Sevark Central

We take just about any chance we can get to escape the heat -- and did so again this long labor day weekend!  It was a nice getaway after getting Porter's mission call.  Luckily we didn't come up on Friday evening, because an accident caused hours of delay...we purposely avoided traveling on Friday night to miss the traffic.   We came up early on Saturday morning and are leaving back home tonight.  Bentley, Maizey and Noah decided to stay back at home due to work and other activities, but the rest of us came up, along with Micah & Danny family and JuLee & Darren family.  Lots of cousins running around playing, good food, visiting and fun -- all in perfect temperatures!  It was funny to see cousins gathering around Kami to look at her mission pictures and hear about her mission!  :-)  It was a great weekend away from the valley!


 

Porter's been waiting for today all week with much anticipation for his mission call -- well, with as much emotion as Porter is capable of showing!  :-)  He hides it pretty well, but when I asked him on our way home from work Friday if we wanted to check the mail first or go straight home, how quickly answer, "I want to check the mail".  :-)  And that he did...Today was the day -- his mission call was there waiting for him!  I actually was a little sneaky and had Kami go look for me real fast so I would know if we could stay at work a little longer or not -- but we came immediately home when she said it was there!  ;-)  It was long afternoon for Porter until 7PM when he opened it -- I'm not sure if it was longer for him of for Kami and Caleb who seemed more excited than him to open it!  About 6:30pm, people started showing up...first it was the missionaries, then Grandma & Grandpa Porter, then cousins, uncles & aunts, friends, Bishop, etc.  We had quite the turn out considering it was Friday evening before Labor Day weekend.

At last the moment had arrived, 7PM and everyone was there!  Lexine did her usual magic in making lots of desserts and goodies for everyone to snack on -- Kami helped her and they even made lots of popcorn since that is one of Porter's favorite treats!  Porter climbed to our ramiumptum staircase platform which has become the location of choice for reading mission calls and quickly ripped open his call.  We all awaited in anticipation for him to read the words, "you have been called...", but being a man of few words, he went straight for the location, "Argentina Beunos Aires South!" -- leaving all of us a little shocked, but quickly the cheer went out with excitement for him!  He will be leaving on January 14th -- it will be here before you know it!  Now we've got to get started right away completing all his passport paperwork and immunizations, going thru the temple, and all the other fun stuff to get ready!  I'm sure proud of you Porter -- I know Mom would have given anything to have been here physically with us tonight!  You're an amazing young man and will be an outstanding missionary!

Today was Bentley's special day and very last birthday at home before her mission!  Next year she'll spend this day in France!  For her birthday, Bentley got her temple clothes -- a new tradition in our home for these later birthdays as kids get ready to go on their missions.  I wonder what Porter will get in a few weeks for his birthday?  :-)  It was a great day for her...Lexine and Bentley went to the Temple in the morning, then she went to lunch with her friend Katie Steck, she chose Pita Jungle for her birthday dinner with Lexine and me, and then ended the evening with some great friends coming over for Ice Cream -- Trotters and Cluff's.  Sister Cluff made her this beautiful scrabble blanket which was a wonderful surprise for her as well.  Happy 19th birthday...I hope it was a great one!  You are doing much with your life to be proud of!

Today was Kami's big homecoming talk at church!  She did wonderful as we knew she would and bore her testimony in spanish as everyone hoped she would.  She is such an amazing young lady -- I couldn't be more proud of that girl and I know for sure her mom beams with pride as she looks down upon her.  But today was also Porter's big day -- he received the Melchizedek priesthood today!  He was interviewed by the Stake President and found worthy to receive it and submit his mission papers.  We should be receiving his mission call this week or next!  I was my privilege to confer the Melchizedek priesthood upon him and ordain him to the office of an Elder.  Grandpa Porter and Severtson both participated, as well as Bishop Alleman, his counselors Brother Brooks and Larson, and Lee & Darren and even uncle Russell participated.  It was even more special that Great Grandma Reed was able to be there for both Kami & Porter's special day -- she gave Porter some knuckle after the ordination!  :-)  It reminded me of Cindy giving Porter a thumbs-up the night before she died.  I suspect one of these days, weeks, months or years Grandma Reed will be running into the Cindy and tell her how great these kids are doing!  It was pretty much a Sevark day at Church with Kami speaking, Porter playing the organ,  Garrett Blessing the sacrament, Noah preparing the sacrament, and Caleb & Jonah passing it.  Bentley was at her best friends mission farewell, but she'll be leaving on her mission in just a few weeks...Maizey was also set apart as a counselor in her Laurels Presidency today as well.

After church, we all come to our house with lots of family and enjoyed Sweet Pork salads and visited.  It was a truly wonderful day!  I'm sure proud of what all the kids have become or are becoming!

This weekend was a crazy one as they all are, but for our kids in mutual, it was even more crazy since the entire day Saturday they spent at the Stake Play-in-a-Day activity.  When I was a youth, we used to spend weeks preparing for Road Shows, but these days in the stakes we've been in, they do it all in a single day -- then perform their mini-plays for the adults that evening.  Contrary to what you might think, our kids loved it!  They worked hard, but had a blast doing it!  And we found out they have some pretty amazing acting and performing talents too!  Great job guys...you guys are amazing!

Well, after two surgery's to remove ulcers, I have one again defied Doctor's knowledge as my ulcer is back in the exact same spot that they removed 1 foot of my intestines twice to get rid of it!  I had a routine procedure today to check how my insides were doing after my surgery last year, only to find that its back.  Apparently this is my lot in life...I can take it, I still have 20 feet of intestines to go!  But it has shown that 3 different medicines have provided no benefit.  I'm not sure what they'll try next and I don't think they know either.  But for now we'll just keep patiently enduring!  :-)

Just 1 day more than a week after Kami returned from her mission and here she is, along with Porter, starting her first day back at ASU!  This was Porter's very first day at ASU!  Both of them were excited to get to go together and have many of their classes near each other.  It was my privilege to give them both Father's blessings last night right after Noah's first football game!  You both are amazing...I'm sure proud of you!

Tonight was Noah's first high school football game of the season!  He's been working hard preparing for tonight...summer football camps, practices, etc.  But tonight was his big night and was even better because the coach put him in for a few plays.  They played Poston Tech and won 54 to 13 -- creamed them!  Great job Noah...you're awesome!

Four years ago today I asked Lexine to marry me in the celestial room of the Salt Lake Temple.  I was a very lonely man, still missing Cindy terribly -- as I suspect I will for the rest of my life.  But I had found someone who had experienced similar, who was a ray of sunshine in a very dark and lonely time of my life, someone who healed me when I was with her.  There in the celestial room, I asked her if she could contain her emotions...when she said "yes, why?", I asked her to reach into my pocket and get my chapstick -- there taped to it was the ring and I asked her there if she would marry me.  I know, pretty cheesy, but this was only the 2nd time in my life I ever proposed to anyone!  :-)  She of course said "yes" and that event initiated the beginning of the rest of our lives together.

Lexine is an amazing woman and I am forever grateful that she accepted my proposal.  She's made my life happy again.  Its no wonder Cindy told me she hoped I would marry someone like her after she and Lexine had lunch together with her best friends Shari and Bev -- maybe she knew...  Lexine and I have a rare and odd relationship, as we love each other, but also realize we love someone else on the other side.  I love you Lexine...you are such a wonderful woman and mother, I am honored to have you as my wife.  Here's to many more great years ahead!

Its official...Porter's mission papers are now submitted!  It took a couple days longer than we expected because we didn't calculate the days correctly, but they are in now!  Get your guesses ready...I suspect it will arrive at the earliest around a week from this coming Friday (around Aug. 29th).  Great job Porter!  What an exciting time in our home!  :-)

With all the craziness already this week, we could let the weekend go by without adding more to it!  Kami really wanted to go to the cabin, so a few of us headed there for a visit with Grandma & Grandpa Severtson.  While we were gone, Noah had football practice, Bentley had work, Maizey had Student Council, and Garrett had his first swim meet.  Garrett started coming down with a cold on Friday and felt terrible, so he didn't do so well at the meet which he felt kept him from making the Varsity team -- but he can still move up if he does good during the season.  Never a dull moment around this home...lots of kids, lots of different directions -- but always moving upward!  ;-)

Today was the day we've all been anxiously waiting for...Hermana Severtson returned!  We got up early...Porter and I actually went to work while the rest of the family got up around 6:30am to head out the door by 7am to pickup Kami.  It was a rainy previous evening and morning, so traffic was terrible, so the family met Porter and I at work at 8AM to head to the airport!

We arrived at the airport around 8:45am...Kami's plane said it was landing early at 8:54am, so we impatiently waited!  :-)  It was torture since they kept changing the arrive time back until almost the original time it was supposed to arrive (9:17am).  There we met grandma & grandpa Porter, grandma Glasgow and then lots of others arrived:  Kirk & Keta family, Danny & Micah family, Grandpa & Grandma Severtson, Tyson, etc.  Finally the moment arrived, people from her flight started coming thru the security exit.  Then all of a sudden there was Kami...looking as happy and pretty as she did 18 months ago when we said our goodbyes!  Sneaky grandpa Porter stood at the side of the security exit and got to her first, then she came down to the rest of us.  Caleb was trying to beat me to her, so I grabbed the back of his shirt, but that didn't stop him.  We both lunged at her and hugged for a few moments.  Then the masses moved in and enveloped her in their arms. What a wonderful reunion to have her back!

Then it was over to Pete's Fish & Chips to see uncle Lee and get Kami some good, greasy american food after being gone so long -- Thanks Lee!  After, we stopped by the cemetery to visit Cindy's grave -- I'm sure she was bursting with pride for Kami coming home...I can just see and hear her so clearly in my mind!  Then it was a quick drive by the new Gilbert Temple and home!

All the kids visited with Kami the rest of the afternoon until 4:30 when it was time to meet with President Zemp to be released.  Kami brought home Chile soccer shirts for all the kids which they were excited for, and then placed the very last dot for the last day of her mission tracker.  Then at 6pm, everyone started showing up for her openhouse to have desserts and visit.  It was fun to see her speak in Spanish to the Delgado's and visit with family.

I can't believe how fast the time has gone by...18 months was a blink of then eye.  Before we know it, it will be Bentley, then Porter...then all of the kids.  I'm sure proud of all these kids!  Great job Kami!

Porter started his new calling this week in church as the ward organist!  He's been practicing off and on all week to get ready for it, but today was his big day.  He did great!  He played the prelude music, then three separate songs during the meeting.  I have always loved the kids playing the piano around our home, so I'm glad I'll be getting to hear the hymns being played much more now with all the practicing Porter will be doing.  It will be exciting to have him play for Kami's homecoming talk in two weeks as well!  Btw, these pictures were taken from the previous week's fireside...so don't think we were snapping them during church!  ;-)  Good job Porter!

Maizey had a call to be at church early this morning to meet with a member of the bishopric.  To her surprise, she will be serving in another class presidency...this time with the Laurels!  She was asked to service as the 2nd counselor to President Cooper -- a young woman who moved into our ward just a couple months ago.  If I'm not mistaken, Maizey has served in a presidency for every one of her YW classes.  Its no surprise, she loves and is a friend to all the young women.  Great job Maizey...we're sure proud of you!

Today was a big day for Porter!  He had two interview for two different things...he met with Bishop Alleman after church for his final mission interview and for the Melchizedek priesthood, then mid afternoon he met with Stake President Zemp for the same two things.  He's all set now...just has to wait until August 13th to submit them which is 120 days before he can leave (ironically that is the same day Kami comes home as well).  What a fun time in our family as we receive one daughter back from a mission and send two more kids out (Bentley & Porter).  You'll be a great missionary Porter...keep up the great work!

They thought they did great this week during try-outs, but they were both sick...Caleb had strep throat and Jonah has had a terrible head-cold.  So it really came as a surprise on Friday when the cut list was published and they discovered they were both on it.  These two boys are quite resilient though and didn't let it bother them...they knew they did their best and are fine with the outcome.  They were a little surprised though, especially since they though they were much better than some of the others trying out.  Also since Caleb made the team last year and the coach used him as the example several times during the week of how to do certain plays.  But in the end, they're happy and looking forward to trying out for the next sports to come in 2nd Quarter.  Great attitude guys...I'm sure proud of you!