I'm a Missionary Mom!

We had quite a surprise at our house this week! Kamiko had told pretty much everyone EXCEPT me and Keenan that he was turning in his mission papers. I knew he was working on them, because he had asked about insurance and who his doctor is. He also had me sign a paper. That was about all I knew. Then, Thursday night, I had gone to bed early. Around 10:00, he asked if he and Daysa, his girlfriend, could talk to me. I told him if it was about my brown shoes, she can't have them. She had commented that a pair of shoes I wore recently would be perfect for a mission. :). I pulled up my covers and told them to come on in. He at first told me they were getting married, which I knew was NOT true. She's very excited about leaving on her mission to Brazil in about a month. Then he pulled a white envelope out from behind his back. It was a mission call. He'd had it all day. He had only submitted his papers the previous Wednesday. Wow, what a quick turnaround!

Keenan had left to help friends. I told Kamiko to text him to get home quickly. All of Kamiko's friends were camping and they wanted him to wait until Saturday. I said "No way. We are opening that tonight." That's what he did. They ran to get Kobi and her sister Tori. So, it was Kamiko, our family, Kobi and Tori and Daysa. That's it. Kamiko opened the letter while we filmed. He fake gagged a bit. It is a nervous and exciting moment.

When he read Chile, Santiago North, I couldn't believe it. Wow, Chile! Of all the places in the world that are scary and not stable, Chile is not one of them. I was next anxious to hear when he leaves. Some kids aren't leaving until January. That's a long time away. He leaves December 4th! Awesome! The more I hear about Chile and look at pictures and missionary blogs, the more I think this kid has the perfect assignment. Wow, inspiration at work!

Kamiko's mission includes some islands (Easter Island and Robinson Crusoe Island and others)

Santiago Skyline at Night

Santiago Temple, dedicated September 15-17, 1983, by Gordon B. Hinckley
First temple built in a Spanish-speaking country

At first, we thought it was his friend's mission, which would make it our neighbor's mission and David Archuleta's mission. David is a young recording artist who took time away from career to serve a mission. Ends up it's not. They are in Rancagua. Kamiko is going north of them. He reports to the MTC there in Chile. Both the MTC and the Temple are in his mission boundaries. Brother Wilkins from our ward served there and said it was "a dream come true." He said it really has to be the best mission in the world. Here's what I have found out about Santiago and Chile.

1. Population of Santiago is just over 6 million
2. Chile has a very high literacy rate; a bit higher than the U.S.
3. The average high temperature is about 85 and the average low is in the 40's
4. According to Alan Crockett, who served there, the fruit and avocados are amazing! So is the beef.
5. If Kamiko can work soccer into his teaching of men, he should do well.
6. The female members of the church are rock solid
7. The men tend to take life a bit easier...not too seriously...and have a great sense of humor
8. The church is very strong in Chile

I'm so excited for Kamiko. I'm thrilled to see how excited he is. I'm glad he's going to South America and I hope he sees some of the humble circumstances I got to see. It makes you appreciate what you have and realize what's really important. I feel that he can really serve well in Chile. I feel like it was hand-selected for this assignment and that he has been prepared for this. He will be awesome. I love that kid.

My Brother was at Comic Con (and other September stuff)

Comic Con is a huge convention for nerds and geeks. It's all about comics, animated stuff, sci fi and other weird things. This year, Derek was invited to be a guest artist since he works for Cartoon Network on "Adventure Time." He's also quite known in Utah as a comic book artist. His series was called "Pirate Club." This was the first time they had a Comic Con in Salt Lake and it was a HUGE success. This is a picture from the Deseret News of Derek at his table. He got to meet fans, sign autographs and sell prints. He made $5,000. Good for Big D.

With fall comes football season and I really don't care. I am sometimes aware of when BYU plays just so I can make small talk with students about it. Julie Andrews above expresses my sentiments perfectly.

Cupcakes, Starlyn next to her board of wishes, our "dinner table," Annie, Ali and Steve, the whole gang: Jenny and Audrie, Starlyn, Melissa, Jessica, Charity, me, Mat, Ali, Steve and Annie, with Samuel in front. Jenny doesn't work there anymore, but she's an honorary member of the staff forever and Starlyn's friend, so she got invited.

Everyone's favorite co-worker, Starlyn, celebrates a birthday today. We celebrated Friday at work. We put together an impromptu lunch. It was great. We had sloppy joes, chips, carrot sticks with dip and cupcakes. Mat said if he didn't need money, he wouldn't work, but he's glad to work in the lab since he needs the money. I concur. I never thought I'd work outside the home, but since it's necessary, I consider myself truly blessed to work in a place that I love, with students I grow to love, and, most of all, with co-workers that I love. We are family. The foods lab is a safe place for us all.

Finally, Keenan celebrated his 49th birthday. This is what he got - an 11-lb tub of Nutella. It even has a handle. He is so excited about it. I couldn't have found a more perfect gift.

I Really HATE September 11th

September 11, 2001 was the day life changed in America FOREVER. It was a Tuesday. I remember that because back then, I only worked on Tuesdays. I waited most of the morning for word about classes. I really didn't know if we'd have class or not. Ends up that we did. Anyway, that morning, I got up and turned on the TV, as I usually did, to watch "Good Morning America." The coverage began soon after I turned on the TV. I couldn't believe it. Rather than shield everyone in the house from what was going on, I left the TV on. Maybe I shouldn't have. Kamiko was 8, Allie was 5 and Melia was 2. I know of people who turned theirs off. I guess I just had to see what was happening. Tower one was hit. Tower two was hit.

This was obviously not an accident. One tower fell, another fell. I don't remember the timeline. It was probably within a couple of hours. The images of the towers on fire, then falling, were horrible.

I had been there in 1981. I had been to the top of the towers. Because I'm afraid of heights, I walked on the interior of the observation floor. I only approached a window once. I did want to see the view from that high just once...while I was there.

I can't imagine how scary it must have been to live in NYC at the time. My friend, Liz Kenney, who lives in Brooklyn, was working not far from the towers. In fact, she told me when we visited her about that day. She was in her office, the top floor of a 5-story building. She had a skylight over her desk. She saw the shadow of a plane go over her desk and thought that was odd. She knew something was wrong to have such a low-flying plane. They heard the first hit and went to the top of their building to see what was going on. She expressed to her boss that they should go immediately to the store to buy water, food, contact solution, etc. That this was a bad thing and they may be stuck at work for a long time. She asked him how much cash he had. He kinda dismissed her. She was insistent. Then, the manager came in. He had come from the financial district before things got bad. He immediately asked how much cash they had and confirmed what Liz said. As it happened, they did get supplies, but were able to go home that night. They were prepared, just in case, though. She said it was surreal to have debris found in their neighborhood...mail, papers, etc., and to see memorials pop up in the neighborhood for those who died. What a tragedy for a city to go through.

When the towers were on fire, I guess it was evident to those on top floors that they wouldn't make it out alive. Some chose to jump, instead of waiting for their death. Sorry to post such disturbing photos, but a lot of people have forgotten what really happened on this day. Some younger kids haven't seen video of the attacks. A couple of years ago, we were driving by a place in Draper where they always place hundreds of flags as a memorial. I commented that if we looked, we might see if they were setting up the flags for 9/11. Melia's friend asked "What's 9/11?" Americans need to know and remember what 9/11 is. On our calendars, it's called "Patriot Day." I still think of it as 9/11.

Under President George Bush's and NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani's leadership, Americans really came together for a while. For me, and probably for a lot of people, there was hope that life might "get back to normal." I hoped this was a blip - although awful - in our history. Well, 12 years later, it's obvious that this was a changing point in our history. We have terrorists now. They are an everyday part of our nation's concerns. We have warnings. There are unsafe parts of the world and everyone knows about them now. It's a different country and world now. That's why I hate September 11.

First Responders place flag on pole that survived the attacks

I taught lecture on the 11th this week. I got to work and Starlyn had on her patriotic apron. She wore red, white and blue. She said she made sure her kids did, too. I need to do that. It would help make it a better day.

Charlie's Angels Celebrate Another Birthday

So, when I was a teenager, there was a show called "Charlie's Angels." It was about three women who were detectives. Their boss was the never-seen-only-heard-by-phone Charlie.

The Originals - Jacklyn Smith (Kelly), Farrah Faucett (Jill) and Kate Jackson (Sabrina)

Anyway, I am one of a new group of "Charlie's Angels" according to Charlotte Hoopes. Sandy, Sherrie and I have been walking together pretty much every morning, rain or shine, snow or not, for years now. When Charlotte is out on her run and sees us she calls us "Charlie's Angels." The three of us have yet to determine who is whom. I think Sherrie would have to be Jill since she's the sexiest of the three of us. I'd probably be the least glam one, Sabrina, which leaves Sandy as Kelly. There, it has been determined.

Well, Sandy had another birthday. See a year ago when we celebrated her 50th in Deer Valley, although Sherrie wasn't there. Many friends and family attended. This year, it was more quiet. The three of us went up to Salt Lake to shop at Trader Joe's, then we went to Moochies, a sandwich place that is DELICIOUS. It has even been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network. We had a great day. I love my angels.

I had to send a picture to Derek. He loves Moochies!

Sherrie and Sandy, my angels

The grub...Philly Cheese Steak, Italian Sub and Eggplant Parmesan