From the Family -
Hi Nick,
It was great talking to you yesterday. Really made for a nearly
perfect day. So news. I told you a little, so forgive me if I
backtrack a little. We had moved in last weekend with all the big
stuff. Alex moved in around Tuesday. The new place started to feel a
little bit more like home. I worked Weds. Night, and then the moving
of the kitchen really started. It was really hard for me to envision
where to put things here. Took me like 2 days to figure out where to
put our medicine. I had Sam come over after I had brought a bunch of
stuff and she and I just started working on it. I finished it the
next day with the next load, and although it seems really packed in, I
think it will be doable. I keep remembering simplify. I got up
during the night because I couldn’t sleep (yeah that still happens a
lot) and discovered a drawer in the kitchen that is still empty. Need
to work on that. Saturday I went through the house and began closing
down rooms. Just moved everything except big furniture that we aren’t
planning on taking with us. Have most of the rooms done. Need to
finish the office and grandma’s side. Also Alex needs to purge his
old bedroom and bathroom. Dad and the boys moved the garage on
Saturday. They even moved Grandpa’s old workbench. We went out to an
early dinner with Cindy & Galen and Grandma and Grandpa then Sam and
Matt came over and we played games while Dad tried to put stuff away
out there. I look at it as a work in process. He looks at it as a
job needing to be done – preferably now. At this point I’m ok. I’m
ready to move on to a new ward, although we probably need to teach one
last lesson since we weren’t released today. It feels good to be
here. Like home. Like a brief lull in the storm, because I don’t
think the money matters are all quite resolved. Hopefully soon. It’s
getting to be 101 here. Dad is into the “work early in the morning”
with an afternoon siesta. Oh well, it works.
Matt has finished this semester. He’s relieved to have it over and
has picked where he wants to go to nursing school in the fall. He
keeps trying to look for apartments and/or roommates. So far hasn’t
been successful because Dad keeps co-opting him for help. I tried to
leave him some stuff to get by with to eat and survive, and I even
left my old pans and dishes if he wants them – but he’s going to need
to do a little shopping and eating out has won instead.
Alex is winding down the year. Got his yearbook. Is practicing for
Baccalaureate next week. Has his last choir concert this week. Wow.
My baby graduating. I volunteered Dad and I to chaperone at Grad
Night at Sunsplash. Alex is a little bummed. Says his friends like
Dad better than him. Oh well, I thought it was about time.
Sam and Matt are keeping busy with the usual. Seems like everyone has
been to the dentist in the past few months. Matt, Sam, Matt, Alex and
Casey with crowns. Lots of $$$ for the dentists. I really like how
Sam’s bed turned out. I’ve requested one for myself next fall when it
cools down again. We’ll see, I’ve been waiting for that for so many
years, I will probably be able to buy my dream bed before your dad
gets around to it. Money and time. We never have both at the same
time.
Grandma is looking good. Grandpa not so much. He is really picky
about what he will eat and some days won’t even get dressed. Sleeps
even more. I guess at 92 you’ve earned it.
My mom is doing well. Walks her 4 miles every morning with her
friend. Makes it to the temple once a week generally. Is working in
the rose garden now. It will be good to spend some extra time with
her this summer. I only have 10 weeks more to work before I’m off for
3 months. Yeah, I’m ready for that.
So, even though every one else didn’t manage to write yesterday before
the party broke up, we love you. Life is moving forward for us all,
and we are learning a little more of those lessons that are hopefully
molding us into the right person we need to become. Smile and be
happy this week. Love, Mom
From Nick to the Family:
Talking was nice. Doable is a funny word. And it's so weird. My companions, and it seems like the majority of elders, just can't sleep that well. They sit there awake for more than 15 minutes, just thinking. Thinking, but wanting to sleep. I'm quite grateful, because I'm out in a minute or two. Literally. I avoid sleeping during the night time prayer though. That'd look bad. And then I sleep all the way until morning. Sometimes I'll wake up a few minutes before the alarm. It's awesome. Makes life good. Can't believe Grandpa's old workbench was moved to. That's a bunch of stuff. Oof. So far I've helped two people move. Wasn't really hard either time. Cheap furniture, so it's light. The scary part is transporting the stuff. Terrifying. But I make it through. I'm pretty sure I had something to talk about before I started writing this. See, I usually write a paragraph of just what's happening, then I specify on people. But whatsoever cometh, wilt come. Matt needs to cook food. It's not too hard. It's fun, especially if you're the only one that has to eat the results of said food. Because then it can be tailor-made to one mouth. And there is no way you didn't have to look up how to spell baccalaureate. Well, maybe you might have known. But that's a big one. He'll survive. I don't even remember seeing any of the parents at Sunsplash. I'm sure there were, but they definitely don't stick in the memory. As long as he doesn't pull Alex's shorts off in front of everyone, it'll be good. Seems like Grandpa's winding down a bit. Tough. Hope Grandma continues forging on. Good to know Grandma O is still going swell. One of the English elders here is from Idaho. I forget where. His parents are becoming mission presidents. Name is Rasmussen. Pretty cool. Mission president is actually from Idaho as well. President McKee. Your 3 month vacation is crazy. I expect a very useful and productive hobby to come out of it, and not just idle travelling. Those bums didn't heed my counsel to write. Ty wrote a little bit, actually. Ah, well. I'll finish up here. Things go well here. Had a missionary musical fireside here last night, as well. Regretfully, it wasn't well attended. So we looked a little bad in front of the mission president and about 20 other missionaries. But as it goes. The music was sweet. Two of the songs were actually from Sam's EFY Cd, I believe. The one that has the song that has the young man singing about how can the scriptures help him, and then the prophets in the background start singing. It was actually really good. I love that song. And the others. Have a good week. Continue simplifying. Focus on the important things. And pray. It helps. And something reiterated to me, is that it isn't always the other person's fault, even when it partially is. Take it on yourself, and you'll be happier, because who doesn't know that they already need to improve. But that's all I can do. Do good things.
Elder Hansen,
the son that went away.
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