Week of September 7 - 13, 2015

Highlights
Spiritual
Last week in Sunday School, someone shared this quote by LDS apostle Marvin J. Ashton and it has been on my mind this whole week...

"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other."

He said this in April, 1992.  If he only knew how bad it would become. I have said many times that the Lord and His inspiration are pro-active, not re-active. He warns ahead of time. We have a heads up, if we only pay attention.

I started my Wednesday morning early at the Phoenix temple. It was so wonderful to be greeted by President Driscoll of the temple presidency, holding the door open for me. We have the most wonderful temple presidency. Every session, as you enter the endowment room, one member of the presidency and his wife are there to welcome you with a  smile. Every single session. I have been many many times and there has never been a missed time! It was a wonderful session and I was so thankful to begin my day there, to be sent with well wishes as I left, and to be greeted with a beautiful cloudy morning as I left. Dee and I both went Thursday evening and did individual work for men and for women for a couple of hours. It was a lovely way to end our day.

Sunday was a very busy day! First, ward choir practice. Then, a sister in our ward had facial and arm surgery and couldn't lead the music in Sacrament Meeting, so I substituted for her, and then Dad and I substituted two hours in nursery. I was nearly dead tired at the end, but came home, shoveled a salad in my mouth and headed out to the stake center for stake choir practice, since I had received a call earlier in the day that no one had come to practice last week. It was a good practice, though the woman I ended up sitting next to nearly drove me nuts!

I was able to get a little indexing done this week. So far, I have indexed 5448 names this year.

In scripture study, I am beginning the book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon. Dad's reading is as follows: Book of Mormon: Jacob 4   Bible: Leviticus 9   and still reading The Fourth Thousand Years.

Family

The Wilkins Family
Wilkins have a broken cell phone so they are working on replacing that. 

The Ethan Rice Family
Ethan, Cam and Kaylee started their Labor Day weekend on Sunday, heading to Flagstaff and enjoying cool weather and the Coconino County Fair.


 

 



She also got to ride a horse

Kaylee had an awesome week at Grampy and Liza's house. She went to the park on cloudy days, enjoyed the library story time, and had fun doing crafts, reading and enjoying the days. They tried a make up swim lesson on Thursday, but bodily fluids in the pool (barf) closed it down, so they came here (we were gone) and Kayty swam with her for a bit. She and Liza went to Jump Street on Friday and she had a blast on the trampolines. Her make up swim class was Friday night.

The Doran Rice Family
Saturday was a huge pet adoption event held at Petsmarts all across Phoenix. We saw huge tents in the parking lot Saturday evening as we shopped at Target. Hope some of their temporary puppy tenants find new homes.

Morgan
 No news from Morgan this week. Dad called his friend Kyle and he was going to have Morgan call, so at least Morgan is alive.

Kayty
Kayty had troubles early in the week with pain from that tooth extraction last week. I emphasized salt water rinses. She seemed to balk, and I told her that once I did, and then I had terrible pain from a root canal and the dentist told me to salt water rinse. I was so desparate that I did it every hour...and it worked! Pain relief and no more troubles. She didn't do it every hour, but she did get some relief. Time will tell...she had Thursday for a day off and took it easy, and seemed to be on the mend. Friday and Saturday were good days at work, and she enjoyed Sunday in the Singles' Ward.

The Nathan Rice Family
Nathan started his week sick! Fever, dizziness, headache. He finally went to Urgent Care on Monday and was diagnosed with the flu. He suffered through the week, trying to work on Wednesday, but only managing to pull himself through four hours. It is a blessing that Annalee is safely in mommy's tummy till all is well with her parents. Even with the awful illness, he was blessed to sell his last two speakers he had on Craigslist. We took him the makings for dad's penicillin (menudo with lime juice, cayenne, and garlic). He was absolutely beat after barely making it through a whole day of work. They have a new dog: Greta. She is very calm and doesn't think I'm sketchy like Lilly did. Jess is doing well...went to the hospital once this week with labor that turned out to not be regular enough to keep her.They both came over for a wonderful visit Sunday evening. Nate is still pale but feeling better. He was very excited because the missionary he trained (he refers to him as "my son") has extended his mission three weeks (so sad for his mom!) and has expressed so much gratitude for his trainer: Nathan. Training that missionary so long ago was such a joy and a great conclusion to Nate's service in Korea, and now that joy is shared with more. He hopes to attend the homecoming talk in October in Utah. For now, though, they are just waiting for Annalee to decide it's her turn to come to earth.

Work
Monday was Labor day, so dad didn't have to work at work, but he worked around the yard, did some more garden prep, cleaned up, etc. We had to run some errands and ended up at Dad's favorite New Asian Kitchen for lunch.Tuesday he worked on Electronic processes, and continued on Wednesday, receiving inspiration in his morning prayers in ways to clarify and organize. Later that morning, a bigger boss decided to pursue yet another route. This job of his is absolute craziness, and he can't even call his old boss, Klemens, to vent, since he is gone. And, during a surprise meeting on Friday (that ended up costing him lunch at his favorite Chinese place with his mom), the assignment he was assigned the week prior...was given to someone else!He is preparing for a Kaizen Event in October with another assignment from Boss B. His Boss A is unclear now, and they don't seem to know what is going on, so his Friday staff meeting for that position lasted five minutes.

My Labor Day was full of putting up Fall Decorations.

This is before

This is after

I cleaned nearly the entire house, including dusting and vacuuming on Monday and got one bathroom scrubbed plus laundry complete. I did lots of dusting, cleaning, vacuuming, and organizing all week. Dad would haul things outside and I would get to clean off a shelf. It is nice to get things done a bit at a time! Rocks are cleared from the playroom shelves. Ethan needed the light he loaned dad back, so we got some new ones (grow lights) and it ended up that they were installed and I don't have a huge light fixture on my laundry shelf. Makes me very happy!

I did some pumpkin week preparations, making mini pumpkin muffins and mini pumpkin bread loaves

...and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies

Dad's Truck
Dad got some grit blasting done late Monday. This truck project just keeps getting longer and longer and he is doubting whether he will finish this year. He is trying to do things well, and that makes everything take so much longer. He ended up getting painting done,

and on Wednesday, he spent a lot of time working on the vice for the mill. It has not worked properly for a long time. He removed the bearings and got everything working well again.Thursday evening, I helped him get it installed, and he was very pleased with the outcome.

Next job: to lift a portion of the engine and turn or replace the motor mounts. Dad made the wood piece and I helped pry up the engine so he could slip the piece in. He clamped it to the frame to make sure nothing slipped. He got the motor mount unbolted, but he couldn't get it off without further lifting of the engine. He is still thinking about what he needs to do to complete this...

Dad's Garden
He did lots of cleaning up , hauling out of old tomato plants, stacking of tomato cages, digging and got one garden space prepped for carrots and garlic to be planted.

Other highlights
My Tuesday morning run was hot and muggy, and my Thursday morning run was too, however it was great to have a rain mist hit my face periodically. The rain dried up before it his the ground but it was so fun!

I got my new partial on Tuesday, and it started out fine, but as the week wore on, it became more and more sore. Sadly, I cannot go back to the dentist for an alteration (which he did warn me would probably happen) till my next week off, so I put it in, suffer for awhile, and take it out to eat since that appears to be the most painful time.

Dee did point out that while, yes, we have had no rain in months, that we also have NO weeds (except for a few spurge). I decided that the no weeds is a super reward for no rain!

Saturday was a highlight, since it was the first day in a long long time that we had no commitments. Dee did well as we yard saled and got some things that could help out the family. He spent a lot of time talking to Nate on the phone off and on throughout the day. It's good that Nate is finally feeling a bit better. I was on the computer while dad was talking, and someone in our ward posted that they were getting rid of shelves. We hurried over and were totally blessed with the same heavy duty unit that I had wanted to get on sale at Costco for 130 dollars...for free! The Shepherd family helped load it in the trailer, and later that evening, Dad and I struggled in out of the trailer and used the floor jack to get it out on the back porch. I had cleared a great spot and after in place, he loaded lots of his wood for future projects on. It already looks so nice. We also got logs and lumber in the front yard hauled out to the wood pile. I also saw something on Pinterest and made the cutest pumpkin out of my rusty canning rings.

We had a quiet night, until Dad saw posted in his desert gardeners facebook group that Target was clearancing garden boots. I had wanted some for years, so we headed out. One pair left in my size! Now I can walk in muck and still stay clean...or I can pretend anyway...

We swam later...and I was freezing (it was windy outside and it had cooled down the water considerably). My swimming days this year are nearly over.

Sunday night, another storm brewed and lightninged and thundered all around us...and we finally got rain!

Not a ton, but enough for a puddle!


Not so highlights
Nothing that hasn't already been shared...

Week of August 31 to September 6, 2015

Highlights

Spiritual
Dee enjoyed a wonderful evening session at the temple on Wednesday night.

We had a wonderful Sunday at church. We were spiritually fed during our Fast and Testimony meeting. There was a baby blessing, which would seem rather typical. However, this was a baby born to a second marriage in a blended family. We knew Dad and his first wife before the wards split, and I saw some blog entries involving illness and such during the years. When our wards were re-aligned, we had dad and his three children at church. The little girls always were just sweethearts, and his son was awesome too. Later, we saw him at church, with a wonderful woman he had met online. She was a single parent of a 10 year old boy. They married, she moved here, and they decided to have a baby. It was so wonderful to see the love this mom has for all the kids and this dad has for all the kids. Both sides of the family just treasure their New family members and this new baby boy. This truly is a happy ending and it was wonderful to share in it. Great lesson in Sunday School about Paul and his teachings in Corinth, and in Relief Society we spoke of women's roles, of the story in the New Testament about Mary and Martha, and about keeping Christ as our main focus and not letting distractions get us off the course toward returning to our Heavenly Father.

I did some indexing on Sunday. I have now indexed  5056 records this year.

Dad did some work on Family Search and contacted his cousin to perhaps release a reserved name or two for him to perform work for these ancestors of his.

In reading, I am in 2 Nephi 2 in the Book of Mormon. Dad's reading: Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 26   Bible:   Exodus 38, The Fourth Thousand Years and Josephus continue.

Family

The Wilkins Family
We had a superb...magnificent...and absolutely wonderful Monday with the Wilkins...

Swimming

 Having fun...

All too soon, it was time to go home. Many hugs and a few tears, but so very very happy that they came!!! Thank you Mike for providing for this trip for them!!!


The Ethan Rice Family
Cameo and Ethan had busy a busy week. Cam's end of month always means late nights, and she worked till after nine on Monday. Ethan took Tuesday off for Dove opening day, dental work, and other things he had to get done, and then work at the pizza restaurant. Cam also worked late Thursday and Friday, and Ethan worked as well. She did give me a heads up, so I could adjust activities to make sure Kaylee wasn't too bored with us!

The Doran Rice Family
Kelsie had a great birthday on Wednesday. Happy Eighth Birthday!

The family had a birthday breakfast with Kelsie's aunt and Grammy on Saturday





Saturday swim party, and a great weekend for the whole family!

Morgan
We didn't hear from Morgan this week. He was planning on coming to the Saturday party, but must have been busy working.

Kayty
Kayty's Monday involved a root canal. No fun! She did attend Singles Family Home Evening...a game night...dressed in her One Direction Love!!! She had a tooth pulled and crown prep at the dentist. She had good days at work all week.

The Nathan Rice Family
Nate stopped by on his lunch hour Monday to drop off a little road treat for the Wilkins. Crispy M&M's...and "interesting" wedding memory that Nate and Allison share... He grabbed a bowl of cereal and then headed back to work. He came over later to work more on the lathe and do some milling work as well.We saw him Wednesday as he helped Dad test out his crossmember fit. Jessica had a good doctors appointment that day. All is well and Annalee is happy and not very anxious to leave her safety, warmth and ease.Nate is still working hard on his truck, getting brackets and belts aligned so everything will work.

Work
On Monday, Dad talked to Klemens, Boss A, and was told in confidence that he had taken an early retirement. Layoffs do that. It was a good time for he and his wife. Later in the day, we received this note...

To each of you …

It has been my GREAT PLEASURE to have known you and to have worked with you over these many years. It has been meaningful to me to share together the experiences of life, joy, wins and changes over these last 20 years. Thank you for the many times that you have engaged with me in projects and helped point me in the right direction. People that I have met and spent time with, all over the world, have made this time a great ride for me.

When all else is said or grumbled about in regards to corporations, metrics & charts one thing for me is certain - the technology in THIS business is really pretty cool!

Gloria & I plan to travel a bit but mostly look forward to finally living in our Prescott home and maybe move to Germany next year. If you are ever going that way give us a call and stop in.

Best wishes and good health to you all and hope to see you on the other side of work someday as well.

Adieu.

Klemens and Gloria Raab

Over the next week, upper management will be reorganizing. It will be interesting times. Dad has another assignment since he did well in the machining process tolerances investigation. He now is investigating how electronic process tolerances are determined. Lots of questions...and interesting answers. He hopes to find out next week who his boss is.

Kaylee and I had a great Monday playing with cousins. She was so happy she didn't get a nap, but did rest a bit while watching "The Fox and The Hound" with Kayty. She did well at swimming lessons...Daddy stayed out of the pool this time, and she was advanced to Level 3 for next time!!!

Apple week continued with
Apple matching

 Apple dot pictures

Notice Nano in the background. She came by to pick up the items I had brought home from her birthday party, including the flowers that Kayly thought smelled so nice and her many crockpots.

Apple painting

Apple felt board

Apple playdough

Applesauce (not a fan was she)

Caramel apple

Apple tree

Apple puzzles

Playing with the apples

Mini Apple Pie creation (alone...many steps to the process...with a two year old. Next time, much more stuff to be pre-done)

Apple stamping

Apple counting

A quick trip to Albertsons for Fried Chicken for Papa, and some fresh, first of the season candy corn for Kaylee.

Swimming and playing outdoors in the under 100 degree weather for three days!

Dad's Truck
Dee did some machining Monday to prepare for welding on Tuesday, since he took the day off to hunt. The welding went well and Dad was pleased with the finished product.

There was some shrinkage as a result of the heating so after fit testing with Nathan, he will have to make a shim to assure a good fit. With the cooler weather of Thursday and Friday, he did some grit blasting.

Dad's Garden
The pepper seeds began to sprout and are now "sunning" under the grow lights.He also started some seeds on Wednesday evening: cilantro, lettuce, spinach, Chinese cabbage, and collards, and he will plant carrots in the old winter tomato garden.

He also worked on trimming down the pomegranate plant and got the white flies on the grapevines sprayed. Those grapevines are so much work!! He also prepped the old tomato garden and got those nasty worms we have fed in his office (they weren't bad tenants, but no one ever tells you that with worm raising come LOTS of other bugs!)


Other highlights

Nano called Tuesday morning. She had spent Monday visiting and lunching with Aunt Paula. She hadn't seen her sister in 42 years! So wonderful for ALL of us! Many thanks go to Scott and Sharynn for their individual and superb efforts in getting these brothers and sisters together!!! Your surprise was Epic and Mom will NEVER ever forget!!!

September 1st is Dee's Dad's birthday...and OPENING DAY of Dove Season. Ethan arrived early, and, fortunately reminded us that Dad needed to update his bird stamp. They left a little later, but it was good.

Poor Beau...It was going to be too muddy where they were hunting (an unknown concept at our house this monsoon), so Dee didn't want Ethan's truck messy. Plus, Beau doesn't see or hear very well anymore. They left...and he sat by the door and whined and moaned and cried for over an hour.

Sadly, the hunt was not so good! Dad and Ethan each got three birds...not exactly a dove stew!

As I mentioned earlier, we had many visitors this week. Grandma and Curtis came by one day and brought Dad TONS of genealogy stuff, including some old bibles and some heirlooms from his great grand parents.

Nano came for a quick trip to pick up. I breathed a sigh of relief, not because she was leaving, but because her taking her stuff home indicated the party that had been in the works for months, and intensely in the works since I came home from camping in July, was finally DONE!!!

While Dad was at the temple on Wednesday, I got enough work done and went to Dollar Tree and then to World Market, where I saw this:

I have way too many pumpkins, but it was beautiful!

We had planned a final family swim party with Dad's chicken for the first Saturday in September. With Amber's mom moving to Maine, Nano's party, etc. we had no time to get together for Kelsie's birthday, so we combined activities.

Kooper having fun with Nano's cane.

 Eating time

Cameo brought her homemade salsa. It was awesome!

Busily getting dinner on...Dad grilled two whole chickens, some chicken breast filets, with his Spank Yo Mama sauce, made his awesome french fries (though they got unusually soggy...must have been putting crispy fries in the oven to keep warm), I made mac and cheese and salad, and we had Dad's limeade.

 Swim Time

Birthday time

 Time to blow out the candles...

 What's wrong, Kelsie???

 Yep...trick candles a la Doran!

Nate was busy machining in the garage and got the parts he needed complete, and when he returned home, he called and said they fit! Ethan took a quick opportunity to run up and dove hunt near here after the eats. Not too many birds there either!

It was a great evening with cousins having another chance to play together, and we are so glad nearly everyone could come (Morgan, we missed you. Kayty worked but came in time for dinner and cake.) The pool is getting cooler, and it won't be long before I won't head into it at all.

Saturday evening, after clean up was done, I started emptying the living room shelves, packing all my pics in bubble wrap and storing them in the music room and hut. Fall decorating begins next week.

Not so highlights
It has monsooned nearly everywhere in Arizona. We get storm warnings on our phones. We watch reports on tv of huge storms and tons of rain. The Phoenix Zoo was even closed for three days this week to clean up damage from downed trees (Now, really, people, who in their right mind goes to the Phoenix Zoo on an August or early September day??? I don't think you can even count on one hand). As of yet, we have had nothing. I had hopes the last few days. The rain was moisture from Hurricane Kevin, and since Ethan's nickname for Joshy has always been "Kevin", I was just sure it would be our lucky storm.

Nope

I saw somewhere that this monsoon has registered 3.5 inches of rain at Sky Harbor Airport, though they did mention that there were people who had gotten little to nothing since late June. The monsoon lasts officially till near the end of September, so I am hoping...