Rasmania 102

                                             Gratitude for Mothers--And for America                                                                           Nick and Sara had Roy and I to dinner for Mother's Day--just following our return from a two week trip to Italy.  They served us a delicious meal (cooked by Nick) of Salmon, potatoes and prosciuitto wrapped asparagus.   As we talked a little about our trip, Nick made the comment that whenever he returns from another  country, he always realizes how nice America is.  We are truly blessed.  I nodded my agreement.  I had had many of the same thoughts during our travels....

I have received my first assignment as an institute teacher.  I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad that I'm just a sub for this semester as the enrollment for the summer wasn't large enough to give classes to all the newly trained instructors.  I'm going to be teaching a class on John 7-10.  After looking through the chapters, I checked to see what the Come Follow Me suggestions were for these chapters.  I hadn't realized that the class is directly following this program.  So, I'm reading John 7-10.  I haven't planned out my class yet, but I have really enjoyed studying for it.  I love how the Savior reaches out with such compassion.  It is in these chapters that he heals a man who was born blind and stands up for the woman taken in adultery.  He also testifies of who He is.  In chapter 8 the Savior says to the skeptical leaders, "Before Abraham was, I AM" In saying this "He was declaring to the Jews that He was Jehovah, the same Being who s...

A small taste of spring weather I am hoping for a few more days of spring weather.  Tuesday and Wednesday were beautiful, but Thursday I woke up to snow flurries.  Luckily they were light and had no staying power, but I still had to dress warmly to go teach my water aerobics class.  I like it when I can run to class with just a cover-up over my swim suit and flip flops.  I haven't been able to do that this year (except for Tuesday). Wednesday afternoon I picked up Ila from pre-school so I could take her on her birthday date.  Adrienne had told me that she'd seen something at Costco she was interested in, so after picking her up I asked, "Are we going to Costco?"  Ila said, "No, I changed my mind.  I want to go to Lush."  I was quite surprised that a 5 year-old wanted Lush products for her birthday.  So, we had a fun date at Station Park picking out a couple of things to make her baths more fun.  She told me she has a shower or a bath eve...

Time at the Cabin We decided it would be nice to watch General Conference at the cabin and we got a head start by heading up there on the Wednesday night prior.  It was still cold and wet, but we (mostly Roy) managed to get some chores done.  We were able to walk on Thursday, but Friday was pretty windy which made it feel a lot colder than it really was.  Friday night Nick and Sara joined us which definitely made things a lot more exciting and fun. Saturday we enjoyed conference, and in between sessions we had a fun activity.  As you all know, Roy makes friends with everyone and Manilla is no exception.  He has a friend that has done some work on leveling the dirt around our property and we've also interacted with him a little at church.  Keith has a farm there, and in between sessions we met up with him to see all of his baby calves.  Two of them had been born that morning.  He put some bales of hay on the back of his truck and took us around his...