Pride! Followed by a Really Good Ending!

Well, as difficult as it's been to get around I finally had to swallow my pride and use two things meant for older...MUCH OLDER senior citizens! I use a motorized chair and a cane! It's embarrassing, that's all I have to say. However, it makes it possible to get around without pain and suffering. So after weighing the options this is the one that makes the most sense.

It's not too bad actually. The worse part is that Mike has to unload it every time we go anywhere. He says that it's not a problem but I feel bad for him.

As for the mission; things are going really great and we love serving here in Jacksonville. The Institute program has been split from the FHE night. We are having great success by doing that. Typically we use a round table format so it gets us away from the feeling of someone talking AT us and makes it more comfortable for sharing ideas. Our numbers for Book of Mormon study are growing each time we meet.

We have grown to love each member of our military group and appreciate the training they take to further the cause of freedom. Some of them have already been overseas and some will leave after the first of the year. It is an constant ebb and flow of the way things are here.

Jacksonville 2nd ward is comprised of mostly married Marines; many with young families. The Jacksonville 3rd ward, while also having many Marine families, is where we have the largest group of single Marines. I can't even tell you how big the wards are because, frankly, no one has a map! We just know that when we do our Sunday pickups for meetings, we usually burn about half a tank of gas. I'm always torn between, "Yea! We're picking up four people!" to "Yikes, we need to drive 25 minutes (one way) to pick up so and so from somewhere out yonder!" Z does all the driving and picking up while I attend the meetings we need to be to. It is a good arrangement...

The holiday pace is now here and I'm amazed as I watch the shopping that people are doing. I love to listen as they say things like, "Joe's gonna kill me when I get home and he sees how much I spent! He'll just have to dip into savings to cover it." And I see in her hands the latest craze...a soda making machine and a package of guitar shaped coat hooks. Go figure...well, I really did think the popcorn machine was kinda cool!

I posted the following on Facebook but wanted to repeat it because it's caused me to reflect a lot on the way we've done things at Christmas's past in the hopes of creating the "perfect" Christmas, where everyone was filled with happiness and joy...

The reality is, I find myself challenged to remember anything anyone ever got in our family that made a difference in their true state of happiness OR joy! I mean, the stores at this time of year are plastered with signs that shout, "COME BUY ME!" when the true, quiet message should be, "Come by ME!" Think about that...what if rather than getting caught up in the frenzy of what the world has convinced us we need to do at this time of year, well, what if we did as the Savior taught us to do instead; give to the poor, the homeless, the less fortunate.

I've found that my prayers lately have been centered on those who have suffered and continue to suffer the most horrendous of events; the volcano eruptions, the hurricanes and flooding and the disease that followed. I pray for the families who in this lifetime will not be blessed with a fraction of all that we've had and continue to have; comfortable homes, cars, education, plentiful food...

What if we could change it a little bit at a time? What if rather than buy that item "we can't live without" we gave a more generous Fast Offering. Imagine what true happiness and joy that would bring...it's just a thought. But it makes for a really good ending!

Happy Holy-Days from

Elder and Sister Zollinger

(no, I am not punching him in the stomach!)

Random Things...

I didn't write the following. It was posted by Alex Boye; singer, member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and member of "I'm a Mormon!" on mormon.org. I just happened to see it while checking out the website. Members are encouraged to use this site to proclaim their own membership. It's way cool!

Cellphone vs Scriptures

I wonder what would happen if we treated our scriptures like we treat our cell phones? What if we carried them around in our purses or our pockets?

What if we turned back to go get them if we forgot them?

What if we flipped through them several times a day?

What if we spent an hour or more using them every day?

What if we used them to receive messages?

What if we treated them like we couldn't live without them?

What if we gave them to other kids as gifts?

What if we used them as we traveled?

What if we used them in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go..."Uh, Dude. Where are my scriptures?"

Unlike our cell phones:

One Plan DOES fit all.

Unlimited usage. No roaming charges.

You can always get reception.

You can use it in the mountains and in the tunnel.

It's free with no hidden costs.

AND you don't ever have to worry about your scriptures being disconnected because Christ has already paid the bill!

This week has been a high for us...well I know it was for me and I'm pretty sure it was for Elder Z.

This week it was our total privilege and blessing to take a young man to the mall to shop for new church clothes. He was going to be baptised and we thought how great it would be if he could show up in something more that his jeans shorts and a t-shirt. He is a young, almost completely blind twenty-one year old who has "seen" the light of the Gospel and taken hold. He is of very meager means and I know the Lord accepts his attendance in whatever he has to wear...but man, did he light up the room when he completed his baptism and came back into the room fully decked out in his new threads! To make this story more joyful, he found the Gospel by supporting his sister and HER baptism. He said he felt something right while he was sitting there for her. He took the lessons and gave up smoking instantly! AND in the words of Paul Harvey's "rest of the story"...HIS sister was introduced to the Gospel by HER friend who was recently baptised and SHE had removed all her piercings so she could take full advantage of the Atonement and put her old life behind her! It is TRUTH that caused these young people to give up their former lives to partake of the gifts of the Gospel. They are happy and moving forward in their new lives...

This is what is happening here in Jacksonville, North Carolina week after week and we're thrilled to be even a small part of it. We love what we do and feel it such a blessing to be at this place, at this time, with these people. Our testimonies grow and grow with each new day, with each reading of the Book of Mormon and we invite you, if you are not already doing so, to read the BOM with your families. Don't put it off like we did for so many years. It's not that we didn't try to get into the habit, it's just that we let life interfere.

We hope that our family will continue to try and lift each other up rather than tear each other down. As we enter into the full swing of the holidays we want to tell each member of our family that we love them and appreciate the support and prayers they extend in our behalf. And about gifts at Christmas...well, would you like to see the clothes that you helped to buy by giving up the gifts you would have received?

Much love,

Elder and Sister Zollinger

I'll Begin Again!

This was so profound. These are the lyrics to a song from the musical "Scrooge". It's after he repents and begins a new life. A perfect example of what the atonement is all about. You can hear the song on iTunes. This version is by the late, great Sammy Davis Jr. I did take the liberty to add one word. It was, I feel, needed!

I'll begin again
I will build my life
I will live to know
That I fulfilled my life
I'll begin today
Throw away the past
And the future I build
Will be something that will last

I will take the time
I have left to live
And I'll give it all
That I have left to give
I will live my days
For my fellow men
And I'll live in praise
Of that moment when
I was able to begin again

I'll begin again
I will change my fate
I will show the world
That it is not too late
I will never stop
While I still have time
'Till I stand at the top
Of the mountain I must climb

I will start anew
I will make amends
And I'll make quite certain
That my story ends
On a note of hope
On a strong amen
And I'll thank the world (Lord)
And remember when
I was able to begin again

Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning

SUNDAY! It is the busiest day of the week, naps are non-existent, we travel hither and yon, we are tired when we get home AND it is without a doubt the best day of the week! We love what we do so that definitely helps. It's the day that most visibly reflects what this mission is all about. It's about people, more specifically, young Marines. It's about families, some whose spouses have been deployed and some whose families find themselves in the middle of military life. It is always, ALWAYS about keeping the membership strong in the Gospel and in many cases lately, bringing some into the Gospel. The work is never ending and always exciting. Let me tell you about Audra and Alex.

Alexandra was the first in the group to join the Church. She did not waiver in her belief and when she made the commitment to join, she removed all of her piercings to include brow, lip and who knows what else, we weren't here at the time. She was so excited that she shared the message with her friend, Audra, and she joined. Then THEY shared the message with Audra's brother, Chris and HE will be baptised later this month. It is amazing how these three lives have been changed in such a short time AND because someone had the courage to share!

There are many who come into the chapel doors in jeans, sometimes shorts, and sometimes with tattoos and such...they are welcomed with open arms! We love our wards and we serve both the Jacksonville 2nd and 3rd Wards. We attend all of the PEC meetings, the Ward Council meetings and missionary group meetings. It is a hustle to get from one to the other and we sometimes only make it for part of each Sacrament meeting. It is all so worth it!

Yesterday will be a day not soon forgotten and I will share it in the most reverent way I can so as not to detract from the spiritual nature.

Sunday evenings, each and every week, we conduct Sacrament at Camp Geiger, one of our assigned bases. As I've shared before, we meet in the back room of the main chapel, the room with all the real stuff, like organs, pews, big screens for power point preaching etc. Our room has a small pulpit, a big screen tv, a piano AND a coffee maker! We usually have from 3 of us (that means literally 1 of them and 2 of us) to 9 of us. Yesterday we had four Marines, including one of the MCT instructor's. One young lady has been studying on her own and has made a commitment to be baptised even without having had a discussion. However, it has really weighed heavy on her mind that the priest in her Parrish told her that her soul was in jeopardy because she joined the military. After the meeting was closed we showed the dvd "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled." At the conclusion, with tears in her eyes, she expressed gratitude for having been comforted and that her soul was intact. But that's not the end of the story. Their instructor, SSG Covey, started a conversation with them with, "Right now I am not your leader. I am your friend and a member of this Church." When he is in the field with his platoon, he conducts Sacrament for the membership so they do not miss out on those moments of peace. He explained the comfort of a Priesthood blessing and offered one to each of young people present and so they each received a blessing. As tears flowed I could not contain the joy that we all felt at this special moment, a moment that will be forever imprinted on my heart. It is moments such as these that I pause to give thanks for the privilege and blessing of being here, of doing as the Lord has asked us to do. It is all about love but more importantly, the message of our Savior's love for us...His children. We are so blessed!

Hasta Luego, Aunt Betty

It's a bittersweet thing to tell of our dear, sweet Aunt Betty's passing. We rejoice at her reunion with Uncle Bob, and her family members who've gone before her but we weep at her leaving us behind; kind of like when someone takes the vacation of a lifetime and you aren't invited. Yea, it's like that...

I would love to tell you what Aunt Betty's love has meant in my life but I would need more RAM in my computer. If I were writing it by hand it would take reams of paper. So I'll whittle it down to the most meaningful events. Others will have much to say as well but in the end we will all finish with the same thing..."Aunt Betty loved me the best. I was her favorite niece/nephew!" However, the difference between me and all the others? I knew without a doubt that I was her favorite!

As far back as I can remember I was the person who Aunt Betty came to for a perm or a hairdo. I can hear her now, "Oh, just slap it up!" I was in high school so I'm not sure how it came to be that I was the one doing her hair. It certainly wasn't because I knew what I was doing but I did her hair for years.

She also knew of my love for art and when she started teaching school I would be the one who did all her drawings for her class. My mom caught on to that too and pretty soon I was doing the art for both of them. I could have made a ton of money but I didn't have the heart to take a dime. I loved doing it for both of them and it was something I did well. It was one of the ways I could pay them both back for the trouble I would eventually cause them both.

When I entered college I rebelled! Oh boy did I! Only one time in my life did I ever tell my mom that I hated her. In the end I moved out and it was downhill from there. It was the toughest experience of my life. After being on my own for too long I ended up at at Grandma Rod's but I think Aunt Betty took pity on Grandma and took me to live at her house.

I only remember Tim, Priscilla and Margaret being there. By that time Zora was already on her own I think. Funny, I don't ever recall feeling out of place or unwanted in that house. Aunt Betty treated me with kindness and always made sure I was included in the family events. She even trusted me enough to drive her VW van home from football games. And it was a new van (well, that's how I remember it). The point is, Aunt Betty always had a way of making me feel like I was worth something.

Later, when I started having children, Aunt Betty was always there with my mom to help with cooking and caring for the new baby. She did that for every baby until we moved up to the Bay Area. She also treated my family, particularly my girls, special and in turn they loved to visit her. She loved it when they took the time to take new little ones to see her when they were in California. After my mom and dad were both gone, the girls still made it a point to visit when they could. In turn, there was always something special in the mail at Christmas time and it was always appreciated.

There is just no way to convey what Aunt Betty has meant to all of us and in time we will all be able to tell her ourselves. That is the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the faith that our existence does not end with death. In time we will all be together again. It would be an unbearable thing if it were not so.

So, hasta luego, Aunt Betty; not good bye, but see you in a little while. We know it's true!

Hip-Hip Hooray!

As you may or may not know, I have a bad hip! It didn't start causing me so much pain until Z and I said out loud, "Let's put in our mission papers!" It was downhill from there for our mortal bodies. Z's knee got worse and he's been faithfully doing his PT each morning. But my hip...MY HIP has caused me so more pain in the last three months that ever in my life...until now!

Let me back up a little. I've been going to a chiropractor and an orthopedic specialist for a few months now in the hopes that the hip issue could be resolved. I've endured some pretty painful procedures to find our what was actually wrong with it. "Your hip joint is inflamed!" said the ortho doc. "You're way out of alignment" said the chiropractor. "Tell me something I DON"T know!" said I. It's been so frustrating and I was so worried about entering the mission home in such pitiful shape, not to mention all the other calamities that were going on in our family (see previous posts).

Anyway, the pain got so bad with all the walking in the mission home that I usually went to bed in tears. After about a week of that, I swallowed my pride and asked for a Priesthood blessing and was given a wonderful one at the hands of my faithful husband, assisted by our dear friend Elder Wheeler, a member of our small group. It promised if I was faithful in the work (missionary) I would be able to do all that I needed to do and the hip wouldn't be a problem. It didn't say that the pain would go away necessarily but that I would be able to do the work that I'd been called to do.

I can't tell you that the pain went away, what I can tell you is that we were able to finish getting ready to leave for our mission and I could bare the pain. In fact the entire trip was enjoyable and except for a few kinks after driving for a couple of hours, it was OK.

Yesterday we conducted Sacrament at Camp Geiger after attending two separate ward Sacraments and a flurry of Bishopric meetings. That was followed by a dinner invitation at Brother and Sister Kehr's home with their family and a couple of friends. It was a very full day as all of our Sunday's have been. As we were walking out of the small chapel at Camp Geiger and having enjoyed a very spiritual day, I suddenly realized that I had been the recipient of a miracle, no, not just a miracle, a HUGE miracle! I realized I had barely limped the entire day and I wasn't in pain! I know that by doing the Lord's work and putting the needs of our mission first, I was blessed as I'd been promised.

I'm so grateful for each and every trial and joy this mission is bringing to our lives. We've been able to participate in two baptisms; the second one just last Wednesday. Her name is Audrey and she was brought into the Gospel by her friend. When I think of the influence that her friend had I'm blown away. Why are adults so afraid to invite others to partake of this wonderful gift?

We love being here in North Carolina and everyday is a new experience. We've met so many great people in and out of the Church and know this is where we're meant to be. The Marines we work with are an outstanding, faithful little "band of brothers/sisters" and it's great to be with them.

This will have to do for now, but I want my family to know that while we are here, we pray for each and every one of them to grow in our absence. We know the challenges are overwhelming at times...no, a lot of the time, but we would encourage those of you who aren't doing it, to read the BOM and get on your knees often. The Lord is aware of your trials and your pain. Remember...HE FELT ALL THAT YOU FEEL NOW! What a gift we've all been given.

We love you...Joy in the Journey!

Elder Dad and Sister Mom

The pictures are of the beautiful North Carolina coast, Sister Bowers and Sister Felton at Audrey's baptism, Elder Z and Sister Z enjoying the last of the warm weather at the beach. It was over 75*...a very nice day, indeed! And graduation from MCT at Camp Lejeune.

Beginning of Second Week 10/10/10

What a fantastic Sabbath day it has been; two ward sacraments, two relief societies and a sacrament meeting at Camp Geiger with the largest attendance they've ever had. We had seven Marines and four missionaries in the meeting. I was so humbled by the simplicity of the meeting and met some fine young men and women. Two of the young women are non-members who listened to an overview of the church and one of them wants to be baptised (she has been learning about the church for awhile) and the other wants to know more. One of the young men was a member from Mongolia who is here to learn about the U.S. military and how to better train their soldiers. His conversion story is amazing. Another member of the group is a Marine combat trainer. He's been deployed six times! I grateful for those who serve faithfully both in church and for country.

The highlight of my day was having a young man approach me after Sunday school and ask me if I knew an Alicia Zollinger who has a daughter named Charley. "I sure do!" I replied. "They are my daughter and granddaughter!" Well he was so excited to hear that because it seems that he used to work with Alicia at Smith's and even attended Charley's first birthday party with his parents. He's a great kid and so I took a picture of him with Elder Zollinger and me as a surprise for Alicia. I knew it would make her day; indeed it did! BTW, his name is Andrew Horrocks. Alicia likes him a lot and told me to be extra nice to him!

I'm so grateful to be here in Jacksonville, NC. I know that how ever hard it will become and how ever much my family will endure in our absence, we are meant to be here doing the Lord's work and we will all be blessed. I wasn't sure we'd make it here; with my bad hip and Elder Zollinger's bad knee it would have been so easy to just throw our hands in the air and call it quits. The pain isn't gone but everyday I'm blessed to be able to do what I need to do and put thoughts about my discomfort to the back burner. I remind myself that the Savior endured so much more; if He could endure His pain, could I do less?

Much love,

Elder and Sister Zollinger

North Carolina Raleigh Mission- Military Relations

North Carolina

We've only been here for one week and yet feel very busy. The couple that we're replacing, Elder and Sister Madsen, have been very good about teaching us the ropes as Military Relations missionaries. There is a lot we aren't allowed to do at Camp Lejeune (pronounced Lejerne-it's French) so we need to be very carefull about following the rules. Our assignment is to support single (YSA) Marines while they are here for training. We wear no badges while on base and unless we have a set appointment with someone specific, we don't discuss the Gospel. The exception is when we conduct Sacrament at Camp Geiger. We got our first opportunity to conduct Sacrament last Sunday.

After meeting the Chaplain, his wife (who sings beautifully while playing the piano) and his daughter, we waited for our little group to arrive. Little is the operative word here. We will have as many as zero to 5 or 6. Last Sunday we had 2 show up. For the first time I felt like I was in a Branch. The other room sounded like a loud revival meeting while our meeting was just a few of us with small voices, to say the least. However I felt such an overwhelming feeling that while the world is drawn away by loud music and religion wearing a mask of "fun and good times", we are led by the quietness of the Holy Spirit and preach a Gospel of simplicity and truth.

Erin was one of our attendees and we were able to attend her graduation on Tuesday. It was quite impressive. All those sharp Marines!

I think from here on out I'll take the example of our good friends Elder and Sister Rush from Whidbey Island, WA and make short posts rather than wax poetic. So...

Wednesday we met with the missionaries for District training. What a fun group they are as you can see by the picture. They had five cameras set up to use a timer. You should see them scramble to get into place.

They are from left to right Elder Brockbank, Elder Petersen, Sister Zollinger, Elder Zollinger, Sister Bowers, Sister Felton, and the two DL's Elder's Freeman and Farrer

We finished out the week doing the following; Elder Zollinger assisted in giving a blessing to a young Marine who had blown a hole almost through his hand. His dad called Church headquarters and got our name. We had a chance later to meet his mom who came to be with him. His dad will get here on Sunday (10/10) and probably take him to Pensacola, FL for further treatment. There is no guarantee that he will be able to again do the job he was training for, but the Lord may have other plans for him.

The young Elders are moving out of their apartment so our trailer was a big help in moving all the furniture out of the apartment. What a blessing that little red trailer has been to our family and now the mission.

The highlight of the day was the baptism of Garrett Sattoff. He's a twenty-two year old Marine. He was baptized by Brother Cale. We found it amusing to walk in and see a heavily tatooed man and immediately thought he was the one getting baptized. Well he's the one who performed the baptism. That's Garrett on the left and Brother Cale (Exec Sec).

It's been a very good week! We're lookin forward to flying solo after the Madsen't leave on Monday. I'm not one bit worried about our ability to do this work. We have, after all, been preparing for it for a long, long time!

Much love,

Sister Zollinger

117 Cordell Dr

Jacksonville, NC 28540

BTW, we love our apartment, lots of room for the occasional visitor!

Almost There

What a ride! We finally got on the road twelve hours later than we'd hoped. I can't believe that it took so long to clean out one room. But finally, we got going and hit Parley's Canyon at 7:30pm. We had wanted to drive just six to eight hours a day but that first leg started out so far behind that we would have been checking into a hotel for just four or five hours so we drove until 5:30am (Tuesday), slept in a rest stop for a couple of hours and got back on the road for the seven and a half hour drive to Cathrin and Jay Hales home in St Joseph, MO. That drive caught us up for the rest of the trip.

Cathrin is my sister! We say that one of us was born into the wrong family and we should have been born twins. Our friendship goes back twenty years beginning with Desert Storm. Her husband was an officer, mine was enlisted. In the military, you don't mix officer's with enlisted. It is a culture of class distinction. It didn't matter to either of us OR our husbands. We just had the greatest time and we still, to this day, remain "sisters".

We spent a wonderful time with all the Hales' clan to include the spouses and grandchildren. It felt like home and I felt a pang of sadness that we'd be gone for a long time from our own children/grandchildren. I think that it helped that each of their grandchildren had a counter-part in our family. For example; they have James, we have Owen. When I watched James I realized quickly that he and Owen (Nagle) were so much alike. The evening went something like this...
Me: "Is your name Owen?"
James: "No, it's James!"
Me: "Are you sure, because you sound like an Owen?"
James: "No, my...name...is...James!"
That went on all evening as I teased him and he remained firm in his answer, "My name is James!"
At the end of the evening, as he got ready to leave I asked him, "So, Owen are you going home?" to which he responded without even missing a beat, "Yes!"
It was the laugh of the evening! Thanks, "Owen"...

We left Hales' at 10:00am on Wednesday and drove through Missouri, part of Illinois and ended up in the small town of Dale, Indiana. It's located near the town of Santa Claus. I would be excited if it were not still September...
We hope to make it to Raleigh, NC this evening but after watching the news we're not sure if that will happen. It seems that the East if suffering with huge amounts of rain and are having a problem with flooding and wet roads. So, we'll travel while the sun shines and then see what happens from there. We've been blessed with alertness and, get this, little pain with my hip. I've only taken one Ibu 800 ONE TIME and I'm traveling in relative comfort. Yes, we're blessed!

We do have an update for Trevor. It seems that after his visit with the Dr. yesterday, he has fluid built up in his lungs. He also has (as Alicia put it) a gnarly sinus infection. They've put him on antibiotics to try and clear it up and he'll be using a respiratory apparatus to build his breathing strength. If that doesn't help, back to Primary Children's for more aggressive treatment. To add insult to injury, he hasn't added much weight to his skinny frame. The stress of all that's going on has caused him to lose some of his hair and mess up his skin. HOWEVER, he is alive and the surgery to the jaw is stable.

It seems that the insurance company for the driver of the truck that hit him has been less than cooperative and information has not been provided in a timely manner. Alicia finally had to hire an attorney (McConkie) to help her. The bills are now beginning to come in. The first one was for $39,ooo PLUS. And that was just for the first three days/daze and didn't include the helicopter or the ambulance (which took him from the street to the landing zone, just 5o yards away! We told Alicia, as did the attorney, "Your job is to take care of Trevor. We'll take care of the medical bills." Great advice!

Just getting ready to leave for the last leg of the trip. Thanks for the continuing prayers in behalf of our family and for us.

Much love,
Elder and Sister Zollinger

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

We knew that we would have a rough time of it this week, the week between leaving the MTC (that comfort zone where evil can't get into) and getting to North Carolina (where we have the relative safe surroundings of a mission zone). This was the adversary's last chance to get us to call it quits and stay home!

After Trevor's tumultuous accident last month (with a recovery that will extend to next month and beyond), my blasted hip which causes me enough pain that I've resorted to borrowing my mother-in-laws power chair (much to her delight because she can't be forced to use it herself), Mike's knee (injured while still on active duty) and the huge, seemingly overwhelming task of getting our stuff packed and put away or loaded onto our trailer, it seems that he has resorted to throwing fireballs at our feet! I'm talking BIG fireballs! If there is anything that will cause us to even think about not going on the mission to which we've been called, it will have something to do with our grandchildren and he knows it!

On Tuesday we were blessed to have Sara and Rachel come and give us a hand clearing out our bedroom and basement. Even though I'm not a pack rat, there was still so much junk to take care of. I think I'll take my friend, Bonnie Whitehead's lead and get rid of the books I've already read and won't read again. Anyway, just as we were calling it quits for the day, we heard a loud wail. Apparently Emily had fallen off of the top (4 1/2 ft) of our Total Gym, landing on the back of her head on the hardwood living room floor. I really didn't think much of it and didn't even go up stairs to see how she was. What a loving Grandma I am.

Break for a glimpse backward...when my kids would cut themselves I would tell them to bleed outside! I was working at Fred Meyer one day cashiering when one of my kids called me. The call went something like this.

Me- "Are they bleeding inside?"

Kid- "No"

Me- "OK, I'll call you back"

Old Man waiting to be checked out- "Wow, internal bleeding! That can be pretty serious."

Me (after pausing to think about what he'd said)- "Oh no. I just wanted to make sure they weren't bleeding in the house!"

Anyway, I wasn't too concerned...until Rachel called us from her car on her way home. Apparently Emily's injury was worse than any of us thought. She lost her vision and couldn't see her mom. She was vomiting and having difficulty staying awake. Poor Luke was charged with the task of keeping Emily awake and keeping the baby's binky in her mouth. All the while Rachel was trying to find Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful with directions from her dad and me who by this time had jumped in the car to meet her. Emily was freaking out, her mom was freaking out and the whole time I was just thinking about poor Luke!

In the event that we couldn't get to the hospital in a timely manner, we called Chuck (Mike's brother who lives close to the hospital) to give Rachel a hand in case she needed help. We didn't want Emily to have to wait for Grandpa to give her a blessing if she needed one before they treated her or sent her up to Primary Children's Medical Center. Chuck called his son, Jonathan (a newly ordained Elder) to meet him there. We did get there just after Rachel and Chuck. After they got Emily settled a bit they let the three men into the room to give her a blessing. Jonathan got to participate in his first blessing. I hope he recorded it in his journal. It meant a lot to us that he was able to do it. I find it important to say that I would be grateful if all the men in our family would keep themselves worthy to give blessings. That power is the power to move mountains. It has certainly been of benefit to us!

We were in the waiting room for about 4 or 5 hours and boy! did my hip feel it! What looked like a comfortable chair ended up feeling like a hard boulder! And poor Morgan, she knew she wasn't in her own mom's arms or her own bed. The poor thing didn't sleep for more than 15 minutes. It was worth it though because Em's head CT showed up clear. Mike later said he wished sometimes that they would let the doctor's do the testing before the blessing just to see a miracle happen! Anyway, even though they couldn't get her to stop vomiting completely, they let her go home. She said, "Grandma, I feel much better now!" For that I am thankful!

Now, about Isaac...it seems that he's been cursed with asthma! All of the smoke in the air from the fires in Herriman have wreaked havoc on his little lungs. Jana took him up to Primary Children's Medical Center (I will henceforth call it PCMC) and they put him on a nebulizer to help him breathe. They sent him home with a portable unit but it didn't seem to be doing much good so his mom took him back to the hospital and that's where he spent the night. If, while sleeping, he can't keep his oxygen level up around 90% then they have to monitor him. So there he is! Mom spent the day with him and dad spent the night with him. I feel sorry for them both but mostly for baby Isaac.

As I said earlier, he is trying to hit us where it hurts...through our family! However, we will prevail! We have more power in our weak little (aaannnddd not so little bodies) than he will ever have!

While we were in the MTC I had an opportunity to hear Elaine Dalton, President of the Young Women's Organization, speak in our Relief Society. I always find her wonderful to listen to but more than that her talk hit its mark and I found myself jotting the following in my notebook.

After we decided to go on a mission he sent stumbling blocks.

After we received our call he threw fire at our feet.

Today we have the faith to walk with Him barefoot across the coals!

(I want to point out the use of the big and little "h"...they are different people, you know!)

I also want to include the following statement from our beloved Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley.

"Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do that which we have said we'll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain."

We ARE going on a mission. We WILL put aside the worries of home and family (all the while praying for their wellbeing). We WILL NOT allow our health issues to consume our minds.We WILL serve the soldiers and people of Camp Lejeune. AND...we WILL love every minute of it! WE WIN!

That Which Does Not Kill Us...

Makes us stronger!

I was going to try and journal our MTC experience everyday but the truth is by the time we got back to the room (usually right after dinner at 6:30pm) I studied for a bit and then went to bed by 8:00pm. Classes were vigorous and wonderful but the chairs were murder on the hip. I lived on pain pills but the walking to and from all of the study rooms and our room were just too much! I'm so disappointed that the painful injection I got the Thursday before had no effect at all and now I'm left wondering how I'll survive the rigors of a full time mission. I'm totally going to rely on the blessings I've received to be able to fulfill my desire to serve. I'll leave it at that and go forward in faith that I'll be able to make it!

I don't know where to continue with our MTC story. Our daily instructors, young returned missionaries, were so great. We had one of the biggest Senior groups (40 couples and 1 single sister) and they split us into about eight districts (5 couples per district). I would have never imagined the love that was shared in each district. We became family! These are people who we will think about for the rest of our lives as dear friends. I know now why young missionaries like to keep in touch with each other long after their service ends.

Anyway, we learned new methods of teaching and have come to understand the importance of the scriptures. Mike and I have very different teaching styles; he likes to prepare way in advance and I don't! I'm much better at the "feeling" style of teaching meaning, I like to prepare but am well aware that things can change midstream. We were taught "teach people, not lessons" and I feel that's where my strength lies. However, Mike and I can balance the two styles sucessfully, I think.

Food at the MTC is plentiful! And that's not a good thing. After receiving a "health" class on eating healthy and portion control, we found it really odd that the food at the cafeteria was heavy on carbs and portions were way too big. I think it was done to feed those young folks who weren't going to recognize much of what they were served once they hit the mission field OR the young men and women burned it off running to and fro. It seems that the only way to get from point A to B was to run! Oh to be young again and pain free!

It would be hard to describe all we learned and the feelings we had while in that sacred place. It seems as though Satan has no power on those hallowed grounds and the peace of the surroundings was humbling. I wish everyone could have that experience. Mostly I want to impress on my grandsons and maybe my granddaughters, the importance that the Gospel has played in our lives and why we would desire them all to work towards serving our Father in Heaven in this work.

As Mike and I continue on our journey in this endeavor we encourage each family member who is able to work to become missionaries. It is the most important thing we've ever done and we know our family will be blessed because of it.

Senior Means OLD!

We just completed day 3 of our missionary training and we are exhausted! We get up at 6:00am, eat breakfast at 7:30am, hit the classroom until lunch at 12:00pm, back to class at 1:30pm and finish by 4:30pm, dinner at 5:00pm and bed by 8:00pm! I know that sounds pretty cushey for most of you but for Elder and Sister Zollinger and 90% of the couples in the class, it's grueling...and we love it!

Not having done this before we were pretty green coming into it all. Some of the couples have served as many as two and three times before so they kind of knew the drill. It's all exciting and a little scary. It's not that we don't know the material, it's mostly that we need to begin to "teach the people" rather than "teach a lesson". There is a huge difference in concept.

We begin class time with instructions on how to teach the lesson/concept. Then we break into small groups. Dad is the "district leader" of our group. We love our group; the Wheeler's (called to the Ohio Akron Mission), the Pattee's (San Salvador Belize Mission), the Howell's (Africa Congo Mission) and the Weber's (Samoa Mission). We have two trainers (Brother Sillitoe and Brother Johnson), returned missionaries, who lead our small group class everyday. We've really grown to love our group and parting will be sad, but we'll all be prepared to do what we've been training to do.

I'll have to make time on our prep day to write more because evenings are meant to study. Leaving family in the care of others is difficult but Trevor's on the mend and we have to continue in the faith that the ward is taking care of him and his family. We love what we're doing and feel that the time is right in spite of the challenges. We definitely have much to write home about!

Much love,
Elder and Sister Zollinger

Rough Go

It will be a learning process; to find things Trevor can eat, that will get him healthy AND that he will enjoy eating! I've made him a book of sorts with information taken from various internet sites pertaining to "wired jaw" eating (sipping). The possibilities are pretty endless IF you have and open mind and an experimenting type brain, which Trevor has. Well, not so much the open mind as the experimenting type brain. The good news is he likes to cook and he likes to make smoothies. He will be OK.

Trevor's first night home was, to say the least, difficult. We're all tired but mostly sad to see him struggle with the pain and discomfort of less than adequate sleeping conditions. We thought we'd be able to get a recliner of some type but the funding for such is pretty sparse so we'll make do with lots of pillows. Hopefully each passing day will improve his condition.

Mike and I (maybe mostly me) feel less than prepared to go into the MTC (missionary training center) on Monday. We were unable to get any of the things done that we felt needed to be done i.e. clean out garage, de-junk and put things in one storage area, make sure our home was ready for winter and make it possible for Alicia's family to be in a designated living area. I've also been trying to get my clothes ready to go and am a little envious (actually I'm a lot envious) that Mike's stuff was so easy to get together. Suits and white shirts with ties, shoes and socks is definitely soooo much easier to round up. I, on the other hand, require skirts and blouses (easy to care for), stockings and shoes; women just need more to live! It's been hard to find suitable skirts that are long enough and not crazy wild in print or color. D.I. (the church equivalent of Goodwill or Salvation Army) has been, thus far, my best friend! I'm grateful to all those ladies who can't do without a new wardrobe year after year! I keep trying to remember that we will have a little time to work on all of this before we leave home on the 26th of September. After that...well after that we can't worry about it.

I posted a quote on FB this morning, from our beloved prophet Gordon B. Hinckley and found it to be what I needed to read and am grateful for its wisdom.

"Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do what we have said we'll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain."

Joy in the journey...amen!

Life!

One of the basic principles in life is the principle of opposition in all things. It's the part of the plan that teaches us how it's possible to have joy because we have known pain. Where am I going with this; this week we experienced pain, last week we experienced joy. With those two events we found "joy in the journey".

Baby Morgan was born last Saturday, August 21, 2010 and weighed a mere 6 lbs 2 oz and measured 18 1/2 inches. She made her entrance at 3:37 in the afternoon to loving parents, Jamie and Rachel (Zollinger) Moroz. I'm writing this for Morgan so she doesn't ever feel lost in the shuffle of Trevor's accident.

Morgan joins the previous 23 grandchildren. Alex, the oldest, has already grown to manhood as he will be 18 yrs old in October. Where has time gone? We have all shapes, sizes and ages. We have blonds, brunettes and a red head. We have blue eyes, brown eyes and hazel eyes. And we love them all. We even had the wonderful privilege of adding one to our family who came to us ready made and became a legal Zollinger several years ago. It was fun to see his excited face when he walked into Lake Ridge Elementary to make the announcement to his grandma, who worked in the office, so she could change his records; Alexander Forbes ZOLLINGER. We've been so very lucky that for the most part they are all healthy. Even the smallest ones who came early have grown to healthy stature. Only one little one did not stay with us for more than a half and hour. Michae Shae Zollinger was born at just 5 1/2 months and she left us; she didn't need to stay longer, she had accomplished all she needed to.

The miracle of life never ceases to amaze me and I will never tire of watching newborns enter this world. The greatest miracle, and the one I want to point out to each of my grandchildren is this. You were born at this time, in this country, in our family because you are one of our Heavenly Father's choicest, most valiant, most prepared for the battle. He saved you to be here right now...this is YOUR time.

Choices are always difficult; remember the law of opposition is in play. However, the choice to trust in Him makes all of those choices easier. I will end this by listing all of you by name and tell you how much we love each of you; your humor, your obnoxiousness, your antics, we love it all and the challenges you bring. So here it goes and I hope I don't forget anyone.

Amy (Zollinger) and Duane Mortensen's Family

Alexander Duane

Gabriel Michael

Samuel Alton

Andrew Bryant

Danielle Yvonne

Josephine Elizabeth

Michael Zollinger's Family

Micha Shae

Taylor Jo Gibbons

Sara (Zollinger) and Matt Nagel

Miles Thomas

Owen Michael

Harper Eugene

Henry Stanton

Scott and Lisa Zollinger's Family

Alexander Forbes Zollinger

Cassadee Janae

Kari Rochelle

Alicia Zollinger's Family

Trevor Willard

Kyle Scott

Charley Marie Pustyak

Rachel (Zollinger) and Jamie Moroz Family

Luke Manning Zollinger Moroz

Emily

Morgan

Kent- still waiting, get a move on

Jana (Zollinger) and Christopher Escobar's Family

Alivia Victoria Zollinger

Sophia Ann Zollinger

Isaac Enrique

And there you have it! Welcome baby Morgan, I know you'll add to the excitement; can't wait to see who you become!

For Trevor

Wednesday, 1 September 2010- This first part of today's journal is all about me! You know my hip has been causing me lots of grief over the past several months and I've made lots of visits to the chiropractor and then the orthopedic doctor. I've been pushed, pulled and twisted like a pretzel. I've had a procedure done on the hip that was so painful that I'd rather have had a baby. THAT is not an exaggeration! Lying on a rock hard table on your back is not the best position for someone with a bad hip. Add to that the dye they inject to the joint and the pressure it causes, a painful pressure I might add; let's just say an arthrogram is now on my list of "you'll have to knock me out first" procedures. At least it allowed us to see that the hip, while hip dysplasia isn't a good thing, was not injured but the joint was really inflamed; don't know why. I was given a pain shot which allowed me to function pretty much pain free for several weeks. The good new; I was able to walk on the treadmill. The bad news; just because you don't have pain, you shouldn't work like everything is normal and overdo. Apparently, I overdid it and I'm paying for it now. I've been in a lot of pain for the last few weeks and it's taken its toll i.e sleepless nights, not as much fun camping because I couldn't do all the fun camping things, worrying about what it would mean to our mission.

Today I went back in to the hospital for another shot to the hip. Before I went in I took some meds to help with the pain. I told the doctor who sent me in for the shot, "Make me happy, I want drugs!" Well, I got drugs; vallium to make me calm and hydrocodone to relieve the pain. While the vallium did space me out a little, the hydrocode made me nauseated and I spent the rest of the day just really sick. The pain shot to the hip; just as painful as the first procedure! They told me the relief could last up to three months. Now I've learned from the first time not to overdo, but at the same time I will have it in the back of head, pain from walking or pain from shot? So visiting you today was miserable for me but how could I not?

Grandpa and I went to the hospital around 5pm because your surgery was scheduled for 6pm. Upon arrival we found out that the time was changed to 7:30pm. They prepped you for surgery and I won't tell you much of what they did. Suffice it to say that in order to have a clean lower system they assisted you by giving you a solution placed by tube where "the sun don't shine!" And we got a chuckle as Kyle asked, "Is that the stuff in the bag what they're putting in or the stuff they got out?" I just learned another use for molasses! Yes, I said molasses! Finally, they wheeled you out with your entourage in tow and we parted company after saying our goodbyes and good lucks. We got a call from the surgical nurse that they had to reinsert the NJ and surgery didn't start until 8:30pm. We groaned because if it was to take 2-4 hours then it was really going to be a long night. Your mom fell asleep folded in half with her head in her lap (I have no idea how she did THAT)! I tried to rid myself of my ever present nausea by laying in the fold out chair bed. After awhile your mom, Grandpa, Kyle and Amy (who'd come to sit with us), left me alone in the room. A doctor came into the room at 9:30pm and I thought he was there to give us a report. It was the surgeon and he came to tell us the operation was done! WOW!

So here's what they did. First let me backtrack and tell you that you neck had been earlier cleared of injury and if you wanted to you could take off the neck brace. You didn't want to; more comfortable for your jaw to keep it on. Anyway, they put in two small stainless steel plates, one on each side of the break. They put rubber bands on your existing braces to keep it all in place so that meant no wiring your jaw together. As far as the NJ tube, we're a little confused who told us they had to replace it because that wasn't the case. You were in a lot of pain but after they got you settled they would give you more meds. We left you in good hands and even your mom was comfortable about leaving you to go home to a real bed to get some much needed sleep. She did, however, ask your grandpa to stay with you. He was a much willing volunteer! Grandpa would move the heavens for any of his family who needed him so it wasn't much of a sacrifice; he loves you so!

When I got home, I found it difficult to shake the nausea. I think I'll opt out of using the hydrocode from here on out and put up with the remainder of the pain from the injection. It should all be good by tomorrow.

Thursday, 2 September- I was up by 7am and tried to write the above entry but it became clear that I was still suffering from a car sick type nausea so I left it undone and went back to bed. I just woke up (10:30am) and feel a little better but will now leave my part of the story to share some really good news.

I called Grandpa and he says you woke up at 2:30am and played video games and watched t.v. He says later in the morning you wanted to get up and go for a wheelchair ride but they couldn't find a wheelchair. The best news is they removed the feeding tube (NJ) and you sipped your first liquid from a straw; Gatorade. Next they'll try some clear soup. You've been taken off some of the other monitors so you're a little freer to move around. They are trying to get you home by this afternoon and into the care of your family. So I'll put this writing aside and try to make ready for your return and the lines of friends and well wishers that will be here. And I'm sure you'll do your best with those puppy dog eyes to put on a show for the girls!

I don't know if you really understand why you sit here this day. I'll do my best to remind you. You received two Priesthood blessings; one shortly after you got into your room and one the day before the surgery. Both times the blessing stated that a) you would heal quickly and fully and b) that your caregivers would be prompted to know what to do. Is there any doubt that those two things have, indeed, come to pass? I say, "NO! There is no doubt! To the very core of my being, without reservation, I say to you now. I know you are here, alive, because of the power in the hands of the men who gave that blessing. Here is another thing I want you to know. We pray for our family everyday that each of you will hold fast to the things you've been taught, that you will remember who you are and why you are all so special. Trevor, I would leave you with the reminder that your talents, your quality to make those around you (well, maybe mostly your friends and not so much your family) feel special. You were blessed to be especially smart. Every one of those gifts come from a loving and ever present Father in Heaven. He has, perhaps, used this knock on the head to remind you of your duties. You need to fulfill your promises (covenants) to Him to take full advantage of all the blessings He has in store for you. Don't waste anymore time harboring feelings of anger towards those who you feel have let you down. Relish in the joy of those around you who fill your life with their love. More than that, begin anew to rebuild a loving relationship with your mom, brother and sister. Dedicate yourself to being the kind of family you always say you want. Do your part to make it happen. I would encourage you to go morning and night and give thanks for all that you have and use this experience to refocus on that which is important; getting back home to Him. I'm looking forward to seeing where each of us will go from here. On Monday Grandpa and I leave for the mission home. I know we'll leave you in good hands. How do I know? I've prayed it so! I love you...INFINITY!

For Trevor

Tuesday, 31 August 2010- Well, it was with some disappointment that we got to the hospital so we could spend some time with you before you went to surgery to repair your jaw. They postponed it because you're still a little unstable with your feedings and nausea. The really cool thing is that earlier in the day Kyle told your mom that he didn't feel right about the surgery happening today. When your mom met with the nurses they told her that the surgeon didn't feel right about the surgery happening today. Coincidence or the Hand of God? You did receive a blessing that your caregivers would know what to do. So now your surgery has been rescheduled for tomorrow evening. It will be another late night.

Today we didn't get up to the hospital until around noon and when we arrived you were more awake than you've been in the last four days. You had more people visit today too. Grandma, Cherie, Dean and Rene came and spent several hours with you as well as Kris and Emily Gould and Diane Pollock. You were more yourself and that was wonderful to see. Earlier Grandpa and I got you into a wheelchair and took you to the Forever Young room. Years ago when Steve Young was a star quarterback at BYU and the San Francisco 49ers he donated money to build a play area for patients at PCMC. It's really cool. The first thing you did was challenge Grandpa to a game of Foosball. He had to play with one hand just like you and

you did beat him. After awhile we moved to the video game area and you tried to play a Sims game. It was disappointing that the computer didn't work. We headed back to the room but we detoured a little because I wanted to show you something. What I showed you made your eyes light up and you were, for a moment, in heaven. We wheeled you up to one of the most beautiful baby grand pianos with gleaming white and black keys. It took about thirty seconds for you to go from Mary Had a Little Lamb to Phantom of the Opera. In fact you took your injured arm out of the sling enough to use both hands. What a treat to hear you play again and I felt sorry for the times I asked you to stop playing so loud. I wanted you to play so the whole world could hear. Your eyes reflected the biggest smile your heart could send. Yes it was a good day! Tomorrow will be the real start of your healing and you will continue to be the recipient of many prayers. I love you...INFINITY!

For Trevor

When your Uncle Scott was in his car accident, rather than sit and do nothing during his recovery I started to keep a record of all the things that were going on and how I felt. His journal is hand written and after more than ten years, it still needs to be typed so it can be read. The following journal will be yours so you can know what we were feeling and watching unfold. So, I'll start at the beginning...

Friday, 27 August 2010- I want to start by saying, that very night I dreamed the accident happened! I dreamed that someone ran in and said, "Trevor was hit by a car." However, it wasn't so much about the accident as it was the feelings I had of, "Do we need to postpone our mission?" I was left with the clear impression that you would be fine if we left. When I woke up to the phone ringing and having your grandpa yell, "Let's go, Trevor just got hit by a car!" I was able to move calmly and quickly. If it weren't for that calm feeling I had, I would have probably fallen to pieces. By the time I got to the corner where you cross 3500 South to go to school your grandpa was already at your side doing what he does so well; all of his combat medic training kicked in and he was assessing your injuries. You were conscious but clearly out of it. You did know who we were but you didn't know what happened. You had major lacerations about the scalp and chin and some bleeding at the mouth. By the time the ambulance arrived, it was clear that you had some other injuries as well. After they loaded you on the ambulance it was decided to airlift you to Primary Children's Medical Center because they knew traffic would make it difficult to get to the hospital with any speed. From the time you were hit to the time we saw you lift off was about 30-45 minutes. The time it took for the whole school to know about the accident was a fraction of that! As I watched kids walking by the cell phones were a buzz with text messaging and calling. The time it took to make it to Facebook was not much more than the cell phones. You would also find it a boost to your ego that many of the girls stood around the halls of Matheson JH crying for you. I understand it got so bad that they had to cancel some of the classes and have discussion groups instead. I just thought you'd want to know...

At first glance, your injuries didn't look that bad, and relatively speaking they weren't but they were painful ones. Let me first tell you how the accident happened; well anyway, what we were told happened. A car was going East on 3500 South and had pulled into the turn lane to go left. The driver stopped to let you walk across. Unfortunately, another vehicle (a delivery truck about the size of a UPS truck driving in the thru lane) didn't see you and hit you with his driver's side mirror and part of the truck. You got smacked on the side of the head by a vehicle going 35mph. We don't know if you actually flew in the air; you were only about 10-15 ft outside of the crosswalk. You have an open fracture on your right jaw; open meaning the fractured bone came though your mouth. You also have a fractured right clavicle (shoulder). A bone in your neck (the hyoid) was fractured so swallowing will be an issue. You were in a lot of pain when they moved you to the stretcher.

When we arrived at Primary Children's Medical Center emergency room we were joined by Bishop and Cathy Sayer, Chris and Emily Gould, Uncle Michael, your Grandpa and Grandma Garza and some of your dad's family. Your Aunt Jill walked in with Cami and we were surprised to see them. As it turned out, Cami had an infection in her leg so it ended up with two Zollinger's in the ER.

After they completed all the xrays and scans and determined that your brain was OK they moved you to the NTU (Neuro Trauma Unit). After they got you settled, your Grandma Mike, Uncle Scott, Chris Gould and the Bishop gave you a blessing. You were blessed to heal quickly and fully. Now it's up to you to do your part to allow the blessing to be fulfilled.

Your head laceration was stapled in the ER and you had to have about 15 staples to close it. They had a tough time getting the wound to stay closed. Later, a plastic surgeon put in six or more stitches to the chin. I wondered how your braces were doing but there didn't seem to be any obvious problem with them.

You had lots and lots of company. You had people we didn't even know come to see you. It's probably best that you were on so many pain meds that you didn't have to worry about entertaining them. You did, however, make it a point of making sure the girls were entertained. The number of girl visits to boy visits was about 9-3 in favor of the girls. You are, after all, a ladies man!

Saturday-Monday, 28-30 August 2010- The steady flow of visitors kept you pretty awake but it took it's toll on your body. Your pain level has remained pretty high and they haven't been able to put anything in your stomach to keep you fed. They finally had to insert a feeding tube (NG) through your nose but you had a problem with it. The stuff they fed you made you nauseated and you threw up the liquid and the tube. You've had some pretty rough days. On Monday they took you down to a special room with a fluoroscope to insert a new tube (NJ) in a location past the stomach into the upper part of the intestine. It gives your stomach a chance to settle down. They also give you meds to help with the nausea.

A brief pause in the story to tell you how much we missed seeing you in the audience at church Sunday for our farewell talks. We had lots of friends and family there but you being absent left a very big hole. I'm told that we did an excellent job but I can't say; I don't remember much. We have to be at the MTC on the 6th of September so we want to spend as much time as possible taking care of you.

So, where was I? Oh, yea...on Monday night it was decided that you really needed to have your hair washed because it was so matted and full of dried blood. I know you well enough to say that you probably felt really yucky. They have a special little pool they put under your head so they can keep the water from the washing away from the rest of you. You should have opted for the shower instead. When we were done with the hair I moved the blanket and lo and behold, you were laying in about an inch of water! I guess the pool will leak when the patient can't be laid flat. The funny thing is that you didn't utter a word. You just laid there totally relaxed letting us fuss over the hair. Well, Grandpa helped get you out of bed and took you into the shower so you could enjoy a really good shower. I think being cleaned up helped your disposition a lot and got you ready for the next step; fixing the jaw. Tuesday, the 31st, they will take you to surgery to put a very small plate in your jaw to fix the fracture. It will take 2-4 hours to do, so, it will be another long day. We're not worried because you received another blessing from Grandpa, Chris Gould (who has become your best adult??? friend in the whole wide world), and Jim Balif one of your teachers from Lake Ridge Elementary who also happens to be a Bishop. I know it will be OK. I want to mention also, your orthodontist came to check out the braces and found no breaks. He was really surprised at that. What was surprising to us is just before he left he said that if you ever needed a blessing he would be happy to assist. I thought to myself, "We are so lucky to live in a place where blessings are a normal occurrence but more than that, we are blessed to have the priesthood power that makes it all possible."

I've been totally blown away by the outpouring of love and support of many, MANY friends and family members. I'm especially impressed by the number of teacher's who've come to see you. You are a well loved and respected member of our community. I'm filled with a sense of peace as we prepare to depart into the mission field. I know you'll have lots of people to love and take care of you as we would if we were here.

Trevor, I know you've had it pretty rough the last few years. You've harbored feelings of anger that your life hasn't been very fair. I want you to know that you're a very blessed young man. You are surrounded by so many people who love you. You are so talented and smart. Most of all, I KNOW that YOU KNOW you have a Heavenly Father who loves you. If you would allow yourself to feel His love you would then feel the peace that comes with that love. You have the Priesthood and with that comes the power to move mountains. You have had righteous men place their hands on your head to ask that your life be returned to normal; fully and quickly!

I believe in that power and pray as you are able to ponder all that's happened you will come to more fully believe it too. I will continue to pray for a full recovery. I love you...INFINITY!

Whew...what a ride!

From the last post to now has been a flurry of dental appointments, medical appointments, paperwork and interviews. We've been poked, prodded and had things put where, ahem, the sun don't shine. The final outcome is that while some parts of the human body go out of warranty soon after turning 60, they are still in good enough shape to go on a mission! Yahoo!!!

We are transitioning from army life (Mike finally retired April 1st) to home life to mission life in one quick six month period. Now we are in the middle of putting all those things we won't need into one room so the remaining occupants can have a space to call home.

When we made the final decision to go on a mission we researched the church's website pertaining to senior couples. There are lots and lots of opportunities to serve all over the world and while we are willing to go to any of those places, it comes down to what we can afford. We still have to maintain a home while paying for a mission. We made a call to the Retired Military Couple mission to see what that would entail and were quick to get on their list of people they wanted. With Mike's impressive resume (nursing, military, business, firefighter, teacher etc) we would be on any one's list of people to have on board. You notice I didn't include a resume of my own; totally riding on his coat tails!

Originally they had us slotted to serve at Fort Hood about an hour or so from where we were in Grand Prairie, Texas. I would have been thrilled to be back in Texas and get to see our friends, both army and church. Alas, it isn't to be. The cost of the mission went up drastically to about a thousand dollars more per month so it took us out of our budget range. Now they have us, if they get their wish, going to Camp Legeune, North Carolina. We'd would be fine with that since we've not seen that part of the country. I know it will be a different climate but hey, we survived Texas!

I've been fascinated by the process of placing senior couples. It's not the same as with the young missionaries. For seniors, they look at the couple and what talents they bring to the table and then essentially the mission puts in their request for that couple. While it's taken into account where the couple has requested to be, it all comes down to where the Lord wants you to be. Near as I can tell, the process hasn't failed yet!

We are excited, ready to go and with the only nervousness coming from our home not quite ready for our departure, we are completely at peace about embarking on this new adventure. Our testimonies are strong, we rely on the Lord to take care of our families in our absence and know "all is well, all is well"!

Let the adventure begin!!!!