Missionary brothers!

Many years ago I made these t-shirts for the boys that said:

I'm the little brother (and) I'm the big brother

Then after realizing both sons would be serving missions at the same time I thought it would be great to do something similar so...

I made Elder Ryler a t-shirt that says:

and I made Elder Parker a t-shirt that says:

then we found a way to get a photo of them together wearing these t-shirts! ;o)

I hope it will be a lot of fun for them to wear these on P-days and get to tell others about their brother who is also serving a mission!

It's official!

It has taken me a few days to sort through tons of recent photos and get everything posted so now I finally get to blog the main event... MTC DAY!!

On Wednesday, April 22 at 12:30 Elder Parker entered the MTC and officially began his service as a full time missionary! We were able to get all the traditional photos then sit with him for a meeting they hold for newbies and their families. Then we were asked to say our goodbyes (and keep it brief) after which the families exited through a door on the left side of the chapel and the new missionaries exited through a door on the right side. There was a very strong spirit there especially when the whole congregation of missionaries and their families sang "Called to Serve"! It was very emotional, exciting, scary, heart wrenching and joyous!

We've been sooooooooooo anxious ever since that point of separation to get the first letter from Elder Parker and hear how he's doing! The day after the MTC we did get a letter from Elder Ryler in the snail mail expressing his excitement for his brother being in the MTC so that was really great timing and lifted our spirits! Here's a few photos from that milestone day (for more pix click on "mission photos" in the side bar)...

For a few months (April 22 - July 24) we'll have the privilege of having two missionary sons serving at the same time, double the blessings!!

We have a winner!

This is old news now but we finally have the photo ready to post so we're announcing it again anyway! We had asked friends and family to guess where Parker would be called to serve and the winner was our Hawaiian friend whom we met in Okinawa and who is now living in Alaska! Marina taught Parker how to surf so they have a special ocean lover's friendship! She was the only one to guess Italy and won the traditional Cold Stone gift card! Yes, they do have a store in Alaska! =o) In fact we asked her to send us her pix in front of it so we could photoshop her in with Parker in front of the Layton store. Congratulations Crosley family!

Cold Stone Creamery

In all fairness we can't mention ice cream and not talk about Cold Stone Creamery! Both Elder Ryler and Elder Parker worked at the Layton store to earn money for their missions and really enjoyed working with the owners, the crew and the customers! Amazingly enough fellow crew member Elder Adam Jones was also called to serve in Italy (Milan mission)! He and Parker could often be heard singing Italian songs for customers who left a tip!

"A Cold Stone treat is the perfect way

to celebrate the sweetness of everyday life"!

If you've never been to Cold Stone,

stop by for an ice cream experience you'll really enjoy!

936 N. Main St, Ste. D, Layton

(just south of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts)

http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/

Video of Parker servin' it up "Arizona style"!

Gelato!

As requested, here is more info on the Italian dessert that was served Saturday night...

Donatello (a basic chocolate flavor)

Stracciatella (strah-cha-TEL-lah)

If you think of this kind of like the Italian gelato equivalent of chocolate chip ice cream, you’re in the ballpark. It’s a fior di latte base with chocolate bits in it. The chocolate has usually been drizzled over the top of the just-made gelato and then mixed in after it’s hardened, so rather than uniform chocolate bits you end up with pieces that look like needles. This is a very common flavor. (source: http://www.italylogue.com/food-drink/italian-gelato-flavors-decoded.html)


For the history of gelato and other info visit this web site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelato


You can get gelato at the Double Scoop Deli near the Syracuse Stadium 6 Theater.

Thank you!

Thanks so much to everyone for your extra care and concern in the final stages of Parker's mission preparation and departure. It has been so wonderful to feel of your love and support! Click on "mission photos" in the sidebar and this will take you to the Picasa website where you can view photos from many recent mission related events.

I love to see the Temple!

We've had many wonderful temple experiences with Parker recently!

Salt Lake Temple

St. George Utah Temple

Parker receives his own endowment in the St. George Temple!

Parker with some of the Hansen family

Draper Utah Temple

"Each temple is symbolic of our faith in God

and an evidence of our faith in life after death.

The temple is the object of every activity,

every lesson, every progressive step in the Church.

All of our efforts in proclaiming the gospel,

perfecting the Saints, and redeeming the dead

lead to the holy temple."

~Russell M. Nelson, “Prepare for Blessings of the Temple,”

Ensign, Mar. 2002, 17

We had a special FHE at the Salt Lake Temple inspired by an article in the Church News section of the Deseret News about touching the temple and letting the temple touch you.

We were blessed to attend the open house and later by satellite the dedication for the new Draper Utah Temple. It was an amazing opportunity to be inside this brand new Temple for an endowment session within the same week!

One of the many ways Parker has been preparing for his mission has been temple service. For several months now he has attended nearly every week performing baptisms for the dead. On March 12 he was blessed to receive his own endowment and can now participate fully in all of the temple ordinances! It was such a joyful occasion and one that we have anticipated since the day he was born!

Members of the Nielsen family were able to join Parker in temple service in the St. George Temple and later members of the Hansen family were able to join him in temple service in the newly dedicated Draper Temple!

During our last family vacation with Parker in St. George, we spent the whole day in the temple and participated in every single ordinance from baptisms to sealings! That was something I've always wanted to do and it was such a blessing to be able to do this with Parker!

During General Conference we felt a powerful impact when Elder Richard G. Scott spoke about Temples and we felt a sense of urgency to return often. It was especially poignant when one speaker shared the message of a child's statement "you're not lost when you can see the temple!"

Here are some links with valuable info about Temples:

Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need

The Purpose of Temples

Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples

This Primary song has been on my mind and in my heart during these wonderful temple experiences...

I Love to See the Temple, Children’s Songbook, 95

1. I love to see the temple.

I’m going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I’ll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

2. I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.

I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

I’ll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place

Where we are sealed together.

As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:

A fam’ly is forever.

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938

© 1980 by Janice Kapp Perry.

This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.