End of February 2011 Mission Poster

This was month number 4. It is flying by. :)

Look at it filling right up!

In double digits!

Look at that smaller triangle. Shrinking even more.

End of December 2010 Mission Poster

And it comes to the end of, not only another month, December, but that of another year.

Getting fuller, ever fuller

The days are counting down

Ever smaller triangle

End of October 2010 Mission Poster

Fall is well on its way. Another month, fun days, and Halloween are all over.

And even more stickers are on the poster!

Looking AWESOME!!! Row 7 into the second half.

That triangle is dwindling down.....

Yep, the numbers just keep getting better and better looking!

End of September 2010 Mission Poster

And another month has gone by...a whole month of school, fall is here,

the leaves and weather are turning....and another month of stickers

are on the poster!

Look how small the triangle of days left is getting!

Look at it filling up...start of row 6.

Yup. That number is looking good!

End of August 2010 Mission Poster

And the summer is coming to a close. School has started.

And the poster is making progress. :)

The days left are slowly getting fewer!

(ignore the date, new camera)

On row 4 now! That second half is going down!

Now look how many days are left. Making us happy!

End of June 2010 Mission poster

Here we start the first full month of year two!

Good start on the second half of the poster!

Good start on the second row of the second half of the poster!

The numbers are getting smaller! Yipee!!!

Yep. That's what we've got left!

One Year Mark Poster!

YES!!! IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! THE DAY THAT MARKS ELDER GARY'S ONE YEAR MARK OF HIS MISSION!!!!!

HAPPY ONE YEAR MARK ELDER GARY!!!

Look at that. Half the poster is actually filled up!!! Finally!

And it's all downhill from here now!

Look at that. Starting to count down as of tomorrow!

Look how happy that frog is. I think our smiles are even bigger!!!

Stick a Fork In Me, I'm Done!!!!!

Last year I started doing Ameri-Corps. I've talked about it on here a few times. The things that were required, the projects that had to be done, the time it took. I have been done with Reading Groups at the school for a few days now, but I had a few hours of service left to complete. I decided to volunteer at the local library. So I went in and talked to them to see what they needed.

The first day I sat at the desk and put the new dvd's into the secure covers. I put the fine paper on it, along with slipping the dvd picture in. Then I folded summer reading papers. If someone asked me a question I could answer, I did. If not, I directed them to someone who could. The next time I shelved dvd's and answered questions.

Since then I have been helping with the story time they have for toddlers and preschoolers. It was so much fun. I got to sing songs, dance and read them stories. Most of them silly (well, look at the ages). The kids love story time! I'm actually going to miss it, and today was my last day there. Which means..........

Even though I could do one more full-time year, or 2 more part-time years of Ameri-Corps, I have decided to not. I AM DONE!!! I could go back and finish these at any time if I so choose. We'll see. I am now off to other pursuits.....

As in, at this time we are filling out the paperwork and getting the house ready to have Foster Kids come into our home. More on that at a later time.

As for now.......I AM DONE!!!

The Best Christmas Gift EVER!!!

This morning we got up around 6:30. We went downstairs to see what Santa had brought. (More on that on a later blog) Then we went upstairs and opened the gifts under the tree. We had just finished that when...........

ELDER GARY CALLED!!!!!!

We got to talk to him for ONE HOUR! Even though I get an email from him every week, it was sooooooo good to here his voice. He spent Christmas Eve with a great family there in Texas. He told me the dad had sent me an email. So I came downstairs and got on my email and had the 2nd best present.........

PICTURES OF ELDER GARY ON CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!!!

Elder Memmott watching Elder Gary checking his email

Elder Memmott and Elder Gary with the Christmas tree







Elder Gary with the Christmas tree.
(what a good looking man)







with his Amarillo, Texas mug for his hot chocolate








Elder Memmott, Elder Taylor (just home from Korea) and Elder Gary

The Group

Elder Gary, Brother Taylor, Sister Taylor, Elder Taylor and Elder Memmott

With the Texas flag

Saluting the Texas flag

(he really does love Texas!)

Doesn't he look good! I am so glad that he had such an awesome family to spend Christmas Eve with. Thank you Brother and Sister Taylor!!! Merry Christmas to your family and God Bless You!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Today was Tuesday. Therefore, it means tonight was Mutual. Tonight happened to be the Young Mens/Young Womens combined activity. The YM were in charge. We went caroling to people in the ward......

We got to the church, had a prayer, got instructions of whose houses we were going to....and then found out that they couldn't get a wagon this year. What!!! The kids were so disappointed. So we loaded up in vehicles and drove to each house. I had 6 girls with me, and oh how much fun we had. I think we had as much fun driving to the houses as we had singing at the houses. We sang 2 songs at each house. Each recipient being ever so appreciative of our thoughtfulness. But as we got in the van to drive to the next house, we would listen to Christmas songs. There was much singing and much more laughter, loudly on both counts, on the short drive. It was a nice night for it, no below zero freezing temps like we had last week!

The last house was one of my neighbors.....Crazy Bonnie. (said respectfully and well earned, of course. Bless her heart) We got to the house, all lined up on the walk and porch, rang the doorbell, she opened the door and we began to sing.......she actually stood there and listened for a few bars......then she yelled for us to get off her porch, slammed the door and turned of ALL the lights, inside and out!!! The kids all faltered for a second and looked at us leaders and we kept on singing. We finished that song and proceeded to sing 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' just like we did all the other houses we had gone to. Then we proceeded to the Church house for cookies and hot chocolate. All the kids laughing there heads off at what Crazy Bonnie did. (at what she did, not at her)

They loved it. Had a blast that they will never forget. Or not for a long time at least, if they don't write about it in their journals.

His One Christmas Wish

I got my weekly email from Elder Gary yesterday. He is still in Canyon. He is a little bummed that he is still in his greenie area, but great work is going on there.

In the email he let me know that he received his Christmas box from my parents. Then he proceeded to let me know that he didn't want us to send him anything.....I mean NOTHING!!! He said the only thing he needed was clothes and he has all of them that he needs. He wants us to take the money that we would have spent on his presents and shipping them to him, and use it for someone who really needs it. He has ALWAYS been one to think of others before himself.

At first I thought, I can't just send him nothing! Not one thing! But as I have thought about it, this was his Christmas list. His one Christmas wish. Give to someone who needs it worse than he does. This is what he would do. After all, this is the kid that right before he left for his mission, we had a food drive. I sat 2 sacks of food out for it. But Gary wanted to do something from him. So he went to the grocery store, bought things on sale, so he could buy more with the same money, and bought a full sack of groceries to come home and place it on the doorstep.

So....That is what I am going to do. I am going to take the money that I would have spent on him and give it to someone that I know needs more than he does right now. I know, beyond a doubt, just who that person is supposed to be. Then I will send him a Christmas card telling him who his gift went to this year.

May we all learn from a humble missionary, just what the true meaning of Christmas really is.

Merry Christmas Elder Gary.

End of July 2009 Poster

The end of July already? Where is the summer going? Time to update the poster once again! It's looking good!

May, June and July---66 days

So much fuller than 2 months ago.......but still quite a way to go. :)

Surprise Call

The day started out at the pool for Tanner's swimming lessons, then off to buy Wynn's Fathers Day present. We all go in together so the kids can get him something nice. I'm not saying what it is just in case he happens to be reading this today. I never know. Then home to do a few daily things and suddenly it's time to fix lunch. The library has kids movie day Tuesdays at 2:00 in the summer. I figured we probably ought to eat before we go. Today it was Disney's Camp Rock. It was Ok. Better than Lexie and I thought it was going to be.

While I was fixing lunch the phone rang. No big deal, it tends to do that. Morgan brought me the phone saying, 'It's Elder Tripp?' I knew that name. He called me yesterday. I hadn't had any "something's wrong" feelings, so I wasn't concerned. I just told Morgan, 'Ya, he's in Texas.' and took the phone.

He told me that Elder Gary had asked him to call me. He informed me that Elder Gary needed a bike and since we didn't receive the information packet from the mission home he hadn't come prepared to buy one. I knew that. He told me they run from $350 to $500. If we couldn't do that right now he could borrow one for a while. I told him it was Ok. I had transferred money into Elder Gary's account already yesterday for this very purpose and how much I had transferred. I had put enough without even knowing how much it would cost. He could just go buy what he needed. I am so glad Elder Gary prepared in so many ways for his mission. We had no idea he would need a bike, or how much it would cost, yet he has money set aside so that these things won't be a problem. I checked his account later, he has a nice bike and he could buy it with no worrying if the nice one was going to be a strain on us.

While I had Elder Tripp on the phone, I couldn't help but ask him if he could tell me where Elder Gary was being sent. He said 'Sure. Not a problem. He's going to a little town called Canyon, Texas. I served there for 4 months and I loved it. He should be there in about 3 hours.' Canyon. Hmmmm. I had never heard of that one before.

I got on the trusty internet and looked it up. I found it, and there in front of me just over 19 miles away staring me in the face was Happy, Texas. I couldn't help laughing. There is a movie called Happy, Texas that one of their friends in Evanston introduced them too! It is one of those movies that is kinda dumb but yet so funny. We have laughed at that movie together. I haven't watched it for a long time. It looks like he had to drive right through it to get where he was going. We'll see if he mentions it in his letter.

I'm so glad that Elder Gary is so well prepared in so many ways. He's going to be an awesome missionary and I think they can already tell that there. I know he'll stay close to the Spirit and he'll do what ever it is he in particular was sent there to do. And I'm sure he'll have fun too, especially being that close to Happy! ;)

A Call From Elder Gary!!!

I didn't take my walk this morning. I knew Elder Gary was leaving the MTC at 5:30am. His flight was leaving at 8:30am. And he was calling me somewhere in between. I figured it would take them an hour to get to the airport, 1/2 hour to check in (at least), get through security, and then to their gate. So I figured he would call somewhere between 7 and 7:30. Boy am I good.

I got showered and had Drew monitoring both the house phone and the cell phones. Nothing. Then the home phone rang. I knew it was Gary since the Caller ID said 'pay phone'. I mean, who else would use a pay phone? I answered he said Mom? I said Yup. He asked if everybody was here and I said all but Dad. He didn't want to have to call his dad at work, he said I only have 3 minutes. And we got cut off!!! I waited a few minutes to see if he would call me back. Nothing, so I tried calling the pay phone number. It was busy. I kept trying on my cell phone figuring he would call the home phone again. Yep. Lexie answered but didn't know about collect calls. I took the phone, but the instructions were already over so I didn't know what to do, so it hung up on me. I tried calling the pay phone again. He called back and we got disconnected again. He called one more time, I accepted the charges and he asked me to PLEASE call the pay phone back.

We got to talk to him for about 10-15 minutes before their flight was called! They were all having trouble getting the pay phones to work. (I'm not surprised. These kids grew up in the cell phone era. I'm pretty sure none of them ever used a pay phone before.) We found out that the families not being able to go in to the MTC with their missionaries anymore is not just because of the Swine Flu. It is a permanent thing. The day Elder Gary went to the MTC was the last day families got to go in. Now they have the mission districts go outside, meet the new missionary and his family, help them unload the luggage, say good-bye, and (in Elder Gary's words) jerk the missionary away. They are only allowed one car. We think this would be the easier way to do it. That hour in 'The Room' is torture as far as we are all concerned! My sister-in-law and I were talking at his farewell that there had to be a better way than 'The Room'. I think they found it! Maybe. (He called Wynn from his lay-over in Dallas.)

After the call to/from Gary, it was time for Tanner's first day of swimming lessons for the summer. They start at 8:00, we could make it but was cutting it close and Morgan had an orthodontist appt at 8:15. The plan was that Lexie and Grandpa were going to watch Tanner while I took Morgan. Then we realized Tanner had sat his backpack down and walked out without it. So I turned around to get it, thus making us late. I figure the phone call was worth being late.

Morgan got her braces off today!!! Her gums are swollen from not getting them good enough with the toothbrush around her braces. We'll watch for a couple of weeks and they should clear right up.

Then at noon it was time for the weekly summer movie. One of the theaters in town shows a different movie each week of the summer, Mon-Thurs, noon and 2:00. It costs me $20 for 4 of us to go to 1 movie every week for the summer. Pretty good deal I think. Drew took them last week since I was on vacation. So we watched Hotel for Dogs. Pretty cute movie. Grandma and Grandpa even enjoyed it.

I got a call from Elder Tripp this afternoon that Elder Gary had made it to Lubbock safe and sound. I don't know if they call all the parents, or if they called me because of the mix-up with the mission packet we didn't receive. We had a message on the answering machine from last Friday from President Robison apologizing profusely and wanting to 'reassure that they would take good care of Elder Jenkins'. (I have no doubt that it was lost in the US mail system. This isn't the only thing in the last few months that never made it to our house.)

So Elder Gary is in Lubbock, Texas for today. We'll have to wait for a letter or email to find out what city or town he was sent to. I forgot to ask because I was surprised they called me. I'll keep you posted. I can't wait to find out!

Tuesday Is P-Day

Wynn and I both got an email today! I guess Tuesday is Gary's P-Day in the MTC. I was so excited to hear from him even though it was just one line to let me know he was OK (there is 3 missionaries with swine flu in there). I figured they would have called us if it was him. And to let me know what his email is and that he just sent a package home and there is a longer letter to me in that.

Wynn got a longer email, but I have a letter coming in the package. He has seen a few friends but is so busy. He said he just doesn't know how anyone gets to do the fun things there are to do in the MTC. He has tried and there is just no time. The first couple of days there seems there is time, but there's not. He is working all day long and goes to bed every night exhausted with things he didn't get to. He loves the work! I'm so glad that he has such a great work ethic that this isn't going faze him.

With the flu outbreak, only the new missionaries are aloud to enter the MTC. The families have to say good-bye outside. I don't know if this would be better or worse. I have mixed emotions about the whole thing and just don't know how it could be done so it isn't so heart wrenching. I don't think there is a way. The missionaries that are supposed to be leaving now are being detained for about a week. At this point, Gary is still scheduled to leave June 15th.

Got A Letter!

We got a letter from Gary today! I guess the doctors office missed an MMR when they were copying down his shots for his mission record. I need to send him a copy or he'll have to get another shot.

His companion is Elder Whipple from Layton. Gary is the senior companion. I guess I never thought about this when Andy went. I just figured there were missionaries that were there already, that weren't leaving quite yet, going to the same mission and they were the senior companions. Nope. Both companions enter the MTC the very same day. How did I miss that 3 years ago?

He is no longer nervous and ate a huge meal Wednesday night. I figured he would once the unknown became known.

He is feeling the importance of the mission. As senior companion he has so much to read and do. We could already feel such a strong spirit coming off his letter.

Off To The MTC

It's official. Today, May 27,2009, was the day. Elder Gary Dean Jenkins entered the MTC in Provo, Utah at 12:00 noon. We picked Drew up at Wynn's parents so Gary could say good-bye. They are getting older and though they are both doing better health wise, you never know. He wanted to have that chance, just in case. He will be at the MTC until June 15.

The famous missionary at the MTC sign picture

As we got here to take this picture, he looked up at the missionary that was getting his picture taken and saidm "Hi Dylan!" It was one of his friends from high school. We know not everybody gets to be here with people they know.

Wynn and I with Gary

All the kids

The Jenkins' family

As Gary went in one door, and us the other, we were asked if any of us had had a fever or the flu in the last week. Wynn had had a cold and was asked if he had been checked by a doctor. Since he hadn't been he was asked if he minded being checked out by the MTC doctors to because of the Swine Flu epidemic and trying to keep it out of the MTC. They also ask that nobody shake hands there. The missionaries aren't even allowed to shake each others hands or give a hug to a friend that is also there.

Putting on the name tag.

Me and Elder Gary Jenkins

The first time I went with anybody to the MTC was when Andy went, 3 years ago. I explained to my kids that they are lucky to live close enough to go. Many people can only afford for part or just one of the family to take them. Others put them on a plane at home and send them by themselves. I found out this was the case this very day for one of my friends from high school in New Mexico.

Setting in that room isn't any easier the second time. We sat and talked and waited. They played those Mormon commercials that make you cry when they are just on TV, bawl when you're sitting at the MTC. We sang Called To Serve. We listened to talks. The closing prayer was given by a sister missionary that will be going to Gary's mission. The whole time I could here Lexie setting down there sobbing, Andy crying, Drew crying, I tried to be strong. He hugged them all. He hugged Wynn. He hugged me. I gave him a hug good-bye and told him it would be easier to let him go if he had been a more difficult child but it's hard when he was such a good kid. I told him what a great missionary he is going to be. I turned and told everybody to just go. Go fast and don't look back.

Serve with Honor Elder Jenkins. You'll be back before any of us know it.

Gary's mission poster 5/27/2009

It sure looks empty with only 1 sticker on it. Good thing we know it will fill up fast.

That's one lonely turtle.

On the way home, Tanner asked if he could sleep in Gary's bed...'Because I miss him so much!' Of course, I said yes.

Last Two Days

Last week one of our dear friends that Gary worked for, Lou Wilhelm, took Gary and his friend Phil fishing at Flaming Gorge. They had both worked for him hauling hay and this was his way of telling them goodbye before they left for their respective missions. They were hard workers and he really loves those boys.

Now this has been our last 2 days with Gary before he leaves on his mission. This is always an emotional time. He spent yesterday with us and his friend Chelsey Richman. Though they aren't boyfriend/girlfriend they have become the best of friends. We absolutely love her for the way she helped Gary prepare for his mission. She is a sweetheart. They went to the movie and then he got to meet her new boyfriend/guy friend(?). He approved and said he was a really nice guy.

Gary and his best friend Chelsey

Today was our last day to try to cram all those things in that you always think you'll have time to do before they leave. So what did we do? We went golfing. Wynn has always loved golfing and last Tuesday he took Gary and Tanner and Gary decided he could love this game. So he wanted to go one last time. Wynn, myself, Gary, Andy and Leza (she didn't play) went to Sherwood Hills. (it's 2 for 1 on Tuesdays) This was my first time golfing. I agree with Gary. I LOVE this game. Wynn says I was really good for my first time. I only lost one ball. Yeah me! I forgot my camera though so I didn't get any pictures which I had planned to do. It started downpouring while we were on the course, we kept playing. It stopped and I guess the rain washed off the sunblock because when we were done I was kind of red. Oh, well.

When we got home, Gary and Wynn worked on getting his room packed up. They didn't quite finish, but Gary told him what to keep, what to throw away and what was what ever. I just couldn't do it. I kept crying and that was not what he needed right now. The nerves are still here and he didn't need me crying in his face all day.

At 8:00pm we went to the Stake Presidents office for Gary to be set apart as a missionary for the Texas Lubbock mission for the duration that he needs to be there. It was a beautiful thing. The Stake President was gone so his counselor, President Younkers set him apart along with Wynn and Andy. The whole family was there. It was wonderful. The Spirit was so strong. And now he is a missionary, a man of God and we will be taking him to the MTC tomorrow morning. And though he has been preparing for this his whole life and immersing himself in all things missionary that he could for the last few months, I am going to miss him. I know this is where he is supposed to be. I know this is what he is supposed to do. I wouldn't want him anywhere else at this time. I am sp proud of him and his choices. But I am going to miss him. He is such a good son, brother and friend to all. He is an excellent example to all around him...so loving and kind, even though he has his mischeivous side. I know he's not perfect, but he's close. He is going to be an excellent missionary for the Lord.

God speed, Elder Gary Dean Jenkins. I love you.

Getting Ready

Tomorrow is Gary's "Farewell" for his mission. He will be speaking in Church and then we will be having numerous people at the house for food and well wishes. There will probably be between 80-100 people here off and on throughout the day. For this reason we are having it in the backyard. We have mowed and trimmed the lawn and made sure the plants/flowers are looking good. We swept the sidewalks and driveway to make it pleasant looking. We have scrubbed inside and out. Major cleaning (but not too major, that would take WAY more time than we have!) to have major company. Then the wind blew and we swept and cleaned up again, a couple of times.

After having Gary's birthday celebration we did one more thing to prepare for next Wednesday and his leaving for the MTC....We put up his mission poster! We will put a sticker on it for every day that he is gone, starting with next Wednesday as day #1. We've decided that we will take pictures at the end of every month just to see the progress. So here is picture #1.....

See? No stickers yet.

It's empty now, but it will fill up faster than we think. Those 2 years will be done before we know it and then the wall will be empty again. Unless one (or more) of the girls decide to go on a mission, we won't be doing this again until Tanner turns 19 in 11 1/2 years!!!

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission!

Gary texted me, since he was at work, while I was still at work, 12:38pm in fact. I told him that I get off at 1:15pm and I would check the mail and text him. I hurried as soon as I was done with my last reading group, back to the reading room, didn't even get things ready for tomorrow, and came straight home. I knew as soon as I left the school that it would be there. I could feel it. I got home, opened the mailbox and pulled out a big white envelope from Salt Lake City!

I immediately texted him that it was here!

Then we had to wait, knowing that it was right there. Just setting there on the table in that big white envelope. But Drew is on her Mexican cruise from last Saturday to this coming Saturday. She was very upset that she would probably be gone when his call came, so they arranged that he would open it at 6:30pm our time. (Today just 'happens' to be the day they are on land in Puerto Vallarta until 10:30pm so that she could call. Coincidence? I think not.) That way everyone would be home from work and she could call so she could 'be here'. Anybody that has been through this knows how agonizing that wait is!

At 6:30 the phone rang. He let it ring a couple of times to make sure it wouldn't disconnect. He answered, Lexie put it on speaker phone, and he ripped it open.

And he is going to:

WHERE'S A MAP!

He enters the Provo, Utah MTC (Missionary Training Center) May 27, 2009. Just 4 days after his 19th birthday.

And yes, for those who know, my parents live in Tyrone, NM on the western border of New Mexico. The western border of his mission, if you can't tell from the picture, goes to just east of Alamagordo,NM. Just a few short hours from Tyrone. No, they can't go see him and there is no way to know where he'll serve, but he'll be oh so close. And his cousin, Brad Eldredge, and his family live just a couple hours south of the southern border in Houston, TX. Hmmmmm.

He is very excited that he is going to the BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD! HIS!

I guess he'll be coming home with a Texas drawl instead of the Wyoming one he has now!!!