Hi everyone. I'm breaking from my trend of just posting pictures of adventures to give a good, old-fashioned update. Because I never really do just talk about what's going on in my life, and I don't know if anyone wonders, but I'm telling you anyway.
Tomorrow morning Princess and I are leaving for Southeast Asia. We won't technically get there until Thursday - partially because we have a 12-hour layover in LA (which we decided to spend at Disneyland), partially because we cross the international dateline, partially because it's a REALLY LONG flight! We're both extra-excited and we'll be real careful. Yes, I've seen Brokedown Palace and I promise to not accept anything from attractive strange men. I'll try to post pictures from time to time.
I've been moving forward with the grad school process. I applied to George Washington University and American University on the last possible application day (May 1), and I found out last week that they never got my transcripts from BYU. But they've been very accommodating since then - GW processed my app "unofficially" without it and AU has agreed to interview me before the transcript comes - which is actually happening in about 3 hours. Deep breaths. (I like AU better.)
Aside from the last-minute trip preparation and grad school craziness, I got to teach the lesson in my Relief Society yesterday, which is pretty intimidating because my ward is full of LDS superstars, and I haven't taught a lesson since I was at BYU-Hawaii in 2004. But I learned something yesterday: the superstars make teaching easy because they have so many comments to share! Still, the lesson prep has been on my mind for awhile.
Also on my mind a lot is Justin, of course. Things are going pretty well there, but there are some big decisions that I think need to be made soon, and we're both feeling the magnitude of that. That alone can be enough to drive anyone to the point of distraction - and I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about!
So, with the trip on the horizon, grad school possibly in the near future, RS lesson, and Justin, I've had a lot on my mind. I'm still doing what needs to be done at my job, but all these other things are giving me a lot of perspective, and it shows. The other day, I asked my boss if it was okay to make a change to one of my cases and he asked, "Is it life or death?" and I laughed in his face. Oops? I said, "Nothing we do is life or death!" Sure, my work is important and valuable to the economy and business world, but it ain't THAT important!
That is all. I love you all and I think a lot about everyone and your own unique current circumstances. I'm praying for you all the time.
xoxo
HISTORY
A Little History:
Our story begins in Pocatello, Idaho, circa 1972, when the lovely Debby Christensen agreed to a first, though fateful date with admirer, David Croshaw. Long story-short, he bade her follow him, and they went arm-in-arm to the Logan, Utah temple for establishment of an eternal family unit, Generation 1, on May 23 1973.
From their first blissful summer in Salt Lake City, educational pursuits took them to Provo/Orem, Utah, birthplace of Leslie and Rebecca, and to San Francisco/Oakland California, birthplace of Colin and Matt. Then, for establishment of livelihood, expansion of the tribe with Abby and Dana, and for raising/unifying of Generation 2, it was back to the roots in Pocatello for a rewarding sojourn.
In time, driven by a raging, but commonly shared sense of adventure and independence, one-by-one, Generation 2 escaped the homeland to distant regions of the country and the world, each ultimately developing their own tribal expansions by pairing with worthy mates and initiating Generation 3.
Now sensing fulfillment of their purpose in Pocatello, Generation 1 has also left those roots and transplanted to Cascade Idaho, from which base, they anticipate more abundant contact with The Posterity, Generations 2 and 3, in the future. That contact however, awaits fulfillment of a call to LDS missionary service in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wherein they hope to help the state of the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
So now, including Generation 0 (Grandma and Grandpa Christensen) home base includes Yuma, Arizona, Pocatello, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Vancouver, BC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spokane, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, back to Boise, Idaho, and on and on (Generation 3+) to infinity.
Our Mission Statement:
This is the blog of our eternal family unit. Initiated years ago, it served well as a journal, but even more so, as an archive of our personal interaction. It was a gathering place, a confabulation instrument, a unifying force for four generations of widely dispersed and progressively prolific posterity, and their valued associates. Though it served these purposes well for many years, it eventually took a back seat to new-kids-on-the-block, Facebook, and Instagram, and was sadly forgotten.
We now move to resurrect this blog with an added functional purpose of archiving the missionary experiences of Generation 1, of their movements and activities as they participate with The Gathering of Israel in the land northward. In so doing, we hope that via their own comments and posts, this blog will again serve to gather and unify the posterity and their friends.
As in the past, that the young and vibrant may know the old and tired, that enduring bonds may be fostered and maintained, that experience and encouragement may be openly shared, that posterity may embrace truth, and that hearts may be knit together, we must resist detachment despite our geographic divergence. We shall do so here.
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7 comments:
Decisions, decisions! Good luck with all of that and we will be praying for you!! Have fun on your trip, it seems to be coming at a good time. We miss you so much and on top of all you have to do and think about you should come when we have baby Cole. Jack still talks about how much he loves you and you love him. He really is such a joy to be with! No, just worry about what's on your plate because it seems to be overflowing, in good ways. We love you!
I really, really want to come when you have baby Cole. With all this craziness, family is still #1, and that sounds like a great excuse to come visit. I miss you guys, and those kids!!!
Good luck with all abby!
and have fun in Asia.
Abby, When in Thailand, remember a little pearl I learned as a missionary in the Asian MTC: a great nemonic for the Thai common greeting - "sa waticrot" = "so what thee crap?" It could be very useful. Have a great time, if you're not too preoccupied about all the decisions facing you when you get home. But they're good decsions, blessings in fact.
Dad
Abby is being too humble. The guy at American Univ asked her why with her GPA and her international experience was she working for the census? They are very impressed with her at American University, and at George Washington as well. At GW they offered her a $6000 scholarship--granted it is just a portion of the tuition--sight unseen. You are awesome Abby!!! Be safe and have a great time. xoxo mom
You are awesome, Abby! And for more than one reason...mostly because you're a good, kind, happy person and an example to humankind of how we should all be.
By the way, dad, the nuemonic for the Thai greeting's a pretty good one. I've never heard that before. In Thai, word endings are different depending on your gender. So they don't think you're a boy, Abby...it'd be Sa-wa-dee-kah. If you're a boy you'd say Sa-wa-dee-kap.
I still remember the Korean greeting with the nuemonic, "On your horse, amiga." ;-)
I had a dream last night that I was telling someone about all that you're up to. "She's doing great! She lives in DC & works for the Census. She travels all the time, in fact she's in Thailand right now. And she applying for graduate school!"
Pretty great life you have Abby Gabby! Leslie is right, we can always depend on you to be the peace keeper and do the right thing. I love you, even if you threw mashed potatoes at me once. Or was it a biscuit?
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