19 February 2017 - Up to the plants and a UW game

The school that Stephen is working on in Puyallup.

This past week was a busy, full week of seminary, work, school and more in the Ralph House. Monday was gentle. Kathleen didn't have to teach Seminary but she was still there by 5:00 getting the room ready. Stephen chose to work for Neeser Construction and Samuel had school and seminary. Rebekah came by that night for dinner but left right after because of her homework. She did drop one of her classes because it was just too much on her plate.

The school without siding.

   Tuesday, Kathleen taught seminary and had baked some brownies for the class for Valentine's Day. The lesson was on Acts 13 about Herod killing James the brother on John and finding that it pleased the Jews so he took Peter prisoner and was planning his execution for the next day but an angel of the Lord released Peter during the night. The "moral" of the story is to do things that please God and not seek to please men. The class put on a play and it was video recorded so they had fun.
    Stephen chose to work for Nesser again. They really need him since he was the youngest man in their group. They worked on putting up the underside of the eaves on the school building. Hopefully he'll get some pictures soon. He came home as soon as possible so he could take Kathleen out for a Valentine's day dinner. They chose to go to Cafe Rio since they have their Tuesday special. It was nice and quick. That night Stephen had meetings at the Kent building so he took Samuel to his basketball game and stayed for meetings. Kathleen prepared herself for seminary and work.
   Wednesday was the typical morning routine but after Seminary Kathleen had to go to work at the hospital. Standing up and/or walking for most of the day made her knee swell up so she was limping around for a lot of the day. At least she could rest her leg that evening. Samuel had Young Men where he learned how to cook a meal that would be good at college or on a mission. He helped cook up some sausage gravy and biscuits. He also helped plan their fund raiser for High Adventure. Another spaghetti feed/auction. Stephen had meetings that night at the stake center. Kathleen stayed home to prepare her lesson for seminary.
   Thursday seminary lesson was Acts 15 about the end of circumcision and the Law of Moses during the Jerusalem council. The message for the lesson was the importance of councils and how the Lord has used them throughout the ages including today. Also that His church is run through councils from the premortal council in heaven to quorums to the family councils. Every member family should be having family council on a regular basis.
   Stephen worked for Neeser and Kathleen and Rebekah served in the bishop's storehouse for a four hour shift. The problem Kathleen had was that her knee would let her bend very well and when they were counseled to bend at the knee to pick up boxes she almost laughed since it hurt more to try and bend her knee than picking up boxes at the waist. Rebekah left early since she wasn't feeling well but she had helped stock and helped patrons prior to leaving. That night Kathleen was able to pick up one of her sisters that she visit teaches so that she could meet with the bishop for a temple recommend interview. She is going to the temple for the first time and she'll be sealed to her husband. She has done lots of family history work but has never been to the temple herself. Now she'll have lots to do at the temple.
   Friday was a beautiful day. The sky was clear and deep blue and the temperature was in the upper 50's. That made it a great day to finish planting the native trees and shrubs in the front yard and move some plants in the back yard. Kathleen managed to get most of the plants in the front planted before Samuel came home but he helped pick up branches and clean up the trails in the front yard with a fair amount of complaining. He was absolutely helpful in the back by filling buckets of water that were needed for the jostaberries that were moved and replanted and the aronia berries that went to the back yard. Thankfully Stephen came home early enough to help since he dug up the jostaberries after they were pruned way back. Hopefully they will all survive. It was a physically exhausting day.

Samuel in the seats.

   Saturday, Kathleen was back to the hospital for a day shift. She was in another delivery and ended up delivering the baby herself since the doctor had walked out the door 5 minutes earlier and said that her replacement was coming. Neither doctor came and the baby just came out without the mom pushing. Of course the doctor was not happy but they should know better than to leave a mom that close to delivery. Fortunately mom and babe were just fine. Kathleen was in a lot of pain after that shift. It was too many days on her knee. Thankfully she didn't have anything to do at home when she got there since Stephen and Samuel went to a basketball game at the UW vs. Arizona. They had a great time at the game and came home with two free starbucks mugs with lids. Also, they were in pretty good seats since the arena was half the size of the Marriott center at BYU.

A pix of the court during warm-ups.

   Sunday was easy since Stephen didn't have any stake meetings. Pres. Stroud is in Hawaii with his daughters. Sr. Stroud went back to Spain instead of going with her family because her mother is ailing. Pres. Morgan is also out of town so Stephen is doing all the stake business himself. The talks during Sacrament meeting were on the Book of Mormon. They were excellent. The Book of Mormon is proof that the church is true. If anyone is seeking for truth and has an open heart they will know that there is no way that that book could be written by any ordinary person or even a genius, much less a person with a third grade education. The Book of Mormon is true which means that is had to be translated, as they claimed it was, by the gift and power of God. That means that Joseph Smith is a prophet and restored the church of Jesus Christ in it's fullness. Along with the priesthood power that provides the ordinances of salvation. What a marvelous thing to know. This is the "good news" for our time. Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world and His church has been restored in it's fullness. Hallelujah!