Terra's Birthday

Happy birthday Terra I love you.

Jeremy

I can't get it to embed correctly here is the link.

Truly my empty nest

This time it's real. Before, Carl went a way to school for months at a time but always called multiple times a day. He was always in my thoughts and prayers with one concern or another. Yesterday I sent him off to be in the Lords hands for two years. No more phone calls, no more what do you think of this mom, or hey mom you'll never guess what crazy thing we just did! It's all between him and the Lord and I'm left to be happy and have faith as he serves. I decided sending your last child out on a mission with no one else home is like labor and delievery. It hurts like crazy but you want to go through it because you so bad want whats at the end. I cry thinking of missing those phone calls 10 times a day but smile at the love he has to serve the Lord and the people of Brazil. Now maybe the other 4 children of mine can finally get more attention. Ha. How I love them all and their dad. I am blessed! Thank-you all for your love and support of my family. We are who we are because of wonderful people like you.

Elder Spencer is off

As of today, April 27th, 2011 Elder Carl Spencer is in Brazil for 2 years. He will spend a couple months in Sao Paulo at the training center and then go to his assigned mission--Vitoria, Brazil.

He spoke in church this last Sunday on Easter and did a marvelous job speaking on the atonement and missionary work. He taught his last Sunday school class to the 12-13 year olds and they will miss him dearly. He was set apart that night amongst family and friends. His roommate this last year at BYU-Idaho came to see him off as well.

As soon as Elder Spencer was set apart he pulled out his name tag from his suit coat pocket, put it on, and hugged his mother. It was very apparent he had been waiting to put that tag on for a long time and also how much he loves his mother.

As we got to the airport he was very excited and nervous but was still his good old self having a good time and making other people laugh. As most of us know with Carl he has a special talent of finding humor in situations and making people laugh and feel included. He will be such a great missionary as he shares that talent with the people in Brazil. I can just see all of the members and people in Vitoria who will love him dearly and the little Brazillian kids who will steal his name tag and come up with nicknames for him.

As it was time to say goodbye, with tears in his eyes and his infectious smile, he announced that his final words were "Remember, have a good time, don't be a good time." We will miss Elder Spencer very much. Through tear stained eyes we glanced back to get one last look at our Elder standing in the security line. The boy we all knew who was always the "baby" and youngest child was suddenly all grown up. He looked sharp, refined, and full of purpose. He truly looked like a man, but more importantly like a missionary for the Lord.

As he went through the security line at Sea-Tac, he found 10 other missionaries all traveling to Brazil from Seattle! He called from the airport in Dallas already with missionary experiences and the words "Mommy, I am having a blast!"

God speed Elder Spencer!

Spring in Seattle!

Springtime is Seattle is coming. It has been a very well expected event, however it is not as exciting as the change to spring in Minnesota. In Minnesota it is very pronounced when spring comes because the snow melts and when the temperatures get up to 40 it feels so warm. Here it is exciting to see the flowers and trees wake up, but it is much less contrast in temperature and amount of rainfall. But I love it, and I've even learned some great lessons this spring. After living in Washington for 20 out of 22 years, I can now officially distinguish between a camellia bush and a rhododendron bush. You would think I would know what the state flower would look like compared to others, but apparently I didn't.

School is going well and the spring quarter is already into week 4. I am taking a biology class that goes into plant physiology in the first (really, they can talk about plants for 5 weeks, it is possible!) and animal physiology in the second half. Then I have organic chemistry lecture and a lab. Last week we did some experiments and reactions using yeast and we all had a fun time joking how the University is so nice to teach us how to ferment our own alcohol!

My house is going well with my 8 other roommates. We call it "The Manor House." Because the different houses in the wards that have LDS people living in them all get their own unique names so everyone can keep them straight. There are names like the Big House, the Girls Big house, the Tree house, the Thai house and many others. The other day one of my roommates came up to me when I was by the sink and asked "Is that your plastic pitcher right there" I said "Yes." He said "Ok, because the other day I saw it sitting out and it was full of water." I said "Yeah, I use it for my orange juice and I was letting it soak with soap water on the counter before I washed it." He said "Yeah, I found that out. When I saw it, I was so excited someone made lemonade and left it on the counter. So I poured a glass and took a drink and realized that it wasn't lemonade at all...I almost threw up!" I started laughing pretty hard because when I put water in it, the leftover orange juice does give it a yellowish tint. haha! That is what he gets for trying to drink my "lemonade!"

Institute is fantastic here and this quarter I am taking a Book of Mormon one class covering the first three books in it. I am still on the institute council and we just had a big fiesta as the opening social for spring quarter. Me and my roommate Bryan did not win the nacho eating contest. :( Last quarter a group of business students from BYU-I came to Seattle to interview for summer internship positions and we hosted a dinner for them at the instittue. I put together a little "Seattle/Institute Highlight" video for them to get to know Seattle better and I'll put it up so you all can see what the institute is like and more of how it works. It really is a neat place!

I spend most of my time when I'm not studying with my friends I call "The science squad." This is the science squad making our gangster/crazy faces.

I love these people a lot!! We are all sophomores and pre-med so we call ourselves the science squad. My roommate Bryan is on the right and Maren is on the far left. The really amazing girl between me and Bryan is Maggie. We have been dating for about 2 months now and she is from Provo, Utah. Truthfully, more of my free time is spent with her than the others of the science squad, but I'm okay with that! We have been going on really fun dates, the most recent being the Puyallup Spring fair and an amazing surprise date she planned where we toured Boeing in Everett where they make the huge planes and went to Paul Allen's historic plane museum. It was fantastic!

I love you all!!

Neil and Amber

Amber and Neil both graduated from BYU-Idaho and bought our first home in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. They both started great jobs at Lands’ End corporate headquarters. Neil works as a financial analyst and Amber works at the Corporate Wellness/Fitness Center. Amber coaches a local youth swim team and serves in the Branch primary. Neil helped out the high school football team in the fall and now helps coach a 6th grade basketball team. He also serves in the Branch young men’s presidency. They are anxiously awaiting their first baby. Amber is due June 6, 2011. Life in a mid-west town of 4,000 people is simple, but beneficial. They still haven’t become Packers fans, but do enjoy the brats and cheese.

Family Christmas Card

Here's the link to our family's photo shoot.

Click Here

Courtesy of Brandy Stone Photography

Ceu sou chamado para servir!

This year has been a great growing experience for me. I finished three semesters at the world’s greatest school BYU-Idaho. I came to learn that strange little Rexburg really was the place for me! I had a chance to get involved with student government. I ran a program for the school called Student Ambassadors. We gave tours to High School students who were interested in looking at BYU-Idaho. Besides driving a golf cart that can fit six people, and facing the bitter cold that seems to be associated with this great place, I came to love the campus and life at BYU-Idaho even more. I also was able to work with BYU-Idaho Service Activities, where I got to serve as a manager twice and a coordinator for my last semester. I have had the chance to get two jobs on campus also to help pay for schooling, I worked in the Admissions office and as a Student Promotions Coordinator for the Universities Food Services.

Besides the fun of service, having Dean come home was a highlight of my year!. It has been great to learn that we are actually more alike than I thought, and yes, this year he did beat me in a wrestling match over thanksgiving break! I still love him though, and have loved the lessons he has taught me about missionary service!

Now for the great news many of you have been waiting to hear! I have received my Mission Call!!! I have been called to serve in the Vitoria, Brazil mission! I will be speaking Portuguese and I leave for the Brazil missionary training center on May 4th, so I do have some time to work and save and spend some final precious moments with my family. I don’t know if it has set in yet that my Mothers baby is now just about 20 years old and about to leave on the thing she and I have been so anxiously awaiting since I could remove all the pots and pans from the cupboards.
Life is full of great experiences! I really look forward to what is around the corner, and more importantly what the Lord has in store for me this next year! This being my last report for the next two years, may we remember who we really came from! And have a wonderful holiday season!
- (Almost Elder) Carl James Spencer