Open Letter to my Grandson, Alex

Alex,

I remember, with fondness, the day you were born. Your grandparents, all four of them, were there. Your great-grandparents were there. Only a handful of our grandchildren can make that claim. Grandpa Morales died in 1996 and Grandma Alice in 1999. Needless to say, we were all beaming upon your entrance into our family.

Oh, how the years have flown by and we've watched as you've gone from boy to young man with style and pazazz. Do you know how blessed you've been? How many can claim trips to Australia, Costa Rica or a drive across the country to see such sites as Nauvoo, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore? Not many! You have your parents to thank for so much of that; their sacrifices were great.

You have a gift for making people feel special. That's why you have so many friends. You also have a wonderful talent for performing. I wish to let you know that you can thank me for that!

Now...you've graduated and entered the world of "adult" living. That's the longest stage of life just before "senior" living. Are you ready to live in an adult world? The joys are many but as with all things in this life, where much is given, much is expected.

Before we came to this life, we made promises that we would do all we could to return to our Father. We knew it would be a tough road. We knew we would be challenged every minute of everyday to make choices between "good, better or best". The question now is, have you paid attention to the lessons you were taught these past eighteen years? Are you ready to hold fast to those principles which bring true happiness?

Here is what you have going for you:

1) You were born to goodly parents! You notice I didn't say "perfect" parents because we still get to make our own choices. We do the best we can with our limited knowledge of how to raise children. After all, you don't come with instruction manuals! YOU, won the lottery, Alex. Your mother is a "one-in-a-million" mom. She has sacrificed countless hours to help you have such wonderful opportunities to learn and to grow; to see our big wide world. She's patient, kind and thoughtful. Have you ever noticed how much joy she brings to others through her service? She asks nothing in return.

2)You came to this earth with wonderful talents and you've used them to enrich the lives of others. You are funny, you can sing (again, you can thank me for that), you are smart! The question is, do YOU remember where those talents came from? You were given your talents by Father so you could bless the lives of others in the Gospel. Your talent is necessary to reach certain people at a point in their lives where they are looking for true happiness. How many lives do you have the potential to change because they came into contact with Alex Mortensen?

3) All through your life you've been given the tools you will need for success. You've been taught how to read the scriptures and how to pray. Were you listening? Were you paying attention to how much better things go when you do those two things?

So now, you're leaving the safe surrounding of a home filled with people who love you and entering a world where you will have, for the most part, charge of what you put into your life. Will you fill it with good things or worthless things, things that bring temporary happiness or eternal joy? That's the beauty of being an adult, it's now yours to choose.

Choose wisely, Alex, but if you make mistakes, learn from them and go on. THAT is the beauty of the Atonement of Jesus Christ! No mistake is too big or too bad to recover from. However, use the power wisely. Don't go into anything thinking, "Oh well, I'll do this or that because I can always repent tomorrow!" It's the adversary's biggest weapon and he will use it when you least expect it. As I've heard your mom say often, "Make good choices!" I echo that!

As you more seriously enter the dating world, I encourage you to treat ALL young ladies with the reverence you will treat the mother of your children. They are, each and every one, eternal daughters of God. Never take that which does not belong to you or let them give that which you have no rights to. The cost of things cheaply given or too loosely spoken is too high!

We love you more than words can describe. There is always and forever only one "first" grandchild. We are pleased with the young man you've become and can't wait to see where you are in the future.

I offer one last bit of counsel. Our mission has been such a blessing in our lives. I would not want you to feel like you are getting pushed to go on one. I can only testify that there is so much joy in being an instrument in the Lord's hands and helping people change their lives. YOU would be such a great missionary! Keep the dream alive...

Much love,

Sister Zollinger

(Grandma Vicki)

First Hand Account of the Tornado

This was written by Elder Farr. I used his account because he was there, this happened to him and he tells it so well...

(I left it entirely as it was written on his blog)

April 18, 2011

hey family, first off, today I am pretty tired.. the last two days have been crazy. and we only have two hours for preparation today because we are going to the temple this weekend on the 22 so I am really excited about all of that! I am glad everything is going great with everyone, so I am probably only write this once.. so if you could forward this and make sure everyone can read it in the family, that would be great! sorry I am not writing everyone. Well on Saturday we had tornado warnings but we get them often and paid them no heed. Our whole night just fell through.. so we had an appointment at 8 right down the street. so we grabbed our umbrellas and walked down, it was raining pretty hard. so we walk down the street look around the corner, he is not there, so we start walking back home. and it stopped raining, elder Phillips chuckles and says, the calm before the storm.... hah really funny I thought. so we walk in and the lightning is amazing~!! I recorded some of it. it's like a light was being turned on and off outside. so I was recording at the door right when we got in, I was recording for about a minute and I could hear the wind... and it quickly got louder and louder I could hear it coming across the street and roofs, they say it sounds like a train.. I heard that train coming.. and elder Phillips casually says, it's a tornado.. and starts walking to the bathroom.. and I then try to shut the door, but I couldn't... the wind was to strong, so I hurry and slammed the door shut and was standing there and I could feel the wind pushing the door in, and I felt the wind coming through the door... and lightning flashing behind it... so then I run to the bathroom, I slip on the floor and crawl in and slam the door shut.. the power is out and its black in there, we hear the wind howling all through the apartment, glass just shattering the whole time.. later I find out elder Phillips was clinging to our toilet.. ha well it stops and we turn on my camera for light.. we walk out an our front window is destroyed and leaves are plastered to the walls, garbage everywhere, we had tree limbs in the house, and so we start to clean it up and call the sisters, their place is totally fine. so we move the couch, put a blanket over the window to keep out the pouring rain. we find my flashlight, and people are outside checking on people. we couldn't get out the front door, the whole wall was blown off the foundation and pinched the door shut. then water is running in through the ventilation, and lights,. then the rough falls in and it was crazy. so we have to get out the back door to go and check on the sisters. we walk back there, and we had a lot of big trees back there, and they were all blown over.. up rooted. if the tornado was 5-10 feet closer to us, we would have died and our apartment would have been destroyed.. so we walk out, water, wood everywhere I walk around kick in our front door. The house is messed up but all apartments in our circle are standing.. so that's good. so the z are coming to pick us up but our whole area is down, and our corner is blocked off on the street from downed trees and power lines, that's what was told. so we packed up our essentials and walked out we came around this corner and it was terrible.. houses were completely gone.. brick houses blown to pieces you know those pictures you see of natural disasters. yeah we were walking though one.. so we walk out and people are crying and screaming looking for their families and crying where is my house. sirens were going, lights are flashing from the cars. I know I won't forget that night... so we walked through all the debris and met up with he zollingers. we stayed with the 2nd ward elders. it was a long night. So we wake up the next day go to church for a few minutes then get called that the sisters are cleaning our stuff out because of looters are coming in.. so we head over there, this great family packed all of our stuff, and put it in their car. so we walked in, more ceiling came down, insulation all over the place. so we move what we could out, my desk and the beds and a dresser is about all we had left.. our bikes were fine. so we finished up there, and went to work helping those whoms homes are gone.. we were in white shirts and ties and cleaning out this ladies pieces of house. we worked there then went and changed when the car came with our stuff. then we went to work on members home in the area, not to bad massive trees downed. a members trailer home was completely turned and torn apart.. so we worked there and then the members show up with chainsaws, so we clear trees and debris and then I walk around the moved trailer and its terrible back there... trailers cut in half by trees, cars smashed in, trailers look like shredded cheese... so we worked from nine to five out there cleaning and moving and cutting and just doing what we can. so at five we got our stuff and moved in with the 2nd ward elders, they have a nice place so I am now in a four man apartment out of my area by 6 miles plus on bikes. They said we will be there until they fix out apartment.... so who knows how long that will be probably 2 months, if they do it right... So we moved in, set up shop and this is where we are. my gps and my clothes are all fine nothing is lost. all is well. and we are planning to go back and help with all those people who now have nothing... WE were blessed in many ways. Well I think I got most of the story.. I hope. A four man missionary apartment in Raleigh was hit and its roof was blown off.. but they weren't home so that is good. i love you!

Well love you all! love elder Farr.

Where Has Time Gone?

We've been in Jacksonville, NC for almost six months now, seven in total for our mission. We love it here and the work is so rewarding. The schedule is hectic some days (daze) and relaxed on others. Sunday continues to be our favorite and our busiest. Here's the gist of it;

We are up at 6am, out the door by 7:30 for Ward Counsel (3rd Ward). Z attends a half hour of the 9:00 Sacrament meeting then leaves to pick up Marines from all of the areas of Camp Lejeune (Camp Geiger, Camp Johnson), I leave the meeting fifteen minutes later to attend another Ward Counsel (2nd Ward). Z gets back by the start of the next Sacrament (11:00) and we stay for the remainder of that ward's block of time. Afterwards, we reverse the route and take the Marine's home, unless we provide a "Break the Fast" on Fast Sunday. Total driving time for Z is almost three hours. Total gas used is half a tank. Having them all with us for Sacrament...PRICELESS! Later that evening we conduct Sacrament at the Camp Geiger chapel for those who are just coming in from 29 days of Marine Combat Training (MCT). They're totally exhausted but they come because they want to partake of the Sacrament. It's also a day we provide Priesthood blessings for those who need it. Our attendance ranges from none to seven. It IS our favorite event of our mission.

Mondays we hang out with the other missionaries for games of basketball or freedom ball (we watch, they play, we all laugh), later in the evening we have Family Home Evening with our YSA Marines. Usually they decide what they want to do and we facilitate.

On most Tuesdays we attend the MCT graduation of the Marines we met on Sunday and get all of their information so we can let their next training/duty station know they're coming. We've been really successful at doing this and it really helps the Marines know someone will be waiting for them. Tuesday nights we conduct Book of Mormon study. We love it and we've increased our own love of that book.

Wednesday is district meeting and we meet with the other Elders and Sisters to learn how to be effective missionaries. We spend the day planning on what we will do later in the week.

Thursday is our own Prep Day because we are old people and we need a full day to recuperate, however, sometimes we are called away to help someone out or make a visit.

Friday is usually pretty calm and we find ways to fill it. Sometimes we have a baptism.

Saturdays are the biggest day for baptisms and we've had opportunities to participate. Last Sunday Z got to confirm a young mom and it was quite a spiritual experience. It is ALWAYS a spiritual experience when Z gives a blessing. Sunday starts the week all over again.

We have Zone meetings in Wilmington or Kinston. We take missionaries to Raleigh and drop them off to go to other areas and we pick up the ones coming to Jacksonville. We love every minute of everyday and wish we could do this forever. We will, at least, do it again a few months after we get home.

I've noticed that when we are busy, the pain in my hip doesn't go away BUT I'm not really aware of it. I use the Jazzy (generously provided by my mother in law) when I know I'm going long distances. Otherwise I just use the cane when I'm out and about. It has improved greatly as I've been more diligent about exercise. Z was able to put my bike on stand that we bought so it's now functioning as a stationary bike. We both use it.

We know that the problems have been many at home and hope that people can realize how blessed they really are while we've been serving this mission. The sacrifices have been many for all of us. What son doesn't want to be at his mother's side when she is ailing? What grandma or grandpa can honestly say they don't miss their grandchildren? What grandparent doesn't want to hold an injured child or give a parent a break from a sick child so they can get a little rest but as we continue to serve we know we're exactly where we are meant to be. We know that our time spent here is precious and what little we spend with each of these young Marines is golden.

We only got to spend ten minutes with Lucas Pyeatt (see my FB posts) but it might have been the most important ten minutes we ever spent with anyone. He was killed two weeks after he left here to serve in Afghanistan but before he left he told Elder Zollinger that he would get active again when he got home. How prophetic were those words. He is most assuredly active now that he is HOME.

So, is what we do important? We believe that it is!

We love our family, each and every one and hope they can see how important the Gospel is in our lives. We pray for each of you and have you on our minds always. This Gospel is true and we love the part we play in it and hope to see our grandsons out here soon.

So, in a nutshell, that's what is going on in Jacksonville, NC!

Love to all,

Elder and Sister Zollinger

Biggest Loser

OK, I admit it! I love the Biggest Loser. I love it because while motivating me to get off of my behind, it usually ends up being a study in the psychology of man. Here's the latest example of how we (parents) become enablers to our children. On the latest episode two people were going to be sent packing; one who fell below the red line (smallest percentage of weight lost) was going home, instantly. The other would be voted off.

Most of these couples are moms/daughters, fathers/sons, father/daughters; you get the picture. Anyway, two moms and one dad decided to throw themselves under the bus to save their kids. To do that they had to GAIN weight so their kids wouldn't fall below the red line. Now I want you too think about this on a broader scope.

As parents we often throw ourselves under the bus for our kids. We stay up all night to help with a project that's due the next day, that they could have done earlier. We run things to school because they forgot them. We run a day and night taxi. You know what I'm talking about...

So here's my point. What if life was about letting our kids fail once in awhile to learn from their mistakes? What if the parents on this show let the kids take the responsibility for losing their own weight? Why didn't the parents begin to see themselves important enough to do for themselves.

In the end it doesn't matter how much you think you need to sacrifice for our kids. At some point they need to take control of their own destiny.

This was just a thought...

Too Many!

In our entire married life, I've never known this many deployed people...EVER! The wards that we serve have many active duty personnel and the comings and goings are never ending. Just recently, we lost a good number of key leadership people. We have many, MANY families who have only mom sitting in church with the family. Last Friday, we attended the farewell for our beloved Ward Mission Leader, Brother Cale. Brother Gallegos and Brother Littlefield are now in Japan and Bahrain. Sister Corey and Sister Birk left a couple of weeks ago. Next Monday, we will say farewell to three more; Brother Stone, Brother Friel (whose wife is expecting their first child in June) and Brother Horrock. And those are just the ones leaving soon. In the next few months we will lose Brother Webb, Brother Kehr and Brother Rogers...that we know of! We have another from the YSA Ward in Wilmington; Brother Phippen. Who knows how many more are leaving that we've been unable to locate or meet yet.

On a brighter note; we had the opportunity to be witnesses for one of our YSA Marines as he and his wife were married on Monday.They are a great couple...and he deploys soon!

Our mission is going well, but we never feel like we're doing enough. So, after some careful consideration, we've added a Sacrament meeting to our Sunday schedule. We'll now go to Courthouse Bay after our Sunday meetings with the Jacksonville wards. We don't mind the miles we've traveled to make pickups there but we think... NO! We FEEL that we will better serve those kids if we take the meeting to them. As students, they have little time to travel back and forth to the traditional meetings. Some of them don't even try because they have to jump through so many hoops to leave the area. We just feel that if even one or two more members can partake of the Sacrament, their chances of staying strong in the Gospel are made greater.

The time is going too fast and we've already been out for almost seven months. We've witnessed many miracles and know that many more are waiting to unfold. We continue to have challenges with our YSA programs and attendance but we know we're on the right track. We've seen lives begin to change as our YSA members take hold of the principle of repentance and take full advantage of the Atonement. It's exciting stuff!

I'll post pictures later in the day.

Much love,

VZ

P.S. I realized there's an error in the comment about not knowing so many deployed military people...I completely forgot our own 144th Evac Hospital in Desert Storm; 400 plus!

Joey. At. Temple

Josephine Elizabeth Mortensen is the luckiest little girl in the whole wide world. Her life has been blessed from the very beginning by two wonderful

women; Jana and Jana's sister, Amy. But that's another story for another time.

Joey's adoption into the Mortensen family happened around the age of one. Following her adoption, Amy and Duane proceeded to get their family ready so they could go to the new Oquirrh Temple to be sealed. You see, in our faith, we believe that families can be together forever. That can only happen in a Temple by men who have Priesthood authority. (see mormon.org)

Anyway, the whole family was excited for this event. Amy made sure all the family had white clothing. It's one of those rare instances where the whole family can be in the Temple as a family so it's a pretty special thing. Joey had been learning about the Temple for quite some time and she was excited to get "married" (sealed) to her family.

The sealing room was full of most cherished friends and family. They brought the family in and Joey was beaming from ear to ear. She kept whispering, "I getting married in the Temple!" She was so excited...until they told her to come and kneel at the altar by her mom and dad. She was quite emphatic about it. THAT was NOT going to happen! First they coaxed, then they held, it went from bad to worse. Joey was just not having any of that. She screamed, she kicked, she squirmed and used every muscle she could to stay away from her mom. In fact, she grabbed Amy by the hair and rammed her head into the altar. I honestly didn't know a two year old had that much strength!

The Matron left the room for a moment and did something I've never seen and will likely never see again in my lifetime. She brought Joey ANIMAL COOKIES! AND IT DIDN'T WORK! Joey was not going to participate in the ordinance. Our dear friend, President Ron Henline was officiating and he chuckled and said, "Well, some people will likely be dragged kicking and screaming into the Celestial Kingdom!"

The Matron finally just had to wrap herself around Joey and hold her tight. Bless that woman. I'm sure she needed a long nap after that.

After the sealing was done, they released Joey and she said through gulping sobs, "I married in the Temple!"

I love that little girl. She's spunky, she's charming, she's smart...and she knows what she wants. Somewhere in this world there is a little boy being prepared for her...he better take Karate!

Family Service Projects 2010

Copied from the letter the Nagel's sent at Christmas.

The hardest thing about living in Utah is dealing with the climate, especially the snow. We've learned that good coats, gloves and hats make all the difference. So it made sense that when we asked the boys to pray about what we should donate to the Christmas Box House (a charitable safe house for displaced children), they both felt impressed t say, "Coats."

We had some "groupons" for Nordstrom's Rack, so Miles, Owen and Harper each picked out a coat that would fit himself and we took them to the Christmas Box House. The receptionist took the coats and gave each boy a candy cane.

On the way home we talked about how we did this service for the sake of the kids who needed the coats and not for the candy canes. We also talked about why it's nice to do service anonymously.

MTN

Included is the following letter. I've tried to keep the integrity of the writing/punctuation/spelling intact.

Dear Grandma & Grandpa,

For our service project this year, we bought coats for the c.b.h. (christmas box house.) It was fun and exiting! But it all started with the praying. Our mom sent us in diffrent sections of the house. She told us that we would get a warm feeling of what we S (the "s" was scribbled out and (Sorry, lol) was written in parenthesis) should do. We had a warm filling we should do coats. Instantly I knew it was the holy ghost.

Miles

On the bottom of the page he wrote, "Flip it over!" and there was a wonderful drawing of a dragon.

From Amy I received the following.

Dear Mom and Dad,

What an amazing year we have had as a family. We're blessed to have a home, our jobs and each other. We have all six of our children in school...with Alex in his senior year and Joey in preschool...we are as busy as ever. But we wanted to continue our special gift to you, our gift of service.

This year we had hoped to do a sub for Santa for someone outside of our group. Unfortunately, we had a friend that found herself a single mom, after twenty plus years of marriage, at the end of November. So we scrambled to assist Santa once again for our friend that we truly love. We went about it the same way; emails, texting and of course, Facebook. We each parceled out bits and pieces of the wish lists and managed to fit in a wrapping party to finish it off. I don't know where I would be without this amazing group of women.

As a family we made two fleece blankets. Nothing fancy, nothing to show off...but warm. Our plan is to drive around and let the Holy Ghost tell us who need to be warm...and see what happens. We can't wait to see the expression of the recipient.

We continue to serve our community throughout the year. Soccer is done for the winter and will begin again in March. This will be my last season as president. It's bitter sweet. But I've already started working on a special needs soccer program in our area for players of every age and all abilities. I can't wait to start.

Honor Guard continued its tradition of honoring our Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in November with our annual Veterans Day program. This year's theme was WITH HONOR. We are already in planning mode for next year, with the idea of honoring the families left behind while their loved ones serve our country.

Our Sea Cadets received a service ribbon for volunteering throughout the community. Most recently Andrew and the other cadets laid over a hundred and fifty wreaths on the service men and women's' headstones at the cemetery near Ft Douglas. Each cadet was asked to spend a moment and reflect on the life of person they were honoring...I know it meant a lot to Drew.

The kids have participated in school food drives for the Magna Community, helped with sub for Santa at the school, performed song/dance recitals all over the place and all continue to serve in various Church callings.

Service throughout the year...I love it.

We have truly blessed with wonderful SERVICE role models

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad!

Love always,

Amy

There was a reoccurring theme for these two families and I'm pleased that they got it right. Christmas IS about love and service. I'm especially proud that they found ways to instill in their children, that when given the chance, the Holy Ghost does indeed guide. The. Best. Gift. EVER!