We have been missionary minded for three years now. Garrett started us off on this new adventure with his call to serve in Hamilton, New Zealand. We waved goodbye to him from the airport and watched him walk himself through security and up the escalator by himself on October 8, 2015. My heart was in my throat. How could I be his mom when he wasn't around for me to take care of him. It took incredible faith and trust to place him entirely in Heavenly Father's hands. Garrett went to the MTC in Auckland, and then moved over to his mission. He was able to go to the temple in Hamilton several times during his mission. He made it to Hobbiton on one of his P-Days about halfway through his mission. He served as a district leader in several different areas. And, even though he never sent many details in his letters, he served with honor and returned with honor. He loved the culture there. He tried to learn as much Maouri as he could and he threw himself into the mission-wide Haka they learned and performed as missionaries. To finish his mission with a bang, he and another missionary performed a very loud Haka at the airport at 10 at night! One for the memory books!!! But oh, what good that hug he gave me did my momma's heart!!! He is so grown up now!!!! And, we made it a whole two years with him gone! And, he really did come back!!! Sometimes, it's hard to convince my momma heart of some of those things while trudging day to day during his absence. He got back September 6th, 2017! He is doing grown up things now! He has a job and has been attending UVU this semester. He followed his sister, Cecilia there. She set the bar and started the whole college experience for our family. And, luckily, she was able to show Garrett the ropes as he struggled to adjust after his mission. He didn't seem to have any trouble moving into his "next steps" nor with pulling movies and music into his life again. He just missed the people and culture of New Zealand. That is right and good.
Cali followed Garrett into the missionfield on November 6, 2016. Her field of labor was Des Moines, Iowa. Nauvoo was in her mission and she got to experience the temple there in Nauvoo a couple of times during her mission as well as see the pageant "The City Beautiful" during her one summer there and experience a few minutes of Nauvoo at the same time. Her letters were definitely more detailed than Garrett's!!!! Cali is a missionary at heart and always has been. So, she simply excelled and thoroughly enjoyed her time spent as a missionary. She was in four trios throughout her mission which was fun but difficult. She trained and her greenie turned around and trained straight out of being trained. I can't help but think Cali had something to do with that!!!! And, Cali spent the last bit as a Sister Training Leader. Cali just got back on April 13, 2018! We both sobbed in each other's arms at the airport. I missed her so much! And, now, she's taking life by storm as per Cali. She's already working full-time at a job. She has settled all the details for her college life at Snow College in the fall and is already on their dance company for Fall 2018 semester!!!
Cecilia told me several times that she wasn't planning on serving a mission during her high school years, so when she informed me that she would be going to UVU for a semester and then on to her mission come January, I was pleasantly surprised. And that's what she did. She, as my third child, broke us, her parents, into the college stage. She figured out how and when to apply, register, and pay for college. I went with her on her first forage onto campus and helped her meet with a counselor. She took it from there. She bravely stepped outside her comfort zone -- constantly. I watched her become a confident and street smart and brilliant college student! When I took her in for her wisdom teeth removal complete with sedation, she bravely offered up her arm for her IV. It took them (miraculously) only 6 minutes of her being under for them to finish pulling all two of her wisdom teeth out. As she was coming out of her sedation, the nurse started engaging her in conversation. One of the questions she asked Cecilia was: "What classes are you taking at UVU?" Cecilia's answer was very telling. "All the fun ones!" She took Humanities, Astronomy, Shakespeare, History something or other, nutrition and an institute class. Not easy classes and yet she aced them all. She had comments from her teachers about how well thought out her papers were and what a good student she was -- in college! Way to go Cecilia! Not to be out done on the college front, she conquered the whole YSA scene as well. Being a bit timid about attending there, she and a girl in our home ward decided to give each other support and go together. They had been mere acquaintances growing up, but found fellowship together in the YSA ward. She served as the compassionate leader in her Relief Society and figured out visiting teaching. Her first time going out visiting despite the absence of her companion's support, she left with one question for me before walking out the door, "So, mom. How do I do this?" But she did it. And then, when she had the green light to fill out her papers for her mission, she sat down and finished them in one night. I could get used to more children like Cecilia! It makes my job as a mom easy peasy!!!! She got her call to the Paris, France mission as a temple visitor center missionary! She left the last day of January 2018. She loved the MTC in Provo, Utah and is currently flourishing over in Paris. She says she can't believe she gets to have the life where she walks past the Eiffel Tower everyday while serving her Savior! She spends a shift in the temple visitor center everyday and currently travels two hours round trip to and from her area everyday to do missionary work. Best of both worlds!!! Her letters are detailed and insightful. We miss her.
So, Jarom is on the cusp of graduating into the real world. He tells me he is anticipating attending UVU in the fall and then going on a mission. It should be a real experience for Jarom and for me as his momma. Jarom is smart and talented and has great heart. His testimony is something that radiates from him and he will be an awesome missionary -- whenever he gets there and throughout his life. We may not know currently how his college and mission will play out, but it will be an adventure of olympian proportions, for sure! Then, only 7 more to go?!
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Three Senior Years vanish! Poof! They're now memories!
Wow! Life has gotten away from me. My fourth child is finishing up his Senior year. I blinked and we're there already!!
I mentioned the highlights from Garrett's senior year. I almost need to summarize Cali, Cecilia, and Jarom's whole high school career! So here goes!
Cali found herself immersed in marching band. She played the clarinet one year, stepped into the drum major position for a couple of years while dancing during their performances as part of her experience, and finished up as a clarinet player with the added responsibilities of section leader and field commander as well. She tried out for the dance team every year and made it each year. However, neither the band or the dance teachers were able to reconcile their requirements enough for Cali to excell in both at the same time until her Senior year. Cali finally participated in dance company her senior year and was considered "dormant" during the first semester while she finished up her marching band career. Then, she jumped wholeheartedly into dance company and finished strong with a trip to New York to dance in the St. Patrick's parade with her dance company comrades. As if marching band and dance company weren't enough, she served on Hope Squad's leadership council and helped many people adjust to high school and feel more accepted there. Cali kept her grades high and finished her senior year successfully! To add the cherry to the top, she spoke at her seminary graduation and did a magnificent job!!!
Cecilia spent her high school years in challenging classes and in colorguard. Cecilia started her AP classes as a Sophmore and took as many as she could throughout those next three years. She passed with flying colors and received many accolades and personal recommendations from teachers who were impressed with her intelligence and ability to excell in their class. Colorguard, though, was her life during high school. She was made a captain for the colorguard her Junior year and she led out not only as a performer but as a mentor for all the other colorguard members. I remember going to watch one of her practices. And, as much as it awed me to watch her toss her sabers or riffles or flags high in the air without fear and catch them with finesse all the while dancing difficult techniques (she was truly beautiful to watch), I can't forget noticing the younger girls watch her from the sidelines and whisper about how awesome Cecilia was. The admiration on their faces were obvious. I will never forget that moment and how proud I was of who Cecilia was and that I was related to her.
Jarom is our resident senior this year. And, he continues to surprise me. He has struggled with keeping his grades up all four years. He's rather smart and understands all the difficult concepts he's studying. He simply can't seem to get all his homework in on time -- or even late! Before he came along, I had a firm A or B policy. Now, I'm grateful if he has a solid D-. And, to top it off, he wants to be social. He spent three pretty rocky years in marching band in the drumline. He never seemed to have his music memorized or his homework finished. I expected him to continue on into his senior year, but despite the fact that the marching band would be marching in the Rose Parade, Jarom turned away from marching band. Personally, I was relieved he wouldn't be doing marching band and I was very ready for a break from that demanding and expensive extracurricular activity. However, I was a bit aprehensive. What would Jarom decide to be a part of this year?! He stepped up to Thor's Squad -- the new and improved Hope Squad Cali had been involved in. And then, he decided to compete in the male beauty pageant that his high school puts on called Son of Thor. I was worried. Every mother wants their child to succeed and it seemed like Jarom had done his share of failing. I was worried that this would be added to his list. He attended all his practices and prepared his talent and gathered all his costumes. All of our family showed up -- that could. We wanted to show him we were supporting him. He surprised everyone in that gym that night! His physical challenge was competing in a single double elimination tournament with big hamster wheel-type balls. He had to climb inside and push it while racing someone else doing the same thing, and he had to cross his pod halfway through the racing track and beat his competitor to the end. He started the whole competition and handily beat his competitor. Everytime he was up to race, he made it to the middle before the person he was racing and thus to the end. Thus, he won the whole single double elimination tournament! His talent was rapping one of the Hamilton songs with a teacher and he wowed the whole audience with how fast he did it, and how well he did it. His question he answered didn't wow, but neither did it tank like some others. And, his performance in the pageant dance was spot on! He ended up winning 1st attendant!!!! So proud of him and so happy he had that experience to show himself that he can come out on top!!! He has made a name for himself in the art department this year as well. His teacher told him that he was good enough to be in AP art, but he just takes so long to get his artwork completed that it wouldn't be a good fit for him, but his art is at the college level. He just won a runner up in the latest art show for one of his watercolors he did. He continues to rise above expectations. It will be fun to see where he goes from here! He is strong and will do great things!
So. My first four (within a month) will be high school graduates! Only seven to go! James is in the chute, but he will be a junior this next year. He has a whole year to go before he begins his senior year. Right now, he's scrambling to get his drivers license before his permit expires. :) That's our current hurdle! It's always something at our house!
I mentioned the highlights from Garrett's senior year. I almost need to summarize Cali, Cecilia, and Jarom's whole high school career! So here goes!
Cali found herself immersed in marching band. She played the clarinet one year, stepped into the drum major position for a couple of years while dancing during their performances as part of her experience, and finished up as a clarinet player with the added responsibilities of section leader and field commander as well. She tried out for the dance team every year and made it each year. However, neither the band or the dance teachers were able to reconcile their requirements enough for Cali to excell in both at the same time until her Senior year. Cali finally participated in dance company her senior year and was considered "dormant" during the first semester while she finished up her marching band career. Then, she jumped wholeheartedly into dance company and finished strong with a trip to New York to dance in the St. Patrick's parade with her dance company comrades. As if marching band and dance company weren't enough, she served on Hope Squad's leadership council and helped many people adjust to high school and feel more accepted there. Cali kept her grades high and finished her senior year successfully! To add the cherry to the top, she spoke at her seminary graduation and did a magnificent job!!!
Cecilia spent her high school years in challenging classes and in colorguard. Cecilia started her AP classes as a Sophmore and took as many as she could throughout those next three years. She passed with flying colors and received many accolades and personal recommendations from teachers who were impressed with her intelligence and ability to excell in their class. Colorguard, though, was her life during high school. She was made a captain for the colorguard her Junior year and she led out not only as a performer but as a mentor for all the other colorguard members. I remember going to watch one of her practices. And, as much as it awed me to watch her toss her sabers or riffles or flags high in the air without fear and catch them with finesse all the while dancing difficult techniques (she was truly beautiful to watch), I can't forget noticing the younger girls watch her from the sidelines and whisper about how awesome Cecilia was. The admiration on their faces were obvious. I will never forget that moment and how proud I was of who Cecilia was and that I was related to her.
Jarom is our resident senior this year. And, he continues to surprise me. He has struggled with keeping his grades up all four years. He's rather smart and understands all the difficult concepts he's studying. He simply can't seem to get all his homework in on time -- or even late! Before he came along, I had a firm A or B policy. Now, I'm grateful if he has a solid D-. And, to top it off, he wants to be social. He spent three pretty rocky years in marching band in the drumline. He never seemed to have his music memorized or his homework finished. I expected him to continue on into his senior year, but despite the fact that the marching band would be marching in the Rose Parade, Jarom turned away from marching band. Personally, I was relieved he wouldn't be doing marching band and I was very ready for a break from that demanding and expensive extracurricular activity. However, I was a bit aprehensive. What would Jarom decide to be a part of this year?! He stepped up to Thor's Squad -- the new and improved Hope Squad Cali had been involved in. And then, he decided to compete in the male beauty pageant that his high school puts on called Son of Thor. I was worried. Every mother wants their child to succeed and it seemed like Jarom had done his share of failing. I was worried that this would be added to his list. He attended all his practices and prepared his talent and gathered all his costumes. All of our family showed up -- that could. We wanted to show him we were supporting him. He surprised everyone in that gym that night! His physical challenge was competing in a single double elimination tournament with big hamster wheel-type balls. He had to climb inside and push it while racing someone else doing the same thing, and he had to cross his pod halfway through the racing track and beat his competitor to the end. He started the whole competition and handily beat his competitor. Everytime he was up to race, he made it to the middle before the person he was racing and thus to the end. Thus, he won the whole single double elimination tournament! His talent was rapping one of the Hamilton songs with a teacher and he wowed the whole audience with how fast he did it, and how well he did it. His question he answered didn't wow, but neither did it tank like some others. And, his performance in the pageant dance was spot on! He ended up winning 1st attendant!!!! So proud of him and so happy he had that experience to show himself that he can come out on top!!! He has made a name for himself in the art department this year as well. His teacher told him that he was good enough to be in AP art, but he just takes so long to get his artwork completed that it wouldn't be a good fit for him, but his art is at the college level. He just won a runner up in the latest art show for one of his watercolors he did. He continues to rise above expectations. It will be fun to see where he goes from here! He is strong and will do great things!
So. My first four (within a month) will be high school graduates! Only seven to go! James is in the chute, but he will be a junior this next year. He has a whole year to go before he begins his senior year. Right now, he's scrambling to get his drivers license before his permit expires. :) That's our current hurdle! It's always something at our house!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)