Short Week

Us at the parade 

Since we didn’t get our email/blog out until Wednesday, this week will be a short one.  I left off with Tuesday this past weeks (Sept 17th).  

Wednesday was one of those days that filled up without much planning.  It will be a given that we taught seminary is referring to a week-day.  The lessons are taking us less time to prepare and are turning out rather well.  It’s difficult to judge how much is soaking in, but we keep them busy and try to involve them as much as possible.  Most people learn better that way anyway.  They have not lost their desire to be rewarded with candy.  We still get tired and struggle to get to bed “on time”; which is asleep by 9:30 pm.  

We had our usual lunch service at the Senior Center.  They had quite a bit of food that would spoil if not used up, so they were filling bags for us.  We left with 2 watermelons, 2 bags of grapes, 5 lbs of carrot sticks, 3/4 of  a gallon bucket of baked chicken, a couple of juice boxes of orange juice, and a couple of sticky buns.  We decided all this bounty needed to be shared.  There is a widow in our ward who struggles financially and does any mending for missionaries for free.  We try to share extra food with her whenever possible.  We took her some and also helped her set up some things on her tablet.  She was quite grateful for both.  She graciously accepted the challenge of mending a hole in one of my dresses.

We also shared with another couple who barely makes ends meet.  What I love about this couple is the happiness on their faces all the time.  They are so joyful and yet have so little temporarily.  They are the perfect example of money not buying happiness.  I personally think it is the joy of following Christ that brings them that joy.  They have fairly recently starting attending church and serve others all the time.  

We also got an opportunity to talk with another sister who is trying to come back to church but struggles with owning their own restaurant.  It has taken a while to get this far, even just to talk with her, but some service has helped that situation.  They are the people Walt helped with the water heater.  They are still fighting the gas company on an “approved for trailers” water heater.  Looks like they’ll have to get some new plumbing first.

Thursday evening, we had two appointments.  One with a family for dinner and a lesson and then our usual Bingo at the Manor.  Some lessons go ok and others go better.  This family has been a little difficult to really delve into things with - feel they are holding back a bit.  This week, things started to take off well; unfortunately just about the time we were supposed to leave for Bingo.  I text the person at the Manor to let her know we would be a little late.  Things kept progressing with the lesson in a positive direction, so I excused myself and called the Manor to tell them we wouldn’t be able to make it.  This was too golden an opportunity with this family - some real progress.  We are hoping there wasn’t any problem getting one of the staff to call Bingo for us.

Friday was Homecoming for the Dogies - our high school.  That is pronounced “Dough gees” not doggies.  We learned that a few months into our mission.  (The term means - motherless calf).  The parade was at 2 pm an we donned our Dogie colors (orange and black) and staked out our place on Main Street.  We have picked up a few dogie shirts at the thrift store.  It was one of the best parades we have seen here.  All of the clubs and football players had a float and threw candy.  Some children went home with a bag full; as good as Halloween.  We took lots of pictures; especially since so many of our seminary students were in the parade.  A couple turned their head when they saw I was taking pictures.  Others threw us candy as we waved at them.  

Pictures from the Parade - one of students in this one

Little girls baton team

Got to have a tractor in a Wyoming parade

All you needed was a bike to join in the fun

We loved these little barrels cars with kids inside

In the evening was the football game.  This was our first to attend.  We can really only go to home games and if we don’t have a teaching appointment set up.  We actually moved our temple working night to next week, so we could attend the homecoming events.  They were calling for rain or possible thunder storms, so we came prepared with rain gear.  I still had my red poncho from girls camp.  We couldn’t find Walt’s but had several rain coats.  It was still a bit warm when the game started, but we brought our long sleeve dogie shirts along.  We were told by our students that we should get there early because the seats will fill up.  They suggested an hour early.  We made it 45 minutes early and had almost endless options.   It doesn’t really start to fill up until 10 minutes before the game.

One of our seminary students is on the team; his first year.  I had been waiting for him to turn around, so I could wave.  My moment finally came and I enthusiastically waved.  He saw me and looked so embarrassed.  He gave me a tiny wave and turned around.   I laughed so hard.  Guess next time, a tiny wave is all that is needed to show we’re there supporting him and cheering him on.  About the first quarter, it started to sprinkle.  So I put my poncho on then; figured it would only get worst.  I and my bag of stuff were totally covered.  I am sure I stood out like a sore thumb in my big red poncho.  I have no shame.  Walt used two jackets in order to keep his legs dry too.  Right about half time, a few lighting strikes were seen.  The announcer said we would have a 30 minute delay.  As people were leaving the stands; required with a thunder/lighting storm, he changed his mind and said the game would go on.  Two seconds later, a big bolt of lighting and immediate boom of thunder was right over our heads.  That was enough for us, we were headed home.  The storm lasted about 20 minutes or so, but we  figured best to just stay put.  Never heard if the game was called or they continued after a while.  We don’t even know if they won the game.

At the football game early, so we get a good seat.

Saturday, we had an appointment around 11 am to help one of our elderly friends from the Sr Center.  His name is Chuck and Walt has been having lengthy conversations with him since we got there.  We had volunteered the service of our young elders for months.  Friday, he said he could use them to clean up his yard of leaves and twigs.  We went along as well, since we’ve been trying to visit with him at his home and meet his wife for a while.  She has several medical issues and finds it very difficult to leave the house.  Chuck used to be manager of the facilities at a university in CA.  He is used to giving order and making sure a good job is done.  Poor Elders, at first everything they did in raking wasn’t the best or most efficient.  Chuck gave some guidance and tips.  I gave a hand at it to see if I could measure up.  I did pretty good and then we went into the house to meet Maggie and have a visit.  

She is quite the character and delightful to visit with.  Chuck has been telling her about us, “an older couple.”  This description is quite accurate in relevance to the young Elder and Sisters.   But Maggie is picturing a couple older than they are; which is 80.  She was quite surprised to see how young we are.  Chuck is full of good stories and the visit went quite long.  He did check on the Elders after a bit, and found their job quite satisfactory.  Thank goodness.  They came in once they were finished.  It was quite the fall day as far as the weather.  It was only around 58, cloudy and quite breezy.  The Elders were grateful to come in and warm up a bit.

Next stop was the Car show and Fall Festival.  We were grateful to have jackets with us since it was held in a park.  The car show is actually one of the biggest events in Newcastle each year.  There was quite the variety to see.  We saw a few friends there; in various ages.  We looked at almost all the cars, got some food, and looked at all the craft booths.  I love speciality homemade soaps.  There was a lady there selling bars of soap for only $3.  Walt bought me the 4 for $10 special.  She had some really wonderful smells.  

I thought about our parents as we walked around the car show.  There were so many older cars that might bring back some memories for them - cars similar to ones they might have driven.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they could remember what their first 2 or 3 cars were.  

Us at the car show

Even tractors get reworked

This is definitely a classic

This might be like one our dad's or mom's would have driven

A Rolls Royce!

We spent the rest of the day getting ready for Sunday, making needed phone calls and preparing for Monday’s seminary lesson.  I knew my plan would take a bit of time to pull together.  We’ve been wondering how much our students are really learning, so I planned a Jeopardy game.  We actually had 100 percent attendance this morning and it was wonderful.  I think everyone had fun and knew the majority of the answers.

Jeopardy game the morning. 

Sunday evening, our youth leaders held a fireside (discussion) with our Stake President and his wife.  They really wanted to make it a special night, so they had a very nice dinner, all decorated, and then the discussion.  The leaders arranged with the parents to pick the youth up.  The youth weren’t told, so they couldn’t come up with excuses not to come.  It worked well and the attendance was amazing!  The leaders planned the meal, but would be picking the youth up, so the Bishop volunteered us to do the cooking.  He thinks we can do anything.  We were only in charge of cooking fresh green beans and baked potatoes, and getting the other food prepped.  The meat was Prime Rib - the Bishop’s wife cooked that (she is also the Young Women’s President).  I researched cooking potatoes in a roaster and an insta pot.  Our oven at church will only keep food warm, not cook it.  I’ll cut to the chase, there were lots of issues and problems that arose and the potatoes were not done until half way through the meal.  We had 40 people there and only about  7 potatoes that were done on time.  I was a bit a stressed.  It was all fine - plenty of the other food, and dessert was cheesecake.  We finally left at 9 pm, but couldn’t help any longer with clean-up, we had to get to bed.  We did attend the discussion after the dinner, though.  We deserved to sit and be spiritually fed.  A crazy night, but it’s done.  Always glad to help out, even if things go awry.

The youth dinner

I thought this would be a shorter report this week, but I guess it’s all in the details.  You guys can write us anytime and share fun stories with us too.  We know you have them! :).  We miss you all and love you.

My very tall tomato plant.  Ill have to bring the tomatoes in before a frost - which will be soon.  to ready for that at all