Fortie Family Flyer
October 19 – 25, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
Well, here we are in week number 43 (I think) of 2009 and what do we have to show for it? Well, I picked my last few apples from our apple tree this week; good stuff. We will have to make some applesauce or something. Tami made some apple fritters for Sunday dinner. Perhaps an apple pie would be in order for family home evening; we’ll see.
Let’s see now, what is newsworthy this week? Not sure anything really is but since when has that stopped me from writing about it anyway? I am watching conference over again on BYU.TV, a little here a little there; it is still good.
No I’m serious, there is just nothing beyond the routine for this week so this will be short. I am the only one in my family who hasn’t seen the latest Harry Potter movie and even though I’m not really into Harry Potter I didn’t want to be left out so I went to the dollar theater to see it. Everyone was too busy to go with me so I was all alone in the world. The lady at the window told me to turn right to get to the theater but didn’t tell me there were two of them going at the same time. I walked into the first one I came to and was about 10 minutes late but was surprised that the movie was already going (instead of the previews just finishing up). I sat down and tried to figure out what was going on. About 40 minutes later the movie ended. It then dawned on me that I must have gone into the wrong theater that was on the last third of the movie. After the movie ended I went into the one I was supposed to go to and watched the middle third of the movie, I then waited for about 20 minutes (watching a bit of “Up” that I had already seen) and went back into that first theater to watch the first third of the movie when they played it again. I have to say that I have now determined that watching a movie one third at a time starting with the last third and working my way to the first third is not the best way to watch a movie. I know why the theater doesn’t show it that way and I don’t recommend it to those thinking about doing that anytime in the near future. There were some great special effects but again, I’m not that into the witchcraft movies (good witches or bad witches). Something just bothers me about it. Speaking of bothering me, (and I’m ashamed to admit this but…) after the movie I had a moment of stupidity (they come all too often) and as I was walking out of Harry Potter, the door of another theater was open so I stopped to see what was playing (it was one of the few that you can see the screen from the hallway). Instead of looking up to look at the sign I just watched for a few minutes just because. The spirit soon told me not to stay to watch it. I didn’t pay attention and within a minute of my ignoring that message there was a sudden and fairly graphic murder in the show, though those kinds of scenes happen all the time these days I was really shocked (I suppose because I don’t like those kinds of shows) at how bad it made me feel. I was then angry with myself for ignoring the spirit causing me to now have that scene burned into my brain. I then looked up to find that this was one of those Halloween shows that was rated R for stupid violent content. I couldn’t help but wonder why the people in the theater were not sickened by this trash like I was and just sat there soaking all the junk in; people are very strange. It is interesting how, even though I say to myself that it is all fake blood and special effects, these scenes can still really affect me. No wonder our country is getting so bad. Well, next time I’ll try to pay attention, I am bit old to still be doing stupid things like that (ignoring the Spirit).
On Friday Tami and I went out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We had a gift card for Applebee’s from Scott and Kim for giving them a buddy pass to fly Scott here to help Stacie move. We ordered our usual $10.00 steak and potatoes and it was as good as ever. They both just melt in your mouth, it is just right and the price is good too. We then split a chocolate oozing dessert (can’t remember the name of it) and we loved it.
I did go to three Deseret Books on my scooter to check about jobs. It was a nice ride, going to West Jordan, then Sandy, then American Fork. I enjoyed it. We need some other work to survive but things are a bit slow these days, especially for a 53 year old who likes art but has no other marketable skills.
Saturday brought work for all. I administered the ACT test at Jordan High School, then went to the big library book sale on 35th South and 22nd East. Now most people know that is a very dangerous place for someone like me to go, especially since I am trying to get rid of some of the stuff we have (since our house is bursting at the seams with stuff). Well, I wandered through and fortunately found that most of the books were not to my liking (it had been picked over on Friday and the first half of Saturday). I did fill a box and just as I was deciding that I couldn’t spend that much and started putting some back they announced that for the last hour of the sale it was just $3.00 for each box. I found a fairly large box and tried to fill it up. I didn’t quite find enough stuff that I liked, or that I thought my family would like, to fill it up but I got pretty close. I did get some pretty good church books and non-fiction stuff. I found a good medical book for Brian and some fairly good videos – some old classics.
I brought my camera along for the day to see if I could find some good autumn shots but it was fairly cloudy and somewhat rainy so I didn’t get anything.
After the book sale I went and joined my family who were already at grandpa and grandma’s to watch the football game. We ate and enjoyed one another’s company, even though BYU was beaten badly. I’m sure we will drop out of the top 25 now. Texas Christian was just plain better.
I tried calling Kevin about which of us was teaching the High Priest’s on Sunday (there was some confusion because of General Conference and Stake Conference), we kept missing each other throughout the week, so even though I figured he was going to teach I prepared a lesson just in case. I was happy I did because it made it better for me, as he gave the lesson, to participate and to receive revelation about how to apply the lesson to my own life.
I just got a new home teaching route with Bro. Hutchings as my new partner. They did some switching around because a few boys became old enough to be with their fathers. I was with the Bishop for a few months, then with Bro. Barney for one month and now with Bro. Hutchings. Hopefully things will settle down now.
Well, like I said, that’s a lot of writing to tell very little news. Sorry to waist your time. Hope you listen to that little voice inside better than I did this week,
Ken and clan
From Elder Fortie:
Halloween is near
Hello one and all! I'm not dead yet. Contrary to popular belief. People sure do look at me funny seeing as my companion and I are probably the only white people in Oakland. At least in the ghetto where I live that is, up in the hills is where all the rest of the white people dwell, Elder Buttars and I are left alone to stand out like a veggie on a desert tray. But we sure have fun when all the black or Hispanic people say to us "what are you doing here man? You gotta get out of here, not even we walk these streets!" And we just shrug and keep on workin. No one really seems to bother us. Actually I think a lot of them are afraid of us, they seem to scatter as we come down the roads, because pretty much the only white people in this part of Oakland are the cops, and here we are, late at night, dressed in black suits, wearing black trench coats, walking boldly and defiantly down the streets of Oakland, they assume we must be the cops. I've heard so manypeople say "oh man it's the feds!" (the federals) as they run inside and lock the door. Or the say "la migra!" as they run for their lives, (that's Spanish for the migration). It's kinda funny. I still miss my precious peninsula though... It just doesn't feel the same over here!
OOH!!! I saw my recent converts last night! They came to speak in a fireside at the temple!!! But I was so mad I missed their talks because I was outside dealing with stupid problems! One of our poor sisters got really sick and within less then 24 hours she had to get sent home because of it, which was too bad, so at least it wasn't because someone did something dumb but none the less it was frustrating. But everyone said they did AMAZING!!!! I was so jealous that I didn't get to hear it! :( :( :( frowny faces and sadness! sigh... oh well...
My new companion is just fine, I'm glad to have him, and we're doing well, lots of people to teach and work with. I am trying to cut back on as many meetings as I can so that I can spend more time working. This Halloween though we have to be in by 6:30, we're not allowed to be out, no exceptions because of the madness that exists here in the bay area on Halloween... I won't mention the madness that happened last Halloween, just know it's quite the place to be at night on Halloween. So that's kinda lame, but oh well.
Well I hope all is well in the world beyond. Be grateful for what you have. With every passing day that I spend here, I realize how lucky we are to live where we do, to have the people around us that are around us. Truly, if we lose all else, the mere fact that we are surrounded by kind neighbors and friends and family, is more then many of these people here could ever have laid claim to. Be grateful, I promise you, what ever it is you’re facing, it's really not that bad. Smile, life's not worth the frowns.Love, Elder Fortie
From Jennifer:
Hey Ya’ll!
I know, I know, it’s been forever again. Sorry about that everyone! Life is INSANE!!! Who knew 8th grade could be so hard?!?! There seems to just always be more homework, then just when you think you’re done your friend texts you wondering when some project is due and you realize, Hey! Tomorrow! And your back to…you guessed it! More homework. Then I get dropped off from a long crazy day that somehow still turned out to be fun because of the crazy things I did with those insane people I call my friends!
Then off to another episode of the Arnold boys! What will happen today? Flushing an entire roll of toilet paper down the toilet? Maybe coloring on the walls with Expo markers, or could it be there adorable little giggle as I chase them around the yard playing the part of the “tickle monster” then spinning them in circles when I finally catch them seeing there bright, glowing smile? Nobody knows! (Until it happens at least) tune in next week for a full reprise of the many adventures of Sammy, Adam and Jenn!
Young women’s has been great fun as always! I just love our ward to death! My calling has kept me busy along with ward Volleyball. But I somehow get threw it all and in one piece!
BYU had a sad little game this week, losing badly to TCU but we did have 11 of our players out to the Swine flu so that is VERY possibly why. But Spencer kept us laughing all threw the game that left me scarred for life, him and his piggy, tiger and little oooh’s and uh-oh’s! Cute little guy!
On Friday night my best friend Kenzie and I went to a haunted corn maze with her dad and brother, before we entered her little brother started laughing and both of us puzzlingly asked why he was laughing. He answered saying you to are going to die in there! He continued saying I’ve been to one of these and the people in there go after the teenage girls, already seared to death, hugging each other and screaming there heads off. We both just told him, no way, they go after everyone! Well as we got in there, arms wrapped around each other, scared to death and sure enough every creepy, dressed up person there chased us. One guy with a (fake) chain saw started running at us, we looked around but there was nowhere to go so we crushed against each other with our hands over our eyes and waited, when nothing happened I took my hand away to see his saw an inch away from my conk, I panicky told Kenzie that I was about to die and she just said back, “Don’t worry, I’m going right along with you! Another man sitting on a bail of hay saw us, got up and started hobbling right on over to us then stopped and just pointed at us and followed us with his deep piercing eyes. One other chain saw man crept threw the corn, following us all the way while once in a while sounding his chain saw and making us scream. It was just like the domino affect! My favorite room there was one that had pitch black walls with glowing faces on it and strobe lights flashing, well we were walking threw and all of a sudden a guy that had an outfit on that matched the wall came out from a cut out of a person space in the wall, luckily Kenzie saw him pointed him out and then started screaming, then about eight more came out and started coming at us, and with the strobe lights he looked really creepy and choppy. We both sank down and just sat huddled up on the floor. But we made it out alive and with hurting throats! It was way fun!
Well, The shower is calling! Ta Ta! Just remember the more you know, the less you don’t know.
Jennifer
Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
October 12 - 18, 2009
pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/2009_10_16Zoo#
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyOctober2009#
Fortie Family Flyer
October 12 – 18, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
Hello, hello, hello to one and all. We are finding that the girls have great jobs, Jennifer, because she is working with a great family in our ward and with kids (she is great with kids) and Michelle was able to get a job where she is dealing with the public and having to use new skills beyond her tutoring job and Kneaders is closed on Sunday, etc., etc. However, we are also finding that both tend to have to work on Monday so we have a rather difficult time having any kind of descent family home evening. It is interesting how that can, even though we have had a strong history of FHE, gradually get set on the back burner until any lame activity gets the name of family home evening so we can still claim we have it but don’t get lessons, singing, prayers, etc. into the picture. So, this week we cried uncle on Monday night and started having the whole shebang of a normal FHE on Sunday night, with song, prayer, lesson, planning, etc. and if we get a chance now and then we will go do some kind of activity on Monday when schedules permit. We started tonight (Sunday the 18th) and it went well; it’s good to sing together again.
As for the rest of the week (besides work) I took the swamp cooler down on Wednesday, that is always a major project to get that heavy thing down from our bedroom window two stories up. I tied weights to the ropes that I had through the rings on the wall that held the cooler up so it would be easy to lower it but I decided to wait until the kids got home so they could help me. Even though I had done all the work except bring it down (panels off, ropes up weights tied on, hoses and motor removed, etc., etc.) some still complained about having to help me, taking time away from their homework. I find it interesting that many of them will, when someone starts playing a monk DVD, end up watching at least part of it pretending to do homework at the same time. Hmmm, it looks like I must spend a few family home evenings on charity and service, two of the most important aspects of the gospel over gratifying selfish pleasures. It’s funny how easy it is to get fooled by the trickster (the name the Native Americans have for the devil).
On Friday Jennifer skipped school and we went with grandpa, grandma, Chad, Alicia and Spencer to the zoo. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. I found when it was over, that I had focused so much on getting some good animal pictures that I didn’t spend very much time with everyone else. I felt bad that I would let pictures get in the way of just some down time with my grandson. Having said that, I did get a few pictures of family along with the pictures of some of the animals (only a few as I found I would really have to go there by myself with the entire day available to use up waiting for those few great moments to get more and better shots than I did). Before I knew it (and that happens to me a lot as I don’t keep track of time well) it was time to head out to get Jennifer to meet up with her friends to go shopping and me off to take family pictures for Brent and Mandy. I ran into two accidents on the freeway going down to American Fork so I was almost a half hour late. I felt bad but they were forgiving. We were at a nice park and we were able to get some good shots in spite of a few of their youngest kids who were not very interested in pictures (which is to be expected). They are a cute family and I enjoyed working with them. I then went to deliver two 20x30 pictures to Repartee Gallery and then went down to the BYU Bookstore to take inventory. I was pretty low on pictures so I have to get more printed up and packaged (my favorite project – NOT).
Saturday everyone went their own way, mostly to work. Chad came over to borrow the truck and in the afternoon most of us were able to break away to go to grandpa and grandma’s to watch the BYU game. It was a good game and we beat San Diego by a few touchdowns but they did a good job of scoring against us as well.
Sunday was stake conference and we mistakenly thought that even though it was at the Conference Center it was going to be broadcast at our stake center (like dad and moms stake). When we got there it wasn’t so we debated about what to do. Should we go to the Conference Center and be very late or to grandpa and grandma’s stake center and be very late or find one around our area. Brian took off on his scooter to find one around us and he found one down on 134th and about 30th West so we all went there. It was a good conference and after the meeting we came home, ate, then played games, decorated for Halloween, had FHE (as I talked about at the beginning) then ate again and wrote letters. I good day all in all.
I finished the book “Biology of Belief” and it was a good thought provoking book with many ideas to help me improve and see things differently; I recommend it. In fact the author goes into great detail about the structure of the human cell and how it works, then talks about life outside the body (spiritual – he used to be an atheist), etc., etc. (way to much and too complex to deal with here (but don’t worry he does a good job of presenting it to the average reader – like myself)). He talks a lot about the membrane of the cell and how it is made of water and oil and how proteins get things in and out of the cell and so on and so forth. It was fascinating to me and while that was fresh on my mind I went to the temple to do some initiatory work and as I was going through that process of hearing the prayers over and over again I was trying to pay close attention to them to learn as much as I could when suddenly, out of the blue, the thought came to me that it was all about washing with water and anointing with oil just as they did in the Old Testament and those two ingredients are what the cell membrane is made of. The membrane of every cell in our body (the thinking part of the cell – according to this book), is made of water and oil. He demonstrates that as he was cloning them at Harvard he found that each cell thinks and actually moves toward food in a dish or away from poison and decides what to bring in and what to expel from the cell. They also communicate with other cells in a dish. The two most important ingredients of the cell membrane, water and oil, are two of the most important items in this important ordinance and are talked about throughout the scriptures. They are critical for life and we learn of their importance throughout life without realizing how basic they are to our existence. The amazing thing is they are two opposites that are necessary to make everything work right. Without them nothing can live. A study of oil and water in the scriptures has some powerful symbolism behind their use. Water and cleansing and anointing with oil representing the anointed one or the Messiah, etc. Well there is a lot to all this and I wish I had time to write all I learned with this little revelation but I’m sure you get the drift of it and understand what I am talking about (for now I must get to bed).
To all you amazing people out there keep studying.
Ken and clan
From Elder Fortie:
Well everyone transfers have come and my companion is out and I am left to train a new zone leader. I find my list of things to do keeps growing every time I say I wish I had more time, so I think I'm gonna try some reverse psychology on myself and maybe on the mission president and tell him I have all the time in the world and I don't know what to do with myself. Maybe then the laws of freaky nature will somehow pan out that I have more time! That seems to be the way things work... Right? Also my room mates are leaving me! I'm the only one staying. I lived with 2 Chinese elders, one of them, Elder Wong from Hong Kong China, cracks me up, he speaks decent English, but he's still got a thick accent and it's not perfect, and he says things that would not be funny at all if an American said them, yet since it's coming from this little gentle happy Chinese kid, it's hilarious! He is my little "Kato" we attack each other randomly in the apartment when we are there. Also we build random towers of plastic cups on each others desks when the other isn't looking, and then knock them over so there's a massive mess everywhere. Yesterday I built a tower on his bed, and then he came into the room to change his sweater, and when he had it up over his head I ran into the room and tackled him into the tower of cups! It was glorious! I'm gonna miss him, he's funny. We also have a little random Frankenstein doll thing that's like 4 feet tall that we had in random places to scare each other. It's been a nice stress relief when I come home from 5 hours of meetings and open the bathroom to see Frankenstein sitting on the toilet in a white shirt and tie... I'll miss that little Chinese Elder.My new companion will be Elder Buttars, who I don't really know so I'll find out how that goes tomorrow when I get him. My companion is being sent out to Half Moon Bay, the far corner of the mission, where I pulled the lady from the ocean, as junior companion. We've had a great week with some of our investigators, were really hoping for them to pick up and go well. But the juggling act is killer. We have been so blessed in finding that we have so many investigators that between all the meetings I have to be in, we can't keep up with all the people we have to teach. If we focus on one we neglect another. So were gonna have to do some weeding and work with the chosen best and put the others on simmer till we can get to them. It's a good problem to have I suppose. We had a baptism last night, and I spoke on the atonement on it, there were a lot of non members there, and the Spirit did its job well, I did not follow what I had planned but found myself drilling one of the most direct testimonies I've given of the Savior that I've given. Like as I was speaking I was surprised at the force and directness of the words that were sneaking out of my mouth! But afterwards, many of those non members came up to me and told me that my "speech" (as they called it) was very powerful and they were amazed at how it had touched their heart. Even the mission president’s wife who does not speak Spanish came up to me and told me she was in tears because of the spirit. Little did they know the whole time I was up there speaking I was thinking "should I be saying that?" haha because I was not planning on it. So I guess the spirit knew (as always) what to do better then I because it had me say things I myself was hesitant to say. Well I gots to get going. Take care one and all. Keep a smile on! -Love Elder Fortie-
From Michelle:
Dear world,
Wow, it sure has been a while since I last wrote… sorry! I will try to remember all that has happened in my life lately, but with my memory, I make no promises!
Life as of late has been nothing really exciting. It is mostly school and work. During the school year, my life gets quite dull and I don’t have much time to do fun or eventful things. But I will do my best to make it short and sweet and not put yall to sleep!
School hasn’t changed much. It does seem to be speeding by though! I can’t believe that we’re already almost done with 1st quarter! Physics is one of my favorite classes this year. It’s not really because of the topic, it’s more because of the friends and fun people in that class and the teacher! Mr. Justis is the teacher and he is a funny, nerdy, 20-something year old who just cracks me up! He’s not nerdy as in a geek, he just loves physics so much that it makes him seem nerdy. He’s really cool and funny though, so all of us students have a great time in there! I also have a few really good friends in there like my dear new best friend Sandra, my trek brother and new best buddy Mckay Wells, and my also new best buddy Adam Painter! We all sit by each other and we have so much fun! It’s a blast and I look forward to that class every day. My other favorite class is my theater class. It’s a really relaxed environment and it’s basically a class of play time where we get to make up and put on skits! Sandra is also in there with me, so we have a grand old time and we crack up and we love to make ourselves look like idiots on the stage as long as we can get everyone else to laugh! Ha ha! So that’s school for ya!
Work isn’t too bad most of the time! Bob the baker is one of my favorite people in the earth now, and I’m so sad that he is leaving in 2 weeks! He cracks me up and I can’t imagine Kneaders without him! I wore a tie-dye shirt the other day as I went to pick up my paycheck, and he commented on how cool he thought it was and asked me if I would tie-dye something for him before he left. I said yeah, and jokingly said that I should tie-dye his work shirts. He looked at me like my plan was the most brilliant he had ever heard. The way his face lit up you would have thought I had just solved global warming! He asked me if I would tie-dye two of his Kneaders shirts if I gave them to him and I said yeah, but wondered if he would get fired for it. He then reminded me that he’s already given his three weeks notice, and Kyle (our boss) isn’t going to fire him or anything. I laughed and told him that I totally would do it, but then asked him why he wanted two instead of just one. He said, and I quote, “So when Kyle sees me wearing one, and says, never wear that shirt again, I can just wear the other one.” I think I almost died laughing then and there. He calls me Barbara, because apparently I look more like a Barbara than a Michelle. (I seem to get renamed quite a bit by the people I know.) So I call him happy Bob because he has a very dry sense of humor, and when you see him, he just sort of looks like Eyore. Sad and lonely! That sounds terrible, but that’s how he looks. So we joke around and tease each other all the time! Other than that, nothing is new with work.
Nathan and Paige came down for a visit the other weekend, and that was a lot of fun! They went to the temple on Friday afternoon/night and Jennifer and I went back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to play with Spencer! When they got back, we had a pizza dinner, and played some games. Saturday morning, I worked and so did Mom, so we went out as soon as we could and we all watched the BYU game and played games and looked at pictures! Then on Sunday, we went to church out at Grandma and Grandpa’s ward with them. When we first got to their ward, Spencer spotted Jennifer and I, and he got excited and squealed really loud! He’s so cute and we love him so much! I can’t wait until Nathan and Paige’s baby comes so we can have two little joys in our lives! After church, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a BIG family dinner! Their house may need to start growing along with the family because things are starting to get pretty crowded in there, and we didn’t have Mounteers or Rauckhorsts there! So if EVERYONE got together, we could have a big problem on our hands. It was good to see them though, and we had fun!
Whit came down with Tyler and her cousin Nathan the weekend before, but we really only got to do something with them Saturday. That night, while the men were all at priesthood, we went shopping! I got four new shirts and a new dress. Funny thing is, we were shopping for Jennifer, not me, but Jennifer hardly ended up getting anything. Thing is, I found some fantastic deals and I couldn’t skip them. Jen, Whit, and I did find some pretty fantastic zebra print jumpsuits though. They were pretty freaking hilariously awesome, and I was tempted to buy one just for laughs!
Well, I think that brings you up to speed on my life… if I forgot anything… that kinda sucks. I love you all and hope you’re doing well! Good luck in the next week yall! Cherish all your happy moments: they make a fine cushion for old age. - Christopher Morley.
Love,
Michelle Fortie!
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/2009_10_16Zoo#
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyOctober2009#
Fortie Family Flyer
October 12 – 18, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
Hello, hello, hello to one and all. We are finding that the girls have great jobs, Jennifer, because she is working with a great family in our ward and with kids (she is great with kids) and Michelle was able to get a job where she is dealing with the public and having to use new skills beyond her tutoring job and Kneaders is closed on Sunday, etc., etc. However, we are also finding that both tend to have to work on Monday so we have a rather difficult time having any kind of descent family home evening. It is interesting how that can, even though we have had a strong history of FHE, gradually get set on the back burner until any lame activity gets the name of family home evening so we can still claim we have it but don’t get lessons, singing, prayers, etc. into the picture. So, this week we cried uncle on Monday night and started having the whole shebang of a normal FHE on Sunday night, with song, prayer, lesson, planning, etc. and if we get a chance now and then we will go do some kind of activity on Monday when schedules permit. We started tonight (Sunday the 18th) and it went well; it’s good to sing together again.
As for the rest of the week (besides work) I took the swamp cooler down on Wednesday, that is always a major project to get that heavy thing down from our bedroom window two stories up. I tied weights to the ropes that I had through the rings on the wall that held the cooler up so it would be easy to lower it but I decided to wait until the kids got home so they could help me. Even though I had done all the work except bring it down (panels off, ropes up weights tied on, hoses and motor removed, etc., etc.) some still complained about having to help me, taking time away from their homework. I find it interesting that many of them will, when someone starts playing a monk DVD, end up watching at least part of it pretending to do homework at the same time. Hmmm, it looks like I must spend a few family home evenings on charity and service, two of the most important aspects of the gospel over gratifying selfish pleasures. It’s funny how easy it is to get fooled by the trickster (the name the Native Americans have for the devil).
On Friday Jennifer skipped school and we went with grandpa, grandma, Chad, Alicia and Spencer to the zoo. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. I found when it was over, that I had focused so much on getting some good animal pictures that I didn’t spend very much time with everyone else. I felt bad that I would let pictures get in the way of just some down time with my grandson. Having said that, I did get a few pictures of family along with the pictures of some of the animals (only a few as I found I would really have to go there by myself with the entire day available to use up waiting for those few great moments to get more and better shots than I did). Before I knew it (and that happens to me a lot as I don’t keep track of time well) it was time to head out to get Jennifer to meet up with her friends to go shopping and me off to take family pictures for Brent and Mandy. I ran into two accidents on the freeway going down to American Fork so I was almost a half hour late. I felt bad but they were forgiving. We were at a nice park and we were able to get some good shots in spite of a few of their youngest kids who were not very interested in pictures (which is to be expected). They are a cute family and I enjoyed working with them. I then went to deliver two 20x30 pictures to Repartee Gallery and then went down to the BYU Bookstore to take inventory. I was pretty low on pictures so I have to get more printed up and packaged (my favorite project – NOT).
Saturday everyone went their own way, mostly to work. Chad came over to borrow the truck and in the afternoon most of us were able to break away to go to grandpa and grandma’s to watch the BYU game. It was a good game and we beat San Diego by a few touchdowns but they did a good job of scoring against us as well.
Sunday was stake conference and we mistakenly thought that even though it was at the Conference Center it was going to be broadcast at our stake center (like dad and moms stake). When we got there it wasn’t so we debated about what to do. Should we go to the Conference Center and be very late or to grandpa and grandma’s stake center and be very late or find one around our area. Brian took off on his scooter to find one around us and he found one down on 134th and about 30th West so we all went there. It was a good conference and after the meeting we came home, ate, then played games, decorated for Halloween, had FHE (as I talked about at the beginning) then ate again and wrote letters. I good day all in all.
I finished the book “Biology of Belief” and it was a good thought provoking book with many ideas to help me improve and see things differently; I recommend it. In fact the author goes into great detail about the structure of the human cell and how it works, then talks about life outside the body (spiritual – he used to be an atheist), etc., etc. (way to much and too complex to deal with here (but don’t worry he does a good job of presenting it to the average reader – like myself)). He talks a lot about the membrane of the cell and how it is made of water and oil and how proteins get things in and out of the cell and so on and so forth. It was fascinating to me and while that was fresh on my mind I went to the temple to do some initiatory work and as I was going through that process of hearing the prayers over and over again I was trying to pay close attention to them to learn as much as I could when suddenly, out of the blue, the thought came to me that it was all about washing with water and anointing with oil just as they did in the Old Testament and those two ingredients are what the cell membrane is made of. The membrane of every cell in our body (the thinking part of the cell – according to this book), is made of water and oil. He demonstrates that as he was cloning them at Harvard he found that each cell thinks and actually moves toward food in a dish or away from poison and decides what to bring in and what to expel from the cell. They also communicate with other cells in a dish. The two most important ingredients of the cell membrane, water and oil, are two of the most important items in this important ordinance and are talked about throughout the scriptures. They are critical for life and we learn of their importance throughout life without realizing how basic they are to our existence. The amazing thing is they are two opposites that are necessary to make everything work right. Without them nothing can live. A study of oil and water in the scriptures has some powerful symbolism behind their use. Water and cleansing and anointing with oil representing the anointed one or the Messiah, etc. Well there is a lot to all this and I wish I had time to write all I learned with this little revelation but I’m sure you get the drift of it and understand what I am talking about (for now I must get to bed).
To all you amazing people out there keep studying.
Ken and clan
From Elder Fortie:
Well everyone transfers have come and my companion is out and I am left to train a new zone leader. I find my list of things to do keeps growing every time I say I wish I had more time, so I think I'm gonna try some reverse psychology on myself and maybe on the mission president and tell him I have all the time in the world and I don't know what to do with myself. Maybe then the laws of freaky nature will somehow pan out that I have more time! That seems to be the way things work... Right? Also my room mates are leaving me! I'm the only one staying. I lived with 2 Chinese elders, one of them, Elder Wong from Hong Kong China, cracks me up, he speaks decent English, but he's still got a thick accent and it's not perfect, and he says things that would not be funny at all if an American said them, yet since it's coming from this little gentle happy Chinese kid, it's hilarious! He is my little "Kato" we attack each other randomly in the apartment when we are there. Also we build random towers of plastic cups on each others desks when the other isn't looking, and then knock them over so there's a massive mess everywhere. Yesterday I built a tower on his bed, and then he came into the room to change his sweater, and when he had it up over his head I ran into the room and tackled him into the tower of cups! It was glorious! I'm gonna miss him, he's funny. We also have a little random Frankenstein doll thing that's like 4 feet tall that we had in random places to scare each other. It's been a nice stress relief when I come home from 5 hours of meetings and open the bathroom to see Frankenstein sitting on the toilet in a white shirt and tie... I'll miss that little Chinese Elder.My new companion will be Elder Buttars, who I don't really know so I'll find out how that goes tomorrow when I get him. My companion is being sent out to Half Moon Bay, the far corner of the mission, where I pulled the lady from the ocean, as junior companion. We've had a great week with some of our investigators, were really hoping for them to pick up and go well. But the juggling act is killer. We have been so blessed in finding that we have so many investigators that between all the meetings I have to be in, we can't keep up with all the people we have to teach. If we focus on one we neglect another. So were gonna have to do some weeding and work with the chosen best and put the others on simmer till we can get to them. It's a good problem to have I suppose. We had a baptism last night, and I spoke on the atonement on it, there were a lot of non members there, and the Spirit did its job well, I did not follow what I had planned but found myself drilling one of the most direct testimonies I've given of the Savior that I've given. Like as I was speaking I was surprised at the force and directness of the words that were sneaking out of my mouth! But afterwards, many of those non members came up to me and told me that my "speech" (as they called it) was very powerful and they were amazed at how it had touched their heart. Even the mission president’s wife who does not speak Spanish came up to me and told me she was in tears because of the spirit. Little did they know the whole time I was up there speaking I was thinking "should I be saying that?" haha because I was not planning on it. So I guess the spirit knew (as always) what to do better then I because it had me say things I myself was hesitant to say. Well I gots to get going. Take care one and all. Keep a smile on! -Love Elder Fortie-
From Michelle:
Dear world,
Wow, it sure has been a while since I last wrote… sorry! I will try to remember all that has happened in my life lately, but with my memory, I make no promises!
Life as of late has been nothing really exciting. It is mostly school and work. During the school year, my life gets quite dull and I don’t have much time to do fun or eventful things. But I will do my best to make it short and sweet and not put yall to sleep!
School hasn’t changed much. It does seem to be speeding by though! I can’t believe that we’re already almost done with 1st quarter! Physics is one of my favorite classes this year. It’s not really because of the topic, it’s more because of the friends and fun people in that class and the teacher! Mr. Justis is the teacher and he is a funny, nerdy, 20-something year old who just cracks me up! He’s not nerdy as in a geek, he just loves physics so much that it makes him seem nerdy. He’s really cool and funny though, so all of us students have a great time in there! I also have a few really good friends in there like my dear new best friend Sandra, my trek brother and new best buddy Mckay Wells, and my also new best buddy Adam Painter! We all sit by each other and we have so much fun! It’s a blast and I look forward to that class every day. My other favorite class is my theater class. It’s a really relaxed environment and it’s basically a class of play time where we get to make up and put on skits! Sandra is also in there with me, so we have a grand old time and we crack up and we love to make ourselves look like idiots on the stage as long as we can get everyone else to laugh! Ha ha! So that’s school for ya!
Work isn’t too bad most of the time! Bob the baker is one of my favorite people in the earth now, and I’m so sad that he is leaving in 2 weeks! He cracks me up and I can’t imagine Kneaders without him! I wore a tie-dye shirt the other day as I went to pick up my paycheck, and he commented on how cool he thought it was and asked me if I would tie-dye something for him before he left. I said yeah, and jokingly said that I should tie-dye his work shirts. He looked at me like my plan was the most brilliant he had ever heard. The way his face lit up you would have thought I had just solved global warming! He asked me if I would tie-dye two of his Kneaders shirts if I gave them to him and I said yeah, but wondered if he would get fired for it. He then reminded me that he’s already given his three weeks notice, and Kyle (our boss) isn’t going to fire him or anything. I laughed and told him that I totally would do it, but then asked him why he wanted two instead of just one. He said, and I quote, “So when Kyle sees me wearing one, and says, never wear that shirt again, I can just wear the other one.” I think I almost died laughing then and there. He calls me Barbara, because apparently I look more like a Barbara than a Michelle. (I seem to get renamed quite a bit by the people I know.) So I call him happy Bob because he has a very dry sense of humor, and when you see him, he just sort of looks like Eyore. Sad and lonely! That sounds terrible, but that’s how he looks. So we joke around and tease each other all the time! Other than that, nothing is new with work.
Nathan and Paige came down for a visit the other weekend, and that was a lot of fun! They went to the temple on Friday afternoon/night and Jennifer and I went back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to play with Spencer! When they got back, we had a pizza dinner, and played some games. Saturday morning, I worked and so did Mom, so we went out as soon as we could and we all watched the BYU game and played games and looked at pictures! Then on Sunday, we went to church out at Grandma and Grandpa’s ward with them. When we first got to their ward, Spencer spotted Jennifer and I, and he got excited and squealed really loud! He’s so cute and we love him so much! I can’t wait until Nathan and Paige’s baby comes so we can have two little joys in our lives! After church, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a BIG family dinner! Their house may need to start growing along with the family because things are starting to get pretty crowded in there, and we didn’t have Mounteers or Rauckhorsts there! So if EVERYONE got together, we could have a big problem on our hands. It was good to see them though, and we had fun!
Whit came down with Tyler and her cousin Nathan the weekend before, but we really only got to do something with them Saturday. That night, while the men were all at priesthood, we went shopping! I got four new shirts and a new dress. Funny thing is, we were shopping for Jennifer, not me, but Jennifer hardly ended up getting anything. Thing is, I found some fantastic deals and I couldn’t skip them. Jen, Whit, and I did find some pretty fantastic zebra print jumpsuits though. They were pretty freaking hilariously awesome, and I was tempted to buy one just for laughs!
Well, I think that brings you up to speed on my life… if I forgot anything… that kinda sucks. I love you all and hope you’re doing well! Good luck in the next week yall! Cherish all your happy moments: they make a fine cushion for old age. - Christopher Morley.
Love,
Michelle Fortie!
Monday, October 12, 2009
October 5 - 11, 2009
pics
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyOctober2009#
Fortie Family Flyer
October 5 – 11, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
It’s the week after general conference and it is already time to take myself in for an end of the week spiritual tune up to see if I actually took to heart some of the things that I felt impressed to do during conference. Have I put forth sufficient effort to change or have I slipped back into the same old same old me? Hopefully I will find that my spark plugs are clean enough to receive a strong impulse from the distributor to keep me running smooth. And hopefully I can scrape off the corrosion that prevents me from getting all fired up, becoming a new me for a new future. As Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “And ah, for a man to arise in me, that the man I am may cease to be.”
Lets see, what did I do this week, oh now I remember, I was supposed to take notes throughout the week so I wouldn’t come to this moment and draw a blank. What in the world did I do this week that is worth writing down? I watched a few genealogy programs on BYU.TV (I mostly listen to them because they are on while I am editing) and they talked of people who found journals of ancestors who wrote every night all their lives and when those journals were found they became a valuable source of information about the community in Scotland where the writer lived more than a century ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of my ancestors were mentioned somewhere in his writings as he didn’t live too far from where they lived at the time. With that and President Eyring’s words about writing daily about what the spirit does to help me each day, makes me think I had better get started.
We do seem to be in a rut that I am not pleased with. Everyone is working each evening and it seems that family time is getting pushed off more and more until we have become typical Americans; hardly speaking to each other as we rush about being so involved in the thick of thin things. I sense the need to change but how to get my family to go along with that is the hard part. How to convince teens and those in their 20’s that family is valued in every culture except ours and that lack of value placed on family must be fought with all our hearts. I miss the days when we often had family singing time and family gospel discussions. Daily scripture study has become stressful moments of lets hurry because I have homework and must get to bed. Contention is on the rise in our country and in our home; my heart hurts as I search for answers to create a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of God. May God bless me in my efforts.
Nothing grand the first half of the week (that I recall). We all looked forward to Nathan and Paige’s visit over the weekend. They came Friday morning, after driving all night. We were there each night having dinner and talking and playing. Friday night several of us went to the temple to do initiatory work and sealings and that was enjoyable. We got a kick out of the looks on the temple worker’s faces as we, four Fortie’s (Curt, Nathan, Brian and myself (too bad Chad was out of town and dad couldn’t come)), walked in to do initiatory work (they just need your last name). One asked if we knew Max (who he knew). After we got to mom and dads we had pizza and sat around and talked.
Saturday we were all busy working and rushing about. I took pictures Saturday night for Facil and his wife, Susan’s family. After that we all got together and had crepes that Tami made and then had Nathan’s birthday cake.
I really had a strong feeling to do something with the pictures I took in the mountains of the snow on the autumn leaves. I discovered how to create a slide show on Picasa so I spent some time learning how to do that. I showed it to the family and they enjoyed it.
Sunday we went to dad and mom’s ward so we could spend more time with the family. Most slept after church then we ate and talked and decided the weekend had gone too fast. I rode the scooter there on Saturday so I left it there Saturday night because of the rain (and went home with the family in the car). Since it was there I took it home Sunday night, it was a cold night but I was bundled up enough to make the ride a pleasant one.
Well, that’s our week. I am behind so I didn’t spend much time telling this tale but you get the picture. Hope your week was a good one.
Don’t fall for all the trappings of our society, keep family number one.
Ken and clan
From Elder Fortie:
Well everyone, I've been gone all day once again running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I have less then 10 minutes... sigh... I'm thinking I'm just gonna do something dumb like drive to San Diego for a p-day so I can get released from zone leader and go back to just getting to work an area haha. Okay obviously that's a joke! I love helping everyone. I keep getting complaints from you all that you wish I had more time to write... well I'm sorry, I wish I did too, but it's just kinda what were gonna have to accept for a while, remember I got called out here to serve these people, getting to e-mail all of you is a luxury, some missions don't get that and we would have to suffice with an even shorter hand written letter, so be happy for e-mail. Sorry my time is so limited, I pity the poor A.P's, if I am this busy, I cannot imagine their poor lives.
So this week me and my companion put on a zone activity, we had the entire zone (40-45 people, somewhere around there) together in a park and we had a pumpkin carving contest, and a bunch of random games I came up with kinda as an early Halloween party, because this is when I could find time to do it haha! It was a lot of fun and people really seemed to enjoy it so we’re glad it went well. My pumpkin actually won an award! My artistic talent is finally blooming (to be honest it was cause the judges were all sister missionaries and mine looked like Wall-E so they thought it was cute (it wasn't meant to look like Wall-E... oops) So, I won even though there were much better pumpkins there).
We have been finding tons of people to teach, we just have no time to teach anyone! So it's frustrating, we lead our zone in every aspect, yet we are flying between cracks to find time to do it all, so it's been madness, but I do enjoy a good bit of madness.
Well Again, sorry to be short, no I am not coming home in January, got that one fixed, whether or not I got the extension I haven't had a chance to talk to president again yet to find out, we shall see!
Take care!
Love,Elder Fortie
http://picasaweb.google.com/kensbestpics/FamilyOctober2009#
Fortie Family Flyer
October 5 – 11, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
It’s the week after general conference and it is already time to take myself in for an end of the week spiritual tune up to see if I actually took to heart some of the things that I felt impressed to do during conference. Have I put forth sufficient effort to change or have I slipped back into the same old same old me? Hopefully I will find that my spark plugs are clean enough to receive a strong impulse from the distributor to keep me running smooth. And hopefully I can scrape off the corrosion that prevents me from getting all fired up, becoming a new me for a new future. As Alfred Lord Tennyson said, “And ah, for a man to arise in me, that the man I am may cease to be.”
Lets see, what did I do this week, oh now I remember, I was supposed to take notes throughout the week so I wouldn’t come to this moment and draw a blank. What in the world did I do this week that is worth writing down? I watched a few genealogy programs on BYU.TV (I mostly listen to them because they are on while I am editing) and they talked of people who found journals of ancestors who wrote every night all their lives and when those journals were found they became a valuable source of information about the community in Scotland where the writer lived more than a century ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few of my ancestors were mentioned somewhere in his writings as he didn’t live too far from where they lived at the time. With that and President Eyring’s words about writing daily about what the spirit does to help me each day, makes me think I had better get started.
We do seem to be in a rut that I am not pleased with. Everyone is working each evening and it seems that family time is getting pushed off more and more until we have become typical Americans; hardly speaking to each other as we rush about being so involved in the thick of thin things. I sense the need to change but how to get my family to go along with that is the hard part. How to convince teens and those in their 20’s that family is valued in every culture except ours and that lack of value placed on family must be fought with all our hearts. I miss the days when we often had family singing time and family gospel discussions. Daily scripture study has become stressful moments of lets hurry because I have homework and must get to bed. Contention is on the rise in our country and in our home; my heart hurts as I search for answers to create a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of God. May God bless me in my efforts.
Nothing grand the first half of the week (that I recall). We all looked forward to Nathan and Paige’s visit over the weekend. They came Friday morning, after driving all night. We were there each night having dinner and talking and playing. Friday night several of us went to the temple to do initiatory work and sealings and that was enjoyable. We got a kick out of the looks on the temple worker’s faces as we, four Fortie’s (Curt, Nathan, Brian and myself (too bad Chad was out of town and dad couldn’t come)), walked in to do initiatory work (they just need your last name). One asked if we knew Max (who he knew). After we got to mom and dads we had pizza and sat around and talked.
Saturday we were all busy working and rushing about. I took pictures Saturday night for Facil and his wife, Susan’s family. After that we all got together and had crepes that Tami made and then had Nathan’s birthday cake.
I really had a strong feeling to do something with the pictures I took in the mountains of the snow on the autumn leaves. I discovered how to create a slide show on Picasa so I spent some time learning how to do that. I showed it to the family and they enjoyed it.
Sunday we went to dad and mom’s ward so we could spend more time with the family. Most slept after church then we ate and talked and decided the weekend had gone too fast. I rode the scooter there on Saturday so I left it there Saturday night because of the rain (and went home with the family in the car). Since it was there I took it home Sunday night, it was a cold night but I was bundled up enough to make the ride a pleasant one.
Well, that’s our week. I am behind so I didn’t spend much time telling this tale but you get the picture. Hope your week was a good one.
Don’t fall for all the trappings of our society, keep family number one.
Ken and clan
From Elder Fortie:
Well everyone, I've been gone all day once again running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I have less then 10 minutes... sigh... I'm thinking I'm just gonna do something dumb like drive to San Diego for a p-day so I can get released from zone leader and go back to just getting to work an area haha. Okay obviously that's a joke! I love helping everyone. I keep getting complaints from you all that you wish I had more time to write... well I'm sorry, I wish I did too, but it's just kinda what were gonna have to accept for a while, remember I got called out here to serve these people, getting to e-mail all of you is a luxury, some missions don't get that and we would have to suffice with an even shorter hand written letter, so be happy for e-mail. Sorry my time is so limited, I pity the poor A.P's, if I am this busy, I cannot imagine their poor lives.
So this week me and my companion put on a zone activity, we had the entire zone (40-45 people, somewhere around there) together in a park and we had a pumpkin carving contest, and a bunch of random games I came up with kinda as an early Halloween party, because this is when I could find time to do it haha! It was a lot of fun and people really seemed to enjoy it so we’re glad it went well. My pumpkin actually won an award! My artistic talent is finally blooming (to be honest it was cause the judges were all sister missionaries and mine looked like Wall-E so they thought it was cute (it wasn't meant to look like Wall-E... oops) So, I won even though there were much better pumpkins there).
We have been finding tons of people to teach, we just have no time to teach anyone! So it's frustrating, we lead our zone in every aspect, yet we are flying between cracks to find time to do it all, so it's been madness, but I do enjoy a good bit of madness.
Well Again, sorry to be short, no I am not coming home in January, got that one fixed, whether or not I got the extension I haven't had a chance to talk to president again yet to find out, we shall see!
Take care!
Love,Elder Fortie
Monday, October 5, 2009
September 28 - October 4, 2009
For more pics see:
Fortie Family Flyer
September 28 – October 4, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
Tut Tut, it looks like rain and snow and wind and cold. Yes, this week decided that summer was hanging around too long and winter was way past due so it skipped fall. We went from the 80’s to the 40’s and around freezing at night. Something kept nagging me to go up into the mountains to take a few pictures. I finally went so I could have some peace, and it was, as Martha Stewart would say, “a good thing”. I went up to Brighton where I found about 5 inches of snow around Silver Lake. Even though it was quite breathtaking I really didn’t get the pictures I was hoping for. Somehow the beauty escaped my camera, perhaps my promptings were just for me to get up there and enjoy the sights and sounds and smells for myself. If you’re stuck in the city with your normal, stressful grind, don’t wait for pictures from me or anyone else to relieve that stress; get up in the mountains yourself to change your well being. The beauties of God’s creation truly hold the key to changing any darkness that may hold us captive, into joy, love and light. The snow mixed with the beautiful autumn colors really played some tricks on my mind; my eyes seemed to observe everything there as if looking through the eyes of a child seeing something for the first time. Certainly those who miss such opportunities cannot possibly reach their full potential for joy, but those who stop what they are doing to enjoy small but powerful moments like these will expand their souls throughout their lives.
Well, the week was filled with work and play, as usual. Most events are not newsworthy. Editing and getting pictures of families printed up and over to them. I picked up my pictures at the Sandy Library since we had the month of September as our month to display them on the walls of the library. I had a few people tell me on facebook that they were in the Sandy library and saw them and liked them.
On Monday we went to a play Brian told us about because one of his teachers was in it. It was the last night for “Arsenic and Old Lace” in the Sugar Factory Playhouse in South Jordan. The guy who played Marcellus in the Music Man that I was in this past summer was in it. They did a great job and we laughed like crazy. Now we want to get the movie from the library to see how it compares (it has been a while since I have seen it and the kids never have). Michelle needed to go to a play for one of her classes but she couldn’t get off work at Kneaders so she couldn’t go. She will have to catch another play somewhere else.
I checked out a couple of audio books from the library to listen to on the way up the canyon. I spotted a biography of Crazy Horse that seemed to call to me so I got it. It is a very interesting book and helps me see the vast difference between the two realities or belief systems of our cultures; one becoming the conquerors and one the conquered. It is amazing how almost everything the two cultures believe in are in exact opposition to each other after centuries of separation by an ocean. I have some very interesting thoughts of the Native Americans and their future but that is for another letter. I am almost finished with the book “The Wisdom Keepers” about Native American Elders and it has some interesting stories and teachings.
The kids had no school Thursday and Friday but our activities consisted of working and watching Monk (this time it was my fault, I was at the Sandy Library picking up my pictures and saw 4 DVDs of Monk and knew how everyone liked to watch it so I brought all 4 home. Well of course everyone decided they had to watch them before the week is up and we have to take them back so they watched two and three episodes in a row trying to get them all in during their break when they didn’t have homework). Every time someone in our house does something Monk like, someone else points it out and calls them Monk. I think some of them are actually getting to be more and more like Monk as the weeks of watching the show go by; that’s not good. We even say one of his frequent lines – “Here’s the thing” in our own conversation; crazy family. Anyway, mostly it has been work; in fact Jennifer had her biggest day yet by babysitting 4 kids for 10 hours on Friday. She does a good job with those kids and they love her.
On Friday night we went to Mike and Linda’s to celebrate grandma’s birthday, eat chili that Alicia made and watch the BYU game. The food was good, the cake and ice-cream was great and the game was fun. We had a late night but most of us were able to sleep in on Saturday.
Michelle had to work Saturday morning but the rest of us watched conference, ate and did a few things around the house. We went to grandpa and grandmas for dinner and then the guys all headed down town on trax to go to the general priesthood meeting. We left late so I didn’t think we would make it into the conference center but as we arrived about 10 minutes late we were able to get in and take some of the last few seats in the top right balcony. I haven’t been up there since the last time I cleaned the Conference Center (in fact we sat is the very section Chad cleaned) and the view is amazing with all those white shirts and dark suits all focused down on a tiny person speaking from the pulpit. I sat near the front in the center for the Temple Celebration performance that Michelle and Jennifer were a part of and that was of course a great seat to see the stage, but if you want to be impressed with the Conference Center as a whole, sit in the top corner of the building. Tyler and Whitney came down for conference so Tyler and his cousin Nathan went with us (grandpa, Brian and me) to priesthood. I think they enjoyed it and we all went to grandpa and grandmas for, of course, ice-cream, lots of toppings and lots of fun.
Sunday we ate and watched conference then headed to grandpa and grandmas for the last session, dinner, games and of course, ice-cream (I’m detecting a pattern here). Well, we had fun but Brian rode his scooter there on Saturday when the weather was decent, stayed Saturday night and then had to ride home in a cold rain Sunday night, not so fun. I brought some warm stuff for him and a raincoat so he was bundled up pretty well, we followed him and he seemed to do okay. He does need to get a job so he can afford to get his car fixed so it will pass inspection so he can drive this winter. The scooters have been great for the summer but I think that is coming to a close soon. I picked Michelle up from school on Wednesday on the scooter and it rained a bit on us but we were bundled up so it wasn’t too bad. A little cold on the hands with my thin summer gloves, I’ll have to get my winter gloves and coat out for the fall and early winter riding. It’s still fun, even when it’s a bit cold.
Conference was, as usual, very good and there were some powerful talks given this time. I think some crazy things are coming. The protesters were there, as usual, ranting and raving about how terrible we are. Frankly, I am grateful for their presence. I like to pause there for a few moments to feel the darkness they tend to represent and then go inside the Conference Center and feel the exact opposite feeling as I listen to the choir sing a beautiful hymn before the meeting starts. The contrast to me is a testimony in itself. No words need be said, just the opposition is amazing. I keep thinking that if any one of them could step outside his hate and anger and stand with me in both places they would have to agree that they carry with them the wrong spirit. But of course they wouldn’t be able to step outside their little world of belief any more than we can get Al-Qaeda leaders to suddenly convert to Christianity. I see these people as the modern day Pharisees, straining at gnats but swallowing camels. They remind me of the last chapter of Acts, when Paul goes to Rome and calls for the Jews there to come talk to him. They ask him about this strange sect that they have heard so many bad things about, in fact here are their words: (Acts 28:22-28.) “But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Indeed the Christians, which were a new and very strange Jewish sect, were thought of as atheists because they wouldn’t believe in the state religion (kind of like not saluting the flag today) and they were considered cannibals because it was reported that they ate flesh and drank blood in their meetings, and they had all kinds of perverse relationships with members of their congregations because they called each other brother and sister, etc. The rumors were wild and crazy, and of course none of them were true. Some government positions were given to Christians specifically because of their integrity, “in spite of their strange religion.” How many people today say the Mormons are such good people but are just deceived by some strange mind altering religion. Things never change.
I found out about a Utah photo book that is being put together, I’m sure it’s just a way to get people to buy something they put together by saying one of your pictures may be in the book, but I thought I’d put some of my pictures in anyway, just to see what happened. I had several people really like my work and many of them left comments. One guy who is a member of the Wasatch Photography Club said, “Absolutely incredible what can be done with a camera by someone who knows how to put their heart and soul into it!" In a way it was very good to read comments like that but on the other hand it is hard because I do put everything into it but can’t seem to make enough money to make it worthwhile. Artists seem to be wealthy or busted, with the majority busted (especially while they are still alive). What to do.
Well, that’s it from our house. Keep walking the path of beauty and peace.
Ken and clan
From Brian:
Dear family,
Sorry it’s been a while since I wrote. I have had school coming out my ears.
On Monday I was supposed to go to my singles ward family home evening but my family was planning on going to a play without me. So I had someone from the ward fill in for me the part of the lesson I was doing on family history.
So Dad, Mom, Chad, Alicia, Jennifer and I all went to a play my college professor was starring in. It was “arsenic and old lace” and my Government and Politics Professor played the bad guy, a homicidal maniac. The play was so funny, we all laughed pretty hard. They did a great job. My teacher looked like Boris Carlough and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to look at him the same way again.
On Tuesday even though it was my first day of school it was my last as well for the week. We had fall break so I only had classes one day. In my Speech class we finished listening to peoples speeches. Then I tried to finish my homework at home, but dad was gone so I could not print my editorial for English. I e-mailed it to myself in haste and then dashed off for class. I had to stop by the pharmacy on my way to pick up my pills, which made me even more late. I got there and tried to print off my paper from my e-mail to take up to class. First, the computer took forever only to find out it was attached to the color printer that cost way more. So after moving computers it wouldn’t print. I found it was out of paper. They said they were sending someone down to fill it. After waiting a few agonizing minutes I ran up to my class about 10 minutes late. I explained and she said to participate in what was going on now and go down to print it in a while. Later I went back down and they brought a computer guy back who informed me that it wouldn’t print because I had no computer student card. So I went over to the desk, had my picture taken and it took the printer like 5 minutes to warm up and then slowly print my card. I finally was able to turn in the stupid editorial after 20 minutes of hassle.
On Wednesday Chad came over and looked at my car for a while that wouldn’t start. We tried jumping it because it was dead, but after 10 or 15 minutes of jumping it still wouldn’t start. We gave up when it got dark and wet and went to Chad’s house. I missed my institute class that I love, cause we never got it going. We made chili cheese dogs and watched, on a whim, “The Great Mouse Detective” which is an old Disney movie neither of us has seen in over a decade.
On Thursday Chad came over again to my house to try to look at the car. But I had a way bad migraine and we ended up reading some of my stories and then looking at pictures of me as a kid.
On Friday we all went over to Mounteers for a party. It was grandma’s 75th birthday. We had chili, hot dogs and snacks. Also the BYU game was on and we watched that over there. It was a cool game to see, against Utah State. We all got home way late and tired.
On Saturday I woke up early, packed up some stuff and headed for grandpa and grandmas. We all had different schedules and were going out at different times. Rauckhorsts were coming down for conference (The older kids were) and we waited for them. Spencer was a total goof ball. He was running around and making noises and causing minor mayhem. He learned to do this noise where he sucks in air to sound surprised, when I did it. He copied it pretty quick. He also likes making a monkey face and saying “oooohh!” as he points to things that interest him. I was supposed to go to the college at 12:30 to tutor a girl in anatomy; she’s in my class and struggling. But she got bit by something and had to go to the doctor so I got off the hook and got to stay there. Conference was amazing! That first session on Saturday there were some very specific things I realized I needed to do in my life, to become better and more close to the Savior. There were some good specific promptings that I made sure to write down, or we forget.
Tyler, Whitney and Nathan showed up shortly after the first session. We all spent the whole time playing with Spencer and watching him. Nathan and Whitney were building towers out of blocks and Spencer thinks he is Godzilla in Tokyo when he sees block buildings. He runs over and knocks it over, making sure there are not even 2 blocks on top of each other. “Smash! Man Things! Arrgghhh Argh!” He is a total boy. I even had a Godzilla sound effect on my phone and played it right when he went on his rampage so it fit perfectly. We showed him pictures of trucks and he says “Mvmmmmmm!” and makes the noise, or a tiger he says “arrgggg” and the funniest one he learned on Saturday and does it like crazy now is a piggy. He scrunches up his face and puts his hand by his mouth and snorts in and out several times getting louder and louder. We could not stop laughing it was so funny.
He stole my cell phone, and tried to talk on it and push buttons, and did the same with Whitney’s phone. He hides behind a chair to do stuff he knows he shouldn’t, it is so funny. He is a cutie and a riot.
Then we all watched the second session of conference. It was very powerful and I loved the spirit that was like fire in my bones, to the “consuming of my flesh.” I strengthened my testimony of many things. The boys had to change quickly after because we were going to go downtown for Priesthood at the Conference Center. We ate a quick dinner and drove to Trax. I followed the car on my scooter. I scooted.
We got to Trax and bought tickets quickly. We joked about a special Conference Trax train, which, like the Polar Express, would fly up into the air at extremely high speed and then come zooming down at the doors of the Conference Center. So we would not be late; the short cut.
Priesthood was great and so cool to see all those brethren. To think that there are near 6 million all watching it around the world is amazing! As we left there were some crazy protestors outside. One guy was yelling at the top of his lungs something about keeping or not keeping commandments. He reminded me of a Shakespeare monologue or the guy on the Ramiumptum. I felt sorry for the guy, he totally missed the boat, but he’s just getting paid to do that so he doesn’t care. They are getting way desperate. Notice we are never outside their facilities yelling and waving giant signs whose rhetoric seems to be designed by small children. It is because they are not a threat to us. But we sure seem to be a great threat to them. Thanks for proving our point guys, keep it up.
We drove back with Uncle Mike. It took a bit longer, I think, to get out of the parking lot than it did to drive back to the Train on 7200 South. That’s to be expected I guess with 22,000 people getting out on one block.
At home the girls were watching Charlie but all left towards the end, not wanting to see her die. I thought that sort of strange but whatever. We were looking at pictures on grandpa’s computer of all the family. It was cool to see how people look growing up, how we all have changed, and what we did back then. Tyler and Nate and I were talking about the titles of my stories and when I told Tyler the title of one he lost it. “Blanche awakens ‘THE’” Nate and I were wondering what in the world was so funny, then we began wondering when he was going to run out of oxygen. Then we started laughing because he was, and none of us could stop. It was way late, so I just slept out in the front room on a mattress to stay the night.
On Sunday the wind started blowing really bad at about 4 in the morning, and I thought “oh no, Rauckhorsts have to go home in this.” I could hear stuff, big stuff, getting blown around and rain. I woke up at about 6:40 and tried to help those three get ready to go. Tyler, Whitney and Nathan all had tickets to the Sunday Morning session of Conference so they had to leave. And they were going to drive home from there and not come back. So they were scrambling to get ready. Grandpa got up and finished helping me make breakfast. Then we got their stuff in the car and they left kind of sudden like. I wished then that I had had more time to talk and share experiences with, but oh well.
I loved the sessions of Sunday, although for some reason I had a hard time focusing on the morning session, my mind kept drifting to something else, not sure why. I usually am good at focusing on those things. I absolutely loved when Elder Holland added his Apostolic witness, to men and angels to be recorded alongside the Prophet Joseph, and the three Witnesses. That was powerful, that was so “The Bull Dog.”
As usual it was all over way too soon.
We ate dinner all together. Alicia made this really good soup, and we had rolls. Then we all drove home. Dad brought me some water gear to drive home in the rain on my scooter. Well I hope all is ok.
So Jason, what is all this talk of extending, talking about it like 9 months ahead of time? Anyway hope you are well, and your investigators saw Conference. Hope you get this. Love you all so much.
Love
Brian
From Elder Fortie:
And here comes Elder Holland, out of the batting cages and BOOOOMMMM!!!! Knocks it out of the stadium!!! Holy cow how about his talk!!! Ah!!! He is my favorite speaker and Sunday he once again proved why he is my favorite. Good heavens that man speaks with power and authority and he isn't afraid to throw down! Man how we could use him out here in the mission felid! My other two favorite speakers, President Monson and President Uchtdorf also gave wonderful talks! I LOVE conference, it is so exciting! We got 5 people to come to conference, but man it is not the same in Spanish... the translation is very correct, but it is dry, emotionless and monotone. It's hard because you want these people you are teaching to catch the fire that I get when I hear them speak, but they have to hear it through a man that could put a pit bull guard dog to sleep... But it was exciting none the less. I watched it up at the Oakland temple which is like 5 minutes from my apartment, which was cool. One of the talks given was really similar to a talk I had given like 3 days ago in zone leader council! That was kinda cool too, I was like hey! That's what I said! The spirit really must have been trying to drill some thing into my head on that one to make me speak on it and then listen to it right after.Other wise things are going fine. I still miss the West side of the bay, but such is the life of a missionary. Congratulations to Nathan and Paige! When do they find out if it is a boy or a girl? Let me know when it's due! I might just barely be home in time for the baby blessing, we shall see. Well things are going well. Elder Hinckley, (yes the son of the former prophet) who is a 70, was supposed to come out here to our mission this past week to do a visit here, and all us zone leaders were supposed to have a PPI with him, (I was excited!) but he had to cancel on us at the last second, so that was disappointing. Also I forgot to mention every week I have a meeting with just me my companion and brother Packer, the nephew of Elder Packer of the quorum of the 12, he is over missionary work out here and I meet with him once a week. There's all kinds of apostle family like people out here! The other month I ran into Elder Neil A. Anderson of the 12's son who lives here, and Quinton L. Cook used to be the stake Pres. of the stake I used to serve in, so his family has ties there, I think Elder Eyring as well lived out here. It's cool to see all these connections. This place is crazy but it puts out some good leaders, I guess it's a bit of a refiners fire here. Well I gots to get going, hope all is going well on the home front and all the other fronts out there! Keep up a smile!Love, Elder Fortie
September 28 – October 4, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
Tut Tut, it looks like rain and snow and wind and cold. Yes, this week decided that summer was hanging around too long and winter was way past due so it skipped fall. We went from the 80’s to the 40’s and around freezing at night. Something kept nagging me to go up into the mountains to take a few pictures. I finally went so I could have some peace, and it was, as Martha Stewart would say, “a good thing”. I went up to Brighton where I found about 5 inches of snow around Silver Lake. Even though it was quite breathtaking I really didn’t get the pictures I was hoping for. Somehow the beauty escaped my camera, perhaps my promptings were just for me to get up there and enjoy the sights and sounds and smells for myself. If you’re stuck in the city with your normal, stressful grind, don’t wait for pictures from me or anyone else to relieve that stress; get up in the mountains yourself to change your well being. The beauties of God’s creation truly hold the key to changing any darkness that may hold us captive, into joy, love and light. The snow mixed with the beautiful autumn colors really played some tricks on my mind; my eyes seemed to observe everything there as if looking through the eyes of a child seeing something for the first time. Certainly those who miss such opportunities cannot possibly reach their full potential for joy, but those who stop what they are doing to enjoy small but powerful moments like these will expand their souls throughout their lives.
Well, the week was filled with work and play, as usual. Most events are not newsworthy. Editing and getting pictures of families printed up and over to them. I picked up my pictures at the Sandy Library since we had the month of September as our month to display them on the walls of the library. I had a few people tell me on facebook that they were in the Sandy library and saw them and liked them.
On Monday we went to a play Brian told us about because one of his teachers was in it. It was the last night for “Arsenic and Old Lace” in the Sugar Factory Playhouse in South Jordan. The guy who played Marcellus in the Music Man that I was in this past summer was in it. They did a great job and we laughed like crazy. Now we want to get the movie from the library to see how it compares (it has been a while since I have seen it and the kids never have). Michelle needed to go to a play for one of her classes but she couldn’t get off work at Kneaders so she couldn’t go. She will have to catch another play somewhere else.
I checked out a couple of audio books from the library to listen to on the way up the canyon. I spotted a biography of Crazy Horse that seemed to call to me so I got it. It is a very interesting book and helps me see the vast difference between the two realities or belief systems of our cultures; one becoming the conquerors and one the conquered. It is amazing how almost everything the two cultures believe in are in exact opposition to each other after centuries of separation by an ocean. I have some very interesting thoughts of the Native Americans and their future but that is for another letter. I am almost finished with the book “The Wisdom Keepers” about Native American Elders and it has some interesting stories and teachings.
The kids had no school Thursday and Friday but our activities consisted of working and watching Monk (this time it was my fault, I was at the Sandy Library picking up my pictures and saw 4 DVDs of Monk and knew how everyone liked to watch it so I brought all 4 home. Well of course everyone decided they had to watch them before the week is up and we have to take them back so they watched two and three episodes in a row trying to get them all in during their break when they didn’t have homework). Every time someone in our house does something Monk like, someone else points it out and calls them Monk. I think some of them are actually getting to be more and more like Monk as the weeks of watching the show go by; that’s not good. We even say one of his frequent lines – “Here’s the thing” in our own conversation; crazy family. Anyway, mostly it has been work; in fact Jennifer had her biggest day yet by babysitting 4 kids for 10 hours on Friday. She does a good job with those kids and they love her.
On Friday night we went to Mike and Linda’s to celebrate grandma’s birthday, eat chili that Alicia made and watch the BYU game. The food was good, the cake and ice-cream was great and the game was fun. We had a late night but most of us were able to sleep in on Saturday.
Michelle had to work Saturday morning but the rest of us watched conference, ate and did a few things around the house. We went to grandpa and grandmas for dinner and then the guys all headed down town on trax to go to the general priesthood meeting. We left late so I didn’t think we would make it into the conference center but as we arrived about 10 minutes late we were able to get in and take some of the last few seats in the top right balcony. I haven’t been up there since the last time I cleaned the Conference Center (in fact we sat is the very section Chad cleaned) and the view is amazing with all those white shirts and dark suits all focused down on a tiny person speaking from the pulpit. I sat near the front in the center for the Temple Celebration performance that Michelle and Jennifer were a part of and that was of course a great seat to see the stage, but if you want to be impressed with the Conference Center as a whole, sit in the top corner of the building. Tyler and Whitney came down for conference so Tyler and his cousin Nathan went with us (grandpa, Brian and me) to priesthood. I think they enjoyed it and we all went to grandpa and grandmas for, of course, ice-cream, lots of toppings and lots of fun.
Sunday we ate and watched conference then headed to grandpa and grandmas for the last session, dinner, games and of course, ice-cream (I’m detecting a pattern here). Well, we had fun but Brian rode his scooter there on Saturday when the weather was decent, stayed Saturday night and then had to ride home in a cold rain Sunday night, not so fun. I brought some warm stuff for him and a raincoat so he was bundled up pretty well, we followed him and he seemed to do okay. He does need to get a job so he can afford to get his car fixed so it will pass inspection so he can drive this winter. The scooters have been great for the summer but I think that is coming to a close soon. I picked Michelle up from school on Wednesday on the scooter and it rained a bit on us but we were bundled up so it wasn’t too bad. A little cold on the hands with my thin summer gloves, I’ll have to get my winter gloves and coat out for the fall and early winter riding. It’s still fun, even when it’s a bit cold.
Conference was, as usual, very good and there were some powerful talks given this time. I think some crazy things are coming. The protesters were there, as usual, ranting and raving about how terrible we are. Frankly, I am grateful for their presence. I like to pause there for a few moments to feel the darkness they tend to represent and then go inside the Conference Center and feel the exact opposite feeling as I listen to the choir sing a beautiful hymn before the meeting starts. The contrast to me is a testimony in itself. No words need be said, just the opposition is amazing. I keep thinking that if any one of them could step outside his hate and anger and stand with me in both places they would have to agree that they carry with them the wrong spirit. But of course they wouldn’t be able to step outside their little world of belief any more than we can get Al-Qaeda leaders to suddenly convert to Christianity. I see these people as the modern day Pharisees, straining at gnats but swallowing camels. They remind me of the last chapter of Acts, when Paul goes to Rome and calls for the Jews there to come talk to him. They ask him about this strange sect that they have heard so many bad things about, in fact here are their words: (Acts 28:22-28.) “But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Indeed the Christians, which were a new and very strange Jewish sect, were thought of as atheists because they wouldn’t believe in the state religion (kind of like not saluting the flag today) and they were considered cannibals because it was reported that they ate flesh and drank blood in their meetings, and they had all kinds of perverse relationships with members of their congregations because they called each other brother and sister, etc. The rumors were wild and crazy, and of course none of them were true. Some government positions were given to Christians specifically because of their integrity, “in spite of their strange religion.” How many people today say the Mormons are such good people but are just deceived by some strange mind altering religion. Things never change.
I found out about a Utah photo book that is being put together, I’m sure it’s just a way to get people to buy something they put together by saying one of your pictures may be in the book, but I thought I’d put some of my pictures in anyway, just to see what happened. I had several people really like my work and many of them left comments. One guy who is a member of the Wasatch Photography Club said, “Absolutely incredible what can be done with a camera by someone who knows how to put their heart and soul into it!" In a way it was very good to read comments like that but on the other hand it is hard because I do put everything into it but can’t seem to make enough money to make it worthwhile. Artists seem to be wealthy or busted, with the majority busted (especially while they are still alive). What to do.
Well, that’s it from our house. Keep walking the path of beauty and peace.
Ken and clan
From Brian:
Dear family,
Sorry it’s been a while since I wrote. I have had school coming out my ears.
On Monday I was supposed to go to my singles ward family home evening but my family was planning on going to a play without me. So I had someone from the ward fill in for me the part of the lesson I was doing on family history.
So Dad, Mom, Chad, Alicia, Jennifer and I all went to a play my college professor was starring in. It was “arsenic and old lace” and my Government and Politics Professor played the bad guy, a homicidal maniac. The play was so funny, we all laughed pretty hard. They did a great job. My teacher looked like Boris Carlough and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to look at him the same way again.
On Tuesday even though it was my first day of school it was my last as well for the week. We had fall break so I only had classes one day. In my Speech class we finished listening to peoples speeches. Then I tried to finish my homework at home, but dad was gone so I could not print my editorial for English. I e-mailed it to myself in haste and then dashed off for class. I had to stop by the pharmacy on my way to pick up my pills, which made me even more late. I got there and tried to print off my paper from my e-mail to take up to class. First, the computer took forever only to find out it was attached to the color printer that cost way more. So after moving computers it wouldn’t print. I found it was out of paper. They said they were sending someone down to fill it. After waiting a few agonizing minutes I ran up to my class about 10 minutes late. I explained and she said to participate in what was going on now and go down to print it in a while. Later I went back down and they brought a computer guy back who informed me that it wouldn’t print because I had no computer student card. So I went over to the desk, had my picture taken and it took the printer like 5 minutes to warm up and then slowly print my card. I finally was able to turn in the stupid editorial after 20 minutes of hassle.
On Wednesday Chad came over and looked at my car for a while that wouldn’t start. We tried jumping it because it was dead, but after 10 or 15 minutes of jumping it still wouldn’t start. We gave up when it got dark and wet and went to Chad’s house. I missed my institute class that I love, cause we never got it going. We made chili cheese dogs and watched, on a whim, “The Great Mouse Detective” which is an old Disney movie neither of us has seen in over a decade.
On Thursday Chad came over again to my house to try to look at the car. But I had a way bad migraine and we ended up reading some of my stories and then looking at pictures of me as a kid.
On Friday we all went over to Mounteers for a party. It was grandma’s 75th birthday. We had chili, hot dogs and snacks. Also the BYU game was on and we watched that over there. It was a cool game to see, against Utah State. We all got home way late and tired.
On Saturday I woke up early, packed up some stuff and headed for grandpa and grandmas. We all had different schedules and were going out at different times. Rauckhorsts were coming down for conference (The older kids were) and we waited for them. Spencer was a total goof ball. He was running around and making noises and causing minor mayhem. He learned to do this noise where he sucks in air to sound surprised, when I did it. He copied it pretty quick. He also likes making a monkey face and saying “oooohh!” as he points to things that interest him. I was supposed to go to the college at 12:30 to tutor a girl in anatomy; she’s in my class and struggling. But she got bit by something and had to go to the doctor so I got off the hook and got to stay there. Conference was amazing! That first session on Saturday there were some very specific things I realized I needed to do in my life, to become better and more close to the Savior. There were some good specific promptings that I made sure to write down, or we forget.
Tyler, Whitney and Nathan showed up shortly after the first session. We all spent the whole time playing with Spencer and watching him. Nathan and Whitney were building towers out of blocks and Spencer thinks he is Godzilla in Tokyo when he sees block buildings. He runs over and knocks it over, making sure there are not even 2 blocks on top of each other. “Smash! Man Things! Arrgghhh Argh!” He is a total boy. I even had a Godzilla sound effect on my phone and played it right when he went on his rampage so it fit perfectly. We showed him pictures of trucks and he says “Mvmmmmmm!” and makes the noise, or a tiger he says “arrgggg” and the funniest one he learned on Saturday and does it like crazy now is a piggy. He scrunches up his face and puts his hand by his mouth and snorts in and out several times getting louder and louder. We could not stop laughing it was so funny.
He stole my cell phone, and tried to talk on it and push buttons, and did the same with Whitney’s phone. He hides behind a chair to do stuff he knows he shouldn’t, it is so funny. He is a cutie and a riot.
Then we all watched the second session of conference. It was very powerful and I loved the spirit that was like fire in my bones, to the “consuming of my flesh.” I strengthened my testimony of many things. The boys had to change quickly after because we were going to go downtown for Priesthood at the Conference Center. We ate a quick dinner and drove to Trax. I followed the car on my scooter. I scooted.
We got to Trax and bought tickets quickly. We joked about a special Conference Trax train, which, like the Polar Express, would fly up into the air at extremely high speed and then come zooming down at the doors of the Conference Center. So we would not be late; the short cut.
Priesthood was great and so cool to see all those brethren. To think that there are near 6 million all watching it around the world is amazing! As we left there were some crazy protestors outside. One guy was yelling at the top of his lungs something about keeping or not keeping commandments. He reminded me of a Shakespeare monologue or the guy on the Ramiumptum. I felt sorry for the guy, he totally missed the boat, but he’s just getting paid to do that so he doesn’t care. They are getting way desperate. Notice we are never outside their facilities yelling and waving giant signs whose rhetoric seems to be designed by small children. It is because they are not a threat to us. But we sure seem to be a great threat to them. Thanks for proving our point guys, keep it up.
We drove back with Uncle Mike. It took a bit longer, I think, to get out of the parking lot than it did to drive back to the Train on 7200 South. That’s to be expected I guess with 22,000 people getting out on one block.
At home the girls were watching Charlie but all left towards the end, not wanting to see her die. I thought that sort of strange but whatever. We were looking at pictures on grandpa’s computer of all the family. It was cool to see how people look growing up, how we all have changed, and what we did back then. Tyler and Nate and I were talking about the titles of my stories and when I told Tyler the title of one he lost it. “Blanche awakens ‘THE’” Nate and I were wondering what in the world was so funny, then we began wondering when he was going to run out of oxygen. Then we started laughing because he was, and none of us could stop. It was way late, so I just slept out in the front room on a mattress to stay the night.
On Sunday the wind started blowing really bad at about 4 in the morning, and I thought “oh no, Rauckhorsts have to go home in this.” I could hear stuff, big stuff, getting blown around and rain. I woke up at about 6:40 and tried to help those three get ready to go. Tyler, Whitney and Nathan all had tickets to the Sunday Morning session of Conference so they had to leave. And they were going to drive home from there and not come back. So they were scrambling to get ready. Grandpa got up and finished helping me make breakfast. Then we got their stuff in the car and they left kind of sudden like. I wished then that I had had more time to talk and share experiences with, but oh well.
I loved the sessions of Sunday, although for some reason I had a hard time focusing on the morning session, my mind kept drifting to something else, not sure why. I usually am good at focusing on those things. I absolutely loved when Elder Holland added his Apostolic witness, to men and angels to be recorded alongside the Prophet Joseph, and the three Witnesses. That was powerful, that was so “The Bull Dog.”
As usual it was all over way too soon.
We ate dinner all together. Alicia made this really good soup, and we had rolls. Then we all drove home. Dad brought me some water gear to drive home in the rain on my scooter. Well I hope all is ok.
So Jason, what is all this talk of extending, talking about it like 9 months ahead of time? Anyway hope you are well, and your investigators saw Conference. Hope you get this. Love you all so much.
Love
Brian
From Elder Fortie:
And here comes Elder Holland, out of the batting cages and BOOOOMMMM!!!! Knocks it out of the stadium!!! Holy cow how about his talk!!! Ah!!! He is my favorite speaker and Sunday he once again proved why he is my favorite. Good heavens that man speaks with power and authority and he isn't afraid to throw down! Man how we could use him out here in the mission felid! My other two favorite speakers, President Monson and President Uchtdorf also gave wonderful talks! I LOVE conference, it is so exciting! We got 5 people to come to conference, but man it is not the same in Spanish... the translation is very correct, but it is dry, emotionless and monotone. It's hard because you want these people you are teaching to catch the fire that I get when I hear them speak, but they have to hear it through a man that could put a pit bull guard dog to sleep... But it was exciting none the less. I watched it up at the Oakland temple which is like 5 minutes from my apartment, which was cool. One of the talks given was really similar to a talk I had given like 3 days ago in zone leader council! That was kinda cool too, I was like hey! That's what I said! The spirit really must have been trying to drill some thing into my head on that one to make me speak on it and then listen to it right after.Other wise things are going fine. I still miss the West side of the bay, but such is the life of a missionary. Congratulations to Nathan and Paige! When do they find out if it is a boy or a girl? Let me know when it's due! I might just barely be home in time for the baby blessing, we shall see. Well things are going well. Elder Hinckley, (yes the son of the former prophet) who is a 70, was supposed to come out here to our mission this past week to do a visit here, and all us zone leaders were supposed to have a PPI with him, (I was excited!) but he had to cancel on us at the last second, so that was disappointing. Also I forgot to mention every week I have a meeting with just me my companion and brother Packer, the nephew of Elder Packer of the quorum of the 12, he is over missionary work out here and I meet with him once a week. There's all kinds of apostle family like people out here! The other month I ran into Elder Neil A. Anderson of the 12's son who lives here, and Quinton L. Cook used to be the stake Pres. of the stake I used to serve in, so his family has ties there, I think Elder Eyring as well lived out here. It's cool to see all these connections. This place is crazy but it puts out some good leaders, I guess it's a bit of a refiners fire here. Well I gots to get going, hope all is going well on the home front and all the other fronts out there! Keep up a smile!Love, Elder Fortie
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