Life always feels so hectic

It felt like a super hectic week but there's not a lot of news.
I still have not been officially called...my counselors were called this morning and I met with them.  It is interesting calling 3 counselors that you don't know at all.  I think they will all be great.  I sat in the High Council room while they each met individually with the Stake Presidency, then they were ushered in to meet me.  Obviously they all accepted their calls.  We had a short, impromptu presidency meeting.  I had each sister tell a little about themselves, then I told them what to expect in the near future, and a little of what to expect going forward.  As soon as I was done there, I hurried over to Daniel's ward to watch Hyeji and Yuna in their primary program (Doyeon was sick).  I held Dojin the entire time and he sat placidly on my lap.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I asked Dan to take a picture, but since he didn't send one, I'm assuming he forgot.

Earlier in the week Caitlyn got her braces on for the 2nd time.  They were pretty painful for her.  She got a letter from the orthodontist office thanking her for being such a good trooper.  She was bugged --she already felt like she was 12--getting braces and being seen in braces, but the thank you note was the clincher.  The braces are in preparation for surgery in the summer.  It also means that if she does serve a mission, it will have to wait for a while. 

Roy started out his Saturday working at the St. Vincent D'Paul homeless shelter serving with the YSA's.  When he got home, he headed outside to rebuild our small bridge.  He had previously removed all the old planking and found that there wasn't even a nail holding them in place.  They were more precarious than we had thought.  He had to build up the cement base, put the planking in place, and then insert large screws through every 3rd board connecting them all together.  It is very secure now.

Roy--far right

No, this is not Roy.  It's a young man from Columbia. 
His brother was helping also.
Roy is a ministering brother to their sister, and giving them some
work is one of the ways he's serving her and her husband.  It's also
(obviously) been beneficial to us.  They also stained/sealed
all the planter boxes.  They look great.

And no, I did not help.  I taught a water aerobics class at 8:00, then hurried and changed and drove to Logan with a friend from my ward.  We met her daughter and Crista and Caitlyn for lunch, then went to the temple.  She and her daughter did a session, while Crista and I did initiatories.  We were done in 20 minutes.  Caitlyn supposedly went to do baptisms, so we went out to wait for her.  We had waited for 25 minutes when Crista decided to look at her phone.  When she did she saw that Caitlyn had determined they were too busy in the baptistry so she called her roommate and ditched us.  It was nice to have the extra time to visit with Crista, though, so we forgave her.  I didn't see much of Greta and Matt, but Ruby came to lunch with us.  She loved it.  She kept saying, "Mmm, this is so good.  Thank you so much, mom. Thank you so much grandma...Can we go to Hermes tomorrow..." 
I did help scrub out the hot tub after I got home.

Karen, Keely (Garner), Caitlyn, Crista and Catharine

Caitlyn did my hair while we were visiting with Crista. 
She sent me this picture with the caption,"Now we both
look 12." :)

I received a couple of pictures from the family this week:

Crista thought this picture of Nick looks a lot like Effie. 
Dan commented that it's the smile.

Sara said, yes, but not as messy!

 Sara also sent out this picture and I got a kick out of it:

She says she gets this a lot.  Facebook asks if by their facial recognition feature
if these two are the same person.  I never realized my boys looked so much alike.

Caitlyn and a friend in the "pineapple shirts"  You have to
zoom in to see the pineapples.  

Roy fixed an amazing Break the Fast dinner tonight.  Turkey legs, potatoes, and lots of veggies.  We also had corn on the cob and squash.  Have I ever mentioned how grateful I am for a husband that cooks?  If not, let me say it now!!!

Back into a routine?

There's no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone.  When the Lord wants us to grow, he gives us opportunity.  I spent this past week praying and pondering to choose  counselors for my new calling.  It was an exercise in working to receive revelation.  I haven't had to do anything quite like this before.  I think there will be a lot of firsts in the next four years (that's how long they told me to expect to be in my calling).  I texted my names to President Ford (1st counselor in the stake presidency) on Friday evening.  I wasn't feeling totally confident in myself, but Roy told me I'd feel better after I sent the names.  I did.  I felt at peace.  Interestingly, even though they had given me a "short list" to choose from since I don't know anyone in the stake (I added a few names to it from my ward and from my limited knowledge of others in the stake), I was told that my 1st counselor was not available.  I told Roy that she was the one I was least sure about--the only one on the list they gave me that I knew.  I gave them another name, and she was not available either.  I had narrowed my original list down to five names, and by the time I used all five, I didn't hear any more from President Ford.  It's yet to be seen whether these three sisters will accept their call.

I also had the opportunity to serve in the Kaysville Mill this week.  Four hours in a factory "line" is pretty hard work when you're not used to it.  It seems easy to stand there and throw bags of pasta into a box, but by the end of the four hours, my shoulders were burning.  It made me feel sorry for people who have to do it for a living.  I guess you'd get used to it if you did it every day, but...boring... I was glad I had signed up to serve, though.  I needed the blessings and extra guidance this week.

Christine took me and Nan out to lunch for Nan's birthday.  We went to a place called "The Art Center" in Murray.  We all had egg salad sandwiches.  The bread was particularly good--they make everything homemade there. Nan told us more about her mission--how long she'd be in the MTC,  how they'd be charged per day for living there whether they ate the food or not, etc.  She will be able to come home for the weekends.  That way Rachel can take them to the airport when they leave for The Republic of Congo.  I told her that if she can go to Africa, I can be the Stake Young Women's President.  She said she'd rather go to Africa. 😃

Caitlyn had an orthodontist appointment as well as a consultation with a surgeon the following day.  We had decided braces for sure (she cried)--to try and fix some of the problems from her jaw issues.  Her teeth are straight from previous braces, but her jaw has moved so much that her bite is way off.  We weren't sure the surgeon would be willing to take a chance with her, but he said that she had so many problems, surgery was worth the risk.  She'll have braces for 9 months or so, then the surgery, then the braces will stay on for a few more months.  Please pray for her that the surgeon can do a good job and that we won't set off her inflammation again.

The pool at the rec center reopened after a two week cleaning period.  The water was cold!  I am back to teaching, but now it's 2 mornings a week--Tuesday and Thursday.  The ice reopened a week earlier.  While the ice was down I went to Ogden to skate and found an adult class that happens every Wednesday.  It's a drive, but it's so much fun that I think I'll try and get there each week.  DUP also started this past week (Daughter's of the Utah Pioneers).  I guess I'm officially back into a routine.

Roy and I drove up to the Gorge one last time for the year--to bring the trailer back.  It was beautiful, we were sorry we didn't bring the boat and come again later to get the trailer.  There were only a few boats on the Lake.  I know you're all tired of Flaming Gorge Selfies, but it's the only picture we've taken so far this week.

At least the view never gets old.

Sunday:  I went to Adrienne and AJ's ward for the primary program and asked Adrienne to take a picture following church and send it to me.

This is what happens when you try to take a picture of the Green kids

Sometimes they cooperate

 I got these pictures from Elise today.  Andy and Max came in 2nd in their pinewood derby.  They would have won if the winner had built his car to code.

Max and Mav watching the race

Beverly being greeted by a friend (they must use the same
beautician, their hair is so similar!)

Nick came over to visit us on Sunday night while Sara went to a Trek Fireside.  We played a couple of games and had a fun visit.

Family News

 Finn fell off his bed this week and hit his mouth.  Adrienne had to take him to the dentist to have him checked out since there was blood involved.  He had severed the little muscle under the top lip and his gums were sore, but everything else was fine.  Since Adrienne hasn't had enough stress this year, a little more was added when, right before they were to leave for a weekend trip to Sun Valley, some electrical stuff was stolen from their construction site.  This is the 4th incident and it happened during the lunch hour.  I told her we never had anything stolen from our lot.  I had been worried, too, because we didn't have locks on our doors until the very end--evenafter appliances were being delivered.  She said that they think it could be the neighbor. 

Roy spent a couple of days in Fontana, MI just outside of Milwaukee, WI at a NATSAP convention.  This national group is associated with providing care for Troubled Youth.  He set up a booth and worked on getting organizations lined up for subsequent demos, which was very successful.  The first night around 110 people from the association went on two paddle boats for a dinner cruise on Lake Geneva.  

View from the hotel

 Roy has been diagnosed with sleep apnea.  The doctor gave him 2 choices--a C-Pap machine, or lose 30 lbs.  He's working on the latter.  He's been biking all summer, but he has added 2-3 mornings a week at the same "Fit, Boot Camp" that Jennie attends.  He's determined.  Saturday he joined some of the Stake Presidency and High Council members of the YSA stake on a 45 mile bike ride that had been planned by President King (Michelle King's husband).  I think he's the 2nd counselor.  Roy said that the wind made the ride particularly difficult, plus the hills in North Salt Lake were "kick butt."  But he stayed the course.  Today his voice was pretty raspy from all the smoke pollution he breathed in yesterday. 

 Speaking of the smoke pollution.  Nan Theobald's family has really been affected by fires this year.  In a previous newsletter I wrote about Luke and Tara's cows (which they are now trying to sale as they have no place for them to graze).  Nan has been on pre-evacuation notice and Tyler and Liz were evacuated from their homes.  Their stake fasted and prayed today, and tonight it is raining down there.  No rain was in the forecast.  Sara said that we should also have Toby and his family (Anderton) in our prayers.  They have also been evacuated from their home in North Carolina because of the hurricane, as have Annie and Chris Acree.  We think we have control, and then we find that we actually have very little control.  We need our Heavenly Father. 

Spaghetti Sauce.  While Roy was biking
I bottled and cleaned.  I have enough tomatoes to
do another batch in the next couple of days--I'm just not
sure I have enough energy :)

Andy graduates from medical school the middle of May.  Roy and I will most likely get tickets for a trip to Texas for this.

This morning (Sunday), Roy spoke in one of the single's wards, then he picked me  up and took me to an "appointment."  I got a new calling.  Roy said I shouldn't tell anyone yet because word gets around.  I am pretty sure no one in my family would tell anyone in my ward or stake, so, if you want to know you can call me.  The word went around pretty well at Nan's Farewell dinner today, though, so a lot of my extended family already knows. :)  Let's just say that it's WAY out of my comfort zone.  It's my fault, though, because I've been praying to know what the Lord wants me to do with my time.  

Nan and Bruce did a great job with their talks.  Nan talked about the blessings available to senior couples who serve missions.  She told about how Dave started praying about a mission and received many miracles that made it possible for him to go.  He had had headaches every day for 14 years due to ahead injury.  About this time Becky found a new doctor and made an appointment for him.  Within a few weeks of treatment, Dave's headaches began to go away.  Becky, who was on 16 different medications for Rheumatoid arthritis, decided she'd give this doctor a try, also.  The doctor examined her and said, I don't think you have Rheumatoid, and he gradually took her off all the medicines.  She got better quickly.  They were healthy enough to spend 2 years in Russia together.  

Also, Tiffany called them right before they left and asked if they would come to her Temple Sealing.  The Lord really does bless us for our service.  Nan also said that she didn't know exactly why she wanted to serve a mission, but the Lord had put the desire into her heart.  

Bruce spoke a little about the Republic of Congo.  He read from a blog he found on the internet of a couple that served in another mission there.  The writer said that she had learned to put the emphasis on the things that matter most--she said in Africa they are happy, and they don't have many of the things that we put so much energy into.  They put their energy into the things that matter most.  She said that she learned that the most happiness comes from worshiping the Savior (I hope I got that right, Bruce).  Bruce said that he had given Nan an article about the need for senior couples to serve in Africa about 5 years ago.  It took them about that long to get their minds set to fill out their papers.  Africa was not their first choice, but it was where they felt they were meant to serve.

It was fun to see Glenn and Rosilene, Jed and Patti, and Emily, Taylor and  Ila. Christine and Steve and many of their kids came.  Dave and Becky, Tiffany and Troy and Kim and Chris and their kids were there.  Of course, many of Nan's family were in attendance  but only the Utah families.  Nick, Effie and Ori came and it was fun to have them with us.  We missed everyone else.  I had made 2 salads (instead of one large one).  For one I put in fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from our garden as well as walnuts and feta.  I put lime juice and olive oil on that one.  For the other I used pears from our pear tree (a small sacrifice since we only have a few this year), raisins from our previous garden, and sugared walnuts and feta.  I made one of Charlotte's salad dressing recipes.  Both salads were delicious.  Christine had made a beautiful salad, too.  Nan served spaghetti with her homemade sauce.  Everything was wonderful as it usually is when we have these family get togethers. 

All school-aged kids finally and officially in school

I have added a few pictures to last week's post if you are interested.  Below are my cute grand kids--beginning of school photos.

Ruby

Yuna 1st day of pre-school

Ori

Finn

Gunnar 1st day of school (August)

Gunnar started school in August, but I didn't get the pictures until now

Ollie

School FINALLY started for my 3-5 year old grandchildren.  For pre-school and kindergarten, school didn't officially get started until the day after Labor Day.  It's so frustrating for parents of kindergartners--everyone else starts school, but because of kindergarten testing, school doesn't start for the 5 year-olds.

Little Ila reached out and grabbed the hot panini maker while Adrienne was fixing sandwiches and got a 2nd degree burn on her pinky and a 1st degree burn on her thumb.  Adrienne and AJ took another trip to the emergency room to get her checked out.  The doctor told her to make sure she uses her thumb joint and also that she doesn't get an infection.  She's naked in the picture because of a blowout that always happens when you don't have extra clothing handy.

Ila

Jennie attended a concert this past week.  She was dressed for it, too.  She said people wear lots of make-up to these things.  She made a good choice and came home early when she decided it wasn't the type of concert she should be at.  

I got this picture of Finn from Adrienne during the week.  She had to pick up the boys from school and wanted to know where I was (she was hoping not to have to wake him).  I'm ashamed to say I didn't pay enough attention to the texts to go and help her out.  I guess she'll have to pick up the phone next time.

Finn

I got the following 2 pictures off of Instagram.

Avie

Ila

We fit in another fun day over the weekend--this time at Bear Lake--It was Crista's idea to take the boat up Friday night and have dinner with Crista's family. Spend the night, go boating, and end the day with a play at the Pickleville Theater.  We have never been there before and it's probably been 10 years since we've had the boat on Bear Lake.  The play was called "Who Shot Juanito Bandito."  The actors were hilarious and it was a lot of fun.  It was LONG, though--it started at 4:30 and ended at about 6:45.  We think it was extra long because it was closing night and the actors got a little carried away with ad-libbing.  Crista was surprised when I told her what time it was.  She didn't realize the play went so long because she loved every minute of it.  Crista is like her dad--a cruise director.  She's good at planning things and making decisions.  We had a great time.

The air was quite cool when we got started, but by early afternoon it was 80 degrees.
Caitlyn was the only one who ventured in the water for a quick dip.

Greta and Ruby--Crista had made sandwiches
for our lunch.

Matt, Ruby, Crista and Greta

Caitlyn, Matt and Greta

I have to admit  I spent a lot of time reading.  I was into a sad, but
good book and had a hard time putting it down.
(It was called, "Before we were Yours")

Matt captured this picture, just before Ruby slid over and knocked
Greta onto the rocks below.

Matt and Ruby

Ruby and Grandpa driving the boatr

Greta and grandpa driving the boat

Crista and Greta

Dan sent me this picture of Dojin along with a video
where he was drinking the contents of the jar--Kimchi juice.
No thank you, but it looks like he enjoyed it.