Hermana Call is Born, Everett Turns 15

Amelia was set apart as a missionary on Tuesday evening, 02 June 2026. President Hansen came to our home to set her apart. I loved how intimate the experience was as compared to going to the church offices like Justin and I did. President Hansen asked each family member to give Amelia some parting advice:

Phillip: Don’t let the tall people bully you

Everett: Don't die...but also On your best day you’re a child of God, on your worst day you’re a child of God

Josie: shut the door, keep out the devil

Evelyn: Be a good missionary

Jenni: only time in life where you have one ball to juggle, enjoy the experience, pray, study, and know who you are

Justin: be obedient

The spirit was so strong in our little living room area. 

We all dressed in our Sunday best for the occasion. Amelia was ready to start her 18 month adventure as a missionary set apart to represent the church and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. President Hansen and Justin laid their hands on her head when the time came. The spirit was strong in our home. Amelia put on her missionary tag! She is now a legitimate missionary! Hermana Call. 

Monday was Memorial Day, so no school. We cleaned up our house, the areas that don’t normally get cleaned like the laundry room. Amelia really wanted to see the Mandolorian and Grogu movie in the theaters, so we did that as a family. Justin and I got the tickets and the kids bought their own snacks! Score! The Ostlers were also at the theater watching a different movie, we were going to wait for them to get ice cream afterwards but no one was hungry after all the popcorn and icees. Instead we grabbed some pita bread from Winco, jandals for Evelyn at the Clown Store, and went to the Lifetime store just for kicks and giggles. We finally got a picnic table! It turns into a bench as well! Justin loves that it is made out of metal sporting a weather-resistant top. Naturally, we got two so we could have an entire table and two benches. Everett assembled one set when we got back home. 

Everett’s birthday was quite the day! He got to stay home from school with Evelyn. Evelyn earned a golden ticket in all her subjects. She managed to improve her ELA score by 33 points, even after all her worrying she scored in the high 3rd category. She improved her math iSAT score by 28 points! She even pulled off straight A’s, not a surprise here. Her last day of school was on Thursday the 28th of May.  Everett came by my classroom toward the late afternoon just to hang out. He requested Shawarma for dinner. I did most of the prep work after the theater on Monday. I tried a new-to-me technique mixing the meat and spices then rolling the meat between parchment paper to a thin layer then rolling up the parchment and meat. I left that to marinate until dinner the next day. Evelyn wrapped up Everett’s birthday gifts. Amelia really wanted to invite the Sene’s over for dinner, Tuesday was their only free day so Everett also had the Sene’s over to celebrate his birthday. Dinner was a fun affair of funny stories and good food. We pulled out all the stories and revealed some family secrets, ha ha. They are excellent people. Right after the Sene’s left we got ready for President Hansen to come over. Everett’s special day was even more special because he shared it with the Sene’s, Amelia, and President Hansen. He opened his few gifts, a squirrel lego, some Shrek figures, candy, soda, and tickets to take himself plus 2 friends to an escape room. We celebrated Everett with cheesecake and fresh berries. The horrendous happy birthday song was especially horrific. I got creative with the candles, gave him the number 9 candle with 6 regular candles. We sent President Hansen home with a slice of cheesecake, fresh berry topping, and home whipped cream. Yum. Thank you Everett for being born. You are the best squirrel namer I know. He also has the best dry humor, he's already a pro with the Dad humor. 

Amelia started home MTC Wednesday morning, bright and early at 6 am with exercise. She has a companion who will also be her companion at the Mexico City MTC. She had 2 weeks of home MTC, one day to pack with her expected travel day as 11 June, flight leaving at 6:30 am. I was not home for most of her home MTC. She had several zoom classes per day, at least one language class in the afternoon, gospel study from 6-8:30 pm, and several companionship check-ins. She was quite involved all day with the provided schedule. She set up camp on the comfy chair in our bedroom because it was private, more quiet, and had a chair. Everett’s room was too smelly and dark. The loft was too public. It was quite the ordeal. She had some meals with us if I had dinner finished by 5:30 pm. We really tried as a family to limit the amount of TV and music so she didn’t have to hide out. We have an actual missionary living in our home! How cool is that? She went grandma sitting, took the girls out for frozen yogurt, and we took her out on excursions during her Saturday p-days. At night she gave us a snippet of her day like what she learned, cool gospel applications, and Spanish words. 

I begged Mr. Obert all year for a flashing stop sign, traffic directors, and more traffic cones. The budget was too slim for such expenditures. I happened upon a traffic cone halloween costume. I had to have it. Mr O gave me a hard NO when I requested a cone costume. I bought it myself with the promise to wear it during sidewalk duty next school year. It’s quite delightful. One kinder told me that I embarrassed her too much with my costume! YASSS! The last day of school all the paras wore inflatable costumes. Then we line danced into each classroom with music blaring to hype up the students. Josie got to match with Kara on doppelgänger day, it was very cool so Kendria and I had to improvise with layers for the girls. The last week was busy with kinder graduation Tuesday, 5th grade graduation Wednesday, and school picnic on Thursday. Amelia came over between her home MTC break to hang out with Josie and Justin plus eat home Del Taco. I set up Charles Xavier, tied him down so the wind would not blow him away. The shade was so much appreciated for the 2.5 hours Heidi and I had to sit at the check-in and out table. I hear Mrs Ternes was not happy to be stuck with McGrath, he spent his time playing guitar and not helping out. I spent the last few hours of school organizing and putting stuff away for the summer deep clean. School is FINALLY out. Summer is too short much to our dismay. 

Friday was the usual rat race between grocery shopping and therapy for Evelyn and the boys. I ended up having the boys do telehealth because I ran out of time and had too much to do. Friday was our first official day of summer break. Let the rat race called June begin. We focused on cleaning the house because Grandpa and Grandma Lance were coming up for Amelia’s Farewell talk on Sunday. Hooray. I also had a crap load of photo editing to knock out. 

Saturday morning I had a 3-month old baby to photograph with his cute sister and parents. With the house all clean it was easy to get that done and cleaned up before my parents arrived. We hung out, ate some dinner, and showed Grandma and Grandpa all the fun things going on. Amelia changed the song from The First Vision to Faith in Every Footstep for our special number. Sister Minor was very accommodating to invite us over to practice Saturday evening for 30 minutes. We sounded quite good for not practicing and even added in some harmony the last page. I helped Josie type out her testimony and worked on my talk. Amelia’s talk was most excellent when she let me proofread it. I planned on a 4-5 minute talk on Testimony. We actually had the entire meeting, which is not the norm these days. I was the youth speaker (right on), Josie gave her testimony, Justin talked, we sang our song, and then Amelia gave her talk. That girl is on FIRE! Justin kept tearing up, crying…I actually apologized to Amelia that I was not crying. What is wrong with me? Of course I’ll miss her, but I am more excited for her to go serve than to cry. 

Mom and Dad hung out with us after church, Dad enjoyed talking about politics, his new property, and some of his brain pets. I made Birria Tacos for dinner with delicious meat, fresh onion salsa, and red rice. Justin assembled the tacos on the flat grill. The new picnic tables are like so awesome. Right after dinner our kids jumped right in to get the dished done and the house arranged for the open house. Grandpa was impressed by the coordination! I only wish it was that amazing all the time, even 50% would be acceptable. Ha ha. We hosted an Open House after dinner for those who could stop by and wish Amelia well. She wanted a soda bar with lots of fun syrup flavors. The prickly pear was a fun choice. I whipped up several cups for visitors unsure about what they wanted. I was thrilled Uncle Darrel and Aunt Fawn stopped by, they got to chat with my Mom and catch up. Rachel Beck came to wish Amelia the best. Of course the Ostlers were over along with the Bierman’s and a couple Hansen’s. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S8hhyrlaUDwq_StVcNCJsgUY7fkUtvvfYAtPgPth9Io/edit?tab=t.0

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fVep5quwqSAUkOqcSn2fsBCkhPYfif4x3vcobIh2pC8/edit?tab=t.0

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bCCfTlg_-fmCnxajrnVgFgLOg7DBgSbyCwjCgRMdtWI/edit?usp=sharing

Hermana Call’s Farewell Talk

For those of you who don’t know me, that won’t matter too much in about a week so I’ll just start my talk now. 

When I was working on my papers, the song “I hope they call me on a mission” was often on my mind. Sadly, I have not grown a foot or two since September. 

I will be serving in Baton Rouge, Louisiana speaking the Spanish language (or as many missionaries call it, the celestial language). I leave for the Mexico City MTC on June 11th. I started home MTC on Wednesday, and it’s been a lot of fun so far! I have a great companion and district. However, it’s also been difficult. Sometimes I feel cut off from everyone because of my tight schedule and lack of social media. Waking up at 6 every morning has been brutal! On day 2 I woke up and thought “This is the time I have to wake up for the next 18 months. Idk if I can survive this.” So why put myself through this? Why put myself through the stress of having to learn a whole new language? Why should I pack up everything I own into 3 suitcases and leave everyone and everything I know to live across the country for 18 months? What could possibly be that important? 

Preach My Gospel states that a missionary’s purpose is to: “Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.” 

“The word gospel literally means “good news.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news because it provides the doctrine—the eternal truth—we need to come unto Him and be saved.” (end quote)

Brothers and sisters, spreading that good news, or gathering Israel, is that important. There are over 85,000 missionaries serving worldwide right now!

In 2018, President Nelson and his wife, Sister Nelson, gave the historic address titled Hope of Israel. I want to talk a bit about their remarks. President Nelson said: “My dear young brothers and sisters, these surely are the latter days, and the Lord is hastening His work to gather Israel. That gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it. You can be a big part of something big, something grand, something majestic! When we speak of the gathering, we are simply saying this fundamental truth: every one of our Heavenly Father’s children, on both sides of the veil, deserves to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They decide for themselves if they want to know more.” (end quote) Think about that! “That gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today!” Why is gathering Israel so important, though? Why not just leave people alone? Surely not everyone needs to hear about the gospel right? Well, Preach My Gospel states: “You are surrounded by people. You pass them on the street and travel among them. You visit them in their homes and connect with them online. They are all children of God—your brothers and sisters. God loves them just as He loves you. Many of these people are searching for purpose in life. They are concerned for their future and their families. They need the sense of belonging that comes from knowing they are children of God and members of His eternal family. They want to feel secure in a world of changing values. They desire “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” Many are “only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it”” (end quote)

Heavenly Father gave us the gift of agency because He loves us. He knows that not everyone will accept the gospel, and that is ok. However, it is not our job to choose whether someone should have the opportunity to learn. As disciples of Christ, it’s our duty to tell everyone we can the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should do our best to give everyone the chance to accept the gospel. 

In their address, Sister Nelson spoke about foreordination. “My dear brothers and sisters, these are indeed the latter days! There has never been a time like this in the history of this world. Never! Premortally, you and I committed to do a great work while we are here on earth. And with the Lord’s help, we will do it!” (end quote) Brothers and Sisters, I invite you to ponder, what callings have you been preordained to do? Perhaps in the pre-existence you were called to be a general authority, or a relief society president, or a mother or father. In a meeting I attended on Wednesday, an MTC leader said this: “Elders and Sisters, you have been set apart as a missionary twice. Once within the last week and once in the pre-existence.” When he told us that, I pondered his statement and felt the Holy Ghost confirm his words. In that moment, I knew that I was doing what Heavenly Father needed me too. I knew I was on the right track!

The past few months, I’ve been asked a lot about my mission. I heard many, many repetitions of questions like where are you going, what language are you speaking, are you nervous. Perhaps the most important question I’ve been asked is why are you serving a mission? I’ve known ever since I was a little girl that I wanted to go on a mission. Both my parents served a mission, and growing up and hearing stories from their mission, I saw how much it impacted their lives, and I wanted an experience like that for myself. As a teenager, I questioned whether I should serve a mission or not. When I was in seminary, my teacher Brother Lochridge advised us to prepare to serve a mission, whether we ended up going or not. So I followed his advice! I read my scriptures, attended the temple, prayed daily, and developed my relationship with Jesus Christ. I attended every youth activity I could, including girls camp and FSY. When I was a senior in high school, I still felt unsure about whether a mission was the best choice, but I decided to plan like I was going to serve anyway. When I was waiting to start my mission papers, I decided to compose a mental list of the pros and cons of serving a mission. As I thought, reason after reason popped into my head for pros. But when I tried to think of any cons, my mind went blank. I could not, and still cannot, think of a single con to serving a mission. Although it will be difficult at times, and I will be stretched to my limits, I will get far more out of a mission than anything else I could possibly do. So, I started my papers! I did all the doctor’s appointments and check-ups (which is harder than it should be), updated prescriptions, got interviewed, made arrangements for the temple, and finally submitted my papers! The 13 days I waited between submitting my papers and opening my call were absolute torture. I was finally able to open my call on Feb 7th. The spirit was so strong that day. I’m pretty sure I was crying before I even opened the email. Since I got my call, life has been a whirlwind of passport applications, countless shopping trips, list-making, family visits, and everything in between. But whenever I have doubts about my ability to serve, or questions, like what if my suitcases get sent to Antarctica, I remember that the Lord has a plan. Lucky for me, Heavenly Father knows what He is doing. 

Something that is essential to being a missionary is having and strengthening your testimony. I have been pondering recently, what is my testimony? What is my conversion story? One of my favorite talks is by Elder Alexander Dushku called pillars and rays. He shared: “President Joseph F. Smith recalled, “The Lord withheld marvels from me [when I was young], and showed me the truth, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.”

That is the Lord’s typical pattern, brothers and sisters. Rather than sending us a pillar of light, the Lord sends us a ray of light, and then another, and another… My point is that there are many ways to receive heavenly rays of testimony. These are just a few, of course. They may not be dramatic, but all of them form part of our testimonies.” (end quote) I resonated deeply with this quote. 

When I was in seminary, I remember we were asked to study the Book of Mormon. I set a goal to read every night, and I was pretty good at being consistent. However, I felt frustrated. I remembered Moroni’s promise that if we prayed, we would be able to know for ourselves if the Book of Mormon was true. I began to wonder, why haven’t I had a confirmation that it’s true? Where is my pillar of light? One night, as I was thinking about all of this, I suddenly had a thought. Maybe I didn’t need one. I realized then that I already had a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I had been learning and receiving witness of the truth since I was little. Those moments were so small that I had missed them! I was so busy looking for a magnificent pillar of light that I missed all the little rays. Since then, I have realized that my testimony is built up of little moments like that. 

For example, when we were on our tour in Palmyra with Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, we were singing an arrangement of “Oh How Lovely Was the Morning” that we called the vision. Near the end of the song, we sang the lyrics “Joseph this is my Beloved Son, Hear Him.” and the line “For he saw the Living God.” In that moment, I received a strong witness through the Holy Ghost that what I was singing was true. I began to weep so much that I could barely finish the song. My poor friend Ambree had no idea what was going on, but she held my hand and comforted me in that moment. 

Another moment I can recall was back in March. I got to go to the temple for the first time and receive my endowments in the Idaho Falls Temple. I was of course feeling all the usual feelings of nervousness and excitement beforehand. But after I changed into the temple clothes and began going through the temple, I felt a sense of calm overcome me. I knew that I was exactly where I was supposed to be and exactly what I needed to be doing. I knew that being in the temple that day was the best thing I could have possibly been doing. 

When I was 8 years old, I was diagnosed with Perthes. Perthes is a disease that affected my hip. I had to undergo 2 major surgeries and multiple years of physical therapy. I had to walk with the aid of crutches for almost 2 years. While this was hard for me, I can hardly imagine how difficult it must have been for my parents to take care of a child struggling with something so hard. But I never heard them complain. Their love and support helped me get through that difficult time. But what helped me the most was to see their faith. I heard them pray often to the Lord, asking for their help. I heard them speak to friends, family, and ward members about the miracles the Lord had given us when I was going through that trial. Even as a young kid, I recognized my parent’s faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, and has become part of the foundation of my testimony. 

So, these are some of the rays that make up my testimony. I invite you, brothers and sisters, to ponder on your own life. Do you have rays of light that are a part of your testimony? I invite you to talk with your loved ones about experiences that have shaped your testimony.

Before I close, I would like to speak to the youth and anyone considering a mission. I’m not gonna tell you to go on a mission, because that might not be what the Lord needs you to do. But I am going to extend this invitation that was given to me: prepare anyways! Do the things that will bring you closer to your Savior Jesus Christ. Make scripture reading and prayer a daily habit. Don’t do it because you “have to.” Do it because you want to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Whether you serve a mission or not, you will spend your whole life either growing closer to your Savior or further away. Make the choice now to Follow Him.

I would like to close with these words by President Nelson: “We are followers of Jesus Christ. The most important truth the Holy Ghost will ever witness to you is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He lives! He is our Advocate with the Father, our Exemplar, and our Redeemer.” (end quote) I bear my testimony that Joseph Smith was called by God. I bear my testimony that Dallin H. Oaks is the Prophet of our church. I bear my testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and that Heavenly Father is the Living God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.