September 16, 2009

Dear Family,

After such a beautiful summer, it has looked like fall weather with two days of almost none stop rain last week. It will give my tomatoes and my surviving beans, zucchini and cucumbers a good drink. The garden has done so well this summer; I have frozen and canned quite a bit of vegetables for the winter already. Dad loves meals from the garden. I must have been away while most of the volunteer cherry tomatoes starting looking too much like a full blown living thing for me to pluck them out. So we also have tons of cherry tomatoes surrounding the other vegetables. That makes for a nice snack as I am working in the garden.

Having not written for quite some time, I have a lot to say. This is going to be a long one! Especially since I visited several of you, went to Education Week, and had some great times here during that absence.

We had a couple of enjoyable visits with Scott on Sunday mornings. We read our Sunday School lesson on the way down since we aren’t in Sunday School anymore and, on the way back, we practice our Primary ideas on each other. I have been responsible for Sharing Times this month. I have learned that I over-prepare. Fifteen minutes goes by way too fast! But, I do love studying all the materials and having ideas flow about possibilities to teach the doctrine in interactive ways. Our ward has a challenging Junior Primary so I need to keep lots of variety going with as much movement as possible while keeping their minds engaged. The Senior Primary is smaller and loves to be challenged; it is especially fun. Today I shared my “Oh, We Made a Hand” trick for remembering the book of the Book of Mormon and made it into a mystery puzzle that I didn’t reveal until the end of Sharing Time. I just remembered, we didn’t finish that thought.

It is all very fun but extremely intense planning and preparations which explains all the messes around the house. Dad refers to the office as “his” primary room since that is where he stores his materials and works on his lessons. He refers to the rest of the house as “my” Primary room. That is supposed to be funny. It should also calm down as we get our teachers all called (dream) and the CSMP is more underway. Plus, for two months, I won’t be in charge of Sharing Time. . yeah!

I have been especially busy orienting new teachers since we had more than half of our classes without teachers. The bishop also is calling team teachers for most all of the classes since our men teachers all must have another man or their wife in the room while teaching. Bishop Daniels decided that it would be good to have team teachers for everyone and have one of the team be someone that needs to learn how to teach. It makes more work for everyone but the vision is a good one. I also am in charge of the Faith in God program that has been neglected in our ward. Just as with Cub Scouts, it is oriented towards the family accomplishing it but all families need reminders and help implementing it. Lastly, I have been spending much time on the Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation. I am in charge of writing it which has been tough since I don’t know the children well enough yet and I also don’t know what was emphasized throughout the year in Sharing Times by the old presidency. Oh, well; I am doing my best. I do hope that I can learn when Adam, Alina, Sunhee and Meeja have their Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation. It would be fun to go see the grandchildren (we went to Adam’s last year) if it would work to get back to our own church also.

The children in Dad’s class already feel attached to him. Last Sunday Jo Black was bringing us over some slices of her home made apple pie and HOME MADE ice cream. Nathan wanted to come along to be the one to give it to “his” teacher, Brother Bitter. It was funny as he stood in our living room and, while studying the leg lamp (from The Christmas Story movie) that Shawn gave Dad for Father’s Day, said, “Now that is an unusual lamp!” We learned that the Black’s had never gotten through the entire movie since they felt it was too negative. Oops, I hope Nathan didn’t get the wrong idea by us having a lady’s leg on our piano!

Scott looks really good and is upbeat as is usually the case. He is losing his cell mate, Kelly, since Kelly will be moved to a minimum security prison for the last four years of his term. Scott still has hopes to move into A Block but hasn’t found the right combination yet. He says he has lots of good choices facing him right now about which he is praying.

Scott continues to exercise and enter all the running races. He came in third on Friday but ended up with heat stroke due to the record temperatures that we had for part of this week. He placed second in the last race; they are 10K runs.

Scott relayed some funny (not really so funny) updates on the notes that were confiscated when I left the prison a few weeks ago. He was called into the office of the head of security threats and gang related problems. He was interrogated concerning the notes and “code” I jotted down during that visit! It was their belief that Scott and I are part of a much larger conspiracy (Scott suspected they believe drug trafficking) and that he and I were being extorted to do such things! Scott feels like he squelched most of the lieutenant’s concerns but was told that he would be under their radar. Scott’s last question was, “How do I get off your radar?” and he was told not to draw any more maps of the prison. Scott gave his word!

Scott also described to us details of his polygraph test. It sounds horrible to be hooked up to all the devises he described. His arm was hooked to a blood pressure type cuff the entire time that they kept inflating. That would be so painful that I don’t know how your body could possibly react in a normal manner to get a fair reading. Scott is not sure of the outcome since he hasn’t received the report.

Dad and I had a great time in Las Vegas during the latter part of August. It was a more relaxing trip this time. We didn’t get many projects to do except helping Morty hang some curtains he had purchased and a small amount of yard work. Morty treated us to a Mexican dinner the night we arrived. Adrianne made her famous (to the boys) salsa that they love. She learned it from one of the girls who is Mexican in their ward. The boys call it “24 hour salsa” since it is always gone within 24 hours!

One of the days in Las Vegas, Aaron took us on a tour of Red Rocks. It is beautiful. We like it so much that we decided it would be a fun outing to come back to Las Vegas at Thanksgiving time. We planned that we will put the turkey in the oven on Thanksgiving morning and then go for a hike at Red Rock Canyon while it cooks! How about that? Do any of you other children want to join us? We plan to get to Las Vegas late Tuesday night, celebrate Thanksgiving there, do very early morning Black Friday shopping in Las Vegas and then travel to Orem Friday night so that we can be at the BYU-Utah game Saturday afternoon to celebrate my birthday. I hope they win!!! Then, on Monday morning, we will travel home to Portland.

While in Las Vegas, Dad and I appreciated that Nate invited us to go along with his work buddies on a hike. Even though we went in the morning, it was miserably hot (over 110 degrees) and there was no shade! When we talked of hiking, I instinctively visualize trees and such. No, we hiked between hot rocks (Dad said you could fry an egg on them) on the way to the Colorado River just past Boulder City by the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. I just love having children who are more prepared than I. Adrianne had brought gloves with her which she let me use since I hung onto rocks for balance much more than she needed. With her working out each night after work, she is in very good shape to have balance to bound through the trails.

Being with Nate peers was incredibly interesting to me as his mother. It is obvious the respect that Nate has earned. He is the “go-to-guy” in his group. Every question was directed towards him; every bit of advice was requested from him. His coworkers really rely on his leadership talents. He is definitely a natural leader. I am glad that his talents are recognized and used. He and Adrianne also ended up hiking out for water to help some dehydrated hikers some suffering from heat stroke. With their attention to healthy habits, their bodies were stronger to make the extra treks to get the help needed. Dad and I had not hiked the entire distance so they called to us when they had cell connection to bring back water to the trailhead.

While in Las Vegas, their ward had stake conference with two visiting authorities since they changed their stake president: William R Walker and David E. Lesueur. It was an excellent meeting. And Adrianne was disappointed to learn that the very next Sunday, the only one that she was going to be in Beaverton, we also had stake conference. Not only did she not get to see the regular old crowd but stake conference starts earlier in the morning and she felt justified to sleep as much as possible between her job ending in Las Vegas and the start of school! Actually, she reports that she is on a very good schedule this fall of arising earlier than usual and exercising before classes. Way to go Adrianne!

The enjoyable visit in Las Vegas with the boys and Adrianne, the recent visits of Katie and Adrianne, plus the fun reports we get from Aubrey and others of you who love to get together has made me especially thankful for our family. This is going to be fun to have all adult children! I just love learning about your adventures and it is so much fun to have you come back home. The visits are all the more enjoyable as you all have become accomplished in your lives and are willing to share your talents and abilities to help us and make things fun. It was especially fun to partake of some of the creative abilities in the kitchen and to have Katie share her excitement over her Martha Stewart cupcake quest (and very tasty). Adrianne left us with some “24 Hour Salsa” and made a special treat for Dad when she saw scallops on sale at the grocery store, knowing that he loved them. I am also excited to get started working on the business website when we get home from our trip since several of you have given us such great ideas.

After Las Vegas, Dad came home to a job and I headed to Utah with Adrianne. She drove to get her car back to Provo before she flew to Portland for a summer visit before starting back at BYU. At the last minute, Carol Stanger had convinced me to come up to BYU for Education Week. I have always wanted to go. I remember going when it came to Portland years ago. Morty was a baby; I took the bus to the east side of town with him. Of course, I used to watch it at the church when they used to broadcast several speakers there. So finally, I arranged to go with Carol. I really would prefer to go with Dad; maybe next summer!

I attended some great classes. I already sent you one of my best experiences there as I felt such a profound witness of the First Vision. Besides Susan Easton Black’s class I attend a great series on the Creation by Jerry A Wilson; it was so interesting. I also liked Randy Bott’s class; I think Nate told me to go hear him. Grandma and Grandpa Bitter opened their home to both Carol and I; that made the days there much more comfortable and affordable. Our first night there we had determined to go to late classes but it was so much fun to be with Katie and Adrianne, that we stayed with them instead. Both girls were leaving the next day. I also got a chance to see Heidi and the girls on my way home from an airport run and also when they came to Orem one night.

Adrianne had a chance to see almost all of her old horse buddies while home for a week or so. We even squeezed a camping trip while she was here. I think we totally wore down Sammy. She isn’t used to so much hiking and she didn’t even go on all the hikes. She didn’t move all evening the night we returned! We camped at the place that is so close (about 30 minutes away), Stewart Stubbs. It is the place we took Adam last year. We were able to get a cabin; that is easy camping!

I came home in time for our stake conference. Our visiting authority was Elder Hinckley (he has a sense of humor like his Dad did). Both the Saturday night and the Sunday meetings were fantastic. I have a tons of notes from which I will try and pull some tidbits of knowledge!

From the Saturday night meeting I loved a piano moving analogy that President Greaves used. He described a time when their Elders Quorum was moving a piano for someone and it flipped out of the truck and was totally destroyed. He related that the quorum had ignored safe and careful practices over and over again and yet nothing bad had ever happened before. They drew the wrong conclusion: that the smart and safe moving practices that they really should be using didn’t really matter. He compared this to our lives going well even though we neglect the regular private religious practices to which we should be clinging.

Elder Hinckley’s Saturday night message was to take advantage of the temple.

There were so many fantastic Sunday messages. At the top of my notes I wrote, “Adversity is a cauldron that boils away those things that are not important.” Then by that quote, I wrote two reminders:

1-Avoid selfish ease

2-Extend ourselves to others

In between regular life these past few weeks, Dad and I have had lots of fun making final plans for our dream trip to Hawaii. It is unbelievable that it is finally right around the corner since we have thought about doing this for years and it is finally coming true. We booked this a year ago (good thing)! Recently, we had to choose some side trips fro the cruise so we tried to do lots of research. We want to learn about each island that we will stop on but also, we want time to explore instead of being on a bus most of the day. We opted to use the travel service just for two of the days so that will allow us to do things like just hop on a city bus to take us around some of the islands. We also hope to snorkel in several places so we have even been to 24 Hour Fitness to practice with our fins and masks. The last time I used them, I had problems with my legs cramping. I may have to take my Zoomers which are shorter fins. There is a lot to do to be able to be gone for so long. We leave Saturday, September 26 and return Monday, October 12! Many of those days we will be without cell coverage or internet. Yikes!

It sounds like Wendi had an enjoyable birthday week with lots of celebrations. She planned to have a cream filled donut since she said that it was National cream filled donut week!

We have been totally enjoying BYU football this year and luckily, we have been able to watch it on TV so far. Katie remarked how there would be testimonies about BYU sports the day following the Oklahoma win. There was only one sportimony in good old B1 and it was a BYU enemy who confessed to rooting for the blue . . . too many of those in this ward . . can't figure out why that's the case. This explains why I CANNOT help with Rebecca Whitaker’s wedding until after the Florida State game! Well, I am helping on Thursday and all day Friday. But, I cannot chance going to set up before the evening reception so that someone doesn’t spoil my chance to watch the game unfold.

Jaime Woodruff had her baby girl, Isabel, on Sunday, August 23. I believe that Grandma Bitter said she had red hair. Solomon Rosen left for basic training in the Air Force this week and James Orme left for the Washington DC Spanish speaking mission last week. Dad spoke with him in sacrament meeting (he was his hoe teaching partner). In speaking about the blessings of the gospel in the home, he added some ideas from Adrianne as he was preparing while she was here. She had some great insights as she suggested that she enjoyed the stability, order and predictability that a gospel centered home provides.

Dad has been “enjoying” some pretty grueling bike rides lately. In honor of Nate’s three peaks hike, Dad did a three peaks bike ride including Chehalis Mountain, Bald Peak and Cooper Mountain. It took him about four hours. Unfortunately, he chooses to do many of his long rides in the worse heat of the day! Let us know what you are all up to. We love hearing from you. I guess Morty was in the Bay Area this weekend. I received a couple of pictures from him with the Bitter boys, Greg and Bryson. It is hard to keep up with Morty! I love you all. Love, Mom