Week 70: Valentines in Seattle

Valentine Flowers from Elder Hadlock

 'Twas another LOVEly week. We started off with gray skies and rain, but have enjoyed some unusually warm weather the last few days. In fact, today we are experiencing blue skies and sunshine.

We did get official word from the Arkansas Little Rock Mission that Elder Hadlock, Jr.'s release date is May 19 -- Just six weeks after our release.

Can't believe it's that close. Don't want to think about it. Hopefully, Benjamin isn't thinking much about it either. We hope we can all "finish strong." I think I'll share with him my favorite quote of the week.

"No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, show up, and never give up!"

The other highlight of the week was a trip to Seattle to spend some time with Aliya, Breanna and their family -- the Davises. They let us know earlier in the week that they were coming for the weekend and invited us to join them.

Van at Pier 57

On Saturday, we went with them to the Seattle Aquarium and then for lunch at the Crab Pot restaurant which is nearby. To be honest, the aquarium isn't anything special. The one in Utah is every bit as good -- or better. Just a heads up to anyone planning a trip to Seattle.

Breanna & Aliya

Lunch at the Crab Pot was fun. Some of us ordered the "Westport Feast" which included a variety of fresh seafood (dungeness crab, snow crab, shrimp, steamed clams, Pacific mussels) plus sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes steamed with spices. They pour it out on the table on butcher paper, give you a mallet and bib, and let you go at it!

It was tasty and fun! We especially enjoyed visiting with these wonderful folks from back home. We love them and appreciate their including us in their plans.

Mariel, Aliya, Breanna

Well, that's the scoop from Tacoma.

Life is good. God is great. We'll just keep moving forward.

Week 69: Not Without Its Challenges.. or Blessings!

No doubt, I have learned (and re-learned) many new things over the last 16 months. One that has been quite evident is that life is not without its challenges -- even while serving the Lord via a full-time mission. Serving a mission does not make one immune to the trials and challenges of mortality. We have seen this play out in our own lives as well as in the lives of other missionaries.

Missionaries get sick, sprain ankles, fall off bikes, get ear infections, eye infections, toothaches, have appendicitis (resulting in appendectomies), and the list goes on. On any given day, several are having health issues. Many struggle emotionally and deal with varying degrees of anxiety, stress, and depression.  Most are able to get the help they need, work through it, and complete their mission.  Some must return home to get the help they need -- which can be another trial in and of itself, even when an honorable release is extended.

Van has been plagued with extra joint pain, especially in his feet, most of the time we've been here. We know of other senior missionaries who have dealt with serious illness and surgeries -- but all have worked through it and remained to serve.

Wrestler missing part of his arm.

In just the last two weeks, we had a missionary fall during a P-day activity and suffer a serious concussion.  Another Elder was punched in the face by a stranger who wanted money, but the missionary couldn't oblige. Two other missionaries were hit by a car while they were crossing at a cross walk. They'll both be OK, but one of the Elders had to go home for knee surgery which will require a lengthy recovery. The other Elder (shown in photos) had surgery on his elbow at a hospital here. His recovery will be very short. He'll be able to get "back to work" soon.

Rain water as it flows through the parking lot. Just thought it was cool.

Then there are problems "back home." Young missionaries have parents who decide to divorce or leave the church. Some (young and old) have family members or friends who die. In fact, last week President Blatter had to inform a missionary that his 16 year old sister had died unexpectedly. Senior missionaries are not exempt from family troubles either. Children still face their own physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual challenges. We worry about them. We pray a lot.

There are still financial issues to be dealt with and managed as a senior missionary. (Some things just don't go away). :)

We have experienced relationship challenges in our work with a few other senior missionaries. Being on a mission hasn't taken away opportunities for Satan to work on Elder Hadlock and I and our relationship. However, being in the environment of service has made us more keenly aware of the effects of contention and at the same time more determined to overcome those challenges.  We are stronger because of it.

On Saturday, we went to a wrestling meet. We were especially taken in by a young wrestler who was missing part of his arm. Picture above is a poor shot, but ... Anyway, he certainly didn't let this challenge stop him. In fact, he won the match we watched.  He doesn't let his challenge, stop him. Inspiring.

These are just a few examples of mission & life realities. Enough said. Missions are hard. Life is hard. But life is good. God is good. He is good to us. Missions are awesome. We feel so incredibly, incredibly blessed. Among those blessings are the trials and challenges we face.  Trials help us see that we can do hard things. Trials humble us and help us turn to God. It is said that the Lord will not give us more than we can handle. I believe that He will not give us more than we can handle with His help. The key is to seek his help, to follow Jesus Christ, and to let His Atonement heal us, help us, and enable us.

Serving a mission is not without its challenges. But the weightier message is that, for us, serving a mission has definitely not been without an extra measure of blessings.

Week 68: His Plan is Super!

Nothing too eventful to report on this week. I thought perhaps I would be writing this while listening to fireworks go off following a Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl victory, but ..... well you know how that turned out.

We didn't watch the game though we will admit to enjoying the advantages of having an internet connection via smart phone while at the church during the game. 

Missionaries were advised to not be out proselyting during the Super Bowl. Instead they gathered as zones for an activity.

Four zones actually got together at our Stake Center for a surprise birthday party for Sister Blatter. It was her birthday today.

As usual, we enjoyed being with the missionaries and being part of the "fun." Sure hope you all enjoyed the festivities of the day as well. How were the commercials? --- and half-time?

Folks up here are crazy about the Seahawks. It will be interesting to see how they take the loss.  Our missionaries are hoping that they won't be too angry, and perhaps there will be greater humility?

Well, enough Super Bowl talk. 

Church today was especially good. It was interesting how many of the testimonies that were shared today seemed to answer a question I've had lately. Tender mercies.  Sunday School and Relief Society lessons were uplifting as well. I like church. I like how I feel there.

I am so grateful for our understanding of the Godhead. I know we have a Heavenly Father, that Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son, and that the Holy Ghost is real. I have felt the Holy Ghost testify to my soul of many truths, but especially that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life and Light of the world. I think it is safe to say that we have three Gods who "have our back." This is a "super" feeling. 

Finished this puzzle this week. It was a doozy!

Heavenly Father is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. He loves perfectly.  His Plan of Salvation is all encompassing. The way to handle "Plan B" is to trust in Heavenly Father's Plan for each of us.

May y'all have a super week. God is good. Life is good.

Week 67: Flight and Faith

The week began for many with a day off in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. He certainly made the world a better place. We are appreciative of his contributions to the world.

We didn't have the day off, but to make things a little better, I took popcorn -- in honor of  National Popcorn Day -- to share in staff meeting.  Certainly popcorn makes the world a better place, too -- especially when it's enjoyed with friends and family.

Zone Conferences were held on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Elder Hadlock attends those meetings to do safety training and inspect mission cars.  He was grateful for relatively "dry" weather those days.

At the end of a long day!

In fairness to Elder Hadlock -- the photo of him  with his foot up on the desk and "dozing" was staged. I have caught him with his foot up on the desk, but he doesn't sleep on the job.
Though he would like to sometimes I'm sure.

It's been a while since we did some sight seeing so this Saturday we went on a little excursion to the Museum of Flight that is in Tukiwila, Washington, not too far from here.

It was really interesting. Well worth the time and money. In fact, we would like'd to have stayed longer, but we just got too tired. We especially enjoyed the section of the museum that paid tribute to airmen in World War I and World War II. Great review of history. Highly recommend this one if you're ever in the area.

That's about all the "news" we have to report.  I'll move from "flight" to faith and fill some space with an impression from this week's studies. It begins with a story in Matthew 17: 14-21 about the father of an afflicted child. He had approached Jesus's disciples for a blessing for his son, but they were not able to provide it. The father appealed to Jesus who said "if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." ... the father cried out, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief."
The Savior goes on to teach about "faith as a grain of mustard seed."

Further study led me to a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland who referred to this story. Here's a quote from that talk:

"When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes. It was of this very incident, this specific miracle that Jesus said,  "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue -- it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know. 

"When problems come and questions arise, do not start your quest for faith by saying how much you do not have, leading as it were with your "unbelief." ..... I am not asking you to pretend to faith you do not have. I am asking you to be true to the faith you do have. Sometimes we act as if an honest declaration of doubt is a higher manifestation of moral courage than is an honest declaration of faith. It is not!  ... Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another. But if you and your family want to be healed, don't let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle." (Ensign, May 2013 p. 93)

I want to exercise more faith -- even when it's the size of a grain of mustard seed, it's possible to move mountains.

I suppose human flight does require a bit of faith.

Life is good. That's all.

Week 66: Reminder to Self: "Will the promised blessings be fulfilled?"

Appetizer

Another week in the WATAC. Things are mostly good. We have been dealing with head colds, but nothing serious. Because of "drier" and warmer weather the first part of the week, Elder Hadlock's joints felt better.

One night this week we enjoyed a lovely dinner with the Blatters and Harwoods at Anthony's, a nice restaurant at Point Defiance. The appetizer was kind of cool, thus the photo. It's a rosemary cracker topped with garlic mashed potatoes and a lovely piece of salmon.

The other photos were taken at the local YMCA. We try to get there a few nights each week and on Saturday mornings. Elder Hadlock is more dedicated than I. He likes to ride the bikes. I'll ride for a bit, but can't stay in one place for long so I go upstairs to use the track. It's a great facility.

Elder Hadlock's workout

Pretty typical week at the office. Elder Hadlock sold another car this week. We got a new mini-van in and now have the older mini-van to get ready for sale.

What Elder Hadlock watches during workout

Looks like our missionary numbers are going to level out a bit. We haven't had very many new missionaries show up on our radar for April and May.

Sis Hadlock's workout -- guess which lane I use?

We feel like things are kind of winding down. We think there is a couple in the "pipeline" who will be able to replace us. Hopefully they'll be able to come mid-March so we can train them before we leave in April.

I think I'll close with some thoughts from a talk given by Elder Carlos A. Godoy in October General Conference. This is the talk that stuck out in my reading this week.  I'm sure many have read it. This will not be anything new to you. But, by my mentioning it here, it will serve as a reminder to myself of something that gave me food for thought all week. I want to remember these principles.

He poses this question: "If you continue to live as you are living, will the promised blessings be fulfilled?" He was  referring to patriarchal blessings, but it could apply to any promised blessing. He also talked about keeping the end in mind when we make decisions. "If we project the possible consequences of these decisions into the future, we can see with greater clarity the best path to take in the present." 

He also asked, "Are we prepared to leave our comfort zones to reach a better place? ... We are not here in this life just to waste our time, grow old, and die. God wants us to grow and achieve our potential. In the words of President Thomas S. Monson: 'Each of you, single or married, regardless of age, has the opportunity to learn and to grow. Expand your knowledge, both intellectual and spiritual, to the full stature of your divine potential.'"

Reminds me of another of my favorite quotes (this is attributed to several authors here's my version):

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, 'Woo Hoo", what a ride! --

I think I want to also slide in with a bowl of buttered popcorn in one hand (maybe some dark chocolate in the other?) -- So ... guess where I'm headed? ........ to read my patriarchal blessing ..... while eating popcorn!

NOTE:  Sam just reminded me that tomorrow is National Popcorn Day!

Week 65: Words Can Be Worth a Thousand Pictures?

A few firsts this week. One of them being that this is the first week I haven't taken a single photo. The other first this week was not having to prepare a lunch for Transfer Day (Tuesday). We had just five new missionaries come in. Three of them (Spanish-speaking from the Mexico MTC) came in later in the day -- just in time for the meeting. President and Sister Blatter picked the other two up in the morning and took them to brunch. It meant I was able to do the check-in process and print boarding passes Tuesday morning for the nine missionaries who went home on Wednesday. Usually I'm at the office late Tuesday night getting all this ready.

Since I have no photos, perhaps I can share a few insightful quotes that we've heard recently. These are from our missionaries that departed this week:

"Your faith will define your mission. Your mission will define your life."

"The Book of Mormon is worth more than it's weight in gold"

"Pursue the peace promised by Christ and avoid the apathy that is offered by the world. Apathy is the modern world's anti-Christ."

"In every decision you decide your destiny."

Today in church a woman spoke on hope. She shared much of an article by Larry Hiller, Hope: The Misunderstood Sister, published in the June 2009 Ensign. (Highly recommend this one).  I particularly like this quote from the article: 

"For me, things I don’t understand about the gospel are like pieces of a larger puzzle I’m working on. If I don’t see where they fit, I put them aside and work on other parts of the picture. From time to time I pick them up and look at them. If I still don’t see how they fit, I put them aside again. I have already received a witness that the whole picture—the restored gospel—is true and complete, so I don’t worry about the pieces that haven’t come together for me yet. They will.

In church we were also introduced to a prayer called the Breton Fisherman's Prayer: 

"O God, Thy sea is great and my boat is so small." 

And finally, as I read President Eyring's talk in October Conference, he used this scripture as an example of how we can receive personal revelation. It is an answer to one of my ongoing questions:

"Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, ..." (D&C 121:45-46)

I appreciate the wisdom found so often in the words of others, especially the words of counsel from God and His Son Jesus Christ, and living prophets. Words are good. God is good. Life is good.

Week 64: Endings, Beginnings, One Constant.

 Christopher was able to come down from Seattle on Monday afternoon. We met up and went to the Museum of Glass and then dinner at Harbor Lights, one of our favorite restaurants.  Then we all went to the movie Into The Woods. We spoiled ourselves by going to a local theater that uses large Lazy Boy recliners for seating.

Sam flew back to Utah on Tuesday. We sure enjoyed having him here.

Though most days were rainy here, Sam did his best to bring us some "snow." He and his friends in Utah made some incredible paper snowflakes. I've hung them on the windows at the office and here at the apartment.

The other photos are a couple of shots from Zoo Lights at the Point Defiance Zoo.

We celebrated New Years Eve by going to the YMCA.  New Year's Day we went to the movie Unbroken. 

The highlight of the week was going to the Seattle Temple on Saturday. It's been too long since we were last able to go. There's just something rejuvenating and healing about the temple.

There's something rejuvenating about a new year as well. I've always loved January and a fresh start. Someone pointed out in Church today that with the Atonement, every day is a fresh start.  How grateful I am for the cleansing, enabling power of the Atonement. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. As was so often expressed this Christmas season, He Is The Gift. He is my source of stability in good times and rough times. He is the rock. He is my anchor. He is the One Constant in our lives.