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One. Two. Three. Is this thing on? (WhistleWhistle. TapTap.)

If you see this, please send me a text or email. I'm just checking to see who may still be tuned into this ancient family blog. 

- Dad

Family Christmas / Holiday Letter

There must be some explanation of why time goes faster as one gets older hidden somewhere within the mathematics of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. But, some concepts always seem outside my mental ability to grasp (e.g., quantum mechanics and balancing checkbooks). Suffice it to say that time marches on, kids grow older, grandkids grow cuter, and more happens in a year than can be given justice in a Christmas/New Year’s note.

Barb, Chelsea, Erik, and I went on a trip to the LDS Church Sites in Palmyra, NY, and Kirtland, OH, in April prior to Erik leaving in May on a mission to India and Chelsea leaving in July on a mission to Iowa. It was the first time for Chelsea or Erik to visit either of those sites and we were all uplifted and our testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ were strengthened. We had an enjoyable visit with my brothers in Michigan en route from Kirtland to Chicago where we visited Josh & Barbie (and spoiled JJ) for a few days.

Erik encountered health complications and was issued a medical release from his mission at the end of July. He’s home, received helpful medical care, is currently working full-time on the maintenance staff at a movie theater complex, and is one of the Ward’s Elder’s Quorum instructors. Chelsea is doing well in Iowa and has grown to love mission work, the mid-west, & the people there. (We post her emails on www.missionsite.net – search on her name. Emails can be sent to Chelsea.Madsen@myldsmail.net)

Barbara continued to help give care and assistance to her parents who were moved into a nearby assisted living facility. Her mother finally succumbed to her battle with kidney cancer and passed away quietly in November. Her funeral was “sad but uplifting” and the blessings of a close family were manifest as mutual support and love were given in many ways. It was good to see so much family, but we wish it were under different circumstances. Her father’s Alzheimer’s continues to worsen and it is likely he’ll need to be moved to a specialty care center soon. Barb is very grateful to her siblings for all the support they have been. She also dusted off her violin, joined a community orchestra, and has enjoyed and been uplifted by getting more music back into her life.

Bruce continues to be busy with work (managing a group of Systems Engineers) and Church (still with the Priest’s Quorum) and tries to get some reading- and telescope-time in somewhere.

We think of you often – stay in touch.

Scripture Study and Journal Writing

To tell the truth, I've been waffling back-and-forth on a) should I study the scriptures electronically or by hardcopy, and b) should I keep a journal by pen or keyboard. I'm curious what others do.
Regarding (a): Actually, after doing some research and trying to "feel" what's right for me, I'm leaning towards using both electronic and hardcopy for scripture study. Sometimes it just "feels better" to hold my old, worn, tangible scriptures when I want to just read, ponder, or meditate. But, when I want to research something or dig into one or more verses, I think I'll use the computer (or iPad). I've been playing around with a note-taking app called "Evernote" and have been fairly impressed by it. I've found some discussion of others using it to keep their study notes, thoughts, and findings. Evernote is on both my PC and iPad and it automatically syncs notes between the two - and it's free.
Regarding (b): This is a little tougher. Keeping an electronic journal seems to be the fastest, easiest way to keep a journal and there are many benefits of doing so (including having back-ups). But, given the way I write, I end up reviewing what I type several times, changing this word, updating that thought, or deleting that sentence each time through. So, by the time I'm done, it's taken me probably as long to type an entry as if I'd written it by pen (which, since I don't have access to a pen editor, I don't go back and do any editing.) I realize that I could modify how I use a text editor, but that's a hard tendency to break (I will probably end up re-reading and touching up this blog several times by the time I'm done). Also, (and this is where your input would be interesting), I wonder if there's more sentiment, more "connection" with my posterity if I write my journal in my own hand. And, finally, there's a sentimental value (again) with having something physical to hold and write in. Even though I'm an Electrical/Computer Engineer and somewhat geek-ish myself, I'm still drawn to the "old fashion" way of doing some things. Sometimes, for me, there's just more value in slowing down a little and putting more of a personal touch on things.

But, what do you think? What do you do?

(And, yes, I reviewed this post 3 times and have probably still missed something that I would change or correct.)

News of Chelsea in Iowa

OK - no comments on how bad we (I!) are at keeping up with all the social networking hoo-hah. *sigh* But, I thought I'd share some links to info on Chelsea:

We upload her pictures to her PicasaWeb site: https://picasaweb.google.com/115651545119724010794?authkey=Gv1sRgCKHQvMyNzL-rkQE

I'm going to be marking where she serves on this private Google Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203279960184463450233.0004a8d1c226e4e294433&msa=0&ll=41.754922,-91.164551&spn=5.523534,9.107666

We'll be posting the letters she emails to us on this site:
http://www.missionsite.net/sisterchelseamadsen/letters

I had a fun call this afternoon that I thought I'd share. The phone rang between conference sessions and it was one of my former mission companions: Doug Cropper. (In fact, I was his trainer.) It was great to hear his voice and we chatted for a minute and then he said "Do you know where I am?" Uhhh.. Nope. "I'm the bishop of the Bettendorf, Iowa Ward!" Well, that's where Chelsea is serving! He said that he had the sister missionaries over and was telling them some of his mission stories. Then, a Sister Madsen asked when he served in Germany. When he answered, she said: "well, do you know my father, Bruce Madsen?" "Know him! He was my trainer!" What a fun coincidence - made me feel warm all over that the world is small enough that my daughter would serve in a ward where a former mission comp is a bishop.

Chelsea Opening Her Mission Call

Erik in London en Route to India

We received this email and picture this morning (Erik and his district were at London Heathrow during a lay-over):

"I met up with your missionary at Heathrow airport. We were traveling back from Norway where I served 31 years ago.
You should know that I shook his hand, and he looks great.
Here is their photo at 11:30am London time.
Great missionaries."
- Kirt Naylor; Boise, Idaho

We spent the day tracking Erik's flight from London to Bangalore via sites on the web (and an app on my iPad). He arrived in Bangalore at approx. 6:16pm MST. Can't wait to hear from him!

Erik Enters the MTC

OK, well, in keeping with the timely nature of all of our family blogs, we're finally getting some pictures and comments posted about Erik entering the MTC ... on the day before he actually leaves for India.

Erik entered the MTC on Wednesday, May 4th. It really was a good day - uplifting for all of us (even though it did involve tears from everyone at some point in the day).

Chelsea was literally handed a temporary job at Mountain America Credit Union until she goes on her mission (she's a "go-fer" there) and wasn't able to get off early enough to go to Provo with us, so she had to say her good-bye's that morning. We got some last-minute shopping in that morning and Erik was able to get everything into 2 suitcases - that were still under the weight limit.

We arrived around 20 minutes early in order to take some time to say our good-byes on the big lawn to the west of the Provo Temple (an idea that many other families had). It was a nice day - blue skies and warm. When we were done there (well, according to Barb we weren't done, but the scheduled drop-off time was approaching and Erik was antsy to get the show on the road) we drove down the hill to the MTC. True to what we had been told, we drove into the MTC, were directed to a curb-side drop-off, a "host" missionary came and grabbed him and his luggage and off they went! We were stopped at the curb for probably 5 minutes. (We did get time for a few pictures and hugs, however.) Having been to the "room with two doors" with Josh, I have to admit that I preferred this method of dropping missionaries off. (In the picture below, Erik is the one on the right with the shoulder bag; his "host" is toting his luggage.) Well, he's off on the Lord's Errand now; we've had him for 20 years, now the Lord gets him!

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