Hello!

Sister Nielsen,
         It is always great to get your emails and letters to let us know how you are doing.  We are doing fine here.  I got called last week as one of the nursery teachers, (which is what I requested).  I'm sure they are alway having a hard time finding people to serve in there.  We have about 15 kids, so there are 4 of us serving in there.  I am excited as I will be with Adelaide.  The is this one Samoan boy and he is just mean.  His first week in there, he gave one little kid a black eye.  Yesterday, he was scratching kids in the face, pinching them and kicking them.  Connie told me she did not want to hear about any kids in the pile driver, but that kid was about 2 minutes away from being put in the pile driver position, (like I did in LA).
         But it is fun and I am going to enjoy it. I still miss the branch and we did a service day on saturday for the Mata family.  I had an extremely busy week on the 17 of sept trying to get out all the partnership and corporation tax returns.  This week will be busy as well. I have jury duty on tuesday, but have a big report due at the college this week.
         Mom is doing really well. Sharon takes her to the temple to do a session a couple times a week.  And she is remembering everything that she has to say and is happy with that.  She has been having high blood pressure this last week and that does not make her fell good.  David Beck wants to interview her and her brother Verlin this saturday and maybe she is just worrying about that.
         It is great to hear about all your new investigators.  And I am happy that you are not home sick.  I was never one to get home sick on my mission.  When you are lost in the work, you really don't think alot about home.  How did that family of 13 referral ever turn out?  It sounds like Alex had been prepared and ready to hear and receive the gospel with his brothers death.
         Are you and S, wright driving a car or walking?  Also, how often do you get dinner appointments?  People have asked us those questions and I did not know the answer.  Steven Shelley's mom was asking about you sat. at erins soccer game, and Ardis Jensen, Lindsay's mom called mom and was wondering where you were serving and how you are doing.  We tell everyone that you love it and are doing fantastic.
         Cody will have his knee surgery this Thursday.  He tore his meniscus, from the inside of his knee out.  Not completely out, but half way.  The meniscus is the cartilage that is between your two leg bones at the knee.  The Dr said he will probably have to go in and cut the tear out and make it smooth, but that will leave bone on bone.  So he said he will probably have arthritis in his knee by time he is 40 - 45.  If they try to stitch it, there is no blood supply in the middle of his knee, and it will only be as good as the stitches hold up. And then have to go in again.  I guess he has a bone bruise on the bottom of his femor bone in the leg.  He would be able to play a week after his surgery, but, the Dr. says the bone bruise will be the thing that causes him more pain.  Especially after it will be bone on bone, they want to make sure the bruise heals.
         Paula Wallock and Randy Jenkins got sealed in the SLC temple and appear to be very happy.  We went to a reception on Sat for them.  Andrew and the Elmore kid were there.  They both look heavier than when I had seen them last.
         Carly will be baptized this saturday.  Hopefully I can remember her correct name when I perform the ordinance. (unlike summer).
         Every thing is going well here.  The time is really flying by fast.  In a week you will have been out 2 months.  The next thing you know, you will have been out a year and only have a year left.  So remember to work as hard as you possible can, the time goes by way too fast.  Enjoy your time as a specail witness of Christ.  Don't take it for granted.  This is a special time in your life.  We had standards night last night and had 6 speakers talk about their mission and their growth from their mission.  The spirit was very strong. I hope it motivated every one there to serve a mission. 2 moms talked about their mission.  It was pointed out in the meeting, that ther are experiences and growth on your mission that you can only gain from serving a mission.  You would never be able to experience them in any other way.  I know that to be true.  So enjoy every minute of your mission.
         I have your pictures of the temple saved as my screen savors at work so that people will see it and ask, where is that picture from. And it will give me a chance to talk about you and the gospel to them.  I love your pictures of the temple.  They are very beautiful.
 
Well I better get going and get ready for work.  We love you and pray for your success constantly.
 
Have a great and successful week.
 
Love you,
 Dad

Home life is crazy too!

Dear Sis. Nielsen,

     We enjoyed the letter and the pics.  Did you get to go out to the Arizona on your service project?  People asked me that,  but I wasn't sure since it's out in the water.  We had the missionaries for dinner yesterday and we told Elder Sanft your new word (choke) and he laughed, he said that's what he used to say in high school.  He liked the pictures you sent, but he said it  they made him a little homesick.  Dad loves that picture you took of just the temple.  He made it the background/screensaver on his computer.  It looks so crystal clear, almost like looking at a plasma screen TV.  He said to tell you, "Hello, love ya, and keep up the good work" because he's not sure he's going to be able to write you this week because today is the corporate deadline for taxes and he's got six left  to do.

     Cody is going in today for an MRI on his knee.  I called Dr. Gunnel's office last week and they said they wouldn't be able to see him until the first week of Oct., so I made an appt. with another orthoped.  Well, Klekas called us and said I got you an appt. with Gunnel, he'll work you in tomorrow at 2pm. Klekas has an "in"  with him and this isn't about getting healthy for football, that knee of Code's is one of his basketball assets.  It's all about basketball!  His knee was really swollen over the knee cap and he extracted alot of fluid through a syringe, and then gave him a steroid shot.  He said it could be a sprain or some kind of tear of the meniscus.  The fluid didn't have any blood in it, which would have been an indication of a torn ligament or tendon.  So, that's good.  the MRI will tell us for sure.  Erin's knee is a little better, she played on it, but suffered a"dead leg" in the next game and couldn't play in the following game because she couldn't move it.

     I was really busy last week with cross-guarding.  One of the ladies is gone for a  month visiting her elderly parents back in Ohio, so we're all covering extra shifts.  It's nice for the paycheck, but Dad didn't have any blue socks for church, so It makes it so I don't get the stuff done at home.  I'm going to put 300.00 a month a way in a savings account, so that possibly one day we can all go back and visit the Aloha State together.  Ruth Garvin is also a Cross Gd. now.  She agrees it's alot easier than doing papers.

     How did your interview with the Pres. go?  I noticed in the picture that they sent me of you and Pres. and Sis. Dalton (any relation to YW Gen. Pres.?) that he was wearing a periwinkle colored tie, that looked equally as striking on him with his silver hair as Pres. Uchtdorf.  He has really started a trend ol' Deiter!  You know I'm partial to periwinkle anyway.

     Pam is in Paris right now.  I haven't heard from her.  I'm sure she'll fill me in when she gets home.  She wanted me to go with her, but I just couldn't with my life right now.  She went with her sister and sister-in-law.  She messed up in the planning because she was gone when Ben started at BYU-I.  She couldn't believe she wouldn't be there to drop off her last kid at college, he was a bit disappointed too.  C'est la vie,  I'm sure a tasty croissant helped her get over it.

     Carly  scored 2 goals in her soccer game on Sat., Summer went to a music -piano workshop, and Dad and I went to Brandon Cousineau"s funeral.  which was pretty interesting.  Bishop Bates did a good job.  It got kind of weird there with all the extended family taking turns talking, but Bates brought it back with some good  doctrine and wrapped things up perfectly.  That night Dad and Cody watched the BYU-utah football game.  It was another crazy game.  Utah ended up winning.  Our tying field goal hit the goal post and bounced outside.  Fans (it was at Utah) stormed the field three times thinking the game was over when it wasn't and were penalized 15 yds., thus setting up last play-- the shanking field goal attempt.  Craziness!!!!

   Well I get to can peaches today.  I bought a box from Ruth's fruit service.  We haven't had homemade peaches in years.  so I wanted to do it and  maybe teach summer and Carly.  That's the plan.  If Adelaide gets involved it could be a wild mess.

Glad to hear about all your teaching success.  Keep it at high tide!

LOVE,

MOM

Hola Sister Nielsen

 Hello Sister Nielsen,

 
        We are always so excited to get your email and letters.  Thank you for your kind letter last week.  We all are doing amazingly well with Dad's passing.  We will miss him, but we are so excited that he is able to work and be active doing the Lord's work on the other side.
 
        Also,  Grandma Nielsen got your letter and really enjoyed it.  She said she has no excuses not to write you a letter as she is not doing much else.
 
        Every thing continues to go well here.  I am busy trying to get Corporation and Partnership taxes out by Sept. 15th.  Cody and Erin are doing well in Football and soccer.  Although, Cody has a hurt knee and so does Erin.  Cody thinks he has a torn meniscus. We will probably have to take him into the Dr. this week.  He missed about a week of football the last week of Aug, but played on defense last Friday.  I think it is sore again after that game.
 
        I am in Reno today for meetings.  We came over yesterday, and we will go home tonight.  Adelaide continues to be our entertainment.  Sunday evening, she went out side and all she had on was a pull-up.  In the evenings and mornings it is getting a little cooler.  She said it was cold outside, so she put on her mittens and her stocking cap and her boots, with her pull up and went back out side.  It was very funny.  We should have taken a picture with nothing on but a pullup, boots, mittens and a hat.
 
        Our neighbors have puppies and she climbs over the chain link fence all the time to go visit the puppies.  Mom says we are going to have to put barbed wire over the top of the fence like the prisons to try and keep her in the back yard.
         We are so greatful that you are serving the Lord.  We know that you are a great missionary.  Stay obedient and close to the spirit and you will always have the blessings of our Father in Heaven.  You are always in our prayers.  Give your companion a hug from us.  I hope you have fun in the temple today.  When I went through a session there, it was very special, and a lot smaller than I had imagined. Keep up the good work.

 
        I don't have much time to write this morning as we need to go eat breakfast, but I thought I better get you a quick note off before you check your email.
 We love you,
 Dad

ALOHA!

Aloha Sister Nielsen,
 
        Well this has been a very busy week for us.  Chelsea told me to write and tell you everything and that could be part of my life history.  I guess dad was progressing along about the same as always (being in very good moods but not able to get out of bed unless the nurses lifted him out of bed and put him in a chair) until Thursday morning and when the nurses went in to sit him up to eat breakfast, he throw up.  But the nurse still was able to hand feed him a greek yogurt which is suppose to be very healthy.  After he ate his yogurt, he spent most of Thursday in a non responsive state, as if he were sleeping.  He would wake up every now and then but could not speak much.  Mom told him she loved him and dad mouthed back that he loved her.  I guess he started doing the "death rattle" which is what they do before they die.  It is when they can't swallow their saliva and breathing through their mouth, the saliva rattles in their throat.  So the nurse told mom that dad was dying.  She said he might last a day, 2 days, a week or 2 weeks, but he is definitely dieing.  Well, mom had a very hard time with that.  She had been praying with all her might for a miracle to happen with dad like it happened to her.  The week before Aug. 27th when classes start at GBC is the busiest week of the year for me.  So I was running around like crazy at work and mom left me a message on Thursday afternoon and was very distraught.  She said, Scott, this is your mom, give me a call, your dad is dying.  But it was very hard for her to get through the message.  But I did not have time to listen to my messages until about 6:30 pm.  So after I listened to the message, I called mom to see how she was doing.  She was better in the evening, but I told her she needed a blessing.  She said there was no one there to give her a blessing as all my siblings were at the care center with dad.  Jedd called me after I talked to mom to see if I had heard about dad, I told him yes, but that mom needed a blessing.  Dad's condition was not going to change much, but mom needed a priesthood blessing of comfort.  So my brothers went over and gave mom a blessing.  DeeRay acted as voice in the blessing and blessed mom with comfort and understanding even unto visions.  He also said that Heavenly Father would remember her as he does the Lilies of the field.  But mom said after she got that blessing, she felt great.  She was a rock the entire week.  I did not see her shed 1 tear.  So I asked Sharon and mom if they thought I should go over to Salt Lake on Thursday with Friday going to be a crazy day in the office.  They said there was not much I could do there, but they would keep me posted.  So Friday afternoon, Sharon and Jedd called me and said you better come quickly, dad might not last very much longer, but they thought he would not pass until his entire family was with him.  So I worked until 5:00 pm on Friday and I drove to South Jordan, directly to the care center where dad was staying.  They told me they would all be waiting for me there at the care center.  I went alone over to South Jordan as, the kids would start school on the 27th of aug. and I did not know how long I would be over there.
         So I had 3.5 hours to think and ponder and pray and prepare myself as I drove over to Utah.  I knew dad would not die until I got there, I had a very strong feeling about that.  I took the camery and was listening to the cd that you left in there which you were using after you were set apart as a missionary.  After you left and I got in the car and heard that could spiritual EFY music, I thought, I am not going to take that cd out the entire time you are on your mission.  We can all live like missionaries for a year and a half, at least when we are in the camery.  So I was able to ponder alot about dad and spiritual things.  I thought to myself we are probably going to have a family prayer together after I got there and that I would be the one to offer that prayer.  So I thought what I might and should say in that prayer. 
         So I got over to the care center about 10:10 pm Utah time.  I walked into the room and all my brothers and sisters and their spouses were there with Mom.  I felt such an overwhelming amount of love for all my siblings and their spouses and for mom.  There are times in life when the spirit is very strong, I feel over come for love for others.  I know it is charity, the true love of Christ.  I felt it in Argentina on my mission towards the Argentineans, when I was called as Branch President of the Spanish Branch towards the members of the branch, and now towards my family members.  I know the veil was very thin that evening with dad being so close to passing, so I know we were surrounded by spirits: I'm sure Cleon was there, Grandpa and Grandma Nielsen and many others who had preceded dad in death. 
         They told me to go and try to wake dad up so that he could know that I was there.  So I tried talking to him.  I said, "Dad, this is Scott, I just got over here from Elko.  Do you want to wake up and see me?"  Darhl was trying to get him to wake up to see me.  They all wanted me to be able to say my goodbye's, but I said my goodbyes everytime I left dad.  The last time being when we visited with dad before we took you to the MTC Amber on Aug. 1st.  So I was fine with dad not waking up.  But I could sense that Dad knew I was there.  He closed his mouth when I was talking.  I knew he knew I was there and told my sibling that.  I like to describe it as when you are in a deep deep sleep with rapid eye movement and someone is trying to wake you up.  You hear them, and know they are there, but it is hard to open your eyes.  Mom said he had mouthed to her that afternoon that he loved her.  Which were the last words he spoke with this lips.  I think that is a tender mercy as well.
     We sat around and visited for about an hour and a half.  Just like old times on Sunday evenings when the families got together at mom and dads for popcorn.  We were talking and telling stories.  I told them all about you and your stories and how you were doing.  It was a very spiritual time.  Darhl said he thought we should have a family prayer and asked mom who she wanted to offer it.  Mom said, Darhl you are the oldest son, you can decided.  So Darhl asked me if I would offer that prayer.  I said, I knew this was coming and we all knelt down in Dad's room.  They had just cleaned the carpets so the carpet was still wet and some asked if we should stand or kneel.  I said, I know Dad would want us to kneel.  So we got our knees a little wet.  I knelt down next to dad and mom so they could hear me.  I felt very strongly in the prayer that dad would not last much longer here on this earth.  So after the prayer, we visited for about another 1/2 hour and I seriously thought dad was going to pass while we were still there.  A couple times he started coughing and I thought Oh, here we go, he might be leaving us.  It was decided that Jedd would stay with Dad on Friday night and that I was going to stay with dad on Saturday night.  Mom was getting very tired and wanted to go home.  So we all left Jedd there about 12:10.  I took mom home and slept like a log.  About 1:30, Jedd woke up and thought he should check on dad.  I guess about 10 minutes later, his death rattle was getting worse.  Jedd described it as 100 worse than what we had heard when we were there.  Jedd called DeeRay, Darhl, Sharon and Charlene to let them know dad was not going to make it much longer, but he did not know how long.  Jedd texted Jana and told her, and she said she wanted to go down and be with Jedd.  He said no, "you will be scared for life".  That is when he said his death rattle was 100 worse.  But Jana went down any way and got there a little after 2:04.  Jedd went running down to open the doors for Jana and they went running back to dad's room.  When they got there, the worse part of it was over and he took his final breathe about 1.5 minutes after they got back up there.  He died and 2:10 am.  Jedd does not remember saying this, but I Jana and the nurse heard Jedd say,  It's okay Dad, go toward Cleon.  We will take care of Mom."
     Afterwards, when we were all talking, we thought that dad did not want to go when we were all there.  He was trying to go when no one was in the room to not make it so hard on mom, and all of us.  When he was passing, Jedd was holding his hand and he thought he would grip it, but he did not as he was not in any pain what so ever.  He also had a little smile on his face when he left this mortal world and Jedd and Jana took a picture of it as they did not believe it.   Jedd said as he was there with dad, he knew exactly what dad was telling his savior. These were the words that Jedd felt dad was saying "I have glorified thy name here on earth.  I have finished all the work which thou gavest me to do."  Jedd said he knew what dad was saying, but he did not understand why he had a smile on his face.
         So Sharon and DeeRay got there just after Dad had passed.  DeeRay went in the room alone to be with Dad's body and when he came out, he said he just go a spiritual hug from dad.  I will need to ask him more about that.  But I guess Sharon and DeeRay started bringing home many of dad's things that were in his room around 2:30 to 3:00 am and walking around the house.  Jedd called mom a couple of times around 2:15 to let mom know dad had died.  She finially answered the phone and talked to Jedd and then went right back to sleep.  I was sleeping in the basement oblivious to any thing going on and heard mom walking around a little after 6 am. So I thought, I had better go up there and help mom.  That is when she told me that dad had passed.  I had not heard the phone ring, people walking around the house, nothing.  So a little later, Darhl and I went over and got all the big things, chair, tv, dresser, etc out of dads room.
         The rest of the day, we spent most of it making arrangements for dad's funeral.  Mom wanted all 4 boys to speak and Sharon did the life sketch and Charlene played a piano medley.
         But from Friday night when I started over to Utah, to today, I have been on a spiritual high.  We know that dad is happy now.  This mortal body was holding him back.  I can't be sad at all as I know Dad is off running doing missionary work in the next life.  So now we have cleon, amber and dad doing missionary work.
         The funeral was awesome.  Many many people said it was the best funeral they had ever attended.  I think we got it taped so you can hear it later.
         One thing I forgot, Jana was not present when DeeRay gave mom that blessing, but Friday, she thought it would be a good idea to buy some flowers to have in the room with dad.  So she went to the store and there were about 40 different flower arrangements and she said she looked at this one and focused on it and did not even look at the other bouquets and bought the one the 1st looked at.  I guess Friday night before I got there the family was talking about a book by Gerald Lund, I don't remember the name, but on the back of the book, it says something to this effect: that there are times when the Lord blesses us with blessing, they are so individualized and specific to us that it is as if the Lord had his signature on that blessing.  It wasn't until Sat. morning that Jana realized that the flowers she bought had Lilies in the middle of it, just like what DeeRay had promised mom in her blessing.  This was Heavenly Father telling mom that he remembers her, that he is there to help her get through this difficult time.
         Mom had been saying all along, that "if you would have told me a week ago that I would feel this good after losing my husband, I would have called you a liar."  She and all of us have been extremely blessed with the spirit of the comforter.
         Another neat thing, Sunday, mom and I went to her church for the meetings.  They had their stake Patriarch speak and he is 73 years old.  He said he was saddened to hear of the passing of Charles Nielsen.  He said when they first moved here 19 years ago, Charles and Ralene Nielsen were the 1st ones to greet them and welcome them to the ward.  He also said, "When I grow up, I want to be just like Charles, but I don't think that that will be possible."  He also talked alot about patriarchal blessings and so sunday afternoon, I read Cleons, Dad's and moms.  One thing that stood out to me from dad's is the following: "And when your mission is ended in mortality and you have completed all tht the Lord sent you here to do, the Lord will say unto you, 'come hither, the blessed of my Father' to inherit all the blessings that is promised..."
         I shared that with my siblings and family Wed. night after the public viewing of dad's body.   Jedd said that was the missing piece to the puzzle.  That is why dad was smiling when he left this life.  Jedd knew what dad had said to the Lord, but after I shared that with them, he said he now knows what the Lord said to dad, and that is why he was smiling.  Pretty cool stuff.
         Mom wanted the guy in Malad to do dad's body as he does such a great job.  And dad looked great.  I don't think he has looked that good for the last 2 years.
         Well I will have to tell you more about the funeral in the next letter.  We love you and are praying for you daily.  We have a new missionary here in the branch born in Tongan and raised in Hawaii.  His name is Elder Sanft-  and he said you are serving in his stake, so he wants his parents to feed you guys.  He shared his testimony with us yesterday and said, he and Sister Nielsen, switched places. He is here and you are in his home stake.  Kinda cool huh?
         I hope you are doing well.  I know what you are doing is the most important work on earth.  Oh by the way I got released yesterday as Branch President.  So now I don't know what lies ahead for me. 
 Love you lots,
 Dad