Week of February 18-24, 2018

Highlights:

Spiritual
We had a good Sunday. Sacrament Meeting, Sunday School and Relief Society were great. Dad went home teaching during the afternoon. I went to choir practice at the same time.

I attended a session at the Phoenix Temple on Monday morning. It is open one Monday a year, and I had previously always been busy. It was a very full session, and it was great walking in and seeing youth entering and exiting the baptistry.

Scouts was a bit crazy with my texts of information and then scheduled activities changing as I texted, but we accomplished what we wanted. Dad did a service project delivering treats for Young Mens. 

I have indexed 6530 records so far this year.

I am in Moroni 2  in the Book of Mormon. I finished reading the February Ensign Magazine.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Adam was a great help on Monday and hung up the components to Grace's feature wall in her bedroom on Monday.

Grace told me they had a good week. Adam had a scout campout. She had great activity days. Her teacher had to miss school for a family emergency and was gone two days. Josh had a good time in cub scouts too.

The Ethan Rice Family

Ethan and Cameo took the kids to the Atlanta Zoo last Saturday. It was a lovely day and they had a great time!

Kaylee really enjoyed feeding the flamingos!

Wade liked the animals, as long as they stayed still. 

Kaylee was on Winter Break all week, and wasn't feeling well Friday so she headed to bed for a good nap and then felt much better.
They tried to reach me for many nights, but I was tiling. Finally, on Friday night, we got to FaceTime. Wade got a "new" tool bench with lots of accessories and both kids were enjoying it. They are doing well, and Wade is a climbing adventurer.

The Doran Rice Family

Doran, Amber, Kelsie and Kooper had a pretty typical, busy week. 

Morgan

No word from Morgan. Dad tried to call on Saturday night but he must be busy. 

Kayty

Kayty looked and applied all week for jobs. She had an interview Thursday, and then Friday, other requests for interviews started coming in. She also went down to Amazon for a hiring event. Things are looking a bit brighter. 

The Nathan Rice Family
Another long, busy, and very cold week for this family. Lots of school plus extra things taking lots of precious time. Lots of studying, lots of cold weather and snow. Tests and classes.

Dad's Garden

We had unusually cold weather and near freezing temperatures this week. We spent time covering the tomato plants in the wind and kept the covers on for nights. We are waiting for a warm day to take the covers off and see how all fared. We still are getting a lot of snow peas and dad is eating lots of turnips. 

Year of the House Part 2

Well, Saturday afternoon we FINALLY finished putting up all the shower tile!!! It was a huge effort. Dad cut every single tile. I put up every single tile. Glad we did it, but not doing it again!

Other highlights

Cool weather is nice, and I am thankful for the cool down so I will be a bit prepped to go to Idaho next week.

We attended our dear friend Janet Whiting's funeral on Tuesday. Her husband and sons spoke. Many instances of spiritual promptings and all the fun and good Janet did in the world. During one portion, our bishop shared that Janet had been working for years on her Young Women Personal Progress Award. On February 6, she called April, his wife and the Young Women Secretary, to have her go over Janet's personal progress book and deem the award complete. She had wanted it to be awarded when her granddaughters could be at church to witness. Janet's health failed so very quickly, and she never got a chance to receive the award before she died on February 14th. Bishop, thus, awarded it posthumously to Janet's eldest granddaughter. Bishop shared some things she had written in her personal progress book and her testimony. What a precious treasure to have shared with us and to see just how wonderful she was. I remember going to Janet's house and her making a sewn quilted zipper pouch with my name on it for my purse. She was prepared and had made many many pouches of all sized and given them away all over the world. I went to visit her during her breast cancer when she was strong enough and looked at all the quilts she had started. She loved to laugh, to teach, to chat and to sew. She was fun, and a great inspiration. 

Nano shopping went well this week. WalMart and 99 cent store plus a trip to the bank.

We enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics from South Korea this week.

Sharynn and Nhiya came by to visit on Thursday evening.

Week of February 11 - 17, 2018

Highlights:

Spiritual

 Sunday was Ward Conference. It was a true blessing from heaven that as I sustained Russell M. Nelson as Prophet, I had a strong personal witness that he truly is a prophet of God. We had a very spiritual Sacrament Meeting. I was in the choir and we had practiced "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" to perform during this meeting and had been practicing for weeks. As our bishop spoke, he shared the special meaning to him of this particular hymn. One of their children, and their only daughter, Nora, was still born. At her funeral, this hymn was sung and it brought them such comfort. Then the choir sang. Never did a song have more meaning than it did at that time. It was as though the Lord had it all planned. Our stake president then spoke, and his message of love and welcoming and service was also beautiful.

I had a cub scout committee meeting soon after church and then came home to complete my assignments from that meeting. Dad attended his Self Reliance class that afternoon as well.

I had cub scouts on Wednesday. We completed Running With The Pack Required Adventure with a fun obstacle course. Two boys completed their Wolf Badge with this, and two only lack the Cyber Chip to complete their Wolf badge now. Youth had a dance so dad attended a temple session.

I took a Hershey Kiss treat to one sister I visit on Wednesday. As I found out that my friend had passed away, I texted Linda, another sister I visit, and then she called and we talked for awhile. Linda's husband was in a serious motorcycle accident a year ago that took his life ten days later...right at this time. So she was devastated about Janet's death while going through her own struggles of this sad time. She is doing well otherwise and is probably going to sell her house here and just stay near family and friends at her main home in Flagstaff.

I have indexed 5770 record so far this year.

I am in Ether 3 in the Book of Mormon. I am also reading the Ensign Magazine on Sunday. I listen to a General Conference Talk every morning as I exercise. I just completed my third time through. Starting again on Monday.

Family

The Wilkins Family

This was a very rough week for Joshua and for the Wilkins family. He came down with a stomach virus. He couldn't keep anything down. He had to be taken to the Emergency Room on Wednesday due to dehydration. He was able to go to his school Valentine Party on Friday - these are the Valentines Adam made for him

He did go to his party Friday, but ate very little, and came right home and went to bed. We have been praying for him. Grace went to a sleepover at her best friend, Katelyn's house. Adam had a couple of days off school during the week and was a great help to Mike and Allison. Sam's preschool with Mom was postponed for the week, and he is anxious to return to learning letters next week.

The Ethan Rice Family

I FaceTimed with this family on Sunday evening. They had a great dinner cooked by Ethan and were enjoying time together. Earlier, they had a fun time feeding the ducks. Kaylee had a Valentine's Day party at school on Wednesday. Wadey tried to hug his friend, Mason. 

Wadey also thought being dressed like a 100 year old was not too bad!

We received a cute Valentines Day card this week. Kaylee is quite the writer and artist!

The Doran Rice Family

Doran and Amber had a good, busy week. Doran took Friday off to have some fun with the kids.

Morgan

Morgan is busy working a new job at the Trader Joe's Distribution Center.

Kayty

Kayty still is looking for a job. She has applied as a Phoenix Police Dispatcher, at Maricopa County as a court clerk, and at two insurance companies, along with many other places. We completed her income taxes so she has about a month of money. She continues to organize and clean her room and has probably doubled Deseret Industries profits for this year.

Three saves this week: two minor, one major

The Nathan Rice Family

School is getting more intense. Nathan had three exams this week. These take roughly three hours each to complete, plus studying prior to and regular homework. Jessica's semester is getting rough too. So, to help with the kids on a particularly rough week, I am flying up to help out March 1 - 10. I am just hoping I don't freeze! Nathan did well on the exams, was offered an internship at Ruger, but had to decline due to them wanting to complete school at the end of the year and not push out graduation any longer. 0

Dad's Garden

Garden is doing well. Harvesting pounds of snow peas and lots of cabbage. Tomato plants are growing. This weather has been so good for the garden. 

Year of the House Part 2

Still working on the tile. Dad purchased more tile to cut. We had to get a new sack of thinset and ended up having to return it after a few tiles and getting a different variety.

Other highlights

Rain this week and clouds were wonderful.

Valentines Day was uneventful. I gave Dad a card and that was about it. I made a pretty good breakfast and lunch for him while he was at meetings, and he made some snow pea chicken for he and Kayty to have for dinner.

Nano Shopping included two grocery stores and blood work at the lab. 

We spent our late Thursday night cleaning the Phoenix Temple. We hadn't done it for two years, since last time it was soooo much work. This time, it was a lot of work, but it seemed more organized and was not as exhausting. Dee and I cleaned Administration, which included the offices of the Temple presidency and the matron's office. 

Dad enjoyed a great scout campout to Bartlett Lake on Friday night.

Not so highlights
My sweet friend, Janet, died early Wednesday morning. I was devastated to find out the news. I just drove her to the doctor a few days ago and she was beginning another round of chemo. She always had a smile, a love of learning, and a willingness to share her gift of sewing with everyone. I spent an evening at her house a couple of years ago and she sewed and showed me all her projects while she made me a zipper purse.

Week of February 4 - 10, 2018

Highlights:

Spiritual

We had a good Sunday. Church was very good. Dad attended a class for Personal Preparedness while I attended choir practice in the afternoon. Quite evening with a phone call from Nathan.

I attended a session at the Phoenix Temple on Tuesday morning. Dad went with the Young Men on Wednesday night to perform baptismal ordinances.

I have indexed 4940 records so far this year.

I am in Mormon 2 in the Book of Mormon.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Sam started his week out sick! Poor guy!!

The Ethan Rice Family

This family had a good week. Kaylee's school celebrated the 100th day of school by dressing up as a 100 year old. Kaylee was not a fan.

Wade was up to little boy mischief this week. 

The Doran Rice Family

Busy week for this family. Kelsie got a new hairstyle and cut this week.

Morgan

Morgan is staying with Doran and Amber and started a new job this week.

Kayty
Kayty spent her week looking for a job. She had a phone interview on Tuesday, but found out Thursday that she did not get the job. She has applied at numerous places including Cigna, taking the same behavioral test with two different firms. She has been super cleaning and decluttering her room and it is looking so nice. She has made Deseret Industries very happy. 

Four minor saves this week.

The Nathan Rice Family

Nathan and Jessica had a good week. Nathan took another three hour test but did very well. They went to Provo to attend a STEM job fair on Thursday and Friday. Anna especially enjoyed being able to swim in the pool. Nathan got a couple of good job interviews. It was an awesome break in a tough semester. Saturday was filled with homework till late at night. 

Dad's Garden

Tomatoes were caged this week and have blossoms. Tons of snow peas are being harvested every other day. We shared some of our citrus with some people we met from Ohio. 

Year of the House Part 2

Bathroom tile continues to be put up. It's been a one row at a time effort now, since they are not in a situation that we can just stack them row by row. The thinset doesn't set that quickly. We are making progress, though.

Additional green tiles for top inset border should arrive Tuesday and we can put up Wednesday.

Other highlights
Good hikes, walks and jogs this week. Dad is ready to go all the way around the mountain so we will attempt on Monday.

Nano shopping went well. After shopping and putting her groceries away, I took out the trash and took her to her ward ladies luncheon before returning home.