friends

I got to teach Relief Society today. The lesson was on Friends. There were two sisters in R.S. one was a non member visiting with her son who is a member and in town visiting her. several statements in the lesson really struck me.

Joseph Smith once closed a letter to the saints: "I am, as ever, your humble servant and never deviating friend, Joseph Smith."

I also was struck again by the fact that the saints thought of Joseph, as Brother Joseph. He was their Friend, the lesson talked of how he was kind, generous mirth loving, 'and yet, although so social and convivial at times, he would allow no arrogance or undue liberites' how wonderful to know that.

...and although a person is a stranger and afflicted when he arrives, he finds a brother and a friend ready to administer to his necessities.

I thank Heaven for my friends, for my life is better for having them in it.

Sharing

I am proud of my sister Carrie for deciding to go to school while still having young children at home. In fact young children are the only kind of children Carrie has at home. Occasionally over the course of her studies, she has called my husband (a psychologist) for help. When she has thanked me for sharing my husband and his knowledge, and for giving up time with him so he could help her long distance over the phone, I have joked that eventually I would call her husband (an accountant) for help with my homework. And when that happened she could share back.

tonight it happened. I was working on my homework and couldn't quite get it right. I tried asking my husband, (again he's a Psychologist) for help with my accounting and it just wasn't working. when I had a brain surge. I have a sister with a husband who is an Accountant. and he was only a phone call away. Well, it ended up being two phone calls. but he was very helpful both times.

Thanks to Carrie for sharing her husband and his knowledge with me.and to Karl for being willing to stay up late and help me. ( I will be calling again)

P.S.
does it strike anyone as funny that I am studying to be an Accountant, with a Husband who is a Psychologist. and my sister is studying Psychology, with an Accountant for a Husband?

Dr.s office.

I have been taking children to Dr's offices for 16 years. I have learned several things during these visits.
such as always take a bag of toys,
some visits go fast.
some visits go slow.
certain times of day are better for quick visits than others.
Kids love to color and draw on the paper that is used to cover the exam table.

In Missouri, I once spent four and a half hours at the drs. office, I called the next day and complained.

Last week I went to the Dr's office with Carie. she has a sore ankle. We got out of the car at 12:53. After checking in at the desk, we had sat down, but not yet opened my book when the nurse came out, talked to carie, about her ankle then turned to me and told me she thought she would just send us to x-ray, it was just down the hall in the same building. (very easy to find).

As we walked into x ray. I started to fill out the papers and the xray tech said to carie, lets go take pictures of your ankle while your mom fills out the papers. I finished them about the time that carie was done getting her "pictures" done. when we walked back into the Dr's office, they took us right to the exam room.
This time I did have time to open my book but not to turn the page, before the Dr. came in. We said hello, he looked at Caries ankle, talked to her about it, It is simply sprained. One week with crutches about 3 more with a brace. Carie was fitted for a brace, then we left.

As we got back into my car I checked the time. 1:35. Wow! I had hoped to be on time to work by three, this was not going to be a problem.

I have had more appts. in South Dakota, but I have not had to wait very long at any of them. I would like to say thank you to my Dr. and his staff for making going to the dr. a faster pleasanter experience.

Thanks Doc.

Summer

Well as this is the last day of the summer it is time for a recap. This summer has been rather busy for us. Carolyn and Katie both played softball, Jim worked his first real job, Lillie was out of school but increased her hours at work. There was a lot of pool going. I went with Jim to Scout camp, Jim and Echo went to youth conference, Jim and I went to girls camp to teach basic orienteering, Echo, Carolyn, and Lillie were in attendance. Carolyn and Echo attended the All Dakotas Young Women Encampment and met Sister Dalton.

We had multiple visits from family and friends. This started with Mike and Niki and there family being with us for the 4Th of July. In August Dan and Heather Saydyk brought their family for a visit (they are friends of ours from Provo, Danny is named for Dan). About two weeks later Nanna and Poppie came to visit, a good time was had by all. Mike and Niki brought their family again for labor day and to celebrate our week of September birthdays. That visit was followed up by a visit from Lex and Barb Palmer and their clan (they are pretty close to family, they are friends from Springfield.) Of course we grilled and had Frank's chicken while they were here. We are getting ready this weekend to meet Mike and Niki and their family in Nebraska City, home of the National Arbor Day Foundation, to help celebrate the Twins birthday. We have greatly enjoyed visits from our family and friends, and we like having family close enough that we can visit in a long weekend.

Lastly I took the EPPP for the third time a couple of weeks ago. Again I missed a qualifying score by approximately one question. I don't know when I will take it again but I am contemplating the end of December, which will mean that I will be able to take my oral boards in January or February, when the board meets next time.

With a notable exception the summer has been wonderful. Jim decided to end his summer on a high note and he went and got a job at Subway. Lillie and I are very proud of all of our children. We take joy in their accomplishments and are thankful that they seem happy to put up with us too (we took a vote last night and they all decided that that was preferable to other options). As we look back on the summer we also look forward to this fall and winter with it's holidays, hunting, school activities and test preparation. We also hope to see more of family and friends and take joy in their company, even if from a distance.

Love to you all,

Thomas (Drew)

TIPI!

My dad and I set up his tipi today so I could have the experience as well as a few index cards of notes on the process. I am so excited for girls camp!
When we had the frame up. Danny looked at it and said, " this could be a tent" when we had the cover on it, he was very excited to see that "this is like a tent".

first day of school

Today was the first day of school.
It was mikeys first day. When the teacher called his name during the roll, he asked if she would call on someone else, he did not have his answer yet!

They all had a good day!

Danny had fun on the wii being able to play whatever he wanted without having to take turns.

Great Summer!

Well, its been a great summer.

We have had visits from family and friends. Several large BBQs.

gotten to watch some amazing storms. One of which my family got to watch on tv, as I was sitting in the back hallway at Walmart( where we go when the sirens go off) this storm also stopped our guests from going to DeSmet, maybe they will come and try to go again. it also blew down the tents the kids slept in the night before and planned on sleeping in that night so all the bags and pillows, ( and library books) got a soaking.

We had swimming lessons. Mikey and Danny feel comfortable in the water and are even willing to leave the childs area. Danny loves to back up 10 feet, run and jump in. he has learned to do a "Y" jump where he stands on the edge of the pool and puts his arms up to make a Y then jumps. I am not sure if this is something they learned in swimming lessons or if he came up with it by himself. He also does this with several other letters. T, K, M,...

On the fourth of July we had a large bbq with Mike and Niki and their family. We also had several friends from Toms work who came, and one of the families that we home teach, visit teach came. we got to go to the parade here in town that day, it was great for the all the kids. they all got a grocery bag of candy. and frisbees.

Tom and I had our 17th anniversary.

Jim got his Drivers License, Echo got her Drivers Permit.

Jim and Echo went to the Winter Quarters temple in Nebraska for on a youth temple trip. (Tom went on this trip too as he is the Young Mens President).

Now we are about to start school, on Wednesday. Mikey will be in Kindergarten, Janet will be in third grade, Katie will be in fifth, Carie in seventh, Echo in ninth, Jim in eleventh.

Jim and Echo have started seminary already. they are learning via webcam which is very exciting for me. I think seminary is much easier when it is more than one student and one teacher. there are three students in the class. the mother of the other student is the teacher

I start school on the 31. The plan is for me to graduate in May 2010. I am looking forward to it.

Tom takes his licensure test on Sept. 3.

Its been a great summer and we are looking forward to a great school year.