Re: Happy birthday!

I guess that first beer will have to wait... (JK!)  It is so great to have a son who loves serving the Lord as a soldier of right.  Thanks Blaine.  Are prayers continue for you and the Austin branch of our family.

On Sun, Jan 25, 2015 at 8:53 PM, Blaine Bassett <blainebbassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Max, work just seems to get crazier and crazier and I'm trying to survive. No it's not even that dramatic but I've been having a hard time finding the motivation to work as hard as I have to lately. Haven't had a Saturday off in over a month now and I'm starting to feel it. Digging deep, you know? I hesitate even talking about this because I'm not trying to have a pity party or anything. I know this is what I chose and what I signed up for and what I'm being paid for so no fair complaining now when it is as hard as everyone warned me it would be, right? No, the only reason I say anything is because I know missionary work had lots of weeks like this for me too. It is not always easy or rewarding or fun or even that fulfilling. It can be all of those things at its best but many days are just hard work followed by eating by the sweat of the brow, so to speak. You have such a happy, optimistic demeanor that you seem to be immune from a lot of this that I remember feeling. That is a blessing, and good for you for being that way. I just wanted to say that if you ever do have a rough day, however, to know that heavenly father is there and is always looking out for you, and that we feel for you and love you too.

Anyway, I was just about to go to bed so I could start another big week at a nice early hour when I realized (ok, Kristi reminded me although I have seen the day coming for awhile now!) that your birthday is tomorrow. So I had to at least give you a quick shout, even if it is not my most happy or articulate letter. We do love you and pray for you and hope you have a great day tomorrow. My little brother is 21! Most big brothers would take their brother out for a beer or something this big day, but how awesome is it that my little brother is a soldier in God's army on his 21st birthday, rather than wasting time with such nonsense. We are so proud of you and you constantly inspire us. Happy 21st!

Blaine

Sent from my iPhone

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Bret Bassett 

Bret Bassett  - PMP | International Product Manager |

4268 Sherm Circle West Valley City UT. 84120

Home: 801.968-0760 | Cell: 801.815.5860 | bretbassett@gmail.com

 

Week 97 - Max- Numero 1 Cumpleano

Week 97 - Max - Numero 1 Cumpleano

Monday, January 26, 2015

6:59 AM

 

**Editor's note - For those unaware, today is Max's birthday.  And we are so happy that he is so happy.  I want to throw in a couple of lines at the end of the letter which Max wrote to Wendy about how happy he is as a missionary.  I hope he won't mind.

 

 

Hola familia!

 

Thanks so much for all the fun birthday wishes! I signed on and was overwhelmed with the tons of support that I have received from you guys. It means so much to have such a wonderful family.

 

First off, I want to just write and say how much I love the mission. Honestly, I can't write HOW much I love being out here. Last nights was one of those nights where it just hit me. It just hit me so hard how much I love being a missionary. The schedule, the baptisms, helping others, the food, the lessons, the studying, the members, the investigators, the companions, the shopping in Mercadona, the emailing, the walking, the walking, the walking, the cold (and hot) living four in a piso, the Spanish, putting on a white shirt and tie with a chapa every morning, and sooooo much more. Honestly, I could go on forever and ever about the things that I love out here. I just wish I could attach a camera and record EVERY single moment!

 

One day ill be able to watch it!

 

This week has been great! I am now officially a father again. My son is Elder Rex! I like to call him Elder X, the magic maker. He is from California. He's my age (a little older) He's pretty dang tall (6 foot 3) and just super awesome. He is learning Spanish super-fast. I love that man!

 

Its been so fun to be with him because he reminds me a ton of me when I started the mission. Everything is just so new. I think thats one reason my eyes have opened to how much I love the mission. Now that I see how new it is for him, I realize that this is just my life and that it won't last forever......

 

Now...there's a reason I call him the magic maker. This guy is seriously a miracle magnet. I went and picked him up on Tuesday, and we got back late Wednesday night. Thursday we planned in the morning and then headed off to work. Our first cita was kind of wish washy and ended up failing us. Before heading off to our next cita, we decided to knock the building. It's been a while since I've done that, but we felt that we should.

door slam after door slam after door slam. To me, it was normal. But to him, Im sure it was a little frustrating. But yet, he stayed happy.

 

Last door comes, we knock, a man about 25 answers. "Oh hello, come on in..." First thing he says. He hadn't even introduced ourselves or anything.

 

We asked why he let us in and all he said was, "Im not sure, I thought maybe you were here for someone else and that I should let you in...."

 

I just sat there confused.....was my new comp playing a prank on me? Usually, this goes the other way...

We taught him and his friend, Joani and Fernando. They are from Honduras. They listened very well and agreed to be baptized! They just don't feel ready to set a secure fecha.   I was shocked! We left the cita and I just gave my son a big hug. haha That's all I could really do I was so shocked! He didn't really get why I was so happy. haha

It was super great!

 

A couple days later, same thing happened. We knocked the door of an old future that we had contacted. He let us in and we taught him and his friend (Elia and Juan) They are from Romania and are super great. They wouldn't agree to baptism quite yet, but they are willing to listen more.

 

That's not it though....On Saturday....we were failed again and this one was very unexpected. It is never easy when you get failed, no matter how many times it happens. Anyways, we felt that we should go on the other side of Lorca, which we had not planned until later. But we felt that at that moment it was the right time. Well, as we were walking down the street, we see a man waving to us to come to him. Turns out it is a future that the other elders contacted and he lived in our area. We talked to him for a sec and asked if we could share a quick message with him. Turns out we walked to the chapel with him in that moment and set a baptismal fecha with him for the 14 of February. He told us that he had been outside the chapel for a while just waiting to see if we could come. We never did, so he felt like he should go up a ways on the street to wait for his son. And next thing he knows, there we are.

 

It was miracle as the Lord put us EXACTLY where we needed to be.

 

So those are a couple examples of what Elder X is doing to this place! He is so great! Couldn't be more proud of my son ;) haha No but he is a great example to me. He is helping me finish strong (he still doesn't know that I leave soon....I don't know how to break the news....)

 

Anyways he is great!

 

My birthday has been one of the greatest as well. I woke up to french toast that the other elders had made. GREAT! And then we went to Zara to buy some "birthday clothes." Zara has some GREAT sales today.

 

(side note- Mom, do you mind looking at how mmuch money I have left on my card. I kind of went crazy (not to crazy but a little) at Zara. I spent about 70 euros today and a couple weeks ago I spent about 40. Which adds up to about 150 dollars or something. Thanks! Love ya!) But I love the clothes that Ive got....and gifts as well ;) But it has been a great day!

 

Thanks again for all the birthday wishes!

I hope you all know how much I LOVE the mission. I am also very excited to see everyone.

A vencer!

Sure love ya´ll!

Love, Elder Bassett

 

 

A few lines to his mother…

 

"It brings back memories of reading the story, "Mommy, do I have to serve a mission?" I used to get so nervous reading that book, knowing that I was going to have to sleep away from you for 2 years. I really can remember those feelings of fear. I never questioned going on a mission, but I was always a little nervous. I would say those same words to you, but in my head, "Mommy, do I have to serve a mission?" And now, here I am with a couple months left, and I feel just like the young man does in the book when he writes to his mom and asks, "Mom, do I have to come home?"

 

"I don't say that with the intent of saying that I'm not excited to come home. I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE EVERYONE! But something inside of me is just churning knowing that I've got just a little while left of this fun! I love the mission. I love serving the Lord".

Oh Jane, I totally feel for you on showing a house, it is really one of my least favorite things! How fun that he is smiling more, try to catch it on a pic for me! Blaine was just telling me how one of the things that is hard for him at work and in life right now is not getting grades (ie feedback), leaving him not knowing if he is good enough at anything. I felt like I could relate to that with how much more enjoyable and rewarding being a new mom is when your baby starts smiling! All those sleepless nights are hard for me, but if I can get a little crooked smile it makes them so much easier!!

I'm glad you joined Instagram! (Wow my brain is fried, I accidentally typed "I'm glad you joined Nick and Stef" haha. 

On Jan 26, 2015, at 12:47 AM, Janey Nielsen <janeybassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey Max,

Happy Birthday! I can still remember the day you were born and I was so disappointed you were a boy (back in those days it wasn't common to find out the gender prior to birth.) Being the 8 year old girl that I was, I really wanted you to be a girl. But....I love ya and wouldn't have it any other way!!!! You still watched all those "That Girl" episodes with me, so it worked out. :) haha, happy birthday! So excited to say "see ya next month" in our letters starting next week. 

Life has been good....it revolves around Griffen. I am loving being a mom more and more! He has really started smiling a lot which is really fun. I also realized how cool it is to feel like I'm in charge (that whole aspect kind of freaked me out at first.) I love that for the most part I can tell when he's hungry or just being fussy because he's tired. He's such a good baby and I really feel blessed. 

I can't remember if I told you or not that We are moving out to WVC in a couple weeks. The house we are currently living in is for sale....and can I just tell you how annoying it is to have to leave your house multiple times a day for 1.5 hours (and leave it looking spotless....good thing I'm already a clean person). It gets kinds of frustrating, especially when you have to carry around a bunch of baby stuff. We are grateful mom and dad don't live to far and they are willing to let us come over and hang out. 

Well, that's the main stuff going on in my life. Sure love ya. Again, hope you have a great b-day! Love, Janey

Re: Birthday Love from Mom!

Tess was 9lb 6oz too! Seems like people who weigh that coming in to the world are pretty awesome! ;)

We are jealous you got to see Selma! We look forward to seeing that one!

What a fun busy week. Our weeks are busy, but in a much more repetitive way which never sounds very interesting to write about! Haha!



> On Jan 25, 2015, at 10:45 PM, Wendy Bassett <wendy.bassett@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Max,
>
> HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! It's so fun we all get to wish you a happy birthday on the very day. I can't believe that it was 21 years ago that you came into this world. What a happy day that was. The doctor had us come to LDS hospital first thing in the morning and he started my labor (since I was never too good at going into labor by myself.). My tummy had gotten really big and sure enough, you were a good size baby - 9 lbs, 6 oz - same as Blaine. It was so fun to bring you home to a 4 yr old sister, a 7 year old sister and two brothers ages 9 and 12. What a warm welcome you got. We are so thankful to have you in our family. After three miscarriages between you and Rosey I was almost ready to give up. But not really because I just felt like there was someone wonderful in Heaven that Heavenly Father wanted to send to our family. I guess I had those experiences so I would never take the miracle of your birth for granted. I am so thankful for you and for the wonderful life you have lived - and are living! Happy Birthday!
>
> I think it would take a miracle for you to have already received the card we sent (gift is in the card so that might give you a big hint as to what the gift is!). Just know that there is a card on it's way.
>
> This past week was busy for me with something every night. Monday - Janey and Warner came for dinner and FHE. Tuesday was a ward conference visit followed by a ward council meeting. Wednesday was my quarterly Relief Society board meeting. Thursday was a Jordan North stake event where I am helping Susan Stott teach preparedness classes like we did way back in 2008 at Welfare Square called the Wooden Spoon. Friday was the best of all as it was the first official Bassett 4th Friday Club. We all went to PF Changs, courtesy of a generous gift card Nick and Stef gave us for Christmas. Then we came back and played games and had cocoa. We missed Blaine and Kristi and you! This is a tradition we are going to do every other month. You will get a turn to plan one. Last night dad and I went to a movie called "Selma." It was about Martin Luther King and was very moving. So it's been a full and busy week. Tonight Nick and Stef and family came to dinner. It's always so fun to be with them. You are going to love, love, love how fun those little boys are! Rich and Tori came as we were getting ready to eat dessert so they joined us for strawberry short cake. Yum! Richie is looking forward to seeing you!
>
> A couple tidbits-
>
> --Karen and Roger and all the adult Nordgren's are on a cruise this week - luckies!
> --last night Harrison Wynn got to play with the Salt Lake Symphony at Libby Gardner Hall on the UofU campus. He won a contest last summer that earned him the privilege. Olivia posted a clip on Facebook and it was truly amazing! He is very talented.
>
> I guess those are the only tidbits I can think of! Hope you know how much I love and appreciate you. I hope today is a wonderful birthday. I'm excited to hear about your new companion and how everything is going. Have a great day and a great week!
>
> Lots of love,
> Mom
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
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> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to bwbassetts+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
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Happy Birthday

Hey Max,

Happy Birthday! I can still remember the day you were born and I was so disappointed you were a boy (back in those days it wasn't common to find out the gender prior to birth.) Being the 8 year old girl that I was, I really wanted you to be a girl. But....I love ya and wouldn't have it any other way!!!! You still watched all those "That Girl" episodes with me, so it worked out. :) haha, happy birthday! So excited to say "see ya next month" in our letters starting next week. 

Life has been good....it revolves around Griffen. I am loving being a mom more and more! He has really started smiling a lot which is really fun. I also realized how cool it is to feel like I'm in charge (that whole aspect kind of freaked me out at first.) I love that for the most part I can tell when he's hungry or just being fussy because he's tired. He's such a good baby and I really feel blessed. 

I can't remember if I told you or not that We are moving out to WVC in a couple weeks. The house we are currently living in is for sale....and can I just tell you how annoying it is to have to leave your house multiple times a day for 1.5 hours (and leave it looking spotless....good thing I'm already a clean person). It gets kinds of frustrating, especially when you have to carry around a bunch of baby stuff. We are grateful mom and dad don't live to far and they are willing to let us come over and hang out. 

Well, that's the main stuff going on in my life. Sure love ya. Again, hope you have a great b-day! Love, Janey

Week 97 - Dad - Without Charity ye are nothing...

Week 97 - Dad - Without Charity ye are nothing…

Sunday, January 25, 2015

9:50 PM

 

I'm in the basement typing a letter to you.  I've finished my YSA church work.  I've finished going through email.  And I've got LDS Piano hymns playing from Spotify  while I write to you.  (Which reminds me, I've cancelled Rhapsody.  $15/mo is too much when I can get it for free on Spotify.)  Anyway the music is inspiring and beautiful.  It reminds me of you playing piano (when you weren't listening with your headsets) on a Sunday evening filling the house with music.

 

Mom just finished her letter and came down to pray with Rosey and I.  As I gave our family prayer, it reminded mom of something she had wanted to say but had forgotten.  So I agreed to put it in my letter.

 

Basically, Mom is totally engaged in her calling in the YSA Stake.  They have called a RS board made up of High Council and SP Wives.  As she prepared what she wanted to say, she remembered the following from a previous letter from you.

 

"The main theme of the meeting was to LOVE your companion. No matter who he is, what he does, our job as trainers is to love them more than to teach them or correct them. THAT is the best way to help them have the best mission possible. "

 

She adopted that thought for her RS Board sisters.  And it was perfect.   She said it was just what she needed to say, to help the board sisters love the YSA sisters they serve.  It was also perfect for her, to feel love for her boardmembers.  It is such an important truth.  That we must love those we serve MORE than we scold or correct or teach them.  If we don't LOVE them, then everything else just falls off their back's like water off a duck's back.  It doesn't sink in at all.

 

I think that's why Grandma Bassett could scold and correct and teach us all the time.  Because above and beyond the 'corrections' was the love.  The hugs, the little gifts, the desire to have you be in her home, the fact she never threw away anything that you gave her.  She loved us above anything else she did with us.

 

So remember that good counsel you gave.  I don't know who your companion is (I hope you'll share a lot of good info with us).  You may feel a little bugged by your new companion. Maybe he doesn't speak the language.  Or maybe he speaks better than you.  Maybe he's afraid.  Or maybe he's over confident.  Maybe he feels he's being judged by everyone and wants to go home.  Or maybe he judges everyone and wishes he could be with more faithful people.  It doesn't matter, because he is YOUR companion.  You are connected to him - for better or worse.  And if he succeeds, then you succeed.  IF he fails then a part of you fails.  And so you try and try to learn to the best you can about him so you can help him love the people of spain - member or non-member.

 

Here are a couple of things to remember about Love. 

 

• Be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming patient, full of love:Alma 13:28;
• Bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love:Alma 38:12;
• There was no contention because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people:4 Ne. 1:15;
• Everything which inviteth to love God is inspired of God:Moro. 7:13–16;

If you love God and serve him, bridling all your passions, then there will be no contention in your heart, and you'll feel the invitation of God to come unto him. 

 

Loving God allows you to love (or be connected to) everything else.

 

I love you, not only because you are so lovable (and because we are so totally connected by blood and spirit), but because I know God loves you, and if God loves you, then it sweeps over my heart that I am connected to you, because I want to be connected to God.

 

Okay I'm done.  It sounds like I think you and your companion have a difficult time together, or that you can't stand him.  I don't believe that's the case because your whole mission has been a constant flow of missionaries that are so great, that all you can say about them is "I love that man."

 

So love to the end.  Because when it's all said and done, it's not the positions you've held, it's the people you have loved, and the people who have loved you that really matter.

 

"If ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

"But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure" (Moroni 7:46–48).

Love,

Dad

 

 

 

 

Birthday Love from Mom!

Dear Max,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! It's so fun we all get to wish you a happy birthday on the very day. I can't believe that it was 21 years ago that you came into this world. What a happy day that was. The doctor had us come to LDS hospital first thing in the morning and he started my labor (since I was never too good at going into labor by myself.). My tummy had gotten really big and sure enough, you were a good size baby - 9 lbs, 6 oz - same as Blaine. It was so fun to bring you home to a 4 yr old sister, a 7 year old sister and two brothers ages 9 and 12. What a warm welcome you got. We are so thankful to have you in our family. After three miscarriages between you and Rosey I was almost ready to give up. But not really because I just felt like there was someone wonderful in Heaven that Heavenly Father wanted to send to our family. I guess I had those experiences so I would never take the miracle of your birth for granted. I am so thankful for you and for the wonderful life you have lived - and are living! Happy Birthday!

I think it would take a miracle for you to have already received the card we sent (gift is in the card so that might give you a big hint as to what the gift is!). Just know that there is a card on it's way.

This past week was busy for me with something every night. Monday - Janey and Warner came for dinner and FHE. Tuesday was a ward conference visit followed by a ward council meeting. Wednesday was my quarterly Relief Society board meeting. Thursday was a Jordan North stake event where I am helping Susan Stott teach preparedness classes like we did way back in 2008 at Welfare Square called the Wooden Spoon. Friday was the best of all as it was the first official Bassett 4th Friday Club. We all went to PF Changs, courtesy of a generous gift card Nick and Stef gave us for Christmas. Then we came back and played games and had cocoa. We missed Blaine and Kristi and you! This is a tradition we are going to do every other month. You will get a turn to plan one. Last night dad and I went to a movie called "Selma." It was about Martin Luther King and was very moving. So it's been a full and busy week. Tonight Nick and Stef and family came to dinner. It's always so fun to be with them. You are going to love, love, love how fun those little boys are! Rich and Tori came as we were getting ready to eat dessert so they joined us for strawberry short cake. Yum! Richie is looking forward to seeing you!

A couple tidbits-

--Karen and Roger and all the adult Nordgren's are on a cruise this week - luckies!
--last night Harrison Wynn got to play with the Salt Lake Symphony at Libby Gardner Hall on the UofU campus. He won a contest last summer that earned him the privilege. Olivia posted a clip on Facebook and it was truly amazing! He is very talented.

I guess those are the only tidbits I can think of! Hope you know how much I love and appreciate you. I hope today is a wonderful birthday. I'm excited to hear about your new companion and how everything is going. Have a great day and a great week!

Lots of love,
Mom




Sent from my iPad

Feliz Cumpleanos!!!

Dear Max, 

You are the hot topic of all our get togethers these days!  A.  We sure hope you have a happy birthday tomorrow!  B. We are praying for you to finish strong!  C.  We are getting excited to see you!  

Enough trunky talk!  

I really don't have much to say other than PF Changs was delicious on Friday, we missed you and B and K though!  Also Richie already has a movie scripted up for you guys when you get home.  I requested to be in one :)!  Also Aunt Lizzie has given permission and charge to Nick and I to make a music video for your song Fly at the reunion.  So PUMPED!  You are of course a very crucial part of that so we hope you are game!  

Well have a great week, sorry I have been lousy at writing.  Did you ever get our letters?  :) 

Love ya, 

-Stef

Happy birthday!

Max, work just seems to get crazier and crazier and I'm trying to survive. No it's not even that dramatic but I've been having a hard time finding the motivation to work as hard as I have to lately. Haven't had a Saturday off in over a month now and I'm starting to feel it. Digging deep, you know? I hesitate even talking about this because I'm not trying to have a pity party or anything. I know this is what I chose and what I signed up for and what I'm being paid for so no fair complaining now when it is as hard as everyone warned me it would be, right? No, the only reason I say anything is because I know missionary work had lots of weeks like this for me too. It is not always easy or rewarding or fun or even that fulfilling. It can be all of those things at its best but many days are just hard work followed by eating by the sweat of the brow, so to speak. You have such a happy, optimistic demeanor that you seem to be immune from a lot of this that I remember feeling. That is a blessing, and good for you for being that way. I just wanted to say that if you ever do have a rough day, however, to know that heavenly father is there and is always looking out for you, and that we feel for you and love you too.

Anyway, I was just about to go to bed so I could start another big week at a nice early hour when I realized (ok, Kristi reminded me although I have seen the day coming for awhile now!) that your birthday is tomorrow. So I had to at least give you a quick shout, even if it is not my most happy or articulate letter. We do love you and pray for you and hope you have a great day tomorrow. My little brother is 21! Most big brothers would take their brother out for a beer or something this big day, but how awesome is it that my little brother is a soldier in God's army on his 21st birthday, rather than wasting time with such nonsense. We are so proud of you and you constantly inspire us. Happy 21st!

Blaine

Sent from my iPhone

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Re: Looking Up

I don't know how you've done it Kris...and for this long. I hope so much she continues to sleep! A week after Griffen was born and I had only gotten a couple hours of sleep each night and very choppy, I remember thinking that I really thought I might have a nervous breakdown. That was the night mom came and gave me the gift of sleep and I never have been so grateful to get 8 hours of sleep in my life. 

On Monday, January 19, 2015, bret bassett <bretbassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Congrats dear Kristin on having Tess get a little more regular sleep. You forget how tough it is to deal w life without sleep. Enjoy every sleepful night. 

On Monday, January 19, 2015, K Bass <kristi.bassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Max!

A quick line in the wee hours of the morning for you!
*we finally got our personal letters from you a couple weeks ago, thank you so much, that was so fun!
* Blaine's friend Adam (a coworker also in our ward) needed a ride to and from work one day this week. He is the one who convinced us to take the job at Baker Botts saying he goes in at 7 and leaves at 4:45 every day. It was so funny as he and Blaine tried to plan their day. Blaine usually leaves here at like 5:45am and comes home closer to 7pm. Anyway Adam's wife had really put her foot down that Adam had to make Blaine leave at 4:45pm. When he came waltzing in at 5:30pm we had a dance party, it felt like he hardly had worked at all that day! He payed for leaving so early later in the week but boy that was a great day!
* I would feel ungrateful if I didn't mention that TESS HAS BEEN SLEEPING! It's been the most miraculous, life changing, amazing night thing! I worked really hard with her crying it out for several days, trying to establish a routine, bought a sound machine, etc. I don't know what thing worked but one night she slept from like 12-5, then the next like 8pm-6am and one even like 7:30pm-7am (which is what most babies her age sleep). It's only been a few days and I don't feel out of the woods, but I feel human again! Since she's been alive she has only slept well maybe five nights total, most nights/days she just kind of took cat naps off and on. Twenty minutes here, an hour there, ten here, etc. It was awful. I'm feeling hopefully and happy that I can maybe handle my life again, amazing how a lack of sleep makes everything else fall apart. Gwen and I were at odds every single day, I really felt like I was hanging on by a thread to what little sanity I had :)

* Today after church I sent Blaine and the kids on a walk. I felt sick while they were gone and kept thinking how sad it would be if something happened and they all died (this is not an uncommon thing for me when they all go somewhere together). Luckily they came home safe but later that night I saw on or neighborhood webpage that a woman had passed out while driving and her car jumped the curb and plowed across the sidewalk and into a wall, right on the same path they had been on (and the path I walk every day). It really hit me hard that I actually could have lost my family in one fell swoop (if their walk had been two hours earlier apparently). I am so grateful for every precious day we get to be together!
*It finally warmed back up and is now 65-70dgs every day. It's beautiful and I am loving it. The weather really does have power over my moods! It had been dreary and cold for about two weeks before that. Can't wait for you to come visit!

Okay, all very random things but just wanted to drop a line. We love and miss you! I hope you got the pic of Ivy's letter! Ben is working on one too but I don't think he finished. They really have written you way more Han you even know about and I am just awful about sending stuff. Sorry about that :)

Love,
Kris

Monday, January 19, 2015

Re: Looking Up

Congrats dear Kristin on having Tess get a little more regular sleep. You forget how tough it is to deal w life without sleep. Enjoy every sleepful night. 

On Monday, January 19, 2015, K Bass <kristi.bassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Max!

A quick line in the wee hours of the morning for you!
*we finally got our personal letters from you a couple weeks ago, thank you so much, that was so fun!
* Blaine's friend Adam (a coworker also in our ward) needed a ride to and from work one day this week. He is the one who convinced us to take the job at Baker Botts saying he goes in at 7 and leaves at 4:45 every day. It was so funny as he and Blaine tried to plan their day. Blaine usually leaves here at like 5:45am and comes home closer to 7pm. Anyway Adam's wife had really put her foot down that Adam had to make Blaine leave at 4:45pm. When he came waltzing in at 5:30pm we had a dance party, it felt like he hardly had worked at all that day! He payed for leaving so early later in the week but boy that was a great day!
* I would feel ungrateful if I didn't mention that TESS HAS BEEN SLEEPING! It's been the most miraculous, life changing, amazing night thing! I worked really hard with her crying it out for several days, trying to establish a routine, bought a sound machine, etc. I don't know what thing worked but one night she slept from like 12-5, then the next like 8pm-6am and one even like 7:30pm-7am (which is what most babies her age sleep). It's only been a few days and I don't feel out of the woods, but I feel human again! Since she's been alive she has only slept well maybe five nights total, most nights/days she just kind of took cat naps off and on. Twenty minutes here, an hour there, ten here, etc. It was awful. I'm feeling hopefully and happy that I can maybe handle my life again, amazing how a lack of sleep makes everything else fall apart. Gwen and I were at odds every single day, I really felt like I was hanging on by a thread to what little sanity I had :)

* Today after church I sent Blaine and the kids on a walk. I felt sick while they were gone and kept thinking how sad it would be if something happened and they all died (this is not an uncommon thing for me when they all go somewhere together). Luckily they came home safe but later that night I saw on or neighborhood webpage that a woman had passed out while driving and her car jumped the curb and plowed across the sidewalk and into a wall, right on the same path they had been on (and the path I walk every day). It really hit me hard that I actually could have lost my family in one fell swoop (if their walk had been two hours earlier apparently). I am so grateful for every precious day we get to be together!
*It finally warmed back up and is now 65-70dgs every day. It's beautiful and I am loving it. The weather really does have power over my moods! It had been dreary and cold for about two weeks before that. Can't wait for you to come visit!

Okay, all very random things but just wanted to drop a line. We love and miss you! I hope you got the pic of Ivy's letter! Ben is working on one too but I don't think he finished. They really have written you way more Han you even know about and I am just awful about sending stuff. Sorry about that :)

Love,
Kris

Re: Love from mom

You hit all the right topics. You do such a great job. Thanks. And love. 

On Sunday, January 18, 2015, Wendy Bassett <wendy.bassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Max,

I just read all those inspirational thoughts in dads and Blaine's  and Nick's letters.  You surely do have a family who loves you and wants you to do and be the best.  I am so excited to hear that you will be a trainer these last six weeks.  What a great opportunity!  I hope your last week with elder Brikki was sweet.  Can't wait to hear.

We had a fun, full week.  Monday was a birthday party at Nick and Stef's home for little Clay.  What a fun, happy boy he is.  Stef fed us all dinner - J Dawgs, chips and salad.  Yum.  Her family was there too so we had a good group.  Stef always has cute themes for her birthday parties.  This one was a tiger theme with mostly orange foods and drinks.  So fun.  Clay got LOTS of Legos.  I always miss you and Blaine's family an extra lot at those gatherings.

Tuesday was my ward conference visit and ward council training meeting. (Side note -  I think the Relief Society president is in love with the ward mission leader and vice versa!). Anyway, the visit the ward president and I did was good and I shared my testimony and thoughts about the sacrament.  It is interesting to me how many talks at general Conference were focused on the sacrament.

Wednesday was early morning temple service and a late night Relief Society presidency meeting.  I am really tired by 9 pm and could hardly function.  Thankfully my sweet presidency understands.

Thursday night Clay came over for his grandma/grandpa birthday sleepover.  That was a real treat.  Dad and I took him to Chick-fil-a for dinner.  He could choose his side with the kids meal and he chose applesauce over fries.  Very impressive!  Back at home we gave him our gifts -  Legos, a Lego bag and underwear.  Yes underwear.  Dad thought it was a bad gift but Stef said he needed it and, sure enough, he loved it.  He said he was so happy to not have to wear the tight stuff!  So the Lego set was called a "creator" and you could make three different things.  It was so fun to sit and turn the instruction booklet pages as he worked.  He really is good at building.  Actually, he is brilliant at it!  And very fast.  I loved watching him!  But I think the sweetest thing happened the next morning at breakfast.  Rosey had already said her blessing before we came in, and I wasn't going to eat, so I just poured his cereal and started talking to Rosey.  We looked over and Clay had his head bowed in prayer to say his own blessing before he ate.  Talk about making a grandma happy.  He has been taught well!  It was so sweet.

I got to see a bunch of Janey and Griffen again this week.  I worked and worked for a smile on Friday afternoon when they came and as soon as I got in the shower I guess he gave Janey one.  He is so sweet.  I still don't think he weighs as much as you did at birth - but he is growing!

Friday was "Third Friday" with grandma and my siblings.  We ate at Olive Garden and it was so much fun to be together.  I hope you siblings will find ways to stay close over the years.  Your family really can be your best friends.

So a bit of sad news.  After five months of being married, Doug decided to leave Lisa. I guess things have been hard for a long time and he kept wanting to break it to her but then things would happen and he hung in there.  Anyway, it is sad for both of them and Doug is very humbled by it all.  She wasn't who he thought she was and there were lots of hard days I guess.  I don't really know the details and that's okay.  But I have been praying hard for him.  And for Lisa, too.  She has a very strong personality and I hope she can accept this and move on.

So tomorrow is Martin Luther King holiday and dad has the day off and I have to work.  Crazy!  It's good for me, right?  I'm sure excited to hear from you.  Keep smiling and doing your best, your very best.

Love,
Mom

Sent from my iPad

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Bret Bassett  - PMP | International Product Manager |

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Re: Casualness and a Mighty Change of Heart

I love elder and sister renlund.  He was a cardiologist (heart doctor) and has been at our home and was a visiting general authority. He's the one who said you can be pleased with yourself but never satisfied.

On Sunday, January 18, 2015, Nick Bassett <nick.w.bassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Max,

We continue to think about and pray for you. We hope you're doing well, staying focused, and working hard. Those final weeks of your mission are unlike anything you have experienced or probably will experience. Filled with excitement, sadness, anxiety, disbelief, etc. I hope you would say along side many missionaries that your mission has without a doubt done greater things for you personally than any way in which you have blessed others. Missions have a way of accelerating the admonition found in Alma 5 to change our hearts. Your heart I'm confident has changed more in the last two years than perhaps the entire 19 years prior to that. When you return though you'll be required to step back into a much more worldly lifestyle. I was listening to a wonderful talk this week from Elder Rendlund back in 2009 where he talks about the physical operation of getting a new heart and the importance of taking very good care of the new heart. More precautions must be taken with medication, eating, etc. than with your old heart. Sometimes however people get casual in their medications or regular checkups because they feel fine. This is when things can start to quickly turn south. It's no different with the new/changed heart you've been blessed with. As you prepare to return, commit now to not giving up on finding ways to NOT get casual in those most important habits.  Scriptures, prayer, sunday attendance, etc. it will be tough, and it will take perseverance to find ways to be as committed as you should, but it's worth ever effort. I particularly liked this thought:

Please consider the state of your changed heart. Do you detect any rejection setting in as a result of the tendency of the natural man to become casual? If so, find a place where you too can kneel. Remember, more than mortal years on this earth are at stake. Do not risk forfeiting the fruits of the ultimate operation: eternal salvation and exaltation.

Keep up the great work!

Nick

Sent from my iPhone

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Re: Letter from Blaine, January 18, 2015

Four words stand out for me... Progress - locked and loaded. They seem to go together. I'm proud of ivy as well. We should get a FaceTime call together so we can hear her talk. We were saying how much ivy seems to be getting older.  And showing it. Thanks v

On Sunday, January 18, 2015, Wendy Bassett <wendy.bassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Great letter Blaine.  Fun to hear that you connected with old friends.  So proud of Ivy for giving her talk -  I wish I could have been there!  Glad that things seem progressively better at work.  We are so pleased with all the good you are all doing.  Love and miss you - A LOT!

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 18, 2015, at 9:25 PM, Blaine Bassett <blainebbassett@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hey Max,
>
> Sorry I haven't written in a couple weeks. I just feel like there's nothing to say these days. I continue to work a LOT. It is kind of getting old but I am learning a lot and enjoy a lot of it. I just don't like how high the pressure can feel. The other day I got assigned this big thing at like 11 that had to be done by 5. It was insane, I have never worked so fast and hard and done such a bad job on something. It really felt like a six hour exam. You have time for what you have time for and nothing else. And you don't have time for perfection. Literally, it ended with a partner calling me because a higher partner had just called her because he needed to get it to another higher partner. Crazy! Anyway, we'll see if I can make it through this year alive. At least my hours are being counted now so theoretically when I work really hard it should turn into vacation time (or at least a bigger bonus) later in the year.
>
> Anyway, there hasn't been much besides work. Gwen and I have been working on her science fair which we have done a half pops (half popped popcorn) experiment that has been interesting and taught me a lot. Next time I see you I'll need to make you my half pops. They are getting better and better.
>
> Yesterday we went to dinner at Brian and Ralphie's and saw a bunch of old friends. It was super fun and feels a lot like being with family, which we are missing a lot their days. Thank goodness for good friends. The missionaries were there and were really fun to talk to. One goes home the transfer before you (in a week or two) and the other goes home in April (I guess the transfer after you) so it definitely made me excited to think of how old in the mission you are getting as I talked to them.
>
> Ivy gave a talk in church today and did so well. I was so proud of her because the last time (only a few months ago) she literally hid her face and would not say a word. This time she worked really hard to prepare (she read it and must have practiced reading it out loud 20-30 times) and though she got really nervous, she did the whole thing without help. She looked at me with panic in her eyes when she got up there so I went and held her hand, but she did all the talking. Anyway I saw real progress there and it made me happy.
>
> I hope you are seeing progress with yourself and your investigators. Congratulations on getting to train again. I hope you get a chance to really help someone start off their mission on a strong foot so that they can progress and so that you can end strong. I hope that I can continue hanging in there at work and progressing there. I guess that is my theme tonight--progress. The Lord never lets us coast for long, does he? Right when one challenge is kind of under control, He always seems to have the next one locked and loaded for us so that we can keep growing and progressing. Good luck to you as you near the end of a big one and start thinking a bit about what comes next. We sure love you!
>
> Love,
> Blaine
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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4268 Sherm Circle West Valley City UT. 84120

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Week 96 - Elder Max - If ye are prepared ye shall not fear

Week 96 - Max - If ye are prepared ye shall not fear

Monday, January 19, 2015

7:35 AM

 

Hola familia! :)

 

How is everyone doing! Its been so fun to read all of ya´lls letters! No matter how much time a missionary has on a mission, it never gets too old reading letters! (well...thats how I am at least) It makes me so happy to know everyone is doing great.

 

Its getting cold over here in Lorca. We got rained out yesterday...but we warmed our stomachs up with a little Fu fu (a popular food from Ghana Africa.) SOOO GOOD! I think Ive mentioned it before.

 

Ive learned a lesson this week, through good and bad experience. Those that are truly prepared have nothing to worry about. And that for everything. We had a lesson this week with Ramiro and his family. His girlfriend is LDS, but he isnt. We passed by them for a backup plan and on the way, we didnt talk at all about what we were going to teach them (this isnt the first time this has happened on the mission.) Anyways, we entered in, talked for a sec, said a prayer, and then....we both looked at eachother...woops!!! The lesson turned out fine, but I felt bad because I know it couldve turned out better, had we gone in prepared. We couldve helped him feel the spirit EVEN stronger. I learned the good way though on sunday. I was asked to give the class in Priesthood on loving the Lord. I wanted to do a good job so I prepped throughout the week. As I first started preparing, I was pretty nervous...im still kind of new to this branch, not many of the members know me super well...so I continued to prepare as hard as I could. By Saturday, I felt great. I had everything PREPARED and I was ready to go. The class went great and I felt that it couldnt have gone better. The spirit was strong and I think the guys left edified...I hope. All the difference was in the preparation.

 

No matter how small or big something, the best way to feel happy and calm BEFORE AND AFTER is by preparing.

 

I get to experience that even more as I get a new "son" this week, which I am SOOO pumped about! This past week we went to the mission home for a trainers training. (side note- I got to see Elder Thia again who is training. I LOVE THAT MAN!!!! Louie....Im begging you to marry him someday!! PLEASE!!!" hahaha He is such a good man and it was so fun to catch up.)

 

 The main theme of the meeting was to LOVE your companion. No matter who he is, what he does, our job as trainers is to love them more than to teach them or correct them. THAT is the best way to help them have the best mission possible.

There have been tons of physical things Ive had to do to prep for his coming. Like cleaning the piso for a couple hours, buying extra food for him, organizing the area map and area book well, learning the area, and cleaning some more ;) haha

There are also spiritual preparations. Helping investigators feel the truth, thinking back on my mission and doing what I wish I wouldve come to at the beginning, and just hoping and praying that I can help this new Elder have the best mission possible!

AHHH I really cant wait. I know theres tons more preparation that I could do, but I am feeling calm and ready for this transfer. I feel excited to work as hard as possible!! :)

All the difference is in the preparation.

 

Elder Briki has been saying his goodbyes. He leaves on Wednesday and I am honestly so sad to say goodbye. Its only been two weeks that weve been together just us two, but they have been two GREAT weeks! All the members here love him. Its hard though because theres not enough time to say goodbye to EVERYONE, so as Elder Briki loves to do, he just chooses those that will give us food....;) hahaha just kidding. But its been sad saying goodbye.

 

I dont have much more time to write. Ive gotta go. Thank you all for the prayers and support.

 

I love you all so much!

A vencer!

 

Love, Elder Bassett

Looking Up

Hi Max!

A quick line in the wee hours of the morning for you!
*we finally got our personal letters from you a couple weeks ago, thank you so much, that was so fun!
* Blaine's friend Adam (a coworker also in our ward) needed a ride to and from work one day this week. He is the one who convinced us to take the job at Baker Botts saying he goes in at 7 and leaves at 4:45 every day. It was so funny as he and Blaine tried to plan their day. Blaine usually leaves here at like 5:45am and comes home closer to 7pm. Anyway Adam's wife had really put her foot down that Adam had to make Blaine leave at 4:45pm. When he came waltzing in at 5:30pm we had a dance party, it felt like he hardly had worked at all that day! He payed for leaving so early later in the week but boy that was a great day!
* I would feel ungrateful if I didn't mention that TESS HAS BEEN SLEEPING! It's been the most miraculous, life changing, amazing night thing! I worked really hard with her crying it out for several days, trying to establish a routine, bought a sound machine, etc. I don't know what thing worked but one night she slept from like 12-5, then the next like 8pm-6am and one even like 7:30pm-7am (which is what most babies her age sleep). It's only been a few days and I don't feel out of the woods, but I feel human again! Since she's been alive she has only slept well maybe five nights total, most nights/days she just kind of took cat naps off and on. Twenty minutes here, an hour there, ten here, etc. It was awful. I'm feeling hopefully and happy that I can maybe handle my life again, amazing how a lack of sleep makes everything else fall apart. Gwen and I were at odds every single day, I really felt like I was hanging on by a thread to what little sanity I had :)

* Today after church I sent Blaine and the kids on a walk. I felt sick while they were gone and kept thinking how sad it would be if something happened and they all died (this is not an uncommon thing for me when they all go somewhere together). Luckily they came home safe but later that night I saw on or neighborhood webpage that a woman had passed out while driving and her car jumped the curb and plowed across the sidewalk and into a wall, right on the same path they had been on (and the path I walk every day). It really hit me hard that I actually could have lost my family in one fell swoop (if their walk had been two hours earlier apparently). I am so grateful for every precious day we get to be together!
*It finally warmed back up and is now 65-70dgs every day. It's beautiful and I am loving it. The weather really does have power over my moods! It had been dreary and cold for about two weeks before that. Can't wait for you to come visit!

Okay, all very random things but just wanted to drop a line. We love and miss you! I hope you got the pic of Ivy's letter! Ben is working on one too but I don't think he finished. They really have written you way more Han you even know about and I am just awful about sending stuff. Sorry about that :)

Love,
Kris

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Love from mom

Dear Max,

I just read all those inspirational thoughts in dads and Blaine's and Nick's letters. You surely do have a family who loves you and wants you to do and be the best. I am so excited to hear that you will be a trainer these last six weeks. What a great opportunity! I hope your last week with elder Brikki was sweet. Can't wait to hear.

We had a fun, full week. Monday was a birthday party at Nick and Stef's home for little Clay. What a fun, happy boy he is. Stef fed us all dinner - J Dawgs, chips and salad. Yum. Her family was there too so we had a good group. Stef always has cute themes for her birthday parties. This one was a tiger theme with mostly orange foods and drinks. So fun. Clay got LOTS of Legos. I always miss you and Blaine's family an extra lot at those gatherings.

Tuesday was my ward conference visit and ward council training meeting. (Side note - I think the Relief Society president is in love with the ward mission leader and vice versa!). Anyway, the visit the ward president and I did was good and I shared my testimony and thoughts about the sacrament. It is interesting to me how many talks at general Conference were focused on the sacrament.

Wednesday was early morning temple service and a late night Relief Society presidency meeting. I am really tired by 9 pm and could hardly function. Thankfully my sweet presidency understands.

Thursday night Clay came over for his grandma/grandpa birthday sleepover. That was a real treat. Dad and I took him to Chick-fil-a for dinner. He could choose his side with the kids meal and he chose applesauce over fries. Very impressive! Back at home we gave him our gifts - Legos, a Lego bag and underwear. Yes underwear. Dad thought it was a bad gift but Stef said he needed it and, sure enough, he loved it. He said he was so happy to not have to wear the tight stuff! So the Lego set was called a "creator" and you could make three different things. It was so fun to sit and turn the instruction booklet pages as he worked. He really is good at building. Actually, he is brilliant at it! And very fast. I loved watching him! But I think the sweetest thing happened the next morning at breakfast. Rosey had already said her blessing before we came in, and I wasn't going to eat, so I just poured his cereal and started talking to Rosey. We looked over and Clay had his head bowed in prayer to say his own blessing before he ate. Talk about making a grandma happy. He has been taught well! It was so sweet.

I got to see a bunch of Janey and Griffen again this week. I worked and worked for a smile on Friday afternoon when they came and as soon as I got in the shower I guess he gave Janey one. He is so sweet. I still don't think he weighs as much as you did at birth - but he is growing!

Friday was "Third Friday" with grandma and my siblings. We ate at Olive Garden and it was so much fun to be together. I hope you siblings will find ways to stay close over the years. Your family really can be your best friends.

So a bit of sad news. After five months of being married, Doug decided to leave Lisa. I guess things have been hard for a long time and he kept wanting to break it to her but then things would happen and he hung in there. Anyway, it is sad for both of them and Doug is very humbled by it all. She wasn't who he thought she was and there were lots of hard days I guess. I don't really know the details and that's okay. But I have been praying hard for him. And for Lisa, too. She has a very strong personality and I hope she can accept this and move on.

So tomorrow is Martin Luther King holiday and dad has the day off and I have to work. Crazy! It's good for me, right? I'm sure excited to hear from you. Keep smiling and doing your best, your very best.

Love,
Mom

Sent from my iPad

Week 96 - Dad - Connect to the True Vine

Week 96 - Dad (t-6) 

Sunday, January 18, 2015

10:12 PM

 

Hi Max,

 

We watched some wonderful home video on Bretflix tonight which reminded us of why you grew up so spoiled.  You were such a cute little guy, and you were always surrounded by your biggest fans - your brothers and sisters.  I can't believe how blessed you were to be so loved by so many people. 

 

That is what you're trying to share with your friends in Spain.  Show them what a loving family can be, and how they can be connected forever.  That's what yo have.  Share it.

 

A couple of things you should be aware of on coming home:

 

1. You come home on Thursday March 6 - 1:52pm
2. We will take you immediately to the Stake Offices where you will meet w/ the Stake President and be released.  I asked him about having you go directly to the Temple.  But according to the handbook, he doesn't feel good about that.  So we'll get you released, then we can go to the Temple.  Is that okay?
3. The following Sunday is Griffen's blessing day.
4. The following Sunday you will report your mission to the Stake High Council at 7:15am.  Then at 9:00am you'll report your mission to the Ward.
5. Then on March 29th you'll speak in your YSA ward at 9:00am.

 

It's coming quick.  So work hard and do all you can to touch lives because you won't have this time over again.

 

I am reading a great book (Jack Reacher novel) where he is talking to his mother about her imminent death caused by cancer.  He and his brother are upset that she is leaving them behind and doesn't seem to be bothered by it.  They accuse her of not caring… doesn't she care that they will never see how their lives turn out.  Doesn't she care that she won't see the grandkids.  Doesn't she care that her life will be cut short.  Why isn't she fighting it?  Doesn't she want to live as long as possible?

 

The mom then tells her sons, that when she learned she had cancer and knew she was going to die, she was very upset by those very things.  But then she came to realize that life is like sitting in a movie theater knowing that you are going to have to walk out before the movie ends.  Knowing that you'll never see the end.  And once you realize that, then it's easier to enjoy what you get to see, and less painful to know you won't see it all.

 

Anyway - I could related to that thought.  We need to live such that when we die, we will miss all those things which we missed, and they will miss us.  But we won't let it stop us from reaching out enjoying our lives and living it to the fullest, knowing we'll never get to finish it all.

 

Anyway - it was meaningful and I thought of you.  You'll never see all that your work does in people's lives.  You'll never see the fruits but it's real.

 

Don't come home without securing your place on the Savior's vine.  Far too many missionaries come home, having missed the only and best chance they will have of connecting to the true vine.  For if they learn how to connect in their daily lives in Spain or in Michigan, or in Texas,  For once they know how to connect, then they will produce good fruit forever.  It's okay that they don't know everything about how their investigators will fare without them.  They will find joy in the connection they have with their true vine.

 

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

 

 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 

 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

 

May you continue in his love.  Ours is but a cheap imitation.

 

Love always -

 

Dad

Casualness and a Mighty Change of Heart

Dear Max,

We continue to think about and pray for you. We hope you're doing well, staying focused, and working hard. Those final weeks of your mission are unlike anything you have experienced or probably will experience. Filled with excitement, sadness, anxiety, disbelief, etc. I hope you would say along side many missionaries that your mission has without a doubt done greater things for you personally than any way in which you have blessed others. Missions have a way of accelerating the admonition found in Alma 5 to change our hearts. Your heart I'm confident has changed more in the last two years than perhaps the entire 19 years prior to that. When you return though you'll be required to step back into a much more worldly lifestyle. I was listening to a wonderful talk this week from Elder Rendlund back in 2009 where he talks about the physical operation of getting a new heart and the importance of taking very good care of the new heart. More precautions must be taken with medication, eating, etc. than with your old heart. Sometimes however people get casual in their medications or regular checkups because they feel fine. This is when things can start to quickly turn south. It's no different with the new/changed heart you've been blessed with. As you prepare to return, commit now to not giving up on finding ways to NOT get casual in those most important habits. Scriptures, prayer, sunday attendance, etc. it will be tough, and it will take perseverance to find ways to be as committed as you should, but it's worth ever effort. I particularly liked this thought:

Please consider the state of your changed heart. Do you detect any rejection setting in as a result of the tendency of the natural man to become casual? If so, find a place where you too can kneel. Remember, more than mortal years on this earth are at stake. Do not risk forfeiting the fruits of the ultimate operation: eternal salvation and exaltation.

Keep up the great work!

Nick

Sent from my iPhone

Re: Letter from Blaine, January 18, 2015

Great letter Blaine. Fun to hear that you connected with old friends. So proud of Ivy for giving her talk - I wish I could have been there! Glad that things seem progressively better at work. We are so pleased with all the good you are all doing. Love and miss you - A LOT!

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 18, 2015, at 9:25 PM, Blaine Bassett <blainebbassett@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hey Max,
>
> Sorry I haven't written in a couple weeks. I just feel like there's nothing to say these days. I continue to work a LOT. It is kind of getting old but I am learning a lot and enjoy a lot of it. I just don't like how high the pressure can feel. The other day I got assigned this big thing at like 11 that had to be done by 5. It was insane, I have never worked so fast and hard and done such a bad job on something. It really felt like a six hour exam. You have time for what you have time for and nothing else. And you don't have time for perfection. Literally, it ended with a partner calling me because a higher partner had just called her because he needed to get it to another higher partner. Crazy! Anyway, we'll see if I can make it through this year alive. At least my hours are being counted now so theoretically when I work really hard it should turn into vacation time (or at least a bigger bonus) later in the year.
>
> Anyway, there hasn't been much besides work. Gwen and I have been working on her science fair which we have done a half pops (half popped popcorn) experiment that has been interesting and taught me a lot. Next time I see you I'll need to make you my half pops. They are getting better and better.
>
> Yesterday we went to dinner at Brian and Ralphie's and saw a bunch of old friends. It was super fun and feels a lot like being with family, which we are missing a lot their days. Thank goodness for good friends. The missionaries were there and were really fun to talk to. One goes home the transfer before you (in a week or two) and the other goes home in April (I guess the transfer after you) so it definitely made me excited to think of how old in the mission you are getting as I talked to them.
>
> Ivy gave a talk in church today and did so well. I was so proud of her because the last time (only a few months ago) she literally hid her face and would not say a word. This time she worked really hard to prepare (she read it and must have practiced reading it out loud 20-30 times) and though she got really nervous, she did the whole thing without help. She looked at me with panic in her eyes when she got up there so I went and held her hand, but she did all the talking. Anyway I saw real progress there and it made me happy.
>
> I hope you are seeing progress with yourself and your investigators. Congratulations on getting to train again. I hope you get a chance to really help someone start off their mission on a strong foot so that they can progress and so that you can end strong. I hope that I can continue hanging in there at work and progressing there. I guess that is my theme tonight--progress. The Lord never lets us coast for long, does he? Right when one challenge is kind of under control, He always seems to have the next one locked and loaded for us so that we can keep growing and progressing. Good luck to you as you near the end of a big one and start thinking a bit about what comes next. We sure love you!
>
> Love,
> Blaine
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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Letter from Blaine, January 18, 2015

Hey Max,

Sorry I haven't written in a couple weeks. I just feel like there's nothing to say these days. I continue to work a LOT. It is kind of getting old but I am learning a lot and enjoy a lot of it. I just don't like how high the pressure can feel. The other day I got assigned this big thing at like 11 that had to be done by 5. It was insane, I have never worked so fast and hard and done such a bad job on something. It really felt like a six hour exam. You have time for what you have time for and nothing else. And you don't have time for perfection. Literally, it ended with a partner calling me because a higher partner had just called her because he needed to get it to another higher partner. Crazy! Anyway, we'll see if I can make it through this year alive. At least my hours are being counted now so theoretically when I work really hard it should turn into vacation time (or at least a bigger bonus) later in the year.

Anyway, there hasn't been much besides work. Gwen and I have been working on her science fair which we have done a half pops (half popped popcorn) experiment that has been interesting and taught me a lot. Next time I see you I'll need to make you my half pops. They are getting better and better.

Yesterday we went to dinner at Brian and Ralphie's and saw a bunch of old friends. It was super fun and feels a lot like being with family, which we are missing a lot their days. Thank goodness for good friends. The missionaries were there and were really fun to talk to. One goes home the transfer before you (in a week or two) and the other goes home in April (I guess the transfer after you) so it definitely made me excited to think of how old in the mission you are getting as I talked to them.

Ivy gave a talk in church today and did so well. I was so proud of her because the last time (only a few months ago) she literally hid her face and would not say a word. This time she worked really hard to prepare (she read it and must have practiced reading it out loud 20-30 times) and though she got really nervous, she did the whole thing without help. She looked at me with panic in her eyes when she got up there so I went and held her hand, but she did all the talking. Anyway I saw real progress there and it made me happy.

I hope you are seeing progress with yourself and your investigators. Congratulations on getting to train again. I hope you get a chance to really help someone start off their mission on a strong foot so that they can progress and so that you can end strong. I hope that I can continue hanging in there at work and progressing there. I guess that is my theme tonight--progress. The Lord never lets us coast for long, does he? Right when one challenge is kind of under control, He always seems to have the next one locked and loaded for us so that we can keep growing and progressing. Good luck to you as you near the end of a big one and start thinking a bit about what comes next. We sure love you!

Love,
Blaine

Sent from my iPhone

Monday, January 12, 2015

Week 95 - Elder Max - It's a boy!

Week 95 - Max - It's a boy!

Monday, January 12, 2015

4:52 PM

 

Hola familia! I hope you all have had a great week! Things have been going great over here in Lorca.

 

The goodbye was sad to Elder Johnson, (who is now at school.... hahahaha poor kid) But it has been fun with Elder Briki and I solos.

 

I had the opportunity to confirm Vicenta yesterday and then give a talk on the importance of the Holy Ghost. It turned out super well. I would send the talk, but seeing as it is all written on paper, I dont have time to type it all out. (Its gonna be weird switching to typing everything...)

 

Basically in the talk, I mentioned how the Holy Ghost reminds us of all things. I read John 14:26 and talked about the Holy Ghost being able to remind us of feelings we had before coming to the earth. What a blessing it is to have someone with us that fought for this same plan before we came to the earth.

 

I read the story of Aaron and King Lamonis father.

 

It turned out pretty well...and right after, I was asked to give the Elders Quorum class next week...so I kind of took that as a compliment...who knows though... hahaha

 

I also recieved a call from President about transfers...........

drum roollll....

 

IM TRAINING!!!!

 

I am soooo excited!! As soon as I saw a call from President, I was so pumped! I will only do have of the training of my new companion, but Im so excited. I really had been praying for a way to keep me going strong until the end, and this is a pretty clear answer.

 

Its going to be so fun though! The last time I trained, I had under 6 months in the mission....still green!!! So it will be so fun to train while I have a little more experience and somewhat know what I am doing (I am still learning lots though....haha)

 

I dont get my son until next week, so this is my last week with Elder Briki. Time has FLOWN by with him. He will be missed a ton!! I dont know where is he going yet.

 

So the letter from mom about BLEW MY MIND!!! I had no idea they would send the plans so soon! haha With this news about me training and transfers and everything, I still just feel like a normal missionary with only about a year. Ive still got SOOO much to learn! Haha

 

But I am excited to see all!

 

Hey, I do want to give a little shout out to Uncle Sid. I met a Rosa Gomez, who you might know as Hermana Gomez.

She was visiting a family in a little pueblo called Aguilas. As soon as she saw my name, she said...hmmm interesting, I knew a Bassett from my mission.

 

Turns out (after she told me that he lives in London) it was uncle Sid!!!!! When he was in Murcia. I guess she was the "mom" of the group because of her age. She is soooo funny and just loved Uncle Sid! She said she has tried to add you on facebook. Does a Rosa Gomez ring a bell Sid?

 

Anyways, it has been a great week! We are excited for this last one to prep everything for the little guy! :) haha

Thank you all for your support and prayers! I love you all so much!

A vencer!

 

Love, Elder Bassett

Re: Love from Mom

Always fun to read about your week! 

On Sunday, January 11, 2015, Wendy Bassett <wendy.bassett@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Max,

How is my favorite missionary on this foggy Sabbath evening?  It's inversion time here in SLC and I'm thankful to be in a warm, cozy house.   I'll start by telling you about an exciting email we received last Monday from the church travel department.  Did you receive it also?  It looks like you arrive home on Thursday, March 6, via Paris, leaving Spain at 6:45 am and arriving here at 1:52 pm (about 9 pm your time!) traveling with elders Barry, Easton, Ellsworth, Hall and Smith.  We are pumped but that is all I am going to say about it since you don't need to think about it and need to make the most of your valuable time left in Spain.

So how was your week?  It sounds like a big one since you said goodbye to a companion.  Hopefully you didn't have any more encounters with the crazy man who tried to run you down wanted to stomp on your heads.  That sounded scary.  I was so happy that Vicenta got baptized and that Elder Briki was able to do it.  I loved the pictures you sent.  What a happy time.

I had a good week.  We (the YSA stake) started our ward conferences this past week.  That means that every Tuesday for the next 11 weeks I get to go visiting with the Relief Society presidents of the various wards and share a message.  Kind of like a missionary except I have no idea who we are going to visit until I get there.  I prayed really hard that I could be prepared on this first visit.  We go in twos.  The stake president wants the ward leader to introduce us and then he instructed us not to spend too much time on the weather or chit chatting and just get down to business and teach whatever we feel inspired needs to be taught.  We visited a nice sister who actually comes to church but shared that she doesn't really have a testimony of the Book of Mormon.  So we talked about that and I shared my testimony and read from president Uchtdorfs talk at conference.  There was a good spirit and I pray I did what Heavenly Father wanted.  At the end her dad came in and gave me a big box of donuts.  Their family owns a donut shop.  The parents are active and I think he was just really grateful that we came.  Then we went back to the church and with all the ward and stake leaders had a meeting that ran like a ward council.  It was fun to be a part of.  And I had donuts to share!

Wednesday I didn't go to the temple but went to a funeral instead.  Uncle Doug's wife, Lisa, had her oldest son die the day after Christmas. He had served a mission, was married with a child and served as Elders Quorum president.  He struggled with depression and I think he took his own life.  So very tragic.  Grandma, Kent, Karen and I all drove down to Orem together for the viewing and funeral.  The service was very beautiful and so many words of comfort were spoken.  The gospel and the plan of salvation was taught beautifully.  Over and over it was talked about how we don't need to judge and how many questions won't be answered here on earth.  The stake president, who wasn't on the program, gave such beautiful and comforting words.  I can't imagine a mom, or a wife, having to go through that.

In the afternoon I picked Janey and Griffen up and we hung out for a few hours.  Always fun to see that little man.  He is so sweet.  I think he is on the verge of busting out in a smile.  He turned one month old yesterday.

Thursday was Hale Theater with grandma, Karen and Nancy.  The play ("Is He Dead") was hilarious and made better by sitting by Aunt Karen who gets such a kick out of things.  Such fun outings with my mom and sisters.

After almost two years dad and I finally ordered new photos for the kitchen board.  Honestly you could have come home and thought nothing had changed.  I got them labeled and hung up  some of my favorites, many of you.  It's so fun to have new 8x10 and grandkid photos up, too.

Today was ward conference in Rosey's ward and it was fun to sit by her in the meetings.  I attended the Sunday School class she co teaches and that was such a treat.  It is the class that she helped develop on using the atonement in all aspects of your life.  She did such a great job and there is wonderful class participation and a great spirit there.  I loved it.  Rosey is gifted at drawing out comments and listening and making people feel comfortable.  Our stake president and his wife (who is my 1st coun,) also sat in on the class and I think they also enjoyed it.

This afternoon we trained a new presidency in one of the wards.  With 11 wards we do that quite often.  I am always impressed with the sisters we train.  I sat there as my two coun presented their parts and I just felt really humble to even get to know these people.  I truly felt the "least among them" and just hope that the Lord accepts my offering and service.

Time to go to bed to prepare for another week of work.  Ah work.  It was a crazy week.  We have a new office manager and this past week discovered that our temporary manager didn't understand all the insurance procedures and didn't submit things properly these past months and so claims can't be paid.  Anyway, it's been a very rough week on my boss, Wade.  On Tuesday as we were leaving he declared it the worst day in the history of Meier & Marsh PT.  Sad!  But he said it with a smile and I really admire his kindness through all of it.  He is a good man.

I was going to close with a thought from president Uchtdorf's talk (receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth) mentioned above.  But after rereading practically the entire talk, I don't think there is just one line that encapsulates it.  The whole talk is so inspiring to me.  I will just say how thankful I am for my own testimony of the Gospel and of the Book of Mormon.  I believe, as he taught, that keeping and nourishing this testimony is the most important thing I can do in this life.  I'm thankful for Christ's Atonement that allows me to grow and change and improve every day.  We are so blessed.  Sure love you Max.

Love,
Mom

Sent from my iPad

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