An attitude of Gratitude

My beloved daughter,

     I am so happy for the Salimeda Family!  what  a memorable Thanksgiving for all!  How great of the ward for being so supportive.  Bishop Lung sent us an e-mail on Thanksgiving.  Dad thought at first it was from you.   He read "Aloha thanksgiving" and  thought maybe they let you send an e-mail on thanksgiving.  He expressed how grateful he was for you and Sis. Wright and for all your efforts in behalf of his ward.  He also thanked us for sending him such wonderfully prepared missionaries.  He sent it out to both us and Sis. Wright's family.  It was a nice thing to add to our already wonderful weekend of Blessing Acknowlegement.  We went over to Utah on Wed. about 11:30 am.  We will continue to go to Ut. as long as Grandma is still alive.  Cody had an impression taken for a retainer about a month ago and it never arrived in the mail.  The ortho. said he would have to come to the office to take another impression, and the only time he would be in the office was on the Wed.  before Thanksgiving.  So, I had to approach Klekas, explain the situation and see if he would let him out of prac. that afternoon.  He was understanding.  But that was only half the battle, I had to get Erin out of her Prac. too.  Camille was actually OK about it and said she would just have to prac. with the JV (as well as varsity) on fri. to make up for it.  Chee Hoo!  Got over that hurdle, now I just had to get someone to do papers, Chica and cover the early out cross guard at Northside.  Got it covered and we were headed," over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house" . 

       I HAVE TO TAKE A BRIEF INTERMISSION AND TAKE CODY TO PRAC.  I AM GOING TO SEND YOU THIS MUCH JUST IN CASE YOU OPEN UP YOUR MAIL BEFORE I GET BACK. I will continue then.

love you,

mom

I'm  back!

Ok continuing story... We went straight to the ortho. and took care of that stuff.  then we went to Grandma's.  She was happy to see us.  We were going to have the dinner at a church, but Sharon offered her home since there was only going to be 13 of us this year.  Everyone was going to the other side of their families this time.  I invited Ken to come and he was very happy to come.

We had a great dinner, I made a chocolate pudding pie and a non-bake apple cider cheesecake, since we are still w/o an oven right now.   Cameron ate outside on the patio table with the little girls.  (it was a nice day, a bit chilly though)We played the game Outburst, after dinner.  We had a lot of fun.  Grandma was getting tired and someone asked her, "Are you getting tired, do you want us to take you home?"  She replied in typical grandma funniness without trying to be funny, "yeah, that's where I live".  Black Friday sales started on Thanksgiving day.  I swore I would not go out into that madness again this year, but there was a Cannon Rebel camera on sale at Target, and that's the one that Erin has wanted for awhile, so she and I went over there-- stood in line outside for about 15 min.  It was a long line but once it started moving it went pretty fast.  We went straight to the electronics, nabbed the 2nd to the last camera, paid for it right there, then we had to bob and weave around carts and people to get out of there, but we did it in under an hour from the time we left to when we got back.  Chee Hoo!  What exactly does that mean?     Great story... I was in Seagull Book over there wed. night waiting to pay and I heard some lady say that her daughter was on a mission in Hawaii.  I immediately said "Who's daughter is on a mission in HI?" because I wasn't sure who had said that.  Well, this lady was Sis. Duke's mom (from So. Jordan)  She said her daughter had been out 9 mos.--had just hit her half way mark, and she was serving on Kauai--her third island so far.

I told her about you and you were comps. with Sis. Wright, she thought that that name sounded familiar.  She said her daughter "loves" it, I said the same.  It was so fun! I felt like hugging her because we had this connection.  Maybe you guys will be comps. someday (?)  Who knows with so many newbies on their way.

     Our family spoke on sunday in Sac. mtg. on "gratitude".  Carly and Summer, then Cody and Erin, they actually did really well. I was alittle worried when they were prepping sunday morn.  I actually prepared all week.  Every time I thought of something I wanted to say , I put it in a notebook.  I looked up every scripture on Thankfulness in the BOM, it was a great experience.  the talk went OK, but I got so much more out of it than anyone else.  I spoke on "an attitude of gratitude", how things that don't always seem like the most fortunate thing will always have an underlying blessing.  One example:  When we went on the trek, we weren't fortunate enough to secure a spot in one of the private vehicles going over, we got to ride on the yellow school bus for 9hrs!  But, on the way we sat by the Bishop of the 1st ward and his wife.  They're a young family, he manages Home Depot.  They were so cool, we became good friends.  What a blessing tucked inside a wild ride on a school bus.

      Erin played awesome in the Alumni game on Sat. night.  She came out shooting-- made 11 pts, high scorer.  She looked fit, confident and very relaxed.  She was smiling and laughing, and having a good time,  WE hope Camille took notice.  Cody didn't play in his game.  His knee was feeling sore and was swelling with all the practices, so we took him to the Doc. and he said the meniscus is fine; that's healed, but that bone bruise to the femur tuberosity was still not fully healed and when he practiced and pounded on it, it reacted by swelling.  He took out more fluid and gave him a cortisone shot to speed up the healing.  He's on crutches for 2 weeks to try and take all pressure of it, then we'll see.  He's been so diligent in crutching around, I really hope and pray he won't lose out on this season too.

     I'm sending you a box for Christmas, make any request now for any mainland delicacies.  They asked about your plaqued picture sunday, so send one soon.

I'm praying for High water, a surging miracle!

Love You, 

..mom      

 P.S. Addie story... I was going to the bathroom and Adelaide walks in and she says,"You going potty mom?", I said, yes, I was going potty, and she smiled and said, "That makes Daddy happy!"   (Dad always tells her how happy it makes him when when she goes potty.)

ALOHA!

Hello Sister Nielsen,

 

Well I finally got all the deer meat cut up.  So that is a big relief, but I still have a couple more tax returns to get out.  Every thing is well here.  Summer's team is yet to win a game.  They have lost 2 games in OT and a couple more by 2 points. That is because I'm not the head coach.  We don't work on any of the fundamentals in practice.  I just help out when they need something. 

 

I hope the Salimeda family is able to get baptized this Thursday.  That would be a great Turkey day blessing.  We are going over to spend he day with mom.  She is anxious to see us all . She keeps asking, when are you and your family going to come visit.  She is doing well.  She loves to watch the Utah Jazz basketball and her entire schedule revolves around those games.

I have been meaning to write to you about a couple of neat stories, so here they are:

 

Brandon Dunn had the following dream on the early morning of October 31, 2012, which is Dad's birthday and he did not realize that:

 

I walked into the house and Grandpa was sitting on the recliner by the door to the kitchen that he always sat in. Grandma was asleep on the couch next to him. I sat down on the floor by Grandpa, patted him on the knee and asked him how he was doing. “I’m doing great! I haven’t been this busy in years” he responded. I joked that he sure looked as if he was busy sitting in his chair like that. “They let me come down here quite often and check on Grandma” he replied. I acknowledged what a great man and great example he always was and he answered by saying “But we all still have a long way to go to get to where they want us to be. But we will get there.” Then he looked at me and I woke up.

 That is pretty neat isn't it.  Those words sound exactly like what dad would say.  And if you think about what was in the dream to these, it makes perfect sense and to the doctrine taught by the brethren.

 "As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Regrets and Resolutions", Liahona and Ensign, November 2012

 Elder Richard G Scott said this in the April 2012 conference:

Another example of revelation is this guidance given to President Joseph F. Smith: “I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. We are not separate from them. … We are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors … who have preceded us into the spirit world. We can not forget them; we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we can not break. … If this is the case with us in our finite condition, surrounded by our mortal weaknesses, … how much more certain it is … to believe that those who have been faithful, who have gone beyond … can see us better than we can see them; that they know us better than we know them. … We live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever. For now they see the dangers that beset us; … their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves.”¹

Relationships can be strengthened through the veil with people we know and love. That is done by our determined effort to continually do what is right. We can strengthen our relationship with the departed individual we love by recognizing that the separation is temporary and that covenants made in the temple are eternal. When consistently obeyed, such covenants assure the eternal realization of the promises inherent in them.

 

Then about a month ago, mom (grandma) said she was sound asleep and heard dad calling her name "Ralene" just as clear as day she said.  It woke her right up.  I asked her what she did, and she said she just acted like she was still sleeping and did not look up.  I asked her why she did not look up and she said, I did not want to see any one.  I think she thought dad might be there to pick her up to take her with him.  Any way that was funny.

 Then Brenna, Jedd and Jana's 10 year old had a dream about a month ago that there was this big white castle with gold on the doors and she went up and walked in and there was grandma, sitting on this big white chair with gold trim, etc (she had lots of details of everything, but I can't remember).  She said grandma was dressed in the same clothing that dad was buried in, (his temple clothes, which I'm sure that was the 1st time she had seen them)  Then she saw grandpa, sneaking up to them crawling on his hands and knees, and it scared her, so she screamed.  And grandma, said, you don't need to be afraid, its just grandpa.  And then Grandpa picked Brenna up and threw her up in the air and caught her.  I think he said, this is the best he has felt in years.  She had a lot of detail, and Jana will write it all down and I will send you that dream.  She had not told any one about it as she would remember it in school and forget to tell her mom about the dream.  Then when she heard Brandon's, she remember hers and told her mom.

    Pretty cool.  Lastly, Sharon had given a few names from the Nielsen side that she had found doing genealogy to my cousin for them to do the work in the temple.  And my cousin's wife was doing initiatory work for one of the names, and the lady that was doing the ordinance, started freaking out and gasping, grabbing her chest.  My cousins wife, thought she was having a heart attack.  But then she regained her composure and finished that part, and when she was done, she said to my cousins wife,  "Did you feel that?  She was definitely here with us today." And she thank her for coming in and doing temple work for her kindred dead.  My cousin's wife said, "I must be the devil as I did not feel anything."  So we put a star by her name, and I want to be there when we doing the sealing for that lady.

 Adelaide is still as cute as ever.  You know how I am always trying to take away their ipods when they are using them during scriptures, dinner, FHE, etc.  Well Adelaide went into Erin's room a few days ago and she was on her ipod.  And Adelaide put one hand on her hip and had her other hand held out and said,  "Alright Erin, give me your ipod".  Erin said she had to give it to her as she was pretty insistant.

 Chica this morning went with mom into the living room to go on their walk and saw your  picture cut out in the living room and started barking at it.  I guess it scared her as well.

Then on Sat. night, a lady from the ward came to pick up their daughter we were watching and,  she asked Adelaide, who is that, Addie said, that's Carly, she is my sister, the lady would ask pointing to another, who's that, "That is Summer, she is my sister", and another down the line through all her sisters.  Then she pointed to Cody, who's that?  "That is Cody" The lady said, is he your brother?  Addie said, "no, he stinks".   I guess the lady got a good laugh over that.

I am not sure if mom told you, but Elder Klunas here in Elko, knows that elder from Morgan Ut that wrote Erin a letter.

 Well, I better go.  We love your letters.  That was a pretty mean trick the ZL's played on sister Wright.  But we are happy you 2 are still together.  You seem to work and get along very well with each other.

We love you.  Happy Thanksgiving. Dad

Hey, Baby lets go to Vegas

Amber,
 
I have been trying to cut up the deer, so it is cutting in on my writing time.  I'm glad to hear that Tai got baptized.  You two are doing great.  We love you.
 
Dad

Soccer, Chica, Tiff's recep

Dear Sis. Nielsen,
     Wow, your first tsunami, congratulations! I tell everyone that asks how great you are doing.  You make us so happy with your letters and love for your mission.  Erin is at mission prep. class right now.  Pres. Shumway started a class  a few weeks before the announcement. It's being taught by a young couple that are both RMs.  Pres. Shum.  felt that it should include the senior boys.  Then the question came up ,"well what about the sr. girls?" They thought about it and decided to include them as well.  Then BOOM the announcement came out.  Our stk. presidency is pretty in tune.  

    Erin had her regional soccer game yesterday against S. Tahoe, that's the team that they lost to in state last year.  It was here in Elko.  We scored early--about 5 min. into it. then it was a very physical game.  then with about 5 min. left in the game.  they got to kick a penalty kick just over the midline.  It was kind of a flukey thing.  It was a big kick and it bounced just around the goal box and then it bounced up and went just over the fingertips of Raelynn and in the net.  We were all stunned.  So, then we had to go to OT for 15min. But they stunned us again by scoring pretty quickly and that was it.  The rule is first one to score in OT wins. We were all bummed, but we still go to the state tourney in Vegas.  We may be playing them again for the state title.  We will be ready for them!  Erin played her usual tough game.  She is fun to watch.  

     I forgot to tell you last week about Chica.  She hurt her eye.  I had put her in her kennel when we had left to go to one of Erin's soccer games because she had been getting out.  When I got home I went to get her out, and I noticed she was wimpering with her nose down by the bottom of the gate.  When I opened the gate, her head was moved with it.  She had been biting on the chainlink trying to pry open a hole and somehow got herself fishhooked onto a piece of chainlink wire.  It went in through the inside of her eyelid and out about 1/2 in. under.  I had to straighten out the wire to unhook her. She didn't damage her eye luckily, but she looks pretty pitiful.  At first it was all stretched out, then it swelled, oozed, and now its scabbed over.  We didn't take her to the vet.  I think she's going to be Ok.  she's just not going to win any dog shows.

     Well, we all went to Tiffani and Tucker's reception sat. night, and there you were (your cut out) all cute and smiling behind the guest book table.  It was so good to see you! I gave you a hug.  Erin and Cody took some pics. with you, and you and Cody were about the same size.  I guess those cut outs only come in 1 ft. increments, so it was either a 5 ft. Sis. N. or a 6 ft. Sis. N.  Lets just say you've grown physically as well a spiritually on your mission.  The reception was really nice; a little rowdier than Chelsea's.  Those De Angelo sisters can really bust a move.  It was kind of like a Stk. dance with the music they played.  I gave Tiff and Tuck a hug and delivered your message, " Amber says to tell you that she loves you".  His parents were really nice.  I introduced myself as your Mom and they were so excited, I guess they had heard all about you--the little matchmaker.  Tricia brought "you" over to us to keep, she said she wanted us to have it. We have your smiling face in the living room against the wall with all the pictures.  I felt again that she really appreciated every thing you have done for Tiffani. Heck, you hooked her up with her husband!

     Tomorrow is the big election.  I have been praying for Bro. Romney to win, I even fasted.  At first I wondered if that was the right thing to do, I always wanted to pray for byu to win big games,but felt that that was frivolous.  But this is different, our country is at stake! Did you get your absentee ballot in?  I am actually going to be an exit poll surveyer out at spr. crk. middle school, on election day.  Sadie Goulding has worked for this research co. and they called her up and asked if she wanted to do it.  She passed the offer to me and I took it.  I have to be at the polls all day and ask every 4th person to take a survey about who they voted for, and then 3 times that day I call in the results and they use it for the national tracking on the news. I get paid $250 for 12hrs of work.  Not bad.

     We love all the Elders that serve here, but Sanft was special because he was from HI and we felt a connection to you.  Elder Cruz is from Uruguay, but moved to Ut. when he was 11.  He's been out as long as you and is now training Elder Clunas who is a greenie from Morgan Ut.  they were both in the MTC the same time as you.

   I have to speak at Eve. in Excellence this thurs. I get to talk about my Faith Value project-- the garden, the one that got destroyed by Adelaide.  There should be a good analogy  with that.

Well, I love you to pieces.  I pray for your investos. and fasted for Alex and hid dad, but mostly I pray for you, and I think it's paying off!  You are awesome!  Have another incredible week,

love,

Mom