This past year has certainly been one for change. As Becky mentioned, our anniversary also provides us an opportunity to review what has gone on in the past year and tonight, we were amazed at the changes, new places, experiences, challenges, and blessings that came to us this year. So, I thought I would take moment and have a year in review posting. As stated below, Becky and I spent our last anniversary talking about a place called Grand Island, Nebraska.
Only a few days earlier, as we were returning from a trip to Boise, I had shared with Becky that I felt like the world around me was somewhat unsettled, like the sand was shifting under my feet. I liked my job, and we were very happy in Sterling. However, I could not shake this unsettled feeling.
Then two days later, at our anniversary dinner date did Becky introduce Grand Island to me. The more we talked about it, the more it felt like something we should look into. Even though it was the worst time you could possibly think of. I was serving in our Bishopric with a wonderful Bishop and First Counselor. My job was a joy and I was finding great success and new opportunities. Becky was waist deep in the struggle with our local school district to create a school of choice, and serving as Primary President. We were expecting our fifth child in May. This was certainly not the time to look into a job elsewhere. But, the more we discussed it, the more we felt a need to investigate.
February
By February, I had been invited to travel to Grand Island and interview for the post. We told the kids that Dad was traveling for work, not an actual lie, but we were nervous just the same. By the end of February, Grand Island had invited me back for a second interview with the mayor and I was feeling very confident.
March
In March we took what was our longest day of driving in a year full of long trips. We traveled from Sterling to Rock Springs, WY, for the baptism of our nephew, Elijah. Then, immediately following the baptism, we turned around and returned to Grand Island. It was a daily record of 18 hours of driving in one day. I accepted the job in Grand Island, and we began our house shopping. Becky had always had her eyes set on this lovely home on Redwood Road, and when I first saw it, I new it was our home. We then returned to Sterling, and I made my announcement to Joe Kiolbasa, my City Manager in Sterling. To my surprise, he was already aware through the rumor mill. It never ceases to amaze me. Also somewhat surprising was the arrival of two anonymous letters the day we returned from Grand Island. The first, from Sterling, "encouraged" us to leave town, go back to Utah, and bother the schools over there. Not the first time we received such a "suggestion" to get out of town and take our "Mormon school" with us. What fools. The second letter, however, was from Grand Island, warning us not to move to Nebraska where "the city has lied to you" and "you will loose your job when the previous director wins his lawsuit." (More on that later.) So, Becky and I recognized that some wanted us to leave, others warned of coming to their town. A rather surprising coincidence.
May
As May approached, Becky was growing increasingly stressed about the baby, and how he was coming rather late if I was to start my job in Grand Island on May 15. We took numerous walks around our neighborhood trying to move this child out of the womb, but he was stubborn. Only on May 8 were we able to convince him, through a pharmaceutical solution, to come out before Daddy had to move. Matthew Bryan Madsen Rosenlund was born, 7lbs 15 oz, and 19.5 inches. Becky, as always, was the absolute picture of bravery and endurance.
Matthew has proved to be one our most interesting babies, probably because his first few weeks were very turbulent. He spent his first several weeks as our most loud, fussy, and impatient baby, demanding attention. With my moving to Grand Island one week after he was born, and the family following suit during Memorial Day weekend, I can only imagine that he had to demand our attention. In time, however, he has become one of our most cheerful babies, always ready with a big smile (now featuring two teeth).
This same Memorial Day weekend was moving time, and was overshadowed by issues at my work. The man who had been fired from this position, and was suing to get his job back, won in the Nebraska Supreme Court the Friday before I was to move the family. Needless to say, I was very concerned. While everyone at the City gave me votes of confidence, they also could make no guarantees on what might happen with the appeals and settlement process. Would he want his job back? Could he demand it? And, what bothered me most, what about me? Truth be told, the ensuing weeks until settlement were filled with significant personal stress. I would wake with an immediate sick feeling in my chest, like death was all about me. That feeling would last far into the day, though I tried to mask it. In time, I realized that I was improving when these "death" spells would be shorter and shorter, until they were gone by breakfast. After several weeks, the City and the former director came to a settlement that spared me any real difficulties and life resumed as normal. I will always be grateful for the honesty, integrity and support that was shown me by the mayor and department heads.
July
In July, we traveled to Utah for the funeral of Edith Gunderson Madsen. She is Becky's paternal grandmother and we are deeply saddened by her loss. She was 97 years old when she died, "older than the prophet" she would remind you. Her funeral was attended by hundreds of family and friends. I found particularly moving the descriptions of some of her final moments. Grandma Madsen was a stalwart defender of the faith with an exceptional knowledge of the Gospel and the scriptures. Near the end, she was asked by one of the attending physicians, in order to gauge her awareness, "Who are you." Her reply, "I am a Mormon." To the question, "Do you know what time it is?" she replied, "It is the dispensation of the fullness of times." I am confident she was near to the Lord all her days, but particularly close in her last few moments. It makes me pray, "Oh that I might die full in the faith like her. "
Madsen CousinsOur trip in July also allowed us to bless Matthew in my folks ward in Riverton with family present. Adam made a surprise trip down, as is his habit to be an incredibly supportive brother. I don't think he knows how much his quick trips like this mean to us, and to me particularly.
In August and September, we prepared the children for their first day of school and I am pleased to say that they are making wonderful friends and having a great time. The boys attended Cub Scout day camp, Roger and Leslie gave us a wonderful visit, and we enjoyed life with a real back yard with grass and no stickers.October
In October, my Mom was able to make the long drive to Grand Island and was here for Meile and Christopher's birthdays. She attended the Winter Quarters Temple, visited a fabric store or two for those "mandatory" purchases, and we all had a wonderful time. She learned just how flat it is out here when our dog ran away and we could see him going for three days.
November
As Thanksgiving approached, Becky was moved to suggest a trip to Canada to visit her grandparents in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Both Audrey and Arnold Roberts had moved into a care facility and Becky felt a growing urgency to make a visit. So, with rather little planning, and even less vacation time at work, we cobbled together enough time off to travel over the Thanksgiving weekend. We started out on a Sunday afternoon, driving through Nebraska, Iowa, and stopping just south of Chicago, IL.
The next day, we continued to South Bend, IN, to visit Melanie and Darren Keele as well as Becky's cousin Shar and John Crippen. Staying only long enough to pick up "Delilah" the name we gave the borrowed GPS, we continued on to Palmyra, NY. Staying one night, and touring the next day, we were fortunate to see the Hill Cumorah, Joseph Smith farm, Sacred Grove, Grandin Press, and the Witmer Farmhouse in Fayette, NY. 
Visiting these sacred sites was one of the most wonderful moments in our families history. I found myself wishing all my brothers and sisters could be here with there families as well. While the two days of driving were a challenge for sure, we all agreed that it was a very small price to pay to be in such a hallowed place. There is no substitute for family prayer in the Sacred Grove. It makes me dream of the day we will stand together in the temple. Even now, as I write about it, I get the chills.
After our "speed" tour in upstate New York, we hurried on to Niagara Falls, where we visited Grandma (Audrey) Roberts. For the next few days, we would make morning and afternoon visits to the care center, and fill our days with visits to Niagara Falls and all its tourist traps. The Falls are amazing, and pictures cannot do it justice. It was and awesome sight to behold, and there were still crowds in late November. It was, also, very cold. Or as Daina observed, "Its a cold, cold, cold, coldest misty mist!"
In our visits to the Roberts, the children often sang hymns and primary songs to the delight over the entire facility. Grandpa Roberts requested "I love to see the temple" which we found to be especially meaningful. While Grandpa could not communicate well with us, we knew that he was aware of our visits and enjoyed the company. Grandma, it seemed to me, was growing stronger each time we visited. We stayed in their apartment and found their friends and neighbors to be a delightful collection of people. The building staff were particularly kind and I was so glad that Grandma and Grandpa Roberts had benefited from such kindness, service, and love there. 
"Cold, cold, cold, coldest misty mist!" -Daina We spent Thanksgiving at Wendy's overlooking the falls, an interesting place to be sure, but it was memorable by the fact that the kids were trying to catch two sparrows who had found their way into the restaurant. A truly entertaining display of "hunting."
Our return trip included tours of the Kirtland Temple and the Church's visitors center there. In the temple tour (which cost me $2 a head!) our tour guide was careful not to mention the words "Mormon" or "Latter Day Saint", and barely made mention of Joseph Smith. As we toured the temple, discussion revolved around the architecture, preservation and restoration (of the building that is...) but very little of the importance of the temple to the Restoration (Big R).
Finally, as we sat in the main chapel, the guide did make sideways mention of the dedication of the temple and the manifestations of the spirit, rushing wind, pillars of fire, speaking in tongues, etc. Then, he abruptly stopped. A gentleman behind us asked the guide to expound on the incidents that occured the week after the dedication. With a wry smile, the guide reached to the bench behind him, and pulled out a book that had already been placed there, opened to a dog-eared page and began to read Joseph's account of Christ's visit to the temple. Following his reading, the crowd of mostly LDS were satisfied that we had read of this most important revelation and was contented not to press the guide further in telling us what we wanted to hear, but he was slow to recount.
The guide then asked if anyone else had a question. Our Jared then raised his hand and asked the most profound question of the day. "Where exactly did Jesus stand?" I could only think to myself, "out of the mouthes of babes..."
After the temple, we went to the visitors center ran by the Church and got the real information. We visited the Whitney Store, sat in the upper room, saw where Joseph had paced the floors, and the actual table upon which he wrote many Sections of the D&C, and walked the roads that he would have walked. All in all, it was a visit that we will never forget.
We then continued on to Notre Dame to visit the Keeles and Crippens for a day, then returned home. While the trip was filled with car sickness, periodic vomitting, bloody noses, and stomach flu, we also had wonderful chances to visit family and to see some of the most important places on Earth.
December By the time December hit, we were in full Christmas gear. Following a very dry November, we saw several days of snow and were assured a white Christmas. Grandpa Roberts died on December 10, and we are so very thankful that we were able to visit them. I am thankful for a wife that is in tune with the Spirit and followed the promptings to go in the first place. These were treasured moments to be sure. The rest, as you know, is recorded here below.
2007 By the Numbers
New Children: 1
Family Funerals: 2
Homes: Still 2 :(
Charter School Denials: 1
Nasty "Get out Mormons!" letters: 2
Miles Traveled in Trips: Almost 12,000
Hours together in the van: 150
Average Gas/Potty time: Pre-baby, 8 min. Post-baby, 25 min.
States: 11 Vomit in the car: 4
Temples visited: 2
Sacred sites: Many.
Tornadoes: 0, Floods: 2, Blizzards: 2, Ice Storms: 1
Pets: 1 Dog
Ferrel Animals: 5 Children
Exhausted parents: 2
Well, I hope I did not bore you. Just for getting all the way to the bottom, below is a treat for you. A picture of me, wondering if the camera is on.
Is this on?
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