Missionary Meetings, Primary Principles, Susan visit, Big Surprise

Missions are amazing for teaching incredible life skills.  In our Zone Council and Zone Conference meetings we learned the importance of setting well intentioned goals and making a plan to make them happen.  The steps we learned are:

I have the best of intentions to make this a practice, not only for my mission, but for life.  I can think of so many areas that I could put this into practice.  One step at a time....

Our Institute teacher, Brother Mackay, began a new course of study for the summer.  He has titled it "Primary Principles".  He chooses a Primary song  to be the focus of his lesson.  Last week the song was "I Lived in Heaven".  Our discussion centered around scriptures that go with the song.  We discussed the Pre-earth life and life after death.  He really is good at engaging the students and creating lots of discussion.  We enjoyed Sloppy Joes, watermelon, and cookies for our dinner.

Stan's sister, Susan Brady, and her grandson and his girl friend flew in for a wedding, so we met up with them in Old Town and at a late lunch and then visited the Mormon Battalion.  It was a quick but very enjoyable visit.

 

Stan has a big birthday coming up.  In January the kids and I decided to pull a surprise on him and have them all fly down here for a weekend.  After planning and waiting for six months (and keeping a secret), our three daughters, Misha, Cristin & Kayley, and one son, Kyle all flew in on Friday.  Our youngest son, Josh, got sick and wasn't able to make it (we were soooo sad).  We rented a VRBO and enjoyed a quick weekend of visiting Balboa Park, kayaking near the La Jolla Caves, and watching for a hopeful sunset.  The clouds didn't cooperate, but it was a beautiful evening anyway.  It was such a great weekend and so much fun to be with our kids again.