Week of March 18-24, 2018

Highlights:

Spiritual

We had an enjoyable day at church today. Choir sang in Sacrament Meeting. I did miss choir practice because Annalee called right while I was getting ready to leave, and grandkid talking is much more important than choir practice. Dad had a Self Reliance class Sunday afternoon and then went to home teach the Barton Family.

Scouts went well for me this week. It took lots of prep but we got quite a few things done. No scouts the next two weeks for me due to Spring Break and then Girls' Camp Kickoff. Dad's scouts were cancelled due to one leader being ill. Not sure why the other three leaders couldn't handle it but oh well.

I got letters in the mail to Jessica my inmate sister and to the visiting teaching sister I write to. I also made an appointment to visit Yvonne Brimhall on Monday. I will text the Flagstaff sister in a few days.

I have indexed 7722 records so far this year.

I am in 2 Nephi 33 in the Book of Mormon.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Adam participated in a school piano recital on Monday night. He played two pieces and they both were amazing! The kids had a good week. Grace's toes are healing nicely. They were excited Friday night as that was their Spring Break start...and it was celebrated with chocolate and fun. Grace shared the items she purchased from the school store with me...lots of Takis! She also shared a castle she had created. The kids in her group were to build either a trebuchet or a castle...and then the trebuchet was used to destroy the castle...and it pretty much did. She shared her beautiful Easter dress Allison had made for her. I love the style and especially the fabric. Allison has a real gift for selecting the perfect fabric.

The Ethan Rice Family

I FaceTimed the kids this week. They are doing well, loving school and playing with friends. Wade is quite the explorer and gets into a lot of fun things. Cameo had the house all decorated for Easter and it looks just wonderful.

The Doran Rice Family

Happy Birthday, Doran on Wednesday. He had a good week...and even got a newer vehicle this week. Amber and the kids are well too. Doran and Morgan came over Saturday evening with Kooper and Doran's new vehicle

The lake trip...well, not so successful. After the boat finally was running in the driveway (Morgan was the super problem solver there) they headed to the lake and got the boat in the water. Before Doran got back from parking, the motor already seemed warm...and they turned the boat around about a mile out when the smoke was pouring out. Rowing commenced, first by Doran and then by Morgan, with Dad filling in, and Kooper busy tossing important things into the lake. They did get home...with the motor tied up since the hydraulics when caput! No fish either. They did have a great time together though!!

Morgan

Ethan helped Morgan get a bit of a break and so he will head to Atlanta for a visit with them. He will work up till the time he leaves.

Kayty

Kayty had another good week at work. She really likes her new job and I am so grateful. She purchased some strange, sugary, and I am sure costly concoction at Starbucks this week.

She misplaced her Belle wig so had to miss a charity event this weekend but will participate in one at Luke AFB next weekend. She did find this dress to be Anastasia at Ross...

The Nathan Rice Family

We talked to all the family on Sunday afternoon. Ellie has now moved in her big sister's room and is sleeping more in her crib. Anna was not sure about sharing but now is much happier about it and the room looks nice. They celebrated St. Patricks Day with fun green food, though they wore black (Christians wear black or orange, Catholics wear green in Ireland). School is going well and Nathan has a week with two huge projects to complete. Poor Ellie came down with the fever Annie had last week. She sounded so sad on the phone, and Nathan said she would just lay around and moan and wanted to be snuggled. Jessica and Annie had a brief time of good weather to try and go for a walk, but the wind was bothering Ellie so it was a short walk. 

Dad's Garden

I spent Monday doing some garden clean up: put away tarps and netting, pulled out a dead rosemary bush, picked up trash and some leaves, and removed some grape branches. We are not sure if the grapevines are even still alive...no growth yet (the ones in Dad's gazebo/garden area) 

Year of the House Part 2

We got the molding in around the floor. It looks good. Dad has next to cut the pieces of stone to trim the shower itself. I also found a new exhaust fan/light that will require Dad to get into the attic to install.

Other highlights

Last week, we attended the funeral services of Dad's uncle, Thomas Rice. Here I have included his obituary and some pictures that were presented at the funeral service.

Thomas William Rice was born January 5, 1931 in Alton, Illinois to  Doran and Dorothy Rice.

He was the 4th of 5 children.  His siblings are:  Doran known as Jr. (deceased), Iona (Tyree) known as Sissy (deceased), Betty Ann (Wetzel) and younger sister Georgia Jean died at 8 months old.

His childhood was spent moving between Illinois, Colorado and Arizona.  His daddy was a gambler and would sometimes loose their homes and his businesses.  The family lived with relatives a lot and at one time lived in a tent on the Mississippi River.  

He talked mostly of his youth in AZ.  He went to Phoenix Union High School but was kicked out of school for riding a motorcycle up the school steps into the registration office. He had a paper route too.

He was a Navy Veteran serving in the Korean War as a Gunners Mate aboard the USS Hansen and the USS Lloyd Thomas. His ship participated in the Battle of Inchon.  

After the Navy he married our Mom, Virginia. He started working for Mountain Bell in 1952. They had 3 kids, Tina (David), Becky (Bob) and Tommy (not Jr.).  They divorced after 23 years of marriage. 

On December 16, 1976 He married our Bonus Mom, Ann aka Annie or Grannie Annie. He referred to her as his “Bride”. They were married for 41 years. She is the best thing that could have happened to him. He became a different guy after they married.   He was happier than I had seen him in a long time.

Dad retired from Mountain Bell in 1983 after 30 years of service. He held different jobs within the company but mainly an in-house technician at AirResearch. He worked for a company called Interline for a few years installing the 911 service throughout AZ.  Tommy (my brother) was employed there also and Dad taught him the trade.

Dad is “PaPa” to 3 grandchildren, Joshua, Emily and Kelly.  He is also “Big PaPa” to 3 great grandchildren, Kyleigh, Abigail “Abby” and Loren. Guess 3 is a Magic Number.

 He loved NASCAR, watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune daily.  He Loved cherry pie, root beer, vanilla ice cream and chocolate candy.  (he hoarded it and sometimes wouldn’t share)

 

T T Doran Rice   Uncle Tom Rice

Tim Tyree  Tom Tyree  Sherry Rice Toscano

TT Doran Rice with Aunt Cissy Iona, Doran Rice, and young Betty Ann Rice. 

We took a hike around the mountain on Monday afternoon. He has been working hard at hiking and eating right and is now down a pants size! Hooray!! He has lost over 35 pounds.

Nano shopping this week went well. She is about restocked from my one week absence.