Chase account

Caleb:

I wonder if you can make a P-day phone call with Chase bank.

I went into the bank today and reversed a charge in you current open account.  However, the branch manager was unable to do anything with the closed account.  He gave me a phone number which I called and they were unable to help me because I wasn't you.

The number is 800-210-1869.  It is the Chase charge-off account.

Here is the facts I gave them;

1) You were trying to discontinue the Microsoft charge and twice asked the bank to freeze the account so that the charge would be rejected allowing you to close the account.  They represented that the account was frozen - at least twice.

2) Separately and after your request, four different NSF charges of $34 hit your account along with two different $15 charges.  The total amount was $166 (I think).

I asked them to reverse all charges in the old account that is now closed.  My concern is that if they don't go through this process, they will report you to a credit agency and want that money back if you ever deal with them.  Since the account is now closed you will need to ask for a settlement but I want you to ask for all of the charges to be refunded and funds to be placed into your current open account.  Alternatively, you can ask to give me access to discuss the account with them.

Finally, I think you need to take a look at your current spending habits.  I have attached the screen shot of your account.  Learn to live within the budget you're allocated.  It's one of the many things you can learn on your mission.  Are any of these charges hitting your account that shouldn't (Apple and Economist)?

Love,

Dad

Bikes

I really don't want you to buy anything from Walmart when it comes to bikes.  See if any of these links with do:

Bike Store.  They might have some deals.

https://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/bid/5349683911.html

Fat bike.  I think this actually could be a really good buy...  As a matter of fact this is the one baby!!!

https://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/bik/5321144136.html

Thanks for humoring me and seriously check out that fat bike.  Its a screaming price.

 - $150...  text (540) 729-3199

Dad

Letters from the Girls

Fwd: Christmas week!

Ps....your Zagg glass screen protector should arrive there on Wednesday.  Do we need to still be sending packages and letters to the mission home or straight to your address?

Sent from my iPhone

Fwd: Christmas week!

Haha...6:25 here is really sleeping in though, by a few minutes ;).

Did Elder Hudson's shirt fit him?  The girl in the Logo Shop knew you btw, but she didn't know you were on a mission!

We just fed the sister missionaries yesterday and I was asking the Sister from your neck of the world (Georgia) any advice for you to say "no" graciously without offense to that 2nd or 3rd helping.  She totally knows how hard it is down there with the food.  She told me something frightening though...she said the expected weight gain for sisters is 40 lbs and for elders, 60-70 lbs!  SCARY!!! She said she intended to lose weight on her mission, not gain so she's trying to fight back against that stereotype.  Can we do anything to help you with that?  Do you want us to send more coconut water to you as a treat? :D. Just let us know...we've all eaten way too much this week too!

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 28, 2015, at 6:56 AM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Sometimes i forget the time difference. I thought this morning that

you were already up but i have to correct myself whenever i think of

utah.

I only have another hour before we leave to go shopping and zone p-day

is today also. So if you have any questions about the week just shoot

em soon!

- Elder Caleb Gibbons

Fwd: Christmas week!

Just woke up to your email ding (personal email tone when an email comes in from you)!  I loved the pictures and VIDEO!  All those amazing complements to you!  But we already knew them... ;)

I'm jealous of your short-sleeves weather but I love your attitude!  It truly is inspiring!

I'll write later but I just wanted to catch you while you were online!

Love you!
Mom

Sent from my iPhone

Re: Christmas week!

Well... Keep at it. Make sure you eat correctly. I'm thinking I'll start an upper body program pretty quickly. My lower body is pretty solid but my upper body is flabby. I'll send before and after pics...

Also, you can (and probably should) request water instead of cool aid. You should learn the art of eating slowly...  By eating slowly you keep the enjoyment but you eat half the food (I still am no good at it but my Dad is awesome at it). Anyway, you need to get serious about it. Take care of yourself.

Sent from somewhere really cool.

> On Dec 28, 2015, at 7:06 AM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>
> Well they don't have a very big gym, so i'll start on the bike first and
> put the intensity on a higher level. Ill do that for 10 minutes then
> ill do weights, free weights, so ill do curls and press and flys.
> Shoulder rolls with the heavy ones. Im interested in how much weight i
> can press. I can put up the two 50's with ease so i want to find a
> bench press. But we have a pull up bar in our apartment and everytime
> i go under it i try to do 5 pull ups. I can do 7 now. Thats pretty
> much it. Today after working out i almost puked that how hard it was.
> Im really gonna try and push myself because im back at my starting
> weight of 200 lbs.
>
> - Elder Caleb Gibbons
>
>> On Dec 28, 2015, at 9:01 AM, Paul Gibbons <gibbons.paul@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Tell me about your workouts... What type of exercise are you doing?
>>
>> Sent from somewhere really cool.

Adam always wakes with a start

Jacob at 7:06 am

Better pic of Mom

These guys won't be sending any pics this morning

Mom

Here's Mom quickly sending you a note...

Post Christmas

Caleb:

Christmas is behind us and the New Year ahead.  The best thing that happens this time of year is the Winter Solstice on Dec 21.  I happen to be a fan of longer days and more day light and am thrilled that the days are getting longer.

It was fun to see you on Christmas Eve and talk to you.  Mom is so proud of you.  I've been around her now for 23 years (counting the time that we spent together before our marriage) and I've never seen her so proud of anything or anyone.

Here are a couple of thoughts after talking to you on Christmas Eve...

1) You are naturally friendly and kind.  We listened to a couple of your phone calls, one with an investigator and one with a member, and you are very well spoken and impossible not to like.  Continue to allow your personality to shine through as you meet people and interact with everyone on your mission.

2) Be aware of the power of positive self-talk.  When you talk about your area, always try to talk of it in positive terms and try to see the best in the people, the area, etc.  This is especially true when talking to members.  They have lived there before you came and will be there long after you are gone.  The memory of you should be of a young man that they loved and that loved them (which includes where they live).  Further, if you treat them well, they will at least try to help you do missionary work.  Remember that they will try for basically one of two reasons, first because they are impressed with you and want to help or second, because they know they should and they feel compelled to help.  You'll get better results with the first motivation but It's up to you to determine what their motivation will be to help.

3) One of the things I'm not proud of about my mission was the way I treated sister missionaries.  As a group, they were pretty useless and I treated them with contempt and was not very kind.  Looking back, I could've and should've not allowed my feelings toward them dictate how I treated them.  With this group, you can practice positive self-talk, being kind, and thinking positive thoughts and they will respond to you.  This may lead to any number of things that will be positive for you including using their car to go meet with part-member families.  Your reputation will proceed you as you move into new areas and if sisters know that you will be kind and are excited to interact with you I think you can guess the fruits of that.

Anyway, I'm proud of you.  You're a special young man.  I love you,

Dad

Christmas Pictures

Christmas Morning Pictures

Sent from somewhere really cool.

Merry Christmas!

Hi Caleb!

I was reminded again today at church about your talk as a neighbor came up to me and said that she never had a chance to come tell us how much she enjoyed your talk. She appreciated how "real" and difficult the choice to serve a mission can be so she was thanking you for the frank way that you put it. She also told me that she saw Sariah immediately after that meeting down the hall by the Stake offices with a primary friend. They were looking at the map with the pictures of missionaries on it and she wanted to show her friend your picture now that you were a missionary. This lady had to remind her that he hasn't left yet so his picture wouldn't be up there yet. Then this same lady said how she thinks Adam is so cute at passing the Sacrament. I was recounting all of these things at the dinner table today after church and Sariah replied "oh yes, that was me! And to Adam's complement about being cute she said "that's because he looks like a baby!" :D. We all laughed so hard!

I can't wait to hear more about Fredericksburg and your companion. Where is Elder Hudson from? You are so close to Washington DC, right? From the pictures we saw on the Facebook group that Sister Wilson is keeping up, it looks like you'll be able to go to the DC temple sometime! COOL! It looks so huge! We saw some cute pictures of you and the other missionaries arriving at the airport! What a fun find so we saved some of those pics.

So, do we get to look forward to a phone call, Skype or FaceTime on Christmas Day? If Skype, then do we need to set up something here at home? Just clue us in when you know more about it. I hope you're able to feel the Christmas Spirit in all of your work. I guess if you're teaching the gospel or serving in any way, you probably are! Any opportunity to play the piano yet? I just wonder if you'd be able to open up the Hymn book & play if needed. ;)

I'm sure by now you know that we all went to Star Wars at the theater yesterday after being invited by Dad's client again. Now we all know who Rey & BB8 are on your wall. I don't want to make you feel sad about missing it but I should let you know that Dad got a little choked up a few times and even said as we came out of the theater, that it "actually might have been worth all of the hype!" :)

We sure love you and talk about you all the time, just as much as if you were still here in Utah. Baxter still comes in the door by himself but not as often now.

Have a wonderful Christmas week and know that you're loved!

Lots of Love,
Mom

Sent from my iPhone

Sariah - Star Wars, Deer, Walruses, and Church Class

Hi Caleb we watched star wars yesterday it was awesome !But I wouldn't spoil it .But today we saw 2 deers fighting it was awesome! Then mom said 'I think that your walrus noise made them fight '. And when I was in my class every  1 was laughing .Love Sariah

Grandpa Gibbons - Christmas Letter

Dear Caleb,
Greetings from Grandma's and Grandpa's house. Merry Christmas!! What a wonderful time to be in the mission field. Your message to all who will listen is the message of Christmas. It is the message that caused the angels to sing, "Glory to God in the Highest." And the Savior Himself pronounced the greatest benediction on His life when He said, "Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you--that I came into the world to do the will of the Father, because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross that I might draw all men unto me,..."
At this season we testify that Christ was born in Bethlehem, that He went about doing good--healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the blind so see and the deaf to hear, that He suffered in Gethsemane and was crucified on Calvary's hill for the sins of all mankind, that He was raised from the dead--resurrected--that we all might be able to live again after death and live eternally with our Father in Heaven and our Savior and our families.
So every day should be a day of Christmas celebration for us. Every day we should celebrate the life of the Savior of the world. Every day we should testify of His divinity and of His infinite atonement in our behalf. Every day we should increase in our love for Him and in our desire to do as He did--to come into the world to do the will of our Father because our Father sent us. Every day we should feel to sing with all of our hearts and voices, "Glory to God in the Highest!"
May you love your mission. May you cherish every opportunity you have to testify of Him and His mission. That is your mission! Have a wonderful week and season as you draw close to Him in a way that you never have before. We love you and pray for you in all you do in this great cause.

Love,
Grandpa and Grandma

Dad - Sariah and Questions

Sariah writing to Caleb

Sariah off to deliver our Christmas gift to the Stevens

Caleb:

I hope this email finds you well.  The two pictures that I'm attaching give you an idea of the fun we've been having.  When you get your package, take a minute and read Sariah's note to you.  It's super funny and she was writing it as I took this picture.  The Stevens family had just delivered a christmas gift to us and Mom had spent all week doing the same neighborhood gift (the Sprite bottles).  Mom was frustrated and you will enjoy Sariah's letter as a result.  The second photo is of Sariah walking across the field toward the Stevens' house with our neighborhood gift..

So... Elder Hudson.  I hope that he is a great missionary and that you are learning a lot from him.  I'm sure the mission president made the best decision he could in choosing your campanion.  I'm really interested to hear how you're doing.

I'm curious about where you live, whether you live with another companionship, etc.  I didn't ever live in a foursome on my mission although there were several elders who did.  Anyway, I'm super excited to hear how things are.  I'm also wondering about your first week at church, if you're in a ward that has a good WML and it active in helping the missionaries.

I am wondering what time you write usually.  Maybe mom and I can get on at the same time and we can communicate in "almost" real-time.  If you're ever feeling like you'd like a little more immediate response, that's a way we could do it.

I hope you don't get tired of my many emails.  I find that email makes it easy for me to write something quick and get it out to you.  I think I'll get my old letters and start sending them to you for kicks.  You might enjoy seeing the things I was dealing with on my mission.  You'll have to let me know once I start.

Take care and have a great week.

Dad

Dad - Your Apartment

Caleb:

So... This is what I think is your apartment from the street view outside your complex.  How did I do?

Dad

Dad - More thoughts on Teaching

Caleb:

We saw some pictures of you at the airport and in the church on the mission Facebook page.  You look great.

Now comes your first companion.  I hope and pray that you get a good one and someone that you'll respect and love.

Here's a thought for you regarding your teaching.  Take a paper and write your frustrations, as relating to your teaching, down in a list.  The list may be long; don't worry about it.  Leave the list open so that you can add to it if needed.  Then go back through the list and identify things that you can't control.  Put a line through those things (leave them on the list so you can refer back to it) and make a mental note that you are not going to worry about those things.

If done well, this will clarify your perspective.

Now you have a shortened list.  Take this list and pick ONE item that you think you can work on and make improvement; ONLY ONE.  In your mind, recognize that the other items remain and that you are content to allow them to be frustrations for the time being.  Then - focus your energy on the one item that you have identified.

Formalize a process to deal with this frustration.  I think you need to do this.  For instance:

1) Week one, I will experiment with different ways of handling this issue until I find something that I like.  I will note all of the things with which I experiment.  Maybe I'll find multiple ways of dealing with this issue.

2) Week two, I will use the techniques, aids, and "things", that I've identified in my teaching.  I will constantly evaluate how these improvements work.

3) Week three, I will refine my efforts and evaluate if this frustration is still on my "list".

Again, this is your process.  The key is to make it a process.  Involve the Lord.  Ask for the spirit.

Do this for one item on your list.  When done, review the list and pick another.  Do it again.

Now comes the point several months along at which you look at your list and you realize that NONE of the frustrations that you identified months ago remain.  The spirit will move you as you realize that your previous weaknesses have become strengths.  You will have actively participated with the Lord in becoming a man of God.

Well, there you go.  I hate to say it, but this is great advice.  If you follow it, you will be amazed at how well it works.

Writing this letter has made me emotional as I've felt the spirit of what I've said.  I wish I was as good at following my own advice as I am at giving it.  I love you with all my heart,

Dad

On Wed, Dec 16, 2015 at 6:00 AM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:

11140 sunburst LN Apt A
Fredericksburg, VA 22407

Thanks for your support. Also I'm still thinking about Adams gift.
I'll email you and tell you what I'll have you get for him. And also..
Why am I waking up at 4:30 every day. In the MTC it was 4:14 everyday.
So is it my sleep schedule or am I just sleeping weird idk you should
just see if you can figure it out for me!

Mom - You Want My Advice?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Arla Gibbons <gibbons.arla@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 15, 2015 at 8:13 PM
Subject: Letter to Caleb
To: Arla Gibbons <gibbons.arla@gmail.com>


Dear Caleb,

I feel so bad!...we just got your letter in the mail yesterday!  It was a little soggy like it had been in the mailbox all weekend!  I guess I better step it up since you're not here to get the mail everyday. ;)

I really have never considered myself to be one with great advice because I've lived such a simple life and don't have very many pivital, life changing experiences to talk about.  I have prayed for you in this matter and will continue to do so.  I was just flipping through my "to do" ap and found a note that I jotted down a year ago when I went to a fast & testimony meeting at Dad's YSA ward.  I was impressed by a certain young man's testimony so I quickly took note of part of his message.

This kid was from Bear Lake and so when he was home over the weekend, he decided to go fishing in his 'normal' spot.  The canal was frozen over so he walked to get to the other side when he slipped and fell. The fall made him break through the ice...(tackle box & everything went flying). He tried to pull himself up but as he put his arms up, the ice would just break and he'd fall back in, then he'd try again and the ice would break and he'd fall back in again.  He was saying that Sunday that life was like that. We sometimes fall and as a result are hard on ourselves and find it HARD to get back up.  The key and really the only physical way to get out of that situation is to find where the ice is thick enough to hold you.  On the likening to the gospel part, or rather your situation, we can call that THICKER ICE here your other strengths.  This young man in Dad's ward ended his testimony humbly by talking about how Christ can come to our rescue after we have done all that we can.  He added that he wished that he could come to understand HIS mercy so that he would quit being so hard on himself.

You have proven to yourself AND others, including us, that you can do hard things.  You blew many away, including your Dad & I with your awesome farewell talk.  I don't know how much time you put into preparing for it but you were very eloquent in putting your point across.  My point here is that maybe you need to remember your great successes an lean hard on them with your elbows and pull yourself out of the icy water.  I'm not saying that you don't need to continue your studies and preparation for your next and real encounter with an investigator, but I'm just trying to give you a little BOOST!  You can do it!  I have so much faith in you!  You continue to impress me with your ever-growing knowledge of things.  You always have seemed to learn more when you've been inquisitive of how things work.  Build on that strength of yours...find a question that you truly want to learn more about or get better at and run, run, run until you figure it out.  I hope a few of my words help you a little or give some comfort.

I can't wait to get your new address and hear about your new area & companion! We love you and are always with you in thought and prayer.

Mom


Sent from my iPhone

Dad - Thoughts on Teaching

Caleb:

It looks like you are in Virginia.  Mom heard from Sister Riggs and it sounds like she is a sweet lady and all is well.

You wrote your hand letter from the MTC and it sounds like you were frustrated with how your teaching was going.  I'm not surprised.  I have felt that way many times.  As recently as Sunday I had to conduct church and then bear my testimony about how the birth of Christ had impacted our family.  I honestly didn't know what to say.

Here is my general observation - It's hard to fake it when it comes time to teach.  Either you know the information or you don't.  If you don't know your stuff you usually feel inadequate; I least I do.  I'm not sure what was going on in the MTC but likely you were being challenged and it is probably safe to say that the material you were teaching you maybe didn't know very well.

Consider D&C 1 where the Lord says:

"That the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.

"Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding" (D&C 1:24).

I would say that you and I are among the weak and simple.  A 19 year old young man who is off to proclaim the gospel - a gospel that he knows very little about.  When you were younger you had little interest in scriptures and even in paying attention in church.  Now, you get to learn through a fire hose.  I'm among the weak and simple because I rarely study the scriptures like I should and like I'd like.  As a result, I'm not a scriptorian that can give amazing sermons when called upon.

There are some things that you are already brilliant at.  You are kind, compassionate, caring, and loving toward your fellow man.  Focus on those things and the rest will come.  Don't be frustrated with yourself in the mean time.  You're just fine.

Dad

On Mon, Dec 14, 2015 at 6:14 PM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Sorry I will be able to write each of you later I'm just super tired
and we have to do orientation. Adios!

Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 14, 2015, at 8:13 PM, Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>
> Today I woke up at 2:30.. Got on a bus and got to the airport at 5:30.
> Our flight was delayed an hour and a half because of icing. When we
> got to Atlanta we had 20 minutes until our plane left so we said
> goodbye to our zone and boarded a plane to Richmond. Then after a
> sketchy one hour flight we finally landed... and the humidity is real.
> I felt heavy like with sweat... It was 70° here when we landed.
> Ridiculously hot and humid. We met the mission president and his wife
> and they're very nice people! Anyway I'm here and I'm ready to get out
> and do the work.
>
> Sent from my iPad

Dad - Scores from NFL Week 14

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Gibbons <gibbons.paul@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 13, 2015 at 11:04 PM
Subject: Scores from NFL Week 14
To: Caleb Gibbons <cgibbons@myldsmail.net>

NFL

Scores & Schedule

1. Week 1
2. Week 2
3. Week 3
4. Week 4
5. Week 5
6. Week 6
7. Week 7
8. Week 8
9. Week 9
10. Week 10
11. Week 11
12. Week 12
13. Week 13
14. Week 14
15. Week 15
16. Week 16
17. Week 17
18. Wild Card
19. Divisional Round
20. Conference Championships
21. Pro Bowl
22. Super Bowl

Thursday, December 10
Vikings 20 Final Cardinals 23 Video Recap
Sunday, December 13
Lions 14 Final Rams 21 Video Recap	Falcons 0 Final Panthers 38 Video Recap
Redskins 24 Final Bears 21 Video Recap	Bills 20 Final Eagles 23 Video Recap
49ers 10 Final Browns 24 Video Recap	Saints 24 Final Buccaneers 17 Video Recap
Seahawks 35 Final Ravens 6 Video Recap	Chargers 3 Final Chiefs 10 Video Recap
Colts 16 Final Jaguars 51 Video Recap	Titans 8 Final Jets 30 Video Recap
Steelers 33 Final Bengals 20 Video Recap	Raiders 15 Final Broncos 12 Video Recap
Cowboys 7 Final Packers 28 Video Recap	Patriots 27 Final Texans 6 Video Recap
Monday, December 14
Giants 6:30 PM Dolphins Preview

All times are in Mountain