13 Months!!

Knights house

We are sorry that there so few pictures this week.  We meant to take some for Walt’s fun seminary lesson on Thursday, but we both got involved and forgot.  There wasn’t really much we did that warranted pictures.  We have mostly just been teaching seminary and trying to do as little driving distances as possible.  It’s having his knee bent that causes Walt the pain from his meniscus tear.  We have confirmed with the doctor that he will need to have it repaired.  It will just be an outpatient surgery and he should be pretty much back to normal in a 5-7 days.

He is having his surgery on February 11th.  We will go to Rapid City, SD for the surgery.  It’s only 1 1/2 hours from here.  We have a sub lined up for Seminary for 3 of those days that week.  We want to be prepared in case there is bad weather and we have to spend the night before or after the surgery.  This time of year, we never know.  We are getting a storm tonight into Monday, but we “should” only get about 3 inches.  I am ready for a 10 inch storm or greater.  We are over due.

We attempted 5 times to visit with Renee this week.  Twice she was asleep, once she was having a very bad day, and we had success at two others.  We were able to get on her FaceBook account for her on her tablet and let her catch up with friends a bit.  I don’t think they will have success at getting her eye gaze to connect to FaceBook; something about the software being out of date.  That is her one connection with her friends and family that don’t live here in town.  I wish we could fix it, but getting on for her with her tablet will have to do for now.  We were also able to help get some of her clothes and pillow washed.  She needs this little pillow to sleep and it was dirty, so I took it home and washed and dried it right away and brought it back that evening after dinner.  We like helping in any way we can.  

Monday evening, we had a Zone Council in Gillette.  It started snowing just as we were leaving, but we checked and it was only going to snow about an inch.  Even just that little bit can make the roads slick.  We had no problem getting there.  We ran some errands - hair cut, Walmart, and free pizza.  When pulling out of Little Ceasar’s onto the main road, I started to slide.  Then a truck turned onto the road and I was headed right for him.  I just kept thinking - don’t hit him, don’t hit him.  Luckily, he got passed us before we hit.  I was being very slow and cautious already.  The trip home was long.  We could only go about 50 mph instead of 70 and 80 mph.  With it still snowing and being dark, it just seemed to take forever.  We got home around 10:30 pm.  Walt was so smart to have Sister Dickinson sub for us on Tuesday in advance.  

Tuesday, Walt wanted to go to the Thrift store for an electrical cord and a popcorn bowl.  I agreed to come along - hoping it wouldn’t cost us a bunch.  We get there and see signs reading, “$5 bag day”.  Oh no!!  It was a bag like a white kitchen trash bag.  Of course, we managed to fill it up.  I also saw some really cool, square Correll dishes.  It was a big set with 12 dinner plates, 11 breakfast plates and 11 bowls.  All are larger than the round ones.  I plan on taking these home with us after our mission since there are so many that actually match.  Great for our normal family gatherings in our large family.  The dishes only cost us $3.

My new dishes

Wednesday at our lunch at the Senior Center, we sat with a table of the cutest little old ladies.  They really are all little and so sweet and adorable.  There was a lady there we hadn’t met before named Norma.  She was talking about a lady in town that runs a clothing shop - sells Cinch jeans, and formal wear.  Of course that goes together - here in Wyoming.  She gives discounts for prom dresses so girls will buy here in town.  Her husband was suffering from 3 types of cancer and passed away the Saturday before.  I inquired about something we could bring to her - some food, paper products?  Nope, she was good with those things.  So I suggested maybe bring her some boxes of tissues.  It may sound silly but there never seemed to be enough tissues when Michelle passed away.  When we were stocking up on supplies, I bought tissues at Costco, thinking we were low.  We got home and I had 10 small boxes already and had bought 10 more large boxes.  So I took over 6 large boxes of tissues to the store for Norma to give to Debra (store owner).  Debra was actually there, so we got to talk - for quite a while.  Norma and Debra’s daughter were also there.  It felt good to give some moral support.  We will check on her next week.  She isn’t a member of our church, but she’s a member of our community.  The Elders actually visit her pretty often.  She just loves them.

Thursday was a rather low key day.  It started snowing about 10 am and snowed most of the day.  Not much accumulation, but we were happy just working on seminary stuff and catching up with things.  I finally got caught up on the seminary schedule for the semester and the rest of our Doctrinal Mastery things. 

Walt’s lesson that morning was awesome.  It was on 1 Nephi 17.  That has the story of Nephi being commanded to build a boat to cross the ocean to the “Promised Land.”  The usual Nephi corrected his older brothers happen and they want to rough him up because they get offended.  In this story, Nephi tells them to “touch me not,”  and the Lord tells Nephi to reach out and touch his brothers and give them a little shock so they know God is working with Nephi.  So Walt rigged up a thing to role play this event.  He practiced on me the day before and it was quite convincing.  He had “Nephi” put on gloves to protect him from the live wires.  He had a switch on the cord with bare wires showing.  He pointed out how the switch in this direction is on, the other way is off.  Then he touches the wires and give a loud “Ouch” - guess he got the on and off mixed up.  So now we all believe the wires are live.  The girls playing Laman and Lemuel wouldn’t even come to the other side of the table near the student playing Nephi.  It was so funny.  I knew it was all a dud, but they all believed.  Once we confirmed it wasn’t risky, we hooked up my tens unit to our Nephi and one of the girls playing a brother.  We put one lead on one of each of their hands.  Then told Nephi to say his line and touch the brother.  I had the unit on level 3 - not that strong.  So when he touched her - they both got a little shock.  It was pretty funny.  Several others wanted to try it out after that.  It was great!!

Walt's props for a shocking lesson

My lesson on Friday went pretty well, though not as fun.  It was a lesson that required all of the students to work together to put the story line together and match the principles taught with each part of the story.  This day’s story is when Nephi’s brothers get really rowdy on the ship, Nephi rebukes them and they tie him up to the ship.  A big storm comes and blows them back for 4 days.  It didn’t stop until they let Nephi loose.  For those of you who haven’t read the Book of Mormon yet - get a copy and read it.  It’s scripture - a record of the people who lived on the American continent 600 year before Christ was born.  It’s a good read and testifies of Jesus Christ.  Same doctrine as the Bible.  If you don’t have a copy, you can pull it up online.  Or we could get you a copy - don’t even have to have missionaries visit you to get one.

Saturday we got to FaceTime the grandchildren (Monns and Wilsons).  We were chatting with them about 2 hours.  It was great to catch up.  Anya had sent us a letter telling us about what all the children are up to.  They are all really starting to find their specialities and Abe and Anya do well at encouraging them and helping them participate in their individual interests.  They are all growing up so much.  Emma is getting so big as well, and her hair is crazy long.  I do like having Marco Polo to send messages.  Emma often sends us a video while waiting for the school bus.  Anything to keep in touch.  

Some screen shots from FaceTiming with the grandchildren

Sunday was church and then we went to the Knights to watch the Super Bowl.  Their daughter-in-law and granddaughter came over as well.  That baby is so cute and is about 11 months.  She scoots around and loves to babble.   We weren’t sure how long we would get to stay, a snow storm was arriving some time that evening.  The prediction for Newcastle was 1-3 inches - a favorite forecast.  Where the Knight live - up the mountain - they usually get a bit more.  We were able to stay for the entire game.  It didn’t start snowing till just before we left.  The Knight’s road was covered, as was their part of 85.  Only a few miles down the road, just flurries.  The schools had a late delay, but Walt had already decided to cancel Seminary and they announced it in Sacrament Meeting.  I didn’t know he had decided that and was surprised to hear it announced.  The kids were all smiles at the news.

Our Super Bowl group.  Walt, Kristy (the Knight's oldest daughter), me, Gary (holding granddaughter- Olivia), in back, Krissy (Olivia's mom), and Gina

On the 7th, we will be at our 13 month mark - only 5 months left here.  It will be bittersweet.  We still have work to do, so we’ll keep moving on with our visits, teaching, and loving this community.  We miss you all.