graduation...

Well, the last of our children has graduated from high school. It was so nice to have so many of you come to support her at this time. Graduation also means the end of the school year. I had to clean my classroom and get things put away for the summer. It is a good feeling to get this job done and look forward to having summer school start in another week. It does feel a little strange to not have to be gone to work this morning, but it is nice.

The garden is starting to produce and I enjoy digging and working the soil. It is very theraputic. I have already picked radishes, onions, and a little bit of spinach. This morning I picked my first pea pods and discovered a head of cauliflower about a one serving size. I was so excited. I have never grown cauliflower before.

the end of another school year

We have been busy with the end of another school year. The highlight of the week at school was being able to accompany the third grade's production of "The Wizard of Oz". They did a great job! I have been doing the end of the year testing for Title I and trying to keep the 7th graders busy in Math. I am continuing with my Math endorsement classes online which have been challenging, but it makes me feel good when I figure it out. I feel like the scarecrow when he is handed his diploma. The weather has been beautiful even though it has been a little windy. I am enjoying it because the heat is coming inevitably.

I had a nice conversation with John, my oldest, on his birthday. He is now 38 and seems to be doing fairly well. Chelsea, my youngest, is preparing for graduation with excitement and trepidation. Chelsea and I picked up my mom to attend another performance at the Gaslight Theater in Tucson. She really enjoys going and we had a lot of good laughs. We also met Chris and Emily there.

It has been a spiritual week. Last Saturday, Hailey (my niece Shannon's daughter) was baptized. It was so exciting that Josh was able to take care of the priesthood duties. What a blessing and I know my sister, Paula, was smiling down on the festivities. Today, was the Gila Valley Temple Dedication. I attended the 9:00 session and was so thankful to have been able to participate. The spirit touched my heart many times during the different talks. For your information, the temple is across the highway from where Grandma Davidson lived for many years when she was growing up. Sister Crockett talked of the spirits that were in attendance and I feel sure that Grandma was there. President Monson was in good spirits, though I feel like he was very concerned about his wife. So, I know I have a heart because it was full many times this past week.

It has been a good school year and I am very grateful for a job that I enjoy and provides for us. My garden and new trees are doing well and I am looking forward to the summer. Now, I just need the courage of the cowardly lion to face the challenges awaiting me in the future.

temple open house

It has been a wonderful week. We had a really nice visit with Tracy and Johnny last weekend. Just last Sunday they were sleeping in my living room and now they have begun their new adventure in Dominica. School was busy as usual. I completed one of my online classes which is a big load off my shoulders.

On Thursday, Chelsea and I went to Safford to view the temple. It is beautiful and feels special because it feels like it is our temple. After our tour, we met up with Paul Bird, ate a quick meal, and then I dropped them off at Paul's house while I went back to the temple to serve as an usher for the evening shift. That was a special time. I am so glad I was able to do this. I first helped in the chapel making sure there were tour guides for each group. Even though the weather turned cold and windy, many people came to see the House of the Lord so we were busy all evening. There were many members but also a good number of the curious. I pray that many were touched by the spirit felt in the temple. After working in the chapel, I was sent back into the temple and was stationed in the baptistry. It was uplifting to hear the tour guides share their testimonies with the visitors. I saw many people I knew, some of whom I hadn't seen for a while. At the end of the shift, I got to put shoe covers on people because they had sent the young women home. It was late, 9:30, when I left the temple and went to meet up with Chelsea at the Spring Sing where Paul was performing. I was able to hear the choir's last song and then the traditional finale where the choir alumni joined the choir in a circle to sing "May the Lord Bless You" which was beautiful. We got Paul back home and left Safford about 10:30 to drive home. As you can imagine, it was a little hard to wake up on Friday morning, but it was worth it. Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera so I didn't get any pictures.

Saturday, Chelsea and I spent the day with my mom. We went out for lunch and a movie. My mom's condition has worsened and we are looking for a place for her to live which will be closer to George because I can't find anything suitable here in St. David. This is very hard for her because she still feels as if she can take care of herself. She can to a certain extent, but she is not fully aware of what she is doing from time to time. When Tracy and Johnny were here last week, we spent a very fun evening with her going to dinner and playing games with her afterward. That was Wednesday. On Thursday evening she called me and was so happy and thankful that we had come. On Friday she told George she hadn't seen me in weeks. Those of you who are close need to visit her as often as you can, she may not be with us much longer and I don't mean just physically.

Please take care and love one another.