20 May 2018

 Hello everybody!

   Well, first off, Anne was 16 on Friday! It was so nice to talk with you on the phone, sweetie. You grow more mature and lovely each year. We hope you had a wonderful birthday. 

   The next day would have been Granddad's 90th birthday. We had all my brothers and sisters over for dinner and then we went to the cemetery and took pictures. We had a really nice time. We had pulled pork sandwiches, corn on the cob, deviled eggs, chips, cheese cake and Bonnie Butter cake with chocolate frosting.  During dinner, Jake played some of Daddy's old recordings from his Big Band programs. The music was nice, but hearing his voice was very touching. It was a really great evening. 

   Mother's Day was really great this year, and also very different! I got to spend 3 days with my three girls. We hope to do something like this again, but probably not on Mother's Day, next time. We did many of the things we'd planned, and some we didn't plan. One highlight was attending a session together at the Meridian Temple. Another was meeting Dad for lunch! I think it turned out just perfectly. Thank you also, for all the sweet cards, notes, gifts and drawings I received for Mother's Day. You kids and grandkids are so sweet and thoughtful to me!

   Just got word that an old family friend, Linda Conn, passed away this morning. She and her sisters, Sharla, Donette, and Michelle (my age), and their parents, Don and Vonnie, were our families closest friends when we lived in Twin Falls. Don and Vonnie divorced years later, but we are still in touch with them both. Michelle and I were together, jumping on my parents bed, when JFK's assassination came over the radio. We were 5 years old. Vonnie was with Mama and Daddy when Joel was stillborn. She and Daddy were the only ones who got to see him.

   Our Stake Self Reliance Committee met this afternoon and received a report from the Facilitators who lead groups for this last 12 week session. Oh, my goodness, the powerful experiences that come from these classes! These are life changing for all involved. Many expressed today that they feel every member 18 and over should have the chance to take these classes, and I fully agree. In most cases, people become involved at the invitation of their Bishops, but you can ask to be involved too. I hope that some of you will have this opportunity some time. 

   Summer is almost here; school will be out soon! Lots of exciting things planned. We'll look forward to hearing from some of you soon. 

Love from,

   Mom/Nana and Dad/Grandpa  

Hi Everyone!

First, Mom, I'm so glad all of you were able to celebrate Grandaddy's birthday together. And even get a picture!

We got to see Dad Sunday and part of Monday last week. It's always so nice when he has meetings up this way. I was busy with a funeral in the ward on Thursday. Most people in the ward didn't know the sister who passed away, I had only met her a couple of times, but everyone was so willing to help and bring food for the family dinner. It made my job a lot easier! 

Stephen has been busy working at the same part time job he had last summer, yard work and other maintenance at a nice trailer park just outside of town. However, he has just about got a different job for the summer. He will most likely be fighting forest fires and be based in Deary, ID which is a little town about 20 miles from here. Unless they get called to go help with fires in other areas, he will still be able to live at home. If there aren't fires here to take care of, they work very hard at fire prevention. It will be good money and good work for him. He wanted a job like this, but didn't think he could do it because he won't be 18 till July. And they had all the fire crews filled up, but when a guy dropped out of the Deary crew, Stephen's Sunday School teacher who teaches fire management at the U of I and is an active firefighter herself, told Stephen he should apply and recommended him to the guy doing the hiring. Stephen has his application and everything in, and talked to the boss, just waiting for the final confirmation.

Stephen and Annie's last day of Seminary was on Friday and last night was Seminary graduation. I only cried a little bit! 

The girls all had their final concerts of the year these last two weeks. On Thursday evening the HS band and orchestra had their awards night and Annie received the award for most improved in orchestra. She just decided to play the cello this year and can now keep up with everyone else who has been playing for much longer. One of our ministering brothers took pictures of each of the girls at a combined concert they had, so I'll include those.

Annie had a good birthday on Friday. Her cousin, KatieJo, came for the weekend from Richland, WA. Then on Saturday, Ellen and Naomi planned and very successfully pulled off a surprise party for Annie. I forgot to take a video of her reaction though! 

Stephen went to prom about 3 weeks ago and I'll include a couple pictures of that. He took his friend Sam. Her name is Samantha, but goes by Sam. He asked her by making an ottendorf cipher using the scriptures as the key! (She is LDS) It that not the coolest? She answered him by making a bow tie for him that matched her dress. So fun!!

Ellen got braces almost two weeks ago now. Her mouth was pretty sore at first, but she says it doesn't hurt anymore. She's still getting used to eating some things a little differently, but she has been a real trooper! 

We are getting to the end of the school year! Whew!! Our last day is June 6th and graduation is on June 8th. We mailed out graduation announcements late last week, hopefully you will each get yours soon if you haven't yet. Everyone is excited for summer. I am too, I just can't believe how fast this year has gone by! So crazy!

Oh! One last thing. Our good friends, the Cooks, went to Salk Lake for General Conference in April and their picture is in the Ensign! They are on pg 82. Ryan used to be our Bishop, and is now our Stake President. They used to live just down the street from us, but they moved out to Troy at the end of last summer. Luckily they aren't so far away that we can't still get together with them. Their oldest daughter, Whitney, just left last week to serve a mission in Manchester, England.

That's everything I can think of for now. Thanks again for your emails, Mom!

Love you all!

Aimee