A Miner Modification

football in the mtc

Today at lunch we were talking to the two elders sitting across from us. We found out one was from Texas, and he started to question us further about just where in the Dallas area we were from. When we told him Allen, he said, "Oh no! I can't believe I am sitting across from someone who beat our team for the state championship." Yes, he was from Fort Bend Hightower. We had a good time reviewing that game.  He was the kicker. As you may remember he did not have a good game, but admitted to it readily. His family has moved to Utah, and are living in Morgan. His little brother is a star prospect for their team. His name is Zack Kane. You will have to let us know how he does this year. Elder Kane is going to Barcelona.

week one

Mom:

We made it through our first week at the MTC, but are very glad for Saturday to come, so we can rest. We have been having to get up at 5:30 a.m., and that is something I do not do easily. But, it has been a wonderful experience. We met great people, had great teachers, and could really see some progression in our ability to teach the gospel. I agree with Michelle about the food...not all that good. We have missed having the Internet in our room. It costs $10.00 a day. In the lobby it is free, but we have been too tired to come down here when we get home. We will be moving to the MTC dorms on Monday. We went in and begged them to move us. There is a shuttle that runs from the Marriott to the MTC three times a day, but mostly we have begged rides from other missionaries. I know the accommodations will not be as luxurious over there, but we need to start getting used to a queen sized bed anyway, as that is what we have in our apartment in NYC.

We are looking forward to our training next week in the temple. One thing is we will be wearing slippers much of the day. I have been miserable wearing shoes all day. I go barefoot most of the time, or wear flip flops.

Jenny is coming to get us later today (Saturday), so we can help celebrate Kendall's raise. It will be great to be with family again.


Dad:

There were over 80 people in our group, 35 or so couples and some Single sisters. They told us this was one of the largest groups that they have had at the MTC. For many of the couples, this is not their first mission. The couple that is going to Manhattan Temple with us has 4 missions under their belt, and this will be the 5th.  Many of couples have previously been on and are scheduled for some tough missions, but all seem to be eager to get started. Much of the training was done in smaller groups. We were put with 5 other companionships, and spent the majority of our teaching time with them. We took some pictures yesterday at the end of our training and will try to post them at a later date.

I agree with Jana, on the quality of teachers we have had, but it has been very tiring. I cannot remember ever coming home so tired and going to bed at 9:30.

drop off

I haven't heard from Mom and Dad since their first night at the MTC. Hopefully they are fairing well and enjoying their time there.

In the meantime, here are a couple of shots that Jenny took of them at the MTC drop off spot.

 

first day

Just wanted to let you know we are here and okay.  They have us staying at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Provo.  It is a nicer room, but inconvenient for us since we do not have a car.  All the missionary couples but three that are staying here have a car.  We will have to rely on a shuttle that only goes twice a day.  There may be a chance that we will get to move to the MTC this weekend. We have met a lot of nice people, and have about 50 pages we have to read for tomorrow.  We will let you know more tomorrow or the next day.

today

Robert:

Today has been a very special day for the Miners. One that will stand out and be remembered for a very long time. Today we cleaned and polished our empty home on Honeysuckle Lane. We then went to the title company and signed away our ownership. That left us with: no home, no car, and no debts. We then went to the Stake President's home and he set both Jana and myself apart as full time missionaries.

After we had completed all of the above, we went back to just drive by our home to see if it looked differently, it did not. I guess it will take some time before we realize all that has happened, in our lives, today.  32+ years of memories cannot be expressed in a few sentences.

When Jana and I moved to Texas in 1968, we owned a 1956 Chev 4-door and no debts to our name. Today we are at the same place, without a car, but we have gained a wealth of living.  I came to Dallas as an Elder and Pres. Wright made me an Elder again today.

We raised 5 wonderful kids who have grown into 5 wonderful people, with 5 wonderful families.

We are both looking forward to what the next 18 months hold for us and are excited to have it begin.

the big day

A note from the Editor:

Jana and Robert (a.k.a. Mom and Dad) were pretty busy this week packing up and moving out of the house they have lived in for the last 33 years. That means they didn't really have time to write up an introductory post for the start of their new blog. Since I am the editor of this here blog, I will do it for them.

Jana and Robert are leaving their life and comfort zone in Lucas, Texas to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They will serve for 18 months at the Manhattan New York Temple. In an effort to document their experiences and communicate with anyone interested in their new adventure, we set up this blog...aptly named "A Miner Modification". The plan is they will email me and then I will post it to this blog. So be sure to check in often, because I am sure a move from rural Texas to urban New York is sure to bring lots of excitement.

In the meantime, here are a few thoughts from Robert and Jana about their home in Lucas.

Jana

I don't have one favorite memory of the house, but a lot of small ones added together have made me very happy here.  Here are a few of them. 

• Sunday afternoon plays staged in the living room bay window by Debbie and Jennifer
• Matt trying to go through the whole house without touching the floor (He was a master of shimmying down the hall with his hands pressed against the wall)
• Mandy tap dancing in the entry way
• Katie, Dad and I reading the whole Book of Mormon on her bed (It took about a year)
• Debbie and Jenny getting ready for stake dances
• Helping Jenny redo her room for a school project
• Helping all the kids make castles for Mr. Box's class
• Matt riding his bike without training wheels when he was three years old
• Bringing Mandy home from the hospital and having the nectarine tree be in full bloom
• The pear tree being in full bloom the day of Matt and Maria's wedding
• Having Katie turn the light on in the middle of the night when she and Matt were sharing a room
• Helmut and Josh washing the truck in their underwear
• Mandy practicing her clarinet in the back bathroom
• Jenny, Debbie, and Matt trying to dig a hole for a swimming pool
• Bonfires in the back acre for homecoming
• Watching hundreds of Dallas Cowboy football games as a family.

 

Robert

"Moving to our new home in Lucas"

When we decided to build our new home in Lucas, a couple in our ward, the Harris family, decided to build at the same time. The construction of the two homes went on simultaneously. When it was time to move in both of the two families boxed our stuff from our old houses and made the trek to Lucas. When we arrived at our new home, we started to unload. I helped Bill (Harris) and he helped me. We had just begun to unload when a carload of brethren showed up to help, lead by McKinney Branch President, Ralph Gibbons. Not only did the extra hands shorten the work of unloading, but they had brought all the fixings for us to have supper. I knew then that this was going to be a great home and a great branch.