So, it's a new year. Any goals? It's been pretty cool. On our drive home from Cali, Sarah and I spent the whole car ride or so talking about things we want to improve for the year. Things of import to us. It was easily the fastest car ride to Arizona I have taken. Temple attendance is a big one that we have. We've agreed to go every week, normally on Wednesday evenings. We also want to experience all the parts of the temple and not solely on the endowment (however, I do love that part a lot). So we set aside each week a different activity. It goes first Wed: Baptisms and confirmations, Initiatories, Endowment, and Sealings, and if there is a fifth Wednesday, a walk-a-bout. We were able to make it to the temple this week on Friday. And since it was the first week of January, we went to do Baptisms. I was in a rush because I had made plans for date night, and then Sarah wanted to get something to eat from Mickey D's before, which made me impatient, but it was a good thing we got there when we did, because right when we walked in we ran into one of Sarah's good friends, Alex Speiser. He was at our open house in Utah, and he helped Sarah move out of her Utah apartment to move to California, especially when she was disabled at the time. He not only did that, but I learned about weeding and am still learning about guided meditations from him. It was like running into a celebrity. He was there for his cousin's wedding.
Well, the Gilbert Temple has a policy about baptisms that can appear stingy, but overall it makes sense. If you are endowed, they want you to bring your own family names to the temple, otherwise, they only give you so many names to do. Like three. We knew it, but still didn't bring any, because we didn't have any. But, we plan to bring names next time (in a month). Anyways, the line for baptisms on a Friday during a holiday while people are on vacation was one to two hours long. Sarah and I spent a good portion talking about things we can do to improve our lives. And ultimately, decided to do just confirmations. I was able to confirm Sarah and two other sisters. And then I got confirmed.
Well, our plans changed that night (which was date night). At the temple, I was expressing to Sarah that I wanted to get our finances in order and be in the loop with all our purchases. Well, instead of going hiking, we stayed in and worked out budgets and money allocation charts and money projection charts on Google Sheets. It actually felt good to just sit down and talk openly about things that we want and need and our bills and where our money will go. Part of our goals was to save up our Emergency Savings account and also save for Disneyland with you and the family in June, and a trip to Sarah's family Family Reunion in July. We also talked about debts that we have and how we want to pay them. Overall, it was a good Money Council, and I had fun making the charts (into Saturday). And don't worry, you're probably like you didn't take your wife on a date? Well, we did order in Jimmy Johns. So overall, lovely night.
Wow, church was definitely something else. It felt just a bit weird. I was in Primary helping Sarah out with piano playing since the normal pianist wasn't there. Music time was very short. But Sarah did a great job getting the kids involved in singing the song Search, Ponder and Pray, and learning about the doctrine through discussion of the critical points of the primary song. She did a great job. We start church at a weird time: 10:40am. And we have combined schedule with the Udall Ward. Our Sacrament meeting is last. It was pretty irreverent today. Sarah suggested that for future sacrament meetings we have a member of the Branch Presidency excuse the previous ward out of the chapel, because we don't start on time either, because of the stragglers. Hopefully it'll get better.
Part of our goals was scripture study. Well, Sarah and I spent a good portion of a day reading and learning from the Come, Follow Me manual but in Spanish. We did it in one sitting. But we began our study for next weeks lesson today after church and lunch. We decided to extend the Come, Follow Me study throughout the week (because one sitting is a bit long), and incorporate it in our study of the Book of Mormon. We did our best to finish the Book of Mormon for 2018, but ultimately, we made it Alma 5. But since then we have continued reading it, and plan to finish it asap.
As you know, I'm a record keeper. That's why I write you such detailed letters. I have found another way of keeping records, and it is through video recording the events of the day (or in other words, vlogging). Sarah (and her friend) got me a camcorder for Christmas, and since then, I have been messing around with it. Learning the ropes of good filming. I'm not a pro, just yet. But, like my favorite video blogger, Jonathan Carlin, I plan to make weekly (maybe bi-weekly or so) videos of my life and the life of my family and close friends. I have been working on recording the events of Christmas on through January first, and I am actually very happy with my work in editing the series of videos I have made. As soon as I have the right software, these videos will go on YouTube. I am excited at the prospect. And Sarah's been helping. We bought a tripod, for me and for her, since she wants to make videos to help other people, and with a Amazon gift card I got from mom, I used some of the money to get a 2 TB portable hard drive solely for pictures and video. I have software, but it leaves a watermark in the trial version. (It makes great movies, though).
Last Sunday was our 1st year wedding anniversary. For Christmas, Briana got us two giftcards for Outback Steakhouse. So we went on December 31. The food was extraordinary. And of course, so was the company. We noticed a store called Chef'Store close by. We went and Sarah fell in love. It was a grocery store that sells in bulk to Restaurants and the public. We walked around, and Sarah was excited to see all the things she liked. They even have an indoor freezer and large jackets for you to wear inside the freezer. It's a good thing, because there are a lot of things to find in the store. We had a very fun time walking around.
We made a calendar which we will update each week with plans for meals we are going to cook. We have the sister missionaries over on Tuesday, and actually the Elders on the Tuesday after that. Not only that, but the other day, the sisters asked us if we could have FHE with one of their recent converts and good friend to us, a teenage girl named Valeria. They actually want to watch the Feature Length Restoration video with us.
Which actually brings me to some exciting news: The previous branch president, Raul Cruz, gave us a call and asked us if we wanted a TV. Come to find out, it is a 55" Plasma TV, with 3 HDMI ports! At first we were hesitant, because we had made some plans to save for a projector (this was before we saw the TV), but this way we can actually save for it, and watch on the TV in the mean time. Sarah already had invited Angie, a friend from work, to come watch the first Fantastic Beasts movie with her on that TV. We don't have a stand yet. I tried to make one with our plastic crates, but I was unsatisfied and scared of the nice TV being in such a precarious position. So, we have a TV.
We were able to call Uncle David today for his birthday. He was watching the Eagles vs. the Cubs. But he took some time to talk to us and formally (over the phone) meet Sarah for the first time. It was quite a fun conversation that involved Jim McMahon and questionable practices that were allowed way back in his day.
All I know about sports is that BYU lost pretty badly to St. Mary's in basketball yesterday. I wasn't able to watch it, but now the prospect of watching sports on a big screen TV get me excited. Not only that but, as you guess, Australian Open starts soon (another thing to look forward to watching on the screen). You should come visit us after you get home, just to experience our TV and of course Marvel movies and any other movies you want to catch up on. I don't know too much about who all is playing in the Open, but when I find out, I'll let you know and keep you updated. Hopefully Roger is playing, along with Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray. I wanna see those guys in action. Tennis is always better on a big screen. OH, and if you are wondering, it isn't a smart TV, but we do have ChromeCast, so no worries.
I've been wearing Mocos. Yes, mocos de gorilla. In other words, if you don't know what that is, it's this super strong hair gel. I like my hair at its length now, and that gel has been so good. I wonder how healthy it is for my hair.
Our apartment has been so nice these last couple of days. On one of the days we got back we decided to clean it. And as a resolution, we have been doing our best to keep it looking sweet. It definitely has made me feel really good, and I feel the spirit lingering here these days even more.
Our New Year's was super great. We went to our good friend Carlos Santos' parent's house in Maricopa. We celebrated with them, an uncle of theirs, a couple who live by us as well called the Neumans (we gave them a ride there and back) and Carlos' sister and her husband. We ate some Posole and Tamales. We then played some minute-to-win-it games and spoons. They even had fireworks on hand. It was probably one of the bests New Years I've had in a long time. 15 minutes before new years, we got in a circle as couples and said something that we are grateful for about our spouse. We went in order of longest marriage to beginnings of marriage. So, we were 2nd to last. I'm glad, because I had to think hard about something in Spanish I could say about my wife. Then we counted down using my phone as reference. It was spectacular. I hope to carry a New Years tradition similar to theirs in the future.
Overall, beautiful week. Sad to see vacation go. Hopefully, with working at Mesa, we can keep on the good work. Pray for us.
I love you so much, brother. I am so happy you are out there. You make me proud to call you my brother.
Love You,
John
P. S. Sarah and I took the Pottermore sorting quiz, and while Sarah professes to belong to Ravenclaw, she got Hufflepuff this time, which is the house I got the last two times. We are similar I guess, haha. I've come to terms with Hufflepuff, seeing as how my one of my favorite Harry Potter characters, Newt Scamander goes there.
