Celebrating Success of the My Family 15 in 15 Initiative

Now that we have started a brand new year,  we have had an opportunity to look back over all our efforts for the "My Family 15 in 15" initiative.  Our goal for the year was to get 10,500 people throughout the Pacific Area to submit a family name to take to the temple.   That felt HUGE when we first started.   There had never been that much engagement with family history  in the area before.  But we were willing to work hard and trust that with the Lord's help, it could happen.

There were ups and downs, wonderful blessings and times of frustration as we did everything we knew how to do to get people actively engaged in documenting their family lineage.  We met some amazing people and traveled to places we never dreamed we would see.

At the close of 2015, it appeared we had just missed the goal, which was terribly discouraging.  We had been so sure that if we put our faith in God, with fasting and prayers - which we did - that this righteous desire would be reached.  We honestly could not think of anything more we might have done.  We were trying to humbly accept that the important thing wasn't the numbers, it was the individual lives that had been blessed along the way.  Still, having missed the mark that had been set for us by the department was a big disappointment.

In one of our meetings with Mike we got into a discussion of exactly what these statistics measure and what they do not.  We reminded ourselves that not everything that counts can be counted, and that increasing faith is an intangible thing that doesn't show up on a report, but is really the only thing that matters in the end.

Just as we were almost at the point of being ok with how things had ended up, we finally realized we were missing a key point.  The way FamilySearch counts "submitters" only adds people after they have printed out the  ordinance request for the names they have reserved.   However, some people don't print the ordinance request forms until right before they go to the temple.  For those that live at a greater distance away from a temple it might be weeks or even months before they are able to complete the ordinances for their ancestors, but their engagement in the process and having found and reserved those names should still count for our goal.    So then Mike asked for a DIFFERENT report from Salt Lake that would show us both the "submitters" meaning they had printed out the ordinance request form AND the "reservers" who had identified the family member needing work and clicked "submit", but simply had not printed yet.

When that came back we discovered we had not only reached our goal, but had surpassed it by more than 18%.    All together there were 12,460 people throughout the Pacific Area who found family names to take take to the temple in 2015.

We were overjoyed.  There were so many miracles all along the way as we worked on this.We definitely do not take the credit - there were MANY people who worked together and at times we know we were accompanied by angels who were guiding us from the other side.

Mike decided we should celebrate the accomplishment, so he brought in a yummy chocolate cake and fresh fruit and some sparkling cider which we shared with all the others on our floor.

I kept the cork from the cider, writing the number 12,460 on it as a keepsake to remind me again that with God, all things are possible.   It really was a miraculous year.

Return to New Zealand

After a wonderful, but HECTIC trip to the USA over the holidays, finally it was time to return to our beloved New Zealand.  Odd as it may sound, going back to this foreign land where we are simply visitors felt more like coming HOME than we ever would have expected it might.  We were so grateful for the time we had with our family in Arizona, Utah and Idaho.  Still, for now NZ is right where we belong.  We are fully ready to embrace the second half of our mission and do all that we can to make it even more of a success than 2015 was for us.  

It felt wonderful to walk barefoot again on our familiar Takapuna Beach.  No more bundling up in heavy coats and long-johns to face the freezing North America winter.

Happy 2016

We spent New Year's Eve with our dear friends, Carma and  Emory Christensen.  We had a wonderful visit!   Several other good friends were there as well: Jerry and Jan Carney, Gene and Marie Heinrichs, Ray and Charlotte Jenkins, Terry and Darlene Steele, among others.   There was plenty of good food and we got to tell stories of some of the experiences we have had on our mission, as well as catching up with what was going on with our friends from Shamrock Ward.  We love these good people!    As much as we love our mission - and we TRULY do! - we also miss time spent in the company of our friends we have shared so much history with.  It was surely good to get to connect again on the special, unexpected window of opportunity back home.

Our Time in the Temple

Our time in America has been wonderful, although a bit scattered and exhausting as we have scurried to cram in so many things.  We have had some very special visits with friends and family.  We also accomplished quite a lot:

* We got our car transferred from Arizona to Boise so it will be there ready for us when we are released.

* We got annual physicals from our long time doctor and were able to fill another year of prescriptions on all our meds to take back with us

* We talked with a CPA about doing our taxes

* We were able to check on our home we have rented out to be sure everything there was ok

* We both got new glasses (Larry's had broken and my prescription has significantly changed

* We were able to get interviews for our needed new temple recommends with our familiar leaders in our home ward and stake

* We had an opportunity to teach a family history lesson in our home ward

* We picked up some supplies to take back with us of things that are not available in New Zealand

The list goes on and on.  There were so many good reasons why getting to come home for this break at the mid-point of our 23 month mission was a good thing to do.

But all of that pales in comparison to the real reason for making this trip. We feel so very blessed to have been able to be with our son and his wife when they went to the temple.

                            

They have both come a very long way since the day they were married back in 2006.

In addition to the sacred time we had with them both before and during their day in the temple, a couple days later Larry and I got to go back to take Stephanie and Chesilee to do baptisms for the dead.  We also showed them how to find family names on FamilySearch so they can continue this important work.




We also took the whole family to the visitor center near the new Meridian Temple which is currently under construction.  We watched a presentation about the process of building it which including some key life-lesson analogies about having a strong foundation,  being flexible in times of strain and challenge, and the importance of protecting what we treasure from the storms of life.



I love the temple.  Over the past year we have been to the Mesa Arizona, Gilbert Arizona, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga temples.  In the coming year we will add the Fiji temple to that list once it opens back up after their long period of reconstruction and remodeling.   Each temple is special in its own way.  I have had many tender experiences in temples throughout the world as I have received answers to prayers, or simply felt an abundance of the reassuring love of my Heavenly Father and the Savior.

After watching my son go through near 20 years of complete inactivity from the church, I had pretty much accepted that it was highly unlikely that I would ever see him within the walls of a temple in my life time.  So for this to take place now feels like a parting-of-the-Red-Sea sort of miracle for our family.

I am so grateful for the wonderful home teachers and friends who have helped my son and his family feel ready to reopen the door to spiritual things.  I'm even more grateful for the amazing love of the Savior who gives us all second chances (or third, or fourth, or however many chances we may need).  I am grateful for the possibility of  repentance and change.   I am grateful for the power for good that temples bring to this world.   I am grateful for truths that I learn in these Houses of the Lord where the veil can get very thin, and where I can sometimes catch true glimpses into eternity.

                           

                                            

Our time in Middleton

As much as we enjoyed our time with Andy and Kathy, we were very eager to get moving on to Middleton to see our son, Aaron, and his family.   The kids all spent Christmas in Michigan with their non-custodial parents. Sharing holidays is something you just get used to in blended families.  On the day after Christmas, however, we got to pick them all up at the airport and bring them home. We could scarcely believe how much they had all grown!

We have absolutely no doubts or second thoughts about serving this mission.  We KNOW it was the right decision at the right time fr us. Still, seeing our grandkids so tall and self possessed was an abrupt reminder that one of the big sacrifices we made was to miss out on the caboose of their childhoods.  Gone are the days of little kids cuddling with us while we read books on the couch.  This new version of youth who took their places are still great kids, but oh how different they all are.

It was wonderful to see the new home that their family now lives in.   We had watched pictures posted on FaceBook as it was being built, but actually staying with them in that home was a very special treat.  One of the things we had talked about during the time they were building it was that they had decided to forgo having a third bay garage so they could afford to put in a full bathroom and extra bedroom on main floor - something that had us very much in mind.   For now that extra room in a craft room and is where they keep their exercise equipment.   But in the future should health or circumstances ever necessitate us needing more help or care, they wanted to have room in this house for aging parents.  The love and forethought of that decision truly touched our hearts.  

We hope it will be a long, long time before we will even have to think about living anywhere other than our own home.   Still, it was very tender to know we were sleeping in a room that had been put in that house especially with us in mind.

One funny thing that happened when we were staying there -  on one of the days when both Aaron and Stephanie had to go to work I was at the house with the boys while Larry went out to have lunch with his sister, Toni.  Chesilee had gone to work with her mom.   (Stephanie is a Nannie for three sweet little kids in Boise and on occasion Ches will go with her to play with them.)

So I was spending some quiet time on my own downstairs while the boys were upstairs playing their video games.  I decided to be helpful while I was there and did some cleaning up around the kitchen.  Then, as I was putting things away into the refrigerator, I saw the most wonderful looking salad.   I figured it was probably something special Stephanie had made to go with dinner than night.   I tried to resist it.  I really did!   But it looked so scrumptious that I just couldn't help myself.   So I took just a wee taste to see what it was like.   SCRUMPTIOUS!   A little bit latter I took a second taste, which was every bit as good as the first.   Finally as I finished the last of the dishes I gave in completely and just went ahead and scooped up a bowl, enjoying my share of the salad for lunch, figuring I could pass on it when it was served later for dinner.  It truly was delicious.

When Stephanie got home I complimented her on the wonderful salad she had made.   She gave me a strange look and asked me "What salad?"   Now I was the one to be confused.   I said "That really good salad in the bowl in your refrigerator.  I had some for lunch and it tasted wonderful.  I hope it was ok that I had some before dinner."    Still looking uncertain she pulled the bowl out of the refrigerator.   "Do you mean this?"  she asked.   YES!   That's the stuff...absolutely yummy.

Now she looked at me with a mystified look on her face and answered "that's the iguana food".
OOPS.   Oh well - it was still very good.  It was a mix of chopped collard greens, kale, red and yellow peppers and mango.   I liked it so much I ate MORE of it at dinner.   (Hopefully the iguana won't mind.)

Valli Hi Christmas

 After a LONG road, we finally made it safe and sound to Idaho.  We spent Christmas Eve and a delightful Christmas morning at my brother's home in Eagle.  Andy and Kathy really know how to make the holidays special.   We went to Mass at Holy Apostles Catholic Church with them and enjoyed the sacred music.  Of course on Christmas morning there were wonderful surprises for everyone in our stockings and we played the usual white elephant game that is the family tradition.  There was not quite so much stealing / trading of gifts this year as there has been in some years past, but it was still a lot of fun.

Christmas brunch on Saturday morning was absolutely to die for.  It felt wonderful to be inside all snug and warm while watching the light shift across the snowy landscape outside.   This was indeed a Christmas we will long remember. 

Holden Holiday

As we travelled from Las Vegas to Utah we were fortunate to have clear roads all the way.  We saw snow on the ground but never had any storms to drive through.

By the time we finally reached Holden, Utah we were tired of being in the car and more than ready to get out.  Our hearts were warmed by this cute sign that the kids had made for us:

Both because of the snow and because of the many decorations, this is where we finally began to catch a taste of the Christmas spirit.

We were able to stay in Holden with Larry's brother Ted and his wife Karen for two days.  While we were there we were able to visit with several members of Larry's extended family.  We truly appreciated the chance to spend time with each of them, young and old.

Aunt Phyllis 

                                                   

Carol and ElDon Frampton

Jerid

Sam McCall, Savannah & Austyn

 Of course, as is our custom, we went up to the field above town for a bit where Ted keeps his horses and where the alfalfa field is to savor some of the beauty there.

It was a lovely visit with wonderful meals, good company and much love all around.   We were very grateful to our Utah family for making us feel so welcome.  All too soon it was over and time for us to get back into the car to continue on in our grand USA adventure as we headed out for the final leg of our journey to Idaho.