Keeping tabs

My mom would have sent one, but Korea was too far out of range!
 

Good fencers make good neighbors

I'm going to have to look again, but fencing may be part of the updated Preach My Gospel manual. I'm not sure.

An interesting side note: many of the elders in my mission in Korea took taekwondo lessons. Not exactly fencing, but it is a martial art. I wonder what the handbook says about that?

Taking charge of the call

Sometimes it seems like it's super expensive to get amissionary ready to go out into the field, with all the clothes and supplies and everything — especially when you include all the medical costs. I won't even mention the spiritual investment!

But it is so totally worth it!
 

Starting early

Yes, I know there's the I Spy A Nephite series, but a publication like this would be great to prepare up and coming missionaries. Some of the scenes could include a busy train station, an open air market, an apartment complex or even the house next door!

Of course with the updated missionary terminology, a better title might be Find A Friend. Hmm. 
 

Found this recipe on Pinterest for a Thanksgiving side

I think there are plenty of people — myself included — who would be more than happy to help get the squash ready using this method!
 

Projected growth

My wife anticipated every conceivable situation that could come up for my son while he was serving as a missionary. She carefully packed his suitcase so that he was prepared against each contingency.

Two years later he came home with all that stuff still in the original suitcase, still in its original packaging. The good news is, he has an awesome emergency kit that's ready to go!
 

Can you paint with all the colors of the pew?

I recently visited the La Grande 1st Ward in eastern Oregon. A young boy in the pew in front of me was doing his best to be reverent, but it was tough. After the sacrament, his dad gave him a page to color. He got down on the floor and proceeded to color...the bottom of the bench.

The talks that day were on preparing for General Conference. One great way to prepare for General Conference is with the Ward Cartoonist's General Conference Activity Packet. It's perfect for home, Primary, Sunday school or seminary classes! Download your copy today — and prepare yourself for General Conference!

Supply and demand

It's amazing how much meaning a simple piece of cloth can take on.

Personally, I have three ties that I brought home from my mission. Each holds a special place in my personal pantheon of neckwear. One was a gift from a member in my first area; another I bought at the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival; and the third is about the ugliest tie I've ever seen. It's been officially retired from the office Father's Day ugly tie contest. It's that good.

One of my sons left with a dozen ties and came home with nearly 100. And one of our local missions has banned a certain style of tie (the skinny pastel floral print) because among the missionaries it became like the Sneetches and their stars.

Missionaries form a close, personal attachment to some of their ties. Not only do they help recall people, places or events, they help recall how it felt to be a missionary. Maybe that's why we hold them so dear — they're the ties that bind.

No reservations

There is such a thing as being too prepared!

The New Era has a great packet to help youth (and older folks) get more out of conference. You can download a copy from the conference website.

Save your seats early!

Be prepared for anything

This one is actually a few years old, but I kept getting this feeling that I should run it again today. Enjoy!

Summer homework

I think we're still making up for last year at our house!

Living in a fantasy

When talking with some of our young men recently, I was surprised to find that many of them didn't realize that missionaries did more than walk around all day, teach occasionally, eat at members homes, and baptize from time to time.

Happy is the mission mom who has missionaries who know how to do things! And happy is the companion who has a companion who knows how to cook!

Stocking the shelves

There are some things that are easy to quantify in order to stock up for emergency preparedness. You can estimate, for example, a gallon of water per day for each person. Knowing how many diapers to store — and what size — is a little more difficult to guess.

Preparation

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lesson to prepare!