Book club, birthday, bridal shower

 

Glow in the dark volleyball with the YM was our Tuesday night activity. It went well, the ball glowed, the youth had fun. Grace had a pep band obligation so she needed to be picked up after. We lost so that’s the end for pep band, it was their 5th “last game” so they had a good run. 

Doggie skills class on Wednesday night. Linc was the star. 

Thursday was after school band rehearsal. 

Today was Jennifer’s bridal shower. It was fun and I am excited for her! It was also work Jenna’s birthday so we had cake. After school Grace went to burger fi with Belle and I went home then I went back and got her. After that Rob and I went to the outlet mall and visited the Disney store. When we got home I had book club. We had a good discussion and I enjoyed our evening.

So after I finished “Defending Jacob” I started a light book to clear my mind “the reluctant midwife”. I got literally almost half way into it when I realized that I had read it before! My minds like a steel trap I tell ya. Even once I realized I couldn’t remember the ending so I am still reading it and enjoying it. (Insert head shake) That’s a first. Normally I remember if I’ve read something even if I don’t remember all the details of the story. 

stream of consciousness

 This morning walking to my desk I saw a teacher decked out in goggles, gloves and a mask.  He always is.  Some people are still so very afraid of the virus.  I don't know his personal circumstances so maybe his reaction is warranted, or maybe mine is too laissez faire, but for sure this thing has been so divisive. In ward council this last week we talked about some of the families who are not attending in person, ostensibly because of covid.  Some of them have kind of legit reasons, like they are very very old.  Some of them go out to disney, work as high fitness instructors and/or send their kids to school but are worried about church (where we sit 6 feet part and wear masks).

It's almost Tanner's birthday.  I still can't even believe he is gone.  It's been the saddest thing.

Last night we got to talk to Ethan.  He calls late on monday nights.  I think this area is different than his last.  I don't want to put words in his mouth and it seems like there are things he is really enjoying about it.  I know he likes his companions.  They have been doing a lot of snow shoveling.  We serve where the need is.  I am still just really praying and hoping that Spain opens soon.  And I am so proud of him for going even in trying circumstances.  Ty and Connor and Will all have their papers in and their families are anxiously waiting to hear where they are going, and I am waiting too! I can't wait for Rob and I to serve.  I hope we can go on at least 2 missions.  

WandaVision.  What is up with that show, it's weird and fun. We've been watching and everyone talks about it. Other shows on my schedule: Call the Midwife, a new (to me) season is available on Netflix. For All Mankind (2nd season is on now). NCIS, I am weary but still faithful.  I'd like to see it end. Seal Team. I 💖 Seely Boothe.  He's old but still handsome, he's kind of a wreck but my guess it that's par for the course for warriors sadly. Young Sheldon.  So so funny, especially if you live with Rob and Grace!

Perseverance.  It landed!! 🌘 Actually it passed right by the moon and landed on Mars but what a cute little emoji that one is.

Grace is going to a Scarlet Pimpernel party.  She needs a costume, so does Lincoln. I think I am more excited than she is although she is happy to go.  I loved that book.  This week I am reading Defending Jacob for book club.  It's a good story, too many f-bombs though.  If it was a book I picked I would have put it down for that already.

Two weeks until Jenna and the girls come! Can't wait! 

Conference is coming up! Also can't wait.

We have a mandarin branch in our stake.  Our ward just attached to them so we will have their youth.  They have three girls and we are excited to have them join us.  Hopefully we will have two of them coming.  There was a big blow up between one of the girls and one of our girls (two years ago) that still hasn't blown over (tragic) so she will not be joining us, she'll continue to go to Avalon Ward.  (So sad).  Of the other two one is active and excited to come, the other we have reached out to but haven't heard anything. She may not speak english, although we have tried to go thru the Mandarin speaking elders.  We'll see.

Rob got a new truck and is happy about that.  

I am not the secretary any more.  (insert laughing out loud) I am the queen of short careers.  So Monday I started my new position and Jordan (our old  secretary) started her new job at Apopka Elementary.  She was super excited because it's more money, she's a single mom and her kids go to school there, and it's right by her house instead of 40 minutes away.  When she got there they told her that the school lost it's title 1 funding and her job was funded thru title one money.  This was emergency news for her, as you can imagine.  I took the emergency call and passed it on to Mr Guthrie immediately I said I would step down to my old spot and she could have her spot back. She cried and cried. This is not as altruistic as it sounds, honestly I was having such mixed feelings about it.  I did want the job and was excited to learn it, I missed my old spot and friends a lot, and I was SUPER concerned about the schedule. I applaud working moms, I think they can be awesome and amazing moms.  No shade at all. But for me I have felt so blessed to be home with the kids, and I still have a kid at home.  I chose to teach so I could have the girls schedule when I did have to work, and I felt super blessed that I was able to do that.  I have really worked odd sub jobs or small school things pretty much since Grace was about 4 but in my mind I was always able to feel like a stay at home mom because I was with them, and I had the same breaks as them. More money is always something we want...but right now more time is my priority. And I am super blessed that Rob's job is a good one and he is paid well.  We should be better money managers though.

Grace has been going a word of the day ACT/SAT prep.  Earlier this week the word was snollygoster.  A shrewd unprincipled person.  Fun word to know.  Today was polyglot. Someone who speaks more than one language.

I love the films the church puts out.  I've been watching some of the restoration of the gospel ones.  I was really touched by a scene that  was about Oliver and Joseph and the early days of translating. As you remember Oliver came after Martin Harris had already lost the translated pages, and after Joseph had suffered so terribly with guilt and sadness over that event.  Time had passed and Joseph had repented and was ready to translate again, in answer to Joseph's prayers Oliver was dispatched and came to work with Joseph. They began to translate and to learn many things, and to become friends. (the friendships we build while serving the Lord are the sweetest most tender ones) Anyway, when they were reading about baptism they decided to pray to God and ask about baptism.  That's when John the Baptist came to Oliver and Joseph and gave them the Aaronic Priesthood and the authority to baptize.  I was watching the scene where Joseph baptized Oliver, and then Oliver baptized Joseph and I thought of the great joy they must have felt that moment.  How relieved they were to have their own sins forgiven, but also how ecstatic they were to be called to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ. I thought about Joseph and how awful, terrible he felt about losing the manuscript and now to be completely clean and forgiven and to KNOW it. I am so grateful for Joseph's sacrifice giving his whole life, and then giving his life to restore the gospel. I am SO GRATEFUL for Jesus Christ for giving His whole life and then giving His life to save us all.  I hope I can give my life, and my heart, and all that I have and am to serve him.

Friday already?

Monday was Presidents’ Day and we didn’t have school. Grace and I went driving. We drove thru Minneola and MontVerde and lots of pretty farm country. The horse properties we drove by were beautiful. We drove about 3 hours total. We are trying to get her license before summer starts so we have to log a lot of time on the road. 

Tuesday I went to work and I was offered the job as secretary  and asked to start that morning. I said yes and crossed my fingers. I had four days to train before Jordan left, and then she broke a tooth and had an emergency day off so we had three days and I am pretty sure I don’t know how to do it. But it’s all me come Monday so I’ll have to figure it out. 

Tuesday night we went to Faith’s lacrosse game for YW. Grace had a pep band basketball game to go to and we had some girls in quarantine because one of them got Covid, and some other missing girls so we were kind of small in numbers but we had a really good time and Faith was happy we came, and she scored a goal and we chatted with her parents so it was a good activity over all.

Wednesday Lincoln and Grace had dog class. It’s at the Home Depot about 30 minutes from our house. I bring a book and read.

Thursday the band played at the play off basketball game. The game was excellent and we won! The band was super fun to watch and in other band news Grace made all county. 

Today Rob and I went out for Thai food. Then we went to the Evans to pick up Linc from Grace and stayed for a visit. 

 

Valentines

 We had a nice weekend. It rained on and off. Saturday morning we went to Costco, Grace had a lesson, R and I went to test drive a car but at the end of the day decided the flex has some more miles left on her, we went out to dinner, Mary came over and she and Grace hung out, we folded a lot of laundry and cleaned the house.

Sunday. Today is Valentine’s Day. We went to church. After YW meeting some of the girls went and put paper hearts on the doors of girls who don’t come very often. A small gesture but hopefully one that will make the recipients  happy.

We ate salmon for dinner. Rob and Grace went for a drive. And that’s a wrap.

Lock down

 

We are on lockdown. There are people on campus who aren’t supposed to be here. So I have time to post two photo pass pictures! (As I sit quietly in the dark in the records room)

Everything turned out fine, meaning no one was hurt. But now the kids are scared and honestly they are on edge all the time anyway so I anticipate a bad day in guidance and safe. The police are getting the intruders. It was 3 students who aren’t supposed to be on campus.  They were caught on surveillance films and they posted on their own social media so that’s dumb. They made some kind of threat which means this will follow them for life. 

But Disney was fun! 

Epcot

 

Grace and I went to Epcot with Lettie and Kristina. The girls and I were delighted to miss school and we picked a great day. It was warm and sunny and the park wasn’t crowded.

It’s the Arts Festival time which is one of my favorite festivals and it was really fun. We looked at a lot of art. 

We rode Frozen, the Mexico ride, Nemo, and the lands. We ate in Italy and Germany. The girls also rode Test Track. 

The girls said Kristina and I didn’t even see Disney because we were too busy talking the whole day. 

I’d give this day an A+

86

That’s the temp on this February day. I am sitting outside of homedepot with the windows down. I’m sweaty. Grace is inside with Lincoln. They are doing the advanced CGC course. This afternoon he took the test for his CGC certificate and got it, of course, he is a very good dog. 

Ethan was transferred to a new area yesterday. The picture is from a pday with his zone. We had a great chat on Monday night! We were laughing together at his struggles to use Spanish. 

 Our school secretary is going to a different school to be the parent involvement  coordinator. She will make more money and work at the same school as her kids so I am happy for her. I’m bummed because I do like her and it will be sad to have her go, but also because I was offered the job. It is more money, and it is the top classified job (not like government classified but as in not instructional or administrative staff jobs). And it is flattering that they want me. 

It is not without a big downside. It’s a 12 month job instead of 10. That’s the biggie. And I like my guidance friends and am really good at being the clerk there. I get to talk to the kids every day and I help people every day. I guess I still would help people and I’ll have a big office. So I pretty much have to decide now. And I am conflicted. I like working but I like having Grace’s same schedule and in the June/July  I won’t. 

What to do, what to do?

Lincoln

 

We picked up Lincoln from boot camp yesterday. He’s a good boy.  Grace is happy with his experience there. I thought he was good before and good now. I told Grace all along that she was the one who needed to be trained and I don’t mean that in a mean way. She has done such a good job with him but she hadn’t ever trained an animal before and being taught what to do and about how animals think and feel and respond is very valuable. Danielle, the trainer, is great and Grace likes her. They have a couple of sessions set up for one in one and I think that will be the most valuable part of the experience. I think one of Lu’s challenges is that her need is all wrapped up in his performance and expectations and whatnot. That makes it hard.

Midnight

 

Good news: her brain is fine. Bad news: the quest continues. Now we are off to revisit a cardiologist, rheumatologist, ophthalmologist, and a PT that specializes in pain management. Good news: Arnold Palmer is a really nice hospital.

Friday Lettie came over. We all went to Chipotle then the girls made cake pops and talked all night. 

Today we cleaned and shopped for groceries .Grace had a bday party to go to at Disney Spring. We dropped her off and put our name in the queue for Gideon’s bake shop. Then we left and went to dinner and back home. When our turn was up (4 1/2hours later) we went back and got our cookies and then sat and listened to a sidewalk concert until Grace was done. 

We got home around 9:30 and Grace went to bed while Rob and I stayed up way too late. 

The cookies were good, for sure.  It was fun standing in line (after our call back we could get in the 1 hour long line) because it is right by Raglan Road and I like their music, and we just chatted and people watched. If I didn’t live 15 minutes away I wouldn’t spend the time to get the cookie...although apparently people do. 

Grace had fun at the party. They ate at Chicken Guy and then Katelyn’s mom had rented out the theater so they went there to watch a movie. After the movie they went for ice cream which is where we met up with her. 

Thursday

 “The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them. How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give. If I carry only grief, I’ll bend towards cynicism and despair. If I have only gratitude, I’ll become saccharine and won’t develop much compassion for other people’s suffering. Grief keeps the heart fluid and soft, which makes compassion possible.” – Francis Weller

I like this quote.  I think it's so very true as well, we need to optimistic and we need to be compassionate.  That's kind of a life goal.

This week we didn't have in person mutual because someone has covid.  We met on Zoom and the Bishop talked to the girls about friendship and inclusion.  They love him and request him to speak quite often.  

We had a good talk with Ethan on Monday night.  He loves being a missionary! I'm delighted about that.

We had a little orthodontic drama this week. Back in november we went to the orthodontist because Grace's retainer had a little hole in it.  At that time we talked about replacing it with a permanent retainer but she had a little movement on a couple of her bottom teeth so the Dr said to wear the current one faithfully for two months and then come back to make the mold for the permanent one.  So she did and we went back, that's when we had the Lincoln drama that put Dr Johnson permanently on Grace's bad list.  We left that appointment with no visit and rescheduled for this week.  So Monday she got it in...and hated it.  Wednesday we got it out and now she's waiting for them to make a new removable one.  Good times.

Today we go back to the neurologist . My expectation is that they will have no news, since they haven't called us since her MRI or EEG. This is good because you never want anything to be wrong, and bad because there is nothing to fix.

It's been super cold this week. When you live in Florida this is a shock.  

sunday drive

 We went to church and then had BYC and then had our second hour.  The Clark's presented a "fireside" on accessing the power of your temple covenants for the 2nd hour.  They did an excellent job.  They have had some unique and miraculous experiences and really applied those lessons to their lives.  I know this is something we all really need to strive to do. In a nutshell it is receive personal revelation, have a strong relationship with the Savior, repent, and keep our covenants.  They also talked about their relationship with one another and the strength of their marriage and the power of the sealing covenant.  Rob and I are not there.  We have things to improve on, I guess like most people.  Of course in all areas of life there is room for improvement :) Lucky us, we never have to be bored because there is always something to work on!

We also went on a Sunday drive to Lake Apopka Wildlife drive.  It's free because it's basically a long dirt road around the north shore of Lake Apopka.  Anyway you can walk, drive or bike it.  We drove and we saw so many large alligators.  We saw turtles and birds and it was really a fun afternoon. 

We had the sunroof open and I stood on the seat and looked out like on a safari.  Rob was the driver.  Grace didn't want to come with us.  She should have though because it was pretty cool and she could have been the driver.  She needs 95 more hours behind the wheel to get her license.  I'd say we are not very close.