Conference Study

I seldom watch or listen all sessions of conference on conference weekend.  I'm still trying to get things done on Saturday, and might try to work in the kitchen or do ironing or run a quick errand and end up missing several talks.  That's how it worked this session too, but I always listen and read them again and again before the next session.  I often listen to the talks in the morning while I'm exercising or getting ready for work.  

This time I have a new plan that will stretch me beyond just listening or reading.  A senior missionary from our ward recently had a mission conference with Elder Bednar.  She shared his study method:

Elder Bednar’s pattern of General Conference talk study (from before he was an apostle)-

Take the talks of the fifteen prophets, seers, and revelators and make a chart of each talk with the following categories: 

What is the doctrine? What am I invited to do? What is the promise?

I'm going to try it.  I mean, if it's good enough for Elder Bednar, it should be good for me.

What Nerdy Dweebs

I took this picture while I sat in my chair, with my laptop on my lap.  Terry is in his spot with his laptop on his lap.  We spend a lot of time (daily) in our assigned seats with our laptops on our laps.  

That's my foot behind the laptop, in the same slipper-socks I put on every evening.

Easter Sunday

We invited all the kids (minus Ty in Oregon) and grandkids over for Easter breakfast and the morning session of conference.  It ended up being a good idea and the start of a new tradition, I think.  We started at 9:00, and everyone seemed to arrive just as more hot waffles were ready.  I wish I had taken pictures of the food.  This was the menu:

• fruit (pears, nectarine, grapes, fresh pineapple, strawberries)
• egg casserole (with sausage and hashbrowns)
• bacon (thick sliced and turkey)
• waffles (regular and spiced ones that are like cookies)
• maple syrup and buttermilk syrup
• yogurt and granola
• chocolate milk, orange juice, apple juice

Everything worked out great.  Nothing burned.  Nothing spilt.  And Stacey said pineapple is suppose to make you go into labor so she ate up and took home leftovers.

Stacey had brought conference Bingo Cards and that kept the kids tuned-in for about half an hour.  They played with toys and goofed off afterwards.  It was a little noisier than church, but not much.

Hads in her Easter dress (with matching sandals).

The boys rough housing.

Usually they're more like this.

I-guy brought his monster pillow that we gave him for Christmas.

Cute couple with a photo bomb kid.

I just started the blanket for the little girl that might be here next week.

It seems like I never have pictures of Maycee.  I wonder if her parents feel the same way.  Poor 3rd child.

Coloring

I think everyone had a good time.  It was good being together.  Terry and I spent a quiet afternoon watching conference and snacking.  I think this is the 2nd time we didn't have an Easter dinner.  Today we didn't even miss it.  (The last time was on a Spring Break trip to Portland and for some crazy reason, we couldn't find a restaurant.  We finally ate at a dirty Red Robin.  This was much better.)

Saturday

About seven years ago, a friend and I joined Boise Fit Club to train for a marathon (we just walked).  Every Saturday we met on the greenbelt and walked, and walked, and talked, and talked.  It was great therapy and a lot of fun.  Now my friend is going through a miserable divorce and we're back for more greenbelt therapy.  We'll be meeting every Saturday morning.  I love the walking, and the scenery,and my friend.  I can't think of any other way to help her right now, except be there, and listen, and maybe say something funny once in a while.  We had a great four mile walk.  This will be good.

I cleaned house, did wash, and went grocery shopping, while trying to watch conference.  I didn't get too much out of it.  (I'll watch, listen, and read it again later.)  Then I went to JoAnn's to buy yarn for Stacey's baby blanket, and out to Marie Callender's for pies.  It's become a tradition for the guys to watch the priesthood session at our house and have pie afterward. It's also a tradition that I stop and share pie with Mom and Dad on my way home. Three guys do not need to eat two pies (plus ice cream)!  It was good to visit for a few minutes, and I left with another book.  Seems like I always leave with something. 

We had a good talk after the conference session - just me and the guys.  I needed to get to bed early, because I had invited everyone over for Easter breakfast.  It was a long day, but went by too fast.  

Today we sent home report cards and I had two students crying when they saw their grades.  Hmmmm?  Maybe they should put more effort into their work.  My class is not that hard!

Blooming Beautiful!

Boise is blooming!  I want to sing praises and give thanks every day as I drive around town. All of the trees are BEAUTIFUL!  The flowering pear are my favorite and you can't beat a drive down Harrison Blvd. (How do you spell that?), but here are a few more favorites:

• Timberline High School parking lot (all pink and white)
• McDonald's on Vista and Kootenai (thick, heavy, dark pink branches)
• Apartments on Boise Avenue right after Leadville (same as above)
• The Bunn's house on the corner of Constitution and the cul de sac (flowering pear)
• Lake Forest Drive by the soccer fields (mixture of pink blossoms and evergreens)

I wish I had pictures of them all.  I did take this pic of the tree right outside my classroom window.  I get to look at it all day.

 

Moving In

A new student joined my class today, from Alaska.  I thought he'd be a little timid, but when I asked him to tell us little about himself, he came to the front of the room and proceeded to talk for 15 minutes, then answered questions.  We learned all about the geography of Juneau, the glacier, the islands close by, bear hunting, and wolves.  There aren't any moose in Juneau.  He also played on his middle school's championship football team, but they only played three games, because they couldn't find any other teams close by.  His name is DeVaun, which is French.  He has two sisters at our school.  I talked to one of the other teachers and apparently the sister in fourth grade couldn't quit talking all morning.  These kids are just happy to be in a big city where they have plenty of people to talk to.