26 August 2018

 Dear people!

   Yesterday was Zach's birthday! Happy birthday, we hope it was wonderful! Dad was in Boise/Meridian for a POST graduation, so he was able to attend the birthday party (Friday evening), and then go to church with Weaver's today. He's on his way home now and I expect him in the next couple of hours. Always so good when he comes home. 

   My job interview by phone, went well and they called right back and set up a face to face interview for this Thursday, in Meridian.  No word from the other job application, but there was no closing date on it, so they might just be keeping it open for when they have a need. So, Wednesday after work, I'll drive to Meridian and stay that night with Heidi, Kevin, and the kids, then go to my interview at 10:30 the next morning. After that I hope to meet Heidi, Dixie, and any kiddo's, and have lunch before I drive back home. I'll let you know how it goes . . . this one makes me more nervous than the phone interview. What to wear . . . don't talk to fast or too much. . . etc.

   Evidently I didn't have enough to be nervous about because in the past three days I've received assignments to speak at the Saturday evening session of Stake Conference, Sept 8th, and then 4 different times over the next several months at various Wards, with different High Councilmen. The first time will be Sept 16th. I won't have time to worry about changing jobs, with two talks to prepare. 

   Dad starts his new calling as Gospel Doctrine Teacher next week. On September 7th, he'll have meniscus repair surgery on his right knee. It'll be at the outpatient surgery center, so he should be home by that evening. Different doctor this time, hopefully better results too.  

   Yesterday, Jocie, Janie, Gran, and I went to the 11:15 showing of Christopher Robin. I hadn't been too sure I wanted to see it, but Gran really wanted to. I was afraid they would ruin the original Winnie the Pooh stories, or make it too cheesy, or even crude. But it couldn't have been more perfect. I highly recommend it to you all, and can't wait to buy it. 

   After the movie, we went to Pizza Pie Cafe, had lunch, and a really nice visit. Gran and I stopped at Walmart on the way home. 

   This morning, Gran, Sister Thelma Neilson, and Sister Verlene Walker, each spoke in Sacrament meeting. Janie came out and stayed long enough to hear Gran speak; she was the middle one. They each did great, Thelma was the most nervous, but Gran's was the best talk, I thought. Her topic was Family History, and she told about the trip she went on with Jocie and Janie, last fall, and how they went to 10 cemeteries and 3 battlefields in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. 

   Last evening, I went to Jared and Tanya Adamson's wedding reception at Reneta's Ward, east of Shelley. It was so nice, and I enjoyed meeting Tanya. They had a good turn out and lots of family were there: Grandma, Beth, Hannah, Venae, LaRalph, Nancy, Laura (and her family), Joni. Jennifer, Sterling, and his mother, Valerie were there too. Sterling's mother and Uncle Kay were 1st or 2nd cousins. I think they knew each other as small children, but then her family relocated to Washington State and they lost contact . . . until Reneta and Sterling made the connection during a Pioneer Day parade picnic at Jocie's and Janie's, a few years ago. Crazy, huh?

   Well, I know you must all be super busy with a new school year, jobs, callings . . . everything! Please write when you can; we'd all love to know what's happening. 

Much love, Mom/Johanna/Nana

Correction: Dad will be at Bradley's priesthood ordination in Denver next weekend, so he won't start teaching gospel doctrine until after Stake Conference.  And he's home!