Chaos everywhere

Chaos is exactly the word I would use to describe the apartment in La Isla so when I heard the quote by Deepak Chopra “All great changes are preceded by chaos” I knew exactly what he meant because I know eventually this chaos will turn into something beautiful. However, by the looks of it, it's going to take a miracle if they finish it in a week. 

We were supposed to be moved in by now so we have moved to a Hotel for a week and if they are not done by Monday, July 4th, we will be moving to the Hayne's apartment until they finish. The Hayne's are on home leave and were so kind to let us use their apartment so between now and when we actually move to our new home. I will not be writing in my blog as when i am away on vacation.

Now let’s get back to talking about the chaos. It has been particularly hard for Daniel to oversee this project because we were gone for almost three weeks and he didn't to be here as the apartment was getting remodeled. When we get home, we noticed that all the beautiful wood we had asked not to painted white was actually painted brown and that wasn't what we wanted. They only were going to leave the wood alone and perhaps shine it up with some clear gloss. 

Next, Daniel walks into the guest's bathroom and notices that the tiles on the walls are uneven. He talks to them about it and they would need to re do the whole thing top to bottom. This bathroom is all tile from floor to ceiling. We go to our bathroom and the shower door is too low. Even we short people would have to bend to get into the shower so they had to find another bigger sliding door and that meat doing a lot of adjustments in the bathroom. Next we go to the kitchen just to find out that the opening where the microwave is going to go is too small. After much debate on what to do, we decided to just move the microwave to a counter top area and use that space as a cupboard. That is where the spices are going to go. We also noticed that they had not run electrical outlets with both 220  and 110 Voltage like they supposed to. We wanted those throughout the house. 

Next we go to the laundry area and see the counter top with a crack like if it had been damaged when it was installed. We worked it out so they would buff it somehow so the mark is not too noticeable since we are only talking about the laundry room area and not the main kitchen. And like that, there were so many details that were not even close to what we had asked. 

Daniel is the kind of guy who gives is 100% everyone he does something so he expects the same from everyone else. There is a certain comfort that comes in knowing you have done your best, you have given 100% and done everything you can do. There’s no guarantee that everything is going to go perfect just because you did your part, but once have you done all you can you have to be willing to turn the rest over to God and leave it in His capable hands trusting everything will go as it should. I admit that it is scary to do that sometimes, but the reality is that it is truly all you really can do. You can’t control the outcomes, you can only control your efforts, so focus on those, and then sit back and breathe…and try to enjoy the moment.

Just like the quote says, “All great changes are preceded by chaos”. Great changes are exactly what is happening for us here in Manila as we move to a new home and our lives will be forever better because of it. Here is where the Area Presidency lives and my husband works very closely with them. He is their support, like an invisible do it all or servant. That is the only comforting thing. That all this work will pay off in the end and we will have a beautiful place to call home. 

Con amor,

Vero

Take it One day at a time!

Today we went to the mission Presidents orientation. Here is where the new Mission Presidents who are new get to have their first meeting before they start their missions. In 1961 the Church was established in the Philippines.  The land was blessed. The pattered is through the priesthood line. D&C 84

Some of the remarks that were said in there were: " The Lord want to accomplish something extraordinary... the combination of these elements unlocks the floodgates of Heaven... referring to the Philippines Area plan.  key words: Obey, Covenant, Establish. To get stronger multi-generational families in the Philippines. This Area plan is what the missionaries need to teach.
Keep the Sabbath day Holy. Philippine motto: I will be the one!

For mission President and their wives:
The mission Presidentes get a visit from one of the General Authorities called "mission tours' to get help from them. Sister Aadern: " you get undivided attention for two days from us, we normally stay in your home." When a General authority comes in to town, you get to visit with them. You may be asked to speak at Steak Conferences. You oversee the districts. Each missionary has a name and a six digit corresponding number. When a missionary needs to go home, keep the stake President in the loop. The parents need to know.

Here in the philippnes there is no divorce so people are allowed to get baptized if they have been living together but that is as far as it goes. They still need to wait to be sealed in the temple whenever they can finally obtain a annulment by the previous spouse and marry the new one. (It's complicated)

For a person to be baptized they need to attend at least 4 sacrament meetings on their own without the missionaries holding their hands. Abstain from violations to the word of wisdom. Repent from transgression. Read the assign Book of Mormon passages. Pledge to pay tithing and offerings.

Finishing remarks:
The time will go quickly, too quickly...
The Lord will give this experiences. I know you were called of God...
Remember: One day at a time. You are never alone!

Con amor,
Vero

Back to life, back to reality!

Late last night we got back from our trip to Utah. We took four suitcases full of gifts for the kids and grandkids, including bamboo banks. They are very popular here in the Philippines to teach young boys to save money for their missions. We need to start them young!

This was a very special trip because for the first time Daniel got to meet Oliver and Norah. Both born in January a day apart. We drove over 3,000 miles visiting Pablo and family in Denver, Ani and family in Nebraska and the girls in Idaho. Daniel has a soft spot for his little girls so it was so sweet to see him visit with Ani and Vale. We also got to see Hernan and family.

On Sunday, we were able to attend Church in Nebraska and the next Sunday for Father's Day we attended Church in Farmington. If we had stayed one more week maybe we could have attended Church in Denver or Idaho. I love going to Church with the kids and grandkids. For father's day we went to Maddox on Saturday and on Sunday the kids made milanesas. Daniel and Vale made enough for an Army.

We got to do so much while were in the U.S. but most significantly, we refinanced our home in Lehi, got a line of credit and bought a condo in Orlando. That was a little crazy but we did it! We kissed good bye the apartment in El Salvador to do an exchange for something in Orlando so my mom and sister could move there.

Today we went to a PEF meeting in Los Angeles near the former Clark Air Force. Daniel spoke to the group about what he learned from the Bishopric.  Now we are back facing reality: our move to a new home in La Isla is delayed and they need to start getting this home ready for the Bowmans so it is time to start packing again

Con amor,
Vero

Packing away!

I can't wait to see my family again. All I do is look at Facebook everyday to see what they have posted. I can't get enough of those cute grandkids but as I was packing I was thinking of Lynette Bowen and Elder Bowen. They are in Idaho with their family because one of their precious granddaughter had passed away. It was apparently an accident.

When a child dies it is extra hard because it is not the way it supposed to be. A mother should not have to burry her child. I feel for those good people like the Bowens who are enduring a hard loss.  A father , Aaron Gabrielson, said this at the funeral of his son Crew that I want to share in this post because it was beautifully written. He said:

There just hasn't been enough time to adjust from having that incredible little boy with us all the time. We had him in the morning, afternoon, evening and night. The first sound we heard in the morning was our son sneaking into our room, whispering mom, watch TV show? It was just days ago that our son Crew was smiling and laughing, and playing pranks on me. His favorite prank was stealing my seat. It you got up off the couch, he would run over and lay in your spot, stretch out his arms, smile a big mischievous grin. We would say: "Did you steal my spot? " and he would laugh and laugh.

It always surprised me how quickly Crew stole my heart. When he was newborn, just thinking about the love of his birth momCrystal in giving him to us made me cry. My sister Lisa told me after we adopted Crew, that I had turned into the bawl baby. I had never seen that kind of love up close until Crystal handed her baby to us. When he was a little older, he would wrap his little hands around my neck, squeeze me as tight as he could and say Squeeze! My heart would melt when he would say "Dada going to work? as I would leave each day.

From the moment we met him, Crew was loved. He was born into a wold of love. After we took him to the temple and were sealed for eternity, he became the anchor, the center of our family. The center of our world, from morning to night.

The last three years have been a gift from God. It has been the most joyful and happy time of our lives. Crew was a little factory that a created love, he left a trail of it everywhere he went. It was as natural as breathing for him.

Though his death, I believe Crew has given us a gift; an opportunity if we are open to receiving it. He has given us a chance to wake from spiritual sleep. Like a lightening bolt and thunder clap that hits your backyard in the middle of the night, that rattles an shakes your house, his death can't be ignored. Everyone is awake right now, when the lightening hits as close as it did with Crew. There is a choice now to drift back to sleep, or to stay awake by choosing something different. To be the same, or to be changed forever.

I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ, Someday, my beautiful boy will be given back to me as a little boy. All of the time that was taken from us will be given back. Every day that was taken from us will be restored. Jen will get to mother him and mooch all over his cute little face. I will get to hug him and chat him and hear him laugh. Our family will impatiently wait until that happy day comes. We will miss you Crew and love you forever.

I was thinking of Jose Ignacio, Julito Henriquez, Maria Cristina, and Ivory Gwen. Beautiful children angels who were taken into heaven to be with Jesus.

Con amor,
Veronica

Directors' Seminar

Directors' seminar!

Last week was the directors’ seminar (From May 30 to June 3 at pico del loro resort. It was a treat for us and very fun, informative but overall inspiring. It culminated with a temple session and a devotional by Elder Ardern.)

 Like always I come so edified and ready to take on the world! The seminar was so much fun; it even included a crucial conversation workshop, Zumba and water color painting for the spouses.

For the last dinner we also had singing and dancing. Kareoke is big here in the Philippines.  The last day at the resort we went on a boat ride around the island to look at some caves and the fish.

We concluded with a temple session and a devotional by Elder Ardern of the Seventy. He is ending his time here in Manila so I paid very closed attention to what he had prepared for us.

Before he spoke Daniel also spoke and quoted President Hinckley and President Monson back in 1996 and turned the time to Elder Ardern. He started his devotional by saying: “I think of an 18 wheeler truck when I think of you. Each of those 18 wheels (Directors) are very important to make the journey. Each of you is just as important but it is not enough to be the wheel we need every wheel turning. Doing what you are asked to do."

He gave us ten things every leader must do to be an effective successful leader:

1.    Speak up! When he was called as a General Authority and was about to say his testimony, President Monson spoke from the back and said: “speak up” This meant that whatever he had to say was important enough to speak up.

2.    Be approachable! People need to know that you are accessible and that you will lead from the front. Leadership has to start at the top. Employees want a boss who is real and human and one who cares. The more approachable you are the more the employees get behind you and will support you. When things are not going well "ask the manager" like "ask the missionaries" from Elder Nelson talk. 

3.    Open door policy and open mind too! In order to be successful you must create an environment that encourages the contribution and open sharing of information. Be the person people feel they can come to. Don't be trapped in your office. You need to be out and about.

4.    Be behind the scenes! Work for the collective good for the organization without worrying too much of who gets the glory. Create a culture where people come to know and care about one another’s success. Make others look good. 

5.    Be consistent! We need to always follow policy. The Lord was always consistent.

6.    Be willing to help! Be awesome and go the extra mile. There is something magical that happens when you are engaged and invested in the company.

7.    Train your replacement! A good leader finds talent to train as his replacement.

8.    A sense of humor! Have a sense of humor and find enjoyment in what you do. Keep a good attitude.

9.    Be kind! Treat people you lead with kindness. Every person needs to be treated with respect.

10. Correct in private! Don’t be afraid to give private direction when you are aware that something is wrong. Praise in public and correct in private. To leave a battle undone creates chaos.

He said that the reason why we are asked to read the scriptures is because in there we find all the wisdom needed to better our lives but we need to read with a concept in mind of what we are looking for. Example: 1 Nephi 17:3-9 when read with the intent of finding qualities of a good leader. Here are examples of what we will find. He asked us to read those verses and asked: What are some leadership principles we learn in those verses as we highlight those words?

V3 “Strengthen” To strengthen the staff so they may accomplish their work.

V6 “Rejoice” Find joy in leading your team.

V7 “Arise” Arise to accomplish the tasks of the day.

V7 “Prayer” Pray for inspiration

V7 “Mountain” Find the one place you go for inspiration. The mountain can be a place in your home or the temple.

V8 “Construct” we need to be the builders not the destroyers.

V8 “Tools” Know the tools available to you to do your work.

He concluded by saying: “Let’s be the managers that follow the Lord. We can take the knowledge from the secular world and the knowledge we find in the scriptures and marry them together to be the best managers we can be.”

After he said those words and bore his testimony I gave the closing prayer and as I was praying I felt so grateful for the opportunity and privileged I had to be there.

Con amor,

Vero

A legend has died

Over the weekend Muhammed Ali passed away. He was 74 with parkinson desease. He was two years younger than my mother. I have noticed that people suffering from Parkinson's die much younger. My mother remembers in 1975 when she was staying in the same hotel in Manila when she took a photo with him before he went to the ring. I hope she finds that picture.

He was funny and became an inspiration for so many. There are people like him in our lives that lift us up when we are down or help us through when times are tough. There are people in our lives who make us laugh and smile and make us feel better about ourselves. There are people in our lives that tell us we can do it when we feel like we want to quit or give up. There are people in our lives that take the time to tell us that we matter. There are people in our lives that stand as constant reminder that a God loves us because o the way they spread love to everyone they come in contact with. Muhammed Ali was one of those type of people.

He tells of a story when he had just won a gold medal and wanted to be served at a restaurant but couldn't because he was black. They told him: "We don't serve negroes." He discovered acceptance and found value in Islam according to him. I am so glad we have moved past that era and treat people of all races with respect and no longer have those ridiculous laws.

Con amor,
Vero

Abuela Nela turns 87

Finally we get to be home. For the last month I have gone to Utah for Mandy's graduation and quick as soon as I got home we went to the Mission Presidents seminar in Cebu the next day and next to the Director's seminar. It always seems that May and November are very busy for Daniel.

Today slowed things a bit so we were able to call Daniel's mom Nela (la abuela) to congratulate her on her birthday. She looks twenty years younger and has a great sense of humor. I wonder if I would get to be 87 someday, that would be in 31 years in January 3 2047. I wonder what the world would be like then. How many new grandchildren and great grandchildren would have been born by then. This is why it is important to stay healthy so that those last years of our life are well preserved. I would hate to be a burden on anyone. One thing I know. Our home would probably be our City Creek apartment unless we would want to remain in Bountiful.

Roberto, Daniel's brother was getting the BBQ grilled ready. Everyone is bundled up because it is winter there. It is the rainy season here in the Philippines and for the past few days it has rained and rained! I love it because the grass and the plants need it so bad. Some of our trees had died and had to be replaced. This year we are going to be spending Christmas in Uruguay and hopefully New Years and my birthday in Orlando with my mom and sisters. My mom is 76 but her health is much worse than Daniel's mother. We miss our dear moms and can't wait to be with them.

Con amor,
Veronica