Date Night!

We went to DS and tried Morimoto’s restaurant. It was fun and yummy. I don’t know that I would choose to go back since there are so many choices there but I liked it.

The last two days I’ve subbed at the high school. Today we had a lockdown drill. Here’s me in the closet. It’s good that schools practice but sad that this is our world. 

Danika and Kendall came and had lunch with me both days and it was fun to visit with them. 

A special night

The kids did some family history work for FHE, and made an appointment for us, and tonight we went together to the temple.

It is very special. The feeling is peaceful and sweet and the work is true and sacred. I ❤️ the temple and especially love to go with my family.
Also Andrea just heard back and they got all the cancer with her surgery and she doesn’t need any more treatment!! That is an answer to prayer!

• Grace has musical practice after school and before school most days.
• If not that then solo and ensemble practice.
• Ethan has tennis team try outs this week. He has limited tennis experience so we shall see.
• It’s been cold, not North Dakota cold but cold enough!
• I registered both kids for EFY yesterday and felt very happy about that!
• Our dresser drawers are looking very neat and organized.
• I finished Madison’s book “of rioters and royals” and am happy to report that I really liked it.
• I also read “the girl who wrote in silks” because my friend Alecia said it was her favorite book of last year and I really liked it a lot.
• Now I am starting “a gentleman in Moscow”.
• The YW are in charge of the ward picnic coming up, we also have a camp over night planned so we are a little busier than usual with several weekends booked up.
• I made crock pot roast yesterday and the house smelled so good!
• I am subbing tomorrow and Friday.
• Tonight we are doing skits for YW and Sage asked me to make a treat so that’s on the schedule for today. 
• After two awesome weeks on rockets the cubs are learning about dinosaurs tonight. I think Rob is getting the hang of cubbing:)
• The world is a mess. Just putting that out there. I literally feel sick at the news:(
• Yesterday I listen to Pres. Uchdorf’s BYU talk “the music of the Spirit”, It was awesome. 

A small miracle

Ziva went to the vet today and she is bladder stone free! The vet was not expecting to see it completely cleared up.

This miracle wasn’t free: she’s been on a special diet, and has upped her water intake and was on meds so we did our part. Also we prayed for her. If we can pray over our fields and flocks we can certainly pray over our useless little spoiled pets. I am grateful for God’s blessings and care. Modern medicine is very much a miracle, as is having the $ to pay for it and the faith to ask for it.  Sometimes we get exactly what we ask for. Then we say Thank You!!

*when we don’t get what we want we still say Thank You. 
The rest of the day was anticlimactic. 

I did laundry, took out the trash and cleaned the kitchen. 

At dinner I got a compliment on my Brussel sprouts, Ethan said “this is very tasty for regular food..not just for a vegetable.” So that’s a win:) 

For FHE we did genealogy. 

Grace had musical practice after school and lots of homework today. 

I am reading a book, written by my friend, and it has been fun to read! Yay!

Sunday

A week or so ago Hannah and Sawyer played in the snow with their friends Susie and Spencer Thacker. They were all friends in CA and after S3 served missions they came home, married, are going to the Y and now they are couple friends!

School is going well for our newlyweds. Hannah got a job on the school paper, and another one working for a birth photographer. She is very excited about both. They ❤️their cute little apartment and many classes. I’m happy to hear good news from them as they navigate college , broken cell phones, making time for friends and each other. 

I love these fun snow day pictures!!

Last month my sister, Andrea, got diagnosed with endometrial cancer. We were so sad and so surprised. Yoho had his fight with cancer just 3 years ago and surely that is enough for any family. They have faced this challenge with characteristic good cheer and optimism. I am sure there have been private moments of despair and heartache but they are a good team and seem to face the hard parts of life with each other’s back.  As a family we are praying and hoping for the best, quickest, easiest route to full health. Mom and Dad are in Arizona with them helping out with the boys and chores and whatever needs done. 

Today was our ward conference. It was good. Brad sang a beautiful song and the bishop and Pres Basserios spoke. I thought the whole thing was really good.

Small world story. I was sitting in the pew with Grace and Rob. Ethan was taking care of the sacrament. Next to me sat a couple who is here for a few weeks escaping the cold from Kentucky. They sat with us last week too and are very nice. I was chatting with them until the meeting started then I turned forward to sing. Out of the corner of my eye I saw another older couple walk in and they sat down at the end of the pew. As I looked over I saw that it was my friend from MD Jacque Munns and her husband Roger! I couldn’t believe it!!! We looked at each other in shock! 

As soon as the meeting was over we hopped up and shared a big, happy hug! They will be in Orlando for a month so we will get together for lunch soon! 

Right after church I texted Tara and Becky to tell them! 

I love that the gospel keeps us close even when the miles keep us far apart!

Birthday Celebration

Grace had her “last” friend party two years ago when she turned 12. 

Then we moved and there is no better way to get to know friends than to throw a party, so here we are again. 

We invited all the YW and then Grace also invited 7 school friends. 

We had quite a crowd.

Our original plan was to heat the pool and have a swim party. This week it has been quite cold (in the 50’s) and with air temps like that a pool party was not going to work. 

We decided on art, games and a movie.

We played catch phrase and 2 truths and a lie to break the ice.

Then we had dinner. Chick-fil-A and chips and soda and ice cream cake.

Next came our art project followed by snacks: popcorn, chips, red vines.

We played mother elephant and Tarzan and finally watched “Small Foot”.

It has been very loud and very fun!


Ethan escaped to the church to play basketball with the boys. 

Happy 14th Grace! I can’t believe my baby is almost grown!

Scavenger hunt

Yesterday Rob and I went to the temple. We had a good evening. It is a sweet reprieve from the noise of day to day life.

Today I made a new recipe for dinner. Coconut curry chicken stew. I thought it was delicious but next time I might use less cayenne and jalepeno and more coconut.


We had a fun scavenger hunt for our combined activity tonight. The kids had to do all kinds of crazy things!

Bekah and I did our ministering visits yesterday and today, and my sisters visited me so I had a lot of fun visiting time.