He's Home!!

Well...the long awaited moment has arrived -- Elder Parker is home!!  He doesn't seem too shell shocked, and we all had a great time last night eating the requested homemade mac n cheese and chatting.

I can't believe how fast the time went!  Thanks for all your support and prayers.  ;)

January 2

Hi guys, how are ya'll?
Well I hope that you all had a great new year's eve celebration (I also hope that you recorded the Rose parade for me, I would appreciate that) of course that's not to say that I don't have a large list of movies to see when I come home anyway (speaking of which, you guys have seen Inception, right? well if you have and I am betting you have watched it multiple times to try and figure it out, I recently learned a small clue to figuring out a crucial point in the movie, but I am not telling [he he he he.....])
and so here are some pictures from our early in time new year's eve, and one other thing although the pictures are not in this email, Kristie, would you be interested in a jade color (color because I am not sure if it may be actual jade or just paint, personaly I think it is paint) vase from japan? I recently got one from some members who were going to just throw it out, kind of sad really, anyway I will send the pictures next week for you to see, and one other thing, Randy, here is an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! and I will be sending a little bit of birthday fun your way soon, hopefully it gets to you by friday but we will see, anyway gotta run love you all!!!!

Dec 18

(Guy and I wrote him together as a crazy letter, and he got a kick out of it)
Hi guys,
sounds like it is pretty crazy right now over there and so not to add to the craziness (or maybe make it worse) I will reply "between the lines" as they say and I think considering that you and padre typed in colored type I shall stick to the plain black color (but I shall insert parenthesise to make certain you will know which is mine, now to see, look below! Crazies!!! (he he he...)

Twas the night of candy making and all through the house, all the creatures were stirring, even the dogs...lol

So - The gang was all here last night, all eleven -- everyone talking, cooking and playing games... Chaos would be calmer. 

Dad and I decided to write together as your sisters have Home Teachers over right now...lol.  So this is mom, that was dad.  I guess we should color coordinate...?  I'll take this color.  ;)  Pretty Christmassy...or is that Christmassie?  Anyway - we have a storm in tonight that is supposed to go thru Wednesday, so we might have a white Christmas.  We went to see the lights on Saturday.  We took Kes with us to Temple Square and to see the Christus statue.  It was a gorgeous night.  A bit nippy, but ya know...it's winter.  ;)

(and so just to clarify, did you mean home teachers, or did you mean visiting teachers? anyway, not important now, I think that in proper grammar it would be the one with the "y" at the end, and I do not know if the "politicians" would consider that "politically correct" course if you were to try and be politically correct in everything you say, your words would be so backwards and contradictory it'd be hilarious, or maybe just ridiculous in almost every sense of the word, but anyway enough of that)

Family stuff continues, Kestra was with us and we walked through the visitor's center and she was quiet when we were in the room with the Christus statue, she would not walk up to it so I could take a picture but it was good other wise. I have two keyboards hooked up so we can mess with each other! Humm amndm mhe kept trying to type over mine so you might hav.e a crazy letter...!!!!

(wonder why she wouldn't go up to it, interesting... two keyboards huh? how do ya figure that one? I really wonder what was being said while this was being typed... he he he)

Hope you are still feeling better, He already said he was feeling better.This is my section!  Anyway....and so - who is your new companion? 

(I answered that one in that other email when I asked about calling times, although just another tidbit of info bout him, he has only been out about a year and when I got transferred into my previous area at the same time he was transferred out of it, kind of funny, speaking of former companions and areas, I received a letter of invitation of sorts from Elder stubbs if you recall him, it was his wedding announcement and funny enough the girl was his girlfriend that he had from before, during and apparently after his mission, also another fun fact about them, if I recall correctly, she went on her mission either before, after or at the same time that he went on his, I think it was after but in either case she got home before he did, kind of funny, huh?)

This would be funnier if it was IM instead of email. or  hand written...like we've done before.  ;)  We are getting your box together and will hopefully have it in the mail by Tuesday afternoon.  It should get to you in time !   What is a THURSSSSSSSSSS?  A RASBERRY  !!!

(why is IM better than email? oh well, on the subject of packages and letters, I intend to have a good number of letters heading your way by the end of today, but also I have a few things that I would be sending in a package that I hope to get to you guys before Christmas, but in order to do so, I need a little bit of cash, I used the extra that I had left on my card just the other day to get some food for a lady who was out of work with three kids and little to no money, found her just outside a CVS pharmacy parking lot, wasn't much but we felt that we could do more than just some pocket change we found on the road, and so anyway, if my calculations are correct(and they have been getting better over time) I will be needing about $12.00 for the package, about 5.00 for more stamps(5.00 for a pack of 10 is the smallest pack they sell around here, although I could check at the counters and find out if I can by less when dealing with them over the counter instead of through the self-serve thing) but other than that I won't be needing any more cash until I start preparing to send things home ahead of me in January(to make sure that I am getting my luggage down to the maximum weight and number of bags limitations to avoid unnecessary luggage fees) traveling is so much fun isn't it...[NOOOTTT!!!!!!])

I hope it is odvious that the spirit of your mission is starting to leave our home, so you have to extend a good NOOOO month or two. Anyway you would need to let us know  B-4 the end of the year....NOT HAPPENING!!  ugh.  

okay...

(what spirit leaving home? as long as ya'll are trying to seek after it it should stick around shouldn't it? besides aren't randy and don planing on going before too long?) 

WHY?

Because we're going to California in February!  

March or April is better swimming weather...And we get to go to Lover's Feast, the ward Valentines party....

yeah yeah yeah....but I can't postpone that again...lo

That what  ??

CONDO time again....

(I thought we discussed this already......) 

We have until 30 days before checkin..

Yes...:(  I know.  But I'm really looking forward to this trip!!!  

Ok I am paying for November arent I?

That was  October.  ;)

Whatever! - After the wedding trip Kristie threw her back out AND There was no money!

(Kristie threw her back out? and was the money thing because of my meds again? if anything, I will personally be seeing to it that there are going to be no more of these problems again if I have my way, likely as not that that would happen, but I do have my plans,he he he he.....)

Now Kristie and Mom are blaming me for leaving the bread un tied.

(this is sounding fun)

he doesn't care about that!!  LOL

Anyway - back to the missionary letter!!  This is called the duelling keyboards!  lol

(and who said I didn't?....)

dit do dit do doo doo dum ....Duelin banjos song...

although...dad says wired keyboards beat wireless...so I'm messed up.  ;)

So -- have you been involved in any of the Christmas programs at the temple?  I know they have lights on there too, and they have been having a sort of program.  I was wondering how active you guys are with that.  Temple Square has you know. like a gazillion missionaries involved and talking to everyone.  did you know that they transfer them out to regular missions for about 3 months so that they can experience tracting and stuff?  I found that out a little while ago...

(wired vs wireless not really sure, wired doesn't need to worry about losing signal or problems connecting, but then you do have the problem, as demonstrated below, of people pulling your plug, not exactly convenient or fun, except when you are just the spectator [he he he] of course you do have the worry of the wire developing a short or getting pinched, but you don't need to worry about the batteries dying on you)

Oh I see how it is unplug the keyboard. that is the only way wireless beats wired.

I would think that the Temples being out of you mission the Temple site program would not be part of your labors, but whatever. Ok Mom is distracted with cooking at the moment, What are your plans January 24th? Are you going to be ok for a day or two all alone? I have the 23 of January off and per your request ("I would like some time completely alone") we did not take Thursday or Friday off. Mom says that dinner is all over her and the counter. Guess I repaired the blender too well. so I need to go and put it back the way it was. The repair man can keep up with all the wreckit's around here! (A movie that just came out...)

(when I said that I wanted time alone I mean't that I didn't want to be busy busy, go here, go there stuff for at least a day, course knowing what I have heard from others and returned missionaries, it is likely that won't be a problem, as I will likely just be the new thing for about a day or so and then everyone will move on to the latest news, the recent babies, marriages, ect.... so if you want to spend da time hangin out with plain old me dat is perfectly fine, likely as not that mom will not be letting me out of her site for the first 24 hours![joking, snicker, snicker...] but anyway, I do know what movie you are talking about, but I am not fully informed as to it's complete story line)

Fine....So anyway - I tried using dad's keyboard and gave up.  Anyway - so how are things going??  Are you teaching lots of families?  I hope the work is going well.  We don't get to see the missionaries much around here...though we hear that they are living in the Bowden's basement.  I thought that was cool.  Dad says they were in the church on Sunday, over on the other side - but I didn't get to see them.  

(likely as not that they are covering the whole stake and not just a ward where you guys are, sheesh, and I thought it was tough for some missionaries to be manning both a family ward and a singles ward, or a singles ward and a Spanish branch, or in some cases out here two family wards!, but working with a whole stake!?! I am not sure but there is likely to be a lot of meetings and very, very few empty dinner appointments)

It's been pretty funny, Kestra has been calling dad and I and Kristie at random times and I told Sherie today that they need to hook their phones to retractable wires from the ceiling   She keeps getting a hold of the phones and calling us.  One of these days she is going to call China...

(that kid learns fast, "we better keep a sharp eye on this one, aye morphy? we wouldn't want her strayin inta things she shouldn't..." meaning like things that could be very dangerous or problematic for her, you know what I mean, right?)

Hopefully this will HELP your focus, NOT! New Elder's President, President Newbold. so I now home teach the Scoutmaster and the President of the Elders quorm.  got a cute wedding invitation from Bishop Smith today, his son is marring the daughter of the canyon wood ward's Bishop. You know him Bishop Newbold.

(different Newbolds right? anyway the pictures you will see with this email were taken this past saturday at our ward Christmas party, a trip into who-ville for sure, but it was fun and we had a good number of investigators come to it too, got some little trinkets from it as well but anyway, thanks for everything and I hope to hear from you next week!!) 

Dec 11

Hi guys,
sounds like your week has been interesting.
anyway, either you or dad asked me to get some letters typed up for grandma and grandpa, and others for this Christmas and so I will be getting on that as soon as I can
also today is transfers, but I am remaining here and getting a new companion whilst elder Ellsworth is traveling home for the holidays, so now I am up to three kills and am at the last round myself, I hope this next one is a worthy opponent (for those of you "who are without understanding" that is a joke)
but anyway gotta get going now, can't wait til Christmas.
thanks for everything, and hope to here from you next week, love you all!!!!

Dec 4

Yep, it's December alright, and it didn't waste any time getting here did it?
oh well, anywho, sounds like the festival was fun, and about Andrea, yes I do remember her and I am curious, has she changed much? well anyway, that's sad that Maylene and all them took off the moment they saw you guys, really makes the "saw you and ran away" joke not sound all that funny right now, huh? pity that they feel that way.
I personally would have expected maybe a little more maturity from them in this circumstance, course I don't know all the details about what happened to cause it all but still, people these days, everyone seems to have a problem with letting things go, of course given all that we learn in the gospel that has been the problem since forever right?
but anyway, enough of the somber mood subject, as a recomdation for Kristie, I have seen while out here a funny little alarm clock that is quite effective in getting people out of bed, it's called the atomic bomb, now to cool your nerves a little bit here, I am not talking about the actual bomb here, it's just called that, not only does it have a really irritating alarm, it has attached to it by cable a vibrating device that you stick between the mattress and box spring or the pillow (stays secure better if under the mattress) so not really a flip you out of the bed alarm but not too far off
oh well gotta get moving soon, thanks for everything and love you all!!!!
(reply to a letter from Guy on the 4th)

Hi Dad
sounds like you guys are having a good start to your December.  sad to hear that grandpa got hurt, please let him know I am praying for him, and for grandma as well for their recovery from the flu.
on that note, just FYI, I had an unfriendly encounter with the 24 hour stomach flu this past Saturday, I have since gotten over it and was back to proselytizing (with what little time we had left to do so that evening) that same evening, all in all there was nothing more than some throwing up REEAALLYY early in the morning (about 2:30 am, but I had already been feeling queasy before we went to bed that same evening [referring to Friday evening]) and that continued to keep me awake, not feeling so good and throwing up until about 6:30 the rest of the day was pretty miserable, but after that point I just felt really sick and couldn't really do much except lay around try to keep drinking (sipping, as trying to drink a full glass would likely cause it to come right back up) water (and coke surprisingly, I was instructed to drink it as the coke syrup is supposed help in settling the stomach, go figure, the one drink I decided I would never drink because it gives me jitters, especially when I am on my medication, as if I don't have shaky hands already) but it ran it's course and has passed now so no worries there, thanks for all your help, love ya!!

Nov 20

Nov 20

Hi guys, 

last year I think we might have had 3 people invite us over for thanksgiving, so far for this year we do have one invite, and others have mentioned that if no one has invited us that they would like to have us over, we tend to get quite a few of those on certain occasions so it's kind of funny like that, everyone is either concerned that we are not getting enough to eat or they just like having us over and know the missionaries like to be fed

course considering that a lot of the members and other people that live out here are pretty well off, but also it has become pretty apparent that the recession is hitting everyone whether lightly or heavily, it's effects are showing

I don't try to find these issues they seem to find me like nails to a magnet in a wood shop (and yes I mean wood shop, not work shop, although there are plenty of nails in a workshop too, there is to much metal in a workshop for the analogy to work, there are plenty of nails in a wood shop) and I think I can make it stretch for what I need it for, thank you very much for your help though, also about the receipts, I have been saving my receipts, from the majority of my purchases, especially those made with the cards I have (the church allotment card, the card for my home funds) and so if you need them I can send those receipts to you within the next little while... 

about the whole laundry bit, I am not sure if we could do that, we could check but I fear that it might be asking a little much, but it never hurts to try, but in the same way a big part of my concern is the(future) missionaries kind of abusing that help, but there is no way to know for certain right now is there, huh... 

well we will see what we can find out. 

But anyway, the status of the weather? it has been pleasant enough for the time being, although it has been a little cold the past few days in the evenings, but not really bad, there has been some cloud cover and a little rain but it has been pretty good over all.

I am going to be missing the turkey shoot, please make sure that no pigeon goes to waste for me, kay? any who, methinks dad tried to mention Sherie and Keith's new purchase in an attempt to make me fidget and wonder about it, saying that they would need to be the one's to give me the details, kind of funky that you told me what it was aye? anyway, that's pretty funny about Kestra, she used the phone and called Sherie, personally I find it completely shocking that a 2-3 year old (is she 3 or 2 right now? I think she's 3) can actually utilize a cell phone, of course in comparison to what we are seeing around us, with kids not to much older already having cell phones of their own and/or knowing how to operate a tv remote, but considering that by the time they are able to crawl, or begin walking, they have been held in their parents arms while they have used the cell phone relatives and friends have utilized similar devices while either taking part in rocking or holding or simply watching the child and throughout all this they become conditioned and the understanding of how to properly use the device comes as they see their parents implementation of it in their lives and as they grow up around this they become acquainted with the device long before they even make their first phone call, applying what they see their parents DO with it and what they see on the screen or surface of the device, also considering the direction that technology has been taking in it's design and capacity, as said by wired magazine or some other tech magazine, they have made the computer so simple that even the bum on the side of the road could use it, not an exact quote, but you get the idea, and so personally I am completely blown away that Kes could use a cell phone at her age

it was shocking to me when I first saw junior high kids walking home from school with IPhones and or other touch screen phones, and talking or texting with them!!! that was bizarre... but anyway just goes to show how weird the world has gotten, 

and if my plans work out it will probably become even stranger (by plans I mean what I hope to build or take part in making in the technology field) "can he lead a normal life!?!" "no, he'll be an engineer..." "OH NNNOOOO!!!!!!!" "there there now..." (he he he he.......) 

but moving on, good to see Randy is doing well

anyway yea she is a big one isn't she? (the cat) and if you mean that does she catch mice? I haven't the slightest idea... but she is a very nice cat, in comparison I think you could say that she isn't to far off from puss when he is fat but obviously she is not the dumbest cat around, not the smartest, but certainly not the dummy  everyone in the complex, at least everyone we have seen, knows her or at least knows about her, very attention loving, and kind of Territorial too! 

from what has been said by her owner, but she is a nice cat though.

about the lamanites and gentiles thing, the back and forth with them and "us" has been going on since the revolution, in regards to how that applies to the Mexicans and that problem, I am not completely sure, but the real scourge is definitely happening in the us government and with people down here next to the boarder, it has become not uncommon to be hearing stories about white people getting treated badly by Mexicans simply because they are white

now personally, I find that to be just a little outrageous, considering they are the ones coming here illegally and are now expecting to be treated like royalty while the rest of us are expected (at least by some of them, not all, I have met many great Mexicans, and so they are not all this bad) to not even have some of the things we have been working for our whole lives 

(referencing to a recent story I heard from the person involved, very lengthy story, more detail later) but of course this entitlement attitude is also found among the average "american" too so it appears both sides have their issues that need to be dealt with, and so anyway off the politics banner

in regards to the native Americans  rising up and similar things I think we can look to the white horse prophesy and George Washington's vision for direction on that and also from what I have gathered, I have arrived at the conclusion that when the time comes it will be a fine line between the righteous and the wicked and I think that extends to the native Americans as much as anyone else, and so ya know, what ever, anyway gotta get going now love you all and have a happy thanksgiving!!!

Nov 13

Nov 13

Hi guys, sounds like it was a very crazy week for you guys, for us not to much, course what can ya say with all the election stuff going on and all that.

on other matters, I am really hoping that it is snowing kind of like that when I come home because I really miss the snow, and partly due to the fact that on the night I left Utah we had the perfect snow fall in Provo and Salt Lake that night and it pretty cool!! (yes it was cold but I mean cool like sweet!!!) 

but anyway, on the subject of video games, have you heard about the video game produced by Deseret book? it's called Helam: a stripling warrior quest, sounds like fun, I think you should check it out, but if you want any ideas for this game of yours I would be happy to throw in a few ideas, but it sounds like you have it figured out.  also note on cheat codes, some are intentionally put in while others are actually small glitches or loop holes in the programming, just FYI (meant to be a joke)

back to the order of things, please send my condolences to aunt Dorothy and her family, and also my congrats to Daniel and Whittney, please tell Sherie that we will be praying for her (we meaning you guys and others I will ask to pray for her) and what do you mean by no change with Carrie? I am at a loss for understanding what you mean... 

 thank you though for all that you do, love you all!!!!!