Andrew's new calling, playing games, getting ahead, and some new purchases

Last Sunday Andrew received a new calling at church. He is now the assistant ward executive secretary. We aren't sure exactly what his duties will be yet, but we imagine he will fill us in during his phone call later tonight.

Alex played 7 Wonders this week against Ben and Thomas. He dominated with 137 points, with 85 of those points coming from green cards. So, if you play 7 Wonders, you know what an accomplishment that is. The record score, before that, was held by Alex with 104.

Then today, Eric and Alex taught me how to play a game that Andrew invented (and is still working on tweaking). It's called Zarahemla and is based on a city and the humility/prosperity/pride/destruction cycle in the Book of Mormon. It took 2 1/2 hours to play and I definitely lost (104 for me, 185 for Alex, and Eric was somewhere in between).

In my long-term sub job, I finally reached a point where I am not surviving day to day, but am a week or 2 ahead on lesson plans. I can't tell you how much of a relief that is. In my online class, I am also getting ahead of the due dates for our homework. Another big relief. Part of our homework last week was to list our 3 biggest stressors and then relate the week's lesson to them. My 3 biggest stressors: my sub job, my seminary calling, and the class I was writing the paper for. But as I get ahead of the game, my stress is lessening. As for the online class, so far, after 3 weeks, Hannah and I have the same grade...not that it's a competition, or anything...Both getting A's works for me.

My alarm clock died. The one I bought to replace it has 2 outlets (where I can charge my laptop) and a USB port where I can charge my kindle. Got it at Walmart. Love it. Got a slightly different model for Glen. His had the USB port, but not any outlets.

And, the hot tub dries out my skin. It's hard to get lotion on my back, so I ordered something from Amazon that works surprisingly well. I thought it might distribute the lotion unevenly, but it does a great job. My only complaint is that I have to be careful of the angle I hold it since the edges are a bit scratchy.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K1EK5G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1



So, here's to a good week where I hope I can stay ahead on my lesson plans and homework.

Alex's team comes in 2nd and, like Motel Kamzoil, we had a new arrival this week

On Thursday the Junior High hosted the Academic Olympics meet. Alex is part of that team. Glen, Hannah, and I attended the meet and it was really a lot of fun. It was the final tournament of the year, so the trophies were given out for the season. Churchill County placed second, beat out by Yerington. Alex really loved participating.

Alex is 3rd from the right

 Glen and I have matching "Dude, Be Nice" shirts and when I get the photo of the 3 of us in our shirts, I'll post it.

The proud team with their trophy

Glen has waited over 5 years for this, but his new hot tub is finally here. We went to Reno on Saturday to pick it up. Saturday evening he was already using it, though it wasn't quite up to temp yet. This morning I got my first dip. Heaven.

Glen got a little help from family members. Thanks, guys!

This weekend we had Stake Conference. Besides our local leaders, we had the Nevada Reno mission president and his wife, Pres and Sis Hermansen, come and speak to us as well as the Reno Temple President and his wife, Pres and Sis Tsukamoto. Such wonderful messages from such wonderful people.

Afterwards, we had a family dinner where we ate, played games, and talked. It was a great Sabbath. And a great week.