our trip to Oregon

Well, Hannah was afraid she'd be bored in Brookings with just the 4 of us going to visit my folks, so she invited her best friend, Becky, and her boyfriend, Geoff, to come with us. We were going to take the mini-van, but it needed to go into the shop instead. We had to take 2 cars which worked out well for the teenagers (and I'm not complaining that I didn't have to listen to their music on the 9 hour trip). I mention that because Hannah posted a photo on facebook of them in their car and a friend thought I had sent the kids by themselves. Nope, we all went.

On the way there, the kids stopped off at Burney Falls for a few hours, so we beat them to Oregon (we also beat them home as they missed a turn and didn't notice it at first, so went through Redding). We arrived around dinner time and the sun was shining...one of the few times it was shining while we were there. The only morning the sun was shining and there wasn't any fog was the morning we left, of course--our first morning there the kids got up early to watch the sunrise...and of course it couldn't be seen. But it was 30º cooler there and we enjoyed it.

We did the normal things...going to garage sales and thrift stores (the best buy--Geoff scored a $200 acoustic guitar for only $50), walking to the harbor (which is only a mile away), going to the Manly Art Center (it was Art in the Park time--aka Festival of the Arts--weekend with lots of booths, live music, and good food--I love Art in the Park), playing games, hiking, Geoff and Glen helping my dad with some carpentry items, watching and/or flying RC airplanes (OK, I actually stayed home since I was so terrible at it last year, but the others went with my dad), eating, and watching a little TV. And the kids visited DQ and McDs several times. Oh, and I got to visit Les Schwab to get new my tires and have them aligned. Joy.

I actually took very few photos (just one of Glen, Hannah, and Alex and none of me, my folks, Becky or Geoff), so there isn't too much to share. Hannah took more but I haven't seen them yet.

So it was another fabulous week. We are so grateful for my parents hospitality--especially in taking in a few extras. Thanks mom and dad! It was so good to be with you!

on a walk to the harbor we came upon this photo op--

Aunt Margaret had given Hannah a skein of yarn to knit a scarf...

Alex bought himself a new game for his DS and really enjoyed it

highlight of the trip home--passing the Weinermobile (license plate reads: IWSHIWR)

my sister's visit and (ack!) my new calling

My sister, Denise, called last Wednesday and said she was thinking of coming up for a visit. I enthusiastically told her to come. She arrived on Saturday and left today (Wednesday). We had a wonderful visit. We played games, went to church, took walks, went to zumba, discussed Ed Week classes, went out to lunch, went to the temple, and just talked and had a wonderful time. I don't know what I'd do without having her in my life. She is such a blessing to me.

Thanks for coming, Deni! I had a fabulous time being with you.

It was also a good week for beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Here are 2 different sunrises:

18 July 2014

18 July 2014

21 July 2014

And here's a photo of the new almost-finished milk barn as seen from across a field of the new crop milo (sorghum):

So, Glen and I were called in to talk to a member of the Stake Presidency (his brother Alan). We were both thinking that the new calling would be for Glen. Nope. I was called to be an early-morning seminary teacher. I have never even attended a class like that as Denise and I had what is called home-study seminary where we had booklets to do during the week and then just had one class a week on Sundays. And I remember nothing of my classes except the time the young men were so badly behaved that they made our sweet teacher cry.

Being an early-morning seminary teacher means teaching about 20 lessons a month to high school aged kids from 7 to 7:45 am on most school days. As a counselor in the Young Women's (which is what my calling has been lately), I taught a lesson about 6 times a year and I considered it to be the hardest part of my calling as I don't feel I'm a very good teacher. I don't mind the hours that teaching seminary will take (about 2 hours of prep per lesson plus teaching time itself); I just don't want to bore the students. I want to be able to have them love and be excited about the scriptures.

This year's course of study will be the Doctrine and Covenants (which contains revelations mostly given to Joseph Smith in the 1830s and 40s). I don't know yet which grade I'll be teaching.

I'll be missing the first week of seminary as Denise and I will be at BYU's Ed Week (yea!), but Glen and Hannah will be filling in for me. My Ed Week choices now contain more classes on the D & C and classes on being a good teacher.

So, I'm adjusting to the idea. I'm sure I'll learn to do it right, but it is a bit intimidating. A lot intimidating. I will be released from Young Women's, but I should wind up having some of the girls in whatever age group I wind up teaching, so that will be nice. The change in callings will make it easier for me to travel with Glen when he needs me to go on his high council visits once a month--like in September when we go to Austin.

But I am still a bit in shock and I was called 10 days ago. Wish me luck. Better yet, pray for me and my students.