It was so good to see Atticus baptized. He is such a sweet, wonderful little boy. And a new cub scout!
There was a roomful of people and most of our family were able to come to see Atticus. Colin even came to video the group and let some people talk to Atticus on the video. We didn't do it because I usually cry at things like that. There were yummy treats and it was so fun to get to see everyone there and visit with James' family. He has some relatives nearby that his mom and her husband were staying with and they came and made the occasion even more special. James' mom is a great lady that I like a lot. I wish now that I had taken more pictures, but I spend too much time visiting and having a good time to think of it till it's too late.
We stayed with Heidi and her family which was nice. We got to see Atticus more than we would have otherwise. Here he is eating boiled peanuts with his dad. It's a southern thing. He loves them. I remember that Dad told me he liked them but he swears that he has never tasted them. What's happening to my memory?
We got there Thursday morning and Heather picked us up at the airport and took us to put our stuff away at Heidi's and then we went to lunch. We hung out with Heather and talked about her plans to move here in the fall. She will pack up everything between now and the last of September and have it all ready to put in a Uhaul that she and Dad will drive here. He will fly out to patch up her wall where they attached the TV when she moved in. She is good at cleaning so she should get a lot of her deposit back.
Then in the afternoon we went to meet who could come to the Chuck a Rama dinner that Heidi and James had arranged. It was great to get to see Kathy and Lisa there and visit some.
Friday we had lunch at Mike's house and got to see him and his family. What a great family! I love being with them. Raylyn is now RS president and doing a wonderful job as we would expect. That's a job just made for her and her talents and sympathies. Mike is happy in his job and the kids are growing too fast! Aubrey is a teenager now!! And beautiful. Ella is still in clogging and happy as usual and Henry seems to be much more confident and happy and adjusted well to his diabetes. It was good to hear what they have been doing.
In the evening we met Erin and went to dinner at the Med, a little Mediterranean restaurant where we had sumptuous food. It was good to catch up with what she is doing and see how great she looks and feels. She has been working hard at taking care of herself and it is paying off. She inspired us to try harder and so now we are hoping to lose some inches and get stronger before the summer with all its yard work.
Saturday morning was the baptism!! Good to see everyone there. What a great day. So very satisfying in so many ways.
And then we went to Roy with Kathy and Lisa to a barbecue at Lisa's mom's house. We got to meet all her family! What nice people. We had a great time getting acquainted with everyone and eating more than we should have. It was all delicious. And we also got to see Tyler and Grace there too and visit a little. Grace is gorgeous and looks happy and Tyler is just as gracious as he always has been. There's never enough opportunity to get in enough visiting.
Sunday was church and dinner with Bennetts. For dinner James made cheesy grits along with other things, but I ate way too much of the cheesy grits! Oh they were good! And we got to visit more. For a special treat in the evening Atticus wanted to play a game that I can't remember the name of that was fun.
Monday we went to see Kristin and hang out till lunch. We learned all about what her family is up to and then learned that Kelli Riley is just around the corner from her there in Alpine! When all the time I thought she was in Heber. They get together regularly. At noon we went out to meet the Rileys at a restaurant. What fun to see them again! They have moved to Utah and are staying at present with Mike in Syracuse which is just above Salt Lake. They are finally retired but Bro Riley will be working with Mike in his electrical business. Mike has started his own business now. Sis Riley is looking for things to do with herself besides hang out with grandchildren. It has taken me a long time to decide what to do with myself so I have total sympathy with her. I think I have found some good things to do now and am pretty happy with them. But you have to decide for yourself what is meaningful to you. No one else's ideas work.
Monday we went to the Oasis for lunch and had wonderful food!! I love that place. And then Heidi and I went to the fabric store and got some things to make her some tops and skirts, and then time got away and I left her in a mess with a shirt try-on half done. But she was better at getting it figured out than I was so I think she will be fine. We got on the plane and came home. And it was over. What a very special, satisfying time we had.
Back into the routine with temple Wednesday mornings, literacy with Da Wu on Thursday morning, and then stake conference this past weekend. We learned some disturbing information about pornography at the conference. They said children as young as 5 to 8 are receiving pornography from 10 and 11 year olds. So young!! What a destructive epidemic. It's so important to be careful with our children. One family told the stake president they knew their son was safe because they had so many protections on their electronics, but then later learned that he had been walking down the street and using the neighbor's wifi to download porn and then he would watch it later in his bedroom. The only protection is to help them understand how destructive it is and how to avoid it.
On a happier note, Dad substituted for a temple worker Friday and I went too and before his shift started we did 13 baptisms and confirmations and the same 13 initiatories and then I did two endowments while he was working. What a wonderful day! I was full of joy the whole day. I didn't used to enjoy the temple but now since we have started working there I do really feel so much joy when I am there. It's a pleasure to walk in the door and spend the day helping people and feeling the joy there. That's one way I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus are supremely happy beings.
Another thing that we learned was that the Riley's old friends the Haineses are now in our temple presidency. What a surprise! I wondered briefly when I heard their names. I didn't really think it was possible, but it is. I'll have to mention it to Sis Haines one day.
And the very good news is that we get to see Adam again!! He is back in Dallas doing more training and we get to go see him tomorrow! Lara will be able to go this time too which we are glad for because of her delightful company of course, but also because she can be the guide through all the streets and traffic with her trusty gps.
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