Week Ending April 27, 2013

By way of explanation, Ted and I returned to Las Vegas to be with our daughter and her family for a week and to help with the new baby. We did not tell many people we were coming or that we were there because we would not be able to spend time visiting. Our time was primarily spent holding the baby and helping with the big brother and sisters. We had the wonderful experience of participating in the blessing of our sweet new granddaughter and we were thrilled to have all four of our children there to participate in this event. It was a wonderful experience to be able to be together and visit and share the love we feel for each other.

You know you're back when you see the trains!

Monday morning we were up and got ready to go. Our sons came over around to have a last visit. We loaded the car and said our goodbyes. Then we were on our way home to New Mexico. It was hard leaving again, but we know the Lord has blessed us tremendously in our lives, and blessed us with this brief opportunity to be together, and we feel a deep obligation to serve Him and express our gratitude for all He has done for us.

Welcome to Gallup, courtesy of Walmart and friends.

When we arrived back in Ft. Wingate we were both very tired and it was cold and windy. We had the temperature turned down in our cottage, so Ted turned the heat on, hard to believe after being in Las Vegas for a week. Since we had been in a hot car all day, our blast-furnace was a bit overwhelming. We unpacked the car, realizing we had brought quite a bit of stuff with us. We spent time putting stuff away and getting things somewhat back to normal. It was late when we went to bed since our internal clocks were in Las Vegas. I had trouble falling asleep and kept thinking of things I needed to add to my list to do tomorrow. I wondered if the car was locked and tried to wake Ted to ask if he had locked it. I finally ventured out in my pajamas and found the car was unlocked and Ted’s keys were in the door to the cottage. Apparently, we were much more tired than we thought.

Pyramid Rock

Tuesday we spent time putting stuff away and getting things taken care of that needed to be done around the house. I had hoped to work on my lessons but didn’t get to it. The elders came by to talk for a few minutes. They said we’d missed a snow storm while we were gone. Generally, not much has changed. There are a couple of new ladies in the branch so that is encouraging. When it was time for bed, we were well ready for it.

Our casino--parking lots are ALWAYS full!

Wednesday it was 32 degrees at 7 AM. We managed to exercise at the church then I spent the rest of the day studying for seminary. In the afternoon we ran into Gallup for a couple of errands before going to read scriptures with a family. We came back to the apartment for a brief regrouping before going to the church for seminary. I was very disappointed because my student didn’t show up again. One of the new sisters, Sister Toledo, came for a meeting with the branch president who also did not come. We visited with her for about 45 min before we all decided to call it a night. She is a sweet lady with a bundle of challenges.

Church Rock--typical houses/trailers

Thursday I had to make cookies for zone conference so I figured I’d do bread while I was at it. It also gave us something to take for a treat to institute in the evening. I made Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. As it turned out two of the girls have a sister that is highly allergic to peanuts and even the oils on their hands sometimes sets her off so they wouldn’t eat any. The missionaries were asked to teach a lesson to all the seminary and institute students, so they taught the first half of the evening. Unfortunately, they forgot their material and had to go back to their apartment so it delayed us about 20 minutes. Ted gave a good lesson during the second half that really was uplifting. He had just concluded teaching about the Atonement and Resurrection in his last lesson, so he wrapped up the teaching of the four gospels.

Before institute we had CES inservice meeting. There was a good group there. We discussed seminary graduation and summer activities. I was not aware seminary graduation was coming so soon. I need to ask one of my students to speak and give a testimonial about what they learned in seminary. I only have two seniors, and only one of them has done any work, so I hope she accepts the assignment.

Coming into Ft. Wingate

Friday we went to the stake center for our zone conference. We had about 10 new couples since our last conference. We also had 10 couples going home before the next one. One couple came out the same time we did so I was surprised they were going home already. There was another couple that had come on a six month mission that was leaving. Most were sad about leaving. One lady said she was really excited to get home to see her grandson who was coming to stay for a week. Another said she had thought it would be difficult to leave, but she was ready to go home. I wonder what feelings I’ll have when it’s time to go home.

Pres. and Sister Batt talked about faith and the need to let faith guide us. He referenced a couple of accounts in the scriptures that illustrated people with faith and people without faith and the difference it made in their lives. The zone conference was really good. There is a new couple at the Grand Canyon that is from Las Vegas. We had a good visit with them.

After conference we did some quick shopping and then headed to seminary. Three of my students came. One had been assigned the devotional and I wasn’t sure he would remember, but he had planned a great presentation and discussion on the Tree of Life vision and what it means in our lives. I was very pleased. The lesson went well. I talked to them about how the Lord qualifies those He calls and how He always gives us what we need to accomplish what we’ve been asked to do. One student told me afterward that it was a good lesson, so I felt good about that.

After seminary we headed to the high school for a dance recital for two of the girls in the family we read with. We were surprised they were charging admission. We got there just in time for the first group. Our little girl was the shortest one by a head and was on the back row. In the next group our little girl was shorter than all the rest again and on the back row behind a very large girl. We thought the teacher could have arranged the children better. Both groups did a second dance after some other numbers. Most of the dances were to the same type of music—not very pleasant to the ears—and all of them did basically the same moves over and over. After the second round of groups they had individual dancers—it seemed to go on forever. When they announced that was the end of the first round of individual performances, we decided we wouldn’t stay for the end. We watched each of our girls perform one more time in their groups then we left.

Our flower garden

Saturday I thought no one coming for seminary. One student got there just as I was about to give up. We were just getting started when two more arrived followed shortly by the elders. Our lesson was on putting on the armor of God. I think it went well. I also talked with them about studying the scriptures as part of their putting on armor.

After seminary a couple talked to us. They have been called to be temple workers on the Native American Saturday. Since they will be going early and staying later than before, they asked if their two kids could go with us to the temple so they could continue to go. I think it’s touching that they want their kids to have that experience. They told us they’d missed us while we were gone. They said it just seemed strange to look out and not see us in the congregation. Nice.

Just before we left for Las Vegas I accidentally deleted our tax return so I spent Saturday trying to put it together again—not my favorite pastime.