Week of December 2-8, 2018

Highlights:

Spiritual

We had a very spiritual and uplifting Sunday, including strong inspiring testimonies born, a wonderful lesson on Ezekiel, and a final Relief Society council meeting that perhaps was the best we have ever had.

Dad visited a ministering family on Sunday after church. I got a letter and card for my inmate sister, Jessica and mailed it this week (I mailed one last week and will for the next weeks. Prison is a very lonely place at Christmas.)

Our temple is shut down for maintenance for two weeks.

I am in Helaman 12 in my Book of Mormon speed read.

I have indexed 21163 records and reviewed 62493 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Adam had a Piano Recital at school, LVA, on Monday evening. Allison shared this: "Adam had his winter holiday concert at LVA tonight, and it was awesome. They had almost 20 pianos playing at the same time. Crazy-talented kids. 🎅🎹🎅 (Adam is on the left, towards the back)."

She was able to record two of the songs, and they were absolutely beautiful!!

Dad headed up on Thursday after a long work day to haul gifts up. He enjoyed being with the kids on Thursday night and participating in their regular activities and witnessing their talents. 

Dad took the kids to school on Friday, struggled through substitute teaching a special ed class all day, and then took them to Sonic for a grape slushy with candy in it and a Sprite with cherry juice and 13 cherries in it. Quiet and fun evening with the family. Saturday included doughnuts, DI, working on bikes, and just a nice family time.

That evening was their ward Christmas party. The kids sang and there was Santa there. Poor Sam. He was so star struck he forgot what he wanted for Christmas.

Letters will be prepared and mailed.

The Ethan Rice Family

Some pictures from Wadey's birthday...

Cameo shared this:
"Happy 2nd Birthday Wade Perry. This little guy keeps us on our toes. He is very adventurous, loves riding his quad, bike, being outdoors, climbing, cars, balls, school, the baby shark song, and dogs. He has tons of energy and is always go, go, go. We are so happy that he came into our lives 2 years ago. It has been a joy watching him grow. ... We had a great day celebrating him today. He opened presents, we went out for Chinese food for lunch, went to Woody’s Jump and Play, had pizza for dinner, and cake and ice cream to top off the day." 🎈🎂🎁🎉💙"

Wade shared a birthday month with is preschool teacher, Ms Ashley

The Doran Rice Family

I got these on Saturday night. Aren't they amazing!!!

Kooper went to his first birthday party this week...

And Amber got an early birthday present...

Morgan

Morgan had a good work week and met a celebrity at his workplace... This is the gentleman that created a prosthetic tail for a dolphin.

Kayty

Work went well and she is doing well there, though no news on a permanent position.

Major seizure saves on Tuesday and Wednesday. Minor saves on Friday and Saturday. 

The Nathan Rice Family

We spoke with Nathan and Jessica on Sunday as the girls put up Christmas ornaments on their Christmas tree. New little grandbaby was finally made official via FaceBook

While it has been very cold outside, they are nice and warm and looking forward to Nathan's graduation in two weeks. Nathan's new boss potentially at Honeywell is working to get him more information so they can make plans for their future. Nathan is busy working on the group Senior Capstone Project, and, as per usual, a few don't want to work or do anything, leaving the majority of work to Nathan and another friend. Girls are doing well and enjoyed decorating sugar cookies last week with lots of sprinkles! So many, in fact, that after clean up, Ellie's belly button had plenty of colored sugar left in it! On Tuesday night, we spoke with Nathan and he accepted the Honeywell Job Offer. He will be given a stipend to move, and that is what he wanted so they can pack, rent a truck, and also pay for someone to give the apartment a good final clean up. They will be able to haul a car down via trailer as well. The truck will be picked up December 20th. Nathan was busy all Saturday on his project, but I did get to talk to Anna, Jessica, and I heard Ellie. Lots of readying to move, and lots of good memories to be had in their first Rexburg apartment.

Dad's Garden

We had rain this week, and the garden looks amazing! Everything is bright and green and healthy. The weeds elsewhere in the yard are also bright and green and healthy, so I did some weeding on Saturday afternoon. 

Other highlights

Former President of the United States George H W Bush died late Saturday night last week. I was able to watch some of the honors as his casket was placed on Air Force One in Texas, taken off the plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, taken into the U. S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. and throughout the week. It is rare in these days to see many formal events, but this was a time to witness many 21 gun salutes and see the honors given to a former president of our country. And Saturday evening, I was able to watch a program on tv about the letters he wrote and the impact they had, and he had. The letters were an amazing history, and a testament to him.

Morning jogs were lovely with all the Christmas lights. 

Grant and Joanna Call came by Monday night to bring some homemade banana bread and see the decorations. It was fun to visit with them.

I baked a bunch of sugar cookies on Tuesday morning. I used the recipe I fell in love with in October, though I discovered I didn't need to measure flour like Martha Stewart, so I needed to keep adding till the dough was fine...they came out nice.

Sharynn came in town briefly to help with Nano's house. She did a ton of going through trash and stuff and was a great help. The days were not without difficulty and I spent most of my time texting, emailing or on the phone. From now on, there will be a finite amount of time spent on Moms things. She was unable to prepare to leave the house and it has left a lot to be done. I was grateful for what Sharynn was able to do. 

Not so highlights

Randy Kohlhase was one of the three great Scout leaders for Ethan and Doran. He had been going through a divorce that he didn't want and didn't seem to understand. His children and grandchildren, his friends and former coworkers did all they could, and yet Randy took his own life sometime Tuesday. I discovered the news that night. It shook me. Here, he and Kim seemed so happy for so long. He retired after 30 years in the DPS, they traveled all over the world, two of his children returned from missions, two recently married, and two new grandbabies that he adored had joined the family. And yet, he had sunk low, rather in depression or anger. I read the words of the many many people he helped, he lifted and that loved him. While my words had no effect, when I first saw his speak of his marriage struggles, I did message him with gratitude from Dad and I for the great scout leader he had been, and told him of the successful and happy lives that both Ethan and Doran are now enjoying. Randy was a good person, and I pray for his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, friends all over the country who are trying to understand. Just immense sadness.

He just took all his kids and grandkids to Disneyland right before Thanksgiving, even staying in the Disneyland Hotel.