How has your week been? Did you get to watch conference? I attached my favorite moment of conference here for you to put on your mp3 player. I love the last climax phrase of this song. It made me cry. This was the last song on the Sunday Morning Session, the last message of that session which sang in my heart, "All is well. All is well." The spirit carries that message powerfully into my heart every time I hear the last notes of this song. I was thinking about it this morning and I had an image come into my mind of Peter walking on the water (not looking down at the waves and water around him to realize where he was or what he was doing, which would be impossible to his mind for him to do) but Peter looking at the Savior and his outstretched hand and trusting that He was not going to ask him to do anything that he couldn't do--or that the Savior wouldn't help him to accomplish, so Peter was walking on the water, ignoring the waves around him. I thought about the iron rod, how there are so many distractions along the side of the path, rivers of filth, fog, large and spacious buildings, people pointing and mocking, and I thought that the people who were holding to the rod had to keep their focus on the path and the rod and the tree and not get too distracted by everything else that was going on around them. I think that the world we live in is so full of tumult and catastrophe that it is easy to get distracted and start to sink in the waves around us. It is essential that we keep our focus on the Lord and keep our trust in His power and strength to help us walk the path before us with faith and a sure footing, even if our path is on water with waves around us, it can still be as sure and firm as solid ground, if the Lord has bid us come unto Him across that path--so with our faith in His word, we can traverse it unafraid.
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
We had a fun day yesterday. Michelle brought her boyfriend, Emmett home to meet the family. He isn't very tall, just taller that Michelle, but he is kind of stocky--sort of like Brandon Cowen, but broader in the chest and not pudgy. He has nice blue eyes and dimples, and he is friendly and outgoing. He has some of the same types of mannerisms that Michelle has, which is kind of interesting to watch. He laughs a lot and he talks like Michelle. He definitely fits into Michelle's group of friends in personality type. He skyped home while they were here and I got to virtually meet his family. They reminded me a bit of the Schultz family, only he is the oldest at 25, so they must be younger by a bit. Emmett also has a nice voice, as we sang the conference songs together. Everyone likes him, so that's a good thing. Michelle has been walking every day, and has lost some weight. She looks good.
We all were here for dinner after conference and we went for a walk around the park at about 8:30 p.m. It was funny to watch Isiah running after his dad. That kid can move. It has been sort of rainy this week. We would have a couple of nice sunny days and then some cool rainy ones. My daffodils are out. I trimmed the willow tree and the wisteria on Saturday. I need to trim the lilac bushes, rake the lawn and mow. . .the list goes on. Michael is going to come over and get some starts for his garden today. He only has about 2 weeks before he is going to basic training. They called the other day and asked if he would be alright moving his departure date up a bit, so he'll be leaving the 23rd of this month. At least it will be cooler, they told him. Shantel and Michael are excited, but nervous. Isiah will be with Shantel here, at least until July. That is when the next court date is. He will either have to go back to his mom at that time or be adopted out. Shantel said that 8 months is as long as they'll keep him on foster care without adopting him out, but she thinks his mom will get him back because she is trying to stay clean.
Becci had a fun time on her trip and now I am trying to get her to go back to school. She has home release for 1st period now so she doesn't have to be at school until 9:00.
Meagan has a male interest also these days. Someone from Joselynne's neighborhood was trying to set her up with this guy, Aaron, but she was already dating Brigham, so she gave them Meagan's name. So Aaron started by texting Meagan for a week or two while he was on vacation, and then last week he invited her over to his family's house in Farmington (Thursday), and they watched movies, and they got together again for games on Friday night at Brigham's house. So Meagan kind of likes him, and he is active LDS, 21, I believe. Seems like a nice enough guy. He has dark hair and eyes and he is tall--a little overweight, but not bad. Both he and Emmett have beards (goatees), but Emmett is balding and shaves his head.
So, things are always interesting around here.
Caryn got a teaching job with a residential treatment school in Magna. They have about 30 kids there of various ages --(teens) who are working through different types of issues, like eating disorders, behavioral problems, etc. They have school and counseling etc. at this center. I guess they come from all over the US and are placed in this school for 8 months at a time. Caryn will teach history and Spanish. Each kid will get an individual lesson based on their grade level needs. There is a school in Magna and one in Sandy. Caryn will alternate teaching at both schools. It does not run a regular school schedule, so she won't get summers off. She will start at $30,000 a year. She and Sammy are starting to shop for houses in the West Jordan area. Caryn will graduate the first part of May, but she is not going to "walk" because she and Sammy are planning to go to Vegas that weekend to see a comedy show to celebrate Sammy's birthday. She does want to have a graduation party at the house and invite people, so she can get money. . .Good luck with that, I say.
Other than that, nothing is really going on around here. . .;)
We love you, and miss you, and pray for you all the time. I am very proud of you and how hard you are working to learn everything you need to know. I was describing your living conditions to everyone yesterday at the kitchen table, and Sammy kept nodding. I guess he had some of the same things to get used to on his mission. He said that the first couple of months were the hardest, and then he got used to things. Here's to things getting easier for you.
We sure love you bunches.
Mom
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