24 September 2017 - WA State Fair

Monday, Katelyn taught the FHE lesson. After a day of rain, it was pretty fun.
Tuesday was more rain with a thunder clap that brought Jersey to the back door wanting to get into the house. Of course we let her in. Stephen left for his shift at the Family history library and he said there were 7 people there to use the library and that was in consequence of his talk in Stake Conference as he listed the miracles that occurred to get the library constructed and how few people have used it so far. It was a great talk and a great response.
Wednesday, Kathleen started her turn for Seminary instruction. She taught 1 Nephi 6 & 9 about the reason that Mormon added the small plates and why Nephi had created them. It was a miracle and let us know in our day that God knows the beginning to the end of all his creations and He prepares a way to accomplish His purposes.
Thursday, Seminary was on 1 Nephi 7 on the importance of eternal families and the Lord's first commandment to Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish (fill) the earth.  There was several students in the class who do not live with their birth parents, one whose dad is in prison and another whose parents had a divorce 2 years ago and he is still affected by it. It was a concern for Kathleen as she taught the lesson but the spirit was there and hopefully all the students felt the importance of marriage between a man and a woman and the importance of having children. It's totally opposite to what the world teaches today.
Thursday evening found Kathleen and Stephen at the church setting up the "tree of life" and the room to represent Lehi's dream. All the tables were put away, the chairs were put in a circle. There was a tree of life (a christmas tree) with some "white fruit" (white cream Ding Dongs), a river of water (blue plastic), an iron rod (PVC pipe made by Stephen), a strait and narrow path (marked by tape), mist of darkness (black halloween webbing) and a great and spacious building (toy plastic castle with Disney princesses on it). It took awhile to get it set up...
Friday morning Kathleen went to Seminary to find her set up being taken down by her teaching partner and the Priesthood rep. After a little panic, everything was put back into place and the lesson proceeded as planned.
Friday Jenna, Rebekah and Stephen took all the kids to the WA state fair. There was some tractor races and Clydesdale horses along with petting animals and going on rides. They didn't get back to the house until 4:40 and Stephen had to leave with Samuel to go to the Scout Rendezvous at Ensign Ranch. Stephen was the key-note speaker and the boys there talked Samuel into staying the night even though he was totally unprepared to stay. They let him use a sleeping bag and he seemed to have a good time.
Friday night, Katelyn, Nathan and Gracie spent the night at Rebekah's home. That made it a quiet night for Jenna, Joshua and Kathleen. Stephen came back for the Scout Rendezvous early than expected so it was pretty nice.
Saturday, Kathleen spent 6 hours at the Master Garden clinic in Maple Valley at the Farmer's Market. Thankfully it was a nice day and fairly busy so the time went by quickly. That afternoon, Jenna, Katelyn, Rebekah and Kathleen went to the Women's Conference Social and video starting at 4:00. Conference was wonderful and Stephen took care of the rest of the little ones.