sorina dance‏

From Kimberly: Wednesday, December 1st-Festival of Trees Performance at the South Town Expo Center in Sandy.  Students need to arrive at 7:05 sharp and meet at the SOUTH Stage Check-In. (*Returning students please note this is a different stage than we have performed on before.) Our performance time is from 7:35-8:05 p.m. Because the Festival of Trees handles so many performing groups, they are very strict on their rules. They will not allow any parents in their backstage area, so please make sure all make-up and shoes are on before you bring your student to check in. After the performance, we will keep all the students together, so please pick them back up at the check-in area. Directions: The address of the South Town Expo Center is 9575 South State Street.  Take I-15 south to the 90th south exit.  Head east to state street.  Turn right on state street and go south to 9575 South.  The Expo Center is located just south of Jordan Commons. It’s easiest if you park on the south side and enter through the south door.

OR

Saturday, December 11th-Christmas Recital at the Northridge High School Auditorium at 5:00 p.m. Students need to meet backstage at 4:45 p.m. sharp! The $20 recital fee that is due with Dec tuition helps pay for the rental of the auditorium and allows you to invite as my people as you would like free of charge. There is plenty of seating, so please feel free to invite all your family and friends! We hope it will be a special evening for everyone!

Do you know what the entrance fee for the Festival tonight is? We are planning to be there. How much early will we need to be to find all of you?

We cannot come to the Saturday dance recital because, even if we requested that we be allowed to leave early, we could not leave soon enough to be there on time. Our shift on Saturday is from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (It's supposed to be 5 p.m. but it never is because the last session we are responsible for ends at 5 p.m. That is just getting to the veil.) The next shift arrives at the temple at 2:30 p.m. but they begin with replacing us in initiatory at 3 p.m. They then gradually take over our responsibilities on posts, in the kitchen, the baptistry, and as session followers and teachers. So, if we left early, it would be at 3 p.m. Then we would have the drive from Manti to Layton. We just couldn't get there in time unless all of the lanes of the freeway happened to be free-flowing and there was no construction to consider. In addition, that is the night of our temple shift party so that those who are over the party, three couples, will be released at 4 p.m. to go get the tabernacle set up for the party. We would happily miss the party, it costs $11 each, to be with all of you. However, the logistics just will not work.

If we take a day off, we have to find someone from another shift to sub for us. Good luck with that one! At other times of the year, except at holiday times, December and during Pageant, it is not too difficult. We just need to be on call to replace them when they need to be away. December is impossible to find subs for. In fact, we got a lecture from the matrons last week about taking our calling seriously. We have worked a worker-short shift, because of illnesses (people who are old get sick more often that regular adults), for the past two weeks. That means that some of the less necessary jobs, like assigning lockers and greeting, just go unmanned.


Kimberly wrote: Thanks for coming tonight.  Glad you found us and had such great seats!  The girls loved the things they were able to buy with their money!  Thank you again!

Would you please forward some photos, probably to me ktrauntv@gmail.com, as you cannot send the this Comcast one.  Weird.

Thanks again, you are wonderful!


Shawn wrote: Sorry I did not read this and respond yesterday. We were so excited to see you. Thanks for coming.

Love,
Shawn

Myrna wrote: Incidentally, when I told you that I even read the toothpaste box I did not mean it as a reflection on the excellent Christmas Readings you have assembled. I just meant that it was no surprise that I had read them all in one evening. I just goes to show that I really hate to put anything readable down, especially if it is good, until I am done. I just enjoy the written word.

80-years-old

Gordon Smith wrote: 
Since I just had my 80th birthday, this video makes me feel a lot younger.

---

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7464575?fr=yvmtf


Myrna wrote: WOW! And I am worried about turning 70 this month.

Never, ever fall for this!

Myrna wrote: Don't think, for a second, that a poorly worded letter, such as the following, would EVER be written by an attorney. In addition, don't ever think, for a second, that anyone in the family would contact any of us in this manner. They would call personally. I reported the problem but it took some doing because the instructions for doing so were difficult to find. I also reported it to msn which was easier.

Facebook message:
Ben KojohDecember 1, 2010 at 7:29pm
Subject: TO...Myrna Trauntvein
N:B. Pls respond via my private email: benkojoh3@yahoo.in

Attn :Myrna Trauntvein,

I am Mr.Ben Kojoh, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to Mr.J.A.Trauntvein,a nationality Of your country.My client,wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident on the 21st of Aprill 2003.
I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$14. Million left behind by the deceased.The way forward would be detailed to you upon your response

1.Your full names.
2.Your contact phone numbe
3.Your E-mail contact

Regards,
Ben Kojoh Esq.

Gordon: So who sent it?


Myrna wrote: His name (or the one he used)  was Ben Kojoh. I have never heard of him before in my life. I think they just look up strange surnames on the internet. Then they go to Facebook and see if anyone has that surname. They pick a person from the family, Trauntveins are not hard to connect together because there are so few of us. In all of the world there are only 40.

Christmas Readings

Shawn wrote: We had a book of Christmas readings that we used to go through during the month of December. It had a story and a song for each night of December, leading up to Christmas. It is currently in storage. We just finished reading the Book of Mormon and I wanted to do something like that with my family again this year, so yesterday I spent a few hours going through December Ensigns (or Liahonas) and New Era magazines, and found about 20 stories I thought my family might like to hear or might benefit from hearing about Christmas. We will probably read one a night during December, and then read the actual stories of Christ from the scriptures. These stories that I have attached are, of course copywrited and are often taken out of context, so I have included the full citation at the front of each story in case you want to go there, but all the more reason to disregard this or not forward it to others. Each story/quote (except one) is one-to-two pages long. Because I planned to actually read from the scriptures, these do not include any cases where the story of Christ’s birth, or prophesies of his birth, are recited. As a result, I don’t want you to replace your regular family scripture study with this, and it may actually be too long for many of you who have smaller children. So, altogether, maybe it is a bad idea that I am even sending it or suggesting that it has in value for any family besides my own. Also, it is not short, by any means, and would take quite a bit of paper if you printed it. But since I had the thought to send it, I will move ahead with that decision and, with all the disclaimers I have given, allow you to make your own determination. It is a PDF document, if you want to see it in some other format, let me know.

But aside from all of this, I hope you each realize how much I love you and how reminiscent I become of the times we have spent together, whether in need or in plenty, from shooting grasshoppers, to braiding hair, to playing games in the yard, to just enjoying meals or camping trips together. Unfortunately, I have often gone without saying that each of you and each of my children and wife are my dearest friends. I sure hope you each had a good Thanksgiving, and that you may be blessed during the coming Christmas season.

Myrna wrote: I also become nostalgic at this time of year. 

Thanks for the readings. Dad and I can actually read them on the computer but I will probably print them off at any rate. That way I can have them. I guess I could burn them to a CD and then I would still have them but I like paper better. Who am I kidding? I am nostalgic all of the time. I think the fact that I am turning 70 this birthday and, not soon after, Dad will be 76, has really sunk home. I am now only a few years away from the age of Grandmother Smith, Grandma Edna and Aunt Renee when they died. I know, I know, I sound like Grandma T but, one thing I have learned is that it is true that my time will be short in comparison with what I have already lived. Even if I live to be 90, I will not have as long to live left as I have already lived. It is just a fact of life. Having said that, I want you all to know how much I love each of you. That love has expanded to include not only my children but my children's spouses and each and every one of my grandchildren. I LOVE YOU!

I hope you all know that the silly little cards and the dumb little $1 (which Mary tells me won't buy ANYTHING) are just one of the ways I have chosen to stay connected so that you will all know you are loved.

Melanie wrote: Actually, the dollar buys me much joy. I can get a package of gum, or a bottle of water, or a package of gummy bears or spice drops...all candy and not very good for me, but it still gives me great pleasure.  Mel

Mom wrote: A bottle of water is so good for you. Sugarless gum is also good for you. As for the others, they always remind me of childhood (yours) and are comfort foods. 

Thanks to all of you!

Kirsten wrote: I save it up for babysitting!  :)

Myrna wrote: That takes awhile!

Amy G wrote: Thank you for the cards and treat $.  We got them today.  THanks! Amy

Weeks and Weeks

Mom, you are so right: the time just flies by! I cannot believe that I, 1. have completed 6 months, 2. that your birthday was 2 weeks ago and I never said anything, 3. that Mikaela turned 13! Oh my...forgive me for my stupidity! Mom and Miki

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

It seems as if the family has been rather busy this week. With all of the things that are going on it's sometimes hard to remember to stop and just take a breath, so that's why it's always nice to go to the temple and take a breather. Every now and then it feels like we're running a marathon here in this life. At times we get injured, we get cramped up, or we just hit the wall. However, we have the amazing capacity to endure. We can fight, keep pushing forward, keeping running. We are not alone wither: there is a huge crowd of people (those we know and love with those we do not know) who cheer us on and want us to succeed. As long as we remember that we can keep going we will endure until we reach the finish line. No one will win, no one will lose; we are all going to run together and make it to the finish line. I love the temple because it's like one of the water stations, it's a chance for us to get a little re-energized, refocused and recharged to run the next leg until the next little pit stop. Mom, I imagine that it was nice for you to go to the temple with dad, and be able to see one of your old young women take some serious steps in her life: to further her commitments to serve the Lord.

This week has been full of surprises and learning experiences. We had an emergency multi-zone conference which was focused on keeping the spirit with us, using the spirit to teach and guide us to the people that we need to contact and teach. I learned so much and came out of the conference edified and energized to work in my area again. I have also had the opportunity to get closer to my Heavenly Father, my Saviour and the Holy Ghost. I have felt a difference in my teaching, my relationships with the people here and a difference in my attitude since leaving the Multi-Zone conference.

I find it very bizarre that Elder Branch is leaving. I remember when he came to Franklin, it feels like yesterday. He has been an amazing missionary and a great friend to the people out there in MA. I want to become like him. I work with some of the youth here and sometimes I wonder if they look up to me like I looked up to him way back when.

It makes me so excited to hear from everyone at home and to know that things are going well, at least in a general sense. Your words always fill me with such joy and conviction to work with families so that people here can enjoy blessing that I have enjoyed in my life thanks to my gospel-centered family. 

Just remember the Lord's advice to us in D&C 121:7 and we will always follow that council that Brigham Young gave.

Love you all, and i'll actually make a list of cool things to tell you about my area and about Christmas-time here in Nicaragua.

Love,

Elder B

If Nobody Smiled and Nobody Cared

IF 

If nobody smiled and nobody cared 
and nobody helped us along. 
If every moment looked after itself and 
good things always went to the strong; 
If nobody thought just a little about you 
and nobody cared about me, 
and we stood all alone, in the battle of life, 
What a dreary old world this would be. 
 
Life is sweet, just because, of friends we have made 
And the things which in common we share. 
We want to live on, not because of ourselves, 
but because of the people who care. 
It is doing and giving for somebody else 
on which all life's splendor depends. 
The joy of this world, when you've summed it all up 
is found in the making of friends. 

 ~ Author Unknown ~ 

Cooked Play Dough

Cooked Play Dough
3 cups flour
1 cup salt
6 teaspoons cream of tartar (I think I only used 3 teaspoons)
3 cups water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Food coloring

Mix flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a large saucepan. Blend water and oil together in a bowl. Add to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens. Add several drops of food coloring until you get the right color. Cook for about five minutes. Take the play dough out of the saucepan and put it on a cutting board or counter and cool for a few minutes so you don't burn yourself. While still warm knead for a few minutes. Add flour if it's too sticky. This play dough should last around three months if you keep it sealed in an airtight container or plastic ziplock bag. It's so smooth and fun to play with when it's still warm. For ornaments: make shapes. Put shapes on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 300 degrees F for about one hour until the clay is golden. (You can weight down the shapes with another cookie sheet for the first half hour.) Paint them for fun. Seal with shellac to make shiny.

The World Turns Round Like a Merry-Go-Round

SALUDOS DE NICARAGUA!

Familia...How are y'all? I only get updates from mom, dad and grandma so it's hard to know how well the rest of you are doing since i never hear anything from you (then again, i do forgive siovhan for her lack of computer). but Ben and Miki, what's up???

Back to business. So life as a DL is pretty much all I thought that it would be: more work, more stress and more fun! I love being able to have a different relationship with the missionaries in a district. Being in charge of 4 extra missionaries, besides myself and my comp,  sometimes seems like a lot of work, but gratefully the other Elders in my district are fantastic and work really hard. I'm so proud of them...whereas my area on the other hand. Let's just say that I'm working really hard but I'm not quite seeing the fruits of my labor yet. I know that I need to change how I work, because out here in Managua there's a different way of working than in Puerto. It's like if take dad out of his position at Covidien and call up Bishop and tell him to go over and take over for my dad. Sure, they are both businessmen, but Bishop is not accustomed to all that dad does and vice-versa. They would both have to learn their respective roles and then keep working. There might be a point in the process where is seems like neither one is getting anything done, but such is the nature of the beast. There has to be a crossover, a change. I think I'm starting to find it, I just need to put my all into the work and hope that I can start seeing results.

I love this area here in Managua, don't get me wrong. The people here are absolutely fantastic, it's just so different from Puerto. I love the people in Puerto and miss them more than I could ever express with mere words. All I need to do now is trust in the Lord and have the faith that whatever it is that's going on here in my area is meant for my own betterment. I believe that sometimes in life we do what Elder Wirthlin said, we ask "Why me?" instead of "What am I supposed to learn from this?" Sometimes I think like that, especially with the pressure that exists within me to help others become better and to baptize, but I need to realize that I need to press forward and have more faith. These things will pass. It reminds me of my first week on the mission: it was SO hard and seemed So difficult, but it was only a week.

Regarding Thanksgiving: We don't have anything special planned except that I told my cooking lady that I want this dish called Indio Viejo, as it's the closest thing to an American dish that is made from scratch here. I do think that my comp and I are might do something....I just have to get a little creative.

Grammy--The work at times is a little discouraging. I am not going to lie about that. However, for me everything is better when I have one person come back to the church, or when I help a family enter the waters of baptism. When I get a little upset I just think about how little time I have here in Nicaragua and how I need to enjoy it. I also think about the other people that have already gone through things like this, or worse. After that I feel fine and work even harder. The General Authorities are correct when they say that the secret to missionary work is the work. Also, there is a significant different between those who decided to go to school before their missions and those who stayed at home. I know that I made a good decision because of the miracles that happened at BYU, but I am even more grateful for the fact that I learned how to live with someone else before coming here. There is a big difference between those Elders that had roommates and didn't. :( Packages get here to me Grammy, so don't worry, just don't send expensive things.

Mom and Dad--I'm going to be super careful now. I am really sorry. I should have been super careful, but I wasn't. I'll have to make this up to you after the mish...but thank you for helping me not only fiscally, but spiritually as well. Also, I didn't get the chance to go to the leadership training. I did hear that it was amazing. It makes me so happy to know that even before the General Authorities tell us to do somehting, we're already doing it. That has happened to me here in the mission, leaders will tell us that we need to start doing something, but normally I'm already working on it/already started it. Cool stuff. And regarding the package...I would love like 2 short-sleeved white shirts, 6 dri-lux round-neck mefium garment tops, 6 of those 50-50 garment bottons (32), maybe a bottle of lotion from Bath and Body Works, and maybe a pair of shoes. My shoes are getting trashed, and fast. My boots are fantastic though. Send me those Floorsheim that we bought. I think that is all, unless you can/ want to add more. ;) 

Thank you all for your love and your prayes, they make a world of difference for me here. Stay strong and work hard in all you do. Also, HELP OUT THE MISSIONARIES. Referrals should be the only way to work as a missionary, they are the best ones to teach, the most fun, and the most secure for baptism. Invite friends and family-friends to come over and meet with the missionaries or go visit them with the missionaries.

Love you all, 
Elder B

Erin's Concert

Myrna wrote: We had a sweet call from Erin inviting us to her Christmas concert at school. She said something about going to the airport on the 20th. Is that for another concert? We would like to be there for the school concert. I don't know if we can work it out or not. We are trying to figure that out and then we will call her.

We love you all, M

Information for December 4th‏

H D TRAUNTVEIN (prute@q.com)
11/20/10 
To: Leonard Trauntvein

Dearest family: it is truly a Winnie the Pooh's "blustery" day. Pray all is well for you and yours.

Recently at the Distribution Center, had the opportunity to serve a beautiful young woman and her mother, purchasing ceremonial clothes for the special occurrence coming up on 4th December in the Manti Temple. 

Heidi, the young woman, is married and is being sealed to her husband on the 4th., her husband has a brother who is also being married and sealed on the same day.

I shared with them about you folks working in the temple on that day and asked for information to give to you- it felt like we are kindred spirits.

Heidi Glade and her husband Matt Stoddard are being sealed at 11:15 a.m.

Matt's brother Luke Stoddard and Brenda Wilson are being sealed at 10:30 a.m.

They are soooooo excited.

When I had finished my shift and was getting ready to leave, one of the Distribution workers came into the storage room, where I was getting ready to leave and said there were some people looking for me and wondering if I might still be there. 

When I want out into the clothing area--there they were- Heidi and her mom- they wanted me to give them your names- wrote them down and gave to them.

It would be really special to them, should you folks have the time to meet them.

Have a good week-end

Am really looking forward to Monday for the tour of Carl Blocks' painting. Hope the weather, it is forcast to snow, will be drivable for us. 

Love you much. Just Me.