High School Graduation...

Thought for the Week:
This was in my "Daily Message" for yesterday, and I thought it good to share.  Love is the key to everything.  Everything.  I have learned that while serving our mission.  Here it is:

"Remember, loving them is the powerful foundation for influencing those you want to help. ...As a companion to that love, trust them.  In some cases it may seem difficult to trust, but find some way to trust them.  The children of Father in Heaven can do amazing things when they feel trusted  Every child of God in mortality chose the Savior's plan.  Trust that given the opportunity, they will do so again."
                                      —Richard G. Scott, "I Have Given You an Example"

Coming Up:
Tuesday, June 3rd, funeral for Marva Manville.
Saturday, June 7th, Chris and Christine celebrate their 23rd anniversary - or try to, given the youth conference and sheep stuff that seem to happening at the same time:).

Family Notes:

Began the week with so much sadness as Emily called to tell me about Adam's mother being in the hospital on life support.  At times like these I wish with all my heart that we all lived close together and could physically reach out to support and comfort when needed.  As I had tried not to bother Em with further calls knowing the situtation was a difficult and complicated one, I found myself having a difficult time concentrating on things here as I should have - but was so relieved to finally hear from her despite the sadness of the news.  Our prayers continue for Adam and his family - each and every member as we know how difficult it is to lose those we love, and especially so very unexpectedly.  I must say that my opinion of Facebook has changed immensely as I have seen the multitude of comments and support shared through that medium; while it can be used in so many wrong ways, it certainly can be used to bless lives as well.  Our thoughts and prayers will be especially turned toward the Manvilles on Tuesday, which Em has said will be the day of the funeral.

We had the opportunity Monday night  to attend the high school graduation of Michael James Bullinger and what an opportunity it was.  So very different from our own high school graduations (Jim's class numbered well over 700 graduates and mine well over 500).  Michael's graduating class numbered 26 and we had the privilege of listening to two very good student speakers who talked about each and every one of those 26 class members:).  Then got to listen to a fabulous talk by a woman I have seen over the years in Christine's ward, who has been a music teacher at the Burlington school for a very long time.  She said she had taken a break when raising her children (she has 9) but had gone back 13 years ago and her words were inspirational, not only for those graduating but really for anyone listening I think.  What is so unique about the Burlington school is that all of the "schools" are in the same building - kindergarten, elementary, junior high and high school, so she has taught most of those children since kindergarten:).  The whole feeling of the graduation was more like a big family getting together and celebrating the progress of those graduates; then afterwards, there was a spot for each graduate around the walls of the gym (where the graduation ceremony was held) and families deposited cards and gifts into a laundry basket or other container at their spot while congratulating them.  Christi was busily filling out cards and writing checks as we headed to the ceremony:).  That would have been not even in the realm of possibility for our graduations:)!!!

Now...trying to remember the week...

Michael was ordained an elder last Sunday, and attended the Elders Quorum meeting:).  A happy milestone:).

Graduation was Monday evening - which was of course Memorial Day - and we had gone to a church picnic at the Otto park earlier in the day.  There was beautiful sunshine - but I got a little more than I should have because my left arm was very sunburned as I realized when we got home.  I am now at the "want to scratch it all the time" stage - which isn't too bad I guess, but I will certainly have to watch myself more in the future - especially with planning the summer in Utah:).

Tuesday evening we went to a play that Michael was in.  His on-stage part was very short but he was also the stage manager so he was actually involved in the whole thing.  It was fun to see the different actors  prompting each other as parts were forgotten here and there - a fun evening.

Wednesday, shopping in Cody as Christi had errands up there and I think a medical appointment - hard to remember now exactly.

As I was sitting in my nightgown Thursday morning I became aware of other sounds besides the wind (which has been quite strong most of the time that we have been here) and I peeked outside the shade and saw a balloon at our door and Chris walking off.  Turns out the family was busy decorating the motor home with "Happy Birthday" signs and balloons - a fun way to begin the day:).  Then we attended a school program for the elementary kids, which of course meant Becca and Melissa.  The music teacher was in charge of that and for a couple of hours we watched as the different classes sang songs and acted out things about Wyoming - a fun and enlightening program.

On Friday we got up early to go to the temple, but drove John to his new living quarters in Powell before heading further northward.  He has a "bedroom" separate from the main house, with basically just his sleeping stuff & clothes (bed, chair, dresser - which he still needs to put together) and is to have his meals at the main house, which is part of the rent.  He has a good new bicycle, which he will use to ride into town each day (5 miles) to his summer job/internship and is supposed to go swimming everyday before going to the job - the swim center is on the way to where he works.  It should be a good opportunity for him, but also will require a goodly amount of work on his part.  We are wishing him great success with it:).  We  continued to the temple and had a beautiful day there; Christi and Michael's other grandma and I did initiatory work while waiting for him to go through all the introductory stuff, then we were all in the endowment session where he received his living endowment.  A special experience and I am grateful we were invited and able to be a part of it.

Saturday was laundry and housecleaning (for us), shopping just a little and then we picked up John so that he would be here for church today.  Fast and testimony meeting was good; we came home and had some fun time going through all the stuff I had saved in Christi's "BOX" before having a good meal. (my goal: Sara's BOX is next:)!

With all of the construction on the house it has been a very interesting week; they are living on three floors - the original basement, the kitchen on the origingal main floor and then a "living space" which is finished enough for them to use above the new garage.  Because the  dining/living area of the house is currently sealed off for texturing, we have eaten our meals in the upstairs portion of the house...the stairway is not totally "finished" but they did put up rails so that I would be able to go up and down - so very grateful for that. It has been fun to watch the progress over the week; hoping that things will continue smoothly over the next couple of months and that they will finally be able to enjoy a completed home:)!!!

Tomorrow we head out towards Utah - planning to take two days, getting there Tuesday afternoon.  If we end up being faster, that is OK, or slower - we'll just see how it goes.  I am a little worried about this wind and would certainly appreciate its disappearance especially as we go through Wind River Canyon:).

Love to all - miss you, Mom & Grandma