Thankful

I am so thankful for sweet little Hermana's that keep my son fed.

Quoting from Jordan's email, "This is Hermana le Ping. She is the littlest old lady and she talks so quiet but she makes theeeeeeeee biggest lunches! She says she needs to make a lot for the missionaries because they walk all day. She had already given me a huge bowl of beans and sausage that filled me up and then she came out with this second plate and then dessert!! I literally felt sick after I ate so much!!"

Oh thank you sweet Hermana le Ping!

Eagle Scout

Congratulations to Matt on becoming an Eagle Scout!! We are so proud of him and his desire to obtain this award...even when asked, "What was your hardest badge to earn?" Matt replied "Plumbing"....what was your easiest..."Plumbing". Gotta love this kid and his sense of humor.

Videos that make me smile!!

A sweet family in Chile took videos of Jordan and his companion Elder Mower and put them on facebook. Luckily Elder Mowers brother got them to download for me so I could put them on our blog. Elder Mower is coming home in two weeks and lives in Sandy so we are planning to go to his Homecoming!! These two boys have become great friends and I think you can see why!!

The new me....

Not quite sure what got in to me when I went to get my hair colored today and I told her I wanted to go a little darker...not sure I meant this dark....might take some getting use to.

Pure Delight

This just plain makes me laugh hysterically!!

Quoting from Jordan's email today..."We got to go down to Vina today to have Elder Mowers foot checked out. We have to go like 2 times a week and after a record breaking chicken and rice for lunch every day for about two weeks...We got permission to go to this restricted area to go to Subway!! I have never tasted anything so good in my life and I just can't wait for the day when I get home and can eat a Jr. bacon cheeseburger from Wendy's!"

This is his first Subway in the 7 months he has been there....and it just makes me smile.

 I miss that boy!!

Do you know how much I love him...

OK...this post is NOT just cause it is Father's Day but because I truly LOVE this man!!

I have been wanting a new camera for a long time. My camera just hasn't been cutting it lately and with it being Matt's senior year and last year of sports I really wanted a good camera. Well, of course this year has not been the best financially for us...but we are getting back slowly....so to my surprise I came downstairs early this morning to get everything ready to go to BYU and Matt's 7 on 7 football tournament and saw a box on the table with a note. At first I thought it was something Matt had done for Larry for Fathers Day....until closer inspection. The note that said, "Happy Fathers Day...We love you!" and right there was a brand new camera!!!

My sweet husband has been saving up his money from his extra job as a supervisor for Layton City Rec. to buy me something I really really wanted during the start of football. What is more is that he gives it to me on "HIS" fathers day weekend. I was so deeply touched and can't even begin to explain how much I love him. Thank you Larry for being the best husband, father and friend in the whole wide world!!

PS...I would have taken a picture of my new camera but I was using it to take Larry's picture. LOL

Pick your battles

So I went to bed one night before Matt came home...and when I woke up in the morning his hair was uuummmmm....blondish/orangish!! A week or so ago he came home with a mohawk and now this!! It is a good thing I love this kid and that he is so good. That morning he got up and went and did a service project with our stake. (Sam and Matt didn't stay long...but the effort to go was there). I guess I would much rather have a blond, mohawk kid doing service than the alternative.

Anyone have some hair dye to dye it back though?!?!

Matt with his friends at Youth Conference.

These two are so weird!! Sam is Matt's best friend and hairdresser....I think Sam needs to find another profession other than hair...and maybe fix his own mohawk too. LOL (Welcome to football season...this happens every year before football camp)

Me...

This is ME...Do I look old? Do I look frazzled? Do I look like I can handle the world? If you look real close I DO look old, frazzled, and feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. I work two jobs and I am the football booster president and I think I should have the look on my face that my sweet niece Emmy has on her face.

Why all this you ask? Well...that is the burning question that I am asking myself and will share with you in a few weeks. Until then....all I can say is hummmmm.....really???

Cali

This is my sweet niece Cali and her darling little girls...the cute boy is mine (LOL). Whenever I have a blog, camera, or picture question, Cali is my go to girl. She is so talented and kind to put up with all my questions. I loved how she helped me so that my pictures will be bigger.

Thanks Cali...I LOVE it!!

Here we go....

It is that time again...the start of football season!! We have had two 7 on 7 tournaments (2 more to go) and have started off well! We won the first tournament and took 2nd (out of 32 teams) in the big Weber State tournament. What a fun way to start the season off....now for football camps, more tournaments, fundraisers, 2 a day practices...let the fun begin!!

 

Memorial Day 2010

On Saturday we celebrated Mom's 82nd birthday with Linda and Ralph's family. We had a nice brunch and lots of visiting. We then all headed down to the cemetery to put flowers on Dad's and Jacob's grave. I think this is the first time that the family has all been down to the cemetery together since Dad died. It was a very nice day to spend together as a family.

 

Also today we honor the men and women who have allowed us to have this family time by serving and protecting our country. Thank you also to my own father who served in the Navy. I love you Dad!

Jordan's First Baptism

Meet Pedro Romo. This is the sweet boy who's life will hopefully be changed for the rest of his life from two Elders. One which happens to be my son!


Quoting Jordan's email: We had a baptism!!!! It was pretty funny. So Pedro is way short especially for his age. We were going into the font and he was on the last step and he just kind of stopped and hesitated to get in. I looked back at him and the water was already at his chest. When he took the last step he was on his tippy toes and the water was to his neck! ha ha...everyone starting laughing and stuff, it was pretty funny. So while I was doing the baptism I kind of held him up...and then just barely dunked him and he was already all the way under. Everybody thought that it was pretty funny.

After the baptism Elder Hunsaker and Elder Cooper had gotten a cake for Pedro, his sister (both of who's birthdays it was) and also the mother who's birthday was the next day. They were really touched by the gesture of a simple cake. Even the bishop kept thanking them. As Jordan put it, "It was a pretty tight night!"

Elder Cooper, Pedro's family and Elder Hunsaker


The week before they had another baptism. This was Jordan's first to have out in the field. Elder Cooper did the baptism and Elder Hunsaker gave a talk at Ceasar's baptism. (He is 11 years old)

Elder Hunsaker's Videos

This past week Jordan sent home some fun stuff from Chile...an apron, ring, necklace, money and his picture/video card from his camera. On the card was some videos that were so fun to watch. I love hearing him in the background speaking Spanish!! There were about 14 videos...I wont bore you with all of them....even though I want too!! He honestly just brings a smile to my face. I LOVE my missionary!!

Listen to his Spanish...not to bad!


After the earthquake (kind of fun to see his apartment in Quintero)


English class


Lost with Elder Haney (one of his favorite missionaries from the MTC). They both had only been out 2 months or so....

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