Week of July 22 - 28, 2018

Highlights:

Spiritual

We had wonderful talks on Sunday mainly focusing on faith and showing perfect love and compassion for others. Dad helped me substitute a Primary class for Jody, a sister I minister to. Lesson on Samson went pretty well.  I attended choir practice on Sunday afternoon.

I attended a session at the Phoenix Temple on Tuesday morning and Dad attended Wednesday evening.

I met with Sister Day in preparation for returning to scout meetings. Dad didn't attend the swimming party joint activity.

I am in 2 Nephi 31 in the Book of Mormon. I completed listening to General Conference and started again for the 4th time.

I have reviewed 22920 records and indexed 12640 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family
Good week for the Wilkins family that ended with a wonderful baseball game on Saturday night.

The Ethan Rice Family

This was a back to school preparation week for Kaylee. Early bedtimes, getting the final things ready for school. She is cautiously optimistic. Wadey had a good time driving their little car around and does very well. They visited a park, and Woody's Jump and Play during the week.

The Doran Rice Family

Doran and Amber and kids had a busy week. Papa was able to stop by for a quick visit with the kids on Wednesday. Kooper had his first day of Pre-K on Thursday...

 And Kelsie is practicing hairstyles for her first day next week.

We also got to see Amber and Kelsie on the news Saturday morning as they worked to get more of their dogs adopted.

Morgan

Morgan struggled with some illness during the week but seems to be doing better.

Kayty

Kayty worked hard at work this week applying all the training she recently received. Evenings were spent watching Bones. 

Total saves this week: 2 major, 3 minor

The Nathan Rice Family

Monday was Jessica's Graduation Day. We are so proud of you, Jessica! Congratulations!!

Nathan headed to an internship job in Meridian on Tuesday. However, there was no affordable accommodations available, so he returned to Jessica and the girls, and did some machine work for school on Friday. Their garden is still doing well, though the trouble now is new people coming to town and thinking that all the plants are just free pick it yourself produce. Can you believe it?

Jessica was so kind when Papa called to facetime very late on Saturday night...she let Anna get up and chat with us for a few minutes. She ate one of her carrots from the garden and loves being a good farmer!

Dad's Garden

Key limes are plentiful and it's gotten to a point that Kate and I hate the smell of limes.

Christmas In July
Ornaments are done! I am starting another project and did some work on that. It will be a gift for each family...and involves cutting wood. 

Other highlights

It was a very hot week, with temperatures in the 110's and above. We are blessed that the a/c in both the house and cars work well.

The adjusters came from the insurance company. Very very nice people, however our roof damage amounted to less than our $1000 deductible, so Dad will fix the roof when the weather cools off.

Not so highlights

The heat is really getting to our poor pine tree out in front of the house. It has had little rain this year, after years of little to no rain, and our hose watering is just not helping it. We may lose it. I have tried everything and am praying for some rain to save it. 

Week of July 15-21, 2018

Highlights:

Spiritual

We were absolutely exhausted from our long drive, but we were blessed to make it to Sacrament Meeting and to partake of the Sacrament. We had two speakers from the stake, and a lovely cello solo. Other church meetings were good. I had cub committee meeting after church, where we planned a few pack meetings. An hour later, I attended choir practice.

We both went to the temple to perform sealing ordinances on Wednesday evening, since neither of us had scouts. On Thursday, Dad attended an endowment session.

It was our assignment along with three other families to clean the building on Saturday morning. However, two people showed up, and no one came to let them in. (I was coming later after Kayty was ok. )

I am in 2 Nephi 11 in my Book of Mormon reading.

I have indexed 12488 records and reviewed 22254 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Sam sang a primary song to Papa on Sunday via Marco Polo. They are doing well and having a busy summer.

The Ethan Rice Family

Kaylee, Ethan and Wadey started the week out under the weather. Kaylee got to take a special trip to Build a Bear to get a new friend … Fairy...

On Thursday, they went with their friends, the Adairs, to Woody's Jump and Play. They had a wonderful time!!

On Friday, Kaylee was still struggling with her ear infections, so the doctor put her on new medication. Hope it takes care of things soon.

On Saturday, Kaylee and Mommy went and got new hairstyles and they look wonderful! Kaylee is readying for school with a new Minnie Mouse backpack. 

The Doran Rice Family

Kooper discovered the Cabelas Ad. He apparently had no idea about the wonders of such an ad, so he went shopping...

Doran is currently planning upcoming plasma donations to keep up with Koopers amazing arms tastes...lol!

Doran is still having ups and downs at work. He loves his job, but the owner is crazy and that makes it rough. His old job wants him back, but that has definite financial drawbacks on its own. He and 

Amber will make the right decision, we know. 

Morgan

Morgan is working on a new project to improve Ethan's paddle boat. The conversations between kids running via Rice Is Life have been great and it seems that Nathan might be able to help out.

Kayty

Kayty returned to work this week, and to training. She hit a curb on the way into the parking lot Tuesday morning and got her tire. She was blessed that the exact tire was the only one she has replace recently, and so she only had to pay $13. She completed her training this week and is ready to take on more responsibilities. 

The Nathan Rice Family

Nathan and Jessica were busy their final week of school. Jessica completed her last two class meetings and waited for her mom, dad, Josh and Cynthia to arrive for the celebration and graduation on Monday. Nathan completed his "group" project and spent the next nights studying for finals. Anna and Ellie had a fun day earlier in the week playing on the playground,

but a couple of days later, they came down with fevers (Anna 102 and Ellie 99). 

Dad's Garden

Lots of key limes are available on the ground every day. Dad has offered to many people, but no one showed up to pick up, and in this hot weather, they are not good for but a day or two until they start to shrivel up. Grapes are not ready, but they seem to be shriveling up. Its just too hot here for this variety and they only are edible when the weather is cooler and they ripen. Unfortunately, there will be a lot of hot weather next week, so maybe no grapes this year. 

Christmas In July
Half of the ornaments are complete. I had to wait a few days for new paint to come in the mail (why or why does a person who has two versions of the same ornament need to use many different colors of paint, by different manufacturers, for the same project??? Collusion! Anyway, the second half are underway. 

Other highlights

Not many big things this week since I was searching everywhere for keys and Dad used any moment he could to try to figure out how to disable the alarm. The car was ready for shopping with Nano this week and that was the important thing.

Saturday when I got up, it was 94 degrees! I exercised and it was down to 93 when I set out on my jog. It was hot, but there was lightning all around and a blessed breeze. I noticed as I neared Pinnacle Peak road that the air was full of dust. This is what it looked like...

Dust just suspended in the air! I sat indexing after picking limes and when I looked outside, it must have barely rained because the temperature was down to 83 and the air was clean. While I would have loved running in 10 degree cooler weather, it was nice that the dust was gone. 

Not so highlights

Our week was consumed first, with trying to find my car keys, and then trying to get my car to run. Doran, Ethan and Morgan each tried to help us get through the mangle of wires. The manager at a local Audio Express helped us via phone and dad used a straight pin to get the car to run. I got it down to the Audio Express store, and when a new system would cost hundreds, they removed mine in a few moments for free. There are still a few glitches to be overcome with operating door locks, etc. but the problem was solved. And then...on Friday...I found my keys! In the absolute strangest place under a stone Kleenex box holder...absolutely have no recollection ever putting them there! still too late for my alarm system but we did get our church key back. 

Week of July 8 - 14, 2018

Highlights:

Spiritual

We had a wonderful Sacrament Meeting with talks about the importance of Book of Mormon study. One brother shared a quick version of his conversion story (he was the final speaker and time was short) which I really wanted to hear more of. I substituted in Primary and Dad taught the Deacons Quorum lesson. I attended choir practice in the afternoon.

I attended a session at the Phoenix Temple on Tuesday morning. Dad attended a session on Thursday evening. Dad and I attended an endowment session at the Los Angeles Temple on Friday evening. The distance from our hotel was only 12 miles...took an hour in LA traffic to both get there, and to get home. The experience, however, was totally worth it. The temple was built in the1950s and the style of the exterior and murals throughout reflect that time. It is HUGE compared to ours, though our session, referred to as "full" did not have that many people in it. While it was very spacious and lovely, I do enjoy our smaller Phoenix temple. There is not a bit of wasted space anywhere!

I am in 2 Nephi 2 in my Book of Mormon reading.

I have indexed 12324 records and reviewed 21676 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Allison was called to serve as  the Primary Chorister in her ward.
 Cousin Bradyn came for a visit before leaving for Europe.

Tuesday, they celebrated Dress Like a Cow Day, and got some free Chick Fil A

The Ethan Rice Family

Ethan and Cameo had a great fourth of July celebration And a great camping trip for the weekend.

Ethan headed to Denver for work on Tuesday. He had been struggling with an upper respiratory infection for a week or so, so the trip was difficult. Meanwhile, Cameo and the kids also dressed up like cows to get some yummy food.

Kaylee got her training wheels off her bicycle when Daddy returned and now she is a skilled two wheeled bicycle rider! Wadey learned to open the circular doorknobs this week. Watch out Mommy and Daddy!!

The Doran Rice Family

Doran, Amber and the kids spent their Monday night till very, very late helping out. The storm hit most of the Phoenix area, and someone she knew had put out a rescue call on Facebook. I saw pics of Doran helping to haul out a full china cabinet. They all moved items out through the mud and much, even Kelsie and Kooper. Amber said that when people saw the report on the news, they also began coming...total strangers! The family lost two pigs they had raised since little piglets, but all else was safe and moved to a safer location.

Morgan

Morgan had a good work week.

Kayty

Kayty's big adventure was with us to the Los Angeles Forum in Inglewood California for her Harry Styles Concerts. Yes, two. Friday and Saturday nights.

Kayty got Dad to a Deseret Industries Store in Lower Deathland...aka Downtown LA, but he found no books he wanted, though there were a ton of books! The rest of the day was spent fighting traffic and avoiding traffic. We spent time at a small park where we rested, ate sandwiches, and watched planes land at the airport. We saw three A380's land!

We walked around stores for hours, killing time...then to the next concert she went while we killed time in a Sizzler Restaurant till she got out. 

Got home at 6 am...long and tiring trip but she had a great time!

The Nathan Rice Family

Happy Birthday, Jessica on Monday! Hope your day was special!!

Nathan and Jessica are busy winding up projects for the end of school in a week. Jessica graduates on the 23rd. Nathan's project was completed, painted and was ready for testing. Their garden is going gangbusters. Anna eats their carrots as soon as they are picked and washed. They harvested broccoli and tons of snow peas too. They continue to get salad greens and are so enjoying it. 

Dad's Garden

Still getting key limes and Dad busily juices them. Grapes aren't ripe yet. 

Christmas In July
I cleaned on Monday to Christmas music. It was awesome! I finished watching Rudolph as I painted more on the ornaments.

Other highlights

We had a very windy, rainy storm on Monday afternoon/evening. We were blessed with rain, but did have roofing damage that we called into the insurance company. Dad and I spent hours cleaning up leaves and pine needles, the pool, the front porch, and searched for our boat cover. We did find the boat cover behind our back fence. More rain came Wednesday night. We are so blessed and our grass is loving the water! I pray for our big pine tree that shows signs of struggle after so many drought years.

My car passed emissions and we are so thankful!! There is some clog somewhere in our system but we just can't find out where. Glad everything worked out!!

Our Los Angeles Adventures included
A long drive with tons of traffic

Jerky stop in Quartzite

Got gas at the Flying J right by the border in Arizona...did that on the way home but it was 3:45 AM then...

Stayed in a dive of a hotel! Scary. Even probably heard gunshots. 

Kayty went to concert night one and we drove 12 miles taking over an hour to the Los Angeles Temple.

This temple was absolutely gorgeous inside. Murals inside every room depicting the creation, the Garden of Eden, the world. We had a beautiful time there. Then we found traffic just as bad on the way home.

We didn't venture out too much more without Kayty's magical phone that told us where to go and which freeway to take. Dad and I were fish out of water with no direction service. The Deseret Industries was a benefit to the community surrounding it for sure, but not for others. It was a mess. 

In fact, every store was a mess. We killed time in a Target, a Ross, and an Old Navy store and all three had merchandise all over the floor. So sad. So, no beach because we just weren't sure of the traffic and time.

Not so highlights

I put my car keys in my checkered backpack to just have with us. Well, they have disappeared. We have looked everywhere, called the dive hotel, taken apart everything we could. Since I dutifully locked my car with my alarm remote, I now have a totally disabled car until we can get the alarm system undone.