A Potato Walks Into a Bar ...

... and all eyes were on him!

You're welcome!

Well, I haven't sent anything for quite a while. If you care, I apologize. There is some good stuff to relate.

I will send a few emails / blog posts. But, I will start with some basic news that may be of interest.

Uno: Rachel tested into the Spectrum program at school, and will start in 6th grade with Ms. Lloyd. Yay! She is super smart but never tested very high, perhaps because she seemed to be in a hurry and not pay attention. This time she not only passed but passed with a nearly perfect score. I hope she loves it.

Dos: Lucy was asked to be a part of CDJH's Hope Squad, a group of people that are to watch for and help those struggling with depression and anxiety. A teacher approached her and said that she had been conducting a survey of her class and asked students who they felt like they could talk to if they had a problem, and her name came up repeatedly. Bless you, Lucy!

Tres: Andrew was upset that Lucy was invited to join Hope Squad, and told her not to do it. He said he had been bullied by some of the kids in it, and they were often manipulative brown-nosers. Oh dear. I think, though, that may explain this teacher previously mentioned that talked to Lucy--it sounds to me like they are trying to get it to function properly. I hope so!

Cuatro: Hope Squad's theme this year was something like "Life is Hard: So Are You". As I pondered upon why it was "hard" instead of "tough" ("tough" just feels better to me), I came up with a better one: "Life Stinks. So Do You." I could have been in Hope Squad last year.

Cinco: Cinco de Mayo came and went.

Seis: Miriam is still struggling, and I ask that you pray for her. She refused to attend Stake Conference and more and more frequently skips school and church. She doesn't do much of anything that she doesn't feel like doing. We may try a hypnotist next, but I won't go into that here.

Siete: I did try to help someone a couple of weeks ago at the doctor's office. I mother was waiting in the waiting room with a young Downs Syndrome child, perhaps 4 or 5 years old, and another older daughter. While waiting, the young child suddenly threw up all over the floor and her mother and herself: in her hair, clothes, shoes, etc. 

I rushed to the bathroom and grabbed a bunch of towels and wet some of them. She was humiliated and frantic. I helped a bit with my awkward arm brace but I could tell she was embarrassed to have me help too much, so I got some of the big stuff and took a bunch of it to the bathroom garbage.

When I came back, a nurse was explaining that even though she had apparently scheduled an appointment, there was no appointment in the system and so she would have to reschedule and come back another day.

Now the mother was in tears, caught somewhere between wanting to run away and pound the messenger's face. She chokingly explained that it was the second time this had happened, and she had been waiting a long time this second time only to be told to go away. Wasn't there something they could do? No. She would have to come back.

And I felt like this mom deserved a huge trophy for having survived one of the suckiest days ever. The ending script should conclude with " ... and, though justified, she didn't kill anyone, either."

Ocho: Stake conference changes! Patriarch Adamson is moving to Farmington next weekend, and was released as acting Patriarch for the Stake. President Mecham was released as 1st Counselor and sustained as our new Stake Patriarch. President Miller became the new 1st Counselor, and Kory Larsen (yes, from our ward) is now the 2nd Counselor. If you older children get this far, I thought you might enjoy that!

Nueve: I sang in the stake choir (so did Lucy and Andrew!) and stood between Patriarch Adamson and Patriarch-to-be Mecham. I take "stand ye in holy places" very, very seriously.

Diez: I flew to Florida with Dad and drove home with a new car. I think everyone knows that. I think I need to post some more about that, though, and maybe even include one of my boring pictures. It was great being with my Dad, though. It made the trip wayyyyyyyyyy better.

Ciao for now.