happenings this week...

We've had a good week! Busy, but good nonetheless...

~ I am so glad to say that today is "Thursday" and yesterday is over! We had our New Beginnings for Young Womens last night. The girls were pretty much in charge of the planning and responsible to carry out certain assignments. They pulled through wonderfully! You know how, as a leader, you just want to take over and tie up all the loose ends? That's where we leaders were yesterday! But we stood back and everything came together. All of the girls were given a value to speak on and share how they practice or live by it, and I was so proud of Kaisha & Kerianne. They accomplish any task given to them. Kaisha was also in charge of decorations and came up with a color palate of gold & black. She found beautiful tablecloths and we bought gold balloons, and she took some nice decorations from home to use. The room was incredible. Kerianne was in charge of set-up and clean-up and did great. We leaders along with the girls sang a beautiful song, Faith in Every Footstep, which we'll be singing in Sacrament Meeting next month. We are so honored that they keep asking us to sing - we must sound good! Kawehi Stant (YW President), Holly Larsen (2nd Counselor) and I (1st Counselor) also gave talks on the YW program, Personal Progress, the new value of Virtue that was added to our program and why it's associated color is Gold. We also spotlighted the new girls that came in to Young Women's last year. Kerianne was thrilled - uh, not! Then we served ice cream sundaes. I'm pretty sure the girls, along with their parents, felt the spirit last night...

~ Kaisha is just two weeks away from BRACES! She had a cleaning today and I've approved through our insurance to double her annual cleanings. We want her teeth to stay healthy where they are sooo soft and give her trouble. I can tell she is getting anxious!. I will be taking lots of pictures to document her journey. I hope it's not too painful...

~ John and I are getting a night out tomorrow to have dinner with a friend/business associate, Ron Lopez (from CA), and his new wife. Last time he came to town he took us to the Melting Pot, but this time will be Maggiano's. I am in serious need of some good Italian food! I miss my Grandma Josie's homemade sauce & meatballs :) Kaisha and Kerianne will both be babysitting, so Kameron is going to watch Kennedi for us. They have fun together (surprisingly!) and just watch t.v. and play Legos in our bedroom. Oh, and this date comes only after I've done my visiting teaching, shuttled kids home from school, baked cookies (it's our traditional "Cookie Friday", you know), taken Kam to and from baseball practice, and John flies in from Orange County! I hope his flight gets in on time...

~ Kameron has baseball practice Saturday morning. They'll be working on batting skills. Kam is learning so much from his coach. And he's slimming down, too! Later on we have a Stake Youth Bonfire-side. We're meeting out at Bro. Smith's farm and having a fireside about the Mormon Battalion and a huge bonfire. Everyone has been asked to bring a can of chili, and there you go - dinner...

~ Final note: It has been reaching the 80's and I truly almost turned the A/C on today! It's getting HOT! But then I got the electric bill and this month it's only $80, so we will be leaving the cooler off for a while longer. If you're thinking about visiting, now is the time!