Writing

Mary has been sewing all week, working on personal progress and an entry to the school art show.

Abe began making bread again and he's REALLY good at it. I wish he loved making it as much as he liked eating it. His bread doesn't last more than a day or two.

Maeser isn't concerned with anything but his birthday which everyone knows is in 12 days!

Moses busted his lip up last night. He hit the grate in front of our gate so hard that there are black streaks on his two front teeth that I can't brush off! (paint chips?) As he tripped he was yelling, "I run so fast!" and now he walks like a duck with  a protruding upper lip. He also love to give kisses and surprise hugs. There's no way he won't be spoiled.

Scout. Scout. Adorable, loves animals. Pretend or otherwise. Probably the easiest to please and the fastest to anger. Almost like having a 5 year-old teenager.

This week I was released as Primary president and then called as 1st counsellor to the new President. Our stake was reorganised, again, last Sunday and we are now a part of a "super" ward meaning about the same size as a regular Utah congregation. How great it is to have more adults than children attending! As I met with the new president this week and moved toys, books, manuals, singing time supplies from one building to another, I realised that the relief I felt in a new calling was fleeting. Her very first questions were: "How many of the children are foreigners?" (ALL but 5) and "How reverent are they?"  (Um... they're children. We have good and bad days.)

I had to repent quickly as I felt like being counsellor would be more difficult than being in charge! If anyone should know how demanding her job is, it would be me. And I had two amazing women for counsellors! I quickly decided to be that kind of person. She has been the primary president in a ward where sometimes there are NO primary children, and yet she comes every week prepared to have a lesson and singing time. That takes a lot of faith! 

Dan made a trip to Bangkok and brought back some favourite foods and has consistently been home before bedtime this week. Friday night was my favourite- we went running while Dallin watched the children.

Pictures are of Mary's sewing project this week, my window washer, Abe has the best friends who show up in time to help finish his chores.

January 13, 2019

Christmas, New Years, hosting parents and grandparents, winter break, a quick trip to Manila to see Dan's parents and to visit the temple and now school starts back up tomorrow which forces us to get back to routines and thus writing. 

The highlight of the season was having family for the holidays. We loved being home for the break and doing things in town that we don't do very often. We visited the zoo, Gardens by the Bay, the marina, Dan's office, La Pa Sat, the Dragon Kiln and had all kinds of food (Korean, Indian, Singaporean, Italian, German, American and Chinese) but forgot to get Dim Sum before they left.

The children were spoiled with someone to play games and puzzles every day, Grandma Vonda played the piano often and Grandpa Orval spent a lot of time teaching Mary how to use family search and prepare work for the temple. By the time we all left on Mom's birthday, Mary had 5 names ready to take. Three were sisters that Grandpa helped her find and two came from Aunt Tommy Sue. Mary is well prepared to do some work on her own and to teach others.

Mary got to visit the temple for her first time while we were in Manila and can't wait to go again. It's crazy to think that she will only be a Beehive for 1 year!

As we prepared to return to Singapore we got to the airport before I realised I'd left my backpack back at the mission home. Unfortunately we missed our flight but we didn't lose the passports, phone ect. that I was certain would be gone. Such a blessing. (We tried to get the passports to the airport in time by hiring a motorcyclist to drive them across town through traffic and told him we'd pay double if he made it before our flight. It took him 90 minutes to weave through traffic and only cost us $10, amazing.) Dan booked new flights, it was a busy weekend for airlines and we couldn't all get out of Manila on the same day. I returned with Moses the following day and Dan traveled with the other 4 children on Sunday afternoon.

Dan had an uneventful birthday and we celebrated by going to our favourite steakhouse in Singapore. He initially didn't want to do dinner, so Scout and I "decorated" the house and I went to a butcher to buy a steak. I'd only been home 10 minutes when Dan texted to say he though dinner out was a great idea. The next morning, because Dan met me at the restaurant on his way home from work, Scout said, "Dad, you missed your birthday!" Because really, we celebrate our birthdays for the kids right? Decorations are still up for Scout's birthday later this week. (The big 5!)

Life is great. God is good. I feel so blessed to learn more about Christ and how much I depend on Him daily.

Dan's birthday dinner. I kinda love this guy.

Hanging out in the field with grandma and dad while the kids play with remote control cars.

Two very strong and beautiful women in my life.

Big brothers are the best.

Graduate from a stroller to airport wheelchairs. Should have made this change years ago!

The bird park with cousins.