From Dad to Audrey
1/23/16
Hey Audrey,
Thoughts for today:
1-
East coast got buried under snow today. We
have a little more snow than when you left, but not a ton more. The
driveway is still an ice skating rink
2-
Donald Trump keeps saying the strangest
things. Today in Iowa he said he could stand on New York’s 5th
Avenue and shoot somebody and still not lose voters. What…?
3-
Luke Skywalker’s DL-44 blaster prop piece used
in The Empire Strikes Back is up for sale at auction this week with a minimum
bid of $200,000. That’s actually pretty small compared to the most expensive
movie prop ever which was Marilyn Monroe’s white dress which sold for 4.6
million dollars. The only Lord of the Rings prop on the top 30 list is
“Sting” which sold for $65,000. Who buys these things? And can’t
they think of anything else to do with that kind of money? That is my
real question.
4-
Today’s thought on the temple: Elder
Holland says: “Truly it has been said that all roads in the restored
gospel of Jesus Christ lead to the temple, and the temple leads us into
eternity.” Have you ever pondered why exactly the Savior taught in
parables? Rather than just lecture, he would often use the imagery and
the interaction with his listeners that a parable can give. The temple
teaches in the same way- it uses a beautiful scriptural story and we interact
with it… in fact we are told there to consider as if we were those we are
learning about. Last reading assignment I will give on temple prep after
D&C 38 is to read Moses chapters 1-4 and then chapter 5 verses 1-12.
That is the parable.
5-
Yellowstone thought: it came across the
geyser listserv today that “we aren’t even supposed to mention the backcountry
of Yellowstone…” the reason is that in 2015 there were over 4 million
visitors and the NPS and rangers want to protect the backcountry from everyone
who has no idea what they would be doing back there. Even more
importantly, it protects people from situations they might not be prepared
for. But they also miss unparalleled beauty. So in public forums I
am kind of banned from talking about it. I was shushed one time as I
asked about the Shoshone geyser basin on the Old Faithful webcam chat
room. Aren’t you glad the backcountry is something that you have
personally experienced? Preparation to be there actually has something to
do with those who take you there.
6-
Alicia says: HELLO!!! Guess who won
Splendor (it’s a new game we got) Isaac. 😃
NO just kidding I actually won a game in my life can you believe it!!! Well
how’s life? So you know how mom has never been the kind of person that is
like “ you know I really want this how about we go get it right this moment!”
you know what I mean or am I making no sense ok anyway yesterday mom really
wanted to do a craft with me but I didn’t have anything to do with her. You
know those adult coloring books? Ya so mom was like “ Hey do you want one of
those adult coloring books?” I was like heck ya but I thought that I would
probably get one in a very long time but then she said “ well lets go get in
the car and get one!” so ya now I have a very high tec coloring book one of the
pictures was 3 bats ya can you believe my luck and one of the bats took me like
3 hours to color they are very amazing and crazy and I think youll love it when
you get home ive needed a lot of advice about what color I should do everything
but since the artist isn’t home at the moment most of it looks like you just
splattered all the colors you can imagine and thrown them onto the paper I
guess that’s my personality right 😊
ok well nice talking to you oh an by the way since I’m typing this on the
computer I feel so amazing because ive typed fast and not looked at my hands a
lot well actually ive looked at them more than id like to admit but oh well
LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😃
😊 😝
7-
Is there peanut butter in Tahiti?
8-
Hedgehogs are really challenging patients.
9-
Remember to always use the bidet when you can
find one.
10- My
comment number five actually has more to do with temples than it does with
Yellowstone.
11- Elder
Holland also teaches about how God helps us through our problems. So
often we pray for help that our problems will be resolved or go away. But
more often than not, God sends help in a different way… Elder Holland says
this: “He deals with us rather than with the problem we face.”
Instead of making our problems go away, He focuses on our ability to overcome
or cope with or solve our problems.
Hope every day is a beautiful day… or that you are finding
beauty in every day.
Love you, Dad
To Audrey from Mom 1/22/16
Hey Nans,
I bought play tickets yesterday for 7 people! We’re
going on Feb 13 to Hale Center. I get so excited now when the number
around here is 7. It’s going to be so nice having you back for a whole 3
months. In my head, you’re on a 19 month mission with a little break time
thrown into the beginning. You really are a missionary- minus the tag
right now. I’m sure you’ve figured that out and have just embraced it by
now.
There’s a big fat letter from Paris here waiting for you.
I think full of pictures. Things have really gone aRye around
here! (Teesh says she’s impressed with my talent for puns so I’m going to
keep it up)
Question--When you say “street kids” , what does that mean
exactly? Where do they sleep? Do they have homes? Who
feeds them? It looks like what you’re doing is their day time school but
since you call them street kids, I’m confused. But you’ve also said that
you do 3 different projects so maybe I’m just confusing them all into one.
You also have mentioned feeding them meals though. The pics you’ve
sent of the kids—holy buckets! They are just so, so cute. Leaving
them when the time comes will not be easy for you. Feel free to bring 1
or 2 home with you if you can figure out how to do that. J
I was so happy that you got to sing for everyone. What
song did you do? Is your cold gone now or are you still feeling it?
It sounds like you’ve got a killer weekend planned. I
can’t wait to hear about all of it. Hopefully it will include more
outdoor fun and less bar fun. Are a lot of the volunteers going with
you?
We’re going to the Smith’s cabin tonight for our annual book
club/cabin/rednecklife/Sheradean fun. We’ll have the Smith’s, Flint’s,
Corcoran’s (I think) along with everyone’s kids. Nicole is also
coming. I think Cassidy, AJ, and Nicole will get up early in the morning
to come back since they all work tomorrow. Should be a good time.
We’ll let you know how it goes.
Random:
What is going on around here?? Dad
is now wanting to watch the 1st Hunger Games movie with me.
For the last however many years it’s been, I’ve listened to him preach the
evils of Hunger Games every time it happened to come up. He and Cristy
would have their rant fest and then it would be over -til the next time it was
brought up. Now suddenly it’s full of deep symbolism and we’re comparing
it to scripture. And guess what? I can’t wait to see Star Wars
again! Strange things are happening! You know what I think one of
the most important things is in a lasting marriage? Adaptability to
change. There is no way that you can marry a person and expect them to be
the exact same person 20, 30, 50 years later. People evolve. When a
couple accept that and not just accept but look forward to change---they’ve got
a lot of happy years coming their way. There’s my random thought.
Have a wonderful nights sleep and lots of fun gliding in the
air tomorrow. Be safe
We love you,
Mom
To Audrey from Mom 1/25/16
Hey Nansy,
I must say, we’re all a bit jealous of you soaring over the
Himalaya’s with the wind in your hair. That seriously looked like so much
fun! I hope it was everything you hoped for and that you had great people
to enjoy it with.
I was really happy today that I got to go to the 1st
ward to listen to dad give a talk in their ward conference. He talked on
the Peanut’s comic when Charlie Brown says, “Happiness is having 3 things to
look forward to and nothing to dread.” Then he suggested that the 3
things be the Sabbath Day, the temple, and meeting our Savior someday.
Then, that we do have dreads but we should always look to the atonement to take
care of them. It was on my top ten list of his talks. I hope he’ll
give it again in the near future and be able to give more of it. He didn’t
get left with very much time—due to Bishop Spencer’s also really great talk.
Yesterday, I went to the temple by myself and thought I’d be
able to get in and out of initiatory in 45 minutes. Apparently many women
like to go on Sat. night at 5:00. There was a significant wait so I had a
lot of time to sit and read scriptures. I ended up reading all of your
temple prep scriptures and I found myself getting so excited for you to be able
to go through the temple next month. And even more excited that I get to
be your escort. Initiatory is the next step of the ceremony following the
baptism. Then after initiatory is the endowment, then the sealing.
So, on Feb. 11th at 6:00, you will experience most of the ceremony
of the temple. Dad and I are so grateful for you and your worthiness to
be in the temple. You’re amazing!! When you get home and a little
recovered from jet lag, we’ll go to get all you’re temple clothing. I
wish we’d have time to go to Bountiful to get you’re temple dress. That’s
where I bought mine. I remember you were with me at the time. Do
you remember? Anyway, they had the greatest dresses there and so many
that were on clearance. Oh well, I’m sure we’ll find one you’re really
happy with here too.
So, here’s the latest Teeshyism. “Mom, do I have a
sense of humor?” I gave her this look that you can only imagine and then
I started laughing and couldn’t stop for a while. She started laughing
with me and said, “Well, I guess that’s my answer”
Nobody around here is eating raisin bran!
Your farewell is officially set for March 27th.
About a month before you leave, Easter Sunday, and the Selvages
homecoming. The other Sundays are taken with temple dedications, stake
conf., general conf. etc. So, it’s not the most ideal but we’ll make it
work.
2 more weeks til we pick you up! This probably seems
both good and bad to you. Now that you know what the flight is like, you
better do lots of Napalese Yoga to get mentally ready for it.
Love and miss you tons!
Mom
Reply from Audrey 1/27/16
Heyyyy howdy hoodly doo
How is the world of America? I'm very patriotic about
America these days since I'm the only one from that good ol' home of the brave.
Is it still snowy? 9 degrees? Farenheit and Celsius are hard. I don't
understand C and nobody understands F. Why did we do that?
Well. Here's some more random things and facts and what have
you.
The two women in charge of male patan (the childcare center)
are named Cabita and Bagwatti. Bagwatti is the kind of person who acts like her
name sounds. She's very harsh on the children and sometimes hits them or pushes
them or yells constantly. Ugh. It doesn't really do anything for the kids
except make them scared of her and make them think it's ok to hit when they
want something. I'm happy that we got ignored when we were bad as kids, so
thanks for ignoring me. But she takes care of her 77 year old mother and lives
alone other than that, as far as I know. It's probably a lonely life. Women
here often have rough lives.
Cabita is lovely, though. We are pals. She doesn't speak
much English and I speak exactly enough Nepali now to communicate with children
in Tarzan language so mostly we just sing each other songs or she teaches me
Nepali. She always comes up and hugs me or plays with my hair. She's taken to
calling me "kanchi" (I think I spelled it wrong) which means
"baby girl" in Nepali. I'm still a little confused as to why, except
there's this song about dimples and baby girls that she sings and points to my
dimples. She's got a few of the little kids doing it to. I'll walk in and a few
of them will be like "lovely kanchi Namaste!"
I'm really quite attached to these kids. I love them more
and more every day and feel like I've made a connection with a lot of them.
It's gonna be a problemo.
Paragliding. Wowzers. Honestly while I was in the air, I was
questioning whether or not I was actually for reals doing there. I was like
"wait, I'm paragliding?" It was kind of shocking. But so FUN!!! Ah! I
wanted to go right back up that mountain and do it again as soon as we landed.
Let's do it sometime. :) totally safe. except for it was kind of expensive and
in the US it would be 1000 times more expensive. That's how everything is here.
Super duper cheap.
And the sunrise before that, ah. I was fortunate enough to
have an hour and a half of perfect Nepal. The city we stay in is alright but
once you get out into the villages and the mountains, the beauty is just
unbeatable and unforgettable. I could sit in it forever.
I think everyone should have the chance to do something like
this. I would love to do this again someday. :) teesh if you can, do it! Except
if I did it again, I'm not sure that I would go with GVI. I might want to go
with a church based organization or something else because really the only
major thing I've struggled with here is the fact that my standards are so
different from everyone else's. It's been hard to have the same friendships
with people when I want to separate myself from them every time I feel somewhat
uncomfortable. I really do love them! But sometimes it's much better to take
myself out of the environment.
But at the same time, i actually don't think I would change
it! I feel that I've really done a LOT of self-discovery because of the
situation, and it feels good to know myself a little better. It feels good to
know that I have said no to things I believe are wrong and that it's not
actually that hard to do it! I thought it would be but I found out that I don't
care as much about what people think of me as I care that I keep my promises to
myself. Dad, the blessing you gave me before I came has helped me so much and
everything is evident now.
I've also learned a lot about the world and that everyone,
no matter what they believe, has something good to offer. Everyone has some
good intentions, I think. They don't have to be LDS or attend the temple or
raise kids to be good people... But just IMAGINE if all these millions of good
people in the world accessed the blessings of the atonement!! It would be
great... The problem is everyone holds themselves back from believing in
something. At least in my experience here so far, I find that most everyone is
like "well, I like to believe that there is something out there, but I
don't know what."
"And I don't want to take the time to find out" (I
added that part myself).
I don't know. I want to be like "don't you know you're
God's child?!" So glad that we have the truth, you know?
Gonna jump into a funny story now. The past few days, my
digestive system has been having some... Issues. Don't worry it's completely
fine. But I've experienced some bloating and other fun things. Don't know what
I ate but it is normal to happen here I think.
Anyway, the other night I had to get up and relieve some
stress on the bowels and I was half asleep. I walked out of the bathroom and Jo
woke up to the noise, took one sniff, and was like "Mmmh" trying to stifle
her face. All I could think of to say was "I'm sorry Jo, my farts glow in
the dark" and I went back to sleep. I'm still confused as to why I said
that.
Not a crimson trail story but I keep laughing about it.
:)
I think I might consider going into a teaching degree in a
while, or at least something where I can work with kids because I didn't
realize how much I absolutely love it. It gets better every day. :) I feel like
I still am a kid. There's no feeling in the world like getting something across
to someone that you are teaching. Making someone believe in themself is so
difficult and actually I take that back, it's impossible. They have to be the
one to believe, there's no forcing it. But giving someone some ideas of how
they can and seeing that light click on in their brain... It's so rewarding. If
anything, it's made me so so pumped to be a mom someday, to love and raise some
of my own! Ahh I'm so stoked for that. And scared but you know. Most good
things require a little courage. Good job mom.
I've done yoga at this place a couple of times, and last
time I went, I was alone with the instructor. She got really excited about this
and told me in her broken English "when just two of us, we do many
stretching. I like." Hahaha and then the little lady led me in this super
intense chanting-meditation-stretch-in-the-weirdest-positions-you-can-imagine
routine, the whole time running little circles around me and positioning me in
the right ways. Chattered about chakras and things like that. Every time I did
something right she would clap and squeal for joy. Towards the end she said
"I know the problem you have. Too tight. I massage now." She gave me
a back massage that made me drool on the carpet. I feel like I made a new
friend. ;)
The couple who owns the place we stay at are named chetchra
and pashpati. I think that's how they are spelled. They are some of the most
incredibly kind and generous people! Pashpati owns a company and he organizes
donations to buy large quilts for people who have no means to buy them. There
are still a lot of people struggling because of the earthquake that happened in
April and the bad economy on top of that... It's super sad. But he's given
hundreds and hundreds of these quilts to people that he sees on the street in
villages and he remembers them. Chetchra cooks for us every day and is the
sweetest woman. She always remembers everyone's names and what they are doing
and what kinds of food they like. I love them.
The doorways are very short. I have hit my forehead an
embarrassing amount of times.
That girl who you said looks like me- her name is Tess,
she's 20 and from Australia. She and I get along really well because we make
weird noises and faces and she's just a fun gal. I look up to her a lot.
:)
Ok these next things are directed at anyone... If I'm
talking to you I think you'll know it.
Ooh! What play are we going to?! I'm so excited!!!! Guess
what I haven't watched a movie in three weeks either!! I want to watch Mulan
really bad.
If I'm a missionary I don't think I'm doing a good job of it
haha. If people ask me questions, I usually feel like I'm overwhelming them
with information and I'm not explaining it in a clear and concise way... I
suppose the MTC will help me with that problem? ;)
YAY!! I love it when life goes "awrye." 🙄
haha good one mom. I laughed at that pretty hard.
I think I explained the street kids thing... But they don't
live on the streets anymore. They live in a house and we call it
"streets" but I'm not sure if that's short for.. Something. Haha. We
give the streets boys snacks for lunch because they don't get that and we feed
the children at male patan lunch because it's just lunch time for them. :)
really fun. I wish I could bring one home with me and give them a better pair
of pants. I'll see if I can make room in my luggage for one more
souvenir.
I sang "cherry wine" by hozier and I sang that
song I wrote :) the cold is pretty much gone now!
I want to hear some details about the cabin and AJ's love
life. Ready go. AJ you can email me separately to give me non-false
information.
I still don't really know what to say about the hunger
games... Except I'm glad that dad opened his heart to it haha. And I'm glad
that you opened yours to Star Wars. Does this mean that you'll like lord of the
rings now?!!? Because THAT would make me glad :) hey and good thought about
adaptability. I have noticed that the volunteers who have the hardest time here
are those who won't accept things how they are. It's hard to eat rice every
day, it's hard that every restaurant is vegetarian, it's hard that there's so
much dirt everywhere, it's hard it's hard it's hard.
But what if the word "hard" is imaginary? What if
we make things difficult by just telling ourselves they are?
Just something to chew on.
Lol at Donald trump. People keep asking me what I think of
the elections and I'm like "uhh. You probably know more than I do."
Who's even running against him? I feel like I should be more involved in
politics but also I don't want to be. Hahaha I hope he doesn't get elected
though.
Dad you should sell Pedro for thousands of dollars. Or we
should sell the boobah since he's been in so many movies now.
I'm sorry that you can't say anything concerning the back
country of Yellowstone on your fun online chat room dad. What are you supposed
to talk about now? Grotto geyser? Please.
But I think that statement about how Yellowstone is like the
temple was quite profound and gave me something to mull over this week.
Sometimes there are things that shouldn't be discussed, because there aren't
words to do justice in any way. I'm guessing this is how the temple is? Maybe.
In a way.
Unparalleled beauty.
Teeshy- you write just like you speak and that made me
really happy. I'm looking forward to a lot of cute emails from you while I'm on
my mission, yeah? ;) good job winning splendor. I'm the champ at that game and
so you'll have to face me when I come home.
Hahaha high tech coloring book. 😂
I am astounded at the new technology of this rising generation. What will we
have next? High tech sticky notes or something I hope. But that was a cool frog
picture dad sent to me. Yay for teesh 🤘🏼
can I color in it?
I could tell you typed so fast because the letters were
smeared because of the amazing quickness.
Also stop asking if you have a sense of humor you fool. Of
course you have a sense of humor.
I have no idea if there's peanut butter in Tahiti but I'm gonna
say I hope with all of my heart
Did you get impaled by a hedgehog? Sad day. 😥
I wouldn't trust a bidet here. Not touching my bum to
anything unknown thank you.
Funny you should say that thing about finding beauty in
every day. Ecc. 3:9-11 (I forgot the verse but it's one of those) has impacted
me a lot lately. We don't know what's in store, but every day is a creation of
God and he has a purpose for it. That makes every day quite beautiful I think.
:)
I want to hear this talk that is on mom's top list now. I
demand it.
Yay temple dress! I'm so so so so so excited. :) temple prep
is slow but progressing. Thank you for all of it.
I am gonna eat all the Raisin Bran when I get my bum back
over there. Although I have eaten the whole world over here. I seriously eat so
much. But on the positive note, the food they make us is very very healthy and
not processed. It's wonderful.
Alright well that isn't really an ideal farewell situation.
But I guess the Selvages will take up much of the time so I'm happy about that.
;) do I have a topic?
Ill go find my friend to do yoga with before I come back.
She will help me.
AJ- I am so pumped for zoolander. Ian are you coming with
us? Anyone else? It's gonna be a party. And really update me AJ. Or you can
when I get home. Either way. Also I bought you something so cool today.
Ian- dude. Do you want a baseball cap or a sun hat or ?
There's lots of cool stuff around here. You would also approve of the milkshake
I had today. It came in pints. I got one.
Teesh 😘
Frosty- I don't know if I can get a top. I'm trying but the
kids hand make them so maybe I can pay one off to help the economy...
Haha just kidding. I miss you lots!! SO many of the boys
here remind me of you and your funny sense of humor and dance moves.
Ok well that's all for now folks. Ta ta until next time. I
officially have around 10 days until I see you all and I cannot wait. :) time
is FLYING and it's making me both sad and happy.
Thank you for being my fam. Love you!
Ps maybe I'll explain the pics when I get home. Too many.
For now, some typical and beautiful Nepali sights and some of my group.
Yes everyone is drinking. Yes that's a beer tower. Yes I still had fun
that night and still love them. :)
