Here is the first letter that Bubba e-mailed to our family on August 2nd...Just 6 days after entering the MTC.
Hey everyone! Elder Pond here coming to you from the Provo MTC.....Just so everyone knows...I can only write letters or emails on my P-Day which is on monday. Anyways..The MTC so far has been pretty cool...it's been a big adjustment for sure...but i'm loving it. My companion is a Elder from Reno Nevada...everybody try not to cringe when you see that he went to College at BYU....where he was a star on the BYU marching band! haha i Love the kid...he's quite a dork but he's a really really good missionary and has one of the strongest testimonies i've ever heard. And of course i give him crap every single day for going to BYU (make my family proud)...the first few days were probably the longest days of my life...but I want to share a story with you that happened to me on Friday. I was in the dumps quite a bit, you may find it hard to believe that i was pretty homesick...I was trying my hardest to take my mind off of Home and work and study...but for some reason I couldn't seem to do it...Me and Elder Rouse were out side doing our Companion study for the day...and I was in a bit of a bad mood..i was praying that I could forget myself and get back to work but nothing really seemed to work...til suddenly an Elder that can only be described as a "frickin giant tongan"...came up to me while i was standing there and just simply looked at me and said "Hey Elder, when your Tag is up, someone is thinking about you." I looked down and my Mission Tag was sitting up on my front pocket...he pushed it down and introduced himself as Elder Ihone...the big giant tongan man from Bountilful, that played Defensive line for them...hopefull Dad remembers who i'm talking about. But it was really an uplifting moment and ever since then, most of the time, my mind has been on doing the work of the Lord. Don't get me wrong...I miss all of you so much. But i'm for sure where i'm supposed to be and it feels really good knowing that. Also...Elder Hayden Snow is in my District!!! hahaha it's HILARIOUS. So me and him see each other all day, which kinda makes it hard to be good because we always just want to beat each other up like always...but it's been real good having him here so close to me because we have some real good talks right before we have to go to sleep....he's been struggling quite a bit with homesickness, and keeps having all these bad dreams...but he's still working hard and his testimony is so awesome..By the way Mom and Dad, thanks for the cookies...they were so good...we all went to the vending machines and bought milks and downed them all in one night! Keep sending those Dear Elder letters...those are awesome, and make sure to tell the rest of the family or whoever about them...i'm sure that makes it a lot easier to send mail to me and It feels pretty dang good getting letters...Everyone in my District is starting to get really close and it's been really cool getting to know all of them...We got to go to the Temple today and do a session which was really cool...the Movie was different in the Provo temple though...So i didn't get to see Brother Ballam's beautiful hair cut as Satan...but an Elder that actually stays in my dorm here with me...whom we thought was the most spiritual/worthy of us all...actually got sent home today....PRETTY CRAZZYY!! but anyways...i'm sure you'll all find it hard to believe that I've actually had no problem getting up at 6:30 every morning, and i've been knocked out asleep BEFORE 10:30...because after a long day here...i'm pretty dang tired!! The experience here so far has been awesome, the Caffiene Free coke kinda sucks,,,but i'm getting used to it. All the Elders here are telling us that every day from here on out is going to fly...I hope that's true because i really want to get out there and start teaching... My spanish is actually coming along really well so far...I can pray and bear my testimony in spanish and carry small conversations...so hopefully with the spirit and with my awesome teachers I have, i'll the language down pretty well by the time I get out of here. Please keep sending packages of goodies...and also letters or emails...Ever since that first day on friday night when my District leader finally brought us our mail...I've felt so bad about how I treated Brady, and not ever writing him...so i'm sorry Brady..but will one of you make sure Kim knows about the Dear Elder website or whatever! Anyways, the little clock on my computer is ticking down really fast...and I just ate at the cafiteria...so I need to go run to the bathroom (it hits you real fast here) But I love all of you and I hope you're all doing good!
As Brady always says "The Church is True, and the Book is blue!"
I love you guys, stay out of trouble and tell the guys at Pounders whats up for me!\
Love, Elder Derek Bradford Pond
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Getting Up To Speed
It's been a while....so much has happened it feels like. Last I posted was when we found out we were having a little boy and that seems like forever ago! Well, it's still a boy and we're still excited as ever. I'm 28 weeks today, which means I'm in my 3rd and final trimester. Trimesters 1 and 2 will not be missed. I feel like this pregnancy has gone by pretty quickly but am afraid it's starting to slow down as the end draws nearer. The baby is super active and I can feel him moving almost all the time. He is usually more active at night but the other day he was moving ALL DAY and Dave was able to feel him kick harder than he's ever kicked before. Dave asked what I ate that day and I told him that I started the day off with a bowl of Lucky Charms. (Dave's ultimate favorite food) Dave cut me off right there and said "That's my boy!", assuming that that's why he was so active that day. I thought it was pretty cute! Dave is getting so excited and loves when he can feel the little guy move.
The baby's nursery is not done yet. I have already bought all the bedding, crib, changing table and dresser but have yet to set any of it up. I am painting the dresser red and it has been taking me a lot longer than I originally thought. Hopefully I can finish it soon so I can have my garage back! I also hope that Dave can have some nights off in the next couple of weeks to help me assemble the crib and changing table. It's not going to be the cutest baby's room for the fact that the room is wallpapered in 1970's flowers and since we don't own the house, I don't have the option of taking it down and painting. Hopefully I can camoflauge the hideousness with something cute....
On another note, we dropped my little Bubba off at the MTC on July 28. He will be serving in the Dallas, Texas Spanish Speaking Mission after his time in the MTC. On the 18th was his missionary farewell in Logan. I was very impressed with his talk that he gave and really felt the spirit. He spoke about the "Power of the Word", which I think is kind of a broad topic but he did very well and I was so impressed with his confidence and the words that he spoke (considering the fact that I know he wrote the talk in the middle of the night only a few days before that). My mom put together and awesome Texas BBQ lunch afterwards with BBQ chicken, cornbread and all the other yummy stuff. She definately went over the top, like always, but it was awesome. It was good to see so many friends and family support Bubba.
Before taking him to the MTC, we had lunch at the Brick Oven in Provo with my mom, dad, Brady and Virginia. Bubba's friend Hayden Snow was entering the MTC on the same day, so him and his family came to lunch with us. Taking Bubba to the MTC was a lot harder than I thought. He has been through some struggles in the last year and so I honestly thought that it would be more of a joyous occasion and a relief. I was still happy to see him going on a mission to serve the Lord but I was really sad to see him go. (If that even makes sense) After PLENTY of pictures in front of the MTC sign we all piled in my parents care and drove him to the curb in front of the MTC. He was so nervous and scared...my first instict was to protect him like I always do but there was nothing I could do. He has to grow up and this might just be his first step towards achieving that goal.
Since he has left, I have gotten 2 emails from him. He sounds great!! He has had a little homesickness but is learning alot. He says his companion is a nerd but that Hayden is in the same district as him while they're in the MTC so they struggle to concentrate sometimes. I will try to keep anyone updated that is interested in his mission. After this post, I will post his first letter, it's a pretty cute letter.
For anyone that doesn't already know, Dave,his brother and dad raise Hampshire Sheep. They mainly breed them and show them at fairs and sell them at auctions for breeding. Sheep season is beginning in the sense that we're starting to get sheep ready to be shown at the Utah County Fair and Utah and Idaho State Fairs. I really have no interest in the sheep, other than the fact that Dave loves them and loves showing them, so I try to like it too. The County Fair is in a couple of weeks and the Idaho State Fair is Labor Day weekend and the Utah State Fair is the week of Sept. 12th. So, Dave will be very busy with the sheep. And in November, about half of the Ewes will be lambing. Usually, they breed naturally and the lambs are born in January and February but this year Dave and his dad decided to breed them early so they will have bigger lambs at the Fairs next year. I don't think it was a very good idea to breed them early considering I will be having our baby at the end of October or beginning of November so Dave will be very occupied with the sheep in November. Dumb idea, so the sheep and I will be competing for his time. He'll pick me even though I know he'll be worried about the sheep.
Things coming up---I have a doctor's appointment on Friday to be tested for Gestational Diabetes. This is a routine test but I'm nervous because A) My mom had Gestational Diabetes and B) I HATE NEEDLES! And they have to draw my blood. So, everyone pray for me on Friday morning that I get a nurse that knows how to find my veins really quick so I can get it over with! I also have awesome friends, family and co-workers that are throwing me some baby showers in the next couple months and I'm super excited to see people and celebrate with them!
That's all for now. Sorry for dragging on!
The baby's nursery is not done yet. I have already bought all the bedding, crib, changing table and dresser but have yet to set any of it up. I am painting the dresser red and it has been taking me a lot longer than I originally thought. Hopefully I can finish it soon so I can have my garage back! I also hope that Dave can have some nights off in the next couple of weeks to help me assemble the crib and changing table. It's not going to be the cutest baby's room for the fact that the room is wallpapered in 1970's flowers and since we don't own the house, I don't have the option of taking it down and painting. Hopefully I can camoflauge the hideousness with something cute....
On another note, we dropped my little Bubba off at the MTC on July 28. He will be serving in the Dallas, Texas Spanish Speaking Mission after his time in the MTC. On the 18th was his missionary farewell in Logan. I was very impressed with his talk that he gave and really felt the spirit. He spoke about the "Power of the Word", which I think is kind of a broad topic but he did very well and I was so impressed with his confidence and the words that he spoke (considering the fact that I know he wrote the talk in the middle of the night only a few days before that). My mom put together and awesome Texas BBQ lunch afterwards with BBQ chicken, cornbread and all the other yummy stuff. She definately went over the top, like always, but it was awesome. It was good to see so many friends and family support Bubba.
Before taking him to the MTC, we had lunch at the Brick Oven in Provo with my mom, dad, Brady and Virginia. Bubba's friend Hayden Snow was entering the MTC on the same day, so him and his family came to lunch with us. Taking Bubba to the MTC was a lot harder than I thought. He has been through some struggles in the last year and so I honestly thought that it would be more of a joyous occasion and a relief. I was still happy to see him going on a mission to serve the Lord but I was really sad to see him go. (If that even makes sense) After PLENTY of pictures in front of the MTC sign we all piled in my parents care and drove him to the curb in front of the MTC. He was so nervous and scared...my first instict was to protect him like I always do but there was nothing I could do. He has to grow up and this might just be his first step towards achieving that goal.
Since he has left, I have gotten 2 emails from him. He sounds great!! He has had a little homesickness but is learning alot. He says his companion is a nerd but that Hayden is in the same district as him while they're in the MTC so they struggle to concentrate sometimes. I will try to keep anyone updated that is interested in his mission. After this post, I will post his first letter, it's a pretty cute letter.
For anyone that doesn't already know, Dave,his brother and dad raise Hampshire Sheep. They mainly breed them and show them at fairs and sell them at auctions for breeding. Sheep season is beginning in the sense that we're starting to get sheep ready to be shown at the Utah County Fair and Utah and Idaho State Fairs. I really have no interest in the sheep, other than the fact that Dave loves them and loves showing them, so I try to like it too. The County Fair is in a couple of weeks and the Idaho State Fair is Labor Day weekend and the Utah State Fair is the week of Sept. 12th. So, Dave will be very busy with the sheep. And in November, about half of the Ewes will be lambing. Usually, they breed naturally and the lambs are born in January and February but this year Dave and his dad decided to breed them early so they will have bigger lambs at the Fairs next year. I don't think it was a very good idea to breed them early considering I will be having our baby at the end of October or beginning of November so Dave will be very occupied with the sheep in November. Dumb idea, so the sheep and I will be competing for his time. He'll pick me even though I know he'll be worried about the sheep.
Things coming up---I have a doctor's appointment on Friday to be tested for Gestational Diabetes. This is a routine test but I'm nervous because A) My mom had Gestational Diabetes and B) I HATE NEEDLES! And they have to draw my blood. So, everyone pray for me on Friday morning that I get a nurse that knows how to find my veins really quick so I can get it over with! I also have awesome friends, family and co-workers that are throwing me some baby showers in the next couple months and I'm super excited to see people and celebrate with them!
That's all for now. Sorry for dragging on!
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