Yup. Another week went by.

When I look at my weekly calendar, a lot happened.  Not all of it is that exciting.

We had a great stake conference last week and a seminary and institute in-service meeting.  When I came home, I ended up sending out letters to teachers recapping what we went over for those who didn’t attend.  I sent letters to bishops about graduation and the upcoming CES fireside.  And I sent more letters to teachers about the same thing.

The phone man came and fixed our phone line.  It wasn’t until Tuesday we realized that we could call out, but people couldn’t call in.  It was kind of nice and quiet. Turns out it fried one phone and zapped the surge protector the modem plugged into.  So it’s time to order new phones.

One of my friends is struggling to get out of a difficult marriage.  One spouse is intense and dynamic.  The other has brain damage and needs peace to think and focus.  This person, I’ll call Pat, needed an advocate.  I had been watching from the sidelines for a while and was quite concerned about Pat.  So I stepped in and became Pat’s advocate.  Phone calls. Guidance.  Suggestions. Mostly a cheering section: You can do it!  Takes time.   Some ugliness, but I hope we can all be kind and loving and move forward.

Tom and I listened to a book on tape going and coming from Kansas City.  We didn’t get it finished.   So Tom listened to it on his way to Springfield for a meeting.  I listened to the same part when I went up on Wednesday for a meeting.  Alas!  We’ve advanced the protagonists from almost being eaten by a wild animal to prisoners of pirates!  Where can we drive to next??  It’s due back at the library this Thursday.

I went to Springfield for Stake council. It’s always interesting to see what’s happening in the stake.  More than 85,000 people went through the Kansas City Temple open house. The cultural celebration that will happen just before the dedication is exhilarating and exhausting.  Sometimes it’s hard for the youth to put forth effort taking on faith it will be worth it.  The dedication of the temple will be on Sunday and our chapel will have a broadcast of that dedication.  I got to talk about promoting seminary and institute and having more institute classes offered.  Also spoke about improving student learning.

It’s April and we have 6 months more of gardening… but for now, I’m on top of the weeds!  Most of the savory asparagus came on while I was away.  Tom froze some and we are enjoying that.  The potatoes are growing.  I’m able to harvest a little lettuce, some spinach and green onions.  Saturday I got my whole salad from the garden.  I earned it. I weeded. I planted beans, cucumbers, cantaloupe, and carrots.  Clearly it was the C-son for planting.  Oh, I also planted a small herb garden with basil, parsley and cilantro. I transplanted some enthusiastic oregano there already.

Tom built the fabulous arch for our climbing rose to climb on.  This spring, however, since we kept pruning it back because the old arch keeled over—it’s mostly big bush shaped.  So I tethered some branches to the arch.  I hope they will grow as I envision it.

I kind of sloughed off on the copywriting this week.  I didn’t do much with my blogs—except spend some time looking at other modest blogs.  I did get feedback from my IRA client.  He loved my work.  Thought it was fabulous and that I should be making a 6 figure income from my copywriting.  So I have more work from him.  I don’t want all my eggs in one basket, so I do need to go out looking for more work.  I still ponder which niche I want to work in.  What do I know enough about?  What would I like writing about for a long time?

Tom got the bathroom finished. We just need to put up a shower rod.  That’s ordered.  So I’ll put pictures up.

Today we had fast and testimony as next Sunday is the temple dedication so there is no other church. This evening we had a missionary farewell for Artie and Bill Rice.  I’m so excited for them.  They will be great missionaries!