Callings, commitments, and blessings

My main activity for the week was YW in Excellence.  We put it on for the whole stake as the previous president had discovered that this would really help our ward YW Presidents.  The theme (on left) was Daughter of a King.  Jieun came over and did the chalk art on the chalkboard, while the YW presidency was blowing up balloons, and putting together the rest of our decorations.  We spent about 1 hr. and 45 minutes Tuesday night putting up tables, etc. then on Wednesday, we spent another several hours doing the balloon valances.  Caitlyn helped by putting crowns and swans on all the cupcakes, before joining us in making the balloon art.  Clean-up was lots simpler--we popped all those balloons in minutes.  Just as we got all the tables put away, another ward came in to set up for their Christmas Party--they got out almost all the tables we had just taken down.

We have 142 girls in our stake, so displaying all of their accomplishments was daunting.  Sara came up with the idea to have all the girls decorate a quart jar to represent their interests.  The girls were very creative with their jars.
Everything went well.  We kept the program short and simple--the Stake President was the only speaker and he was brief.  We recognized quite a lot of the girls from the stake.  It was impressive how many of them stuck with the program and finished up with their goals.

I have been thinking a lot about covenants, faith, and choices.  I am completely out of my comfort zone in this Stake Young Women calling.  I could never do it alone, and I'm grateful for the help I have--my counselors and secretary, my family who step in to help on occasion, and of course, my Heavenly Father.  Why do I accept a calling that is difficult for me.  The main reason is that I have made covenants and promises.  Also, I know that through my life my callings have shaped me and helped me to grow.  As with everything else--it is a choice.  I choose to make those promises, and I choose to follow through with them to the best of my ability.  I have been greatly blessed in my life because of this commitment.  Elder Rasband, at the recent general conference tells us that keeping promises (or commitments) is not a habit, but a characteristic of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.  The greatest hope I have for my posterity is that all of you will stay on the covenant path.  That you will make promises and commitments to our Heavenly Father and then follow through with them.  I know that we fall short--I fall short every day--but we have the gift of repentance.  We can decide to continually use that gift and move forward.

Roy bought a cute car this week:

Gunnar came over Saturday and helped his grandpa in the yard for an hour or so.  He also did some sewing and made a Christmas pillow to take home. 

We also enjoyed several of our family members on Sunday evening where we had breakfast for dinner. 

Peter and Mykael get married and Roy flies to Atlanta

Peter and Mykael Christensen were married this week.  The ceremony in the Salt Lake Temple was of course, the  highlight.  The sealer was one of the Christensen's good friends, Ned Mangleson.  He is in their ward and had been great friends to my parents as well.  Ned did a beautiful job expounding on the meaning of the temple ceremony.  I always wish I could take in a notepad and write down the beautiful teachings I hear, but of course the sealing and other temple ordinances are far too sacred.  My memory isn't good enough.  One thing I do remember, though.  He said that the word help-meet is often wrongly defined.  We think of Eve being Adam's help-meet (one word).  He says that woman was created to help Adam, and she was meet for him, his equal partner.
Following the wedding, we waited in the waiting area in the temple while the bride got ready for pictures.  It is a beautiful room and the spirit is there, even though you don't have to have a recommend to be there.  While we were waiting, a group of dignitaries entered.  We discovered that it was the "Caliph" or the head of the Muslim community, and others in his circle.  President Nelson is reaching out to our religious neighbors and had invited them to tour Temple Square.  The matron there said she felt very honored to be there when they were being shown around.
We also enjoyed a dinner in Peter and Mykael's honor the night before.  It was held in the Jade room at the Joseph Smith building.  Steve, Christine, and Mykael's mother shared some memories of Peter and Mykael, and a couple of their friends spoke.  Roy and I sat by Bruce and Barb, Char and Mackenzie (Char's date in place of Phil!), and John Oblad.  Dave and Becky and Glenn and Rosilene were absent due to traveling in Israel and Egypt, and Phil was in Atlanta on business.

Bruce, Barb, Me, Char, Kenzie and John

Christensen family

Mykael, Peter, Christine and Steve

 Following pictures we went home and changed and retrieved Roy's suitcases, etc. then I took him to the airport to catch a flight to Atlanta where he had a conference for the next several days.  I had planned to go with him, but when I found out that Elise was busy that week, I decided not to go.  He had a very successful conference, so it was good that he went.  One evening while he was there,  he did the "drive down memory lane."

Roy's booth at the conference

Ga. 400 (We're glad we don't live there anymore!)

835 Crab Orchard Drive (Too bad he could only drive by at night)

Where our theater used to be:  It's now a Children's Pool (next picture)

China Garden restaurant--this is right by the theater and was
one of our favorites.  We still think it is the best Chinese food we've
ever had!

The owners remembered Roy and were glad to create a custom dish of half
sesame beef and half egg foo yong.  

They didn't remember his name, but they remembered him.  He remembered
them also.  Macy (on left) and her brother Patrick (on right)

The Altlanta Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

While Roy was gone I made a trip up to Logan to visit Crista.  It had been too long since I'd seen them and Bridget is growing so fast!  She gave me lots of smiles, but when I got the camera out, she was asleep.

I took them for Aggie ice cream.  They are being silly, here.

Jieun and Dan had me over for dinner every night while Roy was gone which was very nice of them.  I enjoyed spending time with their family.  Jieun said it was so easy to have me over "now that we live so close..."  I laughed, because they were pretty close before they moved.  She said it just seems different now--she can have me over and not have to make anything special.  I think she did go to a little extra work knowing that I was coming.

On his last day in Georgia, Roy drove the two hours up to see Elise and the kids.  Below are pictures of Max, Mav and Bev.  I sent Beverly's birthday present and Grandpa gave it to her a little early.  She turns 2 at the end of this month.

Adrienne and AJ had us to dinner Sunday evening.  The Green's came too.  Adrienne played a piano duet in her ward Sunday morning so we went to listen.  She did a great job.  It's enjoyable to listen to your children who have passed you up in musical abilities!

We're still working hard trying to get Ila  to warm up
to us.  You can see that at least right here, we didn't succeed.

Adrienne replayed her part of the duet.  It was pretty even without
the other part.  

Roy and Finn

Oli

Gunnar and Oli

Halloween 2019

The first Snowfall of the year happened this week. 
At least Effie and Ori had almost
enough snow at their house to go out and play in it.

Jennie and I went to Charlotte's bi-annual Witches Tea
and enjoyed a great lunch, a fun visit, and a delicious
caramel apple made by Charlotte.  (Thanks, Char!!!)

Jieun sent me pictures from the Halloween Parade at Centerville Elementary. 

Yuna (light fury?)

Hyeji (witch)

Doyeon.  She was a "light fury," too--whatever that is.  I never
saw her with her mask on, but she left it at my house.

Crista and Matt and girls, were gifted airfare to Hawaii from Matt's boss
for working for Malouf for 5 years.  They'll take off
in a couple of weeks.  

Crista and Matt do awesome costumes every year.  Yes, it's Crista's real hair!

Finn (Black Panther), Oli is Sloop, and Gunnar is a Mario Brother

Ila dressed as Anna from Frozen.  She didn't like her cape
very much.

We were able to see these kids for a few minutes before all
their festivities started for the evening.

 

Greta (another Anna), Ruby--Elsa, and Bridget--Olaf

Beverly and her friend

 We had a visit from all of these princesses and superheros after trick or treating.

Avie gave me lots of loves and attention!

Bevy, Mav and Max

Doyeon--Dan's happy to have a backyard now, so he can rake leaves!

We were able to watch Oli play his last outdoor
soccer game of the year.  We ran into Kim Cook, too.  Her
boys games were over, but she was headed somewhere else for
another game.  I think Oli is the star player on his team.  He scored two
goals and the score was 2 to 0, but after half time the other
team came back and scored 2 goals, too, so it was a tie game.

 Trick or Treating was interesting this year.  One little girl was very curious and asked if we had any family living in our big house with us.  Another said, "Wow, this is big like my Gran's house"  I told him it was because I was a "Gran."  And another little boy said, "This is a BIG house!  Are you rich?"  I smiled and said, "Not anymore!"