Conference Time

April 5, 2009
Dear Elder Sean,
We just finished watching conference and the kids are all outside getting some air. Kirk and Kristina are playing frisbee, Alex's friend Graham came over to bring us some pumpkin bread as a thank you from his mom (we had Graham stay here while his mom was out of town). Leah and Nikki are just following everyone, Roxy is watching everyone, dad is sleeping in our room (he has a night shift), Barkley is on his couch. This morning for conference I made french toast, dad made some hash browns and bacon. For afternoon session, I made meat balls, creamed corn and roasted potatoes. Kirk fried up some hush puppies. We had plenty to eat, Nikki was still asking for more as we were cleaning up. Same old, same old.

I appreciated very much Pres. Monson's closing remarks and I especially loved Pres. Eyring's talk Saturday morning. I wasn't able to hear every talk, but I have it all Tivoed, so I'll once again start my routine of watching conference talks every Sunday.

I knew most the talks would be trying to lift us up from the despair that so many feel right now. Elder Holland's talk was powerful.

Job-wise we are not much closer to anything than last week. Dad met with St. Luke's again this week and they talked like they wanted him to do weekends for them at Weiser. I'm still hopeful that he can do better than that because that would be horrible for him. They kind of acted like they were doing him a favor by offering him more pay than the usual first years get. Our choices at this point are so limited because of the housing market. There's no way our house would sell, so the family packing up and moving is not an option, but dad could fly to some job somewhere. We'll keep you posted.

Our new neighbors across the street (in the Robertson's house) had to move out suddenly. It's kind of weird that there are so many stories of people packing up and moving away in the middle of the night. Our neighbors didn't move in the middle of the night, but it's very sudden and they can't let anyone know where they are moving. We helped them a bit yesterday. I hope they'll be ok. They're just a young family with 2 small children.

The good news is that we are healthy and well and happy. It truly is the "good news" of the gospel that brings us the much needed peace.

Friday night Alex's Premium Blend had a Jazz night fund raiser. Each member of Premium Blend had to perform a solo and then the group also did 4 numbers with solos also. Alex did a great job. He had a solo within one of the group numbers and also his all by himself solo was wonderful. He seems very at ease with a mic in his hand. He said he was kind of nervous though. I'm glad you'll actually be here for the end of the year concert. I think you'll enjoy it.

Terri Westerberg showed up at the concert as a surprise to Austin. She's living in AZ and comes back every other weekend. She says it's too long to wait 2 weeks to come home, so this time she came home as a surprise. It was fun talking with them. That reminds me, I just got Jared's letter for the week, so I'll forward it right now before I forget. I was hoping to get the new Eagle's Newsletter, but haven't seen it yet.

Kristina has her first lacrosse game tomorrow night. She's very excited about it, so we're all going to go for Family Night. She will be playing defense.

Alex finally finished his online PE course, well, he only has to take his final exam now. Nothing like taking it down to the wire. He's been busy working on his senior project which is due in a couple weeks. He's also going to Westerberg's tonight to plan prom which is next weekend. He, Austin and Cameron Warr are tripling for prom. I'm going with him tomorrow to get his tux. I asked him if he wanted to ask Uncle Bill for a car, but he said they have it covered since there are only 6 of them. We'll send pictures next week.

I had parent teacher conferences with Nikki and Leah's teachers this week. Leah is progressing slowly and is a very considerate young lady at school. It's nice to hear that. She can get awfully loud and crazy here at home. She still has a problem being very impulsive and as a mom, it's so worrisome. I want her to learn how to listen to the spirit and feel instinctively what's right and what's wrong. She still acts first, then regrets. That's a hard way to go through life and it really tugs on my heart knowing she doesn't think things out the way I wish she would. I know she can't help it, but I still want her to learn to listen to the whisperings of the spirit.

Nikki's teacher said she is still struggling with language. Her other skills are all up around the 85th percentile, but for some reason she can't put sentences together very well and struggles with grammar and basic English. She Samoan through and through, so I think it's just going to be a tough struggle for her but it will eventually kick in. The only other thing the teacher mentioned was that she had to remind Nikki quite often to use her inside voice (hmmm, imagine that).

Kirk is still working at the mall. They closed the store he was working in, but he works in the Blue and Orange and Caps stores now. Also there's a couple guys leaving this month on their missions, so there's still shifts available. Kirk leaves this month too to go back to college. I think he's anxious to get back to a routine and at least have some kind of social life. Although, you know Kirk, he's pretty happy just hanging around with us.

Kristina is still taking piano, ballet-working hard for a performance in a few weeks, loves lacrosse loves middle school, loves young women and earns good money babysitting. She's hoping she can work a little for Jodie Hugentobler this summer. Jodie's opening a new store on Fairview. She saw how lucrative the business was that she's been working for (Other Mothers) and so she and a friend from the store decided to open their own similar business called Kidz Again. I may be helping her out with getting started too.

As for me, I'm still busy running a household. Every day's different. I taught the Bear scouts to make cookies this week. First we ground the wheat and then we ground some oats too. We made a healthy version of chocolate chip cookies and they were very tasty. Each boy went home with some dough so they could make some for their family. They were pretty impressed with themselves and they also learned how to make snickerdoodles. The church smelled great! The Pinewood Derby is in 2 weeks and dad is having a special race called "Beat the Bishop" where the boys get to pick any of our cars to race against. So we've gathered all your old Pinewood Derby cars, dusted them off and will get them in tip top shape for the event. We have to think of something fun as a prize for them.

Have you been able to meet with Yesica and her husband? I hope they were able to see some of conference. Did the Chavez family make it to conference?

When I think about where you are and how small an area it is compared to this great big world, it becomes very apparent why it's so important for the Lord's church to continue to grow. He needs every one of us and every one of us has a mission to fulfill in life. I loved the quote from conference today "Discipleship of Christ is not a spectator sport." As true disciples we work and work and then we work some more. Sometimes it's preaching to an entire congregation, sometimes it's teaching 7 young men how to work together and make cookies. Every shoulder is needed to push along. For me, it's an exciting time to live despite the trials and temptations that are so prevalent. The iron rod is there for everyone and I firmly believe that if we have a strong hold then it becomes our duty through the covenants we've made to reach out and grab someone else's hand and lift them until they are able to hold on for themselves.

I never tire hearing about your mission or the people you are teaching or the about the people who are teaching you. I get very excited about it and always wish I could be a fly on the wall with you. My prayers are with you and I hope you can feel our love and support for you. Keep the faith.

Love you,
momxoxoxoxoxoxooxxxooxxoxooxoxoxooxooxoxoxoox