The Next Chapter For My Parents

I started a blog post the other day and then while doing so, got a phone call from my parents. A phone call that made me put that post on the back burner. I think it was something about Jade transitioning to a big girl bed…which I will post about soon but for now my concentration changed. My parents asked if both Alex and I were home. After telling them yes they responded, "Great! Get on Skype, we have some news to share with you and Alex." I hung up and started searching for my computer. Then I immediately started crossing possible announcements off the possibilities. Pregnancy. Surprise visit. Being called as Bishop.  Stake president. Wait...Is it bad news? They didn't seem sad. They seemed happy. Really happy. Winning the lottery. Alex and I quickly got on Skype before my mind exploded. A cute little square of my parents popped up on Skype. They were glowing. But they always do. My Dad didn't tease me long. He quickly got to business. "We are calling to share the great news and blessing that we have been called to serve as a mission president and wife." My vision went blurry. Only because my eyes were full of tears that started even before his sentence was through. Pregnancy hormones? Maybe. But it's so much more than that. 

For those of you reading that are unfamiliar with LDS missions, I will explain quickly. Many and all willing boys and girls between the ages of 18 and 26 are invited to serve full time 2 year missions. They are called to serve all around the globe! They teach about our church to the people of a certain region. Older couples, usually retired couples, also can serve missions together if they choose to do so. Regions are split up into what are called "missions". A Mission president and wife are called to oversee all missionaries that serve in that area. It is a sacrifice for parents to send off their children as you can imagine. Yet it is also a true blessing to the missionaries, family and those people that welcome and accept the gospel. We as members are eager to share the happy news and knowledge that families can be eternal and that God is the source of happiness. 

To fully account for this story I should probably go back to almost two years ago. When Alex expressed interest in law my Dad offered to help transition Alex into his firm while he slowly retired if we thought it right for our family. Alex and I prayed about this and were both overcome with surety that this was the direction we were to take. There were so many factors involved. In the end, having a stable job and flexibility to visit his family and to be near one side of the family was the most important reason to do it. Alex started studying for the LSAT while also finishing up his undergrad. He took the LSAT and was accepted into the dual JD program here in Michigan. With a great scholarship and unique degree we couldn't resist. We packed up our things and headed east. My Dad was on his 11th year serving as the Medicine Hat stake president and knew it wouldn't be long before he was released from that calling. He then knew that retirement was well underway and missions were not only a possibility but a goal for him and my mother. They made plans. So many. Plans that didn't make sense to everyone but they knew they were being led in the right direction. Only months after arranging and planning many details, I got the call. The call that meant my parents were putting the Lord first. And the Lord was asking for their service. They accepted, knowing that the Lord would fill in the gaps while away from the life and family they built together. The Lord was in the details all along, preparing everything to work out smoothly and timely.

Now back to the phone call.

They told us what they knew. That they were to start on July 1, 2015. It was a 3 year calling. That it would be somewhere that Portugese was spoken. My Dad served a 2 year mission in Recife Brazil and learned Portugese, so my first guess was Brazil. But then there is also Portugal. Cape Verde off the coast of Africa (where 2 of my high school friends served) and Mozambique (near Kenya where my inlaws are living currently). WHERE WAS THE LORD TAKING MY PARENTS!? My best friends. But then it all came together for me. It didn't matter where they went. Where ever it is, it's where they are meant to be. After the reality of it all sank in, we started asking about the details. When did they know? How did the whole process work? When will they know where? When am I gonna see you? How am I supposed to survive?? I'm kidding. Well kind of kidding.  

They told us that while they were visiting us in November, my Dad got an email from Elder Ballard's secretary saying that she was trying to get a hold of him and needed to set up an video call for him and my Mom to speak with Elder Ballard. My Dad responded and they set up an appointment for when they returned home to Medicine Hat. The interview sounded like it was so full of love. Elder Ballard asked necessary questions of finance, family situations  health, and willingness to serve. He told them that a member of the first presidency would be video chatting them very soon. They got a video call from President Eyring weeks after and were able to spend an hour with him. He then extended the calling without destination. He told them that it would however be portugese speaking and for 3 years. He asked if my parents were willing to accept the call. They both answered yes. President Eyring then responded, "And now you may kiss". haha. He said he was only partially joking. It truly is a commitment to support one another much like marriage. He said when you are at the alter you kiss and then you go on to have kids. This time, you kiss and you go on to have 500 plus kids (missionaries). My Dad says President Eyring's presence was magnificent and he had perfect balance between spirituality, business, love, concern and humour. President Eyring said that the "where" would be answered with an official letter coming in the mail in just 2 days time.

My parents asked us all to make a guess on where they were going to live for 3 years as Mission President and wife. We all nonchalantly guessed...Until they presented a hefty prize basket to whoever was the closest guess. Then my family got pretty serious about the guessing. When I say pretty serious, I mean, frantic calls and research was done. Serious scheduling was done on who guessed which destination first, which would mean the other person would have to choose another place. It was down to the minute on who owned which guess. Calculations were made on which was the most probable to win and win most nearby missions if the mission wasn't guessed in the end. There were debates on which grandkids were old enough to also enter the guessing pool. Serious serious stuff guys. The competition was ON!! In the end, Alex guessed Cuiaba Brazil and I guessed Mozambique. 

After my Dad tracked down, or as my Mom puts it, "stalked" the Fedex driver, they got that package with that small detail of where on the globe they would land.  It truly is a small detail because the important detail was already established. They accepted the call to serve the Lord, missionaries and the people of a specific region for 3 years. 

SO now you probably are curious to know where my parents are going..

They have been called to serve as mission president and wive of the Campinas, Brazil mission.

My thoughts are divided into two categories…

Selfish thoughts:
Warning: These are all rampant thoughts that have crossed my mind and are completely raw and irrational.

-3 years of short phone calls and short visits. (and visits only to Brazil because they can't leave.)
-They will miss so much! Babies, graduations, baptisms, Christmases and so much more.
-No one to dye my hair for free for a while. Pathetic thought right?
-I will miss my parent's house in Med Hat.
-Expensive tickets to Brazil. $$$$
-Man, that brand new pool and slide will go to waste! :)
-Picture texts, texts and phone calls will have to be made in wifi. 
-I'll have to share my parents with complete strangers. 
-They will be growing so much and learning so much…with out me. 
-Will they be distracted when talking to me on the phone? 
-When will I see my siblings? Parents are what brings a family together!
-Will my cute, blonde Mom be safe? (A second after thinking this, I was hit with the realization that of course she would be protected while serving)
-My parents won't have time to talk with me for hours on end…oh no! I'm spoiled with undivided attention from my parents as you can obviously tell. 


Because I am human, I thought all of these things but then turned my thoughts to the positive, much more important side of things...

Grateful thoughts:
-I'm grateful my parents are worthy, prepared and willing to serve the Lord in this capacity. 
-I'm thankful my children will see the sacrifices they make and then see the blessings that result. 
-I'm thankful my parents are humble. They joke about how "unlucky" these missionaries are. Their jokes make me sick because I would kill to be with them during this growing experience.  I am so incredibly jealous of these LUCKY missionaries that will learn so much from my parents. But they are only on loan, so I am expecting them back. 
-I'm grateful that the Lord will take care of us as they are away. President Eyring promised that the Lord would take better care of us than they could have. How comforting!
-I'm grateful that all of the 4 grand baby BOYS will be born before they leave. Perfect timing much?
-I'm grateful that the gospel is true and worth every and any sacrifice!
-I'm grateful for the knowledge that everything good that is created is the result of sacrifice. 

6 months from now my parents will be living in Brazil. They will be busy. They will be needed. They will be happy. 

6 months from now, our little family will be living in Michigan. We will be busy. We will be blessed. We will be happy. I just know it. 

I have shed SO many tears thinking about my parents being gone for 3 years. Jade will be 5 years old, baby boy will be 3 years old and we may even have another brand new bundle of joy by then. I have shed a lot of happy tears too! Life happens fast. I've learned to spend it doing important things. My parents are great examples of this. I just love them to bits. Thanks Mom and Dad for all you do. It wouldn't feel as much of a sacrifice if you weren't so incredibly amazing! You will do amazing things. And I'll spend the next 3 years reminding myself..

The gospel is true.
The gospel is true!
The gospel is true!! :)

The city

Campinas Brazil Temple

Over halfway cooked!

I am over 20 weeks pregnant and it feels good to be on the down hill. I try not to think about the fact that we have the hard half left still ahead of us…

 I got a PICC line in my arm that will stay permanent until the baby comes. The experience wasn't my favourite. I guess they failed to tell me that they actually stitch the IV into your arm. It was however cool to watch them guide the line close to my heart using an X-ray. The stitches were sore for a couple days and now i'm just dealing with the itchiness of it all. They have me on an at home IV for 5 hours each day. It is definitely something I'm getting used to. I am not allowed to sleep while I am hooked up to it because once the bag is empty it starts actually taking out blood from my body! Which wouldn't be that grand. They don't like risking the possibility of that, so I'm forced to do it during the day.  I usually plan the night before when the best time would be for me to be hooked up and rolling around the house. Most of the time I do it in the afternoon. Jade is getting used to it and being really respectful of it. She now only walks it around when I already am moving somewhere. She thinks she is being really helpful and it's kinda cute! I have been doing it consistently for a couple weeks now and have noticed improvement! I still am puking, but not as much as my previous self. I am less nauseated and can get more done with my day which feels so great!

I had an ultrasound yesterday and I got to see how baby boy is growing. He sure is a charmer! 

Ultrasound

In the mean time, I am just basking in all sorts of healthy foods. I have been having hard cravings for PIZZA POPS! Alex so kindly picked me up a stock pile while in Canada for school. I am just so blessed to have such a understanding husband.

Jade benefits from my cravings as well...

Alex is working so hard right now on his finals and still finds time to be there for me, Jade and the babe. We are looking forward to a well deserved holiday in Oregon happening so very soon!

We're even Stevens this April

We woke up early to go to our gender revealing ultrasound when I was just 17 weeks pregnant. I was nervous they wouldn't be able to tell us quite yet because I was still not too far along. But those fears were dissolved after they told us they were 100% on the gender of this baby. Jade kept saying WOW and BABY the whole ultrasound. She has been really getting into the baby-lovin stage by taking care of her dolls around the house. I often find her feeding, holding and going for walks with her babies. It's definitely exciting to see because before we know it we will have another precious child of God enter our home for good. The ultrasound was all good news because the baby looks VERY healthy, very cute and is very much a BOY! If Alex and I are honest, we really wanted a boy this time. Well, I even wanted a boy the first time. So when the ultrasound tech told us that it was in fact a boy we were stunned. How often do you get the gender you secretly want? I guess you have a 50/50 chance…but still…we felt lucky. Now we will have both genders to even out our family..for now at least. Having a girl was way more fun than I even anticipated. And now we are about to experience the unique fun that every boy comes with. 

I feel those kicks!!

The tech said his head isn't hollow. The angle of the ultrasound just makes it look that way.

I hope his thumb isn't as big as it looks :)

I hope he grows up to be like his Daddy. I so badly want this for him. My in laws raised an amazing man. I want more than anything for our son to develop Alex's kindness. His true nature is to be a peace maker. He has an incredible balance of leadership and humility. He nurtures more than I ever expected the father of my children would. He lights up my world and allows me to see my potential more vividly. I've never known someone so aware of my needs. I am continuously having moments where I think…and this is why you married him. I want our son to reflect those same feelings in his future wife. I know God has a plan for this tiny boy in my belly. I feel God's love for him daily. He has innate qualities, a special presence and will fill a void that our family will be unaware of until the day he arrives.  

All kinds of sick and all kinds of blessings.

For weeks now I have been sick SICK SICK! I can't catch a break. I'm sick from pregnancy..but I was prepared for 9 months of this and I have learned to accept it for the most part graciously and for the other part like a psycho but mostly gracious..I think. But while getting and IV to help with the pregnancy puking, I had the world's worst cold/cough combo. Then JUST as I got over that I got an ear infection in both of my ears. I spent a day trying home remedies and texting Alex about my predicament. It was on the day of the week that Alex is gone before I even wake up and home right before bed. I had no car to go see a doctor and I was just trying to get through the day. So once Alex got home we went to bed and I continued with the home remedies. Later, in the middle of the night, I woke up with the worst pain in my ears. It was 4:30 am and Alex warmed up the car, scraped off the snow and got me Tylenol so that I could go into emergency. This pain was not something I could manage any longer. Alex offered a prayer before I left. And I knew that God was with me because the pain subsided enough while I drove to the hospital. The doctor at emergency confirmed I had two ear infections and ruptured my left ear drum. Cool. He suggested I go see an ear doctor later that day to have him look at my ears because he was worried there was further damage and worried about the blood in my ear. My first question..what drugs are you gonna give me? He was scared to give me a strong antibiotic because I'm pregnant. So I took whatever he was willing to give me and headed to the 24 hour pharmacy. After taking the pills for half a day and still feeling sorry for myself, I remembered our good friend here is a doctor that is going further to be an ENT(ear, nose and throat doctor). I contacted his wife in hopes she would ask him all the questions I had and help me know what to do because I was still in so much pain. He called and said the antibiotic the doctor gave me was not ideal and offered to call in a better antibiotic that was still safe to take while pregnant. YES! Give me the good stuff! So a big thank you to Matt for the prescription and his wife Whitney for the delicious supper she brought us last night. I have been taking the new medication for almost a day now and I have high hopes that it will start working soon, the pain will ease up and my left ear will be able to hear again haha. We have had a lot of tender mercies lately..like a lot, but the biggest one is how amazing our daughter is. 

Jade we love you for so many reasons but these past couple weeks the biggest reason is how EASY you are. Your dad and I have had so many talks recently about how much in awe we are when it comes to you. You are obedient, smart, kind, sweet, funny, independent and ours, all ours. We are blessed. I can't imagine having any other child during these hard weeks. I have gotten SO many babysitting offers from ladies in our ward. I definitely feel the love from our ward and I appreciate their willingness to serve, it's amazing. But when I'm asked if I need a babysitter to get some rest, I honestly chuckle to myself because I never have any complaints when it comes to you. I honestly don't think anyone understands how easy I do have it as a mother. I have complaints about energy to cook, clean and go to doctor appts but never any about you. You are simple and easy. When I hurt I see you stare at me with concern and you often stroke my head and kiss my nose. When I am in pain, I swear you know and you bring your toys to the room I am in and play quietly by yourself. I talk to you and comment on your baby's eyes, hair, outfit and you just giggle and continue playing. I hardly have to get up from my forever spot on the couch yet I am still able to play with you. We have a good thing going and I can't help but thank God for sending me you. You have a sweet spirit that is always searching to comfort, support and please me. You have taught us so much about life in your short time in our home. Thank you for blessing us more than we deserve. God gives us only what we can handle while he still tries to challenge us. Me being sick is challenging for both your daddy and I, but Jade, you are a diamond in the rough.

I like to pretend I'm sleeping and Jade likes to pretend the remote is a phone. My favourite part of the video is at the end when she says "It's Jade"! Which sounds more like "It jeeed".

I love my parents, especially in person

As soon as we came home from Georgia we were greeted by my parents who had already spent a night at our house. The next day we immediately went to Costco to buy some beds. My parents buy us kids two single beds (which makes a king when put together) when they come to visit so they can have a king size bed to sleep on when they come to visit and we get two single beds for our kids when they aren't visiting. It's a great deal if you ask me! They justify the purchase by saying it saves them money because a week in a hotel would cost more than the beds. I'm excited because I'm going to start Jade in a big girl bed in the coming weeks and now I have a bed to set up her big girl room! My parents know how to cheer up a sick pregnant lady and an exhausted law student. We went out to eat everyday and tried all the restaurants around our house we have been wanting to try. They spoiled us with all sorts of NEW things for our house. I capitalize NEW because we never buy NEW. So it is a real treat to say we have some quality stuff around here. Jade was spoiled with attention and Canadian candy obviously. She still screams PAPA and MAMA even now that they have gone. It's kinda sad. She is now experiencing a candy detox :) We went to the Henry Ford Museum which contains million dollar vehicles throughout our history. It was a really neat place to read about all the different progressions and inventions our world has made. It's insane to think about. It had airplanes from the beginning of the technology to now. It had so many things that it took us hours to go through. It had fun kids sensory sections for Jade and electric scooters my parents insisted on me using. It actually did help because I didn't waste any calories or puke through the entire experience. Little successes matter! We tried several pet stores to find a free "zoo" for Jade. The pet stores around here were sadly stocked but Jade still got to see puppies and that is all that matters to her. I was also able to go to a million doctors appointments which sounds lame but I don't usually have a car during the say so we have to plan a lot just to schedule appointments. It was nice to just get a lot of that type of stuff done. While at my OBGYN appointment, my doctor suggested going to the hospital over night to get hooked up to IV's and you can read about that experience here. It was nice to have my parents to take care of Jade while I was in the hospital and Alex was at school. The iv's helped and I haven't puked since! It has been two days and it feels awesome! I unluckily came down with a cold and sore throat which was passed down to Jade, so I haven't been able to fully appreciate not puking after meals. But my cold is nearing the end of it's stay and I'm excited to feel completely healthy! A nurse is coming to our house several times a week to keep the iv's in my system on a regular basis so I keep down calories and nutrients. It's definitely gonna take some getting used to with me doing my day to day stuff wrapped up in cords and iv bags but I'm glad my doctor is looking out for me and taking needed action.  After I was discharged from the hospital my parents took me for ice cream and then we all went to a Redwing's game. It was such a good game that ended with a wing's win! We went out for pizza in down town Detroit before the game and it was fun to finally experience this place we have been living in for months now and had yet to really see. Alex drives through the city to get to school but never has spent time walking around and I spend my days at home with Jade. It was fun and a great way to finish off their visit. We love when family comes! Now my parents are 2 hours away in Ohio with my sister Natalie and her family and will be back next Friday to go to ANOTHER wing's game with us before they fly home.

Halloween 2015 in Georgia

We were able to go to Georgia to attend our newest niece, Gwenyth Nyali Steven's baby blessing! Tasha and Ben came back to the States from Africa to have their beautiful baby girl! She is just so well behaved and easy and not to mention flawless. We spent a night tending her and only woke up twice for 10 minutes to feed her and BAM she was back sleeping. Her blessing was wonderful and the visit was FUN FUN FUN! We got there Halloween morning and relaxed while at the same time ooing and awwwing at little Gwen. Then we went out to a BBQ place which was a great introduction to Southern food. In the community that Tasha's parents live they use golf carts like vehicles. I kid you not, we went to the grocery store in one and they have specified parking spots for golf carts and everything. So for trick or treating, everyone decorated their golf cart spooky and went door to door. It was quite the experience and our little chicken enjoyed her first Halloween out on the streets. We also visited the Georgia Aquarium which was the highlight for Jade. She loved all the "shish" :) And then directly after we went to the world of coke museum. THAT was a delicious experience where they have taps of all the different coke products that are offered around the world. It was YUM YUM YUM! Tasha's family was so good to us. I always love being around that family because they are such a good time. Alex's parents and his little sister Natalie were also there for the blessing and it was so good to see them. Jade gets so much attention from them and Alex and I forget we have a child when we are around them. Jade is always taken care of :)  It was sad to leave our African family which has now expanded to 3. The only thing that made the goodbye tolerable was that we are all meeting up again at Christmas time.

Canadian Thanksgiving In Stow Ohio

We traveled to Ohio this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend to be with my sister Natalie and her family. We love being around them because their kids are so full of life and Nat and Dave are so similar to us. We found out last minute that Landon's soccer game was canceled so we made the most of it and had some fun family soccer time in the indoor field together. Both Landon and Easton are very athletic. Landon even got to 100 goals before we left :) We put together Thanksgiving dinner and endulged in it non stop for the entire weekend. It was fun to be pregnant with my sister again! We were able to talk baby a lot while our husbands could talk sports, careers, school and other less than fun things. We did an early gift exchange for Christmas because we were sure when the next time was that we would see each other. It was fun until Alex and I unwrapped the new and improved Christmas "pooch". In our family we have this famous "pooch" that someone gets every year for Christmas. It's funny because we always forget and then BAM someone is unwrapping this cheap dog stuffed animal as a gift. The story behind it goes all the way back to when I was 10 years old and had a paper route. I had gotten one of my school friends a dog in a purse stuffed animal for Christmas as a gag/inside joke gift and mistakenly forgotten that I had left it on the kitchen counter while I went out to do my paper route. While I was gone, my sister Natalie and brother Jordan discovered the ugly creature and got out a sharpy and proceeded to draw unibrows and chest hair all over my friend's gift. They had a good time laughing at all the things they thought up to draw on the poor pooch. When I got home from my paper route I discovered my graffitied gift. I showed my mom and she tried not to laugh as she investigated around the house and talked to possible culprits. Natalie and Jordan confessed and said they thought it wasn't a big deal because they didn't think anyone cared about the ugly stuffed animal and just had some fun with it. I was so upset because I had specifically bought this gift for a friend and I was 10 and everything was a big deal I guess. They bought me another pooch and then we all forgot about the experience. Little did we know, my mom kept the vandalized pooch because she thought the whole story was pretty funny. She wrapped the gift and addressed it to Jordan and Natalie. On Christmas morning Jordan and Natalie noticed this nice looking present addressed to them that  they thought was probably something awesome. When it came to opening the gift they were sorely mistaken. It was the pooch coming back to haunt them. Every Christmas since my family wraps the pooch up for one unsuspecting family member. SO this year Alex and I opened up a gift that was in fact the pooch but instead of the original pooch it was a singing and dancing pooch that was also vandalized in a similar fashion. Jade cried every time we turned it on and it started singing. I don't blame her because it WAS quite frightening. Anyways...it was a good time. Hopefully we see them soon. It's so nice only living a couple hours from family.