimonies that were strengthened this year.

Pictures of the Missionary

2009-07-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

He said the buses are crammed full with up to 200 people.

Here is a picture with an investigator who makes bricks.

Another great week in Paraguay

2009-07-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

(His greeting must be in Guarani, or he was just having fun on the typewriter? We still are amazed at the happy spirit that this boy has and are so grateful for his service to the Lord and especially the fact that the Lord blessed our family by sending him to us!)

Mba`e tekopio familia porá.

Hey family, whats up. So another loco week with amazing milagros and blessing with out end. starting with the 8 investigators that came to church that was awesome. Thats really like the final grade that your teacher would post on the wall fridays bofore the weekend. And if it wasnt high enough that meant that it woud be a crappy weekend or for missionaries, P Day, but having 8 people in church just tickles my fancy (who says that?!?) the only problem is the 3 familias that are suppose to be baptized this week didnt show up meaning they have to come church next week, si o si if they want to get baptized the 31 de julio. the all had decent excuses but i just dont like excuses, i just want the world to come to church.

Sad Moment of the week_ went to go pick up javier to take to church, who is the 20 year old who is supposed to get baptized within 2 weeks, and the man couldnt even stand up cause he was so drunk. he saw me walk up and started crying, he came over and hugged me and i really didnt want to touch him cause i was so mad and dissappointed in him, but his girlfriend who he wanted to married left him the night before and moved to a different city with another man. I felt really bad for him but it jsut made me sick to my stomach that that is his only solution. And it is the only solution for many people when life doesnt go as planned. before the mish i didnt really care if you drank i just didnt want to see it or be around it. but now i have 0 respect for the people that get wasted every weekend and just waste their lifes and ruin their families. seeing Javier like that made me want to cry but it will just make it that much better seeing him get baptized.

k enough with sad stuff. Big Blessing aka the big double B of the week would have to be the Call that we got from an X-missionary slash branch prsident out in Guasuquá. Which is a small pueblo that is in our area. its about an hour away on Bus on a dirt road, and i guess every Sunday they have sacrament meeting out there. well this good man called and said that there are 3 familias that have been coming on and off for the past 2 years and they want to be baptized. so all we need to do is get out there teach a couple lessons and then marry two of them and then baptize all three of them. its going to be great. Im still in awe ( i dont know how to write that but amazed demasiado) how blessed we have been lately as a district.
The four campanionships in the district combined had 37 investigators in chuch which is amazing.

Sometimes it doesnt make since how blessed we are as missionaries. but im not going to complain. i love you all and hope you have a great week. One of the most important things that i have learned to this point in the mission is that all blessings are given through sacrifice and obedience. so be obedient and be greatful for your sacrifices.

I love you all and pray for you always

Picture Day

2009-06-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

Italics are comments from the MADRE
que suerte para ustedes!! i love the beach!!! i hope you have fun and make sure you take a lot of pictures. tell everyone i say hi and i love them all. Brain Blast (I think that means he has an idea)have them write me letters one night. Like we used to have to do at Aunt Daynas and were always punks about it. ha that be sweet if not dont worry.

well another successful week down in Paraguay. thanks everyone for letters they always brighten my day. And make sure someone gives chelsea a fat hug for me cause she sent me two. i also got a killer B'day package and it reminded me that i miss skittles. they are the bomba. but even more importantly we were able to maintain those numbers that we had from last week. Which i was way pumped about, we missed one day of contacts which is kinda sad but ill get over it. k over it. Best part of the week was the two baptisms that we had on Sunday. they both passed their interviews with flying colors and were both super excited for Sunday. Everything with Diego went perfect except he was a little upset we didn't have white socks or a tie for him. but i gave him my socks and he was ok. he was smiling the whole time and was so nice to everyone there. Its amazing to see the change in these peoples lives as they start to accept and understand the Gospel. Now the day with jessica didnt go as smoothly as planned. for the past two weeks she has been waiting for her dad to get back from Argentina to ask for his permission to get Baptized, but he never come home so he wasnt really sure what she wanted to do. She had full support from her mom and other faimly members, but she was still worried about her dad. So she came to church and towards the end she started crying she said she wants to get baptized today (Sunday) but doesnt want her dad to be mad at her. We told her we can call and see what he says, she says no; we said we can do it with out calling him, and she started crying again. well we prayed together with President Armoa and his wife in his office and she said she felt better. we walked her home and she was still way nervous. We asked what we can do to help her and she said Fast and Pray. Which was amazing to me that she had a testimony that that would help her. So we didnt eat lunch that day and prayed like crazy until her Baptism. We got to the chapel at 2 an hour before it started to heat up some water to add to the font (note didnt help it was freezing!!) And the whole time i was there waiting i was so nervous i felt like i was going to throw up. I felt exactly how i felt before every swim meet but like a really big one. Like state times 10. i was hurting. But just kept praying that she would show up, and at 240 she walked in, still not completely emotionally ready but she was there, and that was good enough for me to know that she wanted to get baptized. the first 10 mins she was there she didnt say one word she just walked straight over to the baptismal font leaned her forearms against the railing and just looked at the water, thinking, about what i dont know. but after a few pep talks from my comp, PRez and myself, and then the one that probably help the most, from her mom. She got ready we took pics and she got baptized. and when she came out of the water she had the biggest smile i have ever seen on her. it made it all worth it. After words she was very content with her decision and loving life. Definitely top 5 greatest days of my life. now we just Pray that her dad will be ok with her decision if not it will just give her another trial and another opportunity to use her faith and receive more blessings.
(I had read a blog where the mom said her son had told her serving a mission in Paraguay was like camping in a suit for two years. I'm sure many of you who served missions in foreign countries felt those sentiments at times. I am so grateful when I read his letters at the joy he feels as her serves the Lord. It is humbling and amazing to watch the Lord guide this sweet missionary of ours through this experience.)

MOM QUESTION- do i feel like im camping in a suit for two years

the answer would be... somewhat. like some of times i feel like im camping since everyone cooks with charquel (carbon in spanish i dont know how to spell it in English) and we wash our clothes by hand also the inconsistent shower temperature definitely reminds me of Leo Carrillo, and i do walk a dirt trail all day. But then again we have a very nice restaurant up the street from our house, and some pretty descent size houses on the other side of the town. But now that i think of it you could say that it does feel like im camping. but in a really nice camp ground with maybe a trailer. Not a motor home thats to comfortable, like a fold out trailer. so i guess you could say we are camping "comfortable" for two years but i only wear my suit Sunday for 3 hours so change it to
"camping comfortable in white shirts for two years".
and i can testify for you.

well im out of here love you all

Con todo mi amor,
Elder Camba (means darkness in guarani) me and my comp picked guarani names last week. his is cambú´he´ë it means sweet milk or rubio aka white boy. ha Paraguayians find it hilarious. and so do i

Teacher of the Year

2009-06-05T07:40:00.001-07:00

Well, the school year is over and for Miss Urmston, teacher extrodinaire, the accolades were many. Due to the budget cuts in California's educational system - Candice was sent from Liberty to teach at Frontier High School. She adjusted quite well and not only was named as Newcomer of the Year but was awarded the title of Teacher of the Year as well.
It was fun listening to her tell about her students and all the things she was able to teach them. She jumped in full force and worked as a class advisor creating floats, listening to students, counseling students, and fashioned an Alice in Wonderland prom.
Teaching is a noble profession that gives great rewards back to those who dedicate their best efforts to the calling I am grateful that not only does she teach but that she has a passion for it. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO good work Miss Urmston

Bleeding Purple

2009-06-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

para: la mejor familia en todo el mundo what up fam. thats for all the bomb letters and emails this past week. i felt so loved i should have a birthday everyweek. but i would like to give some shout outs out. (esto anda?) thanks Courtney for the life update keep working hard and loving life. big Paraguay shout out to Melaie thanks for the email im excited summer has come so you can have more time to write me. and Yes High School musical has taken over down here as well. i dont understand the songs are in english but they still love it. come to think of it probably makes it better if you cant understand those ridiculous lyrics. thanks mason for being so cool keep the body growth updates coming so i can know what to expect when i get home. Y para que sepas, soy gordo como Re gordo, me hace triste.
thank you Nicole for the play by play weekend. i ended up reading half of it out loud to my district casue i would laugh and they would ask me to read the funny parts and that was basically the whole thing. thanks dad for the update on life and my main boys down in L-A (rolling on dubs). and blake i would write you back defending my boys but i cant email you sorry but just know i will always bleed purple. And im expecting emails from Logan and Mason on the missionary experience this past weekend. A big shout out to the coolest Grandparents in the world (Pues definitely Top 2). for the killer package. i love the tie it has become my new District metting tie. which you both probably know is very important. the sticker is awesome and the pens are my favorites. once you go Bic you can never switch. Just know im sending a letter home this week so my family will have it when you get back. Ikatu. Also a delayed shout out to the Peter Urmston family for the dropped line. good to hear from ya`all. (ps i say weird things now i blame it on my comp and Idaho) Also thank you Jennifer Heward, my cousin in law i guess if that exsist. for the missionary story and FOTO. i love FOTOS if anyone ever was thinking of things that wanted to good in this world one (insert from Mom- this didn't make sense to me either- I think his Enlish is in the tank)would be to send FOTOS to elder Urmston. I can receive them through email so do it. (por favor) Bueno hope i got everyone if not... pues lo siento. so this week was amazing, in a lot of ways. Primeramente it was amazingly cold we were down in the low 50s this week with about a grip of rain. it was bad as in mal. but it was alright, a wise man once told me every hour a missionary sents tracting in the rain his future wife spents an hour in the gym. i dont know who she is yet, but shes probably got some sore legs right now.
My Branch was way nice this past week they even threw me a party. it was actually a group party with one of our investigators. Beatriz. it was way fun my comp and i played slash sang 1000 miles and then we both played heat and soul and they loved it. i have it on video it is quit funny. the best part of the party was our investigator brought 5 friend and she was telling them all about the church and even told them about baptism and showed them the baptismal font. and then later on we taught the entire 1st lesson with them. it was great. were going by this week to visit their families. then this past wednesday aka my B-day, we had our final conference with President and Hermana Bradley they head out at the end of the month. Our zone went to their house and ate with them and played games and watched a video of the mission. we had bbqed pinapple chicken and i almost died it was so good. but before i eat i got to use their bathroom and did not want to leave casue it was so nice. they had hot water and scented hand soaps and this really chuchi towel to dry your hand off with. i miss american luxyers (sp -ite). after that we all got to bear our testimonies. it was amazing! of course i was bawling like always. but i love feeling the spirit so ill take it in any form. after we got to go eat at Burger King. YES!!! and then took the 4 hour bus ride back home. next day all the missionaries were in San Ignacio waiting for Colectivos so we went on divisions and Elder Laughter aka the coolest kid in the mission and i found this joven, Nester waiting for his bus we talked to him for a little bit and said he would love coming by church on Sunday but he lives kinda far away. Pero sabe que pasò eyer. Nester came to church and he is even more of a stud then i thought before. were going by his house tomorrow to talk to the whole fam. Diego also came to church and so did Jessica and she brought her friend Anna. then in the afternoon they all come to Seminary. (menos Nester porque vive lejos) But they were loving life and particapating and what not. i was loving it. My comp and i put a goal of 5 baptisms this month so your prayers would definitely help us with that goal. i love you all and if you have any questions about anything... pregunteme. k well gotta blast, lifes great and only getting better. try to stay happy in that heat. ¡¡¡¡Mammones!!! missionaries were in (inserted note from mom- it just ended here no idea what was next but we sure love getting these crazy letters from our Spanish son!)

No habla english?

2009-05-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Okay it will take some open minds to get everything he is trying to say. When he called on Mother's Day his accent was pretty evident. He writes his letters so fast his Spanish brain is overtaking his English. Amazing in only 7 months.
> hey family hows life. so i dont forget, just wanted to get my shout out to nicole and also talia and tristan for posing for all those shots. but really thanks nicole for the package. it felt like Christmas opening that up. And thanks Talia for that beautiful picture of those dolphins and crabs and me. Loved It!! im also trying to save those rolos as long as possible hoping to eat them on my birthday as celebration, but pretty sure ill eat them all tonight. ps almost peed my pants at that hallmark card.
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> Dang thats so sad slash exciting that swimmings already over. 5th place cant complain about that. how'd mason end up doing. either way your a stud mason. Logan i guess your pretty cool too. except you scarced the poop out of me when i heard your voice on the phone. You taking pills or something bro? whats going on? i still havent seen a picture of you seen i left. i saw mason and his Zach Efron hair in those powder puff shots but still havent seen any of you. Send me 1 on the internet. thanks dad for the Laker update and words of wisdom. both helped out a lot. 2nd one a lot more but both appreciated.
> Sabe qué? this past week i had a crazy dream and you (dad) were down here in Paraguay and we went on splits. and we went and visited a couple investigators and the waitress at Rokitos (best resaurant in san ignacio) and you were tearing it up in Spanish with the waitress who we have been trying to put a lesson with for a while now. listened to every word you said and accepted a baptismal invitation. it was crazy. One cause i had a dream in Spanish and two cause you were the one speaking in it. it was cool maybe you should practice it this next year and algo and you can come pick me up and we can go out and teach. that be killer. think about it let me know. also happy late birthday sorry i forgot to tell you last week but whatever. happy Birthday and Felizitaciones for another bomb swim season.
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> other news its freezing cold down here and ive shivered myself to sleep for the past three nights. you probably dont have much pity for me since your toasting like bacon cheese up there with your triple digits. i dont think i would trade you. its actually not that bad its about 60 most of the day and it gets a little lower at night. the problem is we have no source of heat at night menos my blanket which isnt meant for warmth, mainly just for keeping the bugs off you. But my comp lent me his thermals (i think thats how you spell it i cant spell in english anymore perdoneme)
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> other big news Diego came to church again, that makes three in a row for him technequily he can be baptized this week. spiritually he need another 2 or 3 weeks. But i have a lot of faith that he will get baptized this june. (his fecha is the 13 of june but he said if he feels like its right hell be baptized before. But your prayers would definitely help him with that decision. if i havent told you about him antes he is the older brother of Rafa, who has 16 years and comes with us to teach a lot. he also blessed the sacrement for the First time this week which was way awesome cause he had been scared to do it before. i was way proud of him. He says he wants to serve a mission and love to speak english with us the problem is he doesnt know how and he usually says the same 5 phrases that he knows over and over again everyday. But hes loving the English classes that we teach on Wednesdays at Noche de Rama.
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> Beatriz (bea) also came to church this past week. it was her first time ever at sacrement. he had been to a noche de Rama before and a Baptism as well but she said she loved it and well be visiting her tomorrow night so hopefully we can make some progress with her. the main problem we have with her is her dad is Re Catholico and doesnt really want her getting baptized. but her step-mother loves the church and loves having us over. We havent been able to sit down with either one of them becasue they own the biggest supermarket in the town. and are always working. Which also means theyre way chuchi and are loaded. and there house is absolutelly amazing. it reminds me of America with hardword and that white stuff that goes along the top part of the wall that dad put in our house, what is that called again? anyways they have that as well. so well be working with them this week as well.
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> this past Sunday we also found this really bomb family that all accepted baptismal invitiones with gran animo. it was sweet. the only problem is they live a good 40 min walk from the church so its going to be a sacrifice for them to get to church on Sunday. significa mas bendiciones pero tambien significa tienen que demostrar su fé y asistir a la iglesia. im excited to see what happens with them this week. pray for them as well please, se llama Familia Encina.
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> K funny story from this week. we went out to Tañarandy to visit this familia menos activa and we played a game of futból before the lesson. game got a little intense and their oldest girl who is about 15 was playing goalie and she blocked one of my shots (i got fouled ha) anyways she went to kick the ball down field and me, making an amatuer mistake stood in front of her to block it. she didnt care and Ronaldinho power punted the ball directly into my factory. causing me to go directly to the ground calling for tiempo and medico. couldnt get up for a good 10 mins. and the 40 min walk home did not feel good. beside that episode it was a solid week. i love you all and cant wait to hear from ya next week. i love being a missionary
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2 Weeks and Counting

2009-05-02T13:07:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for Marc's swim team. It has been a long year and they have worked really hard. He lost his other "Coach Urmston" to Frontier and she has been missed! Here is the write-up from the newspaper this morning. (Two weeks of swimming to go and his Honey-Do list is going to be quite a task.)

As his flip-flop floated to the top of the McMurtey Aquatic Center pool just above him, fifth-year Liberty swimming coach Marc Urmston's celebratory dive must have had a familiar feel to it.

And, it had little to do with being soaked. That was already taken care of, thanks to a downpour.

With the Patriots' fifth Southeast Yosemite League boys title and a fourth girls championship -- shared with Garces -- Urmston has had plenty of experience being pushed into the pool.

"It's warmer in here," Urmston joked after being tossed into the pool after his girls team outdistanced Garces 343-318, and the boys nipped the Rams 386-384.5.

"On the boys side we were probably the favorite, but we had a couple of DQs that hurt. It came down to that last relay on the boys side with the winner taking the league title."

Bakersfield High, which received strong performances by Erica Becker and Chris Reddick, finished third in both boys and girls.

The difference was 1.44 seconds as Liberty's Michael Rowe finished off a 3:26.52 run in the 400-yard freestyle relay. David James, Jacob Reed and Ted Richardson set the table fpr Rowe's final leg where he narrowly held off a challenge by Garces' Paul Steele.

Rowe also won the 50 free (22.95) and swam the third leg on the winning 200 free relay (1:32.96).

In the girls action, Liberty earned a share of the title, exacting a little revenge on Garces, which won the dual meet between the two.

Diver Jordan Reed (328.60), Kelly Ayers (100 fly, 1:04.28) and Katie Russell (100 back, 1:07.50) each won individual events for the Patriots and Liberty capped the day with a victory in the 400-yard free relay (3:57.50).

"The last time we didn't have our best swimmer so we knew we had a shot," Urmston said. "We knew we had to win this one to be co-league champions.

"They all stepped up. They all did a great job. They all wanted it. We talked about it all week trying to get this one and they were ready to go."

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Open Calais

Mother's Day Already

2009-04-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

"This picture is titled
"Mother of Seven"
I know I look happier than this."
I was having a conversation with my friend Sandi while driving home from a ward conference. We were sharing our thoughts on Mother's Day. Mother's Day does not make the top five holiday list. I would just as soon skip it (well now that I have a missionary and he gets to call home on Mother's Day it has moved out of the trash can to maybe my favorite holiday) My husband and kids do a great job of making me feel loved, it is just that as I relect on some 28 years of mothering I find myself lacking. Wishing I had done some things differently and hoping for the patience to make it through the mothering years that still lie ahead (seriously eternity). I had such a list of things I was going to do when I became a mother. I would read to my children, I would teach them tolerance, I would show them happiness, they would all play the piano, we would memorize scriptures in a happy loving way, we would eat homemade healthy dinners. The list is endless and I tried, but I wish I could go back and do more, say more, love more, and most of all laugh more. But I don't know if I would find the energy to do things much differently. Maybe my list should have started with find good drugs =} I was reading though and came across this great quote. I hope someting in it helps you find joy
Mothers,
“Yours is the work of salvation, and therefore you will be magnified, compensated, made more than you are and better than you have ever been as you try to make honest effort, however feeble you may sometimes feel that to be. …Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones….The very fact that you have been given such a responsibility is everlasting evidence of the trust your Father in Heaven has in you…. If you strive to love God, if you try your best to be the best parent you can be, you will have done all that a human being can do and all that God expects you to do….Remember, remember all the days of your motherhood: ‘Ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.’ Rely on Him. Rely on Him heavily. Rely on Him forever. And ‘press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope.’ You are doing God’s work.”Jeffrey R. Holland, “Because She Is a Mother,” Ensign, May 1997
Keep trying your best and know that there truly are angels watching over you, wanting to help you be the parent you want to be. Happy May to all the wonderful mothers and to all the mothers who want to be wonderful!

2009-04-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

cho what up?!!?!?! hows life going. ¿Jaryi?! espero que si. so this week was sick. everything just seemed to work out perfect. K thats a lie monday wasnt so hot, tuesday tampoco. but my comp finally figured out what we were doing wrong. so like i told you we have the thirdish biggest area in the mission (size wise) and for the past 2 weeks we have been working in this same barrio (like a neighborhood, but its pretty ghetto so drop the neighbor) mainly cause we have investigadores out there and we were being lazy and not wanting to walk the 25 mins to a different part of the city, and then come back for another appointment. anyways we were walking through the mud and rain down this main road and reached the end and we both just kinda stood there and my comp says, what are we doing. and i said i dont really know. so we walked back to the apartment grabbed the map and ask heavenly father to guide us to were we need to go. we both felt inspired to go to the same area so we jammed. and for the rest of that afternoon we just knocked doors in that area and found two families and 4 other people and had more lessons in one day then we have had in a long time. i felt like that was a turning point for us because we realized that life is a lot better when you working hard and finding people no importa if its pouring rain or your shoes weigh 20 pounds each cause they're full of mud, as long as you have the spirit with you todo tranquilopa. we both talked about it after and decided we want everyday to be like that. Respusta a tu pregunta sy (madre) the city that im in is a lot smaller then cuidad del este. CDE is the 2nd or 3rd biggest city in the misson; San ignacio is probably 2nd or 3rd smallest so it has been quite the change. im pretty acostumbrado to urry thing. also yes mother i can read spanish ive been here for like 5 month homie. (I asked if he read in Spanish meaning over choosing to read in English but I obviously uspet his ego and he thought I meant he couldn't read-what is a mother to do?)i still have to look up words a lot when im reading the BOM probably like 3 or 4 a chapter, but menos ese i can read just about anything pretty easily. my favorite thing to read in spanish would be preach my Gospel cause #1 its bombski and #2 its everything you need to know as a missionary. i wish i would have studied it more at home. anyone thats going on a mission soon should start working on Preach my G. that means you kyle slash Blake slash BRock. SIDENOTE- still havent guessed on brocks call im going with Paraguay and then i can train him. that be sick!!! my comp says Idaho so that he can go visit his family and his mom will hook him up with bomb dinners. ha´upei- ctr rings got´em and love´em gave a couple out to the people that were going to get baptized that i had to leave in CDE. and im giving out 3 more this week to Marcela, Mirta, y Estela. cause we have a baptism this Sunday im so pumped and we just redid the font and put a sweet roof over it. its going to be sweet. ill sent pics next week. Other big news i found out who the new President is going to be when Presidente Bradley leaves in June. his name in Mark Calin from Utah, i want to say Salt Lake dont quote me. Anyways you should look him up on Facebook or something im sure his got one. If not try Blogspot i heard all the cool cats got´em now. haha jk. But its going to be pretty exciting having a new president. IM going to miss President Bradley. the mans amazing. i have so much respect for him. Our relationship is a little weird cause i feel like he is a superstar or an Apostle and sometimes am scared to talk to him, but then other times i feel like he is one of my bestfriends and i can talk to him about anything. i think part of that is because were pratically related. thats to the marriage of Aunt Jamie to Uncle Michael and a Reber marrying someone in his family and i think another marriage was needed to complete that connection but were related and he figured it out some how. so thanks Uncle michael and Aunt Jaime for getting married. and being so cool all the time too. More news not so new but its news- the new Spanish bible is coming out in September its going to make life so much easier with the JS translations and all those Foot notes. IM pumped that also means i get to mark all my scripts up again. which is one of my favorite things to do so... sweet. oh also something cool that happened today was we played a fat game of soccer in Club San Ignacio, it wsa me and my comp with three jovenes vs 5 well practiced paraguayians. we played for like 2 and half hours. and i had 4 of our 7 goals. one of which was a sick header from range. And To be completed it took a killer head pass from my comp and a nasty leap on my part over the goalie to catch the back of the net. Wish i would have got that on tape. Also at the Club they had espn on and the ncaa Swimming Campionships were on and i got to see the mens 200 medley and all most peed my pants i was so excited. anyways it made me realize that i want to swim again when i get back so i guess i should start working out more. Sounds like swimming going great Dad hope you guess finish with another League Championship or maybe even Valley? huh Ikatu. Good luck tell everyone i said hi. If there is anyone else left i know. i forget sometimes that im getting kinda old now. almost 20! nde´da Sori!! well gotta blast but thanks again for all your love and support. i havent heard from my brothers in a while or melanie or Courtney. whats going on us step your game up. write me a letter on DearElder so i can read it in the pention. i also wrote a letter to Grandma and Grandpa Nichols but dont have their adress sent that next week please. and im sending Grandma and Grandpa Urmstons this week hope it gets there before they leave. thats so crazy i cant believe they are going home next change. LOCO! k love you all cant wait to talk to you in two weeks ill sent you the number next monday and you can tell me what time you would like to call on sunday may 10. dont forget to put the time change in factor. k im out love you and miss you like Shaq misses free throws. And thats a lot. hey dad give me a laker update please. love ya chau.

I need a break from weekends.

2009-04-26T09:31:00.001-07:00

I cannot stay awake. I know moms are supposed to be waiting up when their offspring arrives home and I can't make it past 11. Last week was Mason's prom and he got home late -How late? Well, first when I asked him he said around 1:30, then later that night when the missionaries asked him he fessed up and admitted it as 2 because he couldn't lie to the missionaries. Ouch, he can lie to his mom but not the missionaries. He had a good time and went with a group of about 20 friends. He got his smashing suit at our favorite thrift store in Ventura. It was a vest and slacks that had some sweet topstitching. Lucky for us it is polyester so I just threw it in the washer when he got home and left the sweat saturated suit (alliteration or what?) on his bedroom floor.
So that was last weekend and this weekend is Frontier's prom. Candice was in charge and so she enlisted a bit of help from the family. She has been working like crazy for the past few weeks. I told her I would make a cake and so Friday I was up until 11 working on the cake with her, then Marc and Mason had to catch the bus to Clovis for a swim meet the following morning at 5a.m. and I couldn't go back to sleep. Later Nicole and I went down to help Candice decorate. When Marc got home at 6:30 that night, he was a little tired but I convinced him it would be supportive to drop by the Prom and see Candice. The decorations were amazing and then we entered closer to the den of iniquity. CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRap, I could not even believe it. I know I am an old lady but I am not a "hell and brimstone preacher" but even then it was beyond what I had imagined When they tell you it is sex on the dance floor at proms it pretty much is. I don't know if everyone was dancing inappropriately but I couldn't take my eyes off of two couples. I am grateful that I grew up in the footloose era. I hate to tell the teenagers of today but they are missing out on a whole lotta fun. I am now jumping off my soapbox.

Mason for Boy's Commissioner of Athletics

2009-04-23T09:26:00.001-07:00

This would be Mason's piture for his campaign poster. He is running for Commissioner of Athletics and is trying to put forth his all-around athletic self. Candice (as his campaign manager) designed this outfit and for some reason he agreed to dress up and let us take his picture. He was a little apprehensive when we said we needed to go out front for better lighting but he did it. Elections are today so hopefully his gamble pays off. I just wanted to document this moment and I hope he does win because he would do a great job and he loves being involved in ASB.

The many faces of Elder Urmston

2009-04-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

Que pasa Familia?

So remember how i told you i had that killer new comp from Panama, elder Lizondro, yeah well i dont anymore. He left and i got a new comp, and he is from America!!! Loco no? its so weird speaking english all the time, i kinda like but i hope it doesnt screw up my progression with the language. he does know a lot of Guarani so hopefully i can learn a little from him. he has a year and 2 months in the mission he is from Idaho, his name is Elder Rowley and hes gotta be the goofiest kid i have ever met in my life. Sometimes when im walking with him i feel like dumb and dumber, cause hes just such a funny kid and makes me do stupid things too. Like this morning we played a fatty game of soccer in the pension using the chairs as goals it started getting kinda rough so we took it out front and played for like 45 mins as random people walked to see 2 goofy looking americans trying to play soccer. ha. but he is also one of the best teachers i know and when we are in lessons i feel like im getting more out of it then the investigators. we were having some problems with algunos de nuestros investigadores but im pretty sure with his help it will all work out and we will get them in that water.
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> so this week was easter. the way that they celabrate it down here is just a LITTLE bit different then the states. you know how in the states there are those people that go to church like 2 or 3 times a year for holidays such as christmas and easter. well instead of more people going to church everyone just stays home and gets wasted. Que lastima. we had 14 members show up this last week which was quite the disappointment from the 50 that came with us to Conference the week before. but what can you do. we formed a army this past week with the faithfuls and we are going to visit all the inactives this saturday, hopefully we can get more people at church. we also have a new reinforcement that showed up last week. his name is Carlos and he just finished his mission in Argentina and is going to help out a lot. im thinking my calling as 1st consejero will be taking away some by him, which would be tranquilopa conmigo cause it would be a lot easier to just be a missionary. dont get me wrong its fun being a consejero but it takes up a grip of time. Ill let you know what happens.
>
> thanks dad for the sports update theres isnt anymore tuesday morning sports meeting but i still appreciate then. the other night elder olsen, a die hard laker fan, also the secretory of the mission, had to talk to my comp about something but not until after he asked for a full season report on the lakers. ha. also talk of another package being sent is in the air. that makes me happy. a few things that i have thought of #1 the skippys creamy is a must if you want to throw 2 in there i wouldnt hate it, a nice jump-rope, i want to be cool like rocky, (or just not fat). milkyways, if there is another sd card, and i believe there is, at home i would love videos put on it of; swim meets, cool people that want to talk to me, and talia and tristan of course. that would be the best birthday present ever. and i am expecting hand written letters from my brothers and blake and kyle, and everyone. besides that just cool stuff you find around the house or at walmart or where ever.
>
> but thats about it if you have any questions that you want me to answer question away. lifes good works good, spanish is improving everyday and guarani is going to still be awhile. love you all and all talk to you some. like really talk cause mothers day is coming up soon so im excited. k hasta luego.

ps comp says hi and said youre all beautiful

Note from the Mom if you want to email me a letter to include in his birthday package (His birthday is May 27th) I will print it and include it, or you can send a letter to him on Dearelder.com 9he is in the Paraguay Asuncion Mission, or mail him with the postal service at
Mision Paraguay Asuncion
2881 Del Maestro c/caballero
Bario Herrera
Asuncion Paraguay

Loved the Appetizer

2009-03-28T23:09:00.000-07:00

I just got home from the YW broadcast. It was more than "just what the doctor ordered", it was just what Linda Urmston needed. If you have access to the BYU station watch it! I love General Conference and just trying to suck all the information and spirit in all at the same time. I take notes and then when I read them later I feel such great peace as the same emotions wash over me once again. Get ready for the full course meal next weekend as we get 4 sessions (5 for the men in addition to a fun dinner out with the guys) I love that the gospel grounds me as I tend to get out of control at times. I eat it up twice a year. I am so grateful to our church leaders who live their lives so that they can imapact mine.

Changed City/Changed Companion

2009-03-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

oh hey whats up so i got changed. well actually i got special changed. every 6 weeks we have changes and normalmente youre in an area for 3 or 4 changes so i was way pumped working with elder Amaya in Ciudad Del Este 3 just tearing it up putting feachas left and right. and out of no where i got special changed. And i was sitting in Mcdonalds across from Elder Robertson my old zone leader and he is talking with the AP about who has special changes anywhere he asked elder Robertson if he would be able to tell everyone and he said yeah one of them is sitting right in front of me and then i knew i was leaving and i started to cry, k well i really wanted to but i manned up and took it. anyways tuesday i visited most of the members and all of my investigadores, which also took a lot of strength to not cry cause i really wanted to stay for their baptisms which are this saturday and the following. But its not my call it the Lords, and its kinda hard slash stupid to argue with him, So we got on a bus at 1 in the morning to Asuncion (6 hour bus ride) where they told me i was going to San Ignacio which is a 5 hour bus ride in the other direction. So after a quick trip with Elder Najac to the hospital and discovering that he has staff. D-sgusting!!! he and i left San Igancio, So now i have a new zone, new area, and a new comp, elder Lizondro, from Panama. Once again and to look up where the heck my comp lives. thinking about taking a Geagrophy class when i get home cause i dont know where anything is. anyways he has the same time as me in the mission, so were co-comps, and still pretty new which i think is good cause were both not burnt out and were just pumped to be here. We are also the 1st and 2nd counselors in the Branch Presidence, and im still trying to figure out what that means. so far i have noticed that we work a lot with the president and the members which is good cause they get excited about missionary work and we almost always have someone from the branch to acompañarnos in lessons. The branch has less then 5 years so its pretty new. were having a lot of success. we found a family, Familia Ramirez, that just moved in last week and they are way excited about having the gospel in their lifes, and so am i. they want to get baptized so if they can make it to church next week and to Gerneral Conference they will get baptized that following week.Si!!!!! So lifes going great fields white and ready to harvest. and im loving every minute here. im so pumped for kyle, write me more kyle about what mission what mtc your going to cosas asi. when we get back we can speak spanish to each other its going to be sick!!!! write me. k love you all thanks for all your letters and prayers. the church is true and the book is blue. ps trying to write the sisters this week get excited. jaja pss mom found shoes but got changed and didnt but them ill look around here and see what i can do and ill get back to you

MOW (new one for me) Miracle of the Week

2009-03-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

Yo what up¿!?
hows life going fam? todo bom? (that would be the extent of my portuguese) well didnt hear any news on masons game. but im guessing loss since there wasnt a blackberry message for me. tranquilo theres always swimming homie. thanks mom for the letters from brad, and thanks grandma and Grandpa for your update. I love hearing how other missionaries are doing its crazy how different our missions are but at the same time exactly the same. We find joy in the same things and get excited over the same experiences and are all working for the same purpose. so this weekend we finished our carnival work. FINALMENTE!!!!!
Its a lot bigger of a deal in Brazil but since we are pretty close to them everyone in Ciudad Del Este makes a big deal about it too. It basically just another reason to drink for them, but now they just dance in the streets and have water fights. the water fights are hilarious, drive by water ballooning and buckets of water being thrown from roof tops definitely bring back a lot of memories. Favorite one i say was these two kids about 8 years old no mas, were on top of this roof and when people would walk by they would just destroy them with water balloons but they were so big it took them both to carry it to the edge, this one girl caught one to the face and i almost peed my pants. Not very missionary like but it was hilarious. wish i had a pic for ya. But the drunk dancing i could have passed on. anyways its over and we should start having a little bit easier time finding people in thier houses instead of in the streets. but enough of that...
lets see.... bueno i got a MOW for yea (miracle of the week) so we have lunch with the Obregons every thursday, and Hma hermana as in sister has like 30 years in this ward so she pretty much knows everyone and hooks it up with golden referencias. (ps if you read this your a committed to giving a reference to the missionaries this week. Do it they will love you and God will bless you) I know I now need to give a reference! Anyways she said that there is a family that lives just around the corner that hasnt been to church in like 7 years but she has never been able to talk to the mom cause she works in Argentina and only comes back one day every other week, if that. So we decided to go anyways and she wasnt there. but her neighbor said she would be home this sunday. so we came back this past sunday and she was there. Yeah!! So we talked for awhile, blah blah blah why havent you been to church. She has work all the time. we told she should go when she is in town. She said i know i think about it every Sunday. She said she wants to start going again with her son as well. Then she said, my son hasnt been baptized i would like you guys to teach him the lessons and take him to church when im not here, she then said that she wanted us to baptize him. oh of course our response was Claro que si.No idea what that means thinking a big fat YES then we put a date taught a lesson made an appointment and hes getting baptized the 7th of Abril. pretty killer right. Sometimes i dont understand why we are so blessed. But i am definitely not complaining. Pretty positive that it is through all of your prayers. well gotta roll. love you all keep reading your scriptures. i want a picture of two boys with your scripture scholar awards at the end of the year or im taking back all my clothes. I will do it!! k love you

Too cute

2009-03-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

This mom misses her son in Paraguay

2009-03-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

week... a lot‏

Yo What UP!!!!!!!! Hows life in mother land. The Heart of South America is just dandy. Worked really hard this week and im really excited about going home when i finish this to take a nap. first of all id like to give my shout outs to my peeps, thanks uncle Michael for the update on the fam, could have guessed that kauner and taumage (wow his name is hard to spell) are tearing up every team in the city. And I don’t think im going to be able to make the bass lake trip this year, but ill run it by the prez and let you know. Thanks Ashlee for the letter let me know when you get your Olympic Trial Invite. Oh I also received my package it was killer. Most of the smart missionaries wait till they get home to open their packages. But I was to excited and opened it in front of everyone, luckily I still managed to save about half my candy so its all good. Dang the wedding looked amazing and so did Courtney. Sorry I missed it sis but I think you understand. I noticed mason is still sportin the mop killer homie. I saw that pic of the whole fam at the beach and kinda miss mine. But I think the mop dome days are done for me. tambien thank you Nicole for the Talia updates hope she doesn’t have any serious ear problems im praying for her. Bueno I think I got everyone credit ill try to get some personal letters out this month if I can find some time. Meanwhile write me more please thanks. So one cool story from this week happened on Sunday, most everything good happens on Sundays. Anyways we had about 15 investigators that we had been visiting for a solid three weeks now half of which have been coming to church. So Sunday morning we went by their house to make sure they were getting ready to go. But it was a little cloudy and like I told you Paraguayans don’t like the rain very much. So no one wanted to go because of the clouds or cause of work or other bogus excuses. So Elder Amaya and I took a lonely walk to church sin investigadores. Which was kinda a bummer cause we worked pretty hard this week and usually when you work hard the Lord blesses you with success. So we got to church sat down in the chapel trying to think of someone else we could go try and get, and about 2 minutes later a man walked in and asked us were the class was we told him where it was without thinking about asking him his name or who he was or anything. When he left my comp asked who that was I said I don’t know he said we should find out and I said ok. So we walk in the hall and he was talking with the 2nd counselor in the bishopric. After talking for a little bit we discovered that about a year ago the missionaries invited him to church. And he said he had been feeling like he needs to change his life so he woke up and felt like he should come to church. So he came!!! ¿Loco no? Anyways were going to teach him tomorrow night and ask if he wants to get baptized. Numero 2 about half way through the sacrament meeting this kid that works with the 1st counselor in the bishopric walked in to the chapel that we invited to come to church last week. We are also going to visit him tomorrow. It’s amazing to me the way the Lord blesses us sometimes. It also strengthened my testimony that if we work hard and do the things that we are supposed to the Lord will bless us, Si o Si. Sometimes in ways that we don’t expect or ways that we didn’t really have in mind. Well gotta roll out but thank you for your letters and your support. I feel your prayers everyday. Keep praying for my Spanish please I still have a lot more to learn. Alright this kid next to me is listening to tupac and its too much of a temptation to listen so for realzies -Im bouncing love you all, good luck tonight mason tear the roof of those D1 punks. Throw an elbow for me. ps last month we had 144 baptisms. goal for this month is 200 which is a lot. my comp and i are doing all we can to help. ill keep you posted. love you all and i love being a missionary. The Church is true and the book is blue.
Okay so yesterday before his letter came I was looking at pictures of Leo Carrillo and getting sooooooo excited to go to the beach and then the tears just came and wouldn't stop as I realized that my cute boy Jordan would not be at the beach throwing the football, scavengering for food, stealing quarters from the van for showers, eating 20 donuts around the campfire, getting shushed by the ranger when we ar still laughing after 10 o'clock curfew, eating all the leftovers in the cooler, skating in the street, playing with every kid on the beach, etc. - don't get me wrong, I love that he is serving the Lord, I love that he is growing as a son of Heavenly Father and I love reading his letters and hearing how great he his doing but DANG a mom can miss her boy so very bad- he is just an all around great guy and I know the saints in Paraguay love him but here at 9306 Southwick we love him more!

Missionary Monday

2009-03-02T12:02:00.001-08:00

Italics aded by mom!!!Que en el mundo!!!!! (favorite phrase in the MTC) so much happened this week i dont even know where to start. 1st im glad to hear you finally got your package that bites that the games dont work i hope you figure it out. (Yes, our missionay bought pirate wii games that don't work) todovia i have not received you package but puede ser next week. well biggest news is i got a new comp se llama elder Amaya. For the past two changes he has been Branch President in Encarnacion. He is from El Salvador he has like a 6 months left in his mission and says he wants to tear them up. Gotta be top 5 coolest kids in the world. he reminds me a lot of Mikey Noonchester. (Look at the photo)-no photo was included so just imagine that he looks like Mikey Noonchester But this elder knows how to work so were about to move some serious weight this month. we have 4 investigadores with fechas right now so that’s way exciting. And 3 more that i love teaching and were are going to put fechas with this week. So if everything goes perfect, which it will because yo tengo Fe, we will have 7 baptisms this month. Im psyhed. ill keep you posted. Well this week we also had a meeting with all the missionaries from the mission and it was probably the best meeting i have ever been to in my life. I think the lat 20 meetings he has been to have been the best meetings of his life. Amazing what attitiude has to do with our feelings about meetings.We got to hear from Elder Audukuites (pretty sure there isn’t that many u´s.. whatever) who gave a talk in conference about how his dad read the book of Mormon and it changed his life. i remember that talk being way powerful and he spoke with that same power with us. basically he told us if we are not baptizing then were sinners, and we dont have faith. Ouch… but he did in such a way to modivate everyone, especially me. he did practices and was pretending to be an investigator and had missionaries come up and try and get inside his house. It was hilarious every shut down he used were ones that I have heard before and hear almost everyday. So now every time I hear a- otro dia or maybe next week, it just reminds me of him and I just laugh. but it was way good I also got to give the closing pray and after all my buddies from the MTC were like Elder Urmston your Spanish you know how to speak spanish. Which was a good confidence booster cause I still think its crappy. But learning everyday and my new comp is the bomb at Guarani so im going to learn a lot more of that this change as well. Pero gotta roll we going to help Presidente Martinez build his house. early this week we moved 2500 bricks. Just my comp and I, president, his son in law, and his Grandma who is 84 years old and was tearing it up. She was carrying like 5 bricks at the same time and I was carrying like 6 I felt like a wuss so I started carrying 8 and she moved up to 7 so I had to move up to 10 and almost killed myself. I was dead after and just sat down and she went and cooked us lunch and brought us drinks, still having a bunch of energy so I looked like a little girl. But what ever she’s a stud. But for reals gotta go love you all let me know how the game goes mason, No mercy. PS Good job Logan 1st place in IM holla at cho boy. Probably not going to beat my record but you can still try. PS got your letter grandma and grandpa still don’t know how to send a letter to austrailla but ill figure it out this week. PSS Signed my get legal papers on Friday in Asuncion so… im legal. (not sure what he means by legal but will let you know when I know)

2009-02-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

The good, the great and the UGLY

2009-02-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

what up bakersfield????? is it hot yet cause its still hot here. i dont really know how hot, everyday is starting to feel the same just hot. but lifes good, im a missionary how can i complain. i cant believe that Zack is home it feels like he just left. its definitely true about what he said about the mission helping you grow up. i can already tell that i have changed so much. i cant really describe the transition i went through but the Spirit. i have never felt it so stong in my life. im glad i get to have this feeling for the rest of my mission and the rest of my life. i cant wait til Blake and Kyle and Brock get to have this experience. how are their papers going? have we started the guessing game yet? cause my guess is theyre all coming to Paraguay. That would be sick!!!! but highly unlikely. that a bummer Logans sick is he done with basketball yet? Creo que si. let me know how the season went logan. how many slamma jammas you get? speaking of tomahawk jams that game must have been sick. the only thing i really miss watching is Basketball games. more specifically Lakers and of course the year i cant watch theyre going to win the ship. what ever. just tivo it for me dad, k thanks. and thanks again for the updates. like Half the zone are laker fans and every tuesday before zone meeting we have a little laker fan meeting and i fill everyone in on the latest Kobe domination. Well another week flew by again. i cant believe how fast everythings going. im almost done with my 2nd change. (Febuary 26 is changes) and im pretty sure that im going to be receiving a new companion. ill probably still be in the same area and he will leave. but i dont think im ready to go anyways so estoy tranquilo. big events that happened this week were... oh one is the mother of Chistofer (he is 9 years old) finally agreed to let him get baptized. -GOOD- it has been a struggle, she was baptized almost 15 years ago but only comes to church about once every couple years. we have been visting them for a solid month now and have never really made any progress. But christofer keeps wanting to come to church so we keep teaching him. But there was always a barrier in our teaching cause they dont really understand Spanish. the kids all speak Guarani and understand a little spanish, the mom can get by with her spanish but perfers Guarani. So we werent really having the greatest lessons with them. But as time went on and we simplified our lessons (a lot!!) we could tell that they were becoming more and more open to us. and one day my comp started talking to Christofer in Jopara and asked him, well more told him that it was his turn to get baptized and he excitedly agreed. so this Saturday we will be having a baptism for Christofer Troche. GREAT!!!the first one for this area in over 6 months, and it will also be my first baptism in Paraguay. and 2nd ever, after my favorite little sister Melanie. Other big news we had 8, yes 8!! investigators in church this week. mission high for me. one of which was Carlos who is the one with the bad leg and he is also getting baptized next week. im way stoked for him. i can really tell that he is gaining a testimony. its such an awesome experience to be able to be apart of these peoples lives and see their transformations into better people. i love being in paraguay and i love being a missionary. PS my comp has this rash called Fuego de San Antonio on his back that started as a little pimple that has now spread into three big quarter size warts so we went to the doctor who said that it is going to spread to his stomach and then the rest of his body. but it just itches really bad and it will go away in about a 3 weeks. ha i feel really bad for him. i really hope its not contagious. i really really hope its not contagious. please pray for him and also pray that its not contagious UGLY

2009-02-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday my two sweet boys finished their Eagles. I should say my three boys because Marc worked harder than the boys. It was a great evening and I am happy that I will never have to nag them again about their Eagle. I know they will appreciate having earned it down the road but Mason threatened me with DEATH if I posted it in the school newspaper. I guess being a boy scout isn't the "cool" thing to do. I am grateful they do things even if they are just being obedient. I decided an Eagle Scout rank is worth the fight. I am however giving up on forcing him to go to Church Prom. That one isn't worth the fight.
Missionary Mail is coming tommorrow. That way I will have two posts in one week.

The Church is true and the Book is blue.

2009-02-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

Hey, Hey, Hey!!! whats going on. well im still in Paraguay and life is...feliz. OH also i received my first real letter today. well theyre all real letters but i got my real stamped letter today from Grandma and Grandpa. i was really excited it sounds like they are doing really great. ill try to get a letter off to them sometime soon. i just dont have a ton of time. but tell them thanks a ton and i love them. or just sent them this letter.
well im toasting like a bacon cheese out here. (name that movie mason or logan) the heat is incredible. i have never sweat ed so much in my life, and Urmstons know how to sweat. but it should rain again in the next couple of days and that will cool it down. last friday it rained all day it was awesome. the streets were like rivers and my comp and i went on the roof and played for a little bit. we counted it as companion study, but after we saw the lighting for the third time we bounced out right quick. um also the lady that owned the store below us passed away. that was kinda sad she was really nice and always had the kinda of soda i like. they took everything out of the store and and had a little funeral for her. it lasted like a day and a half. they didnt sleep they all just sat there and talked and ate.there were probably about 500 people that came thought to give their condolences (i think thats what it is called ¿si o no?) and more then have spoke portuguese so that was fun to hear. i think im going to learn that after spanish and guarani. but anyways the whole thing was actually a pretty pleasant event. We also went to a wedding this week. it was of the daughter of a member. it was really really small, but they were way happy. the reason they got married was the daughter was living with the man for a while and was embarrassed about coming back to church because well the werent married. but she is going to start going to church again and so is her husband and now were teaching him the lesson and then he is going to get baptized. how awesome is that. im way pumped for them. but i think my favorite thing that happened this week was Carlos came to church. Gimpy leg and all. i dont know if i told you about him yet. So i will... he is 15 years old. and he was living with his dad in some small city out side of Encarnacion. but about three months ago he got in a moto accident and broke his leg in 3 parts. it was pretty bad. so he moved here, to Cuidad del Este. cause we have a better medical care (well its not really better its just that we have it) and mostly cause his mom lives here and she is taking care of him while he is recovering. she is a member and her new husband is also a member. they are both solid and help so much in the lessons normally we just bring the pamplets and they teach the lessons its awesome. all we have to do is bear our testimonies and thats like my favorite thing to do in the whole wide world so BONUS. so all he needed to do is hobble to church one more time and then hobble into the baptismal font. He is way excited and really likes hanging out with the young men and the young women in the branch. mostly the young women but what never works for him. A wise man by the name of Jesse Orullian once told me long ago, the best way to get someone to church is flirt to convert. well i gotta go eat my weight at Godfathers Pizza right now. (mason bet you dont know that one) well actually its Pizza Hut but its still all you can eat pizza for 5 bucks so im not complaining. ps thank you nicole for your letters i miss you like crazy and your talia stories crack me up. i sent you a letter in the package home. love you keep me updated on the latest Talia quotes and the movements of Tristan. ps otro vez. thanks chelsea for the dear elders i sent you a letter a while ago i hope you got it let me know. also tell blake if i dont get a letter with in the next 2 weeks i wont ever scream at people pumping their gas at 7-11 ever again. haha that was so fun. love you. mason i told you happy birthday in the letter i sent home but just realized that you not going to get it for a while so happy birthday and one of the jerseys are for you and the others are for whoever they fit. k peace homie. hope the ankles better pssssss if any one else wants to write me please do i love getting letters and i would love to hear from you.

To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to pray

2009-02-04T19:22:00.001-08:00

I was wandering through blogland and came upon these pictures. I was overcome with emotion and knew I needed to share my feelings?(Mostly so I will remember how I feel right now.)
In Jordan's letter last week he said they were leaving his black market town at 1 in the morning to travel to the Asuncion Temple. He was so excited about this opportunity. I was filled with gratitude that he understands the importance of attending the temple. While he was in the MTC his favorite part of Pday was walking over to the Provo Temple with his district. It made my heart sing and even do some flip flops when he shared that with me. As a mother I have always tried to express how much I love the Temple and the bessings that come through temple attendance. When that love is shared by your children, it is truly one of the sweetest joys I have ever known.
Yesterday I was able to go to the temple in Fresno. It brought back tender memories of going with Courtney last month. I pulled my temple dress out and pinned to it still, was a little lavendar escort label. I felt grateful all over again for the journey that Courtney took that led her to a temple marriage. I am grateful for the joys that come as I mother my children and know that I need to cherish the joys more and let the other "stuff" just float by. I have wonderful children and I don't tell them often enough how proud of them I am of their good choices. I am enjoying the journey today and writing it down so I will remember, on those days that I think I should have let someone else have these children, that the Lord truly is in charge and I have angels attending and watching over my children. Thank you to Kathy McKeon for opening my eyes to all the wonder of temple attendance.

Back in Blogland

2009-01-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

hello family how are you! how was the wedding? i hope everything was tranquilo. sorry i missed it Courtney slash Brigham but i was a little tied up. i think you guys understand. ha but im happy for you both hopefully i dont miss too many births. (Note from Linda- no pregnancies in the immediate family to announe) well life is awesome here. my luck with computers continues even on the other side of the Ecuador about half way through my letter the dang thing turned off. not the happiest moment of the week but its all good ill just write fast. oh had another 1st this week NOTICE: first time in almost 2 months i was cold in Paraguay it was a good day. well i dont want to lie it was more of a not being hot day. but i liked it. this week was good. probabaly one of the hardest working weeks we have had. Saturday we visited our Investigator again to make sure they were all ready for church on Sunday and we got 20 si o si´s. so i was pretty pumped. we woke Sunday morning ready to go, and it was raining like really raining like raining, pouring the old man is snoring kind of rain. and Paraguayos arent huge fans of the rain. when it rains its like the city stops for a day. its weird. so we visited everyone before church and no one wanted to go. so instead of 20 investigators in church we had 1. but its all good next week well just pray for no rain. so if you would like to pray for no rain on sunday mornings in Paraguay that would be greatly appreciated. Gracias. Que mas paso esta semana.... the language is coming along...good. im not really to worried about it i just keep praying and reading my Libro de Mormon and i know it will come eventually. Oh i learned how to read Guarani. well not really i know what each letter sounds like but i cant really read it. they actually do have the same alphebet as us but with a few extra letters. every vowel has a nasal accent. and im not really that good at it yet. but im working on it. ill sent you a little on the tape im sending home this week. but the most interesting word i learned this weeek would have to be obama. OBAMA- to move, to change. ¿Loco no? the big joke they always say down here is. This man called the white house and asked to speak to Bush, but the lady on the over side said, ¨no obama.¨ haha well its a lot funny in jopara, and my comp says its even funny in Guarani but i didnt understand it in Guarani. oh Tomorrow were going to the temple im way excited were leaving tonight at 1 so we can get there in the morning. im a little nervous for everything in Spanish but it should be interesting. well thats all i got for ya. i would love to answer more of your questions just let me know what you want to know and then ill let you know. bueno k love you all, oh im digging masons new position. the Enforcer. they should put it on his Jersey. now that i think of it thats kinda what he has always played. speaking of which did Mike Quills arm every heal? probably not. if you see him tell him i said hi and he should write me a letter. well gotta blast love you all and i love being a missionary.

Missionary Letter

2009-01-07T05:07:00.000-08:00

Well, Monday came and went and no letter. What is a mom to do but imagine 20 different scenarios where her son has met challenges that make it imposssible for him to write. Still no answer on why it was late but one of the moms on the missionary mom said it has taken up to two days for an email to make its way through the air. I'm just grateful it came. I know the Lord is watching over and protecting him but I will admit I was nervous until the letter arrived to the inbox.
mba ete kopio familia. This is my Guarani phrase for the week it just means how are you but hey its a start. Um everything down here in Sur america is fanatastic. like always. I got your package which made me oh so happy. i loved it. thanks melanie for whoopie chusion my comp thinks its hilarious. oh and that watch is killer sweet. but im going to wait til i get to asuncion to wear it. oh rubics cube was a big hit for all the nerds at zone conference (that is were i received it i promise i wont waste my time with it) ha i love missionaries, i think your hp automaticaly goes up like 20 points when you enter the mission field cause it doesnt matter what or who you were before the mission; everyone is here for the same reason so it so easy to be friends with everyone. My this week was good i got some cards from dave a eugene i feel bad cause i cant email them back make sure that youre sending them my letters. and i would love to get theirs. this week was great. we got some good rain on wednesday so its been pretty chill weather since. its like 25 C (75ish) and everyone is trippin out and saying that it freezing. then i told them that my family is in below 0 C weather right now and they were worrried for your lives. ha but today it started to heat back up. im glad that the holidays are over and people are a little more sober and we can get back to work again. um not to much time so ill just tell you about my favorite investigator right now. his name is edgar. but i call him justin cause he looks and sounds like this dude i used to work with for sister elison. en serio like twins! well we were just walking back one day and he asked if we wanted some tedede. and we said no but we would love some water. (tedede- a drink that paraguains drink from birth its got bunch of herbs and what not in it its fine to drink but missionaries cant drink it cause it will give us chibibi guazu (diarria) but after the mission its all good cause it will clean so ill bring some home) so he gaves some water and he just asked us some questions about what we believe and mid discussion he pulled out a cigerrera and my comp said and we also believe something called the word of wisdom. ha it was funny and he said yeah i always thought smoking was bad. and then i told him about repentance and he said that sounded nice i think im ready to repent now. ha that made my week it feels so good helping people become better people and come unto Christ. i love Paraguay and i love being a missionary. thanks again for all the presents and letters i feel so loved and blessed i have such a killer family.
And I have no idea what hp is. Maybe I.Q. but it is all fine and it makes me smile when I read his letters so you can't ask for more than that. 3 days until the wedding. And I know Christmas is over but changing my blog background is not made my list- yet.

Slow Missionary Monday

2008-12-22T18:36:00.000-08:00

We were stuck driving in a blizzard----driving for four hours through Utah. I do love my Bakersfield weather in December. So here is the letter.
Feliz Navidad!!!!!!!! well this has got to be the weirdest christmas of my life but i love it. we went to asuncion and had a little shin-dig it was way fun. we left at 1 in the morning got there at 630ish went and got some breakfast at a little tienda. after that we all sat down in the big room with all the missionaries in the whole mission it was sweet. i got to see all my buddies from the mtc and they all said they dont understand anyone either so i dont feel so bad anymore. but after a few salutations the presidente said we were going to the movie theatre. but he didnt tell us what movie so we all (180 to be exacted) walked through the street of paraguay to the movie theatre in our suits and ties it looked pretty cool sorry no photo. everyone was all pumped cause we went into the madagascar 2 theatre, i didnt even know they were making a 2nd one, but alas our hopes were shot down when the lds commericals started to role. ¨isnt it about....time from the church of Jesus Christ...¨ but it was still cool to watch the nativity in spanish. after that we had a little musical program and this abuelo played the harp. then we eat and exchanged gifts i got this killer lapiz holder. over all pretty bomb fiesta. this week went by way fast but i feels like i did so much and i want to tell you like a million things. welll first we got another set of missionaries in our apartment they were having problems with their apartment so they are staying with us for the week it has been fun living with three latinos who dont know any english. it has helped my spanish a lot. i still have trouble understanding everything but after they say it 2 or 3 or 4 times i can get it. ha luckily guy jokes arent that complex and most of them dont even need words so those are pretty easy to understand. we have a lot of new investigators this week everyone wants to talk about Jesus right now hopefully this will continue after christmas too. most of the families are really interested and like the lessons a lot until we teach the word of wisdom. then the dads dont really like having us over anymore. paraguayans are interesting people they think that it is fine to get hammered everynight and it wont effect their bodies, but they wont eat watermelon and milk together cause they think their stomach will blow up. yeah i dont know. teaching the word of wisdom as a health principle is pretty worthless here good thing its a commandment from God and we can just read them a scripture about it and bear testimony and then most of them understand. i love bearing my testimony, maybe because thats all i can really do well right now in spanish, but the biggest reason i think is because i love feeling the spirit and speaking through that power. sometimes im not really 100 percent sure on what i said but as long as they understood and they felt the spirit thats all that matters. dang i have to get off i still have so much more to tell you. luckily im talk to you on wednesday. you can call me at hermana hernadas casa at 595-0615-01176 ill be waiting at 4 oclock my time so i think thats 1 your time but double check on that for me por favor. and this is wednesday not thursday i hope thats fine. if not well then make it fine cause i want to talk to you all. les amo muchoooooooooooo!!!!! i love being a missionary.

Monday Missionary Mail YIPPEEEE

2008-12-15T16:57:00.000-08:00

Que tal shada! thats the first guarani word i learned (shada) thats not how you really spell it but guarani has a different alphabet so yeah i cant type it but thats how you say it it means dude. i feel pretty dang cool saying. but that is the extent of my guarani knowledge. i was thinking i would wait until after i figured out this whole spanish thing before i moved on to the next language. Which is coming along ummmm... mas o menos. i can understand more but my speaking ability is still about the same. my companion is helping me out a lot i love this kid to death. i dont know if i told you but he is from Ecuador he doesnt have any brothers or sisters. He was baptized at the age of 12 same day as his dad. his dad now works as the head maintance guy for the ecuador templo. he said that being baptized turned his life around. the weather here this week was a lot better it rained like crazy yesterday i took some pics ill send them next week. were in the central right now and your not suppose to carry anything too expensive on you for.. well you just dont. tomorrrow were going to Asuncion for the fiesta de navidad with all the missionaries in the mission. its going to be pretty dulce. there is like 170 missions total in our mission we have 6 in our district and 18 in our zone. our zone is pretty awesome its mostly latinos entonces im getting pretty dang good at futbol. we play every pday i usually score all the goals. k i lied they smoke me everytime. but by the end of my mission i think i should be good enough for the Galaxy. ha me and David (beckham) just j chillin during half time. but the kids we teach like to watch me TRY to play soccer. ha this kid Junny whose grandma is getting baptized next week is trying to teach me a few tricks. manuela is my favorite lady in the world. she is the abuela of junny. she is the one who can only speak guarani and understand a little spanish. about two days ago we went over to her house, junny was there to translate for us, and if she doesnt understand something shell look at junny to i guess give the signal to translate. we were re-teaching the 1st lesson and i was teaching about Christ's life and before this i was kinda down cause i wasnt making much progress with my spanish this day or the past two days before and no one could understand what i was saying i didnt know what was wrong. so i was little frustrated. But when i started talking about Christ´s life in my broken spanish and with my vocabulary of a 7 year old; Manuela was able to understand me. and instead of looking at here grandson for a translation she started to respond to what i said and i was able to understand and she was speaking in mixed guarani it was definitely the top moment of my mission so far. it was pretty awesome. i love teaching and relying on the spirit. i love you all and i love being a missionary les amo muchoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you all for your letters i loved them

2008-12-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

This weekend was spent cheering on the three boys still at home. Marc has been called to be the Stake Sports guy. He has done an amazing job. He organized a ping-pong tournament,and this weekend held a flag-football tournament for the young men in our stake. Eight teams participated and after rain, wind and a little hail, the scrappy fifth ward boys emerged triumphant. They had to play the boys from Delano three times to be crowned the champions - but by 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon it was over and I had two very tired and sore and dirty but jubilant sons (and one husband in the same shape as the sons who by 1:30 were sacked out until 5 when I had to wake them for the amazing ward dinner. We had to leave the dinner to go to Mason's basketball game but the place was decorated fabulously and the food was Delicious (delicious with a capital T doesn't begin to describe the smells that were floating down the church hallway as we came in the building!) Sunday's goals *Just hoping to finally put up our tree. No partridge, no pear tree, just a fake pine with some lights could help spread some holiday cheer. Hopefully I can post a picture of our tree and our bang-up graham cracker houses this evening. Merry Christmas to all

Monday's Missionary Post

2008-12-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

Here is the Monday letter. I'm posting it the way it came so you can add your own apostrophes and capitalization wherever you want them.
----Side note---- after I posted his letter I googled Cuidad Del Este so I could have some idea where he is serving and mostly what I found out is, it is on the border between Paraguay and Brazil and is notorious for drug-smuggling. I guess it isn't just ipods or xbox that Elder Urmston could purchase for pretty cheap. Please keep him in your prayers. Pray he will be safe as he loves and teaches the people of Paraguay. From one faithful but frightened MOM (only a few tears rolling down my cheeks)
Que tal!!! well everything in Paraguay is amazing. I dont even know where to start. my companion is awesome his name is elder Ramerez hes been out for a year and a half so he definitely knows what he is doing. he is about 5 foot nothing and has one of the biggest smiles you've ever seen. people always ask why they put the shortest missionary with the tallest. he is from Ecuador and he knows about 6 words in english two of which he obtained from an elder from utah who liked the words flippin and freakin so that doesnt really help our communication very much but makes me laugh so its ok. um currently im in zona 8 in ciudad del este. which is just about the farthest you can go east in our mission. Tambien it has the 2nd largest black market in the world so if anyone one needs a new computer or ipods or xbox 360 i can get them for like 50 to 100 bucks just let me know. i dont know if anyone told you but its kinda hot here and humid and really sunny and did i say hot cause its hot like 105 with some serious humidity. so yeah its hot. but i gain a huge appreciation for water so i guess thats something good from it (that was for you dad number 5 i think). right now we have 3 investigator with fechas. One is named Jessica and she is 15 she loves to pray and read whatever we give her. she is awesome. Another is manuala who is the abuela of a member family. she only speaks Guarani so we teach and her daughter translates. Its pretty much the coolest thing in the world i have no idea what they are saying but the spirit is so strong during these lessons. i cant wait to understand Guarani well i guess i should learn spanish first. the other is Junior but i havent meet him yet. he is in asuncion for some hoilday about the virgin Mary. i dont know what it is but there were fireworks going of all night it was crazy. my companion said that during christmas it gets even crazy with the fireworks and new years you cant sleep and we wont go out the day after cause every one is sleeping and smashed or drunk. Im pretty excited for next week we get to go to the presidents casa for christmas for games and comida so that should be pretty sweet. this lettter doesnt have much structure but this place is closing in like 20 mins for the virgin mary thing so i have to get of soon. um im having a great time everyone is so nice. everywhere we go people want to listen its awesome. we walk down the street and people yell MORMONS come over here or ELDERS que tal. its so much fun helping people and teaching them about this restored gospel. ts going to be even more fun when i can understand them. im studying hard and always trying to learn new words from my companion. and yesterday i promised the ward when i bore my testimony that i would undrestand them in 1 month so i need to start working even harder and definitely need your prayers. i think my favorite part of the day is when people try to say my name its hilarious not one person has said it right. my companion is still trying to get it. most of the kids at church just call me Elder kent cause they think i look like superman. well everyting is going great im loving every minute of this my testimony has grown so much and i know it will grow even more. it doesnt matter where you are the church is true. i love being a missionary Elder Urmston PS write me a letter

Elder Urmston is in Paraguay

2008-12-03T07:18:00.001-08:00

I have to share this fun letter. I can't believe how happy my son is. He has always been a happy kid but never really expressed it in words, just went around the house spreading love and cheer. It sounds cheesy but he really did. Last Wednesday in our email he told us he would call us from the airport on Monday afternoon while he was having a layover in Georgia. Monday morning I went to the gym only to come home and find out I had missed his call. I called Marc to tell him while trying not to shed any tears but darn they rolled down my cheeks anyway. I didn't know if that would be the only call and his plans had changed or what the happenings would be. Lucky for me he called again about 15 minutes later. His flight out of Salt Lake had been delayed due to weather and they said they could call. (Totally amazed at the perfect obedience that the MTC has instilled in my son. His greatest desire is to be obedient. Like I said TOTALLY AMAZED)The first thing he asked, after telling me they gave them permission to call, was what is up with gas prices? Is the end coming? When he went in the MTC gas was still in the $4 range and the entire van was mesmerized as they passed gas station with a van full of elders cramming their faces up to the windows to take a gander at one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was so stinkin' cute I had to share and below is his first letter from Paraguay. I promise not to post all of them because I know we only read posts of a couple paragraphs but indulge me because I have to admit that missing him is overshadowed one thousand percent with all the wonder of seeing him grow.
yyyyeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! im here paraguay is so awesome. everything is amazing. its like 80 degrees with people in the world, said its not going to last it should be above 100 with some sweet humidity in about 4 weeks. cant wait. i dont know who my companion is yet or were im serving but i find out tonight and ill let a nice breeze and not to much humidity. pero President Bradley, who has to be top 5 coolest you know monday. a couple of rules i can only email immediate family and i get an hour each p-day. i still have dearelder which is free so hit me up on that por favor. umm i can sent letters but it cost like 7 mill which is like a buck 50ish. and it takes like a week and a half to three weeks to get anything. what else can i tell you oh last night we stayed in a hotel which was.... umm nice. its so weird being in the world. everything is so different i cant believe how sheltered we were in the mtc. we have already seen some pretty sweet stuff like this cool cemetary that at first i thought was a little town but i guess everyone is buried above ground here. umm there were cops all over the airport with some serious fire power no joke like 007 assualt rifles. it was pretty dulce. everyone drivers crazy i felt like i was in bourne identity. and all the trucks have like 15 people in the back of them. umm oh we got delayed in

PROCRASTINATION

2008-11-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

I love the mail. (MONDAYS ONLY) I love the sound of the mailman coming around the corner. Then I hear his sliding door open and shut. If it is Monday, that means we are getting a letter from our missionary. He officially has his flight plans and will be calling us next Monday during his layover. He is calling between 2 and 3:30 so don't call (I really don't get calls during the day anyway), I can't answer. Pretty exciting. He is loving life and his big excitement is wondering which Apostle will be speaking to the elders and hermanas at the MTC for Thanksgiving. I know part of him is dying to be playing in the Turkey Bowl but the fact that he is looking for the good makes a mom's heart proud. Grateful for letters from my son is the though for Tuesday.

Monday I didn't write but here goes. On Monday mornings, I teach a water aerobics class. As I was leaving with my wet suit and towel wrapped around my lower half, I noticed a blind man with a stick wandering through the parking lot. I asked him if I he needed some help. (Obviously if he was blind he could not see my hot body in the lime green swim suit so I had no qualms about talking to him) He said he was looking for the Dept. of Rehab.. He was in the wrong parking lot so I told him I could help him around the corner where the building he needed to go to was located. He said he would love some help so off we went. It took about 10 minutes, so I did a good deed and had a chance to contemplate all that I have that is good and the laundry was able to wait for 10 minutes. The simple things like arms, legs, eyes, and all the things that work just because I am blessed. So thank you to Heavenly Father for an amazing body that only stops working when I stop taking care of it.

Today I am thankful for---

2008-11-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

What am I thankful for today? I have so many choices, but right now it is a clean sink. I just dumped lots and lots of ajax in my sink and scrubbed all the nasties away. My fridge is a mess. My bathrooms are worse than the fridge but if anyone stops by I will tell them "close your eyes and look at this beautiful sink", No dishes or tootpaste remnants just sparkling white ceramic.

A Week Of Thanksgiving

2008-11-20T08:22:00.000-08:00

Every night when I say my prayers, I thank my Heavenly Father for our home that gives us shelter and keeps us safe. Often I think my children wonder why I continually thank Heavenly Father for this blessing of shelter and comfort. This picture speaks volumes as to why every day and every night I will continue to thank him for what I have. Tonight I am speaking on budgeting and Christmas (which is pretty much an oxymoron and a topic that no one should have to listen to) but it has given me time to think about what I have and what I do with what I have. I gave my children some suggestions about what they could give me for Christmas and I am adding this one. Anything from hopeprojects.net- I think a goat is a fun gift. My sister and her family as well as my parents have been involved with this charity for years and everything given goes directly to help villagers improve their village. I am hoping that as my children read about others and their struggles to survive they will come to understand that a daily prayer offering thanks is really a gift to ourselves as we slow down enough to realize all we need is right around us. Be grateful, more grateful today for one thing than you were yesterday.

2 Weeks/2 Months

2008-11-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well in 2 weeks Elder D Jordan Urmston will be in Paraguay. I have to apologize to all the people who told me that the time would go fast. (I wanted to tell them "that was only because they didn't love their missionary as much as I loved mine") So here it goes, you were right and I was wrong. We are almost 1/12 of the way through this wonderful experience and it really has been more than wonderful. Some pointers for the mothers of young boys. #1 Make your sons learn to type. Really type, where your fingers are on the right keys and your eyes are on the keyboard. Jordan is able to type a very small letter and then his friend with typing skills can send home a discourse. I am happy for the letter for the message still is there but the details are pretty sketchy. #2 Read them the Book of Mormon. Jordan ends every letter with the church is true and the book is blue-So if any of you have an old blue Book of Mormon I will trade you a batch of homemade rolls for it so it can go in his Christmas pkg. #3 Hug all over them everyday (tears rolling down my chubby cheeks) cause even if they still let you hug them when they are in high school when they leave and aren't around to hug it really hurts. Okay I have to stop!!! The words are all blurry and my mouth is not enjoying the salty sensation of the tears.
The 2 month is in reference to Courtney. Courtney is now getting married in January and not June. I haven't posted this even though I have known for a month is because I am in a brain spin. I love this girl and she is marrying a wonderful young man who treats her the way you want a young man to treat your daughter. I am in major stress mode and am thinking that I might need an addiction to make it through planning a wedding in 2 months. Marc thinks only having two months of a stressed out wife is not such a bad thing. Obviously he doesn't understand shopping for a wedding dress with a daughter is something that will take me two months to decompress from.

Original Family Runner

2008-11-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

Before there were Marathon Runners, Triathletes, All-American Swimmers, League Champion Football Players-there was a little girl who loved to run and run and run. She would go to the back of the pack and wait for the right time and then run like the race was a sprint. With her proud parents watching-Dad at the edge yelling encouragement and Mom yelling encouragement into the camera, she would thrill us everytime. Well she did it again. She has coached many fantastic runners to a few valley championships,but today she decided she would try running a race for herself. Only four months after giving birth to a new baby boy, she ran a Half-Marathon. As her father I am amazed (amazed that anyone enjoys running or wants to go through that punishment)! Well, there she was. She finished the race, very tired, but proud that she could still do it. Time to run 13.2 miles-Me-still running into next week-Nicole- 2 hours and 8 minutes. Way to go Nicole, I am proud of you. Love Dad

A Grateful Mom

2008-11-13T08:56:00.001-08:00

It is so hard to breathe when I sob. Is this a personal challenge or does everyone else have this problem? I have been reading cjane for months and praying everyday for this sweet wonderful family who are daily an example for me. Today while blog hopping (it is my defiance to the house I don't want to clean)I came across another family whose life has been turned upside down and they have turned to the Lord and the internet full of angel blogger. Visiting the sites I do gives me great faith that the Lord knows we are doing a pretty good job on this earth,even with it's messed up problems. I just want to keep going forward-loving my family-loving the Lord and trying to then keep going forward when I lose my focus on why I am here on this earth. It's a test and sometimes I forget that and think that I signed up for a "day at the beach". With Thanksgiving right around the corner and then Christmas, I want to look at life and find all the big and little reasons to be grateful. Then when my children ask what I want for Christmas, this year I can have a new answer. Every year I tell them a clean house and happy kids is what I want. They always roll their eyes and I do get happy kids most days but the clean house wish is pretty sketchy. I want them to donate to either one of these families or to the perpetual education fund. These blogs have touched my life for good and I hope that by my children perhaps reading about these families they can learn that even when life is hard LIFE IS GOOD. If you want an emotional cleansing go visit Mia or CJane.

Is it True?

2008-11-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

Oh my baby boy is 15. 15 is not quite sixteen but it is peeking around the corner and I want it to go away. My sweet, adorable, funny, huggable, Logan is 15. It took me a whoe day to post because when I think about it I want to cry. In my mind he is still the little boy looking up at Mom with those big brown eyes. In reality he is a teenager who snickers at "that's what she said" opportunities. I love and adore this boy and the fact that he loves his family and cousins so stinkin' much. He loves to hang out with his friends and wants to find a game of basketball, football, baseball, or soccer everyday so he can play. He runs non-stop for 14 hours and then drops dead into bed. He lights up our home with his laughter and I feel lucky to be his mom!

Project night is here AGAIN!

2008-10-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

Craft night is Nov. 4th. Come on over after you have voted. Let us know which projects you want to make and we will have it ready for you! FUN FUN FUN Anyone who wants to come is invited.

Each block is painted a different color and the has an embellishement and a letter to spell FAMILY. It is $15.00

This one is 12x12 and is $15.00

This one is $10.00

"The glass is half full" kinda gal.

2008-10-24T11:35:00.001-07:00

I am really trying to find the silver lining in this election fiasco. I read a great article and for anyone who wants to spend some time reading click here-Fairness-

Teacher's Backlash to CTA

2008-10-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Marc spoke with his union rep. regarding the CTA donation and fuond out he can make a statement by requesting the portion of his dues that are used for political purposes to be refunded. My friend Natalie also called me this morning and told me of some of her family members who work in the education field and gave me a website that speaks to the issue. I don't advocate pulling your kids out of school however, as this really only hurts the local school and cuts their funding. It wouldn't impact the CTA but I do feel writing letters to the editor and also to the CTA is a wonderful way to let our voices be heard on this nasty little mistake.

No, no, no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

I can't even believe this world. Marc has one of the most noble professions TEACHING, and therefore must belong to the union of SCUM. The CTA has made its second donation to the No on Prop. 8 organization - to the tune of 1 million dollars. (Last donation was $250,000.00)I hope you can hear me screaming no right now wherever you are. I have already contacted my brother the lawyer to see how we can withdraw from this union he is forced to belong to. It doesn't seem right that we as a family spend our time fighting for what we believe in and his union pours dollars in the exact wrong direction. Please know that it was the union and not the teachers who made this wonderful decision on how to spend the dues but oh that makes it even more despicable. For a link to the article see Candice Lynn's blog. I don't know how to link and I am shaking so bad right now I might send you to some militant group.

Fall into this!!!

2008-10-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night we did a project night of fun. We were a little crafty and ate some treats. I made my favorite fall dessert and thought I would share the recipe for anyone wanting to bake on this blessed "cool down" weekend. The recipe is from Mandee's blog who shared it from Thanksgiving Point. It is amazing and I have finished off the pan all by myself one delicious piece at a time.

Fall's Best Pumpkin Bars
1 cup oil
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
32 oz pumpkin
2 tsp cinnamon
Mix oil, eggs, and sugar. Mix dry ing. together and then fold into wet. Add pumpkin(which now comes in 28 oz cans due to the shrinking packages of the canning factories of America)I used the 28 oz. can and it was still delicious. Pour into an ungreased 10 x 18 (cookie sheet sized with edges)pan and bake @ 325 for 25 minutes. Let cool (because if you don't the frosting will melt into the bars which only adds to the fabulous taste but it doesn't look neat and pretty and bakeryesque)and frost.
Frosting
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
4 c powdered sugar (1 lb)
Mix together to frost cake and lick your fingers well while frosting.
ENJOY

THE FIRST LETTER

2008-10-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

Okay for all you moms who have already sent out a missionary it's official"We are crazy". When Marc brought in the mail I chased him around the house trying to grab the letter from him. He wouldn't give it to me but did let me sit on his lap so I could read it while he did. I thought I would die waiting for it. It has only been a week but it seems like a year that he has been gone. Even Mason at the table keeps commenting on how weird, quiet, lonely our house is without our fearless stud brother. I knew I would miss him but seriously everyday. Don't worry all my letters to him are encouraging and uplifting. I feel encouraged and uplifted myself with the spirit which is the only way I am handling this. So when you ask me how I'm doing if my answer is anything but "dying inside" know that I am lying. I hear it gets better. For those of you who haven't sent your sons yet- love them and -hug them and -kiss them even if they push you away. I am so grateful for this chance to let the Lord have my son for two years but know that I am also grateful for a testimony that lets me do so. I love this gospel and conference was of course exactly perfect for me. As President Monson admonished, I am living for today and cherishing this chance to have a son serving a mission but when the next 720 tomorrows are over there will be a major party at Southwick!!!
Okay for all of you who care- here is the condensed version of the letter.
His companion didn't arrive until 7 pm the first night so he was totally freaked out. His companion is like a physicist so Jordan's not sure they will hang out on the gym floor together but he says and I quote "I love him so much already" He said he walked around the first day and couldn't quit smiling all day. He had heard the second day was the hardest but he is a pretty happy guy so I'm betting he walks around for 2 months with a big smile on his face. He addressed our letter "Dear Familia" and said gracias so he thinks he is an expert at the language. I do pray every day that he will have the blessings promised to him in his Patriarchal blessing regarding his ability to learn things. He had only two minutes to write us as he still needed to read his scriptures. He also asked for the little game things to remember Scripture Mastery. Life is GOOD!

Too Much Fun

2008-10-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

My sister in law Jaime and I had planned on taking a cake decorating class. The classes keep being filled when we check to sign up so we decided it can't be that hard and we would give it a shot. I have logged over 50 hours watching ace of cakes so I thought we could at least try one. We started with baked cakes at 10 in the morning. We didn't finish until 4 in the afternoon so we definitely aren't fast but we had a blast doing it. I have to say we were happy with the end result. It was for her daughter Taylor's birthday and she was thrilled so that made it even more enjoyable. I figure I have until June for Courtney's wedding and by then I will know if it is something we can conquer or not.

Sorry, me again.

2008-10-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

Okay I promised myself I would write about something besides my missionary but since the football game was so painful last night I could not blog about it sooo here we are again. Marc called after the priesthood session of conference to tell me that the choir was composed of missionaries form the MTC. Of course Jordan jus arrived so he wouldn't have been singing but it opened the heart again to the crazy pain of missing my son. Candice told me today "don't cry he is happy and busy" to which I replied "oh, I am not crying for him it is all about me". Those are words a mother should never utter. I think somewhere in the mother handbook it says that we should think of our children first before ourselves. No wonder math is my favorite subject. I am excited though that as I listen to conference our missionary is also doing that exact same thing. Oh but they probably sing all the songs at the MTC and not use it for snack time. I do love conference and a temple in Italy. Oh that is a beautiful thing for the saints and missionaries in Europe.

No Tears

2008-10-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Okay he is there! There are a couple of neat stories that have already happened to the missionary. His Uncle Michael had told Jordan that he gave away a book on his way to his mission. Jordan took a "blue book" just in case he had the opportunity to share the gospel. After a flight delay and another bout of tears our sweet boy boarded the airplane for his mission. I(Linda) was already panicked as the Kern County Sheriff dept. had brought in a handcuffed and shackled prisoner who was being extradited to Colorado. Mom's have the ability to make everything into a big deal and that is exactly what I did. The prisoner would take over the plane and blah-blah-blah. Marc laughed and told me have faith. So he arrives at the airport for his layover in San Francisco. He will be in the terminal for 2 hours so he sits in the middle of a row and tells himself he will have a gospel conversation with whoever sits next to him. He sits and sits by himself and then notices this man running through the terminal frantically. He is pulling beautiful Louis Vuitton bag (yes my son is a fashion expert) and carrying a polka-dot handbag. Jordan said he knew that this was the man (not voting yes on prop 8)who would soon be sitting next to him. The guy ran to the counter and was told that he had not missed his flight as it had been delayed. He then of course walked over and sat down next to the handsome missionary. Jordan said the whole time they were sitting next to each other he couldn't even open his mouth because he was holding his laughter in at the irony of the situation. Well he decided I will try again on the airplane. He gets on the airplane and is seated next to a middle-aged gentleman. Jordan starts talking to him and the man says he is flying to Salt Lake on business. As they get further into the conversation, the man tells Jordan that he will be meeting his son on Wed. to take him into the MTC. Well- Paul Harvey moment- that was Monday and today when Jordan goes into the MTC and sits down in the chapel there sitting next to him once again is Brother Morrison from the airplane. As missionaries enter the MTC at different times this was a pretty coll experience that they would both be in the same session to enter the MTC. Before Courtney took Jordan in they went out to lunch with G and G Nichols. They went to Toucan which is a Brazilian BBQ joint. It just so happens that missionaries eat free there which is good because he only took his suggested money in cash. The waiter said oh there is another missionary here that is going in today. Later during the lunch this missionary came by and said did you say you are going to Paraguay? Jordan said yes I am and the other missionary is going------------yes, Paraguay. Cool experiences to know of the Lord's tender mercies. Oh and thank you to Pam and Robin for the flowers. That one did bring some tears. I am ready for this journey ahead. Only 729 until our missionary is home. I know the 729 days will bring amazing blessings into the lives of the people Jordan serves and into our families life as well.

To the Fathers (and Mothers)

2008-09-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

I know not too many fathers read these blogs, but I am sure you will hear about this or your wife will have you read this. I hope this helps. One of my best friends left today to serve the Lord for two years. It is my son, but he has been one of my greatest friend to. See I was where most of you are right now. I had young sons and watching them play football or baseball and complaining that they don't get to play or the coach is dumb. When it doesn't matter, your sons(and daughters) just want you there. They want to look over and see you there cheering them on. They want to see you after the game and they want you to tell them they are the greatest. It doesn't matter if they were or weren't, they want to hear it from you. Take the time to take them to get an ice cream or dinner, don't take it home, sit there and talk to them. They will never remember the game, but they always, I mean always, remember the food and time with you. Also, do not let a day go by that you do not tell them you love them. Yes, they are boys, but if you can't tell them when their young, you won't be able, like I did today, to put your arms around your friend(son) and say to them "I am proud of you and I love You. Please don't let a day go by, because you have work or a meeting or your tired, because gentlemen, my sons life just passed me by in one long goodbye, as I watched him get on a plane to serve the Lord. Yesterday we were learning to play catch and today he is a man. I know that this might be dumb to you now, but today I need to tell you that it is real. Time will pass you by and you do not want to have any regrets. The video shows how fast he grows and you're gonna miss this. Let me add I cherish my daughters and that is a whole different story, and they taught me all about love and how important it is to have and show emotion. So my boys truly were lucky to have older sisters. And now my plea to the fathers "Your gonna miss this" the time will fly by and nothing, NOTHING is more important than the love of your boys (word and deed). All taught to me by very loving daughters. Tears will come and tears will go, but love will last forever!

It is Official!

2008-09-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

The time has arrived and he is the Lord's. Today a very emotional day has come to a exciting end. Jordan was set apart as a missionary today. He has officially turned his life over to the Lord. He is ready to go and will be an incredible missionary. We had some tremendous words of advice from our Stake President and then had a wonderful blessing from him also. Thank you to the many, many people who have helped shape him into the wonderful man that he is. He has been blessed with great priesthood leaders, inspired Bishops and extremely loving and caring Aunts and Uncles. Thanks to those who were able to attend today. Thank you to the primary children he has worked with. You have all taught him LOVE. Also thanks to those who will watch him on Tuesday and Wednesday. We are very, very proud of Jordan and can't wait to here about his wonderful experiences.

Project Night

2008-09-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

Ladies - (or really, anyone who wants to come) Jaime and I are going to start having Monthly Project Nights. The first one will be Tuesday October 7th at Jaime's house. Her address is 11511 Valletta. The cute tile is only $5 and the wooden stackers are$10. We will be taking suggestions for our November and December offerings. It should be a fun night out! Post a comment to let us know you would like to come. We plan on starting around 6:30 but if that is too early for you we will accept latecomers.

She is Amazing!

2008-09-24T17:17:00.000-07:00

Well, my wife wouldn't put this on for her, but I was impressed, so I will post it. She and I love the show "Ace of Cakes". She wants to take a cake designing class and be able to make and sell cakes. Courtney wants her to make her wedding cake. So our granddaughter who loves Scooby Doo, was having a birthday and my wife decided to attempt her first cake. I thought it was cute, everyone thought it was cute. But her biggest fault is wanting to be perfect in all things(OK not such a bad thing) . She thought of all the things she could of done different, but of course we all do that. The hardest thing for her was the reaction of our granddaughter, She loved it, she was dancing all around saying"My Mystery Machine", "I love it" Hard to find fault in a cake when it was such a hit. Anyway I thought it was wonderful!

2008-09-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

7 DAYS

2008-09-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged because everytime I do I start to cry! Last week was fabulous. Marc's brother from Utah was able to come down to be here for Jordan's farewell. It is a blast for my kids to have so many Nichols and Urmston cousins here in town and then cousins from up North also. We went to Greenacres for a softball game which was more than fun! There were some amazing plays and even more comical plays. After playing we came home and Courtney started yelling my name. I thought she had stepped on something or otherwise injured herself. She was shaking when I got up the stairs and held her hand out for me to see her BEAUTIFUL engagement ring. She and Brigham are officially engaged. He is a great young man who adores her.

Everyone else was out back swimming and cooling off. We scarfed down 10 pizzas and then kept swimming. When the sun finally went down, it was time to practice Uncle Peter's song. For the next hour and a half I kept walking in and out of the room trying to control my emotions. The spirit was so beautiful and I was overwhelmed with all that was happening.

I am selfish. I adore my boy and will miss him like crazy. He has been an angel since he was born. He is kind, considerate, thrifty, brave blah blah blah. I know I gush but he truly is a joy in my life and the only thing worse than having him gone for two years would be having him home when he should be gone. I appreciate everyone who has touched his life for good.

We have one more week with him and get to do a little of his favorite pastime- shopping. He is having a hard time limiting his wardrobe to what is on the list. He currently owns 70 tshirts that he must bequeath 60 of to his brothers. It should be a heart-wrenching week weeding out the wardrobe!

If you see me with baggy eyes, know I had another crying spell and just avoid the crazy woman that I am.

I love living in California?

2008-08-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

Seriously- prop. 8? I have to admit I woke up with a headache and a grumpy attitude. I sent my husband and son out to knock doors in the great Del Rio neighborhood of Bakersfield. I still have a grumpy attitude that we "get" to do this rigmarole again. Last time with prop. 22,(however many years ago) I was upbeat and wanted to help this cause. I am still wanting to further this righteous cause but the cynic in me is taking over. I watch too much television and my channel of choice is HGTV where it seems every other show is highlighting same sex couples. These couples have the money and time to decorate and then redecorate their pads with a boatload of money. Just live your life as single gay people and don't make me fight you over the sanctity of marriage. I probably will have to remove this post but seriously we fought this fight and won why can't we just leave it alone and watch you live in fat houses and spend money as singles. Oh and watch you on every other show that is on television. Rants by Linda

Coming Quickly!

2008-08-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

To let everyone know, so we don't overlook anyone. Jordan's talk (farewell) is Sunday September 14th at 1:00pm. Jordan as well as the rest of our family would love for all to attend! Please come and see how our young boy has changed into a fine young man.

Nerves

2008-08-12T20:33:00.000-07:00

Oh I love the Olympics. I just can't watch them until someone calls me into the family room. I am so nervous watching the events, and then I will cry when someone does well ,then I will cry when someone makes a mistake. Because of this I am on the computer just listening and when I hear the screams, hoots, and hollers of the men folk in the other room I run in and then they rewind it for me to watch. I want all the athletes to do everything perfect every time and then for them to all receive a gold medal. It seems like with this attitude I should be a democrat and want everyone to have everything. Seriously though these athletes have trained and dedicated themselves to their sports and deserve to all have a medal! I also cried watching the lone alternate from the men's gymnastic team in the stand sobbing while his teammates won the bronze. I have logged way to many tv hours but my laundry baskets are all empty as television and laundry are a do-together activity in my book. Oh and I have a headache from crying while they play our national anthem. I truly love being an AMERICAN!

Top Ten Things I (Marc)Loved Doing In Hawaii

2008-08-05T22:56:00.000-07:00

10. Enjoying the beautiful scenery
9. Looking at the crazy/awesome Banyan trees
8. South Pointe jumping off the cliffs
7. Going to the " End of the World" and jumping off the cliffs
6. Walking though a lava tunnel
5. Jumping off the rickety old wooden bridge
4. Fish and chips at Quinn's
3. Scuba diving through lava caves
2. Shaved Ice at Scandinavian Shave Ice
1. Growing closer to my wife without any kid interruptions

Today is my mom's B-day

2008-08-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

What a terrific day it is when it is your mother's birthday. To think of all the wonderful things she has done for you and provided for you, it gives you an opportunity to think, how lucky you are to have such a wondeful mother. So on this day I give thanks to a mother who has and continues to give me wonderful things to think about and great things to look forward to. So here is to my Mom, Happy Birthday!

2008-07-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

This day was filled with a tremendous amount of driving. We first drove drove north to pick up tanks to scuba dive and drove to a place Puako, for our first dive, it was very nice. We then went back and refilled our tanks and drove to a place called "Point of Refuge". It is where commoners who did something against the King's rules would have to run to, swim to and then jump the fence to be safe, all before the kings men caught you and killed you. The dive was very cool. We then drove 60 miles to South Point, the southern most point of the United States. The cliffs were amazing, the water as blue as anyone could imagine. The wind was blowing about 35-40 miles an hour. We went to see the site, well the girls did, Michael and I went to find more cliffs to jump off of. The pictures don't show how high it really was. We then went out to the southern most point and it was unbelievable. We were ready to build our house and never come home *We would miss you a little bit*. We then drove back to Kona for dinner at Quinn's, a seafood dive. We all ordered fish and chips and it was awesome, I'm not a big fish person, but it was great, it was made out of ono. Great fish!. Then to Walmart for more food for the condo and for rootbeer floats. Started at 7 am got home at 8:30 pm. We love Hawaii or we love to be away together, I Love You Linda! We do miss our kids!

Hawaii

2008-07-30T20:32:00.001-07:00

It all started with a KISS

2008-07-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it is day four and that is when I start missing my kids. I know they are fine without me but I like to think they can't survive unless I am home. Jordan even made it to Albertsons and used the coupon right, bought the Peanut butter for my buy price and saved $100.00. I am truly obsessed with my shopping bargains. We are having a wonderful time and I am so amazed at the beauty of this island. I do wonder why all the different vegetation is where it is. Heavenly Father's master plan never ceases to amaze and humble me. I went snorkeling and it was spectacular. I felt like I was part of Planet Earth. Yesterday we drove around the top of the island and stopped in Hilo for Tropical Dreams which had been reccommended for "great ice cream" they had closed so we tried Wilson's by the Bay. It was delicious. I love ice cream and cold treats. I think the 45 year wait to visit Hawaii was worth the wait but I now have to figure out how to come again. It is beautiful but nothing beats a week at Leo Carrillo with my kids. We drove down Banynan Drive and actually saw a Banyan tree planted by Mr. Leo Carrillo in 1933. They were the coolest trees and humongous. They looked like they were ready to pull up their roots and walk somewhere. The top picture is Marc jumping off a wooden bridge. I was a little nervous but once a boy always a boy. Alohaaa

Shhhh!

2008-07-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

I want to just sneak under the radar so no one notices how good my life is right now. First of all Young Woman's Camp was just amazing. A week of appreciating the beauty not only of nature but of the amazing group of people at Big Meadow. I loved sharing the week with so many girls but also the leaders who have dedicated their lives to building the kingdom. I estimate that with 60 adults attending (not factoring the weeks of work before hand) that the salary for the staff at camp is -priceless! No mastercard commercial could do justice to all the things that were purchased and then lovingly made to hopefully produce a memory in a girl's heart that will then put a deposit in her testimony bank. I can't even begin to name all the people who brought tears to my eyes as I watched them serve. I only hope that I can continue to serve my Heavenly Father and share what I have been given. I had the greatest youth to work with, Nichole Henderson, Macy Schafer, Emma Luthi, Marissa Wagner, and Whitney Barry. The organization of the church will go forward in the capable hand s of the Lord's youth. I loved being at camp with my Marc. He worked at week at keeping me focused. I love, love , love him.

Second our cute grandson is sweet,sweet,sweet. He is a calm baby and that is such a blessing to have that personality in a family. I pray he can bring so many more blessings into Nicole's home.

And third, I am in Hawaii-nope needs no explanation.

2008-07-21T21:55:00.000-07:00

And he now has a name. It is Daniel Skeet Tristan Panero.

He is Here

2008-07-19T18:05:00.000-07:00

Jacob and Nicole's baby finally arrived and of course he is beautiful. Mother Nicole and baby boy (no name yet) are doing fine.

2008-07-11T17:49:00.000-07:00

Boy's Camp and Another Hike

2008-07-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a wonderful Young Men's Camp. I had the opportuntiy to spend the whole week with Logan. Mason spent the week out and about on a 25 mile hike. Logan and I had a busy, busy week which included swim check in 60 degree water,rock climbing, archery, bike riding(or bike-carrying, because it was so tough),Waterdogs(jumping in the lake at 6 am), building and racing a raft, fishing, frisbee golf(Mason low score), fire building, hatchet throw, caber toss(Logan longest throw) and then the mile swim at 5 am, in fact Logan and I did it twice, another that afternoon. Food was great and firesides were tremendous. The highlight of the week was our hike, it was a 12 mile hike for us. It was a 3200 foot elevation rise in 5 miles, with 3 false tops. (Meaning 3 times you got to the top of a mountain and you thought it was the top only to find out you needed to go higher) Our group traveled the 12 miles in 5 hours, pretty quick. Would have been faster if not for me! Tough getting old! I really enjoy Young Men's Camp, especially since I get to spend it with my own terrific sons.

Another birthday

2008-06-25T06:20:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to post picture from when she was a baby and don't know how to do it so here is the Happy b-day tribute to Candice ten days late. As a mom my birthday honorees usually have to wait for the celebration. Oh someday I will be perfect and then no one will know who I am. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUT I want to wish this girl a belated birthday! She has been a wonderful and fun daughter for all the days of her life. She is beautiful and brilliant as well as kind and funny. For all you parents of babies out there, be patient with your little ones. Candice was such an easy baby that she just lived her infant life a little too laid back. She didn't walk until she was 15 months old and I would pray every night that she would be "normal". I was so worried that she had some developmental problem. She loved to just sit on her adorable bottom with her pointer finger propped in her mouth and watch the world go by. I thought she was just sitting but she really was taking it all into her little brain and storing it so she could become the amazing girl she is today.
I know that being single isn't her dream but we enjoy that she still has the time to come over and hang out. She is a great sister to all her siblings and they love to have her as their friend. She loves her job teaching and truly wants her students to succeed. I love talking to her about her lessons in young womens. Watching your child serve in the gospel is a joy that I feel blessed to experience. I know that she gets her love of teaching form her dad and it is a trait I admire in both of them. She is off to Europe with a group of students for 10 days and I hope she has a wonderful time as their chaperone and gets her fill of gelato. We love our daughter and are happy to have her for all eternity

Jordan and Talia

2008-06-20T22:44:00.001-07:00

Our adorable girl!

2008-06-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

It has flown by. We love our baby girl Melanie. She has so many amazing gifts. She is a cheerleader for everyone. She wants the best for everyone. She truly cares about others. She is always looking for someone who needs a friend. She wants so badly to always do what is right. I am amazed that she has survived being the litle sister to her three big brothers and their constant and relentless teasing. I am also amazed at how much she still loves them. She works so hard at trying to keep her crazy mom happy. We are grateful she is part of our family.

Fan Forever!

2008-06-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know that the Lakers lost and the Dodgers suck and who knows if the Raiders will ever win a game again. But I beleive in Fanhood, sticking with your team through good times and bad. What bugs is people jumping from team to team when they feel they need a change. So here is to all those who stick with their teams through thick and thin! I respect and admire your fanhood!!!! For me and my house - Go Lakers! Go Dodgers! & yes Go Raiders!

All-American

2008-05-31T13:44:00.001-07:00

Okay,really, this is not a cheesy Christmas letter where I tell everyone how wonderful my family is but---------------Jordan made the paper today and was honored as an All-American swimmer in the 200 backstroke. In order to make All-American you need to have the top 16 times in the nation. When he swims, it is like a machine and just beautiful to watch. At the state meet a girl on his team took pictures but not mom, so I don't have any to post but will when I get them. By the way I don't post the bad news like we are eating rice and beans for the rest of the month because Logan and Mason get to go to EFY for the week for the whammy price of $800.00 or that I have so much laundry that all my baskets are overflowing or that something in my fridge has died and I really don't want to find out what it is or that I hate the price of gas (currently $4.29 9/10) and we own a truck and a family van that both get crappy gas mileage or that today is the last day of the month and I got the call from my cute visitng teacher supervisor and had to give her the news that "no I did not do my visiting teaching this month not evan a phone call or a letter". Should I go on or will it suffice if I list the good things and keep the frustrations of life to myself. Really life is good -
it could be better but it is my life and it is what the Lord wants me to deal with so I will post the fun stuff and love my life!

I hope they call me on a mission...

2008-05-30T16:39:00.001-07:00

Paraguay Asuncion Mission-Elder Urmston reports to the MTC on October 1st!

Family Pictures

2008-05-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Courtney came home for the weekend and we took the opportunity to have some pictures taken. Jaime did a great job. Hope you enjoy seeing how sad it is that my kids are all grown up. Tears are flowing! When people say enjoy your kids while they are young, they mean it. I used to confuse that with thinking that I wouldn't enjoy them when they were grown. I do enjoy them now but I long for the days filled with little children running wild around the house, yard, and neighborhood.

Weekend with the Swim Team

2008-05-24T09:50:00.001-07:00

Mason. ready for the FLY!

We spent last weekend in Fresno/Clovis for the Valley swim meet. Marc has a group of choir students who wanted to sing for their teacher so he asked me to drive them up later to the swim meet. He and Candice took two vans up earlier in the day. We left Bakersfield about 9 pm and stared the trek northward on 99. I do not love driving. I do not love driving at night. I hate driving large vehicles. Soooo, we were traveling about 75mph in the fast lane (99 is packed for the entire day and most of the night) when the large vehicle in front of me -side note I have a phobia of not being able to see in front of me. I feel claustrophobic when I am behind a huge truck or SUV with tinted windows and am blocked from seeing what is ahead.- well the large gold truck swerves and it looks like there is a refrigerator box in the middle of the fast lane. The first thought that came into my mind was you can't slam on your brakes or the kids in the back row will be killed by the driver behind you. I thought well I will just hit it. There was a cement barrier on my left and the lane to my right was already occupied with other vehicles. As I came closer I realized it was a brown couch. I swerved but clipped the edge and went into snow mode taught me by my driver's ed. teacher from Box Elder High School. We tipped a bit and were up on two wheels but for some blessed reason we did not flip. After we were back in our lane, driving straight down the road, I could not move. I had the white-knuckle death grip on the steering wheel and could barely catch my breath. About 4 minutes later I was able to pull over and had Jordan go check the damage. The large school van had sustained damage but was working fine. We drove the rest of the way in a pretty silent vehicle and I told the kids 1)if you believe in someone bigger than us then you need to say a prayer of thanks because the only reason we are here is from his grace 2) if you don't have on your seat belt put it on now. I truly feel blessed because as any of my children will attest to. I am probably in the bottom 10 drivers in the state. I get in my car and go to where I need to be and never enjoy the ride. Cars are a necessary evil in my book of getting from point A to point B. Nevertheless, I was grateful for the watchful eye of my Heavenly Father on that night to help. The remaining hour of the drive I just kept thinking how grateful I was to be driving them to the swim meet, and not calling their parents to come meet us at the hospital. Sometimes moments in life that make us grateful for simply being alive need to happen. I was also very grateful for the students in the van and their calmness during our near tragedy.

The rest of the weekend was great and I love watching swim meets. When Jordan first started swimming I thought they were long and boring. I now appreciate the amazing skill and technique involved in swimming and think it is a beautiful thing to watch their bodies gliding through the water. Mason qualified for finals with his relay team and took time off of his 100 fly so he had a good meet.

Send your quesses. Winner sings at sacrament meeting!

2008-05-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

Jordan had his interview with the Stake President today - sooooooooooo tonight for Family Home Evening we all are posting our guesses as to where we think he might be called to. Post your guess and as soon as his call comes we will post where he is going.
Dad-Dominican Republic
Mason-Venezuela
Logan-Alaska
Courtney-New Zealand
Candice-Peru
Melanie-China
Jaime-Ireland
Taylor-Mexico
Kauner-Michigan
Hayden-Brazil
Ellie- Utah
Kristi-somewhere in South America
Lindsey-Brazil
Matthew-Albania
Leslie-the greatest mission in the world:The London England Mission
Cooper-Vermont
Kaitlin-Washington
Wyatt-Pisa, Italy
Bronson-Georgia
Addi-Disneyland

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Why I am grateful for the job of mother. I have to admit that Mother's Day is not my favorite Sunday of the year. I love being a mother, I just don't want an entire day to reflect on it. Once you start reflecting it automatically becomes a day of judging oneself against an impossible standard of perfection. I look at others around me and wish I was more like them. So here goes my list of mother traits I admire in women around me. I wish I was more like Abby Taylor as a grandma. She always is patient and selfless while we are camping at the beach and I don't think I have ever seen her snap at her grandchildren. I wish I was more like Elaine in working with my kid's homework. I am pretty much at the point of handling the deficiencies when they come with a week of grounding. I wish I dressed like the mom Stephanie. She always looks put together-like a mom-but not frumpy. I wish my house was a clean as Jaime's. I wish I could put together a meal like Jill. Her food is always delicious and the atmosphere inviting. I wish I acould accomplish as much in a day as Amy. Her plate is full and somehow she gets it done. I wish I had the patience of Jessica. She is soft spoken but has the ability to have her kids do things. I wish I had the passion to do things like Leslie. She jumps into projects with her all. I wish I had the ability to get my kids to do things like Maryellen. Her sons will do anything for her and it is something all the wives of the sons are amazed at. She raised some awfully fine children. I wish I had the wisdom of Linda Reed as a mother. She is amazing and she has always been one of the women I want to be when I grow up. I wish I had the positive outlook through my trials like Kathy McKeon. She finds a blessing in every situation and knows all things are for her growth. She acknowledges Heavenly Father and his plan in every situation. I wish I had the ability to laugh at things like Sara Seaney and not be so serious about things that will soon pass. I wish I had the organized home of Joy Rodriguez. It is her gift and she does it well. I wish I had the faith in all things like Michelle Lord. She has taught me so many lessons throughout the years and I love her for that. I could go on for pages so if you find yourself needing an injection of mother love, just ask for a comment and I will fill you up on what trait you shine as in the mother division.
I am grateful for my mother and the many lessons she has taught me. Not all the lessons she taught did I learn but she is a worker like no one I know. I am grateful for my older sisters and all the mothering they did for me throughout my childhood which I haven't grown out of in some ways.
I am grateful to my husband for all the mothering he does to our children. I am so overwhelmed with the task of mothering I am grateful for him stepping in to catch me the many times I fall.
Mostly I am grateful for my chldren and their patience with me as I stumble through this experince of mothering. I am learning as I go and everyday some new thing challenges me. I try to do this job as my Heavenly Father would want me to.

2008-04-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

Gratitude

2008-04-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

A week of just nice things! It is Sunday morning and I am exhausted. My feet ache and that is even after Marc fell asleep rubbing them for me. We have had Youth Conference this weeekend and it has been pretty intense.
Let me list nice things of the week.
*CONFERENCE- Love it, Love it, Love it^
*Courtney finished her two year degree as LDSBC and has been accepted at the U. Go Red but we will still love the BYU sporting program!
*Candice has a job teaching at Frontier next year which is somewhat bittersweet. She had to take an involuntary transfer due to the never ending budget crisis in the government of California. (It should no longer be called a crisis in my opinion. Call a spade a spade. People spend more than they should in government and in life and then others get to sacrifice and pay the price. I really shouldn't be bothered by it but sometimes I come to the realization that maybe I am not as nice as I wish I was and judge those in charge of our tax revenues to be kin to idiots.) So she was let go frpm Liberty and went on interviews at 5 different schools. She was impressed with the staff and overall feel of Frontier and was hoping to be asked to teach there. We were able to fast for the Lord's help and it happened. Just one more oportunity to put a deposit in my testimony bank.
*Jordan won both of his individual events at his swim meet as well as his relay. The Bakersfield Californian finally placed a small blurb about the BC swim team in the Sports section. As for total superficial things his attire for prom was great with the large Dr. Suess tie and his happy flowers. (Pictures to come later hopefully)
*Marc and I were able to spend the weekend with Mason and Logan at Youth Conference. They aren't the most outgoing boys but I am so glad they are mine. We had some excellent workshops and it was fun to get out of town and be with my boys. Also grateful for their cousins that are great examples to them.
*Grateful for a husband who supports me 100% in my calling. Whatever it is from helping set up tables wash dishes or just rubbing my feet and holding me when I am dead-tired. He ran the games at youth conference as only he can. I love to see him use his gifts with the Youth as we are able to serve. Tonight is the testimony meeting and I hope I can stay awake for it.
*My sweet Melanie who wanted to stay up so she could have a hug goodnight because she missed her hug goodnight on Friday night. Jordan stayed with her and took her to Cystic Fybrosis activity and out for Jamba juice. (The highlight of Motherhood has to be when your kids do something nice for each other)

Disneyland

2008-03-30T10:53:00.001-07:00

In the beginning

Haunted Mansion Cute sisters
Everyone loves Logan
Jungle Cruise was the Greatest

What a trip. I am still a believer that Disneyland is one of the "Happiest Places on Earth". The pixie dust still washes over the family even when no one is under the age of 10. We had a fabulous time and were able to spend two days playing in Disneyland and California adventure. We had tshirts with our last name on the front but of course no one could read our name. For some reason when people see the name Urmston they forget that phonetics is a principle of the English language. We heard quite a few comments about the family in blue. I forget that most people don't have familiy as large as ours. I was a little nervous about California Adventure because I don't really do rides and after the family rode Tower of Terror and said it was a blast, I tried it. I am still not a thrill rider. The rest of the day I was shot but we still had a great time and ran from ride to ride. We rode Monsters Inc. and at the end there is a large figure of Roz- she made a comment directed at Jordan (the boy in the front with glasses) and pretty much freaked us all out. I felt like Big Brother was watching. I never knew there were people watching but it makes sense in this crazy world. We rode everything at least once and I was happy to go to a drawing class so my head would stop spinning. We ended up with some pretty nice caricatures of Mickey and Donald. We dropped Courtney off at LAX and all but Dad slept on the drive home.

A little Catch Up

2008-03-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

Door-knocking#1

Door-knocking #2
Missionary Picture

Well, I am just feeling a little overwhenlmed today. Jordan just finished his mission papers and (he wants to take a new picture for his submission) then it will be off to the brethren. I can't figure it out but this is really an adjustment to know that my son will be on his own for two years. I know the Lord will be by his side but the control freak in me knows that the Lord doesn't check in with mothers, nor does he consult them for input while their sons are serving. I am very proud of him and his example to his younger brothers and cousins. I feel very blessed to be the mother of all of my children. I just never knew how overwhelming this undertaking of motherhood would be. I am amazed and amused everyday by my children.
Today was an Eagle Project day. The scouts in the mighty 5th collected donations for the Homeless Shelter. I had some laughs at the unique food that was donated. Kosher mix for potato pancakes will be a crowd pleaser for sure at the Shelter. The bran flakes that were stepped on along the way will probably be disposed of but then I thought they might be a great crumb topping for the - black lentils? I must be a very boring white bread cook because many of the donated items were food goods that have never seen a spot in my grocery basket. Mason and Marc were at a swim meet and missed out on the fun, but Mason will have to organize the food for donation.
We are loving Bakersfield and love living here with our great friends and family. We do miss our family who have chosen other places to live and hope that a trip to the homeland will be part of your plans for the 08 year.

Going to give this a try!

2007-12-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

Christmas was great. Everyone home and feeling a little old. Courtney came from Utah and brought her friend Brigham. It was great to see her and this may sound weird but one of the best christmas gifts is to hear that one of your daughters is going to finish her second year of college. She is doing great and we are greatful to have instilled in our daughters how important schooling is. She has some of the greatest examples in her mother and two older sisters. Another wonderful gift comes from Jordan, knowing that he is working, finishing up his first semester in college and swimming. I remeber how I just wanted to do nothing until my mission and he has it all together. A great example for his younger brothers. The other brothers keep the sports events coming, both are playing basketball and keep us busy all around the town. Just a bit of fatherly pride, Mason went 10-0 in football and his basketball team is 14-0,pretty exciting to go and watch,makes for a happy teenager. Logan's team hasn't lost either. Melanie continues to teach us all how important the gospel is in our lives. Faamily prayer, family home evening and scripture reading all because of her spiritual reminders(not always her brothers favorite person, but someday will thank her -I do). It is also a different christmas when you see your grand-daughter open presents and play. A bit of pride comes when her favorite person is grandpa (don't tell anyone I said that) Favorite quote" Come on grandpa". Linda wishes she had that power. Another great gift was Nicole telling us she was having another child. We were excited for her and for me. Nothing like little ones to remind you what pure love truly is. Christmas is a great time of year and a great time to start our new goals. Would like to hear your goals, might encourage me to have some more. My first goal-Like always is to get back in shape-big summer hike is right around the corner. So starting the gym and helping boys get to their goals and it all seems to include weights and lifting, which I am not a big fan of, but they want to start and want to include me. I think so they can show how much stronger they are than me. Oh well! That would be great as long as they don.t want to pay me back for beating them in every sport. Oh yeah working on becoming more humble is one of my goals, so let's try this. I hope that they reach all their goals and I hope I can help them anyway I can. Never too late to start on the humble goal. My last goal is to find something Linda and I enjoy doing together. We read that couples who find hobbies they love to do together enjoy life longer. Hope this doesn't cause trouble for others. If you have ideas let us know. Well that is my first attempt and I hope I can keep up we all of you wonderful bloggers. To let you know swimming is right around the corner and I'm excited, not only to coach,to be able to coach another son, but more important is to coach with my daughter, Great times! Until next time.

One to Watch

2007-09-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

I have a movie to recommend - Freedom Writers - this is coming from a person who watches probably 5 movies a year. We rented it last night and it moved me in every way possible. It made me grateful for many things. I love that I live in America where people are still willing to listen to someone else's story. I love that I have a family of teachers who believe that you can influence the youth of America. I love that I live in California where my children are exposed to people from every race. I love that I was raised to be tolerant and view every human being as a precious child of God with infinite potential. I love that there is an opportunity for each of us to love more and accept others. I love being able to watch a movie with my kids and being able to talk to them about how they can be an influence for good in this world. We watched it last night and I stayed up past my bedtime so I have to include this last item - I love Sunday naps. If you have a chance to rent this movie I hope you will be as moved as I was.

2007-09-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

Oh me oh my, I finally had time to read my blog and notice some horrific spelling (typo) errors. I am lame at blogging and don't know how to go back and edit so for now please accept my apologies for my mistakes and hopefully none of my children will read my blog and see that mom makes spelling mistakes.
Off to another football game tonight. Last week I missed Logan's game which was filled with action. Uncle Nathan captured a great picture with his i-phone so I will try to post it and have Marc give the full scoop!
There are not many things I enjoy more than a football game in the brisk fall weather. Bakersfield is finally rewarding us for loving our town even with its faults -which we all know but definitely overlook because of the wonderful people who live here. Temperatures this week below 90 (even during the fair) deserve to be mentioned in a blog and nights that require a blanket to snuggle up with.

Our Story

2007-09-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Once in a while right in the middle of life a fairytale comes along.

After a two week wait-School started and the football season is here- I have finally sat down to complete the tag from one of my fabulous family members!
1. Where did you meet your husband?
I met my husband when he wasn't even there. He was serving a mission and his mom was giving a talk in Stake Conference about the blessings of having a son on a mission. While she was talking I kept thinking this sounds like someone I could fall in love with. She continued talking about what a great brother he was and loved kids. That was it, I know that somehow he would be my husband. (Little did I know that it would be a four year wait, but sometimes I can be patient)
2. What was the first thing you said?
I'm not sure when I finally did meet him but it was probably at the famous Country Club deli so I would venture to say it was "Would you like avocado on that" or something else profound and romantic.
3. Our first date was "just dreamy" He had found out from his sister Carrie some of my favorite things. Famous Amos cookies- Haagen Daaz ice cream- songs I can't even remember (due to my children taking over all my brain cells) We went to see Karate Kid. (ouch am I really that old?) I am totally creeped out by theatre floors and imagine mice running around so I can't put my feet on the fround. I put my legs over on his and had no idea that he would think I was forward-Whatever- After the movie we went to Scott Elison's condo overlooking the bluffs and he played his tape of recorded songs and we danced most the night away. He definitely made a mark in my book for most romantic dates. He hasn't dissapointed me yet. He still makes a weekly date a priority.
4. First Kiss
I had heard around the institue (it was the coolest place to hang out under the supervision of Bro. Glen Wahlquist and Sis. Julie Chambers) that he had kissed most the girls so I decided not to be kissed so it was months before we kissed and it was under the street light on Foothill drive while we were out for a walk one evening.
5. Courtship
We dated one summer then he dated around but he could not get me out of his system (ie I made sure he knew I was around)so after three summers, watching every game he coached for his little brothers, I made the cut and was the keeper.
6. Where did you get engaged?
We were at a party at Lisa Reno Harding's house on the fourth of July. It is a fun date because there are always fireworks which pretty much described how crazy in love I was with him.
7. Wedding and Reception
We were married in his parent's house and had a reception in their backyard which was a beautiful place for a reception.
9. Honeymoon
We were married in August and our honeymoon was in Arizona. Needless to say with an airconditioned room and the outside temp well over 100 we didn't leave our room much.