PROM 2010

Matt and Mikarie had a blast at Prom. They started off the day with a BBQ and games at the park. Then they met for pictures with their group and parents, went to Salt Lake for dinner, then back to Weber State for the dance. They capped the night off with an outdoor movie at the Deckers. What a great day full of fun memories. If I do say so myself....they were stunning together!!

One Happy Missionary

Elder Hunsaker enjoying what he loves the best....ocean and palm trees. (Well, minus the palm trees but you get what I mean)


Elder Hunsaker got to go on a 2 day split with Elder Haney...one of his favorite missionaries from his MTC district. It is their goal to be companions by the end of their mission. Can you see the happiness in Jordan's smile. He said it was one of his best two days yet!!

Trees

Nineteen years ago we got some little tree starts from Larry's house in Honeyville. We planted and enjoyed the shade for many years but unfortunately all good things must come to and end. The trees have started to die off the last year or so so we decided to cut them down this spring. We got the chainsaw up and running...Matt climbing the trees to tie on the rope and we were ready to go.

It was quite the excitement for all the kids and our great neighbors were eager and willing to help. The funny thing is is now we are all having a hard time finding our homes since the trees were every ones landmark.

Before







After

Basketball Banquet

The basketball season has come to an end and with it came the basketball banquet. Of course it had to be on my birthday...great way to celebrate right?? LOL.

Even though we had a rough season it was still a nice evening. They handed out awards to the seniors with the most points scored, most steals etc. Then they started handing out awards to the best offensive player, defensive player and so on...it was really nice for the seniors. They passed out the Most Improved Player and Brookes Carter went up and got it...then the coach said...we couldn't decide between two players on this so we are going to pass out another Most Improved. He then went on to talk about trying to decide whether to keep this kid on the team but thought they needed too and how hard this kid came out and practiced. He did everything he was asked to do and ended up starting most games. He went on for a few more minutes (even more then he did for the first kid that got the award) and then said this is presented to Matt Hunsaker. HOLY COW!!! Wow...that was such a nice surprise especially since he was the only JV player to get an award. Way to go Matt!!

The funny thing is Matt has been trying to decide if he really wanted to play next year or not...(Larry and I want him too so bad). So now I think the pressure is on a little more to tryout after getting this award.

So proud of my 6' 2" basketball stud!!


Some of the JV team with Coach Duckworth


Basketball friends: Carson, Matt, Mike and Blake

4 months

Elder Hunsaker has been gone 4 months....Can you believe it? At times it is so slow but others it is just flying by. So in the last two months since he has been in Chile he has been bit by a dog, seen HUGE spiders, eaten horse, stomach and who knows what else, experienced a 8.8 earthquake, ran for higher ground from a tsunami warning, has been given the gift of tongues and had the time of his life!! Isn't it great being a missionary!!

A few of these horse and wagons are driven around town.


A view of the beautiful ocean in Quintero.


Elder Church, Elder Hunsaker and Hermana Clara. This sweet lady feeds them quite a bit :)

On Shaky Ground

In Isaiah 41:10 it says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."



How powerful are these words as Saturday morning we got word that there had been an 8.8 earthquake in Chile. By the time I turned on the TV the earthquake had happened but they were worried of tsunami's. Knowing that Jordan and his companion live on a pennisula my heart sank. Please Heavenly Father let him be on high ground. As I watched CNN they showed the massive destruction in Concepcion...200 miles from where Jordan is...but then they interviewed people staying in Vina del Mar which is Jordan's mission and how these people had to run out of buildings and the destruction around them. Oh how my heart sank. I cried and trembled as I feared for Jordan and his companion. Larry was at work and I called him to let him know...and then my phone rang and rang and rang. My cell phone had text messages after text messages. I was being carried by the love and concern of many around us.

I had to go to work that morning and I feared to leave home. I wanted to know what was going on but I had an obligation to fulfill. I panicked at work and they were so kind to allow me to have my phone on me at all times and to check the internet for emails from the mission president, Jordan, the church or whoever. Larry was able to come home a short time later and keep me updated on nothing....no emails, no word, no anything. Around 1:00 I got a text saying that KSL had reported that all missionaries had been accounted for.

You would think that that would give you relief to hear that he was accounted for but it doesn't. I appreciated the fact and knowing that he had been accounted for...but was he without a home, water, food, clothes...how was my son living? But yet through the tears and fears I felt peace in a weird sort of way.

I had a couple missionary mom's email me Sunday and tell me they had just gotten a call from their son's and I should expect one soon...as the mission president asked each missionary to call home. Well, FINALLY Sunday night we got a call that said, "I am alive and ok. I love you guys. I felt the quake...is Johnie ok (his friend is in Santiago)...We have no water and the electricity just barely came on...I have to go...I will try and call tomorrow." Oh the flood of relief to hear his voice and know that he was ok.

On Monday we got an email which we didn't expect. He said, "I tell you...I have had more crazy stuff happen in one month then in my whole 19 years of life". He also said that there wasn't as much damage where he was at. He said that the members were all really worried about him and his companion and invited them to their homes and fought over who got to feed them. He said, "I don't get why cause I am pretty sure we were a lot better off then them but it was really cool of them". Oh how I love the people of Chile who care for my son!!

After this I didn't expect any more but Monday night we got a 5 minute phone call from him. He said that his companion was waking him up and he could feel the shaking but he wasn't quite awake. At first he thought someone was breaking in to their place. He said that his bed was in the middle of the room and that their tables had slid across the room. Some stuff had fallen off the walls but other than that not much damage to their pension. (This is what they call a home). After the quake they went back to bed and slept through most of the aftershocks. It wasn't until the next morning that they found out how bad it was. There were some buildings down in there area but not as bad as in Vina del Mar. (They went to the mission home on monday).

I have thought a lot about it since the quake and now know that Heavenly Father was holding us and protecting over Jordan. He gave me peace (even through my tears) and he gave Jordan peace to sleep through the aftershocks. He is always there for the peace in this trembling world...we just need to look and listen and feel that peace and comfort. I know that he protected over my son that day as he did all the other missionaries. He gave me peace in knowing that the Chileans love Jordan as much as his mother does in making sure he was ok...physically and spiritually. I know Heavenly Father probably feels the same as he waits and watches us...waiting to hear that we have made righteous choices. That we have chosen to follow him and gain that peace.

Fear not I am with thee...oh be not dismayed. For I am thy God....and I will give you peace.

Thank you Heavenly Father for watching over my boy!!

Matt + Mikarie = Sweethearts Dance

More Chile pictures!!

Jordan emailed us a few pictures from his mission!! It was so fun to see his "life" as he is living it now :)

Elder Church...Jordan's first companion and trainer in Chile


Playing soccer with some of the natives


The spider they found in their apartment...after they killed it with a whole can of bug spray to make sure it was dead!!


The house he helped build for a family

First Picture in Chile

Dear Hunsaker Family,

We would like to thank you for supporting your son and for allowing him to serve in the Chile Viña del Mar Mission. We want you to know that he is doing very well and enjoyed the first week here. We are very blessed to have such a great young man and look forward to serving along with him. Upon arriving, he took a picture with President and Sister Gillespie in front of the famous flower clock here in Viña del Mar. Attached is picture which you may share with family and friends.

Elder Albrecht
Secretary
Viña del Mar Mission

MORP

A few weeks ago the doorbell rang and there was a cute snowman on our porch with a note saying..."There's "SNOW" other "MAN" I would like to go to MORP with then you." Mikarie Kelsey had asked Matt to go with her...It was darling!!


The theme for MORP was sports so their group all went as baseball players...the girls made up fun shirts with MORP and Northridge on the front and their last names and "10" (for 2010) on the back.


This is the other couple they drove with...Kaden and Conner


The whole big group (minus a few who didn't make it in time) before they went to dinner. It was so fun to see the group in all the different color shirts.

The "Call" and more MTC

On Monday...we finally got the "call". We were so excited to talk to Jordan and hear is voice...what I didn't expect was the emotion I would feel with it. I thought for sure he would say "Hey fam..." or something is Spanish but it was "Mooommm" you know like that little voice that calls out to you in the night. It totally melted my heart and made me cry. Of course the phone was instantly handed to Larry while I tried to control my emotions. (Let's go with that I was really trying to get the other phone on speaker so we could all hear...LOL) I heard him say, "oh brother mom..." which made me laugh. We then spent the next hour and a half talking to a very humble and grown up Jordan. He filled us in on life and the MTC and we did the same. It was so wonderful to hear his growth. We had the opportunity to hear from him again shortly after that when his plane had been delayed and then again when he had a layover in Dallas. THREE times we got to talk to him that day!!

On the last time he called a couple of his friends were here to talk to him. One asked him to tell us a cool story. He said that it actually had just happened. On his flight down to Dallas he was sitting by a 20 year old guy in the military. The guy asked Jordan what is was all dressed up for and Jordan explained he was going on his mission. Well, I guess the guy ended up asking questions the whole flight...Jordan said he didn't have to ask him any cause the guy kept asking. Right before Jordan left the MTC he bought a small Book of Mormon to take with him...well, he asked the guy if he would like it and the guy said yes!! He also gave him a referral card. How cool is that!!

The hardest part was saying goodbye. I once again ached at not seeing him for two years but couldn't be prouder of what he is doing and accomplishing. He survived the MTC, was a Zone leader, and great friend and example to all of us.

The next day I got in the mail another memory card filled with over 100 pictures!! What a good boy I have...ha ha ha!! LOVE IT!!!

Elder Hunsaker and the "Map"


His District showing where they are all going


I don't know whoever would have taught them that move for a picture...LOL


His district and their matching ties from their trainer


His Itinerary...how cool is that!!

6 more days....

6 more days till we get to hear a ring a ding ding and a..."Hello Family...it's Elder Hunsaker!!!" I can't wait and no I am not just a little excited I am ECSTATIC!!

2009 In Review

Even though 2009 has been one of the hardest years of our lives, it has also been one full of excitement and fun. A family vacation to Hawaii, Larry's trip to Alaska, graduation, football, basketball, a mission call to Chile and just everyday memories. It has been a year full of wonderful memories.

 

MTC

We got the very best Christmas present on Christmas Eve...a memory card with over 90 pictures of Elder Hunsaker at the MTC!! Just to share a few of our favorites...

Elder Hunsaker and Elder Kent...his companion from California


Elder Kent, Elder Hunsaker and Elder Hewlett (He loves Elder Hewlett...he is one of his roommates)


The "Name Badge"


Some days the MTC drives him up the wall...LOL


Elder Smith and Elder Hunsaker (these two grew up together)


I think this is his zone/district but not sure


Crutches....can you guess how....yep basketball!!

A Missionary Christmas Poem

This year for Christmas I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving
The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Claus,
my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks--no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple,
Felt strength come from His words.
I've reread November's Ensign, and my testimony stirred.
Our family prays more frequently.
My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers gave their sons to war.
Or how the Pioneers chose Zion - their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton.
For two years we will pray for him.
I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking.
I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard.
His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand.
This year, I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter,
I think I finally understand.
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns,
That all his packing is done.
My gift has taken years to make.
This year...I'm giving Christ my son.