"I Have a Dream"

I have had my dream vehicle picked out since I was in high school. And though I thought chances were in my favor that I might get it eventually, I did NOT think it would be so soon in my lifetime!


And that DREAM is a....


That's RIGHT! Jenn got her SUBURBAN!!! (Giddy-up!)

Why? I'm not really sure, actually. It all just happened kind of suddenly ;)

About a month ago, we were driving back from a Christmas concert in Vancouver and I saw a suburban pass Jared on the left. It was just a suburban. Nothing flashy about it, even though I do a double-take and a slight drool whenever I see one. But it caught my extra attention. And then I dreamily wondered how long it might be before I could entertain the thought of owning one myself.

Christmas came and went and out of the blue Jared half jokingly commented we might need the cargo space of a suburban before long. (He told me later he was VERY hesitant about saying anything to me about it since I'm such a tight wad--even when it's purely hypothetical). But much to his surprise I replied, "That's funny because I was sort of thinking the same thing."

The next day, my yahoo inbox was INUNDATED with emails with the subject heading "Jared wants you to look at a Chevrolet Suburban on autotrader.com" or the like.

Out of the first batch he sent me, I saw two that I liked. They were both 2007s with similar mileage. One was over $30,000 and the other was a little under. I liked the expensive one because it had more "bells and whistles" than the other (like leather interior--which I didn't want, a DVD player--which the kids would love, an MP3 player, sunroof, remote starter, flex fuel, power-everything, etc.)

A week went by and we talked a little about when we should start looking more seriously at the suburbans, talk to the dealers, etc. Maybe after Valentine's day. We talked about the timing of selling the car, etc.

More craigslist and autotrader emails appeared in my inbox.

Sunday, during second hour, when I was making my rounds, Jared found me as he was pow-wowing with some of the young men leaders and said that the priests advisor was willing to bring his suburban over after church to see if it fit in our garage. Dead serious! I told Jared one stinky thing about getting a suburban is that I'd lose the garage because we had already found the measurements online and the length was wall-to-garage door with no room to breath. Even still, we really wanted to get an actual suburban to come test out our garage space. Blaine was willing to do it. And it FIT! Oh, it was tight, alright. But the garage door closed! Jared and I both did a BIG 'OL happy dance the rest of the day! (Thanks Blaine!)

Then on Tuesday, I went to the temple with our friends whose son is getting ready to go on his mission. Jared was going to meet us there after work. As the room started filling up, Jared didn't show. I knew it was a distinct possibility that he wouldn't make it with last minute things that sometimes pop up at the office and that was fine. Before the session started, I had the fleeting thought "I hope Jared goes and talks to some dealers if he can't make it tonight." It seemed hardly the thing I should be thinking about it in the temple. Shame on me. Fortunately I was able to focus my thoughts the rest of the time.

When I got home a little before 10pm, Jared told me what he did when he knew he wasn't going to make the session. He went to one of the dealers nearby! We got a kick out of that. It's actually been FREAKISH the way he and I have been thinking almost the same things at the same time--about something BIG like this--not just movie quotes that fit a certain situation.

The dealer he spoke to said that we'd be hard-pressed to find a 2007 'burb under $30,000 and they talked a little more business.

Right before going to bed, we checked the suburban we'd been "watching" online and we were FLOORED to see the price had been REDUCED below $30,000! We looked at each other and knew we had to act fast on this.

More things fell into place...it was mutual night, but it was a combined activity and Jared's quorum was not in charge, so it was an okay time for him not to be there. The activity sounded really cool, however and I was sad he was missing it. And then he had to ask his 1st counselor to fill in for him at BYC. (*cringe*...sorry Zach!) I guess that's what counselors are for, but it seemed really selfish! And even though it was mutual night and all our youth babysitters would be at church, our friend Kyle (who was endowed the day before) was home and could babysit for us!

We left at 6:15 and headed to Milwaukie...a new destination experience for the both of us. Thank goodness for the new GPS we just got.

When we arrived at 7pm, Brandi (the internet coordinator who I had talked to umpteen times on the phone during the day when I was getting the skinny on their inventory, making an appt., running numbers and filling out a credit request, etc.) had the suburban already "on deck" for us to look at and drive. I was so nervous getting behind the wheel of that thing. Fortunately, there were ONLY right turns involved!

I think we already knew we were going to buy the burb. We just didn't want to get it sight unseen. Jared even asked why they priced it so low (relatively speaking of course). She said people are buying Tahoes now, not the suburbans. It had been sitting since September. I guess that's a long time in the car business hence the big mark down.

Long story short, the dealer lost some money on the deal, we have a car payment again that we haven't had in YEARS (ugh). But we have a big rig in our garage and it just so happens to be MY DREAM CAR!

After we left the dealer, we went to dinner and I called my parents to tell them about the "irresponsible" thing we had done (we've only bought vehicles out of sheer desperation...we've never had the luxury of looking for one and buying one because we can put it to good use). They were excited for us...even more happy that we won't have to take two cars when they come to visit. Then my mom asked me what color it was.

I have this thing about car colors...we can't get away from red or any hue or shade of red. I married into a red car that Jared had when he got off his mission, we got a burgandy car after that. When we had to get the van, Jared promised me it wouldn't be red. It's burgandy too. Needless to say, I've been giving him flack for that ever since. I am happy to announce that my suburban is "graystone metallic" and I love it.

(See?? It's so big I couldn't get a picture of the whole thing!)

I asked Jared yesterday about the first time he got the fleeting thought about getting a suburban. He said he saw a suburban drive past us on our way home from the Christmas concert in Vancouver and it just came to him.

I think this suburban was meant for us.

More monkeys

They are monkeys 99% of the time, but for a small moment, they were my Christmas cuties.

Karcyn


Mister, Mister


Super Coop


Goofy

Meet the Monkeys

Christmas came early for me this year. We have a gift exchange at Dr. Hicken's office and these last couple of years we've written down a couple of things we'd like to help give our giver some ideas. This year, I wanted a pair of sweet sock monkey slippers. I couldn't justify buying them for myself, but boy, they'd be fun (and comfy) to have.

Two days before the office party, I was at Target and went to visit the monkey slippers and they were ALL gone! Either that or they had been moved. I didn't have time to hunt for them so I just told myself they were sold out. I was so sad.

Guess what I got at the party??? It was the first thing I opened in a stack of gifts Elizabeth got me. She was much too generous! But I've been doing the happy dance ever since.


I'd like you to meet my left monkey: Liz.















And my right monkey: Beth.


















Together they make: 'Lizbeth!

They're the bomb and I love 'em.

A change of plans

This would be a mission change.

My parents flew here for their last visit with us for Thanksgiving before they went on their mission. We had a great time with them. It was too short as usual, especially since it's going to be a year and a half before we see them again.

A good portion of their time with us was spent on the phone with former missionaries and secretaries of missions and the missionary and family history departments in SLC. My parents got word that their visas to India were on "back order"so to speak and no one could speculate how long before they'd be issued. My parents had their hearts set on leaving now for their mission and didn't want to wait around, twiddling their thumbs, for the visas to come. Their newly bought home was packed up. Their suitcases were packed. They said their good-byes and were ready to get rolling.

When speaking with a secretary in the family history department (I believe) my parents were given a couple of options for alternate destinations. One country was French speaking, so that was out. Another option was the Dominican Republic. Jared about burst into tiny pieces, he could hardly contain himself. That is where HE served HIS mission and has always wanted to go back and take me with him. Unfortunately, that was short lived because there is a Spanish language requirement, understandably so, for that mission as well. My dad can speak Spanish but wouldn't call him fluent and that's what they needed. Although, we got our hopes up because it was mentioned, during one of the umpteen phone calls, that my parents might be able to get Spanish language training at the MTC. That was a very exciting possibility....and then the big let down came shortly after. (Sorry, Jared).

Another option was Hyde Park in London, England. My parents were all over that, however, did you know that this is the MOST EXPENSIVE mission in the WORLD? The secretary helping my dad had asked what his finances were like because they have a hard time filling that spot. My parents' finances are good, better than most, actually, but it was MORE than they had budgeted so that got nixed, too.

This issue was, of course, compounded by the Thanksgiving holiday and apparently the Church department (or the persons my parents needed to speak to) takes the Monday AFTER Thanksgiving off, too. It's all well and good for people to enjoy an extra day off from work to be with their families. It's just inconvenient for those senior couples who are 13 days away from serving their mission and they still don't know where!

By the time my parents flew back home on Dec. 1st however, we had it on good authority that they would be serving in the Slovenia-Croatia mission...with no language requirement with the expectation they will be doing family history work and other assorted responsibilities. The First Presidency approved the mission reassignment (phew) just days before my parents left. Just enough time for them to REPACK their suitcases for an area of Europe with 4 seasons, instead of two as they had prepared for.

Mom and Dad reported to the MTC two days ago on Mon. Dec. 14th. They will only be there a week and then will go to SLC and live in a hotel for 2 months, working at the family history building until they get their visas.

It will be interesting to hear about their experiences in this part of the world that they weren't planning on going to. Those are usually the best kind of experiences.

Rude awakening

At 6:15am, because there was no school due to the federal holiday, Jake and I went to our neighbor's house so he could learn the morning feeding routine for their animals while they're way this weekend.

We got home around 6:40am and I told Jake to go back to bed because that's where I was headed. And if he didn't go back to bed, to be QUIET!

I actually managed to sleep in a little bit longer before I had two little ones climbing on top of me. Sweet Jake had gotten the "babies" out of bed and fed them breakfast. Niiiice.

When Jared got home from work tonight he told me that while Jake and I were down the street this morning, he dutifully went in to wake up Cooper. He related the following:

"Cooper, Man, c'mon it's already 6:30, time to get up."

A moment later, Cooper barely lifted his head off his pillow. Partially whiny, mostly groggy, he informed Jared, "Daaaaaaad. We don't have school today."

Jared, confused: "You don't?"

"Noooo." (If his eyes had been open, they would have been rolling). Extremely inconvenienced, head limply hanging down, he pointed to the wall and grumbled, "Look at my calendar. It says Veteran's Day. NO SCHOOL!"

Bummer for Jared. It's bad enough waking Cooper up when it's necessary. It's even WORSE when you could have let the angry bear sleep longer. Darn those sneaker holidays!

Jake's testimony

Sunday, Calvin woke up in the early hours with a fever. The kid is sprouting about 8 teeth at once, including molars. But he's been doing this for a while, so we suspected the fever was related to something else. Fortunately, Jared was able to check his ears. Both were red. He sent in a prescription, we dosed him up on Motrin, and when it came time for church, I hunkered down with Calvin and Karcyn. (I kept Karcyn home to make life easier on Jared).

I really HATE missing church. Not because the kids are sick, but because I HATE missing church. I HATE missing choir practice. I HATE not being able to take the Sacrament. I HATE not being able to sing the hymns. I HATE not being able to feel the spirit. I HATE not being able to learn something new. I HATE not being able to hear the testimonies of others. I HATE not being able to see my friends who share the same beliefs and perspective I do. I HATE not being able to serve someone.

With that said, however, it was a "good" Sunday to miss in that I didn't have any big responsibility to attend to that day. I wasn't teaching or conducting and didn't need to speak to anyone.

Turns out, after several months, Jake got up to bear his testimony in Sacrament meeting. He mentioned it to me casually in passing after church. He's been doing it off and on for a few years now after we learned about how to appropriately bear a testimony and practiced in family night.

Jared said at dinner that Jake gave a really great testimony. Jared related that Jake had shared that he got up early that morning around 6:30am (he was also fasting) and decided to watch the church movie "Praise to the Man" about Joseph Smith. He said it was very quiet, no one else was up yet, and as he watched the account of Joseph Smith's life, he heard a voice speak to him that said Joseph Smith was a true prophet. He even looked around to see if Cooper was the one whispering to him. Jake had gained a witness of the divine calling that Joseph Smith restored God's gospel in its fulness to the earth and that he was the one who translated the Book of Mormon from ancient records.

Apparently Jared got some playful flack after Sacrament meeting because he was sleeping in while our 9-year-old was watching church movies at 6:30 in the morning. Our kids never sleep in when you want them to. But I'm impressed he chose to watch a Sunday appropriate movie in the quiet of the Sabbath morning and not take advantage of the lack of parental supervision.

After Jared recounted what Jake had said, Jake nodded in agreement then added, "Yeah---I just need to really work on crying while I say my testimony. I don't know how to do that yet."

Gotta, gotta, gotta

Having sold their house in Anchorage, AK, after 17 years (sniff, sniff), having bought a new house outright in Santa Clara, UT, and having spent about 18 months in the U.S.A since mission #2, my parents are ready to serve mission #3.

Our mailbox serves as "home base" for my nomadic parents. So their mission call came to our house on Sept. 30th. Jake got the honor of opening it up and reading where they would be going (practicing for when he gets his own call in 9-ish years). We weren't surprised when he read that Elder and Sister Lee have been assigned to serve for 18 months in Bangalore, India. They were more or less recruited, as they were for their mission in Ukraine. Nonetheless, it was still exciting to get the official word knowing that the Prophet signed off on this location as THE place where my parents need to be. They are to report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT, on Dec. 14, 2009 for about a week. Most their training will be done in the field. Wow...Christmas in India.

Dad reports that they will be the FIRST family history couple to serve in India. There is a Family History Department employee that serves there, but they believe he travels and isn't a native to India. Dad and Mom hope they will get to set up family history centers and teach the Indian people how to do their own genealogy as they did in Ukraine, but they aren't sure what the Asian Area Authority has in mind for them. Whatever it is, however, they will be fabulous! [While serving in Salt Lake City on mission #1, Dad was the Zone Leader for a zone that didn't exist. He had to create it!]

We're looking forward to hearing about their adventures as family history missionaries in an area where the church is relatively new and about the culture and other "things" they will have the opportunity to experience. We're also looking forward to all the blessings that become yours when a family member, especially parents, leave everything behind to selflessly serve more of God's children in a distant land. It's like your life is lifted to a higher level where blessings and protection from on high are much more concentrated than where you were before. We're so grateful for the example my parents are to our own children.

Mom and Dad thought they had a lot to do to get ready to go. So do I!!

Gotta get my web cam set up so we can skype each other online.

Gotta figure out the time difference.

Gotta take advantage of this opportunity!

Gotta start saving our pennies.

Gotta get my passport.

Gotta get a visa.

Gotta eat more curry.

Quiz: Do you know which temple district my parents will be in?
(The winner gets to be really smart :)