Jolene, Helen, Debbie, Sharon, Beth, Ann - 2009

Beth, Sharon, Ann, Helen, Jill, (2008)

I had such a great week last week. It started Monday when I got to visit with my BYU "room mates" Jolene and I drove to Utah from Boise and Mountain Home, Sharon flew to Utah to see her first grand baby from Brazil where she is living. Ann flew to Utah from North Carolina to help her daughter find a wedding dress. Beth, Jill, Helen, Sharon, Ann, Jolene and I got together for breakfast Saturday and Monday and celebrated Beth and Helen's 50th birthday. Every time we get together is a celebration. I can't express enough my thankfulness for each of these great ladies as a friend. They are in many ways my moral compass . I really try to follow their example. It makes me very very happy to talk things through with them, to hear their advice, sympathy and laughter. We seem to fill our gatherings with lots of laughter! When Helen and I attended BYU we both found algebra a bit challenging. Monday morning we dropped by Helen's JR high classroom and caught her teaching algebra. Wow, now I am sure we can all do anything we set our minds too even at our age. Helen was awesome!

Tuesday Becca and Aiden drove to Mountain Home to color Jana and my hair. I got to spend the day with Aiden. He loves the book The House on East 88th Street by Waber about Lyle the Crocodile now. He is so great playing sports on wii. Tuesday night we attended the cub scout blue and gold banquet where Terry had his first bagpipe performance. He did great and I have to admit he looked OK in a kilt. Chris acted upset by the kilt idea and Becca thought it was too short. Aiden saw the bag pipes and put his hands over his ears!

Friday Lauren was a beautiful bride. I wish she and Tanner well.

Saturday night I was amazed by the great JR high production of Music Man. They did a great job and I'm sure if a talent scout would have been there Joey Vogl would be made a star. He was great.

Today I taught the Gospel Doctrine in Sunday school class. It went fine. I got to teach and discuss one of my favorite scriptures
Doctrine and Covenants 21: 5 & 6 5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
6 For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory.

I LOVE the idea of the heavens shaking for my good. What a GREAT promise. I imagine them up in heaven working so hard for my good that the heavens shake. I'm not sure that is exactly how it works but... I love the imagery and I know we are blessed when we follow the prophet.

Kyle's great friend Matthew Ward received his mission call to San Juan, Puerto Rico mission. Terry, Chris and I went to their house at 10:30 PM to watch Matt open his call. It was so fun. He acted so very excited and a bit nervous. I am sharing this video I took of him opening the call. I just read an article in the New Era where Elder L. Whitney Clayton wrote about the blessings that come from serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He said, "That was the best decision I have ever made, because everything good in my life has come from that decision. ..Young men, look forward to serving a mission. It is hard; it is work, but there is nothing about it that you can’t do. You’ll love the experience. Doing hard things is good for us, and missions aren’t so hard that you can’t do them. They just require something of you. You have to grow up a little, and I promise you that if you will prepare yourself for a mission in every way—intellectually, physically, and spiritually—keeping yourself clean and ready to go, you’ll have a tremendous experience, and you’ll be grateful." That sure seems to be true for Kyle. I am really pleased with the growth I have seen from his letters. He seems to be having a great experience. I know I am having a great experience reading his letters and supporting him. Congratulations on your great decision Matt.

Terry's First Bag Pipe Performance

Carla Baxter, the Webelos leader made kilts for each of the cubs for their Blue and Gold Banquet. The theme was Scottish Scouts so they invited Terry's bag pipe teacher and another member of the Boise pipe band to join Terry and Matiu Call, the cub master, to play bag pipes for the celebration. What a fun memory for the boys. The Cubs are so blessed to have such great scout and primary leaders. I am sure thankful for the scout leaders who have helped my boys! Terry played well and I must admit he looked OK in a kilt. Chris and Becca felt a little wierded out seeing their dad in "a skirt" but he explained it is not a skirt and he wore it proudly.

Special Olympians

Vice President Biden and Michelle Kwan giving out medals

VP Biden and Tim Shriver in Kelli's section right in front of ours

Kelli

Today, Karen and I got to attend the Special Olympics in Boise. We sat in the section just above Vice President Biden, Michelle Kwan, Tim and Mark Shriver and the best Olympic volunteer at the games, Kelli. Karen and I signed up to help but I guess we were too late because we weren't selected so we watched our friend Kelli be the hostess- usher for the VIP section. We loved watching the figure skating. Kelli did a great job seating the VIP's and Mark Shriver took 4 pictures with her. It was a fun day. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so these poor shots from my phone were all I brought home.

Horray! The bathroom remodel is finished

Today the last worker finished working and my bedroom/ bathroom is finally finished. I LOVE it. I especially like the double shower. I turn both shower heads on and I can stay warm on both sides and shower even quicker.

I HATE wallpaper. I have two big walls in my bedroom and the pink striped flowered wallpaper should have been taken down long ago. It takes FOREVER! and makes a sticky mess on the floor and did I mention it takes FOREVER! Becca and Terry have chosen grayish blue and green. I hope I like it.