Steven after he received his endowments at the Sacramento Temple. November 16, 2013

Time has flown!

Today was Steven's last Sunday home.  He is excited, a little nervous, but ready.  The missionaries came over last night and gave him great advise and shared their testimonies with him.  It comforted him and ME! Saturday evening he will be set apart as a missionary.   

Life has been absolutely crazy in our family. Steve's mother, Coleen passed away 2 weeks ago.  Steve tore his rotator cuff and bicep and will be having surgery as soon as we get home from Utah.  He can no longer do the paper route, so after 10 years of waking at 3 am we will be retiring and actually get some sleep!  With all the craziness, we sit down  as a family and count our blessings.  We do indeed see the hand of The Lord directing our lives and blessing us with blessings unimaginable.  How greatful we are for the gospel in our lives! 

One month left!

One month from today Steven will be in the MTC!  Everything is done, purchased, talks given, ordered, copied, completed and ready to go.  Well, one thing left.....attending the temple this Saturday.  What a wonderful day that will be!  

I read an email today that all missionaries in the Phillipines are accounted for and safe!  I began to sob. How grateful I am that our Heavenly Father watches over His servants!  

Steven's Mission President

Biography

Kazuhiko and Tazuki Tashiro Yamashita 

The Mission President in the Japan Nagoya Mission is Kazuhiko Yamashita, 59, and Tazuko Tashiro Yamashita, six children, Tokyo 1st Ward, Tokyo Japan South Stake (English).

Elder Yamashita serves in the First Quorum of the Seventy and as a member of the Asia North Area Presidency. He is a former Area Seventy, counselor in a mission presidency, stake president, stake mission president, high councilor, and bishop. Retired university professor. Born in Tokyo, Japan, to Kiyoshi Yamashita and Sadae Nakazawa.

Sister Yamashita is a former stake Relief Society and Primary president, ward Primary president, counselor in a ward Relief Society presidency, welfare Church-service missionary, and stake missionary. Born in Miyazaki, Japan, to Kazuo Hazeyama and Aki Tasharo 

Ready.....set......

Well, "Go!" isn't here yet.  Some days we cannot believe how fast time is going, then others it seems to be going so slow.  I enjoy every minute though.  I posted a photo of the back of our van.  We have had so many write congratulations on it, honk and give thumbs up, yell congratulations.  It is amazing!  Steven has had countless opportunities to share where he is going and why.  Many in our little town know us one way or another and we cannot go anywhere and not have someone ask about his mission.  The tire place, the Dollar Store, Raleys, the gas station, the library...that was who we talked to about it just yesterday.  Today it has been CORE Placer, the foot doctor, and a lady at Grocery Outlet. It is cool though.  I told Steven to keep track in his journal!  It will be good practice when he has to fill out his reports every day on his mission!

He is all healed from his surgeries and now working on getting his legs ready for a lot of bike riding.  

It is Sheri's birthday today and he keeps reminding her that he won't be here for her next birthday, or the next!  She just tells him....that's ok.  I get your bedroom!  I don't know what she means by that, but it quieted him down.  They will miss teasing each other a lot!

Wisdom gone....

Steven got his wisdom teeth removed on Friday.  Steve took a video of how he was when he came to. I chose NOT to share it.  I explained to the nurse that usually Steven is quite reserved!  We all had a good laugh.  He is doing well.  He is allergic to many pain medications  and the one he was prescribed was no different, so he is handling the pain with just Tylenol.  He is a trooper!  He looks forward to sleeping in his own bed tonight.  He has had to be propped up on the couch the last couple of nights and didn't sleep very well.  He is all fixed up to head on his mission now!  He is grateful this week is over with.  Next week he has his interviews to finish up his Eagle project.  We aren't sure if there will be time for him to actually be presented with it before his mission, but hope so.  He has been very busy the last 4 weeks!  Tomorrow is only 1 month since he got his call and it feels like 6 months!!  Today our family just all relaxed.  He is recuperating, Sheri and mom have the flu and Steve is getting caught up on some much needed sleep!  It was nice to take time for our family to heal!

Steven's toes are ready to serve!

Steven had his toes worked on today.  They are ready now for all the walking and bike riding he will be doing.  Well,  in a few days they will be ready. He says they are quite tender right now.  Friday is the big day to have his wisdom teeth removed!  Friday is the last thing to get done. 

 We are learning so many new things. He was instructed to go on to Family Search and create and print his fan chart to bring on his mission.  If you haven't done that for yourself yet, you need to.  It is awesome.

Here is a tame picture of his toes.  Dad took pictures as the doctor was doing the procedures.  I didn't think they would be very good to include!