The last couple of days have been amazing weather wise, mid 80’s, low humidity, and can still go swimming. The pecan trees are now in season and we happen to have them all over in our area. Last year we didn’t notice people collecting them but this year every morning we see people out gathering for hours. We found out after some quick research that pecan trees only produce every two years so that is why we didn’t see them last year. Pecan picking we will go. :)
Monday night we were invited to FHE with a Nielsens, Ryans and Jacksons at the school. We had a picnic and play outdoor games. Bode enjoyed playing Spikeball with the adults and some of the kids. Jessie was in heaven playing with three pit bull puppies that one of the Jackson's are fostering until they are adopted. I loved visiting with the other moms. The small joys in life. :)
Jessie’s book reports have started up again. Her first book report (two weeks ago) was Rules by Cynthia Lord that I recommended from when Allie read it in 4th grade. Good read and is an award winner, which was stipulated for this book report. Her next book was The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech also an award winner but wasn’t a required to be award winner. It was a fiction choice and she would have to do an oral report on it.
Bode had a good football game this week. He was in on a sack and had some really good tackles. Improvement, Yes! This was a make-up game for the one that was canceled because of lightening. They did win so we were all happy about that. Also another win for Fort Settlement so a big improvement over last year. ;)
It is the last week of term for the kids so they have all had tests, Zac especially. He had a paper due in English and had a major grade test in Spanish, Geometry, Chemistry, Engineering and world History. Basketball is nice relief from the intensity of the other classes however it is the last class of the day.
It happens to be midterms for Allie this week. She has been busy studying for tests for Political Science and Humanities. English has kept her busy writing papers although she has enjoyed that class more than I thought she would. Her professor has given her positive feedback on her papers thus far which has given her a boost to her confidence. Yoga is her stress relieving class although she has had assignments due in the class too. I am proud of her efforts in college. I know it hasn’t been easy but she has worked hard.
Aaron has been working diligently to help our missionaries with any tools that can bless them to reach their potential in teaching investigators. The Church recently created a section on our missionary portal that allows us to post pictures, news, and documents the missionaries can use. Aaron has been experimenting a bit and found that he could also post videos to the site. Since we arrived he has always wanted to do short little training videos of how to improve basic missionary skills. This week he created four videos with several of our missionaries. He covered the topics of how to share the scriptures, how to begin teaching (and a role play) and how to work with members. He hopes to build a video library that is unique to our mission. We realize most of our missionaries are visual learners given the time they spent on YouTube and other types of media before the mission. These will also great memories for our family and grandkids after the mission. ;)
This week I have spent a lot of time with the missionaries in companionship study this week and multiple district meetings. I was able to go to four different sister companionship. Working with the sisters is a highlight for me. The night before my visit they send me an investigators’ doctrine of Christ need such as increase their faith in the Savior and His atonement or principles of the Gospel that will help them understand what will help them draw nearer to God. As I study the next morning I have distinct impressions from the Holy Ghost on specific messages, ideas and invitations that the sisters should extend to the investigators. I have had times where the sisters had me study a certain lesson for an investigators and I come to them with a different lesson only to find out they had the same impression as well. Companionship study allows me to see Heavenly Father involve in the specific and small details that will bless His children that we are teaching. Amazing!!! I attended district meetings in Sunnyside and Houston 9 and then an impromptu planning training with part of the Houston South zone. After that training, I took Jessie and her friend Sebrina to the Sugarland Natural History Museum. It is a small and somewhat interactive museum. We had fun afternoon there.
The kids had a half-day on Friday, unfortunately Zac has been sick as a dog. He started to complain of stomach pain on Wednesday, by Friday was throwing up and has continued since. Doesn’t seem to have a fever so not sure what bug he has. Jessie's friend, Sebrina, has been able to come over to the house to actually play without doing homework. Makes her so happy! :) It is always good to see the bright spots among the not so bright.