Christmas 2013...more to come...

Marissa went and saw Disney's  "Frozen" and it was wonderful. She had a wonderful Christmas program at school... more to come

Elder Ivins' Update on the England Leeds Mission

Isaac is doing great in the mission field. Every letter come with the excitement he feels for the gospel. I am so happy for him. He has been a wonder kid to have around. We miss the grounding he brings to the house with two teenage girls, but I couldn't be more at peace with his decision to serve our Lord. 

www.isaacenglandleeds.blogspot.com

Isaac's Later Day Saint Mission Call

You can follow Isaac on his mission through his new blog...www.isaacenglandleeds.blogspot.com click here

Isaac got his call on Wednesday, April 3 2013. It is averaged to take 1 1/2 weeks to get it from the time it is sent via internet to the Presidency from the Stake President. We called to have the post man hold our mail so I could have it in hand, but he held the wrong address.
We got it and Kaylin was most excited. Isaac was trying to be COOL. Kaylin and I ran inside. Isaac simply had a grin from ear to ear. I took it and put it in my drawer right away so we wouldn't want to open it. But, then I had a great IDEA....look and see the first letter of the mission? I tried to not look at the whole call. But I got to the first letter and I couldn't help it. E....ngland Leeds Mission.
I told him it started with an E. thoughts ran through his mind....Eugene Oregon Mission, Egypt, Ethiopia...everything but England.

I had to leave and while I was out, Jaida walked in on Isaac attempting to look at the SECOND letter....But Jaida stopped him. Landon got a good look and he saw LAND. I don't know if Isaac knew. I knew I knew. We tried to hold off for the opening on Thursday, and for the MOST part we did. The other exciting news was the date he would be going into the MTC. August 22, 2013. And he would be going straight into the MTC in England, not the usual Provo, Utah MTC. The reason being is that the Provo MTC is overcrowded now with the age change of missionaries from 19 to 18 for boys and 21 to 19 for girls! There are over 44,000 missionaries out now, 20,000 waiting to enter the MTC, and 6,000 in the interview process.

How do missionaries receive their call?

Talk by Elder Rasband of the Seventy explains
October 2010 Conference Talk:

... Each Apostle holds the keys of the kingdom and exercises them at the direction and assignment of the President of the Church. Elder Eyring was assigning missionaries to their fields of labor, and as part of my training, I was invited to observe.

I joined Elder Eyring early one morning in a room where several large computer screens had been prepared for the session. There was also a staff member from the Missionary Department who had been assigned to assist us that day.

First, we knelt together in prayer. I remember Elder Eyring using very sincere words, asking the Lord to bless him to know “perfectly” where the missionaries should be assigned. The word “perfectly” said much about the faith that Elder Eyring exhibited that day.

As the process began, a picture of the missionary to be assigned would come up on one of the computer screens. As each picture appeared, to me it was as if the missionary were in the room with us. Elder Eyring would then greet the missionary with his kind and endearing voice: “Good morning, Elder Reier or Sister Yang. How are you today?”

He told me that in his own mind he liked to think of where the missionaries would conclude their mission. This would aid him to know where they were to be assigned. Elder Eyring would then study the comments from the bishops and stake presidents, medical notes, and other issues relating to each missionary.

He then referred to another screen which displayed areas and missions across the world. Finally, as he was prompted by the Spirit, he would assign the missionary to his or her field of labor.

From others of the Twelve, I have learned that this general method is typical each week as Apostles of the Lord assign scores of missionaries to serve throughout the world.

Having served as a missionary in my own country in the Eastern States Mission a number of years ago, I was deeply moved by this experience. Also, having served as a mission president, I was grateful for a further witness in my heart that the missionaries I had received in New York City were sent to me by revelation.

After assigning a few missionaries, Elder Eyring turned to me as he pondered one particular missionary and said, “So, Brother Rasband, where do you think this missionary should go?” I was startled! I quietly suggested to Elder Eyring that I did not know and that I did not know I could know! He looked at me directly and simply said, “Brother Rasband, pay closer attention and you too can know!” With that, I pulled my chair a little closer to Elder Eyring and the computer screen, and I did pay much closer attention!

A couple of other times as the process moved along, Elder Eyring would turn to me and say, “Well, Brother Rasband, where do you feel this missionary should go?” I would name a particular mission, and Elder Eyring would look at me thoughtfully and say, “No, that’s not it!” He would then continue to assign the missionaries where he had felt prompted.

As we were nearing the completion of that assignment meeting, a picture of a certain missionary appeared on the screen. I had the strongest prompting, the strongest of the morning, that the missionary we had before us was to be assigned to Japan. I did not know that Elder Eyring was going to ask me on this one, but amazingly he did. I rather tentatively and humbly said to him, “Japan?” Elder Eyring responded immediately, “Yes, let’s go there.” And up on the computer screen the missions of Japan appeared. I instantly knew that the missionary was to go to the Japan Sapporo Mission.

Elder Eyring did not ask me the exact name of the mission, but he did assign that missionary to the Japan Sapporo Mission.

Privately in my heart I was deeply touched and sincerely grateful to the Lord for allowing me to experience the prompting to know where that missionary should go.

At the end of the meeting Elder Eyring bore his witness to me of the love of the Savior, which He has for each missionary assigned to go out into the world and preach the restored gospel. He said that it is by the great love of the Savior that His servants know where these wonderful young men and women, senior missionaries, and senior couple missionaries are to serve. I had a further witness that morning that every missionary called in this Church, and assigned or reassigned to a particular mission, is called by revelation from the Lord God Almighty through one of these, His servants.

Jaida update

See Jaida's Blog!

All about her adventures!

We are proud of you!

Isaac's Wisdom Teeth Extravaganza

Isaac got his wisdom teeth out yesterday. He was happy to get it over with. We arrived at 10:30 and he was done by 11:15. He is 17 years old and with the anesthetic reverts him back to a two year old and cries at the slightest insult.
Word that sent him to instant tears are: SNOWBOARDING

We could make him cry anytime by telling him he couldn't go snowboarding. There were other crying incidences, but snowboarding was my favorite. We told him he was a wierdo, CRY. We asked him if he missed NJ, CRY. We asked him if he wanted to go snowboarding, YES. We said he can't. CRY

The nurse loved him. He was a sweet and very cute boy. She said when he woke up he was rubbing their drab grey walls and telling them how beautiful the walls were. When I asked him about it later he said it reminded him of the ocean in NJ. "It was't clear, it was like the ocean in New Jersey."
The nurse said he missed NJ and cried to go back. He missed his friends. When I walked in Isaac was on his phone and thought he was talking to his mommy. Ah, how sweet.

He asked for Marissa when he woke up and when he saw her he wanted a hug. He scared her! She said, holding her finger up, "I told you once, and I'll tell you again, NO."

The drive home is posted on facebook. I couldn't get the whole 10 minute video to upload here for some reason. When we got home I left Marissa buckled and thought I would lay Isaac down on the couch. He didn't want to and then he was distracted by his dogs. He loves Tiki! Then I told him to lay down and he wanted his bed. It was in the basement and I wanted to get Marissa out of the car. She is in the car on the
other video saying,  "I'm in the car." "Your phone needs to charge too?!"

I wanted his bed, my bed would not do. So we made our way down the stairs to the basement. You laughed when you slipped and said it was like being on a roller coaster. Then I made you cry at the bottom of the stairs by mentioning SNOWBOARDING!

You wanted to call everyone. You called Jordan, you cousin and told him how cool you thought he was. You called Abby because her husband is a doctor and you wanted to ask about the blood you spit out. When you called her in NJ she had no idea you were anesthetized. You said, "Abby, I had a drink." She thought you were drunk! She was so worried for you and had the other phone in her hand to call me!

When I left you downstairs for a moments time, you would always be talking. You would pick up the phone and call people every second. Jaida came down stairs to lay with you while I took neglected Marissa to pre-school. She needed to get out of the crazy house! You said it was okay for Jaida to lay down next to you because she is nice to you. And I asked you why there are so many water bottles under your dresser and you admitted to throwing them there because the school water? is gross!

I left to take Marissa to school and you called Jake and some others. Jake told you your tongue might have been cut off because that happens sometimes. You checked and it was still there.  Jaida said you started swearing a little after I left! I also went to get a chocolate shake and fries at your request from In N out. You called your cousin Tyler also, who had his wisdom teeth out the day before. He was very nice to you and you said you loved him at the end of the conversation!

All and All you are doing better. I had a hidden fear you might never recover. I am so glad you are back to your normal self. I have a greater compassion, as Amy said, for parent with handicapped kids because I was torpor by the end of the night.


another video, walls, marissa no hug
another video