We just returned from 3 weeks in Rolla, Missouri with Rance, Denise and family. Denise had surgery on April 1st and we flew into St. Louis that same day. Rance and Devery picked us up at the airport and delivered us to their home in Rolla. Rance brought Denise home from the hospital the next day. Denise's surgery went well. They removed 4 nodes from her neck, all were non-cancerous. Good news! Denise is almost back to her normal, hectic life.
Devery was there the first week. So good to have a chance to spend time with her and to taste her yummy blueberry muffins. She is preparing for her Spanish speaking mission in Minnesota. She goes into the MTC July 10. Kiely and Rafal came with Kara and Zach the following weekend. What a sweet family! So happy to have the opportunity to see them again and to get reacquainted with the children.
While there we had a tornado warning, thunder and lightning storm, high winds, some sunny days and even snow one day. A little of every thing! Denise took us to a big museum in Ft. Leonard Wood that was so interesting and educational. I'm continually amazed at how much I did not know. Also enjoyed time at Meramac Springs learning about the first iron works west of the Mississippi. We went to the museum at the St. Louis arch. Very interesting! A place you could spend the whole day in and still not see it all. We had hoped to see the largest and oldest Indian habitation north of Mexico but it was closed the day we were there. Maybe next time! Also went through a beautiful Basilica that had more mosaics than any place in the world. It was just stunning! Hard to imagine the artistry required to place all those millions of tiny glass pieces in the exact location to create beautiful scenes. I'm sorry I don't have pictures to post. My camera died a few months ago and I haven't replaced it yet.
The shoe drive was still under way while we were there. We were able to help a little. Dad drove Jorin and Jantzen around to hand out flyers and to pick up bags of shoes. I helped with the banding and bagging of a few pickup loads of shoes. It was amazing to see the 53' semi truck pull up empty in their driveway and then 3 hours later see it drive away filled from top to bottom,front to back all except the last 6 feet. I think they said they loaded about 30,000 pairs of shoes. Several friends of Jorin and Jantzen came to help as well as a few adults. Family members in 5 states helped collect shoes. Jorin and Jantzen worked tirelessly every day. The total number collected by and for Jorin was 12,400 pairs of shoes. Now, that is a LOT of shoes! Think of how many people that will help. Many of us had the opportunity to give shoes to help with the project. Thank you for your support! Jorin and Jantzen now have a chance to go to Africa with Dando Amor, the non-profit company that sponsored the shoe drive, to help deliver the shoes to orphans in Burkina Faso. They are working hard to try to raise the necessary money for the trip. As a family, we can help make their dream a reality. "By small and simple means, great things are brought to pass". If you haven't seen the videos they have posted, please go to the following websites and watch them. Also read about their project. If you feel you can give some, (a little or a lot!) you can contribute on the website. We read in the news frequently about teenagers gone amuck. Here is a beautiful example of what two teenagers in our family have decided to do to make a difference. We should support and encourage them!
getfunding.com/project/change-the-world-foot-by-foot (just copy and past this address into the browser and it should take you right to his project page.)
fundly.com/change-the-world-foot-by-foot
Since our last post, I have a new calling, Stake Indexing Director. Oh my! Hope I can figure out what is expected and then how to get that done.
The weather has been glorious this past week. Spring has sprung and the flowers and trees are blooming everywhere. This must be a banner year for lilacs as all the bushes I see are loaded. Our daffodils have come and gone. Some tulips as well. Some tulips getting ready to bloom. Rhodys and azaleas so beautiful now. We are eating Swiss Chard from the garden. Beet greens too. I planted the chard and beets in the fall and they just sat there all winter doing nothing but with the change in the weather they just grew like crazy. I was shocked when we got home from Missouri to see how big they were. We are drinking lots of green smoothies!
Caleb graduates high school this year and recently received his mission call to San Bernardino Spanish speaking. He goes in the MTC June 26. We plan to be there for his farewell and setting apart. Also looking forward to attending Colton's graduation on June 8.
Andrea just moved into an apartment. Shaquel was made Assistant Manager at Sprint in Roseburg. Congratulations to you both!
Since coming home Dad has been busy mowing, mowing and then mowing. I've been pulling weeds and trying to get the front yard looking less like a jungle. Amazing how fast things grow when the weather turns warm! Before we left we killed all but 11 of the chickens. They are now residing in jars in the food room. The same fate awaits the others before we leave on our family tour in June. We are beefing up our food supply to try to be prepared when inflation hits and prices skyrocket. We hope you are all trying to do the same! We love you! We pray for you! Dad and Mom, G'pa and G'ma, Dennis and Lynn
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