I've been a Little Preoccupied lately.....

I think I will glue this picture, this emotion, this moment in time to my brain forever.  My son returned home from his mission yesterday.  His plane was late,  and after it arrived he didn't descend on the escalator for what seemed forever.  Many passengers who came down the escalator and saw all of us anxious parents waiting.  They smiled and then reported that "They are going to come down as a group.....but they are coming".   Then we waited some more.  Finally, finally, my Elder-Son descended down the Escalator...

Squeals of excitement ensued.....(not just mine)!

Hugs were given all around....our Missionary was home!

His former Mission President came to greet him. That was so very touching to both of them.  More hugs, lots of pictures and lots of questions were asked.

Soooooo, although I am very excited to have my missionary home again I am going to make a few suggestions to the missionary parents who may be anticipating this event.

1. Be Patient:  There are so many things that you have to wait upon.  Travel Itineraries, admission to school, transportation for our missionary after he comes home, insurance, etc.  I was doing pretty well with all of this until we were at the airport.  He just wasn't coming down the escalator....we finally sent my Son-in-law with my grandson to 'accidentally' scale the stairs and watch for him. My middle son and is boy did the same. (There were strict instructions that Mom gets the first hug though!)  When they saw him coming, they quickly came down the stairs.  Where had he been for those many long minutes?  He was doing just what he should.  Because the of  Tornado activity yesterday (which he was totally unaware of), the plane was delayed and some of the missionaries in his group missed their connections.  He stayed to ensure that all of them were taken care of with connecting flights etc. before he left them.  Who wouldn't want their son to be so caring and responsible?
2. Give him or her time:  This is a cultural shock to leave the life of a missionary and then all of a sudden come back home.  We all had questions for him.  One (which I thought was so simple), was too overwhelming for him.  "Where do you want to go eat?".  He said he couldn't even think that far ahead.  This is a huge clue.  Try not to bombard your returning missionary with questions such as "What type of cellphone do you want to get?", "When do you want to go visit ______", etc.  It was just too much for him.  He kept saying things like, "We should go teach someone tonight".  
3. Getting into the house:  Try to have favorite foods or requested items.  Have something for him to wear....these guys often grow and develop over the two year span.  
4. Let him/her enjoy every minute of being a missionary:  Before our Stake President came to release him, he referred to his impending release as a "Missionary killer" moment and dreaded for it to come.  The Stake President, after he arrived, asked our Elder to bear his Testimony to his family one more time as a missionary.  I thought I had shed enough tears before, but with this sweet Testimony, they came freely.  The Stake President then gave us all advise and counsel.  Finally, he asked me to do something I hadn't been asked to do with my other two missionaries.....he asked me to remove my son's Missionary Badge.  That was bitter-sweet for him.
5. Beware of a time change:  Your son/daughter most likely will not be used to your time zone.  If you have had an international missionary, you may want to check with your physician about how to regulate sleep cycles to help you missionary adjust. 

It has only been a few hours, but already as a Mother, I feel whole again.  All my chicks are around or are in a place that I can call and talk with them at a moment's notice.  I think I am going to like having to trip over an extra pair of shoes again.....

A note about your son.....Elder (Rooster Junior)

Happy Mother's Day to all you sisters who have children/grandchildren and also to those who love and support children as extended family members and friends. Having been an 'extended family member and friend' for several years of my early adult life, I understand the mixed emotions Mother's Day can bring.  However, I would encourage you to accept the thanks and appreciation from loved ones today....right along with those how are called "Mom" as well. 

I have been very blessed this year, and it is only the morning!  Today I am anticipating a phone call from my Missionary who is serving in Friendswood Texas.  I have been wishing for the days to go faster, but we all know that Heavenly Father has his own timeline for everything.

My other children and Rooster Senior have been gracious enough to call, write, send flowers/cards/gifts, and my son who graduated from College a few days ago gave me his tassel...which will be a treasure for years to come!  I am grateful to be remembered by those who I love.

I received an unexpected text from a YSA also wishing me a Happy Mother's day.  That was very unexpected but also touching.

See, I told you today was off to a nice start. However, I received an unexpected email from the Ward Mission leader (a ward is a synonym for a local church congregation) this morning.  The subject line read "A note about your son, Elder _____".  I have to admit, my heart sank for a moment as it is very unusual to hear from anyone but your Missionary or the Mission President when your child is serving as a missionary.  I opened the email hoping that everything was alright.  And.....it really was. This kind Brother wrote my husband and I a note expressing his appreciation for the service my son and his companion were providing to the ward.  Our son, (who I lovingly refer to as 'Rooster Junior') has been serving in that particular ward for about 9 months.  My husband and I had to wipe away the tears as we read this unexpected, but welcome gift this beautiful Mother's Day morning. Here is an excerpt of this touching email:

We, the members of the _______ Ward want you to know how much we appreciate your willingness to share your son with us in the service of the Lord.  We thank you for raising a young man who stands tall and is a shining example of what a missionary is and what a missionary should be.  He has blessed all of our lives and it is with a great deal of mixed emotions that we will have to say goodbye to him in a few short days. 

As a parent who has had five children serve missions (one of my daughters is serving now), I know that it is a time of great blessing for your family when you have a son or daughter serve a mission.  I also know that you are very anxious to be reunited with your son as he concludes his mission.  Though we will be sad to see him go, he will leave a lasting legacy in our ward and in the lives of the people he has touched, taught, and loved. 

May you and your entire family take comfort to know that Elder ______ has served the Lord with all of his might, mind and strength.  He is a leader and an example to the other missionaries that he teaches and serves. 

May you and your family enjoy the great blessings of the gospel.  May you feel the spirit of the Lord that dwells so strongly in Elder ______.  And may you have a joyous reunion with him.  Surely, he is one of the noble and great ones.  I am sure the Lord is very pleased with his service and will surely say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". 

God bless all of you.  And to sister ______ … Happy Mothers Day!

I think I will need tissues for the whole entire day.  It is moments like this that help me realize that all our efforts as parents, and those of extended family and friends help shape the lives of the rising generation.  It is my hope that as a "Sister-in-the-gospel" that we will never doubt the important role that we play as we serve in our little part of the kingdom both inside and outside of the home.

Happy Mother's Day to you every Sister!

Use a Primary Source......

Image Courtesy of Wildriverogues.com

I follow several blogs and websites to learn what others are sharing.  I appreciate the time and effort that many folks put into their posts in an effort to educate and inform the rest of us.  Having said that, I have been concerned with a recent post regarding Changes in the operation of LDS Canneries East of the Mississippi.

Now, before I 'go on', I want to talk about something that was drummed into my head in college.  I mean 'drummed' into my head.  What was it? When quoting information or making an inference, make every effort to use Primary Source information.  This means that you seek to find the person or organization who may be the original source to ensure as much accuracy as possible.

I have no doubt the author of this information was attempting to share important information from her standpoint, but you would not believe the concern I personally have heard and seen just in my circles.  Because the LDS Church has a newsroom where they report information and/or they often use KSL/Deseret News as a news sources to report information, I decided to wait for clarification.

The following was reported in the Deseret News on May 6, 2013:

Contrary to a published report, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not closing its food production canneries and is not limiting the variety of goods that are available to church members for consumption and storage.
"Over time, we will be reducing the number of facilities where the packaging of dry goods occurs," LDS spokeswoman Ruth Todd said Monday. Even then, she added, the church's "home storage centers will offer the same or additional commodities in pre-packaged form, at no additional cost."
The statement comes as a result of questions from a number of different media sources following a blog post asserting that "LDS canneries east of the Mississippi will no longer be canning any food at their facilities beginning June 27, 2013."
That, Todd said, is not accurate.
"The church is not closing canneries and is not limiting the variety of goods available to church members," she said. The only thing being reduced over time is the number of locations at which members can purchase bulk foods and can them themselves.
There are currently more than 100 LDS home storage centers across the United States and Canada at which church members can obtain food items for personal and family use. The home storage centers are part of the church's massive welfare program that includes canneries, meat-packing facilities, thrift stores, farms, ranches and storage facilities for food. Latter-day Saints are encouraged by church leaders to keep a three-month supply of food on hand in case of physical, natural and economic emergencies as part of the LDS practice of self-reliance.
“Self-reliance is a product of our work and undergirds all other welfare practices," LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson said. "It is an essential element in our spiritual as well as our temporal well-being.”

*****************************************************************

Addendum:  The following information was posted to clarify this situation at the following link:  The Author of the blog post states that there will essentially be  a re-write of the Deseret News Article that will be posted tomorrow.  I look forward to read the upcoming article.

I love having options....

Image courtesy of Marks Daily Apple

Some of the items that are needed, but tricky to stock up on, are Oil and Shortening as they are shelf stable.  However, they can go rancid over time.  We need these important fats for health.  But, did you know that in baking we have several options to use in place of Fats?   Knowing this, you can think differently about how much of these oils/fats you actually need to store.

There are many options for substituting other foods for oils or fats in baking.  Here are some options:

• Beans: This is my favorite because this food also has fiber.  You can substitute cup for cup for the fat required in a recipe.  If you are cooking a light colored food, used cooked light colored beans.  The same is true for bakin dark baked goods, used dark cooked beans.  You may be surprised at how moist your baked goods will be.  Beans are also very economical as a substitute as oils and fats are much more costly pound-for-pound.
• Applesauce:  Many folks use this as a substitution ( 1:1 ratio).  The caution here is to watch your baking temperature as it can scorch or burn and leave an after-taste.  Also, some sources caution you from using more than 1 Cup of Applesauce per recipe that you are preparing.  
• Shredded Zucchini:  This is great in muffins, breads, and chocolate treats as it provides a great deal of moisture.
• Pureed Pumpkin:  Have you ever had leftover canned pumpkin and wondered what to do with it?  You can substitute  it for fat. Your food will take on the color and flavor of  pumpkin...but who doesn't love a chocolate chip pumpkin cookie?
• Dairy:  This was a surprise to me.  You can substitute yogurt (preferably Greek yogurt as it is strained and does not have excess liquid) or cottage Cheese (use half of the required fat called for).  These are good in pastries and biscuits but can add a 'rubbery' texture.  Ricotta Cheese reportedly can be used in some recipes 1:1.  
• Baby Food:  Specifically carrots, pears and prunes.  This is a good way to take care of left over purees that you may have in the refrigerator.
• Banana:  Mashed Banana can be used 1:1. 
• Tofu:  Silken Tofu reportedly can be used (use only 1/2 the amount called for).

Try to experiment with one or more of these options in your when baking your next yummy treat or food.  

Expires at Midnight.....

Why am I posting a picture of an empty parking lot?

Here is another view....

Here is the same parking lot about a week ago.

Here is another view.

Today, everyone moved out of the Raintree Apartments.

Last week, there was a 4-Stake Fireside where the boundaries of the 4 Stakes were altered.  In addition, 6 wards simply.....were....dissolved.....effective at Midnight on 4-27-13.  This date and time were important as the leadership wanted to ensure that every student had a Bishop....until they moved out.  The meeting was really amazing, lots of boundary changes, ward name changes, and  Bishopric changes.  

Before the meeting began, I happened to sit next to a member of our YSA Stake Presidency.  I inquired to see if I might ask a few questions of him, and he willingly said he would.  Reportedly, the Stake Presidency was informed in January that this complex would become a Second MTC at the end of the semester   Reportedly, the 4 Stake Presidents provided the General authorities with suggestions on how this could be accomplished.  

Changes that will most likely be taking place at the facility:

• Each apartment that had housed 6 students will now house 12 missionaries as bunk beds will be installed.
• The large parking lot in the back will have temporary building for feed the missionaries.  
• There has been some talk/reporting that some of the buildings will be remodeled to make classrooms available.

Elder Steven J Lund was presiding at this special 4-Stake Conference.  Not only did he carry out the changes listed above, but he also shared more information.  

When it was announced that the  Benemerito de las Americas high school would also be transformed into an MTC in Mexico, some were concerned that the educational opportunities for a High School opportunity would no longer be available to members in Mexico.  Elder Lund explained that originally this school was built as there was no opportunity for a High School education available over 40 years ago.  Currently, Mexico reportedly now does offer High school, so about 5-6 years ago, the decision was made to close the facility at the end of this school year.  Reportedly there had been a discussion about selling the facility.  This is where the glorious plan of the Lord came into play.  With the recent increase in Missionaries applying to serve, this facility could easily be transformed as it had dormitories, cafeterias, classrooms, and staff.  

Elder Lund also mentioned a new Visa that Mexico is offering that can be received in a little as 2 months if the applicant is going to learn the language or be in the country for educational purposes.    Can you think of anything more perfect for a missionary?

A bit of irony....some of our very own students will now be returning to Raintree.....to work as they were already employed at the MTC.

So, what do students do when they know they have to move out....disperse, and finals are over?  Have a bonfire  to burn any homework or notes that are no longer needed...all while roasting Hot dogs and Marshmallows in the Fire pit. There were also midnight runs for waffles, and movie nights.  We must not forget that there were also several celebrating their long awaited Graduations.

Reportedly there was an 'all night cleaning party" on the last night...with much goofing around until 4:00 a.m.  

One other thing that I found very important.  Reportedly President Monson sent a letter to our YSA Stake President indicating that all the records of all the students needed to be sent to their next home and not to Church Headquarters.  Again, this was important so that every student had a Bishop. Our wonderful Clerks spent the last few weeks gathering addresses of either the next apartment or a home address as some students just didn't know where they were going to land.  Extra efforts to complete Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching were also made.

None-the-less, this chapter of our Young Single Adult's lives closing, However, it allows for new Missionary opportunities that will impact the future of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the world.   How amazing it has been for our little ward to witness this small little piece of Church History.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.....his wonders to perform...

Shelter in place...

Image courtesy of offgridsurvival.com

This past week has been a very tragic one for many people, particularly for those injured or killed at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.  Because authorities were searching for the second suspect (the first suspect, sadly a sibling, had died), a section of Boston was ordered to "Shelter-in-place".  Public transportation, schools, and business were closed.  Thankfully, the 2nd suspect was apprehended and the city of Boston celebrated and cheered the efforts of law enforcement to bring this sad chapter to a hopeful close.

From a preparedness standpoint, people had to 'live' on the things they had in their homes during this difficult time. 

Image courtesy of offgridsurvival.com

Having authorities go from home to home must have been a welcomed, but anxious experience.  The adults surely had a good understanding of what was happening, but the children may not have known why they couldn't go outside or why they had a change in their routine.  Depending upon what you had on your shelves (food and entertainment wise), this time at home could have been welcomed or with a bit of panic.

Have you ever tried to get your children out of the door when you don't have milk in the morning? What would you do if you didn't have milk, cereal, etc while being required to stay at home?  Would you have had things for your children/family to do while you were in this situation?  What if you were asked to Shelter-in-place for days or longer....would you have things in place to do so?  If it were needed, would you be in a position to defend yourself?

Image courtesy of Ebay

We had the opportunity to 'Grandparent' yesterday for  most of the day.  We had  a sweet toddler boy who came over to captivate our hearts.  He played with the dollhouse and said sweet things like "baby", "Mama", and "Dada" while picking up pieces before tossing them on the floor.

image courtesy of dooyoo.co.uk

We also drove cars and trucks all over the living room.

However, when I was just across the room, our little Grandson opened our backdoor for the first time by himself.  Later, when he was in the Garage with Grandpa, he quickly tried to run down the driveway to the street before we caught him. Certainly, in a lock-down situation, our Garage door would not have be opened.  But, in the backdoor situation could have been dangerous and very problematic.

I reflected upon the requirement to 'Shelter-in-place" and taking care of not only him, but siblings at the same time.  It is hard to keep kids entertained, fed, and protected.  It would be important to have precautions in place to manage little one's desires to go outside to play or to spend time with friends in the neighborhood.

As it turned out, we would have been fine if we had locked the doors (which we would have done in a true "Shelter-in-place" scenario).  We could have fed, entertained, and protected ourselves for a long time.  We also would have been in a position to handle hygiene (for the adults), medication needs, communication, and power if need be.  However, this little one is not toilet trained yet and we only had so many diapers.  As I thought about what I would do if we cared for him for a long time, I started looking at our dishtowels and safety pins and tried to think about how I would have had to possibly sew a pair or 'plastic pants' as my family used to call them when my siblings were in cloth diapers.  I had the supplies to do it and could have done so. Overall we would have done just fine.  In fact, we really did have to "Shelter-in-place" for nearly a week following a big natural disaster a few years ago.  We didn't have power, but we had everything else and did just fine.

The following list is from "Backdoor Survival.com":

Survival Woman’s Shelter-In-Place Checklist

2- 4 mil plastic sheeting

Duct tape

Scissors (to cut the plastic sheeting)

Utility knife

First aid kit

Two week supply of non-perishable food

Paper plates and eating utensils

Can opener

Bottled drinking water (your water barrel will not likely be accessible from your safe room)

Flash Light with a hand crank or extra batteries

Baby items (diapers, formula, wipes)

Pet items (food, potty pads, kitty litter, poo bags)

Wind Up/Battery Radio

Phone that does not require power

Cell phone and charger

Medications

Extra pair of glasses and/or contact lens & solution

Emergency Phone Numbers

Candles/Camping Lanterns

Lighters and Matches

Garbage bags & ties

Comfort items (toilet paper, personal wipes, Kleenex)

Entertainment items (paperback books, Sudoku, crossword puzzles, playing cards)

Paper, pens, pencils

Emergency telephone numbers

Take a quick look around your home.  How would you have faired?  If you are lacking, make a plan and address it now.  Who could have foreseen a lock down in Boston even just a few days ago.  Being prepared requires a skill-set and a mindset.  Doing so helps keep calm hearts and cool heads in the face of the unexpected.    

Think about it!

The Exodus begins....

I have been "Missing in Action" lately here on this blog.  I haven't been sitting back and eating bonbons.  Instead, I have been living life, helping Rooster Senior with his end-of-the-semester projects and homework, and witnessing some modern-day history.  On March 27th of this year, the members of our Young Single Adult ward, along with 6 other wards based in the Raintree Commons were given a bit of news.  Their home-away-from-home would become a 2nd MTC (Missionary Training Center) beginning May 1st.  This means that everyone....I mean everyone is moving out...moving away...and moving on to make way for these newly called Missionaries.  

Now before some of you think that this is unfair.....just remember that (the end of the semester) and most of the rental contracts end on April 27th.  At the end of a semester a majority of these tremendous students traditionally move out...move home....and move on with life in general.   So yes, some folks were inconvenienced, but most already had plans to relocate.

And so the Exodus begins.  There have been meetings with our Young Single Adult (YSA) Ward Council, planning with the Relief Society and Elder's Quorum, with extra efforts from Visiting Teachers and Home Teachers to ensure everyone has a place to land and help moving there.  If you have ever moved one family....multiply that effort by nearly 200 and you will know what this experience is like. We have even made available our own 'Winter Quarters' for those YSA's who are in flux.  By April 27th, the members of our YSA ward...and a piece of heart will be gone.

This next Sunday will be the last block of meetings for our ward.  Everyone will be released, including the Bishopric and the ward essentially will be dissolved. Reportedly the MTC will inhabit Raintree and Wyview apartments for approximately 2 years.

Sooooo, the Little Red Hen has put on her own thinking cap.....which is really a dangerous thing.  As the media coverage states, the Missionaries will not only live on these campus', but will also receive their training here.......I tried to imagine how the training and feeding part would happen.  I could see the living and laundry part already, but the other would be a massive undertaking.  Each apartment has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms along with a an open floor plan for a livingroom/kitchen combination.  There is also a laundry room for all the current residents.  (Our Ward alone is made up of 24 Apartments and there are 6 Wards in this complex)

Image Courtesy of Raintreeapt.com

Soooooo, where could everything take place?  Well, Wyview (across the street)  has a Chapel located on it's campus....that could be very helpful for Missionaries I would venture. However, there is a need for classrooms, large dining area(s), etc.  So, I took a few pictures and have a few thoughts on the matter (and that is all they are....as the Church has a plan to address any and all issues here without the my uninspired input).

This is a view of 2 buildings on the West side of the complex.

Standing from the Balcony of one the above Apartment buildings, I took these 3 shots from right to left....of an enormous parking lot.  Think about it, these missionaries will not need any parking space.  Temporary buildings could be established here  for teaching and dining.

The current clubhouse can manage one YSA ward at a time for things like Ward Prayer and a "Break-the-Fast" meal, but not the entire complex.  I am sure this building will be used however for important functions.  It has folding tables and chairs, a loft, a kitchen without appliances (but has a small sink) and some small office areas that Bishops have used for interviews.

Each Stairwell leads to 6 different apartments (on 3 floors) on the front and back sides of the building.   Missionaries will live (and most likely study) in close proximity without having to travel far.

As with any change, there are 'rumors' about what will happen.  Some rumors are that the Hot Tub will be taken completely out, others are that the pool will be covered for 2 years.  In my view, who knows and really who cares about the pool?  The Lord has a plan, and his work will roll forth.

So, as some of our newly called missionaries (some most likely from our own YSA Ward) prepare to enter the MTC in early May, it is my hope that they will find a sweetly spiritual environment in the newly called 2nd MTC.  I know that our YSA Ward has certainly experienced it and have been greatly blessed by it.

As for our beloved YSA's, I will personally miss you all.  As I listen to your plans for the future, I am amazed at the potential impact for good you most likely will have not only locally, but across the world.  I want to thank you all for the richness that you have brought to my life.....I will miss you.

Until we meet again..........