I love my family!

With the new Come Follow Me program, Roy and I felt inspired to include our children and their families in our Family Nights (one family at a time).  This past week, instead of having Nick to family night, we tended the three girls so he and Sara could get to the temple.  We enjoyed having our granddaughters, even though Avie has decided she's pretty attached to mommy.  Luckily, it was a beautiful evening, though a bit windy and cool, and we were able to spend about an hour outside--Avie was happy in our back yard.

Effie, Grandma and Avie

I told Ori she was really good at crossing the
creek on the rocks, and she said, "your son taught me
how to do it--you know, my Nick."

Selfie with Avie.

Selfie with Effie

We were able to have another theater experience this week when we took Oli and Doyeon to "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  The first half of the play was a little ho hum for the adults, but Oli and Doyeon were definitely enjoying it.  The 2nd half got more interesting with a colorful Baron and Baroness attempting to steal the car and capture and export all children.  We're glad we took kids with us.  

Truly Scrumptious with truly scrumptious children!!!

We started out at dinner at Texas Roadhouse (a friend sent me a gift certificate for my birthday).  Doyeon ate better than Oli, and true to expectations, Oli was the first to ask for snacks during the show!  While we were waiting for the check, Roy started playing a game with Oli and Doyeon.  He'd have them close their eyes and stick out their tongue, then he'd put either salt, or brown sugar on their tongue.  After he did that a few times, he mixed them together.  Then Oli picked up the pepper and handed it to me.  I said, "You want to try this?"  He nodded.  I took some and dumped it in my hand and then said, "Close your eyes."  He smiled and pointed for me to give it to Doyeon.

As stake YW president I had another meeting on Thursday, this time it was a Trek meeting--mostly for the ma's and pa's, so it wasn't essential that I be there, but I did learn a few things to help me gear up for the trek coming up in June.  I walked to church for the meeting--it's about a 3 mile round trip walk.  On the first day of trek it will be like walking to and from church twice, and then to church again--only with handcarts.  I don't think I'll be pushing, but I'm planning on walking with the youth.

Roy and I tried out an Italian restaurant that Dan had previously recommended, "Cafe Molise" in downtown SLC.  Roy said afterward that he'd found a new favorite Italian restaurant (I don't think he had any favorites before).  It was very tasty.  I had pork loin with fig compote and he had a dish with homemade noodles that was also delicious.  The best was the chocolate hazelnut mousse cake we had for dessert.  We shared, which was a good thing.  

Andy and Elise were house hunting all week and put an offer on a brand new build in Augusta.  Apparently they worked through the details and were able to seal the deal.  I think these pictures are from Savannah where they went after they were done with the hard work.  It looks like the south to me.  

Beverly was the chosen child.  The boys stayed home with
grandma Jackson

Sunday was busy with meetings.  It was the last ward conference for the year.  The bishop was bishop Robison, who is our dermatologist and whose father was Matt's mission president in Lubbock Texas (He and his wife were in our previous stake in Bountiful).  He gave a great talk.  He told of a spelunking adventure he had in South America where, he said, he found out he was claustrophobic.  He said it was completely dark, and there was one place where he was on his belly crawling and he could feel the top of the cave on his back.  He said they all had headlamps, and it was comforting, but he still couldn't see anything.  When he finally finished the adventure and saw the sun, he said, "I don't think I was ever happier to see the sun."  He compared this to how we all have trials in this life and sometimes it feels like all we have is a little headlamp, but as we turn to the Savior we are given this marvelous light. 

After the conference I had a training meeting with the YW leaders in that ward, then I had another meeting with the youth council about Trek and the upcoming Trek Fireside.  I was pretty tired when I got home, but for some reason I couldn't sleep, even though I tried.  I guess I was a little strung out from being "on" for so long.  The meetings all went well.  At the end, President Ford said that our visiting authority for stake conference at the end of April requested that the YW president of the Stake speak.  He said he responded that I had spoken last time and wondered if it would be okay to ask one of the councilors.  He didn't have an answer yet, so, I might be on the spot for another stake conference.  

I've never had a calling like the one I am serving in right now.  I think I've mentioned before that it's a little bit intimidating to try and train YW leaders when they have had so much more experience than I have had.  There have been many times where I have reminded myself that Heavenly Father trusted in me enough to call me to this position, and also--He is not requiring me to do it all by myself.  I have 2 great counselors and an amazing secretary, as well as a hands-on high councilman that is always willing to help.  And, of course, I can always turn to the Savior.  This past week I participated in a Stake Correlation Meeting.  In other callings,  I've been glad that I'm not the one required to attend the meetings, but I am finding that most of them are wonderful and I'm glad to be a part of them.  I had signed up for a class on Tuesday nights to learn more about my new Brother sewing machine.  Nuttalls called and changed the class to Thursdays, which I knew would be more difficult.  I went to the first class and left early because it was so basic, but I thought the next class would probably be more helpful.  Then I realized I had this Stake meeting.  I could have sent one of my presidency, but I have decided I like to know what's going on.
At the meeting we spent the first 5 minutes on scheduling, and then President Daines turned the time over to his counselors to lead a discussion on the article
 Connecting Daughters of God with His Priesthood Power in the March Ensign.
They assigned everyone in the room a section to quickly read over and then give a synopsis or a personal experience.  We probably spent 40 minutes in the discussion.  What was amazing was the spirit that was in the room as we discussed this article.  When we finished the discussion, President Daines asked if he could have a few extra minutes (he is great about telling us the ending time of our meetings and sticking to it), so that we could discuss how to make our Sacrament Meetings better (more of a discussion for the bishops, but it was great to be in on this, too).  I came home on a spiritual high.  I didn't even realize it but Roy pointed out the amount of spiritual energy I had while I was telling him about the meeting.
The Stake Clerk gave one last comment before the prayer.  He said that he'd been involved with many correlation meetings over the years and that this one was by far the best.
I have included a link to the article (above) and suggest that you all read it and discuss it with your families.

It was a quiet week as far as activities.  I took care of Avie, Ori and Effie for a couple of hours on Thursday to give Nick a break (they haven't been getting much sleep lately because of sick babies).  I tried hard to play with Effie and Ori, but Avie has entered into the "Mama" stage and wasn't completely happy to be left with grandma.  Sara took this darling picture of Effie when she picked her up:

Elise has been communicating to us from Georgia.  She and Andy are there looking for a home.  It looks like they'll be able to get a nice house for a decent price.  The housing market in Augusta isn't too outrageous.  The house they're staying in for the weekend is the realtor's 2nd home that she uses to rent out when the Master's tournament is going on.  She says she makes  enough money doing that to pay the entire mortgage for the year.  Of course, she isn't charging Elise and Andy to stay there.

Elise sent this picture this morning.  It looks like they went to church in their new city.

We had most of the family over for dinner Sunday night.  It was fun to see everyone.  The kids have so much fun when they get together.  This time Adrienne's family was sick, so they stayed away. 

Ward Conference--1 more to go

This morning started out well in spite of the fact that we lost an hour.  You who know me best know that losing an hour of sleep is rather devastating for me :)  I had ward conference with the Rolling Hills Ward this morning, so church was at 9:00 instead of noon which made a big difference where the time change is concerned. 

While I was eating breakfast I got a Marco Polo from Nan (which is why I enjoyed my morning).  I haven't communicated with her very often through Marco Polo because it seems that it's hard for her to get enough Internet time, so I thought she'd want to save that time for her own family.  At least right now, however, she has Internet, so we were able to talk.  

Nan taught Relief Society today.  She wanted to teach in French, so Bruce gave her a blessing, but in spite of the blessing, she found she had to switch to English and let Bruce translate.  I'm sure she did a fabulous job, even though she didn't necessarily feel that way.  She said that people really look up to her and act as if she's someone with authority.  I said that's because she's awesome!  And, she's a missionary and thus has the mantle with her and that also gives her authority.  I think we often look at our leaders that way and expect a lot of them.  They do have the mantle of leadership, but they are also struggling just like we are.  Our Stake President talked about how one of his kids complained loudly about having a family meeting because she thought they'd be doing "Come Follow Me."  I told Nan that I liked that about our Stake President, that he's willing to show his flaws and that he's trying to do the best he can just like we all are.  

Anyway, Nan gave me a good opening for my talk/discussion in YW/YM today at Ward Conference.  I began by asking them who was enjoying 2 hour church.  Of course, all the youth raised their hands.  Then I told them about my sister in Africa who is especially grateful for 2 hour church because 1) It's hot, humid and there's no air conditioning, and 2)She gets to sit through 2 meetings where she doesn't understand anything of what's being taught. (At least it's not 3 anymore!)  Then I led the discussion into the responsibility that they have in their families to help make the Come Follow Me program successful.  

Following church, we talked some more, and I found out that Paul is moving back to Utah.  He'll be staying in Nan and Bruce's home with Rachel until they get their home sold.  He is taking a pay cut, but has a great desire to be closer to family.  Also, I got the news that John and Sierra are preparing to welcome a fourth child into their family.

Adrienne and AJ moved into their new home yesterday.  Caitlyn was around and helped them all morning.  Roy and I were in Logan with Sara, Crista and Matt.  They all went to a class on pruning while I played with Ruby and Greta.  Afterwards we had lunch at Herme's restaurant (no wonder I can't lose any weight).  When we got home, Roy left immediately to go get Adrienne's boys so Adrienne and AJ could continue unpacking.  He took them to a train show in Ogden.  He said they had a good time, but their attention span was only about 90 seconds per display. 

Free hat at the train show

Gunnar, Finn and Oli with Roy and Roy's uncle
Lynn who was taking tickets at the train show

Finn, Ollie and Roy.  I think that's Gunnar in the very back

I didn't write on my blog last week because there hasn't been a lot going on.  I was sick for a week and, though I've been back to my routine this whole week, I am still fighting the leftover cough and congestion.  I'm pretty sure I gave my cold to Jieun, but it was her choice to come over and spend time with me so I only feel a little badly about it.  Nick's family has been sick a lot the past several weeks and Jennie was sick, too.  I think it's been a bad winter for colds.

I also got to enjoy my other sister for a little while last week when she took me for lunch for my birthday.  We went to Dodo's restaurant in Sugar House.  It was very good but of course the best part of the lunch was the company and just visiting with Christine.  We are planning to sew together this week so she can learn how to make a rug like the one I just finished.

I received a few pictures over the past couple of weeks from Crista and Jieun.

Greta demonstrating her tongue rolling abilities

Ruby's first school pictures

  This first picture from Jieun below, is Doyeon with a Sushi feast made by Jieun.  She also made some special for Hyeji, but for some reason Hyeji didn't want it.  I know she likes Sushi, so I'm not sure what was up with that.

Hyeji and Doyeon dressed for time travel day

Dojin

And Christine sent me these pictures from the past:

Ila, Christine and Catharine

Phil on left, and Roy.  

Catharine, Grandma Cook (Maude) Nan, Philip and Christine

I enjoy reading about everyone's families.  Thanks to those of you who write each week or at least almost weekly.  Love you all--have a great week!