Cool kid date idea.

The other day our older kids were at youth conference. Zoe wanted to do something fun and so we took her downtown and took pictures of different things that spelled out the letters in her name. She had a blast taking the pictures and looking for those objects that looked like the letters she needed. It was an inexpensive day that she had a blast doing.

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Last Transfer

mom and dad-

Well i did get transfered!! but not to PEI...I am going to a place called Sydney. it is in nova scotia but on an island called Cape Breton. i hear it is nice up there. so i'm excited about it. kinda a weird ride of emotions for me the past few days. i realized how short my time is out here. it all started yesterday when we got transfers. we were up in Dartmouth for meetings. but president pulled me aside and thanked me for my service as a zone leader and told me what he expected of me up in Sydney. I won't be a ZL any more. which was kind of weird. President told me that i will serve with a elder Bain, he is a cool kid. he is from Atlanta Georgia. i have served around him before. but president told me to go serve with him for six weeks then i am going to train a new missionary and then i go home. but i got to thinking about it and it made me choke up a bit. i just didn't like the thought that i go home soon. i love it out here and to be honest, coming home scares me a bit right now. i don't know what is going to happen. kind of a leap of faith really. i know it will work out it is just a big transition. i don't know. my plans right now are to work for the fall and then got to SCC in the winter time. finish my AA and then transfer somewhere. my options right now are Eastern, Whitworth, or BYU. i might look into Oregon, but the big thing for me is where can i go that is cheap. i know whitworth is not cheap but i might try and play baseball. but other than that things are going well for me. i'm excited for this transfer coming up. it is going to make time go by so fast. it will be a change of pace for sure after being a zone leader for an entire year and a bit. but it will be nice to just focus on being in the area and loving the people and doing straight missionary work for 3 months. mom and dad i can't tell you how much i love it out here. this place has become a part of me, i love it so much. i love the people. i love the gospel. and i love testifying to people. I feel like i have grown so much and become a pretty new person. i have learned a lot of valuable lessons and i love to teach people. Teaching is just one of my favorite things to do. i love the scriptures, they are amazing. i just love it all. that is cool that Darren got his mission call. that will be fun for him to be there. i actually watched it on their blog site. so i thought that was cool. but i love you all and hope that things continue to go well for you. i'm excited to tear things up on the wakeboard when i get home. i really want to go atleast once before you put it away for the winter. i don't care how cold it is. sounds like you are all doing really well. mom i got your package so thanks. i love you all so much and can't wait to see you. it is going to fly by, but i'm soaking it up dad. thanks for the advice. love ya.

Elder Nick Novakovich

4 months left

mom and dad-

thanks for the emails this week, they both brought a big smile to my face. that is so cool that jaren and darbi did so well with their track meets. I'm telling you, jaren could run track for university easy. just get him to talk to matt about how he got to BYU and get his times out there. but that is all up to him. and tell Darbi that i am proud of her. that is too bad that zoe still likes to run, i feel like the black sheep of the family, being the only one who doesn't do the running thing. I have been thinking a lot about the whole baseball thing for when i get home, and i am just going to decide where to go to school once i get home and then try out for the team there. so that should be interesting. I have been thinking about coming back to Halifax to go to dental school, because they have Dalhousie university here. a lot of members come from the states to go there, so that might be an option. i don't know for sure though, i have to do a lot of research on that when i get home. as for the missionary work, things are going great. i learned a ton yesterday at our zone leader council. President simpson is amazing! transfers came out yesterday as well, and nothing changed for me. I'm still in Kentville and serving with elder Hitchcock. We are working hard though and trying to see success while we are here. it makes things a lot easier when you work hard and do what you are called to do. I learned a lot about obedience yesterday and the blessings that come from that. mainly the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, but there is so much to be learned from obedience to anything. that is how we grow and develop faith is by being obedient to a gospel principle. Deborah Sanford is being baptized tonight, so i am excited for that. she is a really cool lady. we don't have too many other investigators close to baptism but we are working hard so that is good. i know now that i have been working hard enough to know i have done all i can and i have accomplished the will of the Lord. But i still have 4 months to accomplish more, i am excited for that. well i love you all and hope you have a great day, know that i am happier than i have ever been in my life right now. i absolutely love the Lord and His work, it is true that when we lose ourselves, it is then that we find true happiness. my advice to you all, just love people. Charity is the key. i love you all so much, have a good day and week.

Elder Nick Novakovich

PS
I forgot to tell you we got a new car yesterday. a 2010 Subaru Impreza. it made me happy and feel cool but then i realized it is just going to highten the disappointment when i have to drive the van around again when i get home. lol. have a good one.

Elder Nick Novakovich

"Sweet 16"

Our First Girl Baby turned 16 years old on April 27th. We wanted this to be the most special birthday to date for her so we planned a surprise party with all of her friends. The plan was that Ryleigh was going to spend the day with her since she would be out of town on Darbi's "real" birthday. They were going to see a movie and then Ryleigh was going to cut Darbi's hair and then head over to our house where the party would be held.

Everything was going along nicely. We had arranged with a couple of friends to make up a list of friends that would be invited to the event and then have them hand out the invitations at school.

Some of the activities would be Volleyball out in the yard, ping-pong, and Guitar Hero. We had planned a bar-b-q for dinner and lots of fun food to eat. The only problem was that we didn't really have anywhere to eat outside and so...the wonderful deck was created just in time to celebrate. It was perfect, the Gazebo was put up and the bar-b-q was placed on the deck. We loved the way everything was coming together.

The weather was going to be "OK", by that I mean that it was not supposed to be sunny and warm but it was not supposed to be raining either. We had moderate temps and stronger than desired wind, but it was fine. Everyone was still willing to be outside playing and eating.

Guests started to arrive at about 5pm and Darbi was scheduled to arrive at 5:30. Ryleigh kept us posted on their activities and as soon as they were close we had everyone go to the garage and Darbi would enter this was to the house because the front door would be locked. Everything went as planned...it was perfect...she didn't have a clue...all of her friends were totally excited for her and had done a great job of keeping the whole thing a secret.

Kids played and ate all night long, we even had a "frosting" eating contest which was rather gross but fun to watch. Cody certainly won in my book and Jenna was a close 2nd, Baily just couldn't bring herself to put that whole "frosting balloon" in her mouth.

22nd Anniversary

Nikki and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary yesterday. We decided it would be fun to use our backyard a little more effectively so we decided to put in a deck and place the gazebo on it. So here are pictures of the progress after day 3. I hope to have it done by day 75.

The choice was to use this spot for a garden and have the added chore of weeding, planting, picking, and the such, or to use that money to build something where you can sit around and watch your neighbors work hard. Then, with the added height of the deck, it makes it easier to jump the fence and steal their harvest. Just saying.

We did hear from the missionary this week and he is doing well. He is hoping to go back to yarmouth (his first area) to end his mission. He would be transferred there in May if that ends up being the case. Hard to believe he only has 5 months left. He is finally teaching a few people who are scheduled to be baptized in May so we are hoping and praying for his success.

Jaren and Darbi are both in the midst of running track. They both run distance but occasionlly dabble in the 800. Jaren has been happy with his mile times at around 4:45. He is doing great. Darbi is deciding whether she likes the 3200 or the 800 better.

Zoe continues to be a voracious reader. She averages about a book a week. I have told her continually that books will rot your mind and to watch more TV, but she hasn't listened yet.

Mission News

mom and dad-

Hey, those were quite the emails this week, both of you wrote novels to me!! oh well i enjoyed knowing so much about what is going on back home. sounds like things are going really well. i feel i must update you on some of the happenings here lately, since you fasted and such. we got a lady named Grace committed to be baptized on may the 1, so that is two in may and then another girl is wanting to be baptized on June 12!! so things have been going really well. thank you for all of your prayers and fasting. it really helps out a lot. things have been going really well for me, and i'm happy. i did get my easter box, thank you. I have been enjoying the candy and toys. i won't lie i've been trying to go easy on the candy because i have gained a bit of weight on my mission, and if i'm going to have any shot with the ladies when i get home i better lose it eh? lol. but i do appreciate it. Dad tell grandpa i don't think he is cheap, i have been so surprised and grateful that he sends money to me. tell him it is not necessary for him to send it, i am grateful for all he has done for me already. if anything i should feel bad that i have not written him back yet. i have been so busy, i have not even found time to write in my journal which i regret a ton. i make notes in my planner though so i know the important things to write in there. i tried to do some catching up this morning. and i did a pretty good job. as for hearing from other missionaries from our ward, i usually only hear from Elders Berezay and Chapman. we keep in touch, but the rest of them we have not. Elder Anderson and I communicate about once a month through email. so that is good. The weather here has not been too great lately. really cold and humid so that sucks big time. it's 3 degrees right now. but at least it has been sunny, my face told me so last night when it was a little tender. so i guess i better bust out the sunscreen now eh? Dad, why did you have to tell me about the freaking Mariners!!!! I heard they were supposed to be good this year! they never cease to break my heart. I was hearing that they could give the Angels a run for their money in winning the AL West. dirt bags!!! But i can't abandon them yet, maybe they will pick it up. we can always hope eh? anyways, i better go, you are probably thinking of some questions i have not answered in this email, so i'm sorry. oh and thanks dad for not having me play match maker for carli and porter, that is straight up wrong on so many levels. lol. i hope you have fun with that. have a great week. i love you all and pray for you daily.

your son,
elder nick novakovich

Missionary Mail

mom and dad-
writing emails to you is always a tough thing for me. mainly because when i read your emails i always think of things to tell you about, but then i keep reading and by the time i get to writing my email i have forgotten all i wanted to say. so sorry if i don't answer all of your questions and what not. as for me i am doing really well, that is a miracle that you say you have been fasting and praying for people to teach. because i have seen the hand of the Lord at work. This past few months i have been the busiest with teaching ever. So there is a testimony builder for you. we have 2-3 people that are going to be baptized in the next month or so. i am really excited about it all. things are going so well so thank you for your prayers. We have had a busy week this week, i have been on exchanges all week, or will be all week. until Friday then we have a big mission meeting where salt lake is sending people out to train us and see how our mission is doing so that should be fun. then conference on the weekend, i'm super stoked!! i love it so much. it is sweet, i really can't get enough of it since I've been on my mission. i might get to go serve in yarmouth again soon. President knows i want to go back. so as for transfers, they are next week and there is no telling what is going to happen with me. i would kind of like to go but there is so much good happening here right now. i was talking to an elder yesterday about going home, and it is crazy that i only have 4 transfers left. and the 4 i will know where i'm being transferred. Spokane Washington!!!That is so sweet that the kids got to go to the temple. I am dying so badly to go!!! i miss it so much, i have set a goal to go once a week when i get home. i love it so much there. it's a great blessing for us to have one so close!!! It is amazing how blessed we are to live in a place where the church is strong. it's so different out here. That is crazy that next September or so you will have three kids going to university. man, can you say old? lol just kidding. that will be fun though. that is good that you are working on the house, i can't wait to see all the changes. as for march madness you know the year is a bust when McKenzie weeks wins. wow!! lol. i didn't hear much about it this year anyways, it's so non existent here. So what is this i hear about zoe wanting to be published? she is obviously the genius of the family! she never ceases to amaze me. well now is the point where i have totally forgotten things i wanted to ask or comment on, i'm drawing blanks. so i guess i will remember some time. i better get going though, tell everyone hi and i love them. mom i tried to remember the lady that worked at the high school and i couldn't think for sure. sorry. but have a great week. love you. i'll be waiting for my package.

your son,elder nick novakovich

In the home stretch

mom and dad-

so this has been quite the week. i don't know where to start, maybe the beginning of the week. I think i told you about Ruth who was committed to be baptized at the end of this month. well sunday she called up the family who was fellowshipping and told them she doesn't want to meet with us anymore. she returned all of her stuff and said no thank you. i about cried, when bro, campbell called and told me i was in shock. it sucked big time. but i guess i have to move on. this week i have also got a lot of answers to what i should do when i get home and how to handle it all. i'm not going to come home early, so yes mom my release date is September 24, 2010. i have known that for about a year, i just never told you.lol. so that is a friday and we usually get home that friday night. but don't get too excited. haha. then yesterday we had a zone conference that was really fun, i always enjoy them. one of my favorite things to do is zone conference. and now we are to today, p-day, always a good day. so yeah, it's been crazy but things are still good. sounds like everyone back home has their hands full between dogs and track. that is funny that boomer is pissed about the sock, you would think he is a human or something the way he prances around. dweeb. i'll rough him up when i get home. it is weird to think that i'll be home before the summer ends. it seems like just yesterday that we were driving down to utah in the Jetta. It's crazy how time flies. That does stink that i'll miss uncle blair and his family again. i'm sure they will come around soon enough with the gospel. you just never know. the Lord really does work in mysterious ways. How are darbi and zoe doing? i haven't heard from my two favorite sisters in while. I bet zoe is keeping your hands full. it's weird to me to think that she is going to be 12 this year, i still think of her as a little girl. crazy. and darbi is almost 16 HOLY SMOKES!!! I remember being 16. now i feel old. man this sucks...lol. but i won't try and imagine how old it makes you two feel...see i'm across the continent so i can take stabs at your age. haha. well i better go for the week, know that i'm happy and doing well. i truly love it out here with all my heart, i love the gospel it's true. have a great week. your son,

elder nick novakovich

p.s. tell the reed's i did get their letter. and thank you. i've gotten a lot of mail lately like 6 letters in 4 days. it's nice

State Baby!!

Jaren's Going to "State"

Jaren's famous grin!

Another week of excitement for the Novakovich family. Jaren travelled with the East Valley Wrestling Team to Yakima to participate in the Regional Wrestling Tournament. Mom, Dad and Zoe followed to support and cheer on the Knights!

The Tournament was held at the new West Valley High School in Yakima, a beautiful open facility. There were only four mats set up from one end of the gym to the other so it was easy to watch any match. Jaren's first match was against a kid from Lynnwood High School that we had never see before. He was nervous but felt prepared. I only wish I could say the same for myself, I was pretty much a wreck. Jaren pinned the kid in the 3rd round!

Now he would have a little break and then wrestle another kid from Lynnwood High School who was ranked in the state. This kid was a little tougher than the last and Jaren lost to him by points. This would take Jaren out of the championship round but he still would have a chance to place in the top four to move on to the State Tournament. Here lies the problem, Jaren would have to wrestle his team mate Casey again and would have to win the match to give him the chance to wrestle another kid for 3rd or 4th place in the tournament. Somehow this just isn't fair, you shouldn't have to wrestle your team mates. However this is the way it goes down and Jaren took to the mat with Casey and beat him by points. Jaren would now meet the Sunnyside kid that he has wrestled twice before and won, but you never know what is going to happen. Jaren talked with his coaches and got the mental strength that he needed to beat the Sunnyside kid by points.

Casey on the left (floor), Jaren in Green

Jaren ended up placing 3rd in the Tournament securing himself a spot at State! He was so happy and so were his coaches. It was a long day and four matches really takes it out of you! Jaren fought hard and only ended up with a broken nose, Velcro burns on his legs and minor scrapes and bruises.

One tired kid with a broken nose!

This is a dream come true for Jaren and he is thrilled to be able to wrestle in the the Tacoma Dome next weekend.

Jaren with Coach Hanson

Even after a loss in the second round Jaren is still ranked 7th in the State at this point! Way to Go Jaren!

So one more week of starvation and then it's all you can eat for a kid that has had to keep his weight in check for the past month. He's so excited about that! After all it's food that makes a 17 year olds world go round!

Sub-Regional Wrestling

After a long week of limited food intake Jaren made the 114 lbs mark for the Sub-Regional Wrestling Tournament. It was a week of eating high protein, limited carbs and NO sugars. One night for dinner consisted of a glass of Chocolate milk while another consisted of a hard boiled egg. I'm not sure how he survived the whole thing but he was driven like I'd never seen him before. The week also included regular practices at the gym learning offense and defense moves and strategies.

Finally Friday was upon us and Jaren felt confident. Mike and I were nervous for the tournament after having researched past tournaments and meet to find the records of those who Jaren would wrestle. I really don't recommend this as it only adds to ones nervousness. Jaren's first match would be against a local kid from Shadle Park, but his second match was to be against the no. 1 seed from Sunnyside High School. These two had met last year in the same tournament and Jaren had won in overtime.

So off to Mead High we went to witness what turned out to be a very exciting evening. Jaren was confident and took to the mat for his first match. A win by Pin in only 18 seconds! Followed by a win by decision of 13 to 8. Mike, Zoe and I were on our feet the whole time as we watched Jaren take control of the matches.

Saturday morning would be tough for Jaren as he had to go against his own team mate in a semi-final match. No body knew what would happen in this match as Casey (the Varsity 112 for East Valley) had wrestled well all year and had not lost in this tournament yet also. If Jaren were to win this match he would meet the No. 5 kid in the State from Rogers High School. It was the second match of the day, Jaren and Casey took to the mat to see what would happen. Jaren took control of the situation and won by Tech 15 to 0. It's always tough to wrestle your own team mate and all you can do as a spectator is watch and wait for the outcome.
Now Jaren has to wait 'till 5 pm to wrestle in the Championship round.
Jaren's "Golden Ticket" to the Championship round!

The whole tournament takes place in a gym with five mats all joined together and there are matches on every mat all day long. When they prepare for the Championship round all the mats are taken away and two are left in the center of the gym. One for the 3-A schools and one for the 4-A schools. A light is lowered from the ceiling and spectators move and rearrange their seating to get the best view of their schools competitors. The MC will announce each wrestler as their match comes up and tells about their accomplishments in the wrestling world. The excitement is high as we wait. Jaren is in the second weight class so there is not too much time to wait.

Just prior to final round with fellow team mates and coaches.

As they take to the mat and the start whistle goes we are nervous to see what will happen. Jaren wrestled strong and hung in there with this kid. Unfortunately after regulation time we are tied up at 4 to 4. So we will have to go into overtime. The first to score points will win. They stumble to the mat and the Rogers kid makes it on top first so the match is over and he gets the 2 points for the take down. Jaren gave it his all and took 2nd in the tournament! We are so proud of him and are so grateful for the support of family, friends, coaches and fellow East Valley Wrestlers and their parents.

Jaren 2nd and Casey (team mate) 3rd

Sunday evening the rankings came out and Jaren is ranked 6th in the State in the 112 lbs weight class. What a great accomplishment. Hopefully this will give him the confidence to wrestle tough in next weeks Regional Tournament in Yakima!

Missionary

hey fam,
your emails really lifted my spirits this week. it was a rough one, just between getting things ready for zone conference, district leaders not doing there job, areas not doing any work and other spaz missionaries. lol. but i am doing good today, i just laugh at these types of things. they make good mission stories. lol. so zone conference is tomorrow and it could be interesting, i'm excited though. i'm glad that you all got my pictures and enjoyed them. oh and by the way, it is -20 outside today!!! it's freezing cold, and windy which makes it worse. good thing it is pday!! As for the boat don't you dare sell that thing, i'll be some mad if you do!!! That is good that work is going well, i'm kinda of excited really to come home and have a job that pays again. of course that novelty will where off in the first hour of work eh? lol. but i will be there to work for ya. i need the money. i have not thought a lot about where i want to go to school, still don't want to go to BYU but we will see. Eastern has a good dental program so that might be a good one to check out. i don't know. thinking about home is a bad idea for me, because at times it seems so close but then others it seems so far away really. but the time is going to fly by. Kentville has gone slow, i don't know if i really like it hear. it's just too small. i like doing missionary work in big cities with lots of people to talk to and things to do on pday. here we just sit around on pday, it sucks. my companion is cool though, we get along, not great, but we make things work. i have fun. i've just been blessed with really good companions in the past. so i started a new thing this week that i thought you allmight be interested in doing yourselves. every night when i write in my journal i think about the day and then pick out a miracle and write it down. This is in hopes to better see the hand of the lord in my life as a missionary. it is cool. Good work with being member missionaries lately, you will be blessed for that. i wish we could get any of themembers here to do something. some are good but some have no desire and it sucks to have to go knock doors when you are on the verge of losing limbs because it is so cold!! I have been trying to put a good effort forth though, just show the lord that i'm willing to do what he needs me to do, i just need to work hard. i really don't want any regrets this last 7 months. I have done pretty good so far. i just want to finish really strong. i don't know if i will get to PEI mom, it doesn't look good. the sandwich maker is golden!! good choice on that one. makes some wicked good grilled cheese!!! well my time is short this week. i love you all and thank you so much for all you do and the love yougive me, i really do feel it. i'm doing great, i love it out here and sometimes i don't ever want to leave!!! and sorry mom but yes i still want to fly home by myself like normal. i just think it would be sweeter for me. thanks, i love you all and hope you have a great day and week.
Elder Nick Novakovich

Trip to Portland