Spencer is enjoying learning the saxophone. He was having a hard time carrying it to and from school and we were trying to figure out what he could do. He tried using a shoulder strap on it but found that was still heavy and awkward. He asked if we could find some kind of cart to pull it on. We bought him a folding hand truck (dolly) that he is going to try using today. I hope it helps him. I wasn’t ready to start driving him to and from school every day. I felt he could figure this out and do it. He was excited to try the new hand truck today. It collapses to about the same size of his case and only about 2 inches thick. Spencer is enjoying being a boy scout now. He was able to do swimming activities his first couple of weeks to do the swimming requirements. Last Friday Spencer and Andrew went over to Nathan's home to hang out and have fun. They enjoyed being there with their friend Jonathan too. I am glad they have good friends. They enjoy going to their model train club meetings each month too.
Spencer’s church pants have been getting tight on him. Andrew has stayed the same size for two years now, so he doesn’t have things to pass on to Spencer. I have been looking for pants for Spencer for a few weeks, checking different stores as I was able. He really liked the pants he had and said he wished I could just find a bigger size in them. They were from Target. I looked on line but found that they were no longer in stock and not being sold. I was disappointed. I looked at other on line options but was unsure what to order and try. I woke up one morning and felt that I should try the thrift stores again, I had looked there a couple of weeks ago. I went to Family Thrift, which is a large store with lots of clothing. I found a pair of pants that look new, in the Target brand and style that Spencer likes, the next size up from what Spencer has been using. I felt they were for us. I posted this on Facebook and one of my friends called it a “tender mercy” and I agree with that.
Caleb had lots of fun going to the elementary school “donuts with dads” activity. Neal and Caleb rode their bikes over to the school and had fun eating a donut and visiting with others who were there. I am glad Neal was able to go with Caleb for the activity. Caleb had fun playing with his friend Xan last Saturday. Caleb went to Xan’s home this time. They boys are good friends and enjoy being together. Last week for our cub scout activity we did a service time and went to the elementary school and picked up trash around the school. The boys worked well and each picked up a grocery bag full of trash. They were surprised at how much they found in the corners and along the fence. Yesterday was Caleb’s school’s fund raiser Jog-a-Thon. I went to help out at the water station. The kids ran or walked for about 45 minutes. It was a nice morning and they did great. Caleb went 23 laps or 3 2/7 miles. He was happy that he went further than last year. It is good to improve.
Ruth and I are assigned to be ministering sisters together. We were able to visit an elderly sister in the ward who can’t get out much. She was really nice and we enjoyed visiting with her and getting to know her. We also had the Decker’s over for dinner again. They are a young couple who Neal also is assigned to minister to. They enjoy coming over and we enjoy their company. Ruth is doing well at school but is finding that her classes are harder and keeping her busy. She has decided to cut back on her work hours and do two shifts a week, instead of the three she has been doing. I hope that helps her to not need to stay up late with home work as often. This week was the young women “New Beginnings.” Ruth earned a ribbon and I earned two. We have been working on things in personal progress together. She is getting close to being done. I am glad that she is doing well with so many things.
Last Saturday Neal worked out a gathering with one of his ministering families. We went to his companions home, the Rye family, and the Wagenman family came over too. We had a nice evening. It was fun to visit and eat together. There was a party going on that evening that was for LDS kids that attend Ruth’s high school. (There are two Stakes that feed into the school, so many of the kids don’t know each other. Ruth did know many from seminary in our Stake) The party was organized to help the LDS kids get to know each other to give each other support at school. At first Ruth didn’t want to go but when we got with the other families all the teen girls decided to go. Ruth had a good time at the party. Again, it is good to have good friends. (I feel that is a theme in this letter)
Last Sunday the choir sang in church. I am glad that I can participate with the choir. It has been good for me to get out and do something like that again. Last month I sang with a quartet at church and felt good with how it went. I often think about my Dad and how he loved to sing. I am glad that my parents had music be a part of my life from a young age, it helps me now. I love music of all sorts. This morning I was at the elementary school library helping and enjoyed being there. I enjoy going for walks and I have ventured out into the open space a little more. I don’t always like walking out there in the sand but some days it is nice to be out there and get away from the “city” even though it is only an open area between houses. I have enjoyed the flowers and mountain views. We live in a pretty place. Yesterday I found a thing in my garage, I covered it up with a bucket and went to the school for the jog-a-thon as planned. When I came home I managed to get it into a glass bottle. (Which my family was very impressed that I did and didn’t just leave it under the bucket.) I thought the kids would be interested in seeing it. I found it is called a vinegaroon and I read about it. It is in the arachnid family (spider). They aren’t harmful to people, but can bite. They also put out a smell that is like vinegar, hence the name. It is about three inches long and looks awful. The kids wanted to keep it for a pet, I said no. We decided to keep it for a day and not release it into the bad rain storm yesterday. We will let it go tonight (it is nocturnal) on the other side of our brick fence and see if it makes it. I might have hurt it getting it in the jar. I was surprised to find it in the garage.
Our neighbors had a leak in their water main and told us that the city would be doing some repairs. One morning I was without water for a few hours as they fixed things in the road and with our valve connection. Then we had to wait about a week before they came back and cleaned up the area and repaved the hole they made. It was a bit difficult since the hole was right at the edge of our driveway and the barricade they put up blocked a part of our drive. I am glad it is done.
We enjoyed seeing the Mabey family again on the 10th on their return trip to San Antonio. They had a late arrival and left early the next morning, there wasn’t time for play this time. The kids were happy to see each other again though. I am thankful for a good family.
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