Week of August 20 - August 26, 2023

Spiritual

We enjoyed a wonderful homecoming talk from a sister missionary in our ward. She had served in the Yakima Washington Mission and shared many awesome experiences. We were a bit shocked as they announced that our ward and two other wards would undergo a realignment next Sunday evening at 6 p.m. Our ward is not terribly big and I don't understand what is going to happen. Plus, four weeks before a Primary Program. I won't get to tell any of the kids being moved goodbye either as the changes take effect the next week. Not the first time but I sure hope it's nearly the last time. 

Dee attended a session at the temple on Friday. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 12,537 records and reviewed 19,283 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

The Wilkins Family shared dinner with their ward missionaries. Hurricane Hillary sent some rain to Vegas, but not enough to cancel school on Monday.

The Ethan Rice Family

Lots of work, school, softball practice, and Lacrosse practice PLUS Wade has a very loose front tooth!

The Doran Rice Family

Doran is so enjoying his new job, except the long commute is not a favorite. Amber is doing well. Kelsie and Kooper like school. 

Morgan

Morgan spent last week very sick so all that was needed to be done then was rescheduled for this week. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good week at work. She was also approved to have her own Poshmark selling show and she has tried a few. 

The Nathan Rice Family

I spoke with the girls during the week. School is going well and they love it. They were planning to celebrate Ellie's sixth birthday on Saturday, complete with a Gabbycat cake. I am sure it will be beautiful and tasty. 

Dad's Garden

Picked some basil this week and it still is surviving. Our younger chickens have finally moved to the safer pen Nathan built years ago. It sure was a struggle but they are now going in on their own when it is dark. Dad built them a roost to sit on and they seem to like that too. 

Other highlights

I visited Nano on Tuesday. I will not be able to visit her next week on her birthday so I got her a card and gift and went for a visit. She was the least responsive I have ever seen her. I can usually talk with her and get her to smile but not this time. She just sat and had no expression. I continued to visit, sharing about all the family, read her card to her, and then went home. 

Week of August 13 - August 19, 2023

Spiritual

We had a good Sacrament Meeting with missionary returning from missionary service in Billings Montana. He did not leave from our ward so it was our first meeting. Primary went well. 

Dad attended an endowment session at the temple on Thursday evening. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 12,334 records and reviewed 18,996 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family 

Grace shared some things she learned during her first week at a new school:

Started a new school

attempted to ride the city bus for the first time

learned that touching the coyote's nose is good luck

freaked out about another Taylor Swift album re-release

and the best Saturday night dance ever.

The Ethan Rice Family

This family enjoyed a great fishing weekend after some batting practice at the batting cage. They had a good week at work and at school. 

The Doran Rice Family

Amber and Kelsie traveled to Las Vegas on Sunday night to spend the week working, and relaxing, there. Doran and Kooper enjoyed their men's week at home and school too. 

Morgan

Morgan and Cassie continue to work and help Cassie's friend clean out and get ready to move. They had a yard sale on Saturday. 

Kayty

Kayty had a pretty good week at work. She took a vacation day on Friday. 

One minor save this week. 

The Nathan Rice Family

This family is doing well. Annie is loving school and the girls are enjoying earning some nintendo switch and texting time. 

Dad's Garden

We enjoyed a little rain this week. The garden and citrus REALLY enjoyed a little rain this week. 

Other highlights

Roofing project continues. Our first bid, which we estimated would be the highest, in fact, was not. We had two roofing contractors come on Tuesday and their bids were higher. Our solar panel company gave us a bid on Wednesday. After the bid on Thursday, we prayerfully made our decision and went with the solar company. We are also adding six solar panels to our system. The work of removing all panels will begin at the end of next week and then new roofing. 

Dad spent Saturday morning replacing the air conditioning compressor on his car. It took awhile but he did it and now there are no more bearing failure sounds as he drives. 

Week of August 6 - August 12, 2023

Spiritual

We had a very somber but spiritual Fast and Testimony Meeting. Last month, a young couple in our ward unexpectedly lost their twin baby boys, about three months premature. Then Friday, the adult daughter of a member of our stake presidency went hiking where Dad often hikes, and, while the circumstances are somewhat unclear, she did not return home and was found dead. They were here for the baptism of her son, so what an extra tragedy for this family. The testimonies, mostly from the men and young men of the ward, were so faith-promoting and inspiring. Primary was a bit more crazy than normal this week. 

Dad attended a session at the temple on Friday evening. 

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study, and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 12,146 records and reviewed 18,722 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Adam is enjoying his theater job at Sam's Town Theater. Grace loved Girls Camp and awaits the beginning of school and Seminary this week. She's happy she got the best seminary teachers of them all. Joshua has elective classes and didn't get in a PE class, so Allison had lots of phone calls but got him into a class. Sam loves school and has already participated in the daily announcements.

Allison is enjoying working with her new class now and Michael is a long-term sub in PE at another school. Hurray Mike!

Allison completed the 75 Hard Challenge this week!! She had to endure 118-degree walks and a/c that didn't work well, but she powered through and did it. Congratulations!!! And, in addition to that accomplishment, she completed her math class for her Master's Degree. 

The Ethan Rice Family

Ethan, Cameo, and the kids are doing well and school is going great. Wade started LaCrosse practice this week and is having so much fun. Kaylee also started softball practice later in the week. They planned to spend some time Saturday night enjoying the Perseid Meteor shower. 

The Doran Rice Family

Doran continues training in his new job but seems to really like it. Amber is doing great as well. The kids are adjusting to new schedules and times. Kooper loves playing soccer as well as Activity Days at church. They have some fun adventures coming up next week. 

Morgan

Happy Birthday, Morgan, on Tuesday. Morgan and Cassie continue helping her friend clean up the house and backyard for her friend. 

Kayty

Kayty had a busy and good work week. 

The Nathan Rice Family

Annie is enjoying some time texting and she is trying to teach her Grammy about emojis...with little success. Ellie finally lost her dangling front tooth and is very happy. The family is all doing well and is enjoying doing things with their new friends and neighbors. 

Dad's Garden

Dad has been busy preparing garden beds for the next planting. All our bins of saved compost have been turned into the gardens, and every Thursday evening, we travel to a neighbor's green waste garbage can and shovel horse manure into it for our garden. Basil is still doing okay. Our citrus trees are struggling with the extended heat, though the temperatures are more typical now. 

 

Other highlights

The second insurance company now says we have to replace our whole roof or we will not be able to get homeowners insurance after October with them. So we are now proceeding to get bids from companies. The first company came Friday morning. It is a much different circumstance to get a roof from a company rather than a storm chaser, as we have had to do in the past. We are just praying we will choose the one who will be responsible and do good work. We have companies coming next Tuesday and Wednesday mornings as well. The first bid was over $25,000. 

Dad's car a/c had a bearing go out, so he will now need to replace it. Unfortunately, the bearing alone is not available, so he will need to replace the entire compressor. 

Our a/c problems have been solved. Ken came by again, got in the attic, and did some magic so now the fan does not run all the time. Good news. 

Week of July 30 - August 5, 2023

Spiritual

We had a good Sunday. Our meeting included talks from two youth and a high councilman. A new counselor in the stake presidency was also sustained. Primary went well. 

Dad attended an endowment session at the temple on Friday.  

My daily morning foundation of General Conference talk(s), prayer, scripture study and Come Follow Me study continues each day. 

I have indexed 11,937 records and reviewed 18482 records so far this year.

Family

The Wilkins Family

Wilkins are doing well. Allison's school year began officially on Wednesday and she is looking forward to a great year. Grace, on Monday, went to her old high school with a friend for a senior activity: crown decorating. She continues to work on hers. 

Grace shared:

"BEST LAST WEEK OF SUMMER EVER!

Girls camp last weekend was FULL of fun! We went to see “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at Tuacahn, went swimming, went on some FUN hikes and just enjoyed each others company!

The day after we got back, I went to the LVHS senior crown decorating and had fun hanging out, but didn’t make the best crown

So I remade my crown and today, went to Vegas’s Senior Sunrise and they almost didn’t let me in because I’m not technically a student there, but they did!

Looking forward to Senior Year!!!

The Ethan Rice Family

Kaylee and Wade started a new year of school on August 1st. They were very excited!

It has been so fun getting a Marco Polo from Kaylee or both Kaylee and Wade as they share their start to their day, their new school clothes and shoes. They are just so excited for school. 

The Doran Rice Family

Doran began working at his new job this week. Always an adjustment period but he is looking forward to new opportunities. All the family is doing well. 

Morgan

Morgan and Cassie continue to help a friend clean up and clear out her house after losing her boyfriend one week, and now her brother has drowned in a pool accident. Lots of trauma here. 

Kayty

Kayty had a good work week and took Friday off to see a movie. 

The Nathan Rice Family

Annie, Ellie, Emma and Eve Facetimed after the girls were done with school. 

They continue to enjoy home schooling and had a great Saturday that included attending a baptism. 

Dad's Garden

Basil continues to survive. The oregano we planted a few months ago is also making it through the heat of summer. 

 

Other highlights

Got a chance to visit with Sharynn on the phone this week. So good to catch up. 

I saw Orion finally on Friday morning very early. Haven't seen that lovely constellation since February.