JJ, age 8--(transcribed by mom) It was a good year because I got to see my Texas cousins several times
This summer, I had adenoid surgery and got tubes put in my ears. Dad was in the surgery room at the hospital with me.
(JJ's artwork from his 1st grade class was selected to be showcased in March in the city of Bryan.)
(JJ stole the show as Pig 4 in the 1st grade musical "E-I-E-I-Oops!" back in April. He's the pig on the far right. ;)
Turns out I'm not allergic to anything.
(April)
(September)
(October)
(Calvin has been doing a lot of cooking this year and is rocking it!)
(Still loves to fish!)
I learned how to sew and got my own machine at a summer sewing camp.
I have since made a pair of pajama bottoms and a modest skirt.
I caught a huge catfish at a local lake and learned how to take a fish off the hook myself.
I learned how to play Ping-Pong during a family ping pong tournament, and continued learning how to take care of animals with many pet sitting opportunities. I'll also remember 2019 for the places and people we saw. For Spring Break, we watched Cooper's Pepsi Bowling Tournament in Fort Worth, we went to Branson during summer break.
We visited the cousins in Snyder and our Great-Aunt Stacy visited us (she helped me a little bit with math homework). My testimony of Jesus Christ is that everyone has a chance to feel peace. In the darkest corners, or the deepest sea, there is a place for you to find peace. My brother, Jacob, found peace on his mission when he had narcolepsy. I find peace when my brothers get along with each other. And I know Heavenly Father feels peace when his children are following his commandments. Talk to you again in 2020!
Cooper, age 17--This year was an eventful one to say the least. Near the beginning of the year I tried out for the solo and ensemble contest for choir. I was in an ensemble and did a solo as well and got a rank 1 score in both which meant I got to go to state for both (and got a Superior rating in both). Not only that but the judge over our ensemble at region is now my seminary teacher for this year. I also had my first bowling tournament, which was fun, but it being my first, I think the nerves got to me and I didn’t do nearly as well as I could’ve done.
Last big thing was I was called as the stake technical specialist for the Caldwell branch. This strengthens my testimony in the fact that it gave me new insight as to why I had to come to College Station in the first place 5 and a half years ago. I hadn’t wanted to leave Oregon but being 11 years old you don’t have any say in matters like that. I left against my will and my dad told me that it was for a reason. That reason finally manifested with my entering into audio/video production or A/VP at school. I found a knack for filming and editing and about two months later was called as stake technology specialist in Caldwell. This wouldn’t have happened in Oregon because the high school I was supposed to go to just got an A/VP program. My testimony of Christ is that he has restored the church on the earth today and that each one of us matters to him. Here’s hoping for another good year in 2020.
(Received his Patriarchal blessing on June 2nd and Jake was able to be there, too!)
(Learned and honed his card magic skills overnight! He auditioned for the talent show at Especially For Youth--EFY--in July and made it on stage for his card magic debut.)
Jake, age 20--2019 In Hindsight
The year of 2019 has
been what I would deem accurately as a roller coaster of emotions. Every aspect
of roller coasters was incorporated into it. Dread, excitement, fear,
confusion, disorientation, giddy joy, sadness, and a bit of nausea to go with
it. It started out with my finishing out of my first area in Tatabanya, Hungary
with my new missionary being trained under me. I finished that area valiantly
and not without heartbreak or excitement, the joy we felt was where the acute
heartbreak flowed from the loss of membership and activity from many of our
friends.
On March 12, I moved across the country to a bigger city and lived out
of my suitcase for the next two months as I was whisked from the big city of
Nyiregyhaza to the even bigger university city of Miskolc in the north,
famously known for its high population of Gypsies. I loved the Gypsies, but
man, they could be shady people.
During this transition
from trainee to trainer/district leader to tripanion zone leadership with my
trainer to finally zone leader with my mission grandpa, I experienced a lot and
was very different. I was still pretty impatient with my companion, I was learning
true charity, and I could still not speak Hungarian as fluently as I needed to.
I was planning and planning as a missionary, always in awe at the fact that nothing
ever goes the way you plan. EVER. I was loving the snow but hating
the cold, missing bikes, and wondering how to strengthen my relationship with
Christ and how to better become the man that God needs for me, to be the
servant He needs me to be. Through it all, that was the biggest constant was
the driving desire to learn how to strengthen my communication with God
and the Holy Ghost. And I didn’t truly figure it out until I was in this hectic
transition where the only place I could lean on God. I learned to pray out loud
and with meaning; I learned to pause, write the thoughts of my heart, and to
always be grateful to God through sticky notes or other methods of remembrance.
This was my ground to plant the seed of faith unto action.
After that I went from
Győr to College Station, Texas on May 24th, 2019 on account of my quick decline
in health. From there I was in the fray of finding medical clues and
information for my health failure, from June until July 9th when we had the
head PSMT doctor officially diagnose me with Narcolepsy. While this news was
good bearing in the sense that it meant no more guessing, it was a bombshell.
It has shown time and again it is not normal, and has been very nasty to my
sleeping. In spite of this and during it all, my family and my appreciation for
them and their love was greatly elevated, as well as a dear friend reaching out
to me and helping me through that whole ordeal as well while I helped her
through hers. I met a lot of new people, and was given the privileged
experience by God Himself to witness two of my friends enter the waters of
baptism and follow their Lord and Savior down that covenant path. The joy in
those two moments for my dear friends was worth the entire suffering. As
horrible as the suffering was and still can be, that was worth it. “Hath [I]
not great reason to rejoice...in these my brethren?”1
As I was titrating
medicine and found my subsequent reinstatement to missionary of a proselytizing
type, I found that I have such a massive desire to serve God my entire life,
and to help others come unto God, regardless of the outcome that I witness. And
my desire to have a family of my own and to experience that fulness of mortal
joy that comes from an eternal relationship and family. I received a long
needed Maxillary Sinus Surgery on Aug 28, 2019 and shadowed these surgeons for
a few weeks in September. These few hours spent in surgery with these men and
observing and learning has sparked a burning flame of passion for medicine and
surgery, which is now my desired career, to be a healer of sorts and to be able
to help others on their path of life.
On October 15, 2019 I
was flown out to Cincinnati, Ohio for the most successful and powerful 3 weeks
of my missionary experience I would ever receive. The lessons I learned from
Elder Brown in that Springfield apartment and about the power behind two people
of like minds and values that keep each other accountable to each other and to
God was life changing.
Unfortunately the dark cloud of medical problems mixed
with situational anxiety and panic attacks sent me home officially as a
returned missionary as of November 10, 2019. It was the hardest transition to
go through ever, and I was so confused. But I found that this was indeed what
God needed for me, and that though I was not able to serve the mission I
thought I would, I served the one He needed me to.
That door has closed,
that chapter finished, and now I am continuously tweaking my drug experience
with sleeping and daytime meds along with preparing for college and
working a full time job. I like reading books, and have found a love for sci-fi
young adult as well as church biographies and listening to talks as well as
devotionals. I don’t know where the next year will take me, but I would do it
again for what I experienced and would learn the same lessons and from the same
mistakes because the man I am now is not the boy I was last year. And that man
is anxious to be engaged in the continual good cause of the Master in bringing
His children unto the fold of God.
Jenn, age 42--I've learned a lot more this year about trusting in the Lord and His perfect timing. After 14 months as Stake Young Women's president and getting a new presidency two months before that, I was released from that calling. Our family was being asked to serve in the Caldwell Branch in our stake where Jared would serve in the branch presidency.
After serving for ten months as a missionary, Jake, who was born ready to serve a dynamic and powerful mission, found his efforts coming to a screeching halt when his health took a crazy downward turn. Medical tests in Hungary revealed nothing so he was sent home on a medical release the end of May. While we were saddened by the circumstances, we loved having him home with us as we continued to watch the miracles unfold.
One of the greatest highlights of the year for me was spending a once-in-a-lifetime trip in Iceland with Jared while visiting my amazing parents on mission #6! Every day was just incredible, absolutely riveting and left such a lasting impact on me.
The worst thing that happened this year was when I went to my car in the garage one morning and realized that a neighborhood cat had been trapped inside ALL night long and as such, pooped and peed in it. Noooo!!! My poor, poor suburban. Dumb, dumb cat!!
I ran a few 5Ks this year with my friend, Ashley. Including the race that was a world record for Chuck Norris Impersonators! He and I share similar hair color. Haha!
I took a couple of classes this year, the first being ASL with the ASL missionaries. That was really awesome and sparked a desire in me to learn more...until the responsibility of other things (stake youth conference, stake girls camp, a missionary coming home early, etc.) demanded more of my time. I also participated with a friend in the 12 week "personal finances" class as part of the self-reliance program that the Church offers. It was a really positive and educational experience and I highly recommend it to everyone!
I've had the opportunity to take three different and wonderful weekend trips to San Antonio with Jared, Karole and my dear friend, Natassia.
I'm also enjoying lunch dates with the kids at their four different schools as well as spending time with my friend, Ruth, on various outings and at craft classes since the passing of her husband the beginning of September.
Other highlights:
*Commissioning my friend, Natassia, to illustrate Doc's children's book and getting it published on Amazon for Jared's birthday. Even if no one else buys it, this book is a special treasure for Doc's family and future posterity.
*Receiving a beautiful and massive painting of the Houston Temple that our neighbors helped the three little kids create for our home. I still need to frame it, but I love it so much!
*And...this yearly record of events would not be complete without sharing that...I ate a cricket!! Okay, yes, it was dead. And yes, it was covered in Texas BBQ flavoring. But still. I did it. Go me!
Life is a wild ride! But I wouldn't change anything from 2019. I have felt the Savior's sweet peace and joy more than I haven't and have marveled at the miracles we've witnessed. I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and the key role He plays in our lives. I don't know what I would do without Him.
Jared, age 46--In the last twelve months, due to changes within the hospital system, Jared has found himself working in two different clinics with the promised arrangement of a third that would begin after the new year. Not exactly the location stability he was hoping for, but we're grateful that he's in a place (urgent care in Bryan) where he feels comfortable and qualified to work. The long weeks are a grind, but the days off during the opposite week including a three day weekend are definitely appreciated! The best part about working in Bryan is that while he does work two Sundays a month, the clinic doesn't open until noon, allowing him to be at church from 10-11:30, missing only the last 30 minutes. August 2019 marked Jared's five years of employment with CHI St. Joseph.
Jared loved our Iceland trip as well and is currently preparing to take Cooper to Moose Bay Lodge (a legacy trip that began with Doc and his boys) in Canada at the beginning of June. He's also made several trips up to Snyder to spend time with his brother, Kevin, and do a little hunting. A five and a half hour drive is just long enough, but sure beats the distance of five and a half states (in any direction). This is the closest we've lived to Kevin's family since Jared and I got married.
Jared's greatest joys come from spending time with his family whether it's taking his kids fishing, to the temple, to the batting cages, gun range or movies. Or teaching them how to do things, like tying ties or throwing a bowling ball.
Jared lost about 20 pounds this year.
One of my favorite things about Jared this year was his absolute willingness to step aside and let his older sons participate in baptizing and confirming JJ in August. He feels it's a blessing for the big boys to use their priesthood authority because this is what we, as parents, have been training them to do. It would also be a unique opportunity and special bond for these brothers to share. Not all dads feel that way, though. I think we're pretty lucky that Jared does.
He also continues to dream about owning his own boat and retiring on a fishing lake in Arkansas where he spent time with his grandparents growing up.
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