8 September 2013

Hi all you dear people,

    Just a note to let you all know that we love you, think of you, and pray for you every day.  Nothing really big this week, Dad and I were offered tickets to the Trace Adkins concert at the State Fair, and it was good, but the best part was the drive down, and getting to visit with Dad. He and I are both so busy with work, etc...that it's a treat to just drive and talk.

    Dad had a quick trip to Coeur d'Alene this week for a meeting. 12 hours of driving for 5 minutes of having the floor, but it was important that he was there to represent the Sheriff's point of view, and not let the 911 upgrade plans get side-tracked.

    I've been going one afternoon a week to sit with/take care of, a dear friend of mine, Deb Mattingly.  She and I have worked together for many years at the hospital, and her husband, Tom, is a good friend of Dad's; he's the Chief of Police in Ashton. Anyhow, she has cancer, and is needing round the clock care...more than the family can do.  It's been a very sweet experience to be able to do this. It has brought back memories of that week I got to spend with Helen Wilson before she passed away. Precious memories. (to Aimee) Deb's neighbor, who is coordinating her care schedule, is named Donna Foster. She said that she was your typing teacher in Junior High.She remembers you fondly and still has a "sweet note" you gave her many years ago.
     We had Stake Conference this weekend, and as always, there were many wonderful talks, and I want to share just a few thoughts with you.

     Sister Anne Thueson, the Rexburg Idaho Temple Matron, said, "We go to the Temple to make covenants, but we go home to keep them."

     Elder William Walker, of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy, told of a recent trip to Philadelphia,  when they were meeting with the Mayor of the city to get his endorsement for the Temple site.  He didn't seem agreeable at all, but then they had Vai Sikahema, a member of one of the local Stake Presidency's speak. Brother Sikahema had once been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, and is still a very popular person in the area.  He told of his family in Tonga and how hard it had been for them to travel thousands of miles to go to the Temple, but how important it had been in their lives. And he bore testimony of the blessings a Temple in that area would bring. By the end of the meeting the Mayor's attitude had changed completely.  And when President Eyring breaks ground later, he has asked the Brother Sikahema assist in that.

    One last story...Elder Walker also talked about the attitudes of Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. They had all been raised by the same parents, and yet had such different outcomes.  He wondered what the Book of Mormon would have been like if Laman had written it. "I Laman, having been born of delusional parents..."  It was pretty funny, but a powerful thought too.

    Love you all!  Mom

p.s. If I am missing anyone, please let me know, so I can add or change any addresses.

Oh thank you Mom!  I love it!  I forwarded it on to Stephen and Anne.  I think Stephen will especially enjoy the story about Brother Sikahema.  That is so cool!  Stephen just read "The Eye of the Storm" by John Groberg.  It's the Other Side of Heaven story.  He really enjoyed it and has his mind on Tonga now. 

 

I had a dream about you last night.  You looked like you were only about 25 and you were wearing a beautiful blue house dress/night gown.  I don't remember much about the dream, but it was nice to see you!

 

I didn't tell you yesterday that Spencer went to nursery for the first time yesterday!  He went without any problems!  I was holding him as we walked in.  There were already a few kids in there playing with toys and as soon as he saw the toys he wanted to get down and go.  He turned around and looked at me once, but it was a look like, "Can I really just play with all these toys?"  He was not sad at all.  I saw the Primary President right before Relief Society and she told me he was doing great.  I taught RS yesterday so when Spencer needed a clean diaper they brought him to James.  James said that when he took him back to nursery, he just walked right in and started jabbering to the other kids.  Yay!

 

Well, it's about time for me to get everyone up.  Thank you very much for the email!  I look forward to more of them!

 

Love you!!!

Aimee

Hi again!

 

I forgot in my last email to mention Mrs. Foster.  I remember her!  She was one of my favorite teachers in Jr. High.  I had her for keyboarding and also drama.  I had forgotten that I wrote her a note, but now that you mention it, I do remember it.  I'm glad I did!  I have seen her a couple of times in the last few years.  I saw her for just a second, long enough to wave, at the 4th of July parade in Ashton when Dad was running for Sheriff and we were passing out stickers and stuff.  Then I saw her again maybe the next year, or the year after?  She was a temple worker in the Rexburg temple and James and I had gone with a few of James' family to do some baptisms and sealings for some family names.  It was very nice to see her in the temple and we got to visit for a couple of minutes. 

 

Please tell her hello for me.  I'm not surprised that she is helping Deb and her family.  I remember her being kind of soft spoken and very kind.  I'm glad you've been able to meet her!

 

Love you, again!

 

Aimee