HOLD TO THE ROD(S)

If you didn't see it in the last blog, I added some of Kolton in the  "Is it Spring Already?" blog.

flowers from Kristin and Tiffani

Sunday was as always a great fast day.  After church we went to visit the Fidel Montero family because they were just home from California for his dad’s funeral.  He died suddenly of a heart attack.  It is a hard time for the family.  Again, we are so grateful for the knowledge of the plan of Salvation and the comfort it gives to know our Father in Heaven loves us and has such a wonderful plan for us to follow.

The next day was hard for us in that we realized that Spencer Washburn had called to invite Dad to be in the circle while he was ordained a deacon and we forgot.  How do you forget such an important thing as that.  We felt horrible as you can imagine.  We went to Clint’s work to apologize for our mistake.  He was so kind but we still felt badly so we got some ice cream and a couple of boxes of Oreos and went to see Spencer to repent some more.  We told him how sorry we were and he was so wonderful.  We told him he didn’t even have to share the treats but that if he and his Dad hurried they could have it all gone before Mom got home.  He is so sweet I’m sure he will share.  It doesn’t make up for missing but we just hope he knows how much we love him.  He is a special young man.

We just want to put in a special story on our blog.  One of the times we went to the nurse practitioner for my protein shot, he shared an experience with us.  He was a kid who liked to mess around and drove his parents crazy.  They lived in Northern California so he chose to go to college at Berkley with no intent of going on a mission.  He didn’t take anything seriously and when school was over he went home.  His parents were shocked when at stake conference his name was called to be sustained as an elder.  He put his papers in and was called to serve in Peru.  He knew that was what he should and needed to do but was not overly enthusiastic about going. After getting to Peru he decided to be obedient and give his mission his best  He gained a testimony and worked very hard.  He was made an assistant to the president. Six weeks before the end of his mission he was in the passenger seat when they were in an accident.  He was thrown out through the windshield due to not wearing his seat belt.  An ambulance took him to a small hospital in a tiny town.  When he arrived the doctors found that the skin was peeled off his face and scalp.  The main doctor was in surgery and couldn’t take him so a doctor and male nurse did the best they could.  No one from the mission knew about this accident because of the area.  When the mission president found out he called the area authority who was in the area and told him what had happened.  They had him transferred to a hospital where they often took missionaries and knew the staff.  When they got there they were so surprised by how well the work had been done on this elder.  His face was such a mess and the work done was perfect.  The stitches were well placed.  (When he told us this I got right close and tried to fine the scars.  His nose had been peeled up above his eyebrows and there were numerous stitches all over his head and hair.  I even took my hand over some areas.  There was a minimal sign of scars.  If he hadn’t told me I would have never known or seen any evidence of an accident) The area authority was so impressed with the work that had been done to this elder he wanted to be taken to this first hospital to thank the nurse and doctor.  The elder was being sent home in that he only had less than 6 weeks left.  On the way to the airport they stopped to thank the two who had  done such an incredible job.  When they got there and asked by name for the two, the staff just looked at them.  They said they knew of no such doctors or nurses by that name.  The only doctor at that hospital was the one who was in surgery at that time.  This missionary, who had worked so hard his entire mission, was an assistant to the president, and on his way to pick up an elder who was struggling had experienced a miracle.  He left it to us to decide who the doctor and nurse had been.  It strengthened our testimonies so much.  The next time I went in I asked permission to tell you this experience.  The Lord is definitely aware of His missionaries.

We're back to going to the temple every Tuesday.  We decided if we waited until we were in good health again we would never go.  It was great and we did very well.  That evening we went to Kolton's game in the cold and rain.  He was the goalie.

George made granola and Myra's granola bars Wednesday because it was too cold and rainy to go outside.  They had to delay the state golf finals due to snow.  We're ready for some warmer weather but are so grateful for the moisture.  We need it so badly

We went out for dinner at Ruby River to celebrate Dad losing 15 pounds.  He has really worked hard and been so careful.  After dinner I went to Young Women and learned to decorate those fancy cup cakes.

Thursday I went to humanitarian and George went to carving.  RS finished 3 quilts and had a great time chatting.  It's so fun to do something for someone else.  When I got home the men were there putting up our railings so I won't fall again.  They did a very good job. 

laundry room and
dining room steps

 They also fixed the teeter-totter airplane.  The grands love to play on it. That afternoon we got George's Cpap.  He has one that is absolutely silent and only goes in the nose.  Hope it works for him.  He can check how it is doing on his iphone

Scott came over to bring the kid's suitcases.   We are going to go to their home in the morning so they don't have to wake up so early.  The next 4 days should be interesting.  They'll be spoiled rotten by the time Scott and Beth get back.

Friday Scott and Beth left around 7:30.  We dressed the kids and got Ava ready for pre-school. 

 When we went home Gary popped in to say hello.  It is always good to see family.  He is a kid magnet.
 He was on business and stopped to visit.  He waited until I got Ava from school to leave.

  She loves him.  It was just good to have him in our home. 
The kids were great and went to bed so easily.
Saturday we got up and started off the soccer games.  Camden was first and then Asher. 

Asher

 It was fun and so good to keep the kids happy.  They love their boys.  After Asher's game and lunch, Erik's family came to our house so Parker and Kolton could mow the lawns.

Parker

Kolton

the weed eater

working hard in the play house

After mowing we all went to Parker's soccer game.  Wow!  He is really a good player; more aggressive than before our mission.  It was cold for all the games but Parker's was Arctic.  We froze but had fun anyway.  After the game Erik took the kids to his house while we went to some friends' 80th birthday.  We went back to get the kids and stayed for dinner. 

 It's so wonderful to see cousins get along so well and enjoy each other so much.  Ava and Nixon were exhausted and went to bed again so easily.
We have had so much fun with them.  Families are why we are here.  The plan is to grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ and return to our Father in Heaven as families.  Families are forever and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is so true.