El-Spanish-O getting better-O all the time-O

Week number three.....and it sounds like he's doing well.  ......Although, his companion doesn't sound like he's doing so well.  Maybe read along and tell me what you think.  I have a healthy dose of motherly concern for his companion.  

Hi mom, dad, family, and everyone -

I havent seen Mav or Taylor yet, but I have no clue when they got here. I have a funny story for you!  On tuesday, when all the greenies were supposed to come in, there was a monsoon here. We went outside to play volleyball for gym, porque nosotros jugamos al volleyball cada dia por gimnasio (um.....did he mean to say that in Spanish?....just wondering?), and the weather was fine. Then as soon as we started playing, it started to rain. And not just rain. I think it was probably the biggest rainstorm I have ever seen!!!!!!!  After two minutes we were soaked, and we played for an hour!!!  It was really one of the best times I've had here! And it rained until about 7 like that!!!!!!!!!!  But because of that, no greenies came in that night. I think they had to fly to a safe airport for the night or something. So I think they came in yesterday, but i havent seen them yet! But guess who i did see!! Linsey Lomax, the girl from my soccer team that always said sorry haha!! she came in last night, and I said hi! Just thought you guys should know ;)  (I love that he writes with SO MANY exclamation points!....he's a happy kid) :)

 

Good on ya Tyler, I've heard Real dates are the best ;)  (Tyler has a date this week to a Real SL game - LOVE being 16!)

 

Addie, I do that too. (Addie's in the Chinese program at school, and sometimes will slip a little Chinese word in unintentionally) 

All the time. Its getting harder to write and say english words because we're supposed to be thinking in spanish...and even though we arent fluent, it still messes with our minds!

 

Emma, stay away from the drama! It will make you miserable! ;) (she's in jr. high.  'nuff said) :)

 

it still rains every day, and I really dont mind it.  My companion is stoic as ever, and sometimes I cant tell if he's just the way he is, or if he doesnt like me......I think its just the way he is though. He always translates these sayings like 'what do you know?' and one time he even said 'elder, I'm gonna kill you' in spanish...one thing I've noticed, he talks about death and pain quite a bit...it's really weird...but hey, I guess I probably need to learn something, we're with our companions for a reason, right?!

 

I'm reallly excited for conference, but I have no clue what it's going to be like! My group is really lucky, we got to be here for mexican independence day and general conference! It's da best! I love it!

 

We got to go to the temple this morning, and I actually understood alot of what they said! It's about an hour drive away, and let me tell ya, I'm not sure if I would feel safer with me controlling a car or a native driving...its crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People get within an inch and a half of eachother, and it's kinda freaky!!!!!!! 

My spanish is coming, i can say a lot of stuff if I have a sec to think about it, but yeah, i know pretty much everything ;)

We've been learning about the Atonement alot recently, and how it can help us so that we can apply it and then help investigators apply it.  It's been really cool, because I was really homesick the other day, but after reading some scriptures (Alma 7:11) and watching videos,  I felt much better! The other day TALL the language computer program, wasnt working, so we watched mormon messages instead. I watched the one about Sid Going and what he gave up to go on a mission, and then what he got back from going on a mission, and that really helped me feel at peace too.

We pray about 30 times a day, in spanish, and thats a little spiritual in and of itself ;)

Love you guys! 

I sent you guys a letter this week, let me know when you get it!!

 

Love,

Elder Nelson

 

Hola from MEXICO!

So, I'm not sure if this is ultimately where I'll put all of Tanners stuff.....but for the time being - people are asking, and due to lack of time to figure anything else out at the moment -  I'll just post his first 2 weeks letters and some pictures here.

.....and can I just say OH, it does a mothers heart good to hear her missionary boy is doing great!

So.....first of all I have to put in a little disclaimer here......

For all you Nacho Libre fans out there - this picture is a shout our to you!  ....for those of you who lack culture and haven't seen it, this picture (especially up close) will seem, well....odd.  

But, it is what it is - and we all had a good laugh about it!

I just took some snippets of his two letters - so you can get the gist of what and how he's doing...

Mexico is nothing like I expected. It's rained every day here except for yesterday, which was really strange. And when I say it rains, it really rains!! They don't have a good drain system in the streets, so it's like walking through creeks! I've used my overshoes several times, and the first time I was putting them on everyone was making fun of me until we were walking on the sidewalk in three inches of water. That sure showed them!  The storms here are crazy because its monsoon season.  I’m also glad we fit my coat in my suitcase – I’ve used it a few times already.

I decided that I really AM a watch collector now, which isn’t weird because I have so many watches. I bought another one yesterday-$120, what a steal!!!!!   And don't worry, those aren't dollars, they're pesos.  It was less than ten bucks. haha!!

We've just been learning everything here...and mom and dad, there is a talk/article i want you guys to look up. Its called 'Trilogy of the Gospel' but I dont know who its by. Its so deep and soo coooL!!!!!  Its hard to understand though.  

Our schedule is a lot more normal now.  We have a night teacher, Hermano Salazar.  He is so funny!  He’s a native and only speaks Spanish, but he picks up a few English words and uses them in the funniest times! We are supposed to be teaching two lessons a day, and that gets a little crazy sometimes, but I'm not doing too shabby at Spanish! 

Heres some exciting news, I'm the new District Leader!!!!!!!!!!  They called me last Sunday. I love the power ;)   (JUST KIDDING), but I really do like being a leader, and I feel like I'm pretty good at it.  A few people have told me I’m doing a great job.

This week i've really started to miss my music...we can't listen to even motab or other church music here at el CCM, so this week has been rough ;) elders Redder and Chamberlain both like Mayday Parade, so we've sung a few songs in our gym time together ;) 

Sundays are great.  We go to priesthood, district meeting, and sacrament in the morning, then we have a fireside, study time/interviews with branch president, then a devotional video from when an apostle comes to the Provo MTC.  Then dinner, study time, and at 8 we get to watch a movie!   Last week was the new Joseph Smith movie about the Restoration - awesome!

There's this joke going around that the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days...how true that is. Each day is a long but good day, and this past week has gone by quicker that it's felt!! Crazy!!

Also, we got to go to the Mexico city temple to do an endowment session...en espanol!! It was really cool, and the temple was beautiful! 

Last weekend was Mexican Independence Day, so all of last week they had Mexican treats and stuff at meals. On Saturday night, we got to watch a show some of the natives put on for us, they danced and sang and it was way cool!! They are all so proud to be Mexicans! Then on Sunday night at 11 we all met in the gym and watched the pres. of Mexico ring a gong. I didn’t understand it, but I guess it has national value. It was pretty cool!

Melquisedek the scripture case guy (just a side note from me....is that really his name?? .Melquisedek the scripture case guy......it sounds like he was BORN to sell scripture cases)  came last night! I think he made 1300 bucks off of my district and two other elders haha! They are so cool though!!  Mine is going to have captain moroni with the title of liberty on the front, and my name, mission, and enos 1:27 on the back!!!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!  (I guess the new one he just bought from Deseret Book is mucho lame-o when compared to the one he is getting from "the scripture case guy".  Not totally certain, but judging from the amount of exclamation points he just used, I think he's fairly excited).  

 

That's really all thats been happening here....if you can find a cheap way to send the stuff i'm missing, that'd be great, like with Taylor or Mav (He's got 2 friends that leave next week for the Mexico MTC) , if not, just send it when i'm in jersey! and yes, I do want the bright blue sweats. the ones I wore for morp please!! 

 

As we teach our lessons to our ‘investigator’, I try to be led by the spirit.  I'm writing in my journal every night, trying new food every day, and trying to be patient to go to New Jersey.

Love you guys!!

Elder Nelson

p.s. everyone in my district is so jealous of me because I've received three packages and a letter in the mail, and no one else has gotten anything but emails ;) keep up the good work!! ;)  Adios mi familia, buenos suertes con futbol, escuela, y corriendo!!!

Family reunion awesomeness

Nothing says Summertime like a good old trip to Yellowstone.
Actually, we'd never ventured there until now.
Kids were dreading the anticipated hours and hours of driving.
Lots of driving, yes....but, all in all I think it turned out to be a fabulous vacation.
Time with Cousins.  Time with each other.  Time away from the responsibilities and scenery of home.
Not that home isn't where your heart is or anything.
But sometimes it's just nice to get out of dodge, if you know what I mean.

The Nelson family reunions aren't really a bonafide family reunion per se.  There's no get-to-know-you games.  No talent show.  No big speech about family history.
Just a trip together with siblings and cousins.
'Family reunion' just sounds more official.


So.....an hour before we were scheduled to leave for this trip, the 2 teenage boys said they needed to run out for a few minutes.  They came back with these doozies.  'vacation shirts' they call them.  A quick trip to D.I. and they were officially 'ready' for the drive.
I think they did it to embarrass me.  They wore those little
beauts everywhere!

In front of Old Faithful.  Quite an adventure that one was.  Blistering hot.  Until we got to old faithful.  Our timing was less than perfect.  We had to wait an entire hour before the geyser would perform again.  Then came the rain.  Then came the hail.  Ill prepared for that weather we were, I'm afraid.  The kids made the best of a less-than-pleasant situation though, and although youngest child wanted to abandon the whole idea (after all, how great could a geyser possibly be???) - we stuck it out, and it Old Faithful was pretty darn impressive I tell you.

I don't know if it was the Little Grand Canyon that was so beautiful, or those fabulous shirts in the picture!

 He's still just as handsome, more than 20 years later.

 Emma wanted to try a little trick photography.....so she had dad 'hold' the waterfall.  ........

 ........6 year old didn't quite understand.....she hollered at Em to quickly take her picture.  Not quite sure what she's holding though!

 Swimming at the firehole most definitely a highlight!

 The picture doesn't do it justice, but there's a place to jump into the rapids, and float down the river a ways to the swimming hole.  Awesome.  40 year old me even did it.

Cousins are the best.

Roasting marshmallows with them even better.

Floating down the snake river surely one of the best and most beautiful things we did.  Loved every last  second of it!

Other highlights.....the wildlife, the beauty, and definitely the sunsets.

Yes....Families are awesome.  Not perfect.  But awesome.

Milestone Mania!

Who knew EVERY child in the family would hit a big milestone this month.......all within 5 days of each other!

Wednesday:  Chinese Kindergarten Graduation (the kung-fu moves were awesome)....

Thursday: High school graduation - Summa Cum Laude 

(I seriously couldn't be prouder if I tried!),

Friday:  6th grade graduation (next up - JUNIOR HIGH people!),




















Sunday: Boy #2  turning 16 - dating and driving (2 dates and counting...already).














It's funny.  I don't remember getting old enough to have all these things happen.  I still remember them when they were knee-high to a grasshopper.

All of a sudden son #1 will be leaving soon (77 more days to be exact.....) to serve a mission for our church.  So happy for him, and yet there's a part of me that's mourning the change in dynamic of our home.  Don't get me wrong - there's no where I'd rather him be.  Just realizing that it will be different around here. A friend said it profoundly that when your children leave home it's a "happy hurt".
So, for the next 77 days I'l be mentally recording every last minute I have with him.  And the others too.  It won't be long before it's their time to fly.

Top TEN 2013

Blogging has taken a back seat to other priorities this year.  Honestly, I've missed it.  I've missed being able to look back and have some accounting of our goings-on.  I swear - the older my kids get - the faster time seems to fly.   All of a sudden another year has come and gone and I stare in wonder at how life has changed over the past nearly 20 years that Mr. Nelson and I have been married.  Fiddler on the Roof totally had it right "Sunrise, Sunset....swiftly fly the years"...(or something like that).  And the kids quite often like to remind us how close we are to grandparent-dom.  (just for the record, we AREN'T THAT CLOSE!.....Still SEVERAL years off!)

So, off we go....in no particular order, here they are.....10 things I never want to forget about this year.

Tanner running his first half marathon.
Can't even begin to say how proud of him we were for first of all committing to do it, secondly - training for something that he thought was beyond his capacity to accomplish, and mostly - finishing what he started. He's a stud.

Addie's family night lesson about Christmas.  We learned that the Wisemen brought Jesus gifts of "gold, mercy, and frankenmerry....I mean Frankenstein".  (nope...we didn't take a picture of family night....just of her birthday, so that will have to suffice)

Tylers Eagle scout project.  Organizing and putting on a soccer clinic/camp for special needs kids.  His whole soccer team plus most of the youth from the ward came to be a 'buddy' for each kid.  Ty did a fabulous job pulling it together and even got sponsors to provide food and goody bags.  It did my heart good to watch the transformation of all the youth who came - who at first were a little unsure of how to act toward these special needs kids.  But by the end were high-fiving and hugging them.  Truly was awesome.























Impromptu trip to Bear lake for a couple of days.  Building our sand 'snake', and the castle village (for princess 5 yr old, of course).  Playing in the water.  Four Wheeling.  Spending time together.  Priceless.

To-do's

So, we were sitting in church last Sunday, and the five year old is quietly drawing.  She starts asking how to spell all the days of the week, and I lean over and tell her in my most whispery voice.
When I look down a few minutes later, I see that she has made herself a calendar, with a list of 'things to do'.
Here's her list:

Monday:
Lemonade sale.
Laugh.
Both.

She explained that she intended to do both of those things on her list.  On the same day.

I compared her list to the one I make - day in and day out.  You know, the one that is at LEAST 24 items long, but usually longer.  And never includes "laugh".  And most often doesn't include "Spend time with your children", or "Play a game", or anything of the sort.

It's a list of things that keep me busy day in and day out, things that definitely need taking care of, have to be done, need attention.  But sometimes they are the very things that keep me from the most important to-do's I should be doing.
Thanks for the reminder my wonderful five year old.

Tomorrow, for sure I will laugh.

Just a re-cap

Goodness....how do you briefly recap 6 months of goings-on???

Maybe just a few highlights.

Bear with me here.

Tyler turned 14. Tanner turned 16.

I am that old apparently.

Here they are the Sunday they were ordained a Teacher and a Priest. So good to have both Grandpa's there.

The boys are now old enough for this (just for the record....I totally FOUGHT this one. I didn't want them to start.) (However....Tyler's got more of a 'stache' than any 14 year old should have........which, also just for the record, frustrates Tanner to death. He only has enough hairs on his face that you could mostly count them on one hand) (but....he will remind you that you can see them.....and that's what's important, right?)

We had a combined birthday of indoor soccer for the boys - with all their best buds. Fun times for sure.

Tanners birthday fell on a Sunday this year.But, rest assured that bright and early Monday morning (no kidding people.....we were THERE at 7:00 AM)....we were pulling in to the Utah DMV to get this:

Now he can drive his car.... (which he bought at a yard sale for $150 bucks) (kid you not).

Jason and I have been able to run several races this year. The Salt Lake half marathon.

TheOgden Marathon (Awesome. Hard. But Awesome.)

And the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay, which runs from Logan to Park City. Had a fabulous time! (Thanks Aunt Carol for letting our whole gang hang out with you for the afternoon!)

Jason was also "Spartan" for a day - running an 8 mile obstacle course with everything from fire, mud bogs, 9 foot high walls to scale, barbed wire to slide under, and of course Gladiators to battle. He said that the 8 miles seemed harder than the full marathon. (Having run the entire 26.2 miles......I don't actually believe him though) :)

And I ended the summer running the top of Utah half marathon.

I'm not a real runner. Those of you who are my neighbors know that. You see me plodding down the road at my turtle-pace with my non-runners legs. In the middle of these races I am asking myself over and over "why oh why am I DOING this??? This is NOT one ounce of fun". But as soon as the finish line is in sight, and then behind me, I know the answer.

It's the feeling of accomplishing something you didn't think you could. Slow as it may be, I can DO hard things. And I love that feeling.

Life is good. And hard. And did I mention busy?

Grateful for opportunities and reminders to not only DO hard things, but more importantly to Enjoy the Journey while we're here.