THE PLANE(S), THE PLANE(S)!

Heard of First World Problems?  Here's Homeschool Problems:

1. Jonathan complains that Analiese is doing a "cool" spelling list and he never had those words before (It's old Readers' Digest Word Powers).  I ask him if he wants to do spelling now.  "No, I'm too busy.  Still..."

2. Analiese not only rattles off all of the 13 Articles of Faith in Primary on Sunday, but verse 15 of Joseph Smith - History, which is part of a Scripture Mastery we've been memorizing.  Blows them all away.

I am sorry that all my California friends are suffering from droughts and wildfires.  We have drought conditions, too, but have been blessed with a little more moisture lately.  Friday, on my trip to Lawton for a Seminary meeting, we got wet because of the storm between us.  I did some shopping there (take advantage of all the stores they have there) and got drenched.  My denim dress smelled funky when it got wet.  Analiese was with me, but had a great time because we had breakfast at IHOP and lunch at Carl's Jr. and bought some fabric for her new 4H sewing project.

Altus was all excited this week because of the Open House at the Air Force base this weekend.  The Thunderbirds were coming to perform, and the latter part of the week had the air roaring with their jet engines.  Jonathan was on pins and needles excited because some marines came to the airport in their special helicopters, presumably in preparation for the air show, too.

Saturday morning we had a pancake breakfast at the airport to earn $ for tools for Jonathan's class.  I got to meet his new airframe instructor, Mr. Huttie, as well.  Apparently he is well liked, because many students and teachers complimented him highly.  I'm prejudiced, so I can't say anything.

A quick stop home after the breakfast, and we ran over to the base.  It opened at 9:00, and we were there about 9:45, but it wasn't really packed...yet.  There were several planes on the ground we could go through and they had a really cool interactive Air Force station with iPads and earphones.  Jonathan "jumped" from an airplane and landed ahead of his competitors.

We placed our camp chairs in a really great spot near the runway and went back-and-forth between there and the exhibits (and the food!).  At first the day was very grey, but the sun came out and the airshow was easily seen!  Downfall of it all was that, even with some sunscreen, we all got burnt.  I have a red "necklace" from when I was looking up at the planes, red ears, and burnt lips - those hurt the worst. 

And getting out was not as easy as getting in.  It took us nearly 45 minutes to leave and, in the meantime, got to see two guys act like idiots fighting over who wasn't letting whose car in where (they were serving beer on base, I give it some credit for this behavior).  Finally, some airmen came over and cleared the mess up.  Have some dignity!

Jonathan gave a talk in church Sunday.  He's only written it Saturday evening...with some counsel from his mother (I did NOT write it for him).  He was not happy about doing it...mainly because it was his mother who told the bishop that we needed more youth speakers.  Problem was, he wasn't given a youth talk - he was told to give a 15-minute one!  I cannot say that his talk even came close to it, but that well was dry and they were lucky to get what they did.  He is not an enthusiastic public speaker.

I'm going to let the pictures tell the rest of the week's story.  Let's just say Jonathan had a great week (minus Sunday)!  All those big smiles and him talking (airplane stuff) are evidence!

NEW FORMAT - FAIR WEEK

I'm changing my blog format.  I can't really do it day-by-day right now.  I am just too busy and too tired.  So I'll give you things as they come along.  And I will try to remember to take pictures!

I am learning to cut back on activities and volunteering for things.  Seminary is enriching, fulfilling and... time-taking.  I am enjoying it and hope the kids are, too.  I give myself an hour each day to study for Seminary, on top of teaching the class in the morning.  I also found out this week that I have a monthly inservice in Lawton - on a Friday - at 6:00 a.m.  Which means: 1. I have to leave here around 5 a.m., 2. I have to get up around 4:30, 3. I have to get a substitute for Seminary, 4. I have to find someone to drive Jonathan to the college that morning (I don't think I'll be back in time).  I just keep telling myself: Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!

My cold is all but over, thankfully, but the fatigue has yet to subside.  Wednesday evening Analiese had Activity Days.  She wanted to run around and play with the girls afterwards but, even at 8:00 p.m. when I went to get her, I was too tired.  Sorry, kid, I gotta go home!

I did make it back to water aerobics on Wednesday, though!  Yay!  I just couldn't go with that cold.  Couldn't give blood last week, either, while I was still "draining."  Charming.

If you want to know what we did on Labor Day: we labored.  The kids cleaned rabbit cages (last Saturday Jonathan was helping someone move so they couldn't do it then), I went through a bunch of old food storage and canned goods I was given (by the person Jonathan helped move) and tossed most of it out.  Ken smoked bacon-wrapped chicken for us...our once-a-year treat!  (It is so good, but so fattening!)

The Fair is this week, so Wednesday Analiese and I went to the Expo Center in town and entered in some of her sewing projects into the fair, plus a poster she won an award with from 4H about the sewing club.   Plus, I brought some chocolate chip cookie bars to be sold at the Concession Stand (manned by 4H).   The Fair doesn't officially start until Thursday and runs through Saturday.  Thursday is rabbit day for us, and the only day we'll attend this year due to busy schedules.

She sure cleaned up at the Fair!  Her skirt and her bag both won first prize and will go on to the State Fair at the end of this month.  Her poster won fifth place, so even there she got a ribbon.  She showed both Alice and Fluffernutter and came away with first place on both of them, mainly from lack of competitors, but only got a participation ribbon for her showmanship.  She needs a little more work on that.  Still, she's starting to collect ribbons and I need to figure out the best way to show them.

The biggest surprise at the fair, though, was seeing one of Fluffer's babies!  This was the one we sold to a friend of the Maldonado's.  They brought him to the fair to try and enter him and want to join the 4H rabbit club.  Analiese became fast friends with the girl and I just marvelled how big Tux (now Thumper) had become!  Jonathan was away on base at Scouts and I knew he'd be disappointed to not see him.  His fur is really a combo of his mom and dad.  Look like mom in structure, not really color, but it feels so soft underneath. 

Little Tux in March; Big Boy in September!

Friday was a Lawton day with $700 to spend at Sam's on junk for Ken's employees at the prison.  How I wish I had that for good stuff!  But we got in and out fast enough to get home before dark.

Analiese went to Lawton on Saturday, too, for a Stake Activity for the young girls.  Luckily, I didn't have to take her, her Activity Days Leader did.  They had a good time, because she called, being silly, on her way back, to tell me to pick her up at the church.

SEMINARY, SICKNESS & THE STAMPEDE

Monday, August 18, 2014

Day One of Seminary.  The alarm went off at 5:30.  I had gone to bed around 9:30, but didn't get to sleep until well over an hour later (texts about Seminary kept me up).  After a shower, a banana and some orange juice, I go out the door with Jonathan and Nasly, who was previously dropped off, to the church.

Jonathan played door monitor, letting students in the locked door.  Nasly and I set up the classroom.  I got the Mormon Channel music playing, and the students rolled in.  I have four students, one of which is my son.  They were all there, pretty much on time and ready to go.

We stayed fairly awake and alert and I got through in the time allotted.  I even gave them a post-it note handout to put in their scriptures (super cool!).  Plus, I was able to introduce the scripture journal, the reading charts, and scripture mastery.  I gave them an assignment - to have all the scripture mastery marked and key words noted by the end of the week.  They don't know it... but there will be a reward this Friday for those who do.

I think it was a good experience for all, though I worry about keeping Nasly from being discouraged about understanding English.  I encouraged her to read a couple of scriptures in English with not a lot of difficult words and helped where she got a little stuck.  It may take her a little bit to feel comfortable contributing to the conversation, but I think we can get there, if she'll stick with us.

Unfortunately, my day was far from over.  Jonathan and I went home to Analiese to have scripture study and Spanish, then I took him to WOSC.  I went back home again to work with Analiese on her lessons, work on laundry, prepare this week's menu and grocery list, do weekend dishes (yes, I was too busy and they were piling up), and study tomorrow's Seminary lesson some more.  Then, it was time to take Analiese to the homeschool P.E. while I met with other parents about what sports we were going to do this year.  In the middle of that, I had to recover Jonathan from the airport (no need to take the shuttle, the church where we have P.E. is closer to the airport than the Vo-Tech).  Back to P.E. until it finished, then home to get ready to go swimming and pick up dinner from Subway (since I hadn't been able to go shopping today) and go to the pool.  I had aerobics while the kids swam.  Then we went home and I died.

No, not really.  I ate my sandwich, watched a show with the kids, and put everyone to bed.  I'm next.  I'm exhausted.  And I think I'm coming down with a cold.  I really don't like being this busy.  Especially when I don't feel well and just want to sleep!

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Day Two.  Can things be any worse?  Yes, they can.  On top of the cold, that is trying to settle into my chest and has me sneezing and drippy-nosed constantly, we now encounter Shark Week.  Preying upon my weakened system, are we?

I got through Seminary without sneezing on anyone.  Everyone was there, though Nasly gave me a scare by showing up late to my house.  Luckily, I was running a little late (forgot to put my church keys in my bag), but I told her she had me nervous.  I know it's not easy for her, but I don't want her to give up, either!  She can do this...we can do this!

At home, things got going slowly since neither Jonathan nor I had had breakfast before Seminary.  Me, because all I wanted was juice at the time, and him, because he ran out of time.  By the time we got done with our first-of-the-morning stuff (DEAR, devotional, pledge, and Spanish), I left them to fend for themselves educationally while I went to bed.  The dears let me sleep until 11!

I needed it because I had to drive Jonathan to the Vo-Tech (no WOSC today), then eat a little lunch (need to eat something), help Analiese with the things I didn't do earlier because I was sleeping, and receive my visiting teachers, despite the mess my house was in.

After picking up Jonathan, we had to go shopping.  I mean HAD, because like Old Mother Hubbard, my cupboards were bare!  My kids let me know and my husband was nearly despondent over it.  "Are we so poor we can't afford food anymore?"  I let Jonathan push the cart, since my energy was nil.  We got home in time to put groceries away and welcome Ken home.  I didn't even get to Seminary study until after dinner.  

The weather is up again and the a/c runs full blast.  Things are so dry; my poor garden looks terrible.  They are saying we may get some rain next week.  Please, do.  Everything shrivels in this heat!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Last night was awful for sleeping.  Maybe the cold isn't a cold after all.  I had a fever, chills and aches.  Oh, no!  Not the flu!

After texting Ken (at a quarter to 11) that I needed his prayers, I did some of my own praying.  I've only just started Seminary, I need to get myself and my students in the habit.  I was called by God, couldn't he help me get better so I could do this job for him?

After that I managed to get to sleep.  And this morning?  A little nasal stuff, a little congestion in my chest, but the rest is gone!  If we're on His errand, He will help us!

So my devotional this morning was about last night's experience.  I threw what I had written before out the door.  We had only spoken the day before how the Doctrine and Covenants was revelations given in answers to prayer in time of need.  Those things still happen today!

Though, I think I nearly traumatized a student today.  I have them taking turns doing prayers, leading music, and, next week, doing devotionals.  Well, this one student didn't know how to lead and said it freaked her out.  I said I'd help her and we come to find out that the hymn I chose was not an easy one to lead.  I apologized a bunch (because besides that, I accidentally whacked her hand with mine while we were leading together) and she seemed fine by the end of class.  But I kept thinking..."Man!  Not even one week and I've already blown it!"

The rest of the day was pretty normal and I left the house only to take Jonathan to school and pick him up.  I had promised last night that today I would take it easy.  I even got in a nap, but after Analiese's lessons were over so I didn't mess up that schedule.  I'm not completely over this, with a little drippy nose and a cough (the head stuff transferred to my chest) and I feel really warm at times, but today could have been so much worse!

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Now my baby's sick.  Analiese woke up with a temperature and looking just awful.  The whites of her eyes go gray when she's sick, so I always know.  She's running a low-grade fever, too.  Sick day, poor dear!

Everyone was back in Seminary, no traumatized students, so that was good.  Also, I went home and dug up my triple combination in Spanish from my mission to drop off at Nasly's house today.  She's going to study in Spanish at home so she can have an idea of what we're talking about in Seminary.  I'm doing what I can!

Okay...is there a full moon out today or what??? (No, there's not, I checked.)  But, there's a lot of weird stuff going on today.  For one, I was at the library, taking back some books, when this older lady tried to get into my car on the passenger side!  To be honest, she wasn't paying attention - and boy, howdy!  She wasn't - the car she wanted was two parking spots down, larger than Ken's white Honda and a bright blue!  She was thoroughly embarrassed, but I told her it would spice up her day's conversations.

Second weird thing today is, well, creepy.  I got into the van to pick up Jonathan from school and saw on our fence - no kidding - a dead cat hanging there.  These cats are the bane of my existence, since my neighbors feed them and they breed and breed and hang out in my planters and sit on my steps and in the shade of my trees and garage.  I am so allergic to them, too!   Anyway, this one had tried to climb over the fence, got it's leg stuck on the gate and died (heat stroke, probably).  I know it's unbelievable, so here's a picture to prove it!

Ken took it down when he got home that night.  Jonathan "tried," but I think it was just too gross for him to contemplate.  Ugh!

Friday, August 22, 2014

Friday!  We all survived the first week of Seminary!  I am tired and this weekend will be full of rest for me, but we did it.  All four students came all four days, we had the Spirit with us (my #1 goal), and my two new high-schoolers both said they enjoyed it.  Don't ask Jonathan, though, he's noncommittal and just says stuff to get a rise out of me, the pest!

Analiese is doing much better today, so we had lessons.  History, usually a favorite in our house, was not too pleasant today as I had to explain the Holocaust to her.  It's hard to believe anyone could be so evil...and so many people would just go along.  Where were their consciences?  Anyway, I sat next to her, hugging her all the time as we talked.  It was a great time, though, to talk about standing up for what was right.  We are going to be reading "Number the Stars" and "The Hiding Place" in the next few weeks to show her that people did try to help the poor Jews and even some of the prices paid for it.  Still, I think that makes for a much better history lesson than just dwelling on the evil.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Oh, how I wish I could just rest all day!  No such luck...my refrigerator is disgusting and so, while the kids clean rabbit cages, grumbling all the way, I will clean the fridge...and grumble all the way, too.

We did get a nice break this afternoon, though, for the Rodeo parade.  The Rodeo's in town this weekend and, while we're not going (1. Sick, 2. No $), we did go out in front of the United (under the trees) on Broadway to watch the parade go by.  Analiese didn't see it last year and I forgot my camera, so this year, she came and I have some pictures!

Here they come!

Longhorns!  I feel sorry for them, those horns look so heavy.  Moo!

That guy is daring in pink - but I admit, it looks good on him!  His horse is gorgeous, too!

This fellow was nice enough to bring his horse to the curb so the kids could pet him.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Today was one of those "do everything" kind of days at church.  I just hope Sister Shields and her nephews aren't going through the summer cold thing that's going around. One of my student's moms said she thought it was wonderful I could do so many things in the gospel.  I just said, "Jack-of-all-Trades, Master of None!"

All that really lingers of my cold is that cough and wheezy chest.  I offered to pass around my bag of cough drops in Sunday School, because I wasn't the only one hacking away!  It leaves me so tired, still, that I yawned a bit in all of my meetings.  Sorry, not bored, just sick and tired (but not of church).   So, after DEAR & Devotional at home, it was Mommy Nap Time (kids just don't know what they're missing!)

Ken's been working the last two days in Stillwater (three hours away to the northeast) for a Walmart there.  Apparently, the new students at OSU cleaned out the entire Walmart and it needed restocking. He gets paid mileage, hotel stay and food alliance, so he volunteered.  He should be home this evening.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

Monday, August 11, 2014

We are down to zero (almost) and we anticipate the new "school" year.  I took Jonathan grocery shopping with me to find out what he'd like to put in his lunch (he'll be taking it 3x during the week).  The big question is...will it be enough to satisfy the ravening beast?

Really cool thing: I was given a branch of rosemary that I was going to propagate and plant.  In the meantime (read: till I got around to it), I put it in a vase with some water.  After a few days I noticed something - roots were growing out of the base of the stick in the water.  After more time had passed, we even noticed a little new growth at the top.  Very Cool!  Now I'm just waiting until it gets full of roots and I will transplant it.  I have high hopes for it...this plant is a survivor!

For a last end-of-summer fling, I took the kids to see Guardians of the Galaxy.  They are big Marvel fans and really wanted to go.  It was fun - and funny - and in the end we all decided Groot was the coolest.  But, play time is over...to work we all must go!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Jonathan starts back up at Aviation Mechanics with the Vo-Tech today.  Class doesn't start until noon and this year I'm not taking him to the airport.  Instead, I drop him off at the Vo-Tech and he takes a shuttle (okay, a white Suburban) to the airport and back.  A shorter commute for me and better for him, really.  I hear the airport parking is crowded with all the new students this year.

For those who want to know, he's studying Airframe this year.  Last year was his general studies, but now he's focusing on everything except the parts involved in powering the plane (that's Power Plant and it's next year).  He has a new teacher who worked at JFK airport, but Mr. Hall, his old teacher, is still there, as well as Mr. Scott, the program director.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Today was Jonathan's BIG day - he starts college.  He's taking two classes - History and English Comp - in the morning at WOSC and then will walk over to the Vo-Tech (it's a couple of buildings away) to take the shuttle for his afternoon work at the airport.  He already has his books, everything's paid for, so he should be good to go!

Okay, he told me later he was really going to enjoy history (no doubt there, he always has loved it), and thinks English will be okay (he just doesn't want to write, yet he can).  His English teacher wants the students to use paper tablets to write on (you know, notebooks bind on the side, tablets on the top) and...have erasable pens.  Really?  I remember the yucky ones we used to use from Papermate that always tore the paper and never really worked.  I don't even think they make them anymore.  So now we have to go hunting.

Thursday, August, 14, 2014

Just in case you wonder, in the mornings when Jonathan doesn't have class, he does have lessons with me.  He and Analiese are doing Spanish together with me, and then he does Consumer Math with me.  Soon, hopefully, we'll be working on Driver's Ed, too.  He gets this stuff done fairly quickly, but I figure it will give him time to study for his other classes, too.  Analiese I work with alone after I've taken him to school.

Straight after Jonathan got back to the Vo-Tech from the airport, the kids and I went to Lawton for our monthly Sam's club trip.  We stopped at Staples, looking for the mysterious erasable pens...no go.  Then we went to Sam's and did the Prison Candy Run for Ken.  He has so many employees now (over 100) that we can't use a regular cart to hold all the candy; we have to use the long truck thingy (so erudite, I know!)  The checker looked at the kids and said jokingly, "I hope you don't eat all that candy at once!"  I told her that gratefully, none of it was for any of us!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Jonathan's second day at WOSC and the end of the week at the airport.  Analiese and I are starting to settle back down into a routine again, as well.

She went with me, as usual, to the salon as I got a pedicure.  She picks out my colors for me and plays on the little game consoles that are at the kiddie salon chairs.  Today, I have sparkly purple on my toes...in honor of my sister, Wendy's, birthday yesterday.  I just go along.

Rabbit Club was tonight and the fair is drawing near.  Just a few weeks away and it will be time for exhibiting and showing rabbits.  Plus, Analiese wants to enter her skirt into the fair, too.  I just hope it isn't too hot at the Expo center...the rabbits don't like that!

Saturday, August 16, 2014

I drove two hours to terra incognita today.  Norman, OK, is about half and hour south of OKC and there is an Institute of Religion across the street there from the OU campus.  It's a lovely area; I thought how nice it would be to live there (but probably out of my budget).  Still, I was there for the Seminary workshops, not to look at houses.

At first, I was shy (I really am, especially in a group of people I don't know) and only recognized Bro. Sturges, the CES supervisor over three stake's worth of Seminary and Institutes, Lawton being one of them, and Pres. Petersen, our stake president.  He was the keynote speaker.  I'd say there were about fifty teachers, supervisors and CES missionaries in attendance.  I was a little fish.

Bro. Sturges had called me yesterday and asked if I would lead music, so I really had no time to be introverted and got up to lead.  Then followed Pres. Petersen and the other speakers, each presenting the CES goals for this year and seminary teaching techniques - including Scripture Mastery.  It was inspiring, Spirit-filled, and fun.  Bro. Sturges even had a competition with us to see if we could win a plate of brownies at lunch!  Yes, I ate my victory brownie!

By the end of the workshops, I had met a few people and received a lot of good ideas and inspiration. I am tired, I THINK I'm ready, and I feel a little less nervous, but no less in awe at the responsibility.

Repeating the trip in reverse was interesting.  My GPS was trying to get me to avoid the toll roads, but to be honest - the tolls, even though they involve money - get me there faster and don't get me lost.  Taking the other roads is an adventure in jungle trekking.

But...on the way to finding the toll road, I had some pleasant surprises.  If I wasn't in such a hurry to get home to dinner with the missionaries, I might have stopped and taken pictures.  Sometime I will, though!  Because...I finally saw them!  Buffalo!  (Okay, really they're bison, but buffalo is more fun to say.)  I had thought I saw one laying in a field on the way up to Norman, but on the way back there was a whole field FULL of them!!!  I'm in awe of them; they are huge, a bit grumpy (you don't want to get too close), and have those solid-looking horns, but still...they are so unique.  I want some buffalo/bison memorabilia, like a stuffed animal or bobble-head.  It was cool.

The second surprise came a little further down from the field of bison.  I saw a field pock-marked with what looked like giant ant mounds (believe me, it could happen).  But...there was a furry head sticking out of one hole.  And then another...and another...Prairie dogs!  I just laughed!  They were so cute and funny.  Two glorious, delightful creations within minutes of each other.  I was grateful for the Father's allowing me that experience.

Jonathan went tonight with a girl (no it wasn't a date...really.  She just invited him to join their group, but I think she kind of likes him.  We met her and her mom in the Homeschool PE class.) to the Altus Youth Jam.  It's put on by Southwest Youth Services and sponsored by local businesses and churches.  They have music, food, games, and prizes for the kids, for the most part all free.  It's to give them a fun, safe venue to meet.  I'm thinking our ward needs to sponsor a booth next year.  Our friends, the Doshers, were there representing their church, I know.  Jonathan got to see both David and Geordi and hang with them, some.  I guess he got a kick out of watching Georgi try to do a front flip on a bungee cord.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Today was Ward Conference, so I saw Pres. Petersen again.  His talk in Sacrament Meeting had some elements from yesterday, but between him and me...we were the only ones to know.

After the meetings were over, I went to the Seminary room to see it set up for Monday.  Now, mind, I asked all the kids to come over and help me do it, so we could get it done quickly.  However, only Jonathan really remembered (good boy!).  One mother came in and said, "Is my daughter here?"  (No, but she SHOULD be!) and another girl came in...when we were done.  Oh well, I think I'm ready to go and that's all that counts.

People have asked me today if I am ready.  I think so.  I can't imagine being any less ready.  I've done a lot.  Now it's up to the Spirit and the students.

LAWNMOWER MAN

Monday, August 4, 2014

Eight o'clock in the morning found me taking Jonathan to Sis. Brown's house so he could mow.  He has a couple of those appointments this week and seems to be in big demand.  Good thing, he could use a little money.  Goodness knows, I don't have much to spare, because...

I am a few hundred dollars poorer today.  Not only did I have the usual beginning-of-the-month utilities and mortgage, but also I went back with Jonathan to WOSC and paid his fees and for his books.  He is not a cheap kid!  I am, however, glad to say that there was enough $ in the bank to cover all of those things, and for that, I am grateful.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Another eight o'clock morning, only this time we're at the Clason's.  This is more weeding than mowing, but I lent Jonathan my cultivator (it looks like a claw).  Between that and a weeding hoe, he got a lot done.

We lingered talking with Sis. Clason when I went to pick him up.  One, I was curious about her garden, and two, she is a very gracious person to talk to.  The kids always sigh a little about how I get talking with people, but you don't just run off in OK...you have to chat!

This evening the kids and I watched a movie we borrowed from the Clason's: Monuments Men.  It's based on a true story from WWII.  Jonathan really likes that time in history and the only thing that would have made it better would have been...airplanes.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Jonathan is really a go-getter this week.  Right after devotional, he was outside mowing the front yard. I don't have to ask him or push him, he keeps an eye on it and decides when it needs taking care of.  After that, the elders came over to help him (us) clear out part of the alley behind our house so we can reach the dumpsters and throw away our garage.  Plus, we had to have a small tree that had sprung up right next to the fence.  I did not want a tree growing and pushing the fence over!

I had to quickly run in the middle to get some new string for the weed whacker and some pizza for the crew for lunch.  When I got back, they had done a lot and were resting some in the house.  But one of the elders was having a terrible allergy attack.  He had a rash going up and down his legs and arms.  I had my kids wear long pants and take allergy pills before we went out to work, but the elders were all in shorts!  

I gave him some medication and made him stay in the house and rest while everyone else finished cleaning up outside and was a little worried when he left.  But I saw the elders again when I took Jonathan to Scouts, they were there and he was doing much better.  I was glad; it would have been terrible to mess him up seriously because that was a bad reaction!

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Jonathan was back to Sis. Brown's to finish he back yard.  The weather is heating up again, so he tries not to spend too much time outside by getting in early and getting it done quickly.

I let him "veg" a good part of the afternoon because he's been working so hard!  We had family home evening tonight and got our beginning of the school year blessings.  I think I needed it the most!

Friday, August 8, 2014

Once more, I dropped Jonathan off at the Clason's.  Then I was going to head to the church to put together my Seminary room.  However, I got a call from Nasly that she and her sister needed a ride to the high school and junior high school to fill out paperwork.  Luckily, the high school is near the church, so I dropped them off and worked on the classroom.  Somehow, the girls got over to the junior high and walked home, because I texted Nasly, and she said they were okay.

My room came together quickly and I made copies for our orientation on Sunday.  I had got my pictures of the First Presidency and the Apostles in the mail earlier in the week.  I wanted to put them around the room on the wall up near the ceiling so that as we quoted from them and talked about some of them as we go into church history, they will recognize their leaders.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Ken and I left the kids at home to go to the temple and stay in the city for the night.  I have tried several times to get to the temple before Seminary starts, and we finally made it!  I had to drive so that Ken could rest, but it was worth the trip.  

After the temple, we went to our hotel room.  Ken's work was having a party at a nearby Dave and Busters (think Chuck E. Cheese for adults) and they paid for our room.  I wasn't invited to the party, but I went with another employee's girlfriend to the nearby mall with her girls.  We were going to see a movie in this special theater with reclining seats, but they were ALL sold out.  All seats, all times.  People order tickets online, so we lost out.  Bummer.  But I haven't had a girlie trip to the mall in a long time, so we had fun looking around the stores.  They had a See's store, so I had to get some for Ken!

The kids fed the elders tonight!  Analiese made dips for chips and Jonathan did beanie weenies seasoned in his special way (I have no idea).  I tried to give them a menu that was easy to make and clean up!  Mind, I don't know what the elders thought of it!

Sunday, August 10, 2014

We didn't want to get up early, but strange beds make for stiff backs and necks and I was up by a quarter to seven.  We just got up, went down and ate breakfast, and then came back up to our room to shower and just relax.  We are going to make our way home gentlly and slowly, but have to be back for the orientation tonight at seven.  Actually, I'd like to be home mid-afternoon and take a nap!

I did get home...and did get my nap, which was a good thing because I was feeling pretty worn out.  The kids were home from church and relaxing.  Ken brought some prizes home from Dave & Busters and shared them with the kids and we gave them some OK patches for their travel blankets.

Tonight was Seminary Orientation.  This is where I talk with the parents and youth about what's going on for the new Seminary/School year.  I've been working and planning this for a while; I would like to think it was a good way to start things off.  Plus, with the parents there, we can discuss some of the student needs and any questions or input they have about the program.  Countdown...one week until Seminary starts!

By the way, Jonathan - of all people - really liked the Seminary room set-up.  He said to me, "It feels like a Seminary room."  That it touched him that much must mean I'm on the right track.  I told the parents tonight that a clean, orderly room with a real classroom feel makes students realize that a) this is serious learning and b) brings in the Spirit.

FLYING HIGH

Monday, July 28, 2014

An early-morning thunderstorm rocked my world.  Actually, it wasn't as close a the one two weeks ago, so it wasn't that noisy.  But we did get a bit of rain.

Nothing daunted, however, I went out to go grocery shopping in the afternoon. (The rain had pretty much let up.)  But now - guess what?  The same problem that I had on the 17th with the van - engine light on, sluggish, popping sounds - GRRR!

So, instead of heading north to Wal-Mart, I turned east to Ford.  I made it abundantly clear that SOMETHING had to be wrong and they'd better find it!  They are very nice over there, but nice doesn't cut it if they don't fix my van.  I really can't be without a car.  Next month we'll be facing school transport, plus Seminary, etc.  Nope, I need my vehicle.

I still had to get a few groceries, so Jonathan & I walked across the street to United (see?  Handy!) to pick up what we needed.  I brought him along to be my pack mule.  LOL

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Hooray!  Ken called Greyhound about our luggage...only to find that it's been at the Elk City Station all this time (Morons!  Can't they read luggage tags - we had our address and phone # on it!).  So, he went a little out of his way (Elk City is 30 minutes north of Granite, where his work is located).

It really was an answer to my prayers because I can't afford to buy all new clothes for the kids (well, really Jonathan).  As it is, I still don't know what's going on with the van.  And the longer it takes, the more nervous I am about a big repair bill.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Got the van back today.  I guess an ignition coil went bad; one of six, I hope the rest hold!  And the bill?  Over $300!  Ouch!

The tank was nearly empty, so after I took Jonathan to Scouts, I went to Walmart to get gas and to pick up a couple of items I couldn't get at United on Monday.  In the meantime, Analiese was at home...under attack!  We've had this large-ish, weird flying bug in the house the last couple of days that is not easily caught and killed.  Every time I've tried, it disappears.  Apparently, it was fairly frisky this evening with Analiese.  She emailed my phone in a panic; she was afraid it was a wasp.  It's not really, but is large enough to be intimidating.

Well, I think I received nearly twenty texts before I got home, including some death messages: "It's killing me!" "Goodbye, cruel world!"  I saw a few people I knew at Walmart but couldn't talk - my daughter was under attack!  By the time I got home, she had it trapped behind the closed blinds in the living room.  I couldn't get it until it came out, so there it stayed.  Analiese began to breathe in relief with me there.  There are more bugs here than we are used to.  You just have to live with them.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

I took Jonathan out to WOSC (Western Oklahoma State College) to enroll in classes.  We signed him up for two classes (as a high school student he can't go full time) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: history and English.  We don't have to pay for tuition, but do have to shell out for enrollment fees, etc, about $240.  Ugh, more $$!  Don't even get me started on textbooks!

After that we went to the SWTC (Vo-Tech) to arrange for him to take their shuttle over to the airport.  Because they are next to each other (Okay, health services is inbetween, but not a bad little jaunt), he can just walk from one to the other with plenty of time.  So now I'll drop him off at the college in the morning and pick him up at the Vo-Tech in the afternoon.  Even when he doesn't have class, I can still drop him off there and not have to go all the way out to the airport.

Oh, and Analiese was home alone again.  No bug, this time, because Ken caught it and flushed it early this morning.  She was safe.

Friday, August 1, 2014

The weather's been dribbley all week, but this morning the sky was clear and beautiful.  Jonathan is supposed to go flying today with Bro. Clason from our ward as a reward for memorizing all of the Seminary scriptures last year.  I don't think I can top that this year!

We went to the airport today to the Clason's hangar.  His plane is old - from 1943 - but Jonathan says most of the little planes around here are because the aviation mechanic class and shop keep them in good shape.  It's tiny and I would not be comfortable sitting in the back seat; as it is, both Bro. Clason and Jonathan looked squished in the front.

I was going to take a video of them going.  I did take pictures beforehand.  But then, the most typical of car problems happened to the airplane.  The battery was dead.  The propeller spun a few times and then...nothing.  They climbed back out again and rolled the plane back into the hangar.

It was a little disappointing, but not terribly.  Jonathan got to look into the engine and ask questions and look up tools for Bro. Clason.  And, after Jonathan weeds their yard tomorrow, Bro. Clason said he'd try to take him again.  He said, "After all, flying is much more fun than weeding!"

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Jonathan called the Clasons this morning to see about weeding.  Sis. Clason said they needed to reschedule, because Bro. Clason was going to take him flying.  No complaint from Jonathan!

So off we went to the airport, again.  Still a lovely flying day, not much wind and clear skies.  I stuck around long enough to watch them take off.  I also stupidly braved the tall grass to get to the side of the runway for a better video shot.  Now my legs are mosquito polka-dots!

Analiese is dying to learn to cook more, so I put her in charge of dinner tonight.  She started by making brownies this morning from a box mix.  I sat in the living room, so as not to be tempted to micromanage.  She'd consult with me from time to time, but pretty much did it!

She also did the BBQ cups for dinner.  This involved me a bit more, with lots of hot things tossing around.  She was so excited about making dinner herself for the elders that she set the table, poured the water and served food as well.  She is very proud of herself.

We had dinner early (4:30) because of a baptism at 6:00 tonight.  It is a couple, the wife is the sister of our ward chorister, who have really taken to the gospel!  It was quite the spiritual experience.  When she came up out of the water, she clung to the elder who baptized her and wept.  She cried all the way through her husband's baptism, too.  To me, the most touching part was at the end of the meeting, when the Ward Mission Leader had them turn around to see the room full of people in support of them.  He said, "These people willingly sacrificed their time to be with you on your most special day.  You have a family now; here they are."  Kind choked up at that.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Okay, I know I'm getting old, because I'm losing my mind.  Here's my mental conversation this morning: 

"Why did I turn on the computer?  I already did tithing.  What could I possibly have needed it for?"

After several minutes of torturous internal gyrations, I got it:

"Oh, that's right!  I'm going to download pictures."   My old brain!

 

Church was full of the Spirit today.  The couple who were baptized yesterday were confirmed today.  I think the missionaries will never forget these last two days.  The testimony meeting was very moving and Sunday School class had great moments, too.  I told Ken I'd been sniffling all morning.  I told the kids that was one of the great reasons of going to church...to feel the Spirit.

THEY'RE BACK!

Monday, July 21, 2014

They are on the bus...on the way home!  Once again, Jonathan is giving me updates by text message.

In the meantime, I am busily getting things ready for their return.  Laundry, shopping (need to restock for my hungry boy!), etc. 

No van back, yet, so no water aerobics.  Still, the anticipation!

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Ford dealer brought me back my van today (yes, door-to-door service) and with no charge!  They did a little readjusting, but couldn't find anything going on.  Thank goodness!

And...the kids are home!  Ken left work a little early to go get them from the bus stop.  As they got home, the missionaries pulled up.  One of the elders is being transferred and came to say goodbye.  Timing was excellent!

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

No one is in much of a mood to do anything but veg.  The kids slept exhaustedly last night - bus travel is no fun and they'd never do it again.

Oh - and their luggage did not travel with them.  They weren't supposed to have any transfers, but in Phoenix they were made to move to another bus.  And...the suitcase didn't come with them.  I have called and put in a tracer on it, but so far, no one knows anything about it (of course).  There's nothing of major value in it, just personal.  Jonathan's church clothes and shoes are in there, Analiese's homemade skirt, plus some special shirts of Jonathans (Eagle Scout shirt & Aviation Mechanics t-shirt).  But it isn't like I'm made of money to replace things, so I'd really like the stuff back.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

The kids get another easy day today because I have this killer headache on the left side of my temple.  I laid in bed and slept a little in the afternoon and woke to find Ken home and dinner eaten.  

But we did hobble together a little FHE.  We have to practice a song for Sunday because we've been asked to sing in Sacrament Meeting.  I chose "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," because it is such a spiritual song.  Plus, it's not difficult and the kids, at least, are fairly aware of it.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Maybe the reasons for the headaches and fatigues is this...it's TOO DARN HOT!  Yes, the thermometer says 104 degrees, but that dumb heat index brings it up at least another five degrees!  It is very hard to be motivated when you feel like a puddle.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Now that the kids are back, I have ordered Bountiful Baskets again.  While they were gone, we just couldn't eat that much.  So today I went to the VFW to get my basket.  Such a lot of nice-looking produce!

My eye caught the huge, healthy-looking head of romaine first off.  Then, there was a big melon (looks like a honeydew on the outside, is like a cantaloupe on the inside?), two avocados, some mushrooms, three zucchini, two enormous heads of cauliflower, brussels sprouts, grape tomatoes, blueberries, plums, nectarines and bananas.  It is still a lot of good stuff for a decent price.  Can you freeze cauliflower?  That's a lot for us to eat in one sitting.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

The way our ward celebrates Pioneer Day is by having a Linger Longer supper after church.  This way, our members who live farther away can get a chance to socialize, too.  Generally, during weekday activities, they don't make the trip.

I made the Hawaiian roll sliders.  They are so easy and made a good potluck option.  They are so good, too, that I don't have to worry about leftovers.  Of course, I am obligated to share the recipe on the RS FB page afterwards!

TOURISTS

Monday, June 30, 2014

Today was spent in getting ready for our trip to OKC tomorrow.  Well, Ken mowing the backyard wasn't, but it was still necessary.

Part of MY getting ready was to get a pedicure.  The banana yellow were fast wearing off and my toes were getting bad.  Analiese had left me the directive to get red polish - for the 4th of July.  I found a red sparkly that I think will fit the bill. 

Also, I did something that I've never done before in my life.  I had my eyebrows waxed.  Those of you who are more fashion-aware than I will say, "It's about time," because I have big bushy eyebrows.  For me it was, "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity."  Still, I was tired of trying to pluck them to look decent.  I figured eight dollars to rip hair (and possibly skin) off of my face wasn't too bad, though I was red in spots for a while.  And, no, I did not do my "mustache."  I prefer to bleach that (I know, vanity, vanity) because I don't want bigger, darker, heavier hair growing in there.  When I'm old in a nursing home and can't do this stuff I'm going to look like a gorilla.  So there.

Ken and I did a little internet exploring of OKC tonight to find out where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do.  We have some ideas.  I think the actual exploration could be fun.  Other than the temple (which is really in Yukon, an OKC suburb) and the zoo, we've not seen much of "the City" (as locals call it).

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

We didn't make it a point to rise early today since we figured to go to the noon session of the temple.  Even with a 2 1/2 hour drive, we didn't need to leave before nine.  It was a nice, uneventful drive, with short stops at the tolls and a little slowing down as we neared the city (Oh, my!  Traffic!  LOL).  In the temple parking lot we stopped to eat lunch and looked around us, wondering, "Where are all the people?"  Until someone came around and said the temple was closed for maintenance. Rats!  How could we have missed that memo!

We couldn't check in at the B&B until four, so we had time to kill.  We decided to go over to the part of the city called "Bricktown" and check things out.  It is old, but refurbished, brick buildings with lots of restaurants and a canal running through.  The bridges connecting sides and the landscaping around were lovely.  We walked all the way to one end where Bass Pro Shops is and goofed off there for a while (I'll be honest, I did most of the goofing).  

We also stopped for a short while to check out where the Myriad Gardens are in the city.  Not far from Bricktown, it's a lovely oasis nestled under some skyscrapers.  Tomorrow we will check it out throughly.

Then we were able to go to the B&B, Rusty Gables.  What a lovely spot!  It is only 5 minutes out of the city, but feels like you're out in the country.  The best of both worlds!  It sits on several acres, where there are horses and lots of trees and solitude.  The nearest neighbor is the cemetary across the street, so it's very quiet.  Such a lovely place on the inside, too.  The vaulted ceilings and the cosy lodge-like decor.  I'd recommend it!  It's the nicest place I've ever stayed.

So after a bit of rest, we went back to Bricktown for dinner at Zio's, an Italian restaurant, very good prices and very good food and service.  After that, we went on the water taxi for a tour of the canals and some humourous history lessons from "Captain Jack."  My favorite part of the ride was the huge sculpture, stretching out several yards, of the Centennial Celebration of the Land Grab.  You see, the state nickname is the Sooner State, which confused me some, plus OU's motto is Boomer Sooner, and I had no idea what it all meant.  Till now.  See, with the land grab, people came from all over the world, really, to grab some land the US was offering for settlement.  They had a starting point, then lit off a cannon (Thus, the Boom) and everyone rushed out to stake a claim.  But some people had managed to get to nicer parts "sooner" (hence), which means they probably bribed and cheated (yes, even back then.)  Hence, Boomer Sooner.  Now I get it.

Tonight we had a luxurious romantic bubblebath in the jacuzzi tub.  STOP.  No, we didn't.  We TRIED. Ken was busily adjusting faucets and whatnot.  The sign by the tub said that two pumps of the bubbles was plenty.  But, to him, it wasn't bubbling up.  So...he added more.  I went to get into the tub and turned on the jets and....let's just say I'm not confident with him doing laundry now.  He spent the good part of the time scooping bubbles out of the tub into the shower.  We were laughing so hard, it was funny, but not romantic.  Even the massage he gave me afterwards just didn't quite bring us back to that "loving feeling."  However, it was a good release of pressure for him.  He needed this getaway so badly!

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

We took it easy this morning, too.  Though, I forgot my neck pillow and I got up earlier than intended because of it.  Still, a nice shower (no bubbles - tee-hee), and then a really great breakfast started the day out right.  Our hosts provided us with an egg and cheese frittata with a spicy ketchup (not too) along with buttermilk biscuits and berries drizzled with honey and balsamic vinegar.  It was very good!

We didn't have to check out until eleven, and we were determined not to rush ourselves.  So we sat on the front porch, enjoying the lovely morning.  The trees rustled, the birds called - I saw a cardinal, really saw it!  Then I went over to make friends with the foal in the area off the side of the house.  She wanted the grass just outside the fencing, so I'd pull some up and feed it to her.  In return, she let me stroke her head and back.  I'd made a friend.  When I went back to the porch, their dog came looking for attention...another friend.  I don't know how he figured it, but when we went back to our room to pack up, there he was, sitting outside the french doors to the back.  Funny!

Today was about the gardens.  In the heart of the city, it's a place for everyone to come and enjoy.  I saw a lot of local businessmen from the skyscrapers come enjoy their lunch there.  Kids on summer camp trips visited the kids' section (which was really awesome) with the water play area.  One place we decided not to go was the Crystal Conservatory, it cost to go into and I was really tired and didn't want to bother.  Not this trip.  But I took tons of pictures around it.

After lunch there, we decided to just go home.  We had made other plans, but were tired.  Also, our lunch at the burger stand there wasn't sitting right.  A stop for bathroom and medication, and then onward towards home.  We were tired when we got there, but felt so relaxed.  Ken, in particular, had just had what the doctor ordered: a few days of rest with no "schedule" and "responsibilities."  Other than being sad to miss the temple, it really was a lovely trip.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Today seems anticlimatic after the last couple of days.  Just normal, round-the-house sort of stuff.  Ken went to Mangum to visit a brother of the church there, only to find that the man had died a few days earlier.  While he was there, I went to the church building to put some stuff in the seminary closet and do a little more cleaning/straightening of the room.  I pulled at least forty staple gun staples (longer, thicker, harder-to-remove) out of the bulletin board and figured out how to plug my iPad into the tvs at the church so I could show videos.

I am missing the kids a little today, but I know they are having a good time.  Today is the parents' 3rd of July party and they were eagerly looking forward to that.  Jonathan is supposed to be Grill Master today, taking over from the older men who are unable or too far (like Ken) to do it.  He's a little hesitant, but he likes to play chef at home and has done outdoor cooking with the scouts.  He'll figure it out.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Ken went over to the church at eight; I followed at nine-thirty.  He was making pancakes for the Flag Raising and Breakfast; I was a spectator.  It was nice, though the scouts sure seemed to be missing somebody (hint: Jonathan).  There were two types of pancakes (regular and blueberry), bacon (turkey & regular), egg casseroles, watermelon, clementines, juice and milk.  And, a lot of people, including visitors and out-of-town family.  It was fun chatting with people and admiring their patriotic clothing.  Ken, typically, stayed in the kitchen cheerfully making pancakes and cleaning up, for which his EQ president is grateful and I just sigh and say, "Aspergers."  He's more comfortable there than out sitting at a table chatting.  I guess I should be satisfied that he is happy.

The rest of my fourth is pretty uneventful.  Ken slept most of the day, getting up to BBQ some sausage and potatoes and then went off to Walmart.  I stayed home.  No fireworks.  I could have gone out to the reservoir to see them but I am avoiding mosquitoes at all costs right now.  Plus, going alone?  Where's the fun in that?.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

While Ken slept this morning, I went to Lawton for him.  Now, I should have gone to the credit union here to cash the work check before heading out.  I said to myself, "No!  There's a branch in Lawton.  Just do it there."  Dummy.

Because it was closed, an extension of the holiday, I guess.  It wasn't a total wash because I ran some person errands in town while I was there.  But it means I'll be going back next week.  Grr!

Got home.  Made dinner.  Fed the elders.  Bing.  Bing.  Bing.  Such is my exciting life.

Sunday July 6, 2014

No, all of my excitement comes at 2:30 in the morning.  I get a call on my cell from "Withheld."  It sounds like Jonathan crying on the phone, telling me, begging me, that he's sorry.  I start to freak out. "Calm down.  Talk to me.  What's wrong?"  And he hangs up.

While I fumble with my phone trying to find a way to call back (no, I don't know how), I get a call back.  Same "whitheld."  Calm male voice - Jonathan? - saying, "I'm okay. It's all right."  I'm upset, saying, no, he's lying, asking where he is.  He just says, "Home."  Home?  Where?  "California."  Are you at Grandma's house?  Talk to me, Jonathan!!! 

Then, "This is not Jonathan."  Click.

Major meltdown time.  My son is in California.. He's a good boy, and bright, but still a teen and prone to stupid things occassionally, so I call my mom in a panic.  It's 12:30 their time.  No time for guilt, I frantically ask her if Jonathan is there.  She sleepily replies, "Yes, he's in bed."  I blurt out the story (condensed version, because now I'm feeling stupid), tell her to ignore me.  She says she'll have Jonathan text me in the morning and I hang up.  I call Ken at Walmart and rehearse the same thing.

Now, as Shakespeare said, they have contrived to murder sleep for me.  I was awake, shaken, and in the throws of a full-on major panic attack.

For me, I have several attack triggers.  Caffeine, sugar, stress, hormone fluctuation.  Believe it or not, all four were in play at this time.  I could not go to bed.  Tired or not, I could not sleep.  I spent several hours up crying, listening to comforting music, reading scriptures, praying, breathing, whatever I could do to try to calm me down.  You could call it hysteria, but a panic attack is no joke.

I finally managed to get myself in a spot where I thought I could sleep when Ken came home from Walmart.  He held me for a while, soothing me, and put me to bed  To sleep.  No church today, my nerves couldn't handle it.

Oh, and Jonathan called.  He's fine.  Of course.  He didn't think me a crazy old woman, either.  He said he'd leave his phone at night from now on and I'm to call him directly if there's a problem.  What a sweetheart.  I think I am missing them more each day.

Moral of the story, here.  ALWAYS say "Wrong number" when you accidentally call someone.  You never know but that you could put some crazy old lady into fits.

A HOUSE DIVIDED

Monday, June 23, 2014

Ken & the kids were up by 3:30 this morning getting ready to leave to go to Elk City to catch the Greyhound bus.  I was up, too, not because I particularly wanted to or because they were noisy.  Instead, I was up because a spectacular thunderstorm was going on that I couldn't sleep through.  But at least it meant I could see the kids off.  I was able to go back to bed and get a few more hours of sleep, though.

Upon awakening, I had a message from Jonathan.  Apparently, the bus was to leave at 8:00 a.m., not 6:00.  Now, this was my mistake, but I'll tell you now, my eyes are getting old and the print on the itinerary is tiny.  Eights, sixes, and nines look an awful lot alike; I especially have a hard time with them on the computer.  So none of the three was very happy with me.  But it was helpful, in a way.  Ken couldn't have taken them so late and I would have been rushing back to do stuff I needed here.  Plus, as Ken said, they would have missed out on the lightning storm as they drove and it was (I hear) really cool.

The kids got on the bus all right, with Jonathan texting me updates as needed.  The house was eerily quiet as I got ready for my morning stuff.  About 10:00, Brother Sturges, the Regional Director of Seminaries and Institutes, came by to give me a little orientation.  That included a stack of books, videos and binders.  If you wonder what I'll be doing with my kids gone...it'll be studying for Seminary.  On top of that, I'll have a big training, with teachers from all of Western Oklahoma, in August.  It's a big, somewhat intimidating job.  The church does not take Seminary lightly.

After that, I had to zip over to Walmart and get supplies for my creative writing class that afternoon at the college.  I grabbed a bite to eat and headed over to WOSC.  My class is three-hours long, with a snack break in the middle, and runs through Thursday.  The classroom is really cool; the college is very high tech!  I have a Smartboard, which functions as a screen, an electric whiteboard and a computer monitor.  Also, the overhead projector projects right onto it.  Awesome!  I could get used to that.

I have four students in the class: two teenage girls and two girls around 11, I'd say.  One is the granddaughter of a sister in our ward and is friends with Analiese.  We also have a "kid wrangler," a teen who sits with the class, fetches things as needed, and escorts the students to and from class and snack time.  Today's wrangler was a young man named Noah, who seemed to entertain the girls as much as anything else.

It was a good class.  They had fun and were excited to be learning about being creative and expressing it through writing.  I showed them a video, we talked about parts of speech and did exercises, and ended by decorating composition books to be journals.  Already they are asking if I'll teach this next year and were even excited that I gave them a "homework" assignment (writing in their journal).

My busy day wasn't over.  I went home, got changed, went to water aerobics, came home, got changed, went grocery shopping with Ken.  I am tired and my feet ache something awful!

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

I had told Jonathan last night to let me know when they have their big layover and bus transfer in Phoenix at 3:30 in the morning.  So, I got woken up then.  I couldn't go back to sleep until I knew they were on the road again, so I figured I'd get up, have breakfast and do a little work and then go back to bed after hearing from Jonathan.

Today is Nasly's birthday.  After class, I'm going to take her to dinner.  I had promised her an "American" birthday cake so I got this fancy cake mix and am baking carrot cake...at four in the morning.  At least it smells good.  On top of that, I started reading through the Gospel Teaching and Learning book for Seminary teachers.  I'm not sure how much retention I'll have this time of morning, but we'll see.  As it is, I am already struck with how much trust the Lord puts in the Seminary teachers to live worthy to have the Spirit and help guide the students to have a testimony of Christ and His Atonement.  It's hard to feel like I'm worthy and capable enough of that great a responsibility.  I know I always felt my Seminary teachers were so spiritual and knowledgeable; as a teacher now I don't feel that way about myself at all!  It's a lot to live up to!  This is going to be a very humbling experience, I can tell.

Second day of class at WOSC was all about story-writing.  The bad thing about this is...I could take a month and it might be enough to cover the subject.  So we went over some basics (plot, setting, characters) and I gave them a bunch of handouts they could take home and work on over the summer.  Not because they have to...but because they WANT to!

In the middle of class, I get a text from Jonathan...and then one from my Dad.  They are in California safely!  Thank goodness, the trip was the only thing that worried me!  I guess Dad brought Rachel and Ammon with him to pick up the kids and they all chattered loudly and crazily all the way back to the house!  It sounds like a good start, that makes me happy!

I took Nasly out to Chinese food tonight after dropping the cake off at her house.  She apparently loves Chinese, so that was a good choice!  She was so cute about it all and kept hugging me and thanking me.  She had said her mom had spent all their money going to Honduras so she wasn't going to have a birthday celebration.  Well, I gave her a little one with me!  The waitress at the restaurant is Hispanic and heard us speaking in Spanish, so she would talk to us in Spanish, to which I replied in English.  Too funny!  Nasly and I spent at least two hours eating, laughing, and talking about the gospel, which she is still new to.  She is eager to come to Seminary and be a part of my class in the fall and even wants to do her scripture mastery in English.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Ken is at work and the house is so QUIET this morning.  I figured my kids would forget all about me once they reached Grandma's house, but Jonathan has been texting me some this morning.  They went to Jay & Logan's baseball game last night and had a good time.  Wendy is keeping me in the loop, too, by sending pictures of the kids together.  I am willing to pay the price of solitude to give my kids this opportunity (and my nieces and nephews, too!)

Today's class was AWESOME!!!  We started the first part by describing things using all of our senses.  I had brought Jonathan's rabbit, Twilight, to class to use as their example.  I could have brought anything, a flower, a piece of fruit, fabric, but I felt this would be more interesting to the girls.  And it was!  They loved watching him hop around the room and sniff things, they dug deep into his plush fur and...got a whiff of his cage - Phew!  I think our smell phrase ended up being "retchingly scented."  This was all before snack and was plenty of fun, but afterwards!  Wow!

We talked about poetry, I showed a couple of video clips and read a few poems, even letting them help me decipher Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar."  It was great, but then it got even better.  I introduced them to blackout poems.  That is where you take an already existing text, like a newspaper or magazine article, or a page out of a book and find significant words in it to make up a poem of your own, while blacking out the rest with pen or paint.  I had copied off pages from four books: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ender's Game, The Hobbit, and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  My three girls in attendance took the first three pages to work on and my teenage boy assistant, Eric, took Hitchhikers.  This was the first time he wanted to actually participate in writing!

They were marvelous!  In particular, the one girl who took Ender's Game made a lovely poem about sitting under a tree and even drew a tree with the sky and sun above and the ground below.  One line mentioning resting beside the tree was...resting beside her tree!  I was serious impressed.  All of the kids (even my helper) LOVED the activity and couldn't wait to try it at home.  One girl said, "You really like poetry, huh?"  The truth is, I haven't been that inspired to do it or even read it, but today changed everyone's minds, mine included!

The evening was almost anticlimactic.  I went to water aerobics and then to dinner with a girlfriend from church.  However, sitting in Applebees talking our heads off for two and a half hours probably isn't insignificant.  Tarah's a beautiful person inside and out and it was good for the both of us to have time to bond better.  I'm so grateful that, a year after moving to Altus, I can say with confidence that I have friends here.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Final day at WOSC Kids' College.  We worked on Personal Narratives today (basically, essays about a specific moment in your life).  Not as exciting or snazzy as stories and poems and no bunnies were present in the making of this writing, but I think they still learned a lot.

And enjoyed the class.  Because, as they were leaving, they said to me, "See you next year!"  Will I be doing it next year?  I don't know.  It was difficult getting students.  But maybe we can get the word out and have more next time.  Also, I've learned a lot of things and I'd make changes to how I'd teach certain things.  I think it was a good experience for all of us.

The kids and I Skyped some later in the day.  Jonathan & I had been texting back and forth and Ken wondered why he didn't just call or we Skype.  So, they got on Grandpa's computer and we had a good visit.  They are having fun, though Jonathan looked beat.  He's doing Youth Conference there this week on top of having just arrived by bus.  I asked my mom if she was tired of them yet.  She said, "Nope!  Not yet!"

Ken and I had a nice quiet night this evening.  Finally.  I made dinner and then we just sat on the sofa cuddled together listening to Jeff Foxworthy on Pandora.  Ken loves the Blue Collar tour and all the redneck jokes.  I like Bill Engvall (the sarcasm just drips off of him), so I didn't mind.  It was nice to not have anything specific to do.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Ruth, my visiting teacher, came over this morning to help me weed my veggie boxes.  Poor things, they were being strangled.  But we got a good two hours worth of work put in and enjoyed our visit, too.  The weather cooperated nicely and didn't really get hot till around 12:30 when she was going home.

We had doves and a bluejay visit us.  Plus, my honeysuckle is blossoming out a second time, which is lovely to smell!  Oh!  We have pecans coming on our trees.  I saw them...

Other than water aerobics, I stayed home and did housework.  I did not want to go anywhere or do anything.  I was tired!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Lucky me!  With the kids gone, I had to clean all three rabbit cages myself.  One at a time, I'd put a rabbit in the front bathroom while I emptied and cleaned each cage.  After that was done, I cleaned the bathroom.  I've put down these doggie pads (like flat diapers) around the cages to help catch some of the mess and it seemed to help some.

I made beef stroganoff for dinner tonight to serve with rice for the missionaries.  They liked it and ate it almost all up, but what really thrilled them was the homemade chocolate chip cookies I'd made during the day.  You'd think they'd never (or rarely) had them!  I know at one point one had eaten six, but I think the new elder ate more!  It was no biggie, just chocolate chip, but apparently it struck their missionary hearts.  I gave them the rest to take home - I'd made about four dozen.  I don't really need more temptations around here.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

I have a confession to make.  I didn't post photos all last week and almost didn't this week.  Why?  Because I couldn't find my camera.  I've been sweating it all week because I didn't know where it was.  What if it fell out of my purse when I was out?

I really wanted it, too, because next week Ken & I are going to OKC for a couple of days and I wanted to take pictures of the city.  So I've been hunting in all the usual, and unusual, places.  No go.  It seemed frivilous, but I prayed, too.  I didn't want to have to admit I lost it to Ken and I didn't want him to feel that he needed to buy me a new camera.

So, I get ready for church and I go to the closet to get out my church bag.  And there, in the front pocket of my bag, was my camera!  I can't begin to tell you how relieved I was.  I wasn't really worried about losing photos, I only had this one of the kids putting together their puzzle:

All's well, that ends well, I always say.