Christmas and Beyond

Nathan and Sara looking at the book that Chiska Compiled

Christmas Morning I was surprised that the kids did not get up earlier.  We set out alarm for 7:00 a.m. with instructions to call us if the kids wanted to open their presents.  The alarm went off and when we texted Sara that we were going to breakfast she said that they were already there.  So we all ate breakfast and then we went back to their room and began to open presents.  I thought that Santa had dropped his whole load there.  We played until about 11:00 a.m. and then decided that rather than have Nathan go back to the care center then we would take him home and figure out how to get him in the house.  So we ordered the taxi to take him to the house.

Quilt that Chiska made

One of the things that got opened that morning was a quilt that was made by Chiska Williams from the fabric that was sent to her when she started the Group on Facebook, Nathan and Sara.  They also had a book with pages from people that had contributed fabric with messages to Nathan and Sara.  One of the messages even had cash in it.  There are pictures of Nathan and Sara looking at the book and of them holding up the quilt.

David playing at the hotel.  Maggie in foreground

When we got to the house he rode in his wheel chair through the garage as close as he could get to the door from the garage to the kitchen and Sara carried him on her back as a human walker and then we got him to the rolling desk chair that they have and he sat in that.  He seemed to like rolling around the house and looking at different things.  When he noticed something that was different he would ask about it.  He really seemed to enjoy seeing the dogs again and they seemed to enjoy him.  All though at first Hercules didn't seem to know him.  But, considering that he is about 90 in dog years that was not too unusual.

Isaac playing with his new nook

I thought that Santa had dropped his whole load at the hotel but I was wrong.  The kids had just as many presents to open at home as at the hotel.  We had a good time opening the gifts there and then everyone began playing and watching movies.  BJ and Holly had sent them Despicable Me 2 and Monster's University so we watched those for a while.

We had one scare.  Nathan was trying to watch what Isaac was doing with a game and leaned over the couch arm so far that his body flipped him out of the couch and onto the ground.  He could not get up so Sara and I attempted to pull him up.  I am sure that Sara did most of the lifting because I could hardly lift him.  He was soooo heavy.  We finally got him back in the couch after about two lifts but I felt like a real whimp.

Maggie with her Flashlight Bunny

Sammy trying to charge his nook

Getting Nathan to the bathroom with no handrails was also a job.  We were able to roll him in the chair but it would not go through the door so Sara had to pick him up and act as the human walker again and help him to the toilet.  Once he gets there he cannot pull down his pants himself so I had to go that and then he was able to go.  Getting him back was as complicated as getting him there.  It would be good if Sara could put in some adaptations but if she even puts in a few things here then she loosed her VA money which is $60,000 so she has been hesitant to put in any of the things he needs at this house because she wants to save it for a future house.

Sara fixed a great dinner of Ham and Funeral Potatoes with green beans.  She had also made cookies the day before and we had that and fruit for dessert.  It was a great ham that the Lions Club had got them for part of the sponsorship of their family for Christmas.

I didn't know that they have handicapped accommodated taxis

Nathan with Roxie

After dinner we got Nathan in the Taxi and followed it to the Meridian Care Center, Which is where he is staying right now.  It is a fairly nice care center and has a sign in the front that says it was voted #1 care center in San Antonio in 2013 but it is not like the VA Poly-trauma Center.  It does have a smell to it and Nathan has to go to a common shower to take a shower.  The room is very small and he is not required to share with someone else like most of the other patients because his wheelchair takes up so much room he would not be able to turn around.  The bathroom has the bars he needs but it is old and not very esthetically pleasing and much smaller than the one at the VA.  The Doctor at the center is working with Sara to get him to a place that is a rehabilitation center because this is a skilled nursing facility and they do some rehabilitation with him but he says it is not challenging like at the VA.  They have yet to pick him up and take him to the VA like they said that they would.  We looked around and went with Nathan to dinner and did visit for a while and went home about 8:00 p.m. because he said that was his bedtime.

Thursday we got up at 7:00 a.m.  We got ready and did prayer and scripture and then went to the Golds Gym close to their home with our visitor passes.  Then we went to visit Nathan.  Sara and the kids came about the same time and we all had a good time visiting together.  We went home for part of the afternoon about 3:30 p.m.   We just hung out at the house and ate for awhile and then I realized that I had promised Nathan that we would go back to the care center.  I texted him and asked if it was too late because it was 7:30 p.m. and he said that he was still up and would like us to come so we went over.

Sammy and Isaac playing at home

We had a good talk at the care center.  Nathan is talking so much better but he says it is not easy because he has to articulate so much to be understood.  He has some problem that is common in stroke victims that makes his emotions hard to control so he spent a lot of time explaining how he sometimes gets upset and crys or laughs inappropriately and it is hard for him to control once it starts.  He is trying hard to control it but Sara says that there is a medicine they can give him for it and she thinks that he needs it.  He is quite concerned about it because people are telling him that he is yelling and he does not think he is yelling at people but then once it started it is hard to stop.

We left the care center at about 9:00 p.m.  We thought that we would try to find our way home but we got lost and ended up in Universal City which is just next door to Converse.  We were just turning on our GPS when a policeman pulls Larry over for speeding.  It seems that they have a 30 mph on their mainstreet and we were going 42.  Larry was really upset.  He told the guy that we were lost but of course that drew no sympathy.  We are supposed to go to court on Feb. 12 so that will be interesting.

Sara trying to unwrap the doll ponies

Sara spent the evening dying her hair and doing things with her kids while we were at the care center.

Friday we went through the same rituals as Thursday in the morning because we had promised Sara that we would tend the kids for her in the afternoon so that she could get her hair cut and do a few things that she needed to do.  Larry did help her get her van to the repair shop in the morning so she could get some things repaired before they go to St. Louis to visit her dad on Sunday.  We thought we might get back to the care center that night but it did not turn out that way.

I spent most of the afternoon working on our budget so that we would know where we are.  Larry spent most of the afternoon watching Bones on Netflix.  I watched with him.  The kids spent the afternoon playing on their electronic devises and with their Christmas presents.  It was really cute listening to Maggie and Sammy playing with the Castle that she got for the Christmas to go with some type of standup pony dolls.  It is always fun to listen to their make believe as they talk.

Gingerbread houses the kids made before we came

Sara made some bean soup for dinner with the ham that we had for Christmas dinner and then she went out again.  This time she took Maggie with her and they had a good time running errands together.  They came back about 9:30 p.m.  Larry went to bed but I stayed up looking at the internet about Kathy Reich the inspiration for Bones and then Facebook.  I should have been working on this.  I also tried to connect my active link for Weight Watchers but the website would not work.

This morning I slept in and so did Larry because I turned off my alarm.  We got ready and went to the gym.  Then we went to see Nathan.  He was just finishing up lunch when we got there.  He had not gone to rehabilitation today and his bed was not made but he was in good spirits.  We had a good talk about a lot of topics.  He is still concerned about his lack of control of his emotions.  We stayed for more than an hour but then we needed to go get Larry some lunch.

When we got to the house Sara and the kids had left.  She had activate the alarm and it went off.  Larry did not know what to do so we got the number in late.  Luckily the person who called the house took the fact that I was the mother-in-law and only called Sara.  Sara had really worked hard to get the house clean while we were gone.  She was trying to get it cleaned before she leaves tomorrow.

Terrarium that Larry and Leslie sent the boys when Nathan had his stroke

Sara went to see Nathan so they did not get home until about 3:30 p.m. We ate lunch and watched a Bones.  I think we are addicted to Bones!!  Then we went back to visit with Nathan for a while.  We stayed until 5:45 p.m.  We have been  able to have some good talks with Nathan this time.  He is more there cognitive and less emotional than before and he is trying so hard to figure out how to deal with the problems of the stroke.

Sara wanted to go to a party with some friends tonight so we are babysitting again for her.  Boys are watching a movie.  Maggie is asleep. We are watching Bones.

Christmas Eve 2013

David, Isaac, Sammy, and Maggie as we arrive at the hotel

Tonight has been an exciting night.  We arrived in San Antonio about 3:30 p.m. after spending the morning at John and Judy Trolinger's last night.  We did not know what Sara had planned for the evening so we were pleasantly surprised to find out they had decided to have Nathan come for the night.  Because he cannot go to the house because of lack of handicapped facilities  Sara and Nathan decided to take the money they got from Wounded Warrior's project and go to a hotel at the river-walk in San Antonio.  I was amazed but at the same time excited at the prospect of having Nathan with his family for Christmas Eve.

Waiting in the Lobby for Nathan to get there and Sara to check us in

After we finished some projects at the house we left about 5:15 p.m. to meet Nathan at the Hotel.  Sara does not have a van to transport him yet so she has to call a taxi to transport him because of ADA regulations.  We got there and got checked in before he came.  After getting settled in the rooms then we went to the river-walk and went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner.  It was cool because they told us it would be a 30 minute wait and then they got us in within 10 minutes.

As usual the Riverwalk was beautiful with the Christmas lights

We had a good dinner despite the fact that Maggie fell asleep and David looked like he did not feel good but he said he was just tired.  Nathan was able to take the stuff that they use to thicken his drinks and was able to drink Root Beer for the first time since the stroke.  Larry and I shared a steam pot called Joe's Bean Bake.  Usually they have good seafood but the lobster that I got looked like he was a little disable.  Not much muscle.

At the end of the meal Sara got out her card to pay for the meal just as the manager came by and told her that another patron in the restaurant had offered to pay all of our bill for us.  They wanted to be anonymous but they paid for the whole meal.  It was great that someone would do that for us.  I am sure it was because Nathan was with us and had his wounded warrior backpack and hat on.

Waiting for dinner

Then we went back to the hotel and when we were getting on the elevator a person  came up to him and told Nathan thank you for serving and that they really admired him.  Nathan started crying.  I am not sure why but I am sure he appreciated it.

Still waiting and Maggie is going to sleep.

We went back to the hotel with our emotions high and appreciative for all that people do for Nathan and his family. When we got back we downloaded a game to my phone called Stack your States for Sammy.  It is a geography game so it has some redeeming value.  Then we gave the kids their presents.  I was worried that David would not like anything that I had for them but he seemed genuinely excited about the Illustrated Stories of Shakespeare that I got for all of them.  Maggie was so excited about her pink teddy bear with blanket that we got for her and Isaac was excited about the legos.  Sammy just wanted to play the game so it all worked out.

After we opened presents we all watched the Christmas story on the new lds.org bible videos and then Sara also played a video about how to bring the Christ back in Christmas and we had a family prayer.  Then the kids all started getting ready for bed.  It has been a good Christmas Eve for our first day with Nathan and his family.  So grateful we had the opportunity to come and spend this time with them.  Thanks John and Judy for paying for our trip!

For once a good smile

In front of the Alamo

The Christmas Tree at the Alamo

Maggie loved the Cinderella looking carriages they had at the Alamo

Trying to get a picture of our hotel, The Fairfield Inn, I didn't realize I was also getting a picture of everyone else going to the hotel.

 

December 20th

Today was the last day of our LDS Employment mission.  We got up at six as usual and got ready to go with all our routines. Nathan texted me about 6:40 a.m. so they get him up early in this new place.  I texted him back but he didn't answer me after a while.

We had only received about a half inch of new snow from the night before but it was still in the trees like it had just fallen.  We are supposed to get another storm tonight adding 1-3 inches so we will see.  I posted some pictures of the snow on Facebook and told Maren to show her children what a winter wonderland looks like.

We went to Sam's club to get a fruit tray to take so that we would have something to eat if they brought treats to the mission, which they did.  We also took a lunch so that we could make it until 2:00 p.m. because we needed to be home for the appraiser of our home for the refinance loan so we couldn't take the early lunch like we usually do.  When we got there they had a book for us, "When the White House Comes to Zion" that the missionaries had all signed for us.  It will be a great remembrance of our work there.

Larry left for about and hour during the mid morning and went to the post office to have them hold our mail for the three weeks we will be gone.  Then he also came home and got a check that Mom had given us for Christmas to deposit it in the bank.  So we have barely enough to get to San Antonio

While we were there Senator Hatch's office called me.  A Zenock Bishop (that sounds like a Book of Mormon name!) called and said that I should probably get hold of the Texas Senators about Nathan's placement and retirement.  They said that they would forward the information to Senator Conoyn.  Later he emailed me and said that Senator Conoyn's office would contact Nathan and Sara to see what they could do.

It was a really slow day today.  We only had about 6 people in today.  The computers were really slow also.  It seemed like it would take three minutes or more to load a new page.  Despite that I got all of my people done except one.  When we were getting ready to leave at 2:00 p.m. Frank, our boss, told us and Julie McKinstry to just go home because it was so slow and he kept the Hendersons.  Everyone gave us a hug, even Frank our boss, and told us we were welcome back any time.

The appraiser came and when he was leaving Larry asked him if he was going to be able to get the appraisal done so we could sign our papers Saturday and he said no it would be Monday or Tuesday so I guess that we will have to sign when we get back or have them email the papers to us to sign.

We went to the gym after the appraiser was here.  We stayed for about and hour and a half.  When we were walking they had a breaking story on the news that a judge in the Utah district court had declared that the Amendment Three to the Utah Constitution was Unconstitutional under the US Constitution 14th amendment.  The third amendment was  an amendment that declared that marriage was only between a man and a women in Utah.  Because the judge did not grant a stay hundreds of gay couples were going to the court house in Salt Lake City and getting legally married.  I was deeply disappointed with our society.  Larry was mad and continues to assert that Obama is the Anti-Christ and that the judge was one of his minions because he was appointed by Obama.

We came home and had dinner.  Then Larry announce that he was going to watch a "Bones" marathon on the TV.  I teased him and asked him what he was going to do when he got on the mission and could not watch TV.  He said he was watching it now so he would be ready when the mission comes.

We watched a couple of episodes of "Bones" and I wrapped some presents while we were doing that.  I also tried to get in a little walking.  I keep wanting to study a little about Kathy Reich the person that "Bones" is patterned after but I didn't.

We read our scriptures about 8:00 p.m. because we have to get up early tomorrow.  Actually we are reading "Preach my Gospel"  the missionary manual of the church to prepare for our mission.  It is a really inspirational book.  Larry went to bed then and I got up and walked for another half hour hoping to meet my goal for active link.  I watched the news on another channel while I walked and it was pretty much dominated by the same story again this evening.  They are now saying that it is going to snow on Sunday so that is not good news as we are leaving that day. 

I recorded my food and inserted the active link in the computer and I received 5 points for my efforts.  Don't know why it was so easy to get 5 points today and it is so hard sometimes.

December 19

It is a winter wonderland outside today.  It was snowing when we woke up and we had about 2 inches.  It snowed all day until about 6:00 p.m.  When we were outside shoveling tonight it was beautiful though.  Several of the neighbors bushes with lights on were covered with snow and it created a beautiful effect. 

Larry kept getting phone calls today about our refinance loan.  It seems that it finally was okay-ed by the underwriters so they said that we should be able to finish up before we leave for San Antonio.  That was good news.  But Larry had to find a few things for them and then the Assessors finally called and said that they are coming tomorrow.  So that was a good thing.

We went to the gym today in the morning but we only stayed an hour because we hadn't taken a book to read .  We like to watch "Bones" while we walk and the TV that they had at the gym was having problems therefore TNT was not being broadcast.  So we came home and watched an episode at home while we texted different people and worked on things on the computer.

I was hoping to go get Christmas presents for the rest of the grandchildren but when I subtracted the checking account we barely had enough money for the trip to San Antonio.  Maren had told me that she had gone into www.mine.utah.gov and found that I had some money that I needed to claim so I went in there to see if I could claim it but when I got in there it was another Donna Christiansen from Vernal, Utah that it was going to.  It was also going to Bryan Christiansen who was Emily Christiansen's son, who I think is Nathan age, so he must have married a girl named Donna.  They are no relation.  So I looked up Emily and she was on Linked In so I sent her a message about it.  But I could not get the money.

Sara put a message on http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nathan74 about all the problems she has been having getting Nathan a good place to be and get the rehabilitation he still needs.  She is also having a lot of problems getting the retirement that he needs.  I got so frustrated that I texted my brother Larry Jenkins again and asked him if he could find a lawyer in San Antonio that could help Sara with the problem.  Later when I was going through my emails I noticed that there was a way to email one of our senators from Utah so I tried the same thing for Orrin Hatch and emailed him asking how I could get some help.  When I told Larry he said that I should email Rob Bishop our representative because the representatives work with that kind of thing more, so I did that too.  Hopefully we can find some help with this problem.

Kirsten and I texted back and forth today about the family party and BJ called to see if they could use the car when they come over at Christmas while we are gone.  We got several Christmas Cards today and one was from Mom.  She put $100.00 in the card so now I can go get a few more presents.

After we ate dinner we got ready to go see the Stake President about our mission papers.  We had a good talk and he was excited that we were going.  He told us to pray for the apostle that will choose where we are going to go and which mission we will serve in so that he can know what is good for us and the people that we serve.  He said that he will finish filling out his part of the papers tonight and submit them to the missionary department tomorrow.  He seemed to think that possibly it would not take as long as they say because we have an early availability.

We came home and shoveled all the snow on the walks and the driveway.  It took us an hour so we figured that we did not need to go to the gym.  Then we  watched another episode of "Bones" while I entered my food in the Weight Watchers app.  We read scriptures and said our prayers and Larry went to bed.  I was just going to enter my activity link information but when I checked it I only had 3 bars and my goal is 4 so I paced while I watched the news.  Then I put the information in and I had my 4 pts so hopefully I will have a new goal reached in the stats for this challenge.

Well getting too tired to think so good night!

December 18th and before

Lately I have not been able to get myself to stay up late to write because I am usually not writing until about 11:30 at night so I just haven't done it for three days now. 

The last thee days I have been able to get at least 4 activity points for Weight Watchers with my active link.  I have decided that I have an awfully high baseline because I can go to the gym and work out for more than an hour and I still do not make my baseline until about 4:00 p.m.  Today I finally made it at 2:00 p.m. and I got 6 points!  I was moving around a lot today because I was out shopping for Christmas presents for my grandchildren.  I decided that was the most important thing that I could do because we are leaving for San Antonio on Sunday.

So the morning was composed of our usual routine.  Get up, read scriptures, say prayers, hug, eat breakfast and go to the gym.  I walked for about 2 miles and then did 10 minutes on the elliptical and worked on 5 machines mostly for my legs today.  When we came home we ate an early lunch and then I made some salsa from some frozen tomatoes that I had from the summer.  Kirsten came by and got a nut cracker so she could crack some nuts for Jon.  Then Larry left to get tires for the car for the trip and to get it checked out.  I was going to work on curriculum and then decided that I needed to mail some of the presents I have from here and get presents for the ones that will be at the party on Saturday.  So as I mentioned before, I went out for the afternoon and went to several stores but finally found a pink Teddy Bear for Maggie and some Legos for the boys.  I also mailed the presents to Jeff and Jakes's children so they might get there for Christmas.

Tonight we went to talk to the Bishop about our mission papers and what we have to do to be ready.   He said that he has to sign that we understand that we might not go were we requested and we told him that we understand.  We were instructed to call the Stake President about our interview with him so that it is completed and our papers can be submitted before we leave so we did that tonight and we may know when we will meet tomorrow.  The Bishop is so excited for us to go.  He asked us several times if we had any preference but we left that up to the Lord with the request that we go to San Antonio.

Monday we got up and did the routine.  Then we went to Weight Watchers.  We both gained weight but we weren't surprised because we had so many bad days the week before where we over ate.  I was kind of in a funky mood because of that but we made a commitment that we would buy some free foods like fruits and we have done better this week so far.

Maren called about 8:00 a.m.  She was frustrated because the thread in her needle kept breaking.  I told her to change the needle because she had tried everything else.  Then I went in the kitchen because she had hung up.  I said to Larry that Maren wanted to know what to do to keep the thread from breaking as she sewed.  He said, "She needs to change the needle."  I thought he was pretty smart.  We went on eating and then it dawned on me that Larry did not know anything about sewing.  I asked him how he knew that she needed to change the needle in the sewing machine and he said.  I heard you tell her that in the bedroom!

After Weight Watchers we went to the gym and worked out for about an hour and a half.  I felt like I had really worked out but I did not get my baseline until about 5:30 p.m.

Nathan started texting me in the morning about 6:50 a.m. and we talked off and on all day by texting.  I was impressed by the things that he wrote on his blog at http://www.iamnotdeadyett.blogspot.com/.  I told him that even though he felt like he was in a coma and did not remember what was going on around him that we felt like he was cognizant and he would blink his eyes to answer things.  He posted a comment about that tonight.

I called Misty and Nikki to figure out which of the books I had purchased for their kids needed to go to which children.  Their kids along with Ryker got the most books because they posted wish lists on the Usborne books website. Then I spent most of the afternoon working on getting our checkbook balanced so that we knew how much money we had.  We were disappointed to know that we only had about $269.00 left for the trip and for some of the presents we needed to get.  But it always feels good to know where you are and have some money left over.

For Family Home Evening Larry and I wrapped all the books and got them ready to send to the grand kids.

Tuesday morning we went to the Bountiful temple after we went to the gym.  We ended up being the witness couple again.  It was awesome.  It makes it so I pay better attention.  I felt like the spirit told me that I didn't need to worry about the money so much but that was Satan working on me to discourage me.  I have been able to see how to accomplish things that yesterday seemed impossible.  We did not get home from the temple until about 4:00 p.m.  I did a name that I had found that Nathan reserved before he was married.  Larry did one of the last of the ordinance cards that we had printed with the data base that Judy gave us.

We fixed dinner and cleaned up. Kirsten came by for a few minutes to get her Christmas money.  She had Taylor with her.  We haven't decorated much but we did put out a few things and Taylor was completely enamored with all the new things that we had out.  She had to show her mother each one.  It was fun to watch her.

 I watched some news and then I went to work until 10:00 p.m. working on the Marketing Curriculum.  I am so frustrated because it is taking so long.  Larry went to the gym for a while.

After we read scriptures for the evening and said our prayers I decided to walk because I had not gone to the gym with Larry in the evening.  I watched an NCIS on On Demand while I paced back and forth and was able to get in enough walking to get me to 4 points.  Kirsten called when I was walking to find out about Smart Wool socks so I talked to her again for a while.  It was midnight before I got to bed so I set the alarm for 8:00 a.m. and we slept in.

December 15th

I cannot believe that it is getting so close to Christmas.  We will be leaving for Nathan's and to see John and Judy in a week.

Yesterday we went to the Family Search Center to work in the morning.  We were the only ones that came in though except for Marsha Edwards that works with us on the third Saturday.  I spent most of my time working on catching up on this blog that I had got so far behind on.  Larry found two censuses with a Great Grandfather on and was busy trying to reconcile the differences of the two.  The 1850 census only listed the initials of the children so he was frustrated about that.  And the 1860 census did not match up for age and place of birth.  I went in and attached a few sources when I got through by just using the "search records" button on the Family Tree person page for a few ancestors.  I still need to change the title of the city directories that I attached to Larry's grandfather that they called "Daddy Jack".

We had talked to Steve Libby about fixing our stair railing and handrail and a few ceiling problems and he called and wanted to do that when we got home.  It looks great and hopefully we can keep it that way for a while.  We had to go to mom's to help her so we just left him here working with his son, Bowan and when we got back it was all finished.  Now we just need to figure out how much it all cost.

Michelle called while we were at the Family Search Center and asked if we could tend Kallise while they went to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Program last night.  Kallise is only seven and you have to be eight to attend anything at the conference center.  Because they were planning on leaving at 4:00 p.m. we took her with us to mom's and she was great fun.

We did some vacuuming for mom and some things on the computer.  Then she wanted to go grocery shopping at Kohler's in Lehi.  We followed her around as she got her things, but she was glad we went because it was really slushy in the parking lot and she was afraid that she might fall.  She bought a donut for her and Kallise to share Larry and I declined. Then she wanted to go to Smith's Marketplace.  I thought it was still in American Fork but she took us up to the Alpine Highway above Lehi and we went there.  I could not believe how it had built up there just since I moved from Vernal.  If you remember Mom went and traded some pajamas she bought online at Macy's a few weeks ago and I could not get her to try them on.  They looked way too big to me but Mom just bought them.  It turns out that they were mislabeled and they were actually 2x which is not the size my mother will ever be!!  Anyway Smith's marketplace had pajamas on sale for $19.99 so she wanted to go there rather than go to Macy's and trade the others.  We found some that she liked and they said XL so I hope they fit her this time.  She has sure had a hard time getting some pajamas!!

When we got back to her house it was about time for us to leave so we could get back for the Ward Christmas Party.  We got home in time to rest for about 30 minutes so I plugged in my phone because it had died at mom's and I had not taken a charger.  Ifound that Nathan and Kirsten had tried to text me.  Kirsten had called while we were at Mom's and wanted to know if we could tend Taylor so they could go Christmas Shopping.  I told her we could take her to the Ward Christmas Party.  So I texted her that we were home.  Initially she was going to bring her but then she texted that Taylor wanted to stay with Kyle and Brooke.  I texted Nathan back and we talked for a few minutes but then he didn't answer so he must have been busy.

We went to the Ward Party with Kallise.  We sat by some empty nesters at the party.  They had white paper on the tables and crayons so Kallies went to work drawing a picture of herself and several things to go with it.  I wish I had taken a picture of it.  Then she and Larry started playing this game where she was meowing like a kitty and he was looking for the kitty under the table.  Then he was challenging her to do math problems and was very impressed at how smart she was about math.  She could do all of the different types of math problems and she is only in 2nd grade.  I was impressed at how much he was playing with her.  He doesn't always do that.

We ate way too many cookies at the party and they had baklava so I had that before dinner.  They had a baked potato bar and then desserts that were donated.  It was all very good.  They had a program but it was hard to hear from where we were.  They had the primary and the youth sing some Christmas songs and then they had made video of all the primary children answering questions about Christmas.  The Bishop also gave a nice talk reminding us of Presidents Monson's plea in the devotional to Remember Christ for Christmas.

We went home and Kallise played on the Super Nintento while Larry watched.  Again a first I have not seen him spend so much time with a grandchild except maybe Taylor.  I watched a couple of episodes of Elementary on the TV and then Larry and I read the first chapter in "Preach my Gospel"  starting to get ready for our mission.  Michelle and the family did not get there to get Kallise until about 11:30 p.m. which was expected.  Ethan said it was good  but he was tired.

This morning Larry and I did not want to get up.  We read scriptures and then lay in bed until about 8:00 a.m.  Because church is at 9:00 a.m. we finally got up.  We were slightly late which hasn't happened for a while. 

The theme of Sacrament Meeting was "How coming to Christ can make us happy".  There was a returned missionary from another ward that talked and gave a great talk showing that in Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life he teaches that we are happy if we come to the gospel because of God's love for us and yet to be truly happy we need to participate in the fruit of the gospel by living the things that Christ teaches and that is how we truly become happy in this life.  It was a great talk.  I wish I could remember more of it.  The last speaker talked about the happiness that we can experience if we will do our family history work.  That is something I can testify is true!

I substituted in Primary today in the 5-6 year old class.  It was so fun to be in Primary again.  They were learning some new Christmas songs.  One was about what Samuel the Lamanite said about the birth of Christ:

Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus

Said Samuel, "Within five years

A night will be as day,

And Baby Jesus will be born 

In a land far, far away."

Hosanna! Hosanna!

Oh, let us gladly sing

How blessed that our Lord was born;

Let earth receive her King!

Across the sea, in Bethlehem,

Lord Jesus came to earth

As Samuel had prophecied,

And Angels sang his birth

 Then they had a new song about wanting to hold the Baby Jesus.

Could I Hold The Baby

It's Christmas Eve, I'm tucked in bed.  I'm snug and warm, my prayers are said.

I start to think about the first Christmas night.

The manger warm, the baby fair, the star that led the shepherds there,

And what I'd say to Mary as she smiled at the little Christ child.

(Chorus)  Could I hold the baby?  Will he smile at me?

Does He know why He is born and what his life will be?

Could I hold the baby and tell Him of my love?

How glad I am that Jesus Christ was sent from heaven above!

Now ev'ry day the whole year through, I'll think of all that I can do

To be like Him and live as He showed me how.

And I'll remember that Christmas toys are not as dear as girls and boys

That Jesus loves each one of us endlessly.  He loves you and me.

(Chorus)

How glad I am that Jesus Christ was sent from heaven above!

I love Primary songs.  I wish I could include the music also!

The lesson in class was on how the children could be good examples of how to live like Jesus did.

We thought we had an appointment with the Bishop to talk to him about our mission but Larry talked to him and he said he needed to talk to us on Wednesday, when he is at the church, after Larry's medical papers are in.  Larry told me on Friday that the Bishop wanted to talk to us about our Mission because he was concerned about our finances.  Some how I took that that he was going to tell us we did not have enough money so I have been stewing about that all weekend.  The Larry says that is not what he told me.  So I am feeling a little crazy about that.

This afternoon after eating lunch Larry put on BYU TV on and we started to watch it.  I actually slept through a great deal of it but I did wake up to hear a talk by Tad Callister of the Seventy that he gave at BYU Idaho at a devotional that I thought was the best talk I have heard about how to keep the law of Chastity in this crazy world and why it is important.  You can read it here:  http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2013_1_22_Callister.htm

 Then I finally got up and did some pacing for a while.  As I did I listened to a talk that Bishop Gerald Causse gave at a BYU devotional on Friday.  I had so much good information on how to overcome your weaknesses that I decide I wanted to post that link also:  http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2157

Then I came in my office to type this blog and to try to get some calls made today.  While I was working Larry went for a walk outside and then he fixed dinner.  He is a great husband!  So glad I married him!

December 9th and before and after

Well I suppose I should finish out the day for Saturday before I move on. 

I worked all of the afternoon and part of the evening on the curriculum because it was snowing and I didn't want to go out in it and I needed to get it done.  I was able to get several pages written on the media that are used for advertising and start on public relations before the night was over.  I worked so long on that that I did not feel like blogging that night.  Again I was tired.  Larry mostly watched TV that day but he may have been doing something on the computer.

I also spent some time on the phone texting with Nathan and Sara separately.  I am frustrated that he has received a 60% classification for somethings on his discharge and retirement but I really do not understand it.  Sara said that he has 100% for depression and speech.  I spent some time talking with Sara about the new place and suggesting that she get a lawyer to help her.  I talked to Nathan about how he liked the place.  He said it is okay but he really doesn't know what to think.  I said something about if he worked really hard he could go home eventually and he answered, "I have been trying to get better for a long time.  I don't know if I can try harder."  I felt bad after that because I know he is working hard and I forget that he has been trying so hard to get back anything that he can do.  I am sure it must be frustrating to be trying so hard and having so many problems to deal with.  Sara said that the new place is making him be more self-reliant, which is not bad, so I asked him if he could dress himself yet because I know they were working with that at the VA but he said that he can't dress himself yet.  Then he said that his place has its highs and its lows.  I feel so frustrated being here and wanting to help and not being able to do anything except try to understand.

Sunday's Snowfall

Sunday we had a wonderful Sacrament meeting themed "Come unto Christ"  Several people talked but the last Brother Foy gave an interesting analogy.  He told about how he had gone to Cancun with his wife after a lengthy recovery from a collapsed lung.  He said that they went out on the boat and they were going to go snorkeling.  He likes to snorkel and so when they stopped and they began to prepare when he got his snorkeling equipment he just jumped in without a life jacket.  He was having so much fun snorkeling that he didn't notice that the current was sweeping him away from the boat until the spirit told him to look up.  He was about a mile from the boat.  He said that he started to swim and he was still being pushed back.  He began to panic because he did not have his life vest on and so he said a prayer to Heavenly Father for some help.  Shortly after that he had a small boat pull up along side him and asked him if he needed help.  He said he did not know why but he just kept swimming.  So the boat left.  He likened it to sometimes we ask Heavenly Father for help but then we do not listen to his promptings and we try to do things for ourselves when it would have been easier to listen to the prompting and so what he tells us to do.  We often don't accept the help when it is given.  He eventually made it back to the boat but it would have been easier to get into the boat.

We are taking the Marriage and Family Relations class in Sunday School.  The lesson this week was on the Family Proclamation to the World and a talk that Elder Boyd K. Packer gave in 1993 entitled, "For Time and All Eternity"  We spent our time talking a about the proclamation and the timeliness of it's teachings.

In Relief Society we had a lesson on Joseph Smith from the writings and speeches of Lorenzo Snow.  It was interesting to me to realize that Lorenzo Snow had the opportunity to know Joseph Smith intimately and that he spoke so highly of his character.

Snow in the back yard, about a foot

We went home and fixed a quick lunch of our favorite Quesadilla's with fresh salsa and then our Home teachers came to visit us.  As it had snowed the night before we had to hurry and shovel some of the snow so they could get to our house.  We had not got up early enough to get it shoveled before church. We got about 8-10 inches.  I took a picture of the snow and posted it on Facebook in the morning.  After they left then Larry went to his Home Teaching Families and I spent about an hour shoveling snow on the sidewalk to the north of the house.  Our neighbor had used his snow blower on  the snow on the front public walk.  Later Larry came home and used the snow blower on the driveway.

I went in to find the story "The Gift of the magi" by O. Henry on the computer.  I had agreed to decorate a table about a story for the Relief Society Christmas Dinner on Sunday.  While I was working on it Nathan texted me and we talked for a while as I prepared the story to email it to Merrilee Morgan who was in charge of the program and the tables.

While I was talking to Nathan I remembered that it was Maggie's birthday and Nathan reminded me that it was my sister, Annette's birthday.  I tried to text Sara to Skype with Maggie for her birthday but she wasn't home so it never worked out.  Larry called Matthew because his birthday was on Friday and we had a good time talking with him about his birthday.  He said that they are having a party next weekend and going to have three TV's hooked up downstairs so they could play video games.  I always like talking to Matthew because he is so energetic.  Later in the evening Annette commented on my snow picture on Facebook and it reminded me again to call her for her birthday and we had a good talk.

At 6:00 p.m. we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on TV.  It had some really good talks.  I was especially interested in a story about how the song "Far Far Away on Judea's plains was written.  Apparently the author was asked by one of the leaders of the church in St. George to write a song for a celebration they were having in St. George for the holidays.  He prayed and tried to write a song but it didn't come to him for a while.  Then one night he was awakened in the night with the song and words in his head.  His wife held a burning piece of flannel over something for a light as he tried to write it out so he would remember it.  I had always thought that the song was just one of the traditional Christmas carol's so it was interesting to find out it had Mormon roots.

Monday we got up and did the usual routine in the morning.  When we got home from the Gym we ate lunch and then I started working on cleaning my desk.  It was such a mess that I had a hard time working on the curriculum on Saturday.  I found the theater tickets that Erick and Heather had given us for our birthdays.  I also found a gift check to Baskin and Robbins for $2.00 worth of something there. I also put several things in the DI pile and threw a lot away but I finally got my desk organized so I did not feel like I was working in a mess.

Nathan texted me again and we talked back and forth.  He was concerned that they wanted to give him a shot for blood clots in his stomach and wanted to know what I thought. He had told them they could give it to him when he was asleep and wanted to know if I thought that was okay.  I told him to ask them if it was safe to give it that way and if they really had to give it to him in his stomach because I have heard that is a painful way to get shots.

Kirsten did not want to do FHE this week and maybe for a while because she got a new job  and she works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the evening.  So I got the idea that we could use our movie tickets and go see a movie for Family Home Evening.  We looked on line and Disney's Frozen was playing at the place where we had the tickets so we went to see that.  It was a good movie.  Very well done but it was not my favorite movie.  It had a good message about love that I appreciated.  It was an AMC theater that has the recliner seating so we laid back and watched the movie in comfort.

Tuesday I spent the morning looking for Christmas decorations that I could use to decorate the table for the Relief Society Christmas party.  I spent a lot of time going through boxes and running up and down stairs.  I found some things for the table and I also found some decorations to put out that are nice for Christmas but not a lot of work.  Larry and I decided that because we are going to Texas for Christmas we are not putting up the big tree.  We have a small tree about 2 ft high that I got out so I was not such a Scrooge.  I actually got as many points running around working on that as I usually do going to the gym.  So I got my exercise.  Larry went to the gym while I worked on that.

I took the things to the church at 3:00 pm and Larry came too to help the High Priests set up the tables for the dinner.  Then I went to see Dr. Flitten because my foot has been cramping up when I walk.  I have also had some callouses on my right foot and on a lot of my toes.  He cut part of the callous off on my right foot and my toes.  It didn't even hurt and gave me some cream to buy to keep on it.  He also put a pad in one of my shoes that has been making the callous under the inner sole and told me next time I buy shoes to get a half size bigger.  It felt a lot better when I walked on it after the Relief Society Dinner.  When I got back Larry had already set up the table for me so I didn't have to do much of anything.  Thoughtful husband!

When I got home we decided to go to Bowman's to get some bananas and my prescriptions that needed refilled and the cream he told me to get.  The cream was as much as all my prescriptions combined.

The dinner was great.  It was so much fun.  And I just ate the dinner so I had about 30 extra points for the day.  After the dinner Larry and I went to the gym so we were up kind of late that night.

This morning I got up at 7:00 a.m.  Larry was fasting for a medical appointment for today at 10:00 a.m. and he wanted to go to the gym early.  He left and I was coming but I ended up calling Mom and talking to her about Aunt Donna.  Merrilee had messenged me on Facebook that she was in the hospital for low sodium and then that they had put her in a care center at the Dr. recommendation for 10 days.  Mom and I had a good talk about a lot of things.  It has been good to have her live a little longer than Dad.  Dad was always the one that wanted to talk to us and I think it is helping me to understand her better and learn more about her family to not have him there to dominate the conversation.  Not that Dad was bad but he tended to be the one that talked all the time up until a few months before his death.

After that I got ready and went to the Gym.  I missed Larry because he had already gone to the doctor.  When I got home he came home within a few minutes.  I was surprised because besides the physical they had told him that he needed to talk to Dr. Flitton about his feet and get a stress test.  It made me realize that I am in better health than I sometimes realize.  Of course he had to do those things because of his diabetes.

After lunch I worked on the Marketing Curriculum until about 4:00 p.m.  Then my visiting teachers came to visit and we visited for about an hour.  I texted my cousin Merrilee to see if I could get her to go to Weight Watchers but she said she didn't feel well enough (then she posted she went Christmas Shopping that night on Facebook).  But that was okay with me.  Larry and I went to the gym.  Then we went to Baskin and Robbins with the Gift Certificate that I found.  It just happended that they have a two for one sundae promotion on Wednesdays so we were able to both get a sundae for $2.83 instead of $4.49 for one.  We got the Winter White Cherry Fudge with Fudge Topping.  It was heavenly.  Larry also got a scoop of Peanut butter fudge ice cream in his but I didn't want to ruin my sundae.

Thursday morning Larry had his appointment with Dr. Flitten so after the usual routine I  worked on the Marketing Curriculum while he was gone.   When he came home he said that Dr. Flitten thought his feet looked good.  His VA doctor said that his feet looked better than most diabetic feet that he has looked at so he is doing good.  After we had lunch we went to the Gym to workout.

In the afternoon we went to the Salt Lake Temple.  That way we thought we could get a parking place easier and we were right.  We left the house about 2:30 p.m. and got into a session by 4:00 p.m.  We were out of the session by 6:00 p.m. so we were able to eat dinner at the temple cafeteria and then we went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert.  We got there about 6:50 p.m.  You have to be there about a half hour early or you loose you chance for a seat even with a ticket.  The program was a wonderful celebration of Christmas.  It was just a fun date afternoon with the temple and the concert. Larry and I had a great time.  As usual it was really cold on Temple Square and I was a dunce and only wore my suit jacket so I was really cold between buildings. I guess we should have taken some pictures but we were too cold to worry about it.  We are so lucky that Daniel is in the Bell Choir and can get us tickets.

Friday we went to our Employment mission.  It was pretty busy in the morning but in the afternoon it slowed down.  Frank agreed to have our last day as December 20th next week so we just have one more time working there.  We will miss the people there.  They kept telling us that they would not know what to do without us so it made us feel worthwhile.  It has been a good mission for both of us.

It was a dreary day all day and the moisture was freezing in the air and so it was kind of like light snow.  The sky was gray and white like it gets when it snows but it did not seem to be really snowing.

After we ate dinner we went to the gym for about an hour and then we came home and watched two shows of "Elementary"in Xfinity On demand.

Busy Week

Well this week was so busy that in the evening I just wanted to go to bed rather than blog.

Tuesday morning we got up at 5:00 a.m. and went to the Ogden Cannery to help can beef stew.  We got there about 7:00 a.m.  Larry worked measuring carrots and onions to put into the mix.  I worked at a place on the assembly line where I had to make sure that all the ingredients were inside the can.  If not I was to pick it up and put it in.  When things were going slow at first it was not so bad but when it got going steady I felt like Lucy in the chocolate factory when they moved it up.  Sometimes the meat would stick to the side of the can and it took three or four times of trying to grab it before it went in.  We worked there until 11:00 a.m.

I made the mistake of wearing my suede walking shoes and they got stew all over the front.  I tried washing them twice to see if it was maybe fake suede but I haven't checked yet to see if they dried properly.  They were all covered with grease and white spots when I got home.  Note to self.  Wear washable shoes to the cannery!

When we got home after eating lunch I started working on the curriculum that I am writing.  I am trying to finish up the last three chapters before Christmas and it is taking me way too long.  I am so frustrated with this whole thing and pray each day that I can get it finished quickly.  It is a very hard project for me.

Nathan texted me when I was working that he was going to move from the VA soon. I asked him some questions about it but he didn't know anymore he said.  I wondered if he was confused so I texted Sara and she confirmed that he was being moved the next day.  I was shocked.  She was busy picking up kids from school so she said that she would update the caring bridge site later that evening.

This is what she posted:
"So....

These last few weeks have been pretty terrible. They told me at the beginning of November that Tricare denied sending Nathan to the Core Rehab center in Kyle, TX that we had been hoping he would get into. I was told I needed to consider other options, since Nathan may be looking at a discharge of early December. This was around the 5-8 of November. Melinda and I went and chose from several facilities. The next week, I asked all of the staff to come together to discuss options and possibly pushing back his discharge till after the holidays so Nathan could get thru em in a place he is comfortable. The doctor over Nathan was on vacation that week, so I wasn't able to talk with him, but I expected my concerns to be addressed. I also told them where I wanted Nathan to be moved and they said they would apply for that. The next week, the week before thanksgiving, Tuesday it was, the doctor came back from vacation and told the social worker, who told me (the docs don't like to deal with me)that he would not move discharge back and it would be taking place on December 2. Which I was more or less (mostly less) satisfied with b/c I had chosen another good rehab center. He is in an acute center now and the new one would be post acute. His therapy and everything would be happening at the new place. I was upset that they couldn't hold off the discharge by he has made so much progress where he is, but they assured me that he was reaching a "plateau" and his body needed "a break" to regenerate. The therapists told me they were torn bc he has made so much progress and they didn't want to see him go, but they felt pressure bc acute facilities are only supposed to be short term and he has been there 7 months. But I felt confident he would still get help and rehab in the new post acute facility. Meanwhile his retirement papers are quickly being pushed thru and I am making runs to jag to get those straight bc they evaluated him incorrectly. Anyone who has been around Nathan knows that he is more than 60% disabled and so we are fighting to get %s changed and special monthly compensations put back on that someone at the VA took off. Ugh. So anyways, the Thursday before Thanksgiving, I was called into the office of his Army case worker who proceeded to tell me that I had until the following Monday at 8am to choose a place or the decision would be taken from me. What?! I chose a place! Apparently it was a no go. The Army was requiring I chose from a list of five places that are both under the Tricare/va coverage. I freaked! Spent that Sunday driving to these five places, completely discouraged by what I was finding. Completely! I called the case worker and the va federal recovery coordinator in tears bc I felt my wants weren't being respected. I had already chosen a place and was ok if it was only covered by Tricare, I would worry about the va coverage when he is retired. So (this is the week of thxgvng) I spoke w them Monday morning and they said they would try to get it cleared at the place I originally wanted him. Tuesday they called back and said that the va social worker said there were no beds at the rehab center I wanted him in. I had to choose from the list of five I had been given the previous week, (all the while dealing with jag and trying to get special extensions on his retirement paperwork so we could get his monthly retirement pay up to where it should be)... (And dealing with a horrible chest cold/flu).... And Sam's diagnosis was also fully upped to autism spectrum this week, which we knew but it was still a step back and think moment.... So I had to chose.
I chose a place close to our church in the hopes that he would have more visitors from people he loved, as his visits have really tapered off, which has caused stress on both of us. It's not my favorite choice, but it was the least evils. A "skilled nursing facility".
Wednesday I was told it had been approved and he would be moved this week, after thxgvng. My dad came for thxgvng which was wonderful. And it passed too quick.
Monday morning, yesterday, I had a feeling I should call the rehab facility I originally wanted and see if there were in fact I beds, as I have been feeling lately like the VA docs just want to put him somewhere but still bring him back there for outpatient therapy, which makes no sense if they say he has plateaud and they think he needs a break. But I felt like they wanted the glory of still helping him, without the actually responsibility of housing him and if I put him in another rehab facility, they would relinquish control of his rehab, so that was a nogo from them. I called the rehab place but went to voicemail. Twenty minutes later the army rep from there called me and asked if I was still interested bc he hadn't heard from anyone. It old him that I had been told there were no beds. He told me they had plenty. So I called my army social worker upset and feeling lied to. Anyways, needless to say there's some BS about acute vs post acute vs skilled nursing and the number of rehab hours he would get at each... The VA docs talked the rehab guy down and told him that nathan needs skilled nursing and not another rehab facility, which I don't get bc they plan to bring him back there for rehab several days a week. So, I spent another hour of tear filled phone calls trying to convince someone to listen to me and let Nathan continue to work from the facilityI chose. No go.
He is being moved tomorrow to the skilled nursing facility by our church. He will receive rehab an hour or two a day, share a room with someone, and possibly be sent to the va for outpatient rehab a few times a week.

It was out of my hands and I've done all I can.

Nathan asked the doctor last week when he would be discharged and the doc said "I don't know".... Which is a nice way of stretching the truth and completely unfair to Nathan, who feels like he has had little say in a any of it, but that makes two of us."

Needless to say I was so frustrated.  Frustrated by the fact that this had happened but also frustrated that Sara had not reached out to get some help from our family.  I feel like we need a family fast to get some help with the disability classification.  Larry is classified as 70% disabled with his diabetes so there is so way that Nathan is only 60%.  I also told Sara to call her congressman but Mom mentioned that maybe she should get a lawyer.  I haven't talked to her about that but I think I will text Larry my brother and see if he can recommend someone.

We went to the gym in the evening and went to bed early because we had to pick up BJ and Holly in the morning at 7:00 a.m.

Wednesday we got up at 5:00 a.m. again.  I know that some people have to do that everyday as I once did for work but for Larry and I we are really stretching when we get up that early.  Although I don't know why as we survive.

Anyway we went to get BJ and Holly at the airport.  They got in a little early so they were frozen by the time that we got there.  I forgot to mention yesterday that it snowed and the temperatures dropped from the 60's during the day to the teens and 20's.  They had just left Hawaii with 70 degree temperatures!  It was so good to see them and have a chance to talk to them for a minute.  Because they had flown all night and not got good sleep they went to bed for a while when we got home.

June and Larry in mission picture

While they were sleeping we decided to go to the temple in Bountiful.  We hurried and got dressed.  Before we went down we went to our neighbors Brent Peterson and had him take a picture of us dressed up for our mission papers.  Then we went down and as we were going in the temple I realized even before we got to the desk that I had forgot my recommend.  So we turned around and went back.  With the recommend in hand and about 30 minutes later we entered the temple and had a great experience.  No throwing up today.  Larry was able to do the work for another one of his uncles.

When we got home about 1:00 p.m. BJ and Holly were just getting up and dressed.  BJ wanted to make french toast for them so we all had some.  I began making salsa because we had bought the ingredients for some and it needed to get made.  It was fun talking and visiting with BJ and Holly as we worked and ate.  When I finished the salsa and cleaned up the kitchen I told them I had to work for a couple of hours.

When I went to work I needed to read some information so I could understand what to write.  I had a hard time staying awake at the temple and I found myself falling asleep in my chair.  Finally at 4:00 p.m.  I went in and joined Larry for a nap for an hour.  So I only "worked" for one hour that day.

Holly and BJ at the Utah Jazz game

At 5:00 p.m. I got up and cleaned some strawberries and we ate those with vanilla ice cream
and then we went to Salt Lake with BJ and Holly to go to a Utah Jazz game. We parked at the Gateway so Holly wanted to go get some cookies at a store there. We got some exercise as it was about 3 blocks away and the Gateway mall is outdoors so we were cold. We got about two for each of us and then we went to the game.  Apparently they have a deal where you can buy a ticket with Pizza for dinner so we all got a Papa John's individual pizza and a drink and went to enjoy the game.  It was a good game until the end.  The Jazz was ahead most of the game but then could not make many shots in the Fourth Quarter and ended up loosing it to the Pacers.  It was a better game than I thought it was going to be considering that the Pacers are #1 in the league and the Jazz is at the bottom.

I learned that an individual pizza is not necessarily the amount you should eat if you want to lose weight however.  The pizza was 24 points by it's self.  And I am sure that the cookies were about 5 points each so I had about 48 points for the day again.  I did get a diet drink though!

Brooke, Holly, Kirsten, BJ, Kennedy, Jon, and Taylor at party

Thursday we slept in until 8:00 a.m.  Then we went to the gym.  We came home and had lunch and I began working on curriculum.  I was able to start writing the chapter.  At 2:20 I went to get a mammogram because I have to have it for my mission papers.  Then I came home and wrote until 5:00 p.m. when we headed to Logan for the Family Party we were having at Erick's new apartment there.

The party was so fun.  We had everyone there that lives in Utah except Michelle and her family.  Heather had cooked a roast and potatoes and carrots and everyone made something to add to it.  We bought a cake topped with Strawberries and custard and cream that looked wonderful so I had some but it was not that good.  BJ and Holly gave us some cookies that they brought in Hawaii that are dipped in chocolate.  They are sooo good.  Too good they are 4-5 points each depending on the type of chocolate they are dipped in and they are about 1x2 inches.  They also offered to pay $150.00 of our fare to come to Hawaii.  Now we just need to find the other money.  I was also impressed that Kirsten's husband Jon came.  He does not always come to family parties so I was grateful he would come.  They girls also were able to come as it was on a Thursday evening when Jon and Kirsten have them.  It was fun because when we got there Ryker came and gave me a big hug around my legs.  Heather said that he has been missing having grandparents close.

Erick, Heather, Brooke, Kirsten, Larry and BJ at Party

Friday we had our LDS Employment mission.  We got there and forgot that we closed early that day for a "Staff Meeting"  which was actually a Christmas Dinner at Golden Corral.  I tried to be good but I forgot that their fudge is 9 pts per serving so I put it on my ice cream.  So my meal was 22 pts.  Larry didn't even worry about points for that meal. So if we loose weight this week it will be a miracle.

We went home and laid down for a while and had a great relaxing afternoon.  Mom called and said that we should not come down on Saturday in the storm so I may have some time on Saturday to write the curriculum.  I updated her on the happenings in our family and she told me about her carpet getting cleaned and what was going on there.

Then we went to the gym.  I don't know if it was resting for the afternoon but I was really tired at the gym and almost couldn't get in my 2 miles for the evening.

I am writing this from the Family Search Center on Saturday morning.  We have to work until noon.  It is predicted to snow a lot today so we have not had anyone come in today.  Larry is working on getting some more of his ancestors that need work done qualified.  I got a packet full of information on the new goals of Family Search last night in the mail.  It said "Dear Missionary" so I guess someone does not have me on the list of released missionaries.  I was excited to get it.  I need to help some sisters in my ward and I decided that the "My Family" Book that they just brought out might be a way to start.  I needed 2 booklets and only had one and we have no money to spend.  So I asked Heavenly Father to help me find a way to get the other book.  He is so awesome in the way he answers prayers.  Now I have no excuse.  I have to take it to them and start helping them.  The Gospel is true and God answers prayers.