* Our first full month in Idaho! Honestly we have loved it every minute! It feels like "home" and so natural to be here! We absolutely LOVE the house we're in and the ward we're in and the area of Nampa we're in! We've had many, many outings with friends and family and are really enjoying life!
* Dad started at his new job with Xylem. He went to Portland for 3 days and then to Helena, Montana for a week for initial training. He said he feels like he's been hit in the face with a water hose (by how much information he's been given!) but he's excited and know it will all come in time!
* Put dad's Ford f150 up for sale - we've had a couple no bites but it hasn't sold.... yet! but we're praying that it can be - and soon!
* Dad was issued his new work truck - a Ford F250
* We've gotten all moved in! We're completely unpacked (yay!!) and many rooms are decorated. We're hoping that this week we will finish up the other rooms with the final decor.
* Mom has spent most of the time unpacking and putting the house together
* Dad and the boys went to a concert in Boise - Froggy Fresh and Money Maker Mike
* Ben has been attending Seminary at Nampa High School and is enjoying it. Mom is enjoying how close it is and doesn't have to stay in the parking lot to wait for him! yay!
* Activity Days is weekly here for Aubrie and Lexi. This past week they had a Mother/Daughter night with games and finger foods. It was a lot of fun!
* Dad and Nathan went to the movie - Avengers Infinity War... they both liked it
* Mom has had a few get togethers with Stephanie! It's been wonderful to be so close!
* Mom did a photo shoot for Aunt Heidy and Uncle Tony's new baby - Remmington
* Celebrated Mothers Day and got to do a video chat with Seth! This was very wonderful! He was able to be a members home and so we had a good internet connection and didn't get disconnected! We also didn't have any delay (and so didn't have to rely on writing our questions on dry erase boards like we have had to do in the past!)
* We went as a family and stayed out at the Erbe's home up in the mountains of Idaho City.
* Dad and Bill Belau installed and fixed the suspension on Josephina - yay!
* Mom finally got the pictures of Ben and Ashley edited. Here are a couple of favorites...
Seth Spotlight...
There's been quite a bit of unrest and political instability and all but 125 Missionaries were wither sent home (those that were due to return home in May, June or July were all sent home) and the other were reassigned. We got word that Seth would be one of the 125 remaining in the country but would be moved to a safer area (since he was in Managua, the capital). He was transferred up to Tipitapa and has been there with a new companion - Elder Ramos. It's been a hard month with having to stay indoors for long stretches and then when they were allowed to head out, they were required to be back in for the day by 5pm. Seth made the most of it and has kept a positive attitude. He also reports that he has felt completely safe throughout all of this!
Spiritually Speaking...
As always - another month with lots of blessings, tender mercies and having the Lord watch over us!
It's better when I update the blog weekly as I can reflect back on just a short period of time to share the spiritual experiences but here are a few things from this past month:
* We had Stake Conference with our new Stake and D. Todd Christofferson (of the Twelve Apostles!) came! We were all super excited to hear from an Apostle and so dad and I attended the Adult Session on Saturday night where we learned some neat things like:
1. The Lord doesn't find it to be rude if we pause in the middle of our prayers, open our eyes and write down revelation. In fact, He likes that and is more likely to give us more revelation since we are giving importance by writing it down.
2. If the Heavens seem closed, take time to name our blessings one by one and that will open the conduit to Heaven (the expression of gratitude does this!)
3. Elder Christofferson shared the process of what happened when Thomas S. Monson died and Russell M. Nelson became the new Prophet
4. The First Presidency and the 12 Apostles have a monthly Testimony Meeting in the Temple - however, you only share your testimony if the Prophet calls upon you
5. He invited us to ACT (Ministering) and not to limit our interactions and service to only church members
6. It was the Lord who made the changes to the changes in Ministering
7. Before closing, he Petitioned the Lord to bless each of us - one by one!
8. Set aside the cares of the world so that we can hear the still, small voice - Personal Revelation!
9. Ask ourselves (1) What am I doing right? and (2) What can I improve on? Think of 1 thing and do it!
* The kids were super excited to be in the same building as an Apostle (but mom and dad didn't really know this or that they felt so strongly about it until we had already gone to one of the other buildings that Sunday's session was going to be broadcasted to... We debated about heading over to the Stake Center before his talk so we could be there, but decided against it as we would undoubtedly miss good parts! So we stayed... but then as Elder Christofferson was closing, he said "I wish I could stay and meet each one of you... but I can't. But I am going to invite every child and Youth to come shake my hand after the closing prayer." You should have seen the death stares we got from the kids! hahha... so we decided that as soon as the closing prayer was said, we'd RUSH over to the Stake Center (less than 5 minutes away) and dad would just drop us off at the door and we'd run in and see if the kids could still meet him. Our plan worked and each of the kids were able to go through a "greeting line" where they shook the hand of the Apostle and said Hi to him. All of the kids were super thrilled that they got to do this and they all remarked on how "soft his hands were!"
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Following is from Ben (age 16)
So I had the chance to go to the Face to Face Fireside with the Prophet and his wife tonight. During which the prophet talked about starting the Youth Battallion and in order for us to join the Youth Battallion we have to do 5 things:
1. Give up social Media for 1 week
2. Weekly sacrfice time to the Lord
3. Keep on the Covenant path
4. Pray daily for all to receive blessings of the gospel
5. Stand out. Be different. Be a light
When I heard these things, the Spirit testified that what he was saying was true and I felt like he was talking directly to me! I felt like I was about to explode, and my whole body was filled with heat. I couldn't stop smiling because I knew what he was saying was true! In fact, right in the middle of his talk (after he talked about a social media fast) I pulled out my phone and deleted all social media apps immediately (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube!) I know by doing these things I'm following the prophet and am doing my part in the Youth Battalion to bring together the Tribes of Israel.
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