In the "leafy treetops"?

Today I had to be at work at 7 A.M. It was kind of gloomy as rain was predicted. but as I walked into work I heard the birds chirping. It was very cheering. I very much enjoyed listening to it. the chirping is louder in the front of the store. yes, Walmart has birds and while they live in the lofty rafters, not the treetops, it is fun. They even bring grass and leaves in from outside to build their nests. I am sure the birds are the bane of the maintenance crews existence as it is their job to take out the nests. but I do enjoy listening to them. I think it is also fun to side with the children of shoppers as they are trying to convince their parents that they did too see a bird.

P.S. Toms new test date for his EPPP is May 27.

Apology

I just wanted to apologize for leaving the Covey's off of my list of service members both Preston and Uncle Wix served in the military (USN and USA respectively). I also need to appologize to my cousin Kristin Veare (her maiden name) she and her husband both served in the Navy as medics. Any other oversights are unintentional as well but if there are readers out there know anyone not included one this list (again these are all people who I know personally) please comment to let me know. -- Drew

Service

Yesterday Jim and I had a very interesting opportunity. The eldest member of our branch passed away last week. While I didn't know Bro. Probst very well, I did know that he was always pleasant andusually telling jokes. I was unaware that he had been in the military. Yesterday I learned a lot about this special man. Because many in his family were also elderly the branch was asked to provide pall bearers as well as giving prayers and the eulogy. He apparently was the only member of the LDS church in his family. Jim and I were both pall bearers and I was asked to give the opening prayer. I learned about this man from the lovr that was shown for him by those in attendance. I was honored to be able to serve and even more so when I learned that as a young man Bro. Probst served as a scout/sniper in the US Marines on Guadelcanal (2 Bronze Stars, Presidential Unit Citation). It made me think of Grandpa Hugo and Grandpa Everett and their service in that same theatre. I then thought of my father's service in the far east and the service of my good friends and brothers-in-law and their service in the Middle East. In our local cemetary everyone is burried facing South, except for veterans who are all burried facing the flag. The local VFW gave the 21 gun salute while Taps and the presentation of the flag was performed by a contingent of a locally based unit of the National Guard. Again, I felt very honored to have played a part in this service. I also wanted to express my appreciation to all those who have served our country at the peril of their own life. That is everyone who has served in the military whether or not they have seen combat. When one of Jim's teachers asked why he was so set on serving in the Army they only reply I had to give was that service to our country is a family tradition. They looked at me a little strange so I listed those that I knew that had performed this service to whom Jim is related:(in no particular order)
Paul Wilkinson Tsgt. Ret USAF Viet Nam (USA)
Emily Hugo, USAF
Mark F Everett, USA WWII
Leroy Hugo, USA WWII
William N Christensen, USMC
William N Christensen II, USAF
Richard Graham, Ltc Ret. USA
Frank Thomas Wilkinson Sr., ANG CCC
Frank Thomas Wilkinson Jr., USAF
Evan Eric Wilkinson, USAF
Leroy A Trujillo, USA
Jerry Cox, USA Korea
Dave Thornton, USA WWII
Dick Thornton, USA WWII
Harry Thornton, USN
Andrew J Kirby, USN WWII
Mikel Hugo, Maj. USA
Brian Mack, Maj. USA
Preston Covey, USN
Wix Covey, USA (Viet Nam)(Thank you Aunt Alice for the reminder and the new information. I think it is important to remember all who served.)

These are only family members of ours that I have known personally who have served our country in this way. I think that this qualifies as a family tradition. Thank you all. Drew

Keep the prayers comming

Thank you all again for all of the faith and prayers that have been directed our way recently. As you know the interview went well and I was invited to go to breakfast with the owner and the president of the corporation. That also went very well, most of the time was spent answering questions about my mission and other early life experiences. One question in particular struck me when I was very delicately asked if I and my family would be more comfortable living in Utah? I responded that even though most of our family lives there that Lillie and I (and the kids of course) really like it here and we could see ourselves living here for a long time to come. I don't know when they will inform us of there decision but things look very promising. On another note Today I received my confirmation of elegilibility to sit for my licensing exam (again). My test is scheduled for the 27th of May, which means that I should have results on or around June 5th. I originally had scheduled the exam for June 3rd but was then informed by my boss that that was a date of a conference which I need to attend. It might also be scout camp week which I will be attending this year (I may have to leave for part of a day to attend the conference) with Jim. By the way I now have all of the basic training that I need to qualify as a trained leader and I should be going to woodbadge in September or October. Any way I have one month to polish up for the exam, and while I have been studying, I still need all of the help that your faith and prayers can give. Thank you, I hope to have really good news soon. -- Drew

Interview

I interviewed with the Owner, the President, and the Clinical Vice President of Clinicare Corporation. That is the Parent corporation of Aurora Plains Academy where I work. The interview was for the position of Executive Director, which would be a promotion to one step above my current boss. My interview was scheduled for 3:30 to 5:00 and at about 5:55 they decided that they had to move on to the next candidate but that they still had questions that they wanted to hear my answers to so I was invited to go to breakfast with them tomorrow. The interview was very positve and we seemed to be on the same wave length throughout. we discussed my clinical vision for the program and when I asked the question about what they are looking for in a Director the gist of their was that they were looking for someone with a clear clinical vision that moved in the same direction of their own. It looks pretty promising They even stated that we could talk about loan repayment since, if offered the position, I will lose the opportunity for federal loan repayment. I am very excited and also grateful for for the prayers and other demonstrations of your support.

thanks

I want to say Thank you to all of you who joined us all for Prayer on sunday.

I am looking forward to May 8th, the end of the semester. There are quite a few projects I have been wanting to work on, but I keep telling myself not till May 9. I think I will make me a master list of projects to work on this summer.

I have changed my hours of availability at work for summer, but I did not ask for more hours.

I just got my school schedule for next semester (fall) I will have the same teacher all day that is four classes with the same teacher. with an hour lunch. plus an online computer class in excell.

Thomas has his interview today.

Thanks again for the prayers.

Help needed

Today my family is in need of some extra help that our extended seems very adept at providing. We are in need of some prayer time. Lillie is comming down to the wire in her school semester she is doing ok but she would like a little help in her Economics class and her accounting class. Jim is hoping to get a part time job at the school this summer and we are waiting to hear back if he gets the job or not. The girls are all doing well but who couldn't use an extra prayer or two. The little boys are doing really well but could use some help in speach therapy and having those skills generalize to everyday. I have several projects that I am actively working on at the moment. I am still studying for my EPPP retake, on Monday (04/20/2009) I have an interview for the executive director position at Aurora Plains Academy, I also have been working on weight loss (lost 23.5 lbs. since Jan 26th)one of the reasons, besides starting out at over 400 lbs, is that I have been diagnosed as prediabetic. I got word today that my A1C is at 6.7 which is not good hopefully the medication I just restarted will help but, since I have had difficulties with my kidneys the doctor is concerned about using this med. I am asking that the Lord magnigfy our efforts as we work toward our goals. In the slightly modified words of an old spiritual Lord please move that mountain, giveme the strength to climb it, or comfort me as it crashes down. to use a favorite quote of mine "not my will, but thine be done." Also Jim, Echo, and Carolyn have been talking about speaking with the Branch President about a recommend for Patriarchal Blessings. Just one last request. I know that this is an imposition but I would like to ask all those willing to stop what they are doing at 8:00 pm CDT tomorrow 04/19/2009 to pray together. This can be silently to yourself, with your family, vocally, or simply a prayer in your heart. While we are separated by distance we can be united in purpose and the scriptures tell us that "...where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, there will I be in the midst of them..." D&C 6:32 This type of service for each other can only bring us closer as a family. Last, but not least, if anyone else needs a similar type of help just add a comment to this post and our family will check it befor we pray tomorrow to add in your needs. That goes for needs of friends, neighbors, or others that you know of. Please join with us in this effort.

What a day

Yesterday was a little busier with family than I am used to. I was able to arange time off to see Echo's 8th grade presentation. She would like to be a middle school or high school history/social studies teacher. For her project she actually taught a 7th grade history class. She then gave a presentation about that experience and the job qualifications and outlook for teaching professionals. She did a very good job with her presentation, she was however nervous. She was so nervous in fact that after answering a question about why she chose the 7th grade class (which was because they were younger and less educationally advanced than she is.) a teacher asked "Echo where is your sense of adventure?" Echo was so nervous that she did not see this as aretorical question, so she answered it "It was right there with me when I was teaching. I really feel that it is important to help students feel your passion for a subject." The teacher was impressed but remained quiet after that. I also got to go to speach therapy with the 2 little boys. I found that I have several things that I have done for years that are enabling the boys speach problems, gotta quit that. After that we went to an interview for Jim so that he can work over the summer at the high school. If he gets the job he will actually be a state employee. Then the girls were off to Young womens while Katie went babysitting. After all this Echo and I sat down and finalized her high school education plan. If that weren't enough to make me feel really old as I watch my kids grow up really fast Jim couldn't get off the subject of his "appointment" in Sioux Falls on the 13th of June. He refers to it as an appointment because he is not allowed to date until he is 16 so unitl the 12th of June he can't call it a date. Lillie and I decided that we are getting old as fast as the kids are growing up, go figure.

Echo's Speech

I am giving a speech on teaching and would like to open with a story. Do you have any interesting one's?
Echo

choir, plays and a baptism

Tonite was the middle school choir concert, Carie and Echo were both in it.
They sang Accidentaly in Love, Witch Dr. I enjoyed it.

Jims play is next week I am looking forward to it. The YW/YM are going to have a combined activity to watch him.

Janets Baptism is scheduled for saturday April 4, at 5:30, It will be at our friends home. Where Janet will be baptized in their hot tub. we will be having desert, and then, the men will all go to the priesthood session of conference.