9 January 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 434
Mom’s new massage chair from Dad
Mom / Jenny
“Laundry, more laundry and oh look, more laundry!” (modified quote from the movie Oscar). By the time we officially got the diagnosis of COVID, it had spread to several of the children. We are very thankful for the vaccine. All of us are as fully vaccinated and boosted as we can get—Arkin, Selena, Christian and I have even had our booster. Because of that, I feel that it could have been much worse than it was.
The moment anyone starts to feel the least bit sick, we have them mask up. We followed the protocol and kept everyone quarantined even longer than the new recommended time. For most of our children it was like a yucky cold, but for Aura and her family, they really got hit hard.
Well, to try and make sure that we didn’t just keep spreading the virus around, I washed all the bedding and laundry in the upstairs bedrooms, and then when everyone came out of quarantine, all of their bedding and clothing was sent up to be washed as well. We sanitized all surfaces and deep cleaned the entire house. We are now several days past the sickness and no new occurrences.
Last week because things were so crazy with COVID, I didn’t get to write about the present that Arkin got me for Christmas! It came a few days late, but it was well worth the surprise. It even made me cry. He bought me a massage chair. I had been looking at them for quite some time and I don’t even think that Arkin knew that I had really been wanting one.
I suffer from frequent migraine headaches, and I am hoping that this will offer some relief. While the sample size is quite small—only a week and a half—I have had no headaches and that’s says a lot.
Thank you, Arkin! Please everyone, feel free to come and use it any time. I love getting an hour massage every day while I study my scriptures or watch a show.
Elders Torres and Hill in Los Angeles, Chile
Caleb
Here’s some quick thoughts from a week ago that didn’t make it into the last newsletter. Semana two in Chile went by so fast! I loved calling home to the family. I love you so much! It was a little hard, but I'm grateful beyond description to KNOW that I'm serving Jesus Christ, our Savior.
My companion, Elder Wray, is amazing! I also love Elder Torres (see photo)! He's from Brazil and speaks Portugués and Spanish and a tiny bit of English. We have a lot of fun joking around and overcoming the language barrier.
It's hard to feel adequate to be out here representing Him so much, because I'm not very adequate, not even close! But what matters is that we keep trying, just one decision at a time, one choice. One good choice at a time is all that each of us need to do. Keep trying! I wish I could share with all of you all that happens, but if I did, I could probably fill five pages for each day of the week, and it would not even be close to what I wish I could share with you.
Caleb and his trainer, Elder Wray
And now for this past week. Wow! I just did the math, and 11 weeks already?! I've loved every second of it, and I know this is the greatest work in the world. Period. All of us need to play a role in it! If you feel like you're not doing enough to gather Israel (bringing any person alive or dead), then change and get started!
It doesn't have to be something huge. Just start spreading the love of Christ! I promise you will have more happiness and blessings in your life. That is a fact. You will face opposition but know that if you're feeling it, whether just a desire to stop or not get started, or even other people, know that you're headed in the right direction! And keep going! Never stop!
Also, read your scriptures. Those words are divine and powerful, every last one of them! When you read your scriptures you feed your soul, literally! It's the fact that it's literally God’s voice!
When your soul is nourished, then you will have the strength to fight against that opposition to happiness. The opposition to happiness is Satan. And every evil, action, thought, crime, pain done in history are from him. Do you really want to take anything (ANYTHING!) that he has to offer? Think about the things in this world. Are they from Satan or are they from Christ? Pick who you want to take from, then act!
Mom sleeping on London’s new pillows
London
What a week! School technically started, but I was still quarantined and then I still felt sick when I could have gone, so I didn’t go to any of my classes. School is honestly stressing me out since I will be gone next week as well. This is not the best way to start off my last semester.
I did get to move into my apartment, which was a huge relief. I had only seen it on a video call though, so seeing it in person was a little surprising. It’s a cute little house, but it doesn’t look like anyone has vacuumed there…like ever. It definitely needs some deep cleaning before I’ll feel comfortable there, so I ended up only sleeping there once and then I went back to Mom and Dad’s.
I still don’t have all my energy back, so deep cleaning everything isn’t really an option yet. I am relieved though to finally have a place!
Children taking couch to the Petterborg’s
Alex
This week we have been still in Quarantine, but on Friday that ended and everyone was able to come upstairs after their recovery! Also, on Sunday I am now in the teachers group. Also, school just started up and I love my classes, which are CCA, Health, Language Arts, Math, Piano, and Science!
Kai
We watched Spiderman 2: Far From Home again. This time we watched it in our new Bunkhouse Theater. It is a pretty good movie. The others were gone working the Jazz game.
Caleb and his trainer, Elder Wray
Selena
This week people got out of quarantine. Also, Emma Grappendorf and I hung out after work. We first went to Barnes and Noble and she got a cookbook. Then we went to another store and got some things. We had dinner at her house. It was so yummy! And then we did our nails.
Another thing we did this week was Monte, Alex, Christian and I played “Throw, Throw Burrito” and we tried to do a 1000 puzzle. It has been different having everyone come out of quarantine. Also, Christian and I went and got our booster shots, Monte and Alex were going to get theirs too, but you have to be at least 16.
Children in Bunkhouse Theater
Isaac
I can't wait for Disneyland. We are leaving today! (Jan 9) and I can't wait. When we are in California, we are also going to be going to the Los Angeles Temple. I am so excited, I haven't been there in a long time and I heard that some of the rides are different and really fun. We are also staying at a really nice hotel. It has two water slides and they look really fun. Thank you Endia and London for planning this for us.
Veidi bundled up to go out in the snow
Christian
Mom, Monte, Gloria, Vanessa, and I worked the Monster Jam. Some of us worked in different place's. Vanessa and I worked in Tenders. Mom worked by herself and Monte and Gloria worked Dippin’ dots. I've only worked one concession stand before so this would be my second time working Tenders.
It was kind of busy but we did ok throughout most of it. It was also cool watching some of the Monster Jam because I remember when I loved Monster Jam.
Misha and Max in the back of Luna
Monte
This week has been full of mixed feelings. I am super excited that we are going to California next week, and worried that I might get COVID and postpone our Disneyland trip. I've also felt anxious whenever Quinn and Joanna came downstairs to eat (they have COVID too).
I've done a lot of the Oculus (Virtual Reality goggles), because it gets my mind off of all the stress. I just really want to make it through the week, and get to Disneyland with Endia, London, Ashton, Isaac, Kai, and Gloria. Let's hope next week's newsletter from me is about California.
Ellie winking
Vanessa
We worked a monster truck rally at the Vivint Arena. Me and Christian worked tenders and it was easy and a little fun. I worked cashier, but got moved around a lot, so I got to try different things. It was easy after I got the hang of it.
After a little while, me and Christian got a break to eat, and you can eat whatever, but we just got the tenders and fries. I got a small headache because I didn't drink anything for like ever.
Gloria and Monte worked at Dippin’ Dots and they came to our station so they could have the tenders and fries for their break. After that, we cleaned up and went home and watched a Spider-Man movie.
Children in Bunkhouse Theater
Gloria
This week I have bonded with my brothers and sisters that I normally don't talk to as much as others. Quarantine is a little hard for me because I don't really like wearing a mask 24-7.
It is fun learning new games. Endia made a spin the wheel with our names to choose which of us would choose the movie we wanted to watch. And she also made assignments for chores so we could keep the basement clean every morning.
On Friday, we were able to come up stairs and be back to normal but still wear a mask. On Saturday we were able to work the Monster Jam and Monte and I and this other guy named Logan were able to work Ice cream.
Veidi, Vanessa, London in quarantine
Veidi
I did school down in the basement. It was nice to get some of it done. Endia let us choose a movie if we got chosen on the spinner. We played a lot of games like Catan, Unstable Unicorns. We also learned a new game called Sushi Go.
Dad / Arkin
The more I ponder about the way to be truly happy, the more I realize that gratitude is the key. Grateful people are happy and light, and ungrateful people are sad and dark. There is no way around it.
I am so grateful that Mom has tried so hard to teach gratitude to all of us. Every day, I carry the little gratitude heart she gave us, and keep it in my pocket. Sometime during the day, I take a picture, and send it to her.
Dad holding Mom’s gratitude heart