Anyway, after I got back from San Diego, I spoke at our Relief Society birthday dinner. The theme was Hawaiian and Johnny Lingo's 8 Cow Woman was our inspiration. I had ran across a quote in a Deseret Book Catalog advertising Elder Jeffery R. Holland's new book, Created for Greater Things. The full quote is the following:
"I believe we have all been created for greater things than we can comprehend. The times call for great things, but great things in the noblest and most redemptive sense are predicated upon tolerance, love, respect, understanding, dignity, prayer, and God."
I took this quote and made it my thesis for my talk that day. It went well, and I felt really guided by the spirit in preparing for it.
Then we enjoyed General Conference weekend, complete with a fire in the fire place and Sunday cinnamon rolls.
And the very next Thursday I headed off to Arkansas to spend some time with my dad and grandma. My dad had a very special event happen in his life and I am so proud of him and the decisions he made. It was a treat to be there with him. A huge thanks to all my friends here in Alaska who juggled my kids for me and a husband who started a new job and was super busy with all the household events for the second long weekend in as many weeks.
And while in Arkansas I got to partake of Sonic, visit the Dollar General and stock up on oral hygiene supplies and birthday cards, visit Victoria's Secret with my dad (OK he politely left me at the storefront while I looked for my usual bra only to find they had changed it horribly and I didn't buy anything. I am really glad we avoided any embarrassing assumptions that I was a much younger girlfriend and not his daughter in that store!).
There was also a day trip to Branson MO! I was easily the youngest person there. We took in a show, ate at the Cracker Barrel and shopped the outlets. What else do you do in Branson? Well there is a zip line...for all the adventure grannies out there. I suspect they even have an extra harness for your oxygen tank if you call ahead...
We saw The 12 Irish Tenors. And in our front row seats one of those tenors was actually winking at me!! I don't know if he was hoping for a groupie closer to his own age, or if he was trying to share some sort of private joke with me. Carol, was sure he was flirting as she caught him winking at me more than once too.
 |
| Azaleas along the driveway |
 |
| Spring at Grandma's house |
 |
| The dogwoods were awesome! |
 |
| Butterflies everywhere |
 |
| Me and my dad |
 |
| Out to dinner at the best fried chicken place in town |
 |
| Sadly this picture does not have the current cast and my new boyfriend isn't in this shot. Oh well. He was cute, but I will for sure be keeping my hands on JaDee:) |
 |
| Food Porn alert: Cracker Barrel Rueben...mmmmmm... |
 |
| Me and Grandma at Cracker Barrel |
 |
| In front of our theater in Branson...This town has tons and tons of theaters like this. |
 |
| More food porn: Penguin Ed's BBQ joint. |
Now my feet are planted firmly in Alaska soil although I can't say we will continue to have the whole family under one roof again.... My snow is gone, my skis are put away, the days are long and bright, my house is a mess. I have Stake Women's Conference coming up and while I am not speaking, there is a lot of work to be done for that.
Carter is off to travelling next. He is on a class trip to Seward this week and another one to Fairbanks for a speech competition next week. JaDee is off to Kodiak to hunt a bear next week as well.
I am reading a couple of good books (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and ... Oh and LOVED Belong to Me), getting some more knitting done, I have 2 quilts to finish before I leave for Utah in June, and started a blog for our quilt group... http://sewmanychurchladies.blogspot.com to see some of the great things my friends are working on!
Not bored at all...but I miss my snow... :(
Posts
7 comments:
I'm just getting caught up on all your activities....You've been a busy girl. But even with all the fun, nothing feels better than finally sleeping in your own bed next to your hubby, am I right?!? Thanks for the book recommendations.....I like your reading picks, so I'll be putting those on my hold list at the library. While on vacation I read Sarah's Key, read that one? I read a lot, but don't often recommend unless I love. This is one I loved - although the content was hard to read. But I'm pretty sure you like Holocause history, like myself.
I think you would need ben to read your blog for the song title to be recognized ;) I am glad you got to go be with Dad and see grandma. I wish I could have gone too. Why can't my students just teach themselves j/k And the Irish Tenors ARE cute! I was picturing the 3 old, larger guys. Tell carter good luck on his speech competition!
Although I didn't recognize the title, I can't think of Metallica w/o thinking of Syracuse and our ward "metal" band. Awesome. Great update and photos! The food looks so good. Congratulations to your Dad. That's wonderful and so special that you could be there to share the experience with him.
"Food Porn Alert"?? Oh, I am LOVING that phrase! Congratulations to your dad. We are so excited to see you guys and are glad you are roaming our way soon!
I didn't think the 12 Irish Tenors were young till I saw the picture. Now the wink takes on new meaning ;) I really like the picture of you and your dad and the scenery pictures are great. It looks like you had a really nice trip.
That is so great you got to be there for your dad. I think you resemble him. I didn't know Branson had such a geriatric population. I guess if I want to fit in, I will need to hold off vacationing there for another thirty years.
I’m so happy you were there for your dad…what a special day for both of you! I enjoyed seeing all the pictures of your fun-filled getaways!
Post a Comment