Week 14

Feb 10, 2025 

Dear Gracie,

On Monday, after shopping for the week, a lady passed me, looking at my trunk fully packed with groceries, and said, "Impressive!  I like it!"  I assume it was referring to how I had expertly packed everything in.  I was surprised and pleased with her comment.  I do think that I've cultivated a pretty good system for packing everything into the car (you know I like puzzles!), and it was nice to be acknowledged for that.  But also, I thought, "Wow, that was such an easy thing for her to do, and it surprisingly really brightened up my day."  I have been thinking about it all week, and how I'd like to be the person who lifts others up with simple comments like that.  I just have to be more aware, and more brave to talk to strangers.  (I guess I could do it here at home, too! )

We had spring-like weather this week, even getting up into the 80's.  We spent time outside while we could.  Dad got home from his work trip on Friday night, and went disc golfing with Benson on Saturday morning.  Caytie, Tessa, and I (and then Dad, when he returned) helped Audra finish up loose ends on her Eagle project outside Akin Elementary School.  She made a texture garden, with lots of stones, logs, a brick bridge, etc., and we helped with adding some more concrete to secure it all.  Benson rode his bike to Burnett to play tennis with some friends.  Dad got on the roof to patch up the leak from last week's rain.  He also spent time working on his RC battleship.  Tessa went to a birthday party movie-in-the-backyard night with some friends.  It was a nice break from the cold, but February reminded us it's here on Sunday, when it dropped to the 40's with misty rain.

I got a new phone on Friday.  It has been nice to not have to recharge it halfway through the day.  I've been logging into all the things this weekend, and playing with some of the new features.  There's a fun one called Drawing Assist. You make a little sketch, and tell it what style you want it to be (watercolor, 3-D cartoon, sketch, etc.), and it uses AI to enhance your sketch.  It's really fun!

We enjoyed our new ward on Sunday.  The common comment from the "original" First Ward members was, "Wow, there are so many people!"  Us newcomers from the Fourth Ward looked around and thought, "Where is everyone?"  Dad and I substituted for the Sunbeam class.  All the major callings have been filled, so we're interested to see where we'll be used.  (Maybe we'll still get to teach Primary together!)  I also am filling in as pianist for the choir.  We had a practice on Sunday and will perform next Sunday.  I'm sure if they can find someone else for that calling, they will!  But they might not, and I'll plug along as long as they need me.

There's not much more to report from this week, so I guess I'll sign off.  We hope you have a wonderful week!  We love you so much!

Love,

Mom

FHE game=Just Dance!

Walk with preschoolers

Audra's project

Drawing Assist--now I want to paint this for real!

Tomato--with and without a hand, thanks to AI:

Benson's birthday list:

Preschool mealworm update--we have darkling beetles!

☺