H(e)APPY NEW YEAR from President and Sister Hype!




Hello Family and Friends,

Our missionaries have found the perfect nickname for Elmer - President Hype. I can’t believe someone didn’t think of it earlier (and I can’t believe that I’ve been roped into it somehow), but let me tell you how it all came to pass. Pretty early on in the mission we got wind that one of our missionaries wrote about “President Hype” in his email to home. Unbeknownst to this fine elder, someone his mom sends his emails to is also friends with Neal and Tracy Walton (our dear friends in San Diego - Neal is also our stake president). So I’ve kept this little gem tucked away for a good day. During our last Sprint Week (where everyone is all in to accomplish mission-wide goals), our Assistants put the first day's totals in the mission chat showing we were off to a great start. So the timing seemed just right to reveal that I knew what the missionaries were secretly calling their mission president, who has great enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 


The reactions came in fast, and that is how Elmer Heap got permanently nicknamed "President Hype" in the mission chat.

When we lived in California, we often celebrated New Year's Eve on Eastern Time so we could go to bed early. Now that we live in a state on Eastern Time and are on a mission, we tried to figure out when New Year's Eve happened in London. We may have missed it. There's no staying up until midnight. We picked up Sister Van Quill at 5:30AM today. She finished her mission and is surprising family and friends with a New Year's Day return. She began her mission in Costa Rica and then came to us in Michigan. We are so thankful for her service. She has served as both a Spanish-speaking and an English-speaking missionary. Just one of the many missionaries we know who can do it all. It was a fine way to begin a new year if a bit early.

Our technology missionaries made an impressive MLM End-of-Year video. When we showed it to our kids who came for Christmas, Gavin asked if I had created it after watching about four seconds. By second six he said, "Oh, no. You didn't." We are constantly amazed by the goodness, talents, and creativity of our missionaries. 

I sent some Christmas cards out after Christmas even though they arrived in time to send them before Christmas. Sometimes I cannot catch up in life. Sometimes I don't even try. Even though I tried to quit Overheard when Gavin left home and felt happy when the next generation of Heaps picked up the baton, the demand is still there. So here are a few from Overheard in 2020:

Visiting Baskin Robbins in March of 2020, Elmer orders a cone and a shake.
Amy: Wow, you are really going for it.
Elmer: It's my birthday.
Amy: In August!
Baskin Robbins employee to Elmer as they left: Happy Early Birthday!
Elmer prepared to turn 60 for most of the year.

Elmer to Amy: I love to talk, and you love to hear me talk. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Concluding that the mission home's garage was the only place to put workout equipment for days when it is below 20 degrees and too chilly for us to exercise outdoors.
Amy: We're tough.
Elmer: San Diego tough!
Amy: That's an oxymoron.

Elmer, coming in from a workout: We're leaving for Traverse City at 9:30.
Amy: It's 9:34.
He was still the first one in the car at 9:49! 😏

Amy: I cut my hand, and it won't stop bleeding.
Elmer: I can give you mouth to mouth.


We wish you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Amy and Elmer

Midland and Saginaw Zone Conference

The sister of Saginaw and Midland

The elders of Saginaw

The missionaries of Mt. Pleasant - Sister Hatch, Sister Neuenswander, Sister Crawford, and Sister Hogge

Selfie by Elder Pepa. Photo bombing by Elder Bennion and Elder Tongi


Of all the missionaries who make us feel like giants, Sister Reynolds wins!


She could not be any more adorable.

With Elder Wilkerson at his last zone conference

Spanish North and Spanish South Zone Conference

Elders Davis, Miner, Anderson, Bangerter, Musselman, Burnside, and Pepa 
at Spanish North and Spanish South Zone Conference (and Elder Bennion way in the back)

The missionaries of West Branch - Elder Diaz Acevedo, Elder Harolds, and Elder Bussell

With Elder Tongi and Elder Bess of Ithaca

With Sister Elmer (excellent last name)

Christmas day with the Bennions

Aloha, Jane! She likes the dress she got from Marnie.

Jane was pretty excited about the box 
and later what was inside the box on her first Christmas.
Thanks Aunt Hillary!

We got to celebrate Lindsey's birthday with these two. Yay! Go Spartans.

President Heap with Elder Anderson and Elder Rasband of Charlotte

Sunday family walk in East Lansing

Jane 10/10 recommends Michigan!

Saying goodbye to Sister Van Quill as she finishes her mission

I am sorry that you all missed election year in Michigan. There was that one time I almost took three elders to a Trump rally when trying to go to the airport. But it's signs like this one that really make me love Michigan. Anyone who is willing to be the Drain Commissioner has my vote! 

In case you missed that one time Sister Hansen and Sister Frogley 
(who I am related to on both the Lewis and the Hobson sides) 
taught us how to dance. 😂

Comments

  1. Aaron GaryJanuary 1, 2021 at 11:05 PM

    I’m pretty sure the origin story started with Sister Hype, but maybe that will come out in the prequel (?) 😛

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AmyJanuary 5, 2021 at 5:29 PM

      😅 I’m working on the screen play now. In my spare time. 😉

      Delete
  2. DariceJanuary 3, 2021 at 11:23 AM

    Hype or Hike (as in football) it all works for president HEAP HYPE HIKE. Fun to read your blog and hear & see your experiences. You two are loved. Oh and I loved seeing baby Jane. Happy birthday Pretty new mama Lindsay.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hillary MJanuary 4, 2021 at 10:49 AM

    I love the overheards, and I love the MLM!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Celia OckeyJanuary 4, 2021 at 5:21 PM

    I am so glad you have revived the overheards! Love you both and all the hype!

    ReplyDelete

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