Family Dinners

"Family Dinners. What I like about family dinners?" Thank you Jeff Stephens!
 I am just going to go through my family and say the first word that comes to my mind when I think of them.
Gordon: All-out
Margaret: Genuine
Jill: Graceful
Dan: Cowboy-Coach-Dentist-Farmer
Malia: Fashionista
Maddie: Untamed
Joshua: Trump
Olivia: Loquacious
Bella: Boisterous
Eva: Cutie-Pie
Jon: Fat-n-Sassy
Annie: Resilient
Salesi: Strong
Nami: Joyful
Kope: Hi!
Lauren: Generous
Jeff: Witty
Claire: Creative
Benny: Precocious
Lexi: Peanut
Drew: New
Ben: Good-eye
Meridith: always-a-party
Scott: Maven
Anders: 2 going on 30
Geoff: Resourceful
Patricia: Clever

I hope that no one was offended in the making of this document.

Forever Fresh!

 Good week.

Thursday, I got pulled over by a police woman. Hannah and I were leaving the Tanner building and the child in me yelled "RUN" because the orange hand was blinking. There was plenty of time until my next class but I just have this thing with not waiting. Some people call it impatience, I call it efficiency. I ran across the street. I looked behind me and Hannah was standing on the other side grinning. Then on my side there she was, leaning against the pole like she owned the place and she did. With authority the police woman called me over and asked for my name and student number. Mid-conversation she warned me "If yo friend comes over too she WILL get a ticket." I whip around and see Hannah in the middle of the road looking like I lost puppy.  In a desperately-hush yelp I told her to go back.  I was let off with a warning and was told she had already given out five $50 tickets. PHEW!

Friday I went to the Head and the Heart concert. One of the best I have been to in forever. "Rivers and Roads, Rivers and Roads." 

Saturday was a marathon. Woke up and did the dirty dash. Couldn't have had a better group of people than family. We sorely missed Lauren, Jill, and Jon. I thought the mud would be more muddy and less watery. I also was really cold but hey when am I not. I am going to let the pictures do all of the talking on this one. Shout out to Ben for risking his iPhone for the event!

After the race we cleaned up and went rock climbing. By the end of the night I was done. 

Big Money, Big Money, Big MONEY!

The winner of the most memorable day of the week goes to... Friday! 1st on the agenda after school and work was go to an opening social, that the Marriott School was putting on for all of the new members of the college. Why? Free J-dawgs. As we entered they gave us raffle tickets. The rewards were $10, $20, and $50. 50 dollars is a lot of money but they said that wasn't even the grand prize. What could be better than 50 dollars. 100 dollars? We enjoyed the music, company, and food. Sooner than later the very nicely dressed student council announced they would be reading the raffle. Like I always do I tell everyone around me that "I never win at these things." I know those of you that have read the book The Secret know that I violated one of the first laws: cast out all doubt and let the energies of the universe work in your favor. Well I think that book is wrong. I guess you could say my thing is using reverse psychology with the energies of the universe.

They start reading out numbers and the first one picked is my friend Hannah Grigg (shout out to H. Griggy). What are the odds? There were over a 100 people there. She presented herself appropriately. Excited, yet composed, as she claimed her $10 Wells Fargo spend-anywhere-prize-card. Jealous.

Next thing you know another girl, Ashley, from our circle gets called up. I smiled on the outside but struggled to balance the turmoil of emotions caused by once again "never winning these things." They then announce that there were 6 spots open for the grand prize: breakfast with the dean. That better be a darn good breakfast if it is worth more than $50.

The first number they read is a 9, then a 7, then a 1, then a... wait those are the first three numbers on my ticket! Then a 6, oh Merna! Then an 8, holy xanidu? Then a 2 and finishing strong with a 6.  Did I forget my glasses? Oh wait I don't have reading glasses. I won! I screamed like Macaulay Culkin on Home Alone when he put after shave on his face for the first time. I was then a little embarrassed that I was so excited that I couldn't stop laughing. Laur and Mer, remember the one time you let me answer the phone after hours at dad's office and I couldn't stop laughing even though nothing that I was saying was the least bit humorous? "Dr. Glade's office, how can I... bahhahahaha." Well my major and name aren't that funny but I could help but chuckle. I won!

You can all look forward to a report about breakfast with the dean! Everyone says it is going to be a wonderful networking opportunity! I will have to prepare for that but I am just looking forward to a $50 breakfast. Yay.

Junky-up-time!

Here are a few pictures that were taken the night before I moved out my last things for school. First Meridith came into chat and then Geoff. Then little by little Ben, Mom, and Jill showed up. Every time someone came in I yelled "sib time" which meant picture time. The camera was already set up on the ladder. Lauren, Annie, and Jon we missed you but it was an unplanned event so I don't blame you for not being there. 

This picture is titled "junky-up-time." Junky-up-time was a game we would play. We would all bring our best stuffed animals, blankets, and pillows. We would each put our heads on a corner of the bed with our feet in the middle. We would donate all of our belongings to the middle. After there was a huge pile in the middle Ben would yell "Junky-up-time!" We would frantically grab something to help us make it through the night.  It is crazy that when we were all little kids we could fit in the same bed comfortably. Actually let me clarify... It is amazing that we could all fit in the same bed and Ben would be comfortable. Naturally he was bigger, stronger, and smarter than the rest of us. After all junky-up-time was his idea.

Here is a nice picture of mom in her element. I am always excited when I get a picture this awesome. My camera has less megapixels than a smart phone and is pretty dated. On my mission my companions and the people I was teaching would always laugh at how huge it was. There is not artistry or tampering with it. It is what it is. The sky and her flower beds are matching. Not to get all sentimental but I like to imagine that the Lord uses his hands to make sunsets just like mom uses hers to organize the the colors in her gardens.

The day has come and I am required to make a blog for school.  I would lie if I were to say I am not a little excited. I miss not having to write down what I am doing. Unlike many of my fellow RMs writing on mondays was one of my favorite things. It forced me to reflect on what I was doing.  Something that might help me right now.

Not having touched my journal since Salsita's first engine bit the dust and dad saved me from Millad County my options are wide open. I will start by summarizing my visit to Mexico City with 2 of the most enjoyable traveling companions in the world: my parents.

August 8, 2012 Day Uno "No thanks I don't drink"

It was my first time riding in first class and it was also my first time ever being offered champagne. I was going to say my first time being offered alcohol which would be true if I didn't count the occasional beers I declined as a missionary and security system tech.

On the right, we are at el Palacio de Belles Artes or the Beautiful Arts Palace. We saw the national folklore team dance. It was amazing.



August 9, 2012 Day Dos 


Great time with President and Sister Tervort.  We had a great laugh about when I barely scratched presidents van on a planter box (which he had done plenty of times) but he had gotten all of the scratches fixed the day before I scratched it. I learned an important thing that day. President said "I have learned in my life that when you are frustrated who ever loses their temper loses." President was kind enough to not lose his temper although he was close.

The old and new Basilica in Honor of the Virgin Maria de Guadalupe. Below is a picture of Mother and me on on a cool set of stairs.

This is a huge square in the middle of the city surrounded by government buildings. Like a lot of cathedrals in Mexico, this one is built on top and out of rock that was once a pyramid.









August 10, 2012 Day Tres

On the right mom and dad are posing in front of the famous blue house. Where Frida Kahlo lived. I had no idea she was so recent. Dying in the 50's or 60's.
I still do not enjoy looking at her paintings but I appreciate them after more after learning about her life. We had a funny experience trying to take this picture. We asked some girls if they would take the picture and they agreed but for some reason my camera kept zooming in. We thought they just didn't know how to use a camera so they kept giggling and blushing and I kept getting a little frustrated... come on girls its not that hard. Sure enough when they gave up and gave back the camera I couldn't get it to stop zooming in. Thus I took this picture from across the street.
The other two pictures are of a museum built by Diego Rivera to house his ancient artifacts and present given to Diego Rivera (also a famous painter and husband to Kahlo). It isn't Zeus. When I saw it I thought I was in MYST, that computer game we used to have.


August 11, 2012 Day Cuatro
I will always remember this day because Mexico won Gold in soccer and the fans went wild, as well as Gordon. I have a classic video of him running with the fans.

We had a great time with the President of the Xalostoc stake and his family (Arturo, Sandy, and Jaqui the daughter, two daughters are missing from this picture).  They are the Toribio Family.  He shared his conversion story and it was amazing. I was atheist and hated americans. He was introduced to the gospel through a friend and learned to love God and Americans. He started reading the Book of Mormon and felt bad about it because he had never read the bible. So before I continued reading the Book of Mormon he read the entire Bible. He then said it made the world of difference in the impact the Book of Mormon had on him. He knows it is true and we could feel it.






Here we have the Hernandez Aboytez Family. From parents to youngest child (Cesar, Yesenia, Aline, and Alan). We ate pambasos. They are thriving in the Gospel. They have been sealed and Cesar is in the bishopric and Yesenia is working in the primary.







Aline and Alan "ARE GOING ON MISSIONS".  Yesenia corrects me every time I say something regarding their missions that isn't matter of fact.  e.g. "You need to work hard to save enough money and to learn the gospel to go on your missions." She would replace "need" with "will." Here are their doggy banks. They were so heavy I think they may already have enough to go.

To wrap up the night we went to the ward Carrera. We are in the home of Sergio, the man to the left of me, and his wife Yolanda, far left front row. I was pleased to find out that they have been sealed as well and Yolanda is the Primary president. Sergio is blind and has had one leg amputated. He has received the Melchizedek priesthood and happily blesses the sacrament every sunday. Elda (the lady in the pink scarf) with her son and daughter (to my left and in front of me), Gustavo and Elda, continue active in the church. The lady in black (Magda) and her two daughters (in purple is Brenda and blue is Auris) are members of 7 years I think. There are four little kids. Auris and Elda (the younger) each have two. It was really fun to see them all hanging out. They depend a lot on each other.

August 12, 2012 Day Cinco

I was lazy this day and didn't take too many pictures.  We met with Rodrigo Hernandez Solis and his Parents, Graciela and Martin. Martin isn't a member yet. Rodrigo's brother and a girl named Ling Ling had a baby who was born premature and has had a lot of health problems. Rodrigo shared an experience about fasting for his niece and asking for a miracle. He told me that he remember the experience that I shared about Sabrina and her snowboarding accident.


This is a picture of Alicia and Jorge holding up their family history work. They have done a ton of temple work. They have a baby that is less than a year old. they have been sealed in the temple. Alicia had her baby within a week after they were sealed. She said that they wanted more than anything for the baby to be born in the covenant. Alicia had twins from a previous marriage and they weren't able to be sealed because the dad wouldn't give them permission. They were devastated but can be sealed once they turn 18. Only 8 more years.



August 13, 2012 Day Seis

Teohtiuacan. We are on the pyramid of the Sun in a huge rain storm.

August 14, 2012 Day Siete




Here we are in Coacalco with Nancy and her two kids, Nyx and Artemis (the baby). Her husband Ivan was at work. We baptized Nancy and Ivan was inactive. Nancy happily informed me that Ivan has received the Melchizedek priesthood and that they are going to be sealed. He gave Artemis her baby blessing a few sundays prior.

Hello Hidalgo! I am not even going to name anyone in this picture but it is the Ceron family. This is the famous house were the wedding took place and I played here comes the bride on the organ. It was non stop laughter. All of these people are related. This is the family where the Grandpa was inactive and non of his kids were members. His grandaughter Daira (on my right) was an example and was baptized which resulted in two marriages, and the baptism of her grandma, parents, and 2 aunts.








The cake says congratulations Glade and there is dad in front of the Mexico City Temple.

August 15, 2012 Day Ocho
Today we went to The UNAM. The most well known university in the country. I checked out after that and went to the hotel for a nap and to watch the United States beat Mexico in soccer. Mom and Dad went off to Xochimilco. You will have to ask them about it.   The next day we flew home. It was a successful trip.
This was one of the best meals we had.  The culinary experience was more than I could have asked for. We did not repeat one single meal and no one gave us chicharones in salsa verde.
Thanks for the amazing trip Dad, Mom and MEXICO!