Week of February 16 - 22, 2020

Highlights:

Spiritual

We had a lovely Sunday. One member of our bishopric was released and a new one was called to serve. (It's a funny kind of thing because Dad doesn't really care, but he continues to hold the record for the only adult male over 30 in our ward who has never served in a bishopric.) Sacrament meeting included stake speakers sharing messages about the atonement of Jesus Christ. Sunday school was also very good.

I completed some temple ordinances on Tuesday morning. Dad attended a session at the temple on Wednesday night.

Family

The Wilkins Family

On Monday night, Allison and the kids (Mike had done classwork all day and was taking a nap before work, so he missed the hike).  Marco Polo'd us as they hiked Red Rock Park (entry is free on holidays, which is awesome!) They had an awesome hike. The weather was great. Grace loves hiking and had a great time watching a group rock climb and she really wants to do that. Right now, she is trying to hike 1300 miles before June. (Mormon pioneers walked 1300 miles as they came to the Salt Lake Valley to settle.) Sam was a pretty good hiker too and hiked very high up! He did get tired and Adam was kind enough to stay with him while the rest climbed on. Sam even slipped and fell, and some very rude people laughed at him, but he had a great time and enjoyed being with Adam. Josh had a great hike and enjoyed a sub sandwich earlier during their President's Day break from school. Sam shared that he had a great Valentine's Day party at school last week. Their classroom aid made them a Valentine treat and his teacher made rainbow crayons for the kids. The Wilkins Family celebrated Valentine's Day on Sunday night. Josh is now in his gifted classes at school and really likes them.

I have enjoyed reading Isaiah in 2nd Nephi using the Come Follow Me lessons as well as a scripture study ap on my phone. I continue to read on my own daily in the Book of Mormon when the week's church study is done, and I am also continuing to listen to General Conference talks daily.

I have indexed 3006 records and reviewed 22116 records so far this year.

The Ethan Rice Family

Kaylee quickly called me on Monday night asking Papa and Grammy's favorite colors. The family received some sad news that Cameo's Great Uncle Cort was in the hospital with pneumonia and a possible lung mass. He lives at the Ranch that Dad and the boys have hunted at near Wickenburg and he is in his 90's. He has lived a strong and hard-working life and we pray for a healthy outcome. 

The Doran Rice Family

Dad spoke with Doran and the family on Sunday. Doran was assessing some damage repairs he needed to do. They are doing well and are busy with kids and life. They were joined on a weekend campout by Nathan and Jessica and the girls.

Morgan

Morgan worked at his new job this week and likes it.

Kayty

Kayty enjoyed her Monday birthday trip to Camp Verde to see the zoo. She had a good time, but her trip was cut short due to needing to ship an item for Poshmark. So, she used a vacation day during this slower time at work and returned on Friday.

The Nathan Rice Family

Anna came by (with family help) on Sunday to quickly drop off a special valentine and treat from her and Ellie and Emma.

I loved the sweet hugs I have missed and got to enjoy a special treat when I returned from my jog the next morning during scripture study time.

 He also came to the door late Thursday night to pick up some things we had found in the Music room. 

Dad's Garden

Garden is loving the weather and I picked 2 pounds of snow peas on Friday. We are hoping the tomatoes do well. We still have a ton of citrus too.

Other highlights

Dad stepped into high gear on cleaning out things this week. He even got into the attic...and I don't think he has been up there in six years or more. He has taken two large loads of stuff to the thrift store, and we filled the garbage can with so much stuff that I couldn't even move it down the road. I spent Thursday afternoon shredding papers from old court stuff ( lots of papers for the money the kids got from Grampa Rice that we had to file and pay taxes on every year till they cashed in their accounts) plus years of old income tax forms. Social Security numbers were on everything so I had to be careful nothing for Dad or I plus any of you kids could be discerned. We have also learned that some of our equipment that cost us so much money 25 years ago has been replaced by new and much cheaper models (ie photography equipment, DJ lighting equipment, etc.) We have listed to sell what we can and what we can't sell will be donated. It's quite miraculous for Dad to be on the tossing binge he is on, but it is only a benefit if we ever decide to move, or if something happens to us. You kids now have been relieved of days of cleanout. Dad even powered through Saturday and we got the desk moved from the music room to his office, including tons of files and lots of stuff, moved stuff out to the music room, hauled tons to the trash, visited Deseret Industries yet another time (I donate but do not shop there). Now, his office looks like an office! The couch is clear. The floor is cleaned and mopped. He has plenty of room on his desk to work too.

I visited Nano on Thursday. Nathan and family must have visited her on Sunday and she was very confused, despite her caregiver Elizabeth telling her who they were. The most difficult thing with her disease is that she thinks she is right and everyone else is wrong, lying, mean or crazy. I did get her to calm down for a bit and took her to walk around a grocery store and get a few things.

Wonderful rain on Saturday. I did get my jog in right before the rain started to fall, which was a great bonus!