The holidays officially ended on January 6 when Nicole returned to BYU and Mom and Dad were left again to rattle around the house and readjust to the empty nest.
Elder Gary J. Coleman Adds His Name to the Guest Book
We could not mourn for long because stake conference was the next week and lots of serious housecleaning and grocery shopping were in order for Mom on the home front and the spiritual and physical preparations for conference on Dad’s part (we aren’t sure who has the heaviest job).
Elder Coleman was a delightful guest – warm, personable, comfortable to be with, and appreciative of everything. He arrived late Friday afternoon. We went with him to the mission home on Friday evening where he spoke to the senior missionaries and then on Saturday morning, Dad drove him to the Laurel meetinghouse where he spoke with the young elders and sister missionaries. Wendy and Steve and Holly and Dave and their families came over Saturday night after our stake conference meetings to meet him. He expressed particular concern for Amie, Christopher, and Molly in our conversations and shared the experiences and insight he had from working with the Primary in researching ways church members could include and help children with disabilities. Before leaving on Sunday, he asked if he could offer a prayer and blessing on our home and family – sweet experience!
Ryan Is Seventeen!
Ryan has his driver’s license and has driving privileges that are tied to the number of chapters he reads in the Book of Mormon – a day to drive for one chapter read. With the E-Bay gift certificate he received from his grandparents, he purchased a motion-sensitive shirt that lights up. Ryan has fine-tuned how much motion it takes to get the light effects he wants but Holly says his initial efforts required him to flap his arms like a chicken!
Celebration at the Cheesecake Factory
Mom decided the way she would best like to celebrate her birthday would be with her daughters and granddaughters at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. The person at the table who received the most adoration and attention, of course, was not the birthday honoree but Sadie. Not a problem – Wendy, Ashley, Holly, Sadie, and Mom had a great time enjoying our bounteous entrees and sharing cheesecake for dessert.
Sunday Night and More Celebrations
Of course we had not yet had the family celebration for all the family together to honor the January birthdays so the family gathered again Sunday evening for the pineapple birthday cake and ice cream sundaes. Michael entertained us with a trumpet solo of Ode to Joy. Having the basement playroom has given much more space for the kids to have a place to play and for the family to spread out. Sadie discovered Nicole’s Ariel doll with her basket and collection of clothes and accessories and was happily absorbed with her play.
New Carpet Installed – Almost
Mom had been hoping that the carpet she ordered in December might be installed before Elder Coleman came so that the house would be at its best but delivery and installation schedules didn’t work out. When the installers finally did arrive, Mom was admiring the new carpet work downstairs when she heard one of the men working in the upstairs hall by bathroom say, “This looks like water damage.” A leak in the plumbing that had long ago been repaired had left some serious hidden damage under the flooring. The long and short of the story is that we have subfloor to replace and probably a bathroom that will need to be remodeled. In the meantime, we are walking on the carpet pad in the hall until Bob Knight, our trusted carpenter, works on the problem this week (we hope).
Uncle Dick and Julie Serve a Temple Mission Here
Uncle Dick and his wife Julie have just settled in their apartment in Kensington and have begun their service as temple missionaries. We are excited to have them so close and look forward to their coming for dinner next Sunday. Presently, they finish their shift at the temple at seven each evening which is the time we generally arrive when we are attending but we hope to see them often during their stay here.
Family Members Far from Home
Sara is busy right now at work with her responsibilities to coordinate the annual day at the Minnesota state legislature when all environmental groups meet with the lawmakers. Brett has just returned from New Zealand where he ran a marathon. Lisa and Brian and family are off on a Disney cruise this coming week. We wish we could see the results of Sara’s hard work in Minnesota. We wish we could cheer Brett as he runs. We wish we were on the cruise with the Gladwells.
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