What is fun?

Ilene and Norie Palmer, our tutor.

Being at the MTC is, plain and simple, fun.

It's beautiful here in Utah, with the mountains and the lake. Saturday on our preparation day Lee and I started our day with serving in the temple, and later walked in the brisk cold to the art museum on campus and spent about an hour. Nice!

I mentioned the food in my last blog. On Friday evening, they served pizza. Lee and I walked past the head chef as we were leaving the cafeteria and I told him we had been wondering how many pizza's they had made for 2100 or so people. He said that on Fridays they give the cooks a little break and order pizza from 6 different Papa Johns in the valley. Each Papa Johns brings 100 pizzas to the MTC. We were a little surprised it was only 600. We often saw the young missionaries walking away from the line with 4-6 large pieces stacked on their plates. Wouldn't it be fun to be responsible for 6300 meals a day? Not.

For some of our meetings in the LDS Church, we all meet together for a hymn, prayer, and announcements, and then separate into various classes. For some reason, that short time together at the first is called, "opening exercises." I've heard that all my life and never wondered why it was called that.

The Church is growing throughout the world, and people have to learn how to do it the same way everywhere. Sometimes when they are new, they haven't learned all the details. For instance, a while back in Brazil, a senior missionary went to visit a new group of women who were meeting together for Relief Society, the women's meeting. The president there suggested before the meeting began that there wasn't enough room for opening exercises. The missionary said she thought there were plenty of chairs. "Oh," said the president, "but we are doing side straddle hops for opening exercises today, and we need more room."

On our way to Provo Temple, Saturday morning.

MTC: What's it REALLY like?

I've always wondered what the Mission Training Center was REALLY like. Well, now I know. There are 40 senior couples here. There are about 2000 19-21 year old missionaries here, and they are so cute. They are always holding the doors open for us, or offering to let us go before them in the cafeteria. And there are 400 teachers, mostly BYU students who are returned missionaries.

The teachers are enthusiastic and a lot of fun. One teacher could be a stand up comedian as easily as he is a teacher.

The rooms: cleanliness and newness: five stars

size: small but adequate

bed : I honestly looked around to see if there was another one for Lee.

Food: Delicious with infinite choices. Takes self-control to not gain weight here.

It's actually fun! I love it here. We are busy, but with enough breaks and variety to make the time fly by. We are learning and loving being with 40 other couples who are so much like us that we become instant friends with anyone we sit by. There is a spirit here that fills you with joy and is something I wish I could keep with me forever.

A couple of fun quotes for your consideration:

A new Beatitude: Blesssed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

It's better to have a sense of humor than a sense of murmur.

So Long, Farewell, Auf wiedersehen, Adieu

We spoke in church last Sunday. In days gone by, when missionaries went out, the focus was on the missionary. Members of their family often spoke, and talked about how wonderful the missionary was and how they were going to miss them. Wisely, church leaders decided to change that. Church is for the purpose of worshiping Christ and learning how to be more Christlike.

Consequently, we prepared our remarks for the members of the ward based on the topics we were assigned. To me, instead of it being a major focus on us, it was an opportunity to share a gospel message. That usually makes me a bit nervous and I worry that what I have prepared will be helpful to those who listen and acceptable to Heavenly Father. Our family came to listen, and a few friends had mentioned they planned to come, but I was just thinking it would be a pretty normal day.

We walked in and saw one of our young single adults, then another, then another, and on and on. Dear friends, people we love and haven't seen in too long. Each hug was a piece of heaven! It was almost overwhelming! What a sweet surprise. What a wonderful feeling. You know who you are. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being there to see us one more time. We love you. We feel as if we've been sent off with a sweet, special blessing from each of you.

We have spent some time with other wonderful friends several times in the past weeks, including a trip to the beach with close EPIS friends (Lee's work). We have received sweet notes and calls from others. This Sunday we will say one last goodbye to our children and grandchildren.

Romeo told Juliette, "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

I agree, Romeo, except on one facet:

You obviously weren't a grandparent.

It was Just a Matter of When

I knew it had to happen. When you learn a new language, you embarrass yourself regularly.

Shufu = Housewife

Shujin = Husband

My tutor asked me what my job was. I told her I was a husband.

Joy for Christmas

How does one describe pure joy? How can one possibly help another know how it feels? I give up. But I know when I have experienced it. It was Christmas Week of 2011. I don't think there can be anything better.

Thirty-six people all into our home together for a Christmas Family Reunion and a send-off to Japan.

Never a quarrel, no hurt feelings, no one working too hard and no one being too lazy. Everyone helping and enjoying the time together to the max. Cousins loving every moment together. Lots of action and talking. And tons of love. I could give more details, but that sums it up.

Our son-in-law, Brent, sent a list of his top ten from the time together:

Garage hockey was fun, but . . . it didn't make my Christmas family reunion top 10 list. Drum roll please . . .

10. Getting a surprise stocking full of fun stuff from Mom and Dad on Christmas morning. I haven't had a stocking in at least 25 years. I know, I know--it's better to give than to receive--but that was cool. We enjoyed sharing the bag of Kisses on the flight home.

9. White elephant gift activity and watching the kids have so much fun.

8. Pump It Up

7. Couple date night out while the older grandkids stepped up to take care of the younger grandkids.

6. Newlywed Game and realizing I need to kiss Alyson A LOT more. My average is already WAY up. But I observed y'all the rest of the day and I think some of you exaggerated your averages a little.

5. Many tasty meals together in the somewhat warm garage--I was always too lazy to put on socks or shoes.

4. Family Olympics

3. Water Park--my fingers are still like raisins.

2. Watching the 22 grandkids have so much fun together (and holding two cute little baby boys).

1. Hanging out for about eight days with 36-1/2 pretty darn cool people.

Brent inspired me, so I made my own list:

10. Enjoying lots of good food and not having to prepare it all or clean it all up.

9. Watching the family have a non-stop blast at the water park (and in everything else we did).

8. Realizing that, to my knowledge at least, we had 36 people together for most of the time over an 8-day period, and there were no fights.

7. Seeing that the White Elephant Gift Party was a success, including seeing how excited Spencer (age four) got over what he thought was the world's best gift....a stapler.

6. Playing the Newlywed Game with our six children and their spouses, laughing till I ached, and seeing how much they love each other.

5. Hearing that Mikayla (age 13) didn’t want to miss a minute of being here with cousins. She lives 45 minutes away, but wanted to stay overnight--every night.

4. Watching David (age 13) surprise his older cousins and the adults (including his own father) when he won the standing broad jump by a sizable margin.

3. Just talking with my children, (the ones I gave birth to AND the ones they married).

2. Loving, hugging and talking with my grandchildren, and marveling at their talent with piano, strings, voice, and acting out the Nativity.

1. Knowing that my children love their spouses and that my grandchildren are well, happy, and wisely parented.

Pure Joy!