* Dad arrived back home from Mexico (on the 12th)
* Dad went to a Product Show up in Great Falls, MT for a few days
* Mom worked on Family History
* Ben had a few shifts at McDonald's, had Rugby practices and also went to a Monster Truck show with friends. He also went Sledding with the YM
* Several trips to the Library
* Girls had weekly art, piano and dance lessons
* Nathan had scouts each week and also finished up his swimming merit badge!
* August has started attending Institute and the Singles Ward there in Nebraska! He's still keeping busy with his two jobs (and he's applying for a 3rd as a Pizza Delivery Driver at Papa Johns). I'm told he's been helping out with all the snow Kearney's been getting and helping keep Grandma and Grandpa's driveway clear! He calls us frequently and seems to be happy where he's at!
* Schooling: Enrichments, read alouds, games, reading, writing, baking, math, science and lots of art
* Valentine's Day! We did our traditional "We Love to Be a A Family" celebrations. The girls asked if they could be in charge of things this year - so they were and that was great!! They created our big banner and then hid the hearts around the house to find (each heart has a "challenge" on the back of it).
Seth Spotlight...
* Had a Zone Conference
* Went on Splits with the YM of their ward
* Spent Pday at Jiquilillo Beach with 4 other missionaries and the Ward Mission Leader (who is getting ready to leave on his own mission)
* Had a Multi Stake Meeting where Elder Cook came to speak to them. He talked a lot towards the members to help them stay active and was also talking a lot about the Book of Mormon. He shared how if some people can get a strong testimony just by reading 1 page, imagine how strong of a testimony we can get if we read from it daily!
* The 2nd Counselors daughter got baptized and he was able to help with that
Questions Mom asked him:
1. Any spiritual experiences to share?
Well we had some good experiences with the person who will be baptized tomorrow. Like for example, he had his baptismal
interview Friday, and just hearing his testimony how he has changed over
the past few weeks due to the gospel was really touching.
2. Any times you felt extra happy or uplifted?
I really had a fun time Thursday - we
went on divisions, and I got to work with someone a bit newer (it's his
second change) and at night it was a really fun since we had to stay the night with the Zone Leaders.
3. What did you feel best about doing this week?
I think the best I feel about this week, well just doing the Lords work is always great
Spiritually Speaking...
written by Ben (age 15)
Let me start this off by saying that The Church is true 100%. There's no false doctrine, corrupt leaders, or any of that jazz that a bunch of other religions have. I know that Joseph Smith was the first prophet of these latter days- I also know that President Nelson is ordained by God to be our prophet in these modern days. I know that my Savior lives. I know that he died for each and every one of us, and I know he has an undying love for each son/daughter of Heavenly Father. I also know that Heavenly Father is our creator, our best friend, and our biggest help. I see His hand in my everyday life, and I am I so very grateful for his everlasting mercy he shows me and so many others. I also testify that The Book Of Mormon is the truest book on this Earth- I know of its power, of its blessings, and of its knowledge. I know that if we read out of that phenomenal book daily, that our lives will be blessed. I love my Heavenly Father and my savior Jesus Christ, and I know of their existence and purpose. With that, I leave these things with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
**************************************
written by Dad
I find it interesting how throughout my life, the Lord has had different paths for me to take and that many times, they were not paths that I had ever considered. Sometimes, they were paths that I had looked at and was completely against but when the time comes, there is a change in my heart and after prayer, I know it is what the Lord has in store for me/us. I know it is just right.
A few examples:
Joining the Church
Joining the Army
Taking a duty assignment in Korea
Leaving our beloved Idaho for North Dakota
Leaving North Dakota for Montana
Sometimes these ideas are revealed to Shandy years in advance as a feeling and it takes me a long time to come around. Years before we left Boise, Shandy would say, "I have a feeling that in a few years, we will be moving out of state." My reply was always, "Why would we ever do that? Our family is here, Boise State football is here, Boise is home." Lo and behold, the opportunity to take a job with Rain for Rent and move to North Dakota presented itself and I knew that it was right. We fasted and prayed about the decision and we were given confirmation through the Spirit that that was what we should do.
When the Spirit tells me what to do, I'm completely on board and we move Heaven and Hell to make it happen.
With that being said, here's an email that I sent to Seth a week ago:
So, your mother and I have hatched a plan.
Here’s the seeds of the plan:
Your mother and I have a theme song (she doesn’t know it) which is
Metallica’s Wherever I May Roam. Rover, wanderer, nomad, vagabond - call
me what you will...yeah, yeah!
With her growing up as an Army Brat, she’s always been used to
picking up every two or three years and moving. I’m kind of that way,
too. I have lived in 13 different towns, spanning five states and three
countries. I have lived in third world countries and have been in 12
countries across our globe.
I love the company that I work for, I love the pay I get and I’m
grateful that I can support our family. I don’t love my job, however.
When I wake up, I’m not excited to go to work.
I’ve always thought that the best thing would be to have a job
where you would enjoy what you did and still have a way to support your
family. I’ve never been able to find that, yet. I have a lot of ideas,
but they have all revolved around when I’m retired and the jobs would
just be break even type things to keep me busy and entertained.
Your mother and I love watching House Hunters International. We are
always envious of people who are getting out of the rat race and
heading off to live a more simplistic life in an exotic locale.
I love guns. I love hunting.
I have always wanted to grow out a big beard. I’d also like to spend my days in a t-shirt, cargo shorts, and flip flops.
I am putting in for VA disability. We anticipate that I will end up getting classified
as 100% disabled for my sleep apnea, PTSD, depression, hearing loss,
jacked up back, shoulders, knees, ankles, and wrists. This will provide
us with about $3,300/month for life. When I die, your mother will
continue to collect this money. Also, all of my children will qualify
for free tuition to any public college.
Your mother and I have been working very hard to kill off all of
our debt to include both vehicles and the last of our student loans.
Without the VA disability, we will have this done in two years. With the
disability, it will be even sooner.
When I went to Mexico, as you know, we talked to guys who said they
could live very comfortably for around $1K/month. I talked to a woman
who had moved down there twenty years earlier and ran a rental business
that rented four wheelers and side by side UTV’s. These discussions
planted some more seeds.
So where do all of these disjointed items, facts, and tidbits lead us?
Drumroll....
In four years your mother and I are selling everything, packing up the remaining kids and moving to Nicaragua.
No, seriously.
Here’s the plan:
Get out of debt no later than two years from now.
Continue to live like misers for two years and save up $100K.
Sell everything and head down.
Nicaragua is a premiere destination for duck and dove hunting. Duck
season is November through March. Dove season is November through April
and mid July through mid August. Nicaragua also has excellent river,
lake, and salt water fishing. Rich folks fork out big bucks to fly down
and go on guided hunting and fishing trips. They fork over $4K for a
three day duck hunting outing.
We would start our own outfitting and guide business catering to
these hunters and tourists. They would rent the shotguns from us, buy
the ammo from us, we would provide food and drinks and would take them
out. They fly into Managua, we pick them up in our shuttle vans and take
them out to the hotel we have partnered up with (eventually, we would
build our own lodge). They have dinner and head to bed. We wake them up
at 3:00am and head out in the vans. We get to our duck boats and head
out to the duck blinds and get in place by sunrise. The limit is 25
ducks per person per day. They hunt until lunch time. We head back, they
have lunch and then a siesta. In the afternoon, we head to the peanut
and sorghum fields and go dove hunting. Same limit. We cook up the birds
they want to eat. Send the ones they want stuffed to the taxidermist,
and give the remaining ones to the locals as an act of charity. Repeat
for the next two days, and then take them to the airport. If they bring
wives, your mom and the girls can take them shopping and sight seeing.
We can also do guided tours and will also partner up and do guided
fishing trips. We will also, rent four wheelers, UTV’s, and scooters in
the touristy areas.
With the VA disability, we wouldn’t even need to do this and we
could live comfortably for the rest of our lives however, we think this
would be a great way to spend life. We can tap into the RM pipeline and
hire fresh RM’s who want to earn money for college and have them be
guides. I would love to see this as a family business and have you and
August involved if you guys wanted.
There is actually an outfit in Chinandega that does this. Nicaragua
continues to grow as a destination location for tourists and
sportsmen.
No pressure on you. You will be 24 at the time and well into your
adult life. Might even have a child by then. No need to be involved if
you don’t want to.
Maybe Augie could start up an IT/electronics shop.
Mom and I have joined several Expat in Nicaragua groups and are seeing how Americans are living in Nica.
**end email**
So, not something I had really been expecting. What I can tell you, like so many times before, everything seems right about this. We are all so excited about this new opportunity. It has consumed our thoughts, dreams, conversations, and waking hours. Through shrewd planning and scheming - Shandy finagled a plan that gets us down there in 2-2 1/2 years. She and I had planned on fasting and attending the Temple on this coming Tuesday to get confirmation on this decision. Friday, we felt like we couldn't wait and we were just busting at the seams. We decided to forego the fast and attend the Temple the first thing in the morning on Saturday.
And so we did.
And we didn't get confirmation on our decision to move down to Nicaragua. We didn't receive the answer that it wasn't the path for us, either, though.
What promptings that we did receive was that this was a very major life decision and that we needed to spend more time researching the decision, having family councils, looking at all of the pros and cons, etc. Also, that we needed to come to the Temple fully prepared and fasting.
And so that's what we have been doing.
I can tell you that in our minds, it makes logical sense. In our hearts, it makes sense. We are still optimistic, joyful, full of anticipation, hope, and excitement.
We'll continue to research, counsel, and pray. We are grateful that we can seek out the will of the Lord to help us as we navigate this world.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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