DIY Women's Conference

Friday night, Allie and Kobi went to the AF/Lone Peak football game, then Allie spent the night and all day Saturday here. We had a great time on Saturday. We went to Hobby Lobby and JoAnn Fabrics to get fabric. Well, we got a bit more than fabric. I got Halloween decorations, a couple of Christmas decorations, and our 2017 Santa Lucia Christmas tree ornaments. Allie also got some Halloween and Christmas decorations. We also got supplies to do a little crafting.

We had a good time looking at all the "Joy to the World" Christmas stuff. About a year ago, before Mel was even thinking about a mission, she asked me if you could get a hymn put on your mission plaque instead of a scripture. Funny question. I told her I didn't know. Then I asked "what hymn would you choose?" Her quick answer: "Joy to the World." She didn't have to think or anything. It's her favorite hymn. When we got her plaque done, it was so great that they let her put her hymn. It simply reads "Joy to the World" Hymn #201. My cute little girl.

Allie and I went to Taco Amigo for dinner last night. Little Amigo Cheeseburger Meals x 2. Her's is always without pickles.

Then we came home and watched the Women's Conference online while making pom poms for Halloween decorations. We had a nice time. I really liked Sister Eubank's talk. I took away from it that we can't compare ourselves to others. That we we need to know who we are and get to know the Savior.

Here's the garland we made from some pom poms. We made Allie one for her apartment, too.

Allie so fun to hang around.

We are coming up on my favorite time of year for decorations...Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. It's the BEST!

Reuniting with Old (and young) Friends

It's been a good month of visiting with and making time for old friends.

First of all, my former mission companion, Stephanie Snow Soto, came into town. We went walking on a Saturday morning and caught up. We had a great time. We haven't seen each other in years. She lives in Memphis. Her parents have retired to PG, so I'm sure I'll see her again. Her boy is on a mission in Santiago South. She also has 3 girls, one of whom is at BYU-Idaho and the other 2 at home.

1989: Sucre, Bolivia

2017: American Fork, Utah

We had breakfast with some of the Street Youths and moms. We've been trying to get together with Brooke and Kobi before Brooke heads off to Italy on her mission. We really wanted to go to Taco Amigo, the kids' favorite place, but our schedules would NOT work, so we did breakfast at our house. It was great to visit, talk about our missionaries, and laugh. Jen Watkins always has fun stories, since she's a 4th grade teacher. Brooke's mom couldn't make it. Maybe next time.

Back row: Allie, Mysti Tupou, Kobi Watkins
Front row: me, Brooke Walker, Jen Watkins

Star is 50

My friend, my co-worker, my buddy Starlyn turned 50 in September. We had a great time celebrating. Keenan and I joined Starlyn and Lee at the State Fair for a Locash concert. Locash is a country duo. I don't usually like country music, but I like it when I'm with Starlyn. We got there early and saw animals and other exhibits. Then we went to the concert. It was way fun. They were great performers. They got the crowd going. One of them went out in the crowd and interacted with everyone. Then he brought a cute security guard on stage. The guy was a middle-aged black guy and was really, really working the audience. He was in heaven. They gave him a guitar to "play" and danced with him. Everyone went crazy. We really had fun. That was a Wednesday night. On Friday, I brought an amazing cake for us all to enjoy at work. Marci, who retired, came and so did Lee, Starlyn's husband. Everyone loves working with Starlyn. She's so fun. She loves the Seahawks and BYU football. She loves hunting and the outdoors. She loves rodeo and horses. She's kinda my opposite, but we have so much in common, too. I am one lucky girl!!!!!!

Annalece, Katrina, Allie, me, Star, Alyssa, and Marci. Have I mentioned how much I love working with my Allie?

Keenan, me, Star, and Lee at the fair. I had to buy her that tshirt. You only turn 50 once.

The cake: peanut butter cake, chocolate cake, oreo crumbs, chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter frosting. Star loves chocolate and peanut butter. 

The birthday lunch bunch: Katrina, Alyssa, Dia, Annalece with Mason, Brooklyn, Ashely, Allie, me, Star, and Marci

Eclipse and the Son

On August 21, there was a solar eclipse that people made a big deal of. Viewing of the eclipse was easy for a wide swath of the US. There was totality in Idaho, meaning the sun was totally blocked for a while. People drove to Idaho just to see the total eclipse. We had about 95% of an eclipse. It was pretty cool. I had my glasses and went outside to see it every 15 minutes or so, but it was also on a Monday and I was chatting online with my missionary and that's more important to me than an eclipse. The next total eclipse that comes our direction will be on Kamiko's 52nd birthday. That'll be fun.

Today in testimony meeting, Brother Tracy shared a couple of analogies about the eclipse that I thought were great.

1. People travelled for miles to see the eclipse, to see the sun and what would happen to it. People planned for it and looked for it. We all had our glasses. Do we go out of our way and plan to see the Son? Do we take time to learn from and about our Savior?

2. The moon is small, yet it can block the sun. The reason the moon can block the sun is because the moon is close to the earth. Are there things that are close to me, insignificant things, that block my view of the Son?

Good, huh? I like those thoughts.