My Mondays really are like a P-day. It’s the day I do some laundry, clean, shop and write my blog while the kids are at school. After grabbing Jessie from school and getting snacks and water for Bode’s game, we (Jessie , dad and I) headed to the opposing teams school but I remembered I needed cash to get it. We actually have to pay to watch middle school kids play football. Another first for us in Texas and is why I was running late. When we got there we had already missed 5 minutes of the game. As I was getting out of the car I heard one of the coaches yell out Bode’s name. I was hoping it was for a good thing but wasn't paying attention because I was focused on getting into the game. Well Bode apparently got knocked silly when I heard them call his name. When he got injured he had jumped in the air to catch the pass when he was tackled from behind and hit the ground headfirst. He rolled unnaturally onto to his neck as he was pounce on by other players. Basically he couldn't remember what happen after that. He wasn’t sure if he was Batman or not, but he definitely had a concussion. They have a team sports trainer and she sent us off to the Dr. where she confirmed the concussion. Afterwards he slept for the next 13 hours straight and the next morning was back at the Dr. for a more comprehensive check. It rattled his brain pretty good so he's out for at least two weeks and they'll then assess him from there. The doctor explained the brain as the main energy system that directs the body unconsciously. When a concussion occurs cells shut down to heal and cells step up as a backup generator to support the body. As the brain heals the backup generator cells can’t be overtax or over utilized or they will shut down as well. Bode was pretty foggy still the next day so he stay home from school. He will not be playing football for at least two weeks depending on how his recovery goes.
However he didn’t really stay home. He came with me to the MLC training after the appointment on Tuesday. I was counseling with the missionaries on the best ways to follow up with those we are working with whether investigators, recent converts, less active or ward members. The missionaries loved seeing Bode at the meeting. I think Bode liked it too. During the meeting, dad got to go with Elder Chang and Elder Embody to move some sisters to a new apartment. He was so happy to be going out with the senior missionaries. They all have a good time together. They will miss dad when he goes home on Wednesday.
At our monthly MLC, Aaron taught on how to teach repentance, and I did training on following up with investigators using technology, members, and every other creative idea they can think of. The missionaries teach a lot of first lessons but generally see a big drop off before they get to lesson two. We're asking the missionaries to be more vigilant in their follow up so we can put the right content in their investigators hands vs. what they might find on the internet. The training from MLC is taken to their Zone Meetings where they teach the missionaries the principles we've given them. The MLC meetings are a great opportunity for us to counsel together on the needs of the mission and our missionaries are finally getting use to my style on being vocal and participating. We counseled on topics such as car and apartment cleanliness, our mission temple trip coming up in October, Elder Corbridge's mission tour, and any other topics that are necessary.
I finally have a home attendant now. Yeah! She, Veronica, started Wednesday. When I met with her last week I could just tell she was going to be a good fit. She thinks a lot like I do. She will be so helpful during transfers, temple trips and helping around the house when I need it. I also took dad to the airport today. I asked him if he would like to stay a couple of months next time. He is so faithful to his assignments at the cannery and temple back home the most he is willing to be gone is 3 weeks, so that is how long I will get him next time. In May he will have served as a missionary at the Cannery for 15 years. WOW! The kids were bummed grandpa was gone when they got home from school. They didn’t realize he was leaving today. They have enjoyed having him stay with us.
On Thursday, we held another new missionary meeting for those who arrived in our last transfer in September. It is amazing how fast the weeks fly by, it seems like these missionaries have been here forever. Aaron teaches the importance of the atonement. We review the scriptures on our state before the fall, after the fall, and after the atonement. It's really cool to see the missionaries eyes open on why the atonement is the most important message we teach (Alma 7:7). If they can get our investigators to understand the need for the Savior then their desire to repent and be baptized becomes that much more meaningful. I shared with them the importance of using Adjusting to Missionary Life. I did it differently this time by getting them more involved with how the tools and suggestions can really bless them throughout their mission. I felt it was more beneficial for them.
Friday Morning Aaron attended Dad’s and Donuts with Jessie at school. Aaron commented that he definitely felt in the minority with Asians and Indians making up at least 70% of the student body. Aaron received a call on Thursday from SLC letting him know that we would be getting a sister that had been serving in the Mexico City mission on Friday afternoon. Aaron shared with me some things about the mission she was serving in and why it would be trying. This mission is one of the most poverty stricken areas of Mexico City and the missionaries are robbed or assaulted weekly. The entire mission only has 18 sisters and he told me they would likely no longer send American sisters to the area due the safety and security issues. When we picked her up at the airport she hugged me like I was a long lost relative. As I visited with her I told her she was an answer to our prayers because we will be losing so many of our sisters in the next two transfers and we weren’t getting enough new ones to replenish those leaving. She is darling and we know she will be an incredible missionary in our mission. We are excited for next Wednesday because we will get four sisters from Nauvoo as well. I so love and admired these sweet girls. They are truly amazing.
Aaron and I had an early date night out. 5:30! Can you say early bird special for the “oldies”. We were hungry and needed food fast. It was great because then we got to see Zac off for his activities. Zac went out on with two young women from the ward, a small answer to our prayers for him to have some activities on the weekend. The three of them have all been feeling the same about no social life. In fact it was their mothers I had talk to at the Women’s conference about the need to get the youth together to do planned activities. They ended up going to the second movie based on Maze Runner book series and then ate at Chipotle’s afterwards. They had a great time and are already planning for next week. Love to see the happiness it has brought to Zac. Jessie had her friend Emme over and they had a great time together. Still working on Bode getting numbers of his friends from school. Most of them don’t have cell phones and he thinks it’s weird to ask them for a number if it’s not theirs directly. He says it will change in the next two weeks because two of the boys will have cell phones then.
I am looking forward to Conference Weekend. As much as we are counseled not speculate who will be called to be apostles it still crosses my mind who will be. I love Conference because it is a time to be uplifted and inspired to be better. We are given ideas and ways to follow the counsel through personal revelation. That is why personal revelation is amazing!!! To have the whisperings of the spirit feel you heart and mind with just the things you need to be your best self. LOVE IT!!
The weather has been incredible the last couple days. It feels like it just might be fall, which I love! I hear it is not going to last and will continue to feel like summer again.