Happy New Year

Hello Sister Nielsen,
 
It was great to talk to you on Christmas Day.  Everything sounded the same as if you were up at BYUI.  I am glad everything is going well.  Mom gave the missionary mom talk on Sunday in Sacretmeeting about you.  She was really looking forward to that. 
 
We have had a down week with not much happening.  Since Brian and Chelsea are here, we have not done much.  We went sledding at angle park hill one day with the kids and that was fun.  Adelaide wanted to do it all by her self.  We only had one sled so when someone else was going on the sled, she would slide down the hill on her back with her feet in the air.  She loved it and was not afraid one bit.
 
This morning, it was -9 degrees below zero.  Mom lets chica sleep inside on cold nights and days and Connie went in and asked Chica if she wanted to go out and go potty first thing this morning.  Adelaide said, "She is a dog mom, and dogs can't talk".  Nothing gets by that girl.
 
We had a good Christmas.  We went to Carrie Elwoods reception, she married Adam Billins from Spring Creek.  And the Radvansky girl was there with her mom, and she got her mission call to Portugal.  I believe she goes to MTC in March.  The Hieser girl got her call and I don't remember when or where she is going.  Kayla Esplin is expecting and Chelsea and mom went to a baby shower for her on Saturday.
 
We received your box of goodies and everyone loved it.  Thank you, but don't worry about having to shop for everyone.  Your mission is more important.  Adelaide wore her dress to church and look really cute.
 
I can't believe we are starting a new year 2013.  I am not sure where 2012 went.  But 2013 is here.  I know 2013  will go by just as fast.  I am working today and worked Friday and Monday.  I took Christmas and the next 2 days off and I will take tomorrow off.  I have been trying to build some shelves for mom in the fruit room, to get the basement more organized.
 
Yesterday was my last day with Adelaide in the nursery.  She will be a sunbeam next Sunday.  She is talking alot and growing up too fast.
 
Chelsea and Brian will leave Wed. to go back to new mexico.  It was fun having them here.  Cody and Erin have home bball games here this Friday and Sat.  Erin just told us today that she had her interview with the coach and she told Erin that she was the 'go to girl' on the team this year.  Hellooooooo.  She was the go to girl on the team last year.  We watched some of the state bball game last night on family videos and I am quite confident they would have won if she would have played more.
 
Cody's knee is still sore and stiffens up alot after he plays.  I wish he would get back to 100% with that knee.  How is your shoulder?  Grandma Nielsen asks all the time and I said, she never mentions it.
 
Do you really have a life jacket and snorkel and fins in your tsunami kit?  Or was that a joke?
 
Any way, we love you and are so happy that you are serving a mission.  I know the joy and benefits that one gains from serving a faithful and honorable mission.
 
Keep up the good work.  We hope you have a great week.
 
Love DAD

Aloha!! Merry Christmas

Sister Nielsen,
 
Well how was your 1st week without Sister Wright?  You never did tell us who your new companion was.  Perhaps you did not know when you sent last weeks email.  Any way, I hope you had a great week and was able to get the baptism for the person set last Saturday.
 
This past week was pretty hectic.  The kids got out of school at about 1:00 pm on Friday and we drove over to Utah for a Nielsen family party.  Cody went over there on Thursday for a bball tourny through Sat.  They lost to Clearfield a 5A school on Thurs. and they lost to Logan on Friday by 5 points.  But they won on Sat. against Layton Christian academy.  It was in Overtime and Cody was tied for high scorer with 17 points.  He and Nate and Tuby had 17 and Brandon had 16.  But he went knee to knee on his good knee on Friday and now he says they are both sore and swollen.  So he will have to rest it quite a bit this week.  Erin had 18 points on Wednesday against Twin Falls and was high scorer.  She had 9 on Thursday and I don't know how many on Friday and Sat.  The girls were up in Boise for a Tornament.  But she was sick fri and sat and said she could hardly breathe.  She thinks she has broncitis.  So we have a Dr. appt with her this afternoon.
 
We finally got some snow over the weekend.  We have about 6 inches now, and we are suppose to get more tonight and tomorrow.  This new storm coming in is suppose to be a big one.  Provo is suppose to get 12-20 inches of snow.
 
Chelsea and Brian drove up to Utah on Saturaday and were able to make it to Codys game as well.  Then they followed us over to Elko yesterday.  We are planning on going to the Twin Falls temple one of these days this week.
 
The Nielsen Christmas was fun.  We did our normal thing at the church, played elimination and played games and the kids ran around.  When we 1st got there, all the kids were running around and Adelaide was sitting at the table trying to eat her food, but watching all the kids running around for about 5 - 7 minutes, and then she said in all seriousness, "I'm faster".  I guess she thinks she is faster than all the other kids running around.
 
Last night we were having family home evening and Erin was teasing Adelaide like she always does, saying, I'm a princess, and I have beautifull hair, etc.  Adelaide was saying, "well, I have sharp teeth",  and "I'm going to get married".  Any way, after a while when Erin finally makes Adelaide mad, she says, "I don't like you any more".  Well, they finally made up and Erin said something else to tease her, and Adelaide said, "Don't say that any more.  I like you now."
 
She is a funny kid.  We came back Sunday morning in time for the 3rd ward sacretment meeting as the chior was singing and Erin had a couple songs with Choroliers and a few of the young women.  The roads in Nevada, were not very good.  The left lane was snow packed and the other lane was slushy. So we were traveling about 45 to 50 miles an hour.
 
I hope you and your companion have a wonderful C-mas and are blessed with all the blessings and gifts that Hevenly Father can give you two.  We love you and pray for you daily.
 
Have a wonderful and productive week.  We are looking forward to your call tomorrow. 
 
Love Dad.

Counting down to Christmas

Hola Sister Nielsen,

I'm not sure if you got my email last week before you sent yours, but I sent it 10 minutes after you mailed yours.  Well we are assuming that either you or your companion got transferred this week.  We will be sad to see you two broken up as you were so good together, but life moves on and I'm sure you both will have plenty of success in your new adventures.

Mom and I have talked about it and we would like you to see some other islands and get to know more of Hawaii, like Sister Duke.  However, the Lord will send you where ever you are suppose to be.  That I know for sure.

This week Erin had 3 games.  One in Jerome Idaho and they got killed.  The entire team only scored 18 points and Erin had 8 out of the 18 and only played about 2 minutes the 2nd half.  The coach said they were not playing like seniors and nobody was stepping up to be a leader. So none of the juniors or seniors played much the 2nd half.

Friday and Saturday both Erin's and Cody's team won.  Erin had 6 points on Friday and 11 on Sat.  She was 2nd high scorer on Sat.  Cody had 1 point in Sat. game.  He actually ended up starting Sat as Marshall Dumas took an elbow to the head on Friday and they did not let him play for precautionary reasons.

But it was good to see them both doing so well.  Cody is about 70%, he still can't run too fast, and is timid by not attacking the basket and not looking for his shoot.  But that is ok, until we get him healed.  I don't want him being too aggressive and injuring his knee again.  Sat. they played Dayton, and that is the team where it was a football game last year during the bball game.  They have 3 players that all they want to do is hurt people and give cheap shots.  So I was glad to get out of that game with no injuries.

We had the missionaries over for dinner yesterday.  We asked them in church, and they said they had an appointment, but we got a call Sunday afternoon, and they were wondering if we had started dinner yet.  We told them we were just sitting down and they asked if they could come over as their dinner appointment forgot about it.  And we said sure. They must feel comfortable with us asking us if they can come and eat.  We were just fine with it.

Well, I can't think of much else to tell you.  We love you and pray for your success every day. It will be nice if we can skype on Christmas day.  How much time do you get.

Keep up the great work.  Your letters bring tears to my eyes when I read them.  I think it is because I loved my mission soooo much and I can relive mine again through your service.

This gospel is true and it is truly beautiful.  You are doing exactly what the Lord would have you do.  

Love you,

Dad

Aloha!

Hola Sister Nielsen,

We are so happy and impressed with you and Sister Wright and the job you two are doing in the mission field.  November was a great month for you two.  You two accounted for 6 of the 18 baptisms in your zone.  How many missionaries are in your zone?  Have you had an interview with your mission President lately?  I wonder what he thinks about you two.  You guys are great together as companions.  But next week will be transfer week, and they usually do not allow a companionship to be together longer than 3 months.  But  there are always new adventures over the horizon.

I believe mom told you about Cody and his bball team.  They looked great on Thursday night against Spanish Springs and on Sat. against Douglas high school.  Douglas was suppose to be the number 1 team in the Northern part of the state.  They went to the state simis last year representing the north.  They have a 6'7'' guy who had offers to play at Stanford and other colleges but decided on playing at Harvard.  But Elko's defense was great and held him to 17 points.  Cody played Fri. and Sat. but did not have any points.  He got off his crutches on Wed. and played on Friday.  He said his legs felt like jello.  He was only going about 70 - 80 %.  But he did okay.  You could tell he was a little timid with his knee, which is the way he should have been.

Erin's team won Thurs. and Fri. and lost Sat.  She was high scorer on thurs. with 11points.  She had 5 on Friday and 2 on Sat.  She said they played horribly on Sat.  They both play at home this Friday and Sat. for league games.  So that will be fun.  I am doing the clock and books for both of their games.  But it is fun to watch these young kids do so well.

Yesterday, when Adelaide was waking up, I said we have to hurry so we can go to church.  And Adelaide said, 'I love going to church'.  Which is a good thing.  She will go into Sunbeams at the first of the year.

My mom is doing well.  DeeRay and Sharon and Darhl and Charlene are taking care of you well and spend a lot of time over there, cleaning the yard, house and going through every thing in the basement.  DeeRay asked her the other day, "Mom, how long are you going to live?' as we are trying to figure out all her finances.  And she responded, 'Until I die'.  Well put, I guess we will all live until we die.

Today is our 24th anniversary.  I can't believe is was 24 years ago that your mom and I got married.  That is 1/2 of my life time.  We are ready for another 50 years of marriage.

I have not had a chance to do any C-mas shopping this year.  I think we will do the Chelsea thing and not receive any gifts this year.  It makes it a lot easier.  Not much else is happening here.

Well, I can't think of any thing new.  We are so grateful you are serving a mission and representing the Savior so well.  Keep up the great work.  We love you.

Dad

Prepping for Christmas

Aloha Amber,
 
How is every thing?  We are doing fine here.  I spent last week in Orlando Florida for training, but spent the entire time at the hotel and surrounding area.  We did not get out to see any thing.  It was overcast the entire time and we finally saw the  sun on Thursday.  I don't know if you have heard, but I ran into Tiffany's parents at the creche festival and she said that Tiffany and Tucker are doing well. But, Tiffany's younger sister (Lindsey??) received her mission call to San Diego CA, spanish speaking.  She goes into the MTC in February, 2013.
 
I am also attaching some copies of e-mails that we received from your Bishop in Hawaii and Sister Wrights mother.  It sounds like you two get along so well and are two peas in a pod.  With you 2 being obedient and working hard, and getting along so well, that is why you 2 are having so much success.

 

Adelaide, was giving the FHE lesson last night.  She was cute.  She was going on about Joseph Smith and Jesus and witches.  She said 'the witch cut off my arm and my head and then Jesus killed the witch..... BUT....'  I video taped it and if I can, I will try to send it to you one of these days.  She is also saying "whateverrrrr', now, I don't know where she learned that.

 

Mom probably told you last week that the Dr. put Cody on crutches to try and heal his knee.  He tried to play the 1st week and it was swelling up and painful.  Hopefully it will heal and he will be ready to go.

 

I can't think of much else to write this week.  Summer's bball team has a 2 game winning streak, and she is doing better every game.  She has made a huge improvement since the beginning of the year.  I'm working on her shooting form and it is getting better, but in the games, she pushes the ball up there.  As she gets stronger, she will get better.  Her defense is by far the best on the team.  She also is really fast.  I think we have a runner on our hands.  She runs effortlessly.  It doesn't look like she is running hard, but she goes pretty fast.

 

Well, I better let you go.  We love you and are so excited to have you on a mission.  We love your letters and can feel your testimony and spirit growing each week.  Erin is planning on going on a mission for next December 2013.  She thinks she will go to GBC for a semester and then go on her mission which I think would be great.

 

Thanks for you letters,

 

We love you very much,

 

Dad