4 September 2016 - School starts

   Monday was a busy day for Stephen. He went to Tacoma to purchase more potting soil for the front yard and some "patch" for the driveway. It was a time sensitive activity so I had to help but we didn't get to it until Tuesday. Stephen found all the cracks in the driveway, cleaned them out, washed them down and dried them. Then we mixed some chemicals together with sand and it turned tar black and heated up. We had 7 minutes to get all the stuff in the crack before it got too hard to work with and it was crazy. By the time we were finished it look much better but we were much blacker than we started. Before making it to Tacoma, Stephen visited a brother, German Fricke, in a rehab center in Auburn and then helped with Gary Balls putting on his roof with Br. Dale Smith since Br. Balls broke his foot. Unfortunately, while he was dangling from the rafters, his phone fell out and broke the screen. At least it still works. After working in the yard until it started to rain, I decided to finish the organization of my office upstairs. It's nice to have a place I can spread out. I then got busy and fixed stuffed peppers for dinner. They were pretty good. We also picked green beans and squash.

Stuffed Red Peppers topped with cheese.

Garden fresh green beans and yellow squash.

   Tuesday I went visiting teaching to Sr. Ann Tomlinson and Sr. Winona Laird with Sr. Jill Thacker, my companion. Br. Tomlinson is now retired and so he's going a lot of stuff around their home. Ann is a para-educator for the Kent school district so she was gearing up for school. Since she is turning 70 soon she thinks this will be her last year. After I came back I worked outside preparing the yeard while Stephen emptied the truck of the dirt and then he prepared the driveway for the patch job. Before we started that project we went to Cafe Rio where every Tuesday is a special day with a great deal on several dishes including salad. So it's Taco Tuesday and T-Mobile Tuesday where you get free frosty's at Wendy's if you have a T-mobile phone. I didn't have to cook that day...yipppeee.
   Tuesday night Stephen had meetings and Samuel went to President Stroud's for a "Priest Summit" and report on the boys experience at Camp Helaman this year. Samuel enjoyed the activity of games, treats and talking about their experiences. This was to help President Stroud decide if our stake is going to be participating in future Camp Helaman experiences.

Buddy and Jersey waiting for "treats".

   Wednesday it was really raining. There wasn't much to do outside so I worked inside.   That afternoon I met with Becky LeDosquet who is going to be my team teacher for zero hour Seminary and we tried to determine what was going to happen the first week of Seminary. I'll admit that it very daunting to try and get up so early but I know the Lord will bless me as I put forth the effort required and do my best.
   There was no YM that night but Stephen had stake meetings. Before he left the Simon's brought their dog over for us to doggy-sit while they were gone to a funeral in Boise. The dog  is a German Shepherd male who is much bigger than Jersey. His name is Buddy and he's a house dog and one of their family. He appears to rule the roost because he growls at Jersey whenever she does anything around him. They pretty much keep their distance. They do like to fetch balls so we try to do that several times a day.

Trying too act tough like a teenager.

Samuel loves school....lol.

   Thursday was the starting day for school. I drove Samuel to Kentlake early that morning so the Pep Band could play while the students arrived. After dropping him off I went to the gym to work out and Stephen showed up and we both put in an hour before heading home. From there Stephen decided to go to the temple. He needed some inspiration for his talk that he was preparing for Sr. Atwood's funeral. He was told to make a 15 minute speech on the Plan of Salvation and add stories about Louise.    

Seminary Treats.

   Thursday evening, while Stephen was at his meetings,  I went with Sister LeDosquet to visit some of the students in our class. I had made some little treats for each student and dropped them off and we talked a little bit about our class. It's going to be difficult to follow in the shoes of Br. Sumpter. We can't compete with the gun and holster of a police officer....lol. He's a great story teller too, so we just have to be inspired with what these kids need and try to make it interesting so they want to learn.
   Friday Stephen worked on Rebekah's car, (she needed a new battery) and he got 2 loads of rock for Sister Jone's yard and unloaded and spread them out in her yard, then he worked on his talk until the LeDosquet's came at 6:00. We had originally planned on having a 16th birthday party for Samuel but no one could come but Quinn LeDosquet so we cancelled the party and invited the LeDosquet's over to help us eat the food and play some games. Samuel and Quinn played the Wii and the adults played Qwerkle, Bananagrams and Sequence. The LeDosquet's won all the games. I thought we were competitive but they are much more so. It was fun.
   Saturday, I had to work. I was given a patient who was a nurse at the hospital which means you have to have special permission to work on her chart. Then after I see her she's feeling a lot of pressure and she delivered before I was there an hour. Her little girl had a major bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate which was difficult to look at on so cute of a baby girl. Thankfully it will be able to be fixed and she'll be beautiful.
   While I was at work, Stephen went to the funeral for Sister Atwood. There was another funeral in the Stake of Br. Rex Johansen who was the first bishop in Kent so a lot of people went to his funeral and there was very few at the Atwood's funeral. Stephen did a great job talking about Louise, the plan of salvation and what happens when we die. Sister Shauna Tyler flew in from St. George to sing at the funeral so Stephen spoke with her. She has visited with Francene 3 times since we saw her in St. George so it was nice to hear her report.

Elder Micah Ralph with Jonathan during
the "Helping Hands" service in Baton Rogue
due to severe flooding.

Elder Nelson speaking to volunteers.

   Before I got home Stephen had to leave for Ensign Ranch to help with the Single Adult Activity that the Region puts on every year during the Labor Day. He didn't get home until late so there was little that got done around the house.  ;-)  Of course, that left Samuel and I to watch the BYU game without him. He came in during half time and since the DVR recorded the whole thing he caught up to the 2nd half just in time to watch the whole thing... It was great!
   We got a great FB post from Jon who was in Baton Rouge and saw Elder Micah Ralph along with Elder Nelson and Elder Ballard while serving with Helping Hands in Louisana. How wonderful!!!
   Susan sent us a picture of their weekend project. They're working on their laundry room and checking out colors for the rest of their house. Nice Job!

Weekend project.

New floor and paint job along with cabinets.

   It was Fast Sunday today and a day to bring to remembrance the covenants we have made with our Father in Heaven to always remember His son and the atonement that was made in our behalf. It was a wonderful Sabbath day. The testimonies born in the heart from the warm feeling to the perfect knowledge of truth were given by the spirit. I have come to understand testimony a little better during my study time this week. The scriptures bear record of Jesus Christ and as we read their testimony ours can grow stronger. It is so very important to study the scriptures daily. Fast Sunday let's us know what it's like to have less physical nourishment in hopes that it will remind us of the importance of the spiritual nourishment that our bodies so desperately crave.
   Have a lovely week and FEED the SPIRIT!!!