I made my first beef brisket today, it was delicious and pretty easy to make. I got the recipe from the Today show though I didn’t use the pomegranate juice instead I substituted vinegar. Everyone enjoyed it so I will be making it again. We also enjoyed and I personally look forward to our weekly Sunday walk. It gets us all out of the house. The kids open up a little more and it just helps us be a happier family. I recommend it to all families.
Monday was like most, after I exercised and got ready for the day, we meet with the AP’s to go over the upcoming week’s schedule, discuss the needs for upcoming trainings, exchanges and service projects like See to Succeed. I then tried to blog and write my missionary email….didn’t really happen because I got an appointment for Izzy to get groomed which she needed after I trip up to Round Top. She was a stinky disheveled little pooch. Well now after the groomers she is a chubby boxy headed not so cute dog. She got the worst cut of her life. Waaahhh! Her ears were so matted that they had to shave her beautiful curly ears. I mean shave, shave. No bueno. Sad! L I mean she is embarrassed and we are embarrassed for her. Our only consolations is that she will have beautiful curly ears again…..well in a year!!! Waaahhh! I thought my dad, gpa, would stay busy helping at the mission office during his visit but the two senior missionaries that he usually work with don’t have anything to do themselves. He tried to help out with the bikes and cars but not much to help with there either. So dad is happily running errands with me, going to district meetings, taxing kids to their activities and prepping fruit and other food for dinner. Basically he is gaining a greater appreciation for what moms do day in and day out. Not that he didn’t already have appreciation for their tireless efforts but we added to his knowledge and gratefulness. He really is a good helper.
I was really busy Tuesday. I started in Seabrook for a companionship study and went to their district meeting. I then left that meeting 15 minutes early to catch another district meeting 25 mins. away. After that meeting I met with another set of missionaries for their companionship study. These companionship studies are very productive as we go over ways to be more effective in their finding, planning for their investigators and working with their members. These three topics are a running theme for my visits with companionships. At times they get stumped at how to find differently then they have before, planning specifically for each investigators progression and the role members can play in their missionary efforts.
I feel like it is a great brainstorm session of ideas they have heard but not yet applied because they don’t realize the ideas can be customized to their area with a few tweaks. Always energizing and fun to be a part of.
Wednesday we had four new Temple Square sisters arrive this and they are all awesome. They are so excited to have a field-based experience that they can hardly wait to get to work when they arrive. It is cool to have sisters arrive from all over the world and watch them jump into the work. Two of the sisters have parents that are currently serving as mission presidents as well (Cordova, Argentina and Torreon, Mexico). Sister Hughes one of our new arrivals was able to come down with them as well. She is the sister that had to have surgery prior to coming down. All these sisters will be amazing! I am excited to call them “ours”. We love them already. Before heading to the airport to pick up the sister missionaries, Gpa, Aaron and I took the opportunity to go to the temple. I love going to the temple. I can always feel love and peace there. My mind can focus on the more important things.
I headed to the Lake Jackson area early Thursday morning to meet with a Spanish speaking companionship for their studies. These sweet sisters were eager for any insight and help I could give them to improve their finding efforts in their area. They even focused some of their studies efforts on finding which speaks so much of their desire to find truth seekers. They recently dropped most of their investigators because the investigators were unwilling to progress. We put them in the area book and visit them a few months later to see if they have a change of heart. Surprisingly many want to take the lessons again because they miss having the spirit in their lives. After sharing their studies and plans for their lessons and finding for that evening we talked about ways to improve working with members and youth in their branch by utilizing the Hallelujah initiative and sharing spiritual BOMs in addition to teaching them PMG lessons. They also had interest in starting a community family history class as well so we talked about how they could use that in their finding efforts. It was a great companionship study.
Third quarter grades were posted this week and the kids all did well. I have seen a lot of growth in each of them academically. As much as they don’t like the rigor of schoolwork, homework and tests, I can see the benefits.
On Thursday Bode cheered for his schools powder puff game. It wasn’t as fun as he thought it would be however he seemed to be having fun when I was watching him. Friday, Bode took his friends go-cart racing for his belated birthday party. His soccer games will start up next week which he is looking forward to.
Jessie had another fun, creative book report due this week. We (Gpa and I) spent Friday afternoon park hopping with Jessie and a friend. She was able to go to three parks while we did two. She really wanted to get to one more but I just couldn’t make it happen so we went to it on Saturday. She enjoys painting in her spare time. On Sundays, she draws fashion sketches during the talks in sacrament meeting. She is also preparing for zone conferences with the sister missionaries by writing songs for the missionaries to sing.
Zac had Driver’s Ed again all week and now gets to start the driving education part. Looking forward to that because I saw how much it helped Allie’s driving ability. This weekend Zac has been busy with Youth Conference. They had a swimming activity Thursday night, workshops, balloon volleyball and a dance Friday and a Easter carnival they are hosting for the Stake and the Fort Bend’s Family Promise.
Allie has been busy with her CNA class doing labs in preparation for their internship at a rest home or assisted living center in April. She went to prom with Austin on Saturday. Per Utah tradition, they went on a big group day date to the Zoo. They had a fun time because they are good friends so they could be silly and just laugh at each other. They ate dinner at Bridger Norris’s house, one of the guys in their group. The dance was held at Weber State and then afterwards they colored eggs. Allie seemed to have a great time. I thought she looked gorgeous!
This morning we went to the Easter carnival put together by the youth as a part of the youth conference. They did a really good job with the games and activities. After the carnival we did go to the park that Jessie and I missed on Friday, then I went for a bike ride and when I got back I found Gpa soaking in the hot tub. Jessie and I thought a swim would be great before we hit the hot tub as well. I also attended the Women's Conference tonight that was wonderful and uplifting. The speakers all did an amazing job but Sister Marriott just speaks to my spirit. I love the Easter initiative the church has put together. Go watch either of the two videos they put together and then share one but also share why you know He lives. I know because He lived again that my mom will also live again, that we will all live again! What peace, JOY and comfort this gives to me and the fact that I can know for myself of these things is Wonderful! :)