King Triton

 

What a week. Last week was pretty standard with all the things plus I went to the temple to do initatories. I had hoped to do a session too but it didn't work out so I was at the temple for 45 min and drove for 3 hours but it was nice to go. I was lonely so I called a few friends and my sister but no one answered so I listened to General Conference all the way up and back. Lily went on a band field trip on that Friday and had a good time performing up in Baltimore at some teacher's conference. Other kids had early dismissal and dance and practice so I made rolls for a memorial service and then spent the afternoon driving around the county. 

That Saturday was Lily's last driving instruction and also dance rehearsal and then studio company all attended a piano recital and Curtis had practice and I went to Jeanne's baby shower.  It was so fun to hang out with Michelle's family and eat yummy strawberry cupcakes and laugh and talk and try to help the older ladies with the Jeopardy questions I had written years ago but resurrected for Michelle to use. Luckily Amy and Lexi started playing and then things got competitive and fun and they saved the game. Last Sunday Lily had signed up to make dinner for a family in need through NHS so I spent the afternoon showing her how to make lasagna and she made cookie dough brownies and we took bread and salad and went and delivered it all by 4:30 pm. I think it was more of a group home for people with serious disabilities and Lily got in some driving time and served and learned how to cook so it was a win, win, win. 

The down side was that Amber had asked me to go visit Karen with her but I said I couldn't since Josh was gone all day and I had to help Lily. Amber went without me (we were ministering companions to Karen) and ended up being there when Karen collapsed and basically went unconscious. Amber had to do CPR and call 911 and try to take care of everything because they couldn't get a hold of Steve or Jen and it was just crazy. Josh ended up calling me around 6pm on his way home from a stake meeting to tell me he was headed to the hospital because Karen had passed away and he wanted to go support Steve. I couldn't believe it so I called Amber but she didn't answer. Then Josh got home and told me she was the one that had been there and I felt so badly that I wasn't there with her to help bear that burden. Amber was kind of a mess for a few days from the trauma of it all but I went over Thursday morning and we talked for hours about it and I think she feels more peaceful now. She was the last one to talk to Karen but Amber's efforts to keep her heart going made it possible for Steve to say goodbye to her before she passed away at the hospital. Amber and I had visited Karen recently and it was plain to see that Amber truly loved Karen and she was such a wonderful example to me of the pure love of Christ. 

So that was how the week started. Brandon had play practice every night from 4-7 so it was a  lot for him but he loved it. Tuesday I went up to Waldorf and had brunch with Michelle (from high school) and we had such a good chat. It is fun to talk with someone who knew me when I was 16 and then talk about my 16 year old daughter. We know each other's families so well and agree on so much that it is always good to talk things over with her. I'm glad we live close enough to get together every so often and the apple pie stuffed French toast I had at the Silver Diner was delicious. I also taught a lot of piano lessons that afternoon.

Wednesday was the gym and then I had to get to school to process play tickets and then Josh and I went up to the temple with the youth for baptisms. It was Emma's first time and she wanted us both there or she didn't want to go so I'm so grateful I could work it out and find rides for my three other kids who had activities they couldn't miss. We drove all of Emma's friends and it was a bit noisy but we had a good drive up and a wonderful experience in the temple. I haven't been there with the youth in many years since Josh was always going as a bishop and I enjoyed being in the baptistry again. The girls were all super respectful and quiet and it was wonderful to be there with Emma. We're going to all go over spring break so that will be nice too. 

Thursday I went grocery shopping and then to Amber's and barely made it home  in time to take a shower before I had to get going again. I needed to be at school to serve the play kids dinner and then I stayed for the dress rehearsal. It was so fun to finally get to see the show! Brandon's costume was cool, although I wasn't a huge fan of his hair thing, but his pants and shoes were awesome and his trident and muscle suit were cool. The make up people did a really cool beard on him too. I enjoy being involved and it was fun to do the tickets and serve dinner and I sold tickets and concessions Friday and Saturday. It feels good to be a part of the school community and I will be sad when we are done with Evergreen. Anyway, dress rehearsal was great except some mic issues but I was so impressed with Brandon. He had so many lines and remembered them all and where to go and just did a great job! 

 

Friday I got a lot of the administrative business of the family taken care of and then went to school to sell tickets before the show. It got a little hectic with no cash box and no change and no one else had signed up but me but it all worked out, more or less. Josh picked up the other three kids and they got our reserved seats while I sat in the back with the Rays. The Ainas came and some other friends from church and it was so fun. I think Friday night was Brandon's best performance. Some of the mics still weren't working but the show was great. 

Saturday was our stake women's conference so I went to that while Josh was super dad getting Lily and Emma to dance (at different times) and Curtis to and from practice, and going to Brandon's 1pm show with the Wiests. I got back in time to go to the 4pm show with the Coxes and Noreen and it was good. I think everyone seemed a bit tired but they still did a good job. Brandon was so sad when it was over and didn't want to take off his costume or make up until bed time. We had dinner and watched Fixer to Fabulous and enjoyed our celebratory Crumbl cookies. I'm so proud of Brandon for trying something new and being so brave and working so hard. He is excited to try out again next year. 

 

 

I enjoyed women's conference. Our drive up was super fun with Noreen and Sarah and then the music was simple and sweet, the opening talk and our council was good and then I enjoyed my classes. One of them was different from what I was expecting but it was still a good experience. I was a little anxious to get home so I grabbed my lunch quickly and ate fast while chatting with Adi, Frankie and another young women from the LP ward that goes to school with Curtis. I would have loved some more chips and queso or guacamole but there was still a line and we needed to get a move on so that we could make it to the 4pm show. There was some traffic but we chatted and laughed the whole way back and it was fun. It was spiritually uplifting and always nice to be in the company of great women. 

Yesterday was a good, relaxing Sabbath day and it felt good to just go to church and then get organized for the week. I did make all my kids practice and I finished Lily's shutterfly book and then we had dinner and I went to the Relief Society broadcast. I got there a bit late because Lily opened up a fun box from the Valles in Japan right before I was leaving and there were so many fun things in there; what a sweet lady to still care about her seminary students even after she moved away almost a year ago. But the broadcast was nice and we had a sweet testimony meeting. I'm very grateful to belong to an organization whose purpose is to bring relief to those in need, both spiritually and temporally. I know it is divinely designed so that we would have opportunities to serve and bless others. Afterwards I chatted for just a few minutes but I needed to get home since Josh was at the church building doing temple recommends interviews. It was a very busy but very good week and I'm so grateful everything worked out.