A Sweet Time

    We had all met earlier in the temple for Kortney to go for her first time. A sweet day. The Seaman Girls and Husbands (l-r): Jace and Lindsay Baum; Dan and Kirsten Flake; Eric and Addie Gaylord; The Missionaries; The Almost Cody and Kortney family; Jerry and Mauriah Walker (Kortney's parents); Chaz and Caitlin Hatch; Jessica and Jordy Fuentes

Homeward Bound

So many mixed emotions!

Here We Are

Here We Are

December 27, 2015

     Elder Cody Tenney left Show Low, Az in July 2013 to travel across the continent to Zimbabwe to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was a bittersweet day for a young girl, Kortney Walker. They made plans to wait and see what the future would hold for them.

     Life went on. They wrote weekly while Kortney continued growing up and participating in high school activities. This she did with honors, all the while working at the local Dairy Queen, cheering, helping her mom, and setting a standard for all 20 Seaman cousins to follow. 

     Elder Tenney returned with honor from Africa this past summer. After a 16 hour flight to Atlanta, and then 4 hours to Arizona,  he met his family at Sky Harbor Airport   When the family hit the mountain, guess where Elder Tenney headed.....Yep.....and the welcome sign covered the width of the street. 

     So, HERE WE ARE. We are Home. For a short while to witness the wedding of these two. Isn't this a wonderful story with a happy ending? Kortney is our oldest granddaughter. As we stood in the 

Celestial Room of the Snowflake Temple yesterday with all six of our daughters and their husbands and waited for this young couple to come into the room, my elder and I squeezed hands and marveled at our blessings. 

     All Week my mind  has gone  back to my personal blessing given by President Williams before we left for Missouri. "This is the absolute best thing you can do for your family".  I felt that yesterday in the temple as Kortney went through for her endowments; then as we met at the Gaylord's house for Christmas Eve, and again,at the Hatch's house on Christmas Day.  

    We have found all is well in Show Low and more importantly, all is well in our families. Not to say they have not experienced trials, and even some heartbreak along the way this past year or so. But we love to see their desires to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in their homes. Cody and Kortney Tenney will follow the same pattern. They have both been taught well. 

    We are here for the week. We feel so blessed.  But, I have to confess, part of my heart is still in Missouri. When two young elders came into sacrament meeting today in Sierra Pines Ward, I made eye contact with one. We smiled and both of us tapped our name tags. It made me cry. 

     We will go home after the big party this weekend and finish the job. When I say Home, we both know what that means. Missouri. The Lord called us for 18 months. Just like Cody and Kortney, we have some exciting times ahead of us. 

All my Love,

Sister Seaman....aka grandma to the bride, Kortney. And Cody Tenney's new grandma. Just ask him.

Show Low Arizona

     Sister Seaman has lived in Show Low, Arizona all her life. And except for three brief periods of time when she went off to school at NAU, after we were married and lived in Scottsdale while I finished school at ASU,  and lately while we have been serving in Missouri, she has not been inclined to leave.  The decision was made early on in our marriage that we would stay and raise our family here, knowing full well that we would be giving up better paying jobs and more opportunities elsewhere. Actually, we didn't really give up much.  Maybe a better paying job, but everything else has been worth it.  In fact, that decision was instrumental in my being able to serve in the various church positions that I was called to and probably would not have had the same opportunities living in other places.

     I remember all of our girls, at some point in their teenage years, vowed to leave this place and not return because it was so small and "not with it."  Well, all of our 6 girls have either stayed after they were married or moved back or at some point lived near here.  As of today, 5 out of 6 live in or within 20 miles of Show Low. There is something about this place that gets in your blood.  It feels good here.  

     It felt good today as we got to visit our ward at church and hug and cry as we renewed old friendships.  We have missed the place, but we also know that Missouri has a hold on us for 4 more months.  We have grown to love our mission.  We have grown to love the missionaries that serve in Missouri.  We have grown to love the sacred places in Missouri. We have grown to love missionary service.  I think it is keeping us young.  I know that it is blessing our lives and the lives of our family as we serve.  I can hardly believe the tender feelings I have for missionaries.  

     If you have followed us on this blog since the beginning you know that it has not always been this way.  Serving has been the catalyst for change.  The day to day work of senior missionaries has changed us forever.  We will be eternally grateful for the opportunities that have come our way and the blessings that have come from serving in those opportunities.  It has strengthened our testimonies and our love and devotion for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  How grateful we are for Him. 

     We love you and ask the Lord to watch over our family and friends.

Sincerely,

Elder Seaman

     

     

     

Christmas Mail

So fun!!

SISTER TALLIMATASSI

She is our bishop's wife. She was the first to welcome us to the ward. She has been so kind to us, just as her dear husband is.

Mothers and Christmas

Mothers and Christmas

December 20, 2015

     The phone has rung more than usual this week in the office. Many times it is a mother calling from out west asking about an address, our mail delivery times, most efficient shipping routes, etc. Many have started their conversations with an apology. "I am sorry. I am running late this year."....."I am sorry. I lost his or her new address."....Mothers, do you get my drift?   Do not fear, though. For every frazzled call I answer, there is another mother on the line asking for the name of their missionary's new companion. Asking how many sisters live in the house so she can send enough for all. Asking me to let our mail secretary know that she sent two extra packages for any missionary who won't be getting much.
     This most wonderful time of the year can wreak havoc on a mother's emotions. Have I done enough? Do my children feel a spirit of joy in our home this season? What neighbor have I forgotten? What child have I forgotten??!
      The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Savior and compared his love for us like that of a mother, "Can a woman forget her sucking child?" Isn't that the truth, Mothers? And I am not talking about Christmas gifts now. That is such a small part of how we show our love to our children, yet the world portrays it differently. Your child does not need the best phone, the best clothes. Your child needs you. And you are doing it. You are giving it and you don't need to apologize. Your gave your child the two best gifts they will ever get. A family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
     Your heart may get broken along the way for a time due to your child's poor choices but Hallelujah! A Savior was born! Because of Him, your child can repent and start over. Because of Him, you can repent on those grumpy days that can creep into this joyous occasion. I speak from experience. I first became a mother 40 years ago this very week when our first daughter, Mauriah, was born. By the way, how can she be 40? She is too young and beautiful. It hasn't even phased her.
     So mothers....chin up. You have a sacred trust placed in you. You can do it! Pray for courage and strength. You are doing so much better than you think you are. Now, if you are a mom, be sure and check out the picture of the mail in our office last Monday. Study it. Guess where it came from and is still coming from? Over 200 mothers across the country and even, the world. Chances are slim to none that a dad postmarked a one of them. Moms, you've got this.

Rejoice greatly!
Sister Seaman.....aka MOTHER to Jessica, Caitlin, Mauriah, Kirsten, Lindsay, and Addie

Fathers, Front and Center

     The gifts coming from Home to missionaries, at least here in this mission, are considerable.  And I acknowledge all the mothers and their tender feelings for their missionaries.  However, as a father of the same daughters as Sister Seaman, I also know that the fathers care.  They care enough and in most cases far more than enough.  I also know that cards and gifts may not be their thing.  The fathers just wait longer than the wives and it gets taken care of before they can act.  Either way, Mothers and Fathers love their missionaries.  This sounds a little lame doesn't it.  OK Moms, you win, but this father loves his daughters more than he can express.
     Have you ever secretly wished that you could be an anonymous giver of gifts that would really help someone who really needs the help.  I am talking about really helping.  I am not sure I am qualified to make a distinction between who really has a need and who just has their hand out.  And I am not wealthy enough to do anything in the way of really helping someone, but I have always thought it would be the greatest thing.  I really enjoy doing the "pay-it-forward" thing at McDonalds; but, I am talking about a college tuition for a kid  who would never be able to get it otherwise; or a house for a disabled vet.  You may have had these same thoughts. 
     Well, here we are in Independence Missouri serving a mission and it has struck me that I have the opportunity to give the greatest gift to ever be given.  The gift of eternal life. The greatest of all gifts.  The reality of it though is that I am actually weird about giving this gift.  I am afraid.  Even though it costs me nothing. And even though it can be given without making any distinction.  I hesitate.  There is the fear that it will be rejected.  I don't like rejection. 
     During the course of this mission, Sister Seaman and I are slowly becoming better at giving the gift.  Wow, you would think that by now, after 14 months, we would be fearless. We are not, but we are getting better.  We have been giving out the little #ASaviorisBorn cards to a few people this year.  It seems to be such a small effort on our part.
     Anyway,  we do have the greatest of all the gifts ever given and we should share it whenever and wherever we can.  Start today by getting some pass-along cards from the missionaries near you and commit to yourselves to give them out.  Be friendly. Be the example. Be kind. You will be a great missionary. We love you.

Sincerely,
Elder Seaman
    
    
    
   

 

    

Sister Pemberton

Sister Pemberton has been helping out in the mission home for several years during Transfer Week. She invited me to a cookie Exchange at her home on Saturday. As you can see, she loves Christmas. She only has 4 trees up this year. In the past, she puts up as many as 17. That's right-17.