18 December 2016 - Last week of School and Seminary

Ok, the last week of school and seminary for the year 2016 is over...Hooray. The end of the year is quickly coming and it presents a good time for refection of how the year has progressed and what has been accomplished. A look back to the past is nice but a forward glance brings with it an excitement for the upcoming year and the progress that can be made.
  This past week on Monday and Tuesday there was a light dusting of snow on the ground but it didn't shut down anything, such as school or seminary. Stephen substituted for the band class Monday at KentLake and surprised Samuel and a few others in our ward. He was a little disappointed that he didn't get to really teach anything but he did have some fun teasing some of the members of the band. He also subbed in a Spanish class but they had an assignment they were working on so he didn't get to do much there either. Eric Taylor and his wife Detzy were still with us but they spent the day in Seattle touring the life there. They did leave that night on the red eye back to Florida. It was nice to have them visit.
  Tuesday Stephen ran errands and Kathleen prepared her Seminary lesson. That night Samuel had a basketball game at Tahoma HS. He didn't get to play but they won so it was all good.

Best picture I could get of Samuel.

  Wednesday Samuel had another game at KL but he was able to leave early so he could go to the YM activity which was at the Hayward's house watching "Forever Strong" about the Rugby team. He enjoyed himself.
  Stephen picked up another substituting class of Spanish immersion for 5th graders at Scenic Hill. By the time he got home he looked tired and he mentioned that his head and tongue were very tired. There was a band concert on Thursday night where Samuel played the trumpet to the part of the "neighing horse" in the Sleigh Ride. He didn't mention his solo before the concert so it was a surprize to see his horn up for the part.

Cinnamon rolls a la Ralph.

  Friday was our last class in Seminary so Kathleen made cookies, coconut bread, cinnamon rolls and orange rolls and brought them with milk and orange juice to class. The lesson was on John 5 about the healing of the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda. Christ healed him without being asked to do so. The picture by Carl Bloch is gorgeous and the story is even better. It shows the Lord's compassion and his power over all things in creation, even our bodies. If you haven't seen the video in the Bible videos you should check them out. We also covered Jesus' witness that he was the Christ, the Son of God and that He was there to do the Father's will.
  Friday night was the annual High Council dinner with the Stake Presidency. Stephen was in charge of the White Elephant Game so he borrowed the ideas from the Heath family and made his own variety of the game. It was more entertaining than before so it was a big hit.
  Friday, Kathleen was coming down with a bad sore throat. By Saturday it was worse along with congestion, sinus headaches, coughs, sneezes, etc. She stayed in bed until 9:00. There was 10 pork roasts that had to be cooked up for the Ward Christmas Party so she managed to get them in a counter-top roaster and roasted to perfection so Stephen could take them to the party. The party was to the theme of Who-ville from Dr. Seuss. There was a grinch who stole Christmas in green and all. All the meat was eaten so it must have been a success.
  Today was a missionary farewell for the Bishop's son, Ben. He's going to the Sendai, Japan mission where Uncle Leonard served years ago. The gospel makes the world very small indeed.