Saturday, January 17, 2009
Family Reunion
When is it so that we can see about asking off work? Where is it at and doesn't anyone need to start planning it?
Car
Some time after we get home, we will purchase a car. We enjoyed the Odyssey but it is not an economical car. What do you think about the Hybrids? We do not want to spend over $20,000. So, Dad says that a good used car about 1 or 2 years old would be fine too. What are your thoughts? M
How old is old?
Yesterday, I was discussing some things with one of my young (male) teaching assistant.
During the discussion, he referred to me as an elderly person using a very polite Japanese term "nenpai no kata" (lit. an honorable person advanced in years). I think he meant no insult, but I was taken aback.
When I was younger, I used to think that 40-years old was old.
When I reached 30, 50-years old was old.
I will be 50-years old this year. My body is beginning to show signs of aging, but in my mind I am still twenty years old. Old always seems to be 20 years beyond where I am right now.
So, how old is old to you?
During the discussion, he referred to me as an elderly person using a very polite Japanese term "nenpai no kata" (lit. an honorable person advanced in years). I think he meant no insult, but I was taken aback.
When I was younger, I used to think that 40-years old was old.
When I reached 30, 50-years old was old.
I will be 50-years old this year. My body is beginning to show signs of aging, but in my mind I am still twenty years old. Old always seems to be 20 years beyond where I am right now.
So, how old is old to you?
Mom's little message
Dear Children,
As I am starting this, I am wondering what is going on in your lives. It does not seem that you are very willing to email us often except for a couple of you.
This week has not had anything very special for me except for what happened in the office elevator that I have already explained on the Blog. Dad has been to Calais to pick up the Elders to go on to Boulogne-sur-Mer,France where they finished cleaning the apartment that we are closing for good. The next day, he went to Antwerp to build a bookcase and install a desk. He then continued and went to Turnhout where he build also a bookcase and rebuild the cupboard under their sink, then he bold out those missionaries for living like pigs. They promised that they would clean everything and send him a picture to prove it. He also went to Charleroi to bring a new stove and install it. Each time, he comes home really tired. Last night, he went to bed at 9PM and slept until 6:30AM. I don’t like when I see him so tired. He will need a good vacation after we go home.
The sunshine just came back after several cloudy days. We just watched some green parrots on the pine tree just outside of our window. It is always amazing to see that kind of bird in this environment. That’s all for this week.
Know that you are always in our prayers.
We love you and care.
With love, Mom
As I am starting this, I am wondering what is going on in your lives. It does not seem that you are very willing to email us often except for a couple of you.
This week has not had anything very special for me except for what happened in the office elevator that I have already explained on the Blog. Dad has been to Calais to pick up the Elders to go on to Boulogne-sur-Mer,France where they finished cleaning the apartment that we are closing for good. The next day, he went to Antwerp to build a bookcase and install a desk. He then continued and went to Turnhout where he build also a bookcase and rebuild the cupboard under their sink, then he bold out those missionaries for living like pigs. They promised that they would clean everything and send him a picture to prove it. He also went to Charleroi to bring a new stove and install it. Each time, he comes home really tired. Last night, he went to bed at 9PM and slept until 6:30AM. I don’t like when I see him so tired. He will need a good vacation after we go home.
The sunshine just came back after several cloudy days. We just watched some green parrots on the pine tree just outside of our window. It is always amazing to see that kind of bird in this environment. That’s all for this week.
Know that you are always in our prayers.
We love you and care.
With love, Mom
Friday, January 16, 2009
How come the plane didn't sink?
Would some one please explain to me why U.S. Air flight that landed in the Hudson river didn't sink right away? It just seems impossible that it would stay a float long enough for every one to get out.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
SLC stands out again
Looks like SLC stands out again. Not only fittest in the US but on the planet Earth!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Gaza in Belgium
I sure hope our family in Belgium is able to stay away from the violence spilling over from the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. News report here.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Delta's Newest B747-400
This is a time elapsed video of a Northwest Airline B747 being repainted in Delta livery.
The Reason for the Poll
The reason I put up the IM poll was to see if we could easily decide on a common IM client, assuming people want to use one. I use Skype in my work, but I am willing to use another IM client if necessary. Just as a side note, an IM client is a chat program that lets you chat online with other family members. You can see when someone is online and send them a brief message. It's very convenient if you have a short question. A phone call or email is better for a longer conversation. Are you interested and which client would you like to use?
(Brian, Deric, and I used to use Yahoo! Messenger, which worked well.)
(Brian, Deric, and I used to use Yahoo! Messenger, which worked well.)
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Mom's weekly message
Dear children,
I really don’t know what to tell you this time. I am still under the weather but improving a little. Dad came down with a cold day before yesterday but he is already well. I envy his health. He is so strong.
We have had a big transfer that gave a new assistant to the President. So, we will have a new face in the office. That Elder is very nice. He stopped his studies at the Air Force Academy to serve a mission.
Also, among the new missionary, we have one that joined the Church during the Summer 2007. His family was very upset by it and his father kicked him out of the house. He saved his own money to be able to serve a mission. He will not receive much mail if any but he certainly needs support. I really feel bad for him and hope that his parents will realize that the Church is true.
Our very cold weather continues. We still have snow on the ground and the sky is clear. At night we have has as low as -5F. We know that St. George has had a cold snap but not as bad as what we have here. People are skating on the city pounds and kids are sliding on the snow where ever they can. In fact, we can see kids sliding on their sleigh in our backyard.
Dad is happy that everything went fine with the Amsterdam apartment. He will not have to go back too soon.
Tomorrow after Church we will have a Linger-longer that will help members to know each other better. Last Sunday, our first meetings went fine and everyone enjoyed them.
We love to hear from you.
With love,
Mom
I really don’t know what to tell you this time. I am still under the weather but improving a little. Dad came down with a cold day before yesterday but he is already well. I envy his health. He is so strong.
We have had a big transfer that gave a new assistant to the President. So, we will have a new face in the office. That Elder is very nice. He stopped his studies at the Air Force Academy to serve a mission.
Also, among the new missionary, we have one that joined the Church during the Summer 2007. His family was very upset by it and his father kicked him out of the house. He saved his own money to be able to serve a mission. He will not receive much mail if any but he certainly needs support. I really feel bad for him and hope that his parents will realize that the Church is true.
Our very cold weather continues. We still have snow on the ground and the sky is clear. At night we have has as low as -5F. We know that St. George has had a cold snap but not as bad as what we have here. People are skating on the city pounds and kids are sliding on the snow where ever they can. In fact, we can see kids sliding on their sleigh in our backyard.
Dad is happy that everything went fine with the Amsterdam apartment. He will not have to go back too soon.
Tomorrow after Church we will have a Linger-longer that will help members to know each other better. Last Sunday, our first meetings went fine and everyone enjoyed them.
We love to hear from you.
With love,
Mom
Friday, January 9, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
Devan's Second Son
Our second oldest son, Devan and his wife Brittney, had a baby boy today. No name as of yet. He was 7 lbs and 14 oz. All are doing fine. This new arrival is their second son.
Snow in Brussels.
Finally it snowed snow that is sticking in Brussels! Here is is in my neighborhood and my house at 9:50 a.m. our time today.
Happy Winter! Teresa
Saturday, January 3, 2009
2009 Mom's first message
Dear Children,
I had planned to call everyone on New Year’s Day but I have a big cold and could not talk.
2009! When one is young one wants to be older, and when one is older one wants the time to slow down. We are always amazed to see how fast the time goes by. We wonder if it is the same for everyone.
We hope that each of you started this New Year with a positive attitude and thinking of all the good things that can happen to you during the year. If you had a bad year, it cannot get worse, and if you had a good year, continue on the trend.
Our Mission President is very concerned because to this day, he doesn’t have a couple to replace us in the office. Replacing me is Ok but replacing Dad is going to be very hard because he can do so much. For example: some missionaries had lost the poles that are needed to connect bunk beds when the beds were not used as such. Now, the Mission needs bunk beds. Yesterday, Dad went to the store, bought some tubes that would fit, made holes at the right places and voila. We have bunk beds again. The Elders that have seen him say that they want to become like him when they get old.
We spend the evening of 1 January with my sisters and it was very nice to be together for maybe the last time or at least for many years. My maternal great-grandmother had the tradition to have all her children and their families together the first of the year. It continued on with my grandmother and my mother. My sisters told me that they had it this year because I was there, but it was the last time. I wish that we could do this in our own family but distances are way too large.
Dad is very happy that Utah beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl!!! He is a BYU fan but he was for Utah in this case.
It really makes a difference that couple missionaries can keep in touch with the family and the News at home.
This Sunday, we invited to dinner by Teresa. It will be wonderful.
Keep us posted on your news. Some of you are very good and some …….well, not so good.
Kim, do you have Finn’s pictures yet? We need to see that he really exists
Have a great week.
With my love,
Mom
PS: Thank you, Fabienne, for your Christmas gifts. We love them.
I had planned to call everyone on New Year’s Day but I have a big cold and could not talk.
2009! When one is young one wants to be older, and when one is older one wants the time to slow down. We are always amazed to see how fast the time goes by. We wonder if it is the same for everyone.
We hope that each of you started this New Year with a positive attitude and thinking of all the good things that can happen to you during the year. If you had a bad year, it cannot get worse, and if you had a good year, continue on the trend.
Our Mission President is very concerned because to this day, he doesn’t have a couple to replace us in the office. Replacing me is Ok but replacing Dad is going to be very hard because he can do so much. For example: some missionaries had lost the poles that are needed to connect bunk beds when the beds were not used as such. Now, the Mission needs bunk beds. Yesterday, Dad went to the store, bought some tubes that would fit, made holes at the right places and voila. We have bunk beds again. The Elders that have seen him say that they want to become like him when they get old.
We spend the evening of 1 January with my sisters and it was very nice to be together for maybe the last time or at least for many years. My maternal great-grandmother had the tradition to have all her children and their families together the first of the year. It continued on with my grandmother and my mother. My sisters told me that they had it this year because I was there, but it was the last time. I wish that we could do this in our own family but distances are way too large.
Dad is very happy that Utah beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl!!! He is a BYU fan but he was for Utah in this case.
It really makes a difference that couple missionaries can keep in touch with the family and the News at home.
This Sunday, we invited to dinner by Teresa. It will be wonderful.
Keep us posted on your news. Some of you are very good and some …….well, not so good.
Kim, do you have Finn’s pictures yet? We need to see that he really exists
Have a great week.
With my love,
Mom
PS: Thank you, Fabienne, for your Christmas gifts. We love them.
Please Obama, Please Change the BCS!!!
Change! Change! We football fans need Obama's change!
"Basic Fairness" was one of his motto's throughout the campaign.
The basic unfairness of the BCS was laid bare for all to see tonight with Utah's absolute thumping of Alabama. I picked against Utah in our Pick'em competition, but I was cheering for them throughout the whole game. Can any football fan deny the sham that the BCS is! I say that it is downright un-American!
"Basic Fairness" was one of his motto's throughout the campaign.
The basic unfairness of the BCS was laid bare for all to see tonight with Utah's absolute thumping of Alabama. I picked against Utah in our Pick'em competition, but I was cheering for them throughout the whole game. Can any football fan deny the sham that the BCS is! I say that it is downright un-American!
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