This is the first weekend since February that we are home and alone. It feels that we have been traveling a lot and had lots of fun visitors. We had a very enjoyable visit with Jack and Judy Hoagland last week. Jeff Hoagland’s home was full since Amy, Amanda and Jeremy also came into town so Jack and Judy stayed with us. It gave us a great chance to catch up on seeing photos and videos form their mission to New Zealand. We had seen many of them on their blog throughout their mission but it is always more enjoyable to hear their own narration.
Hearing their love and enthusiasm for their mission rekindled the hope that someday we could do the same. We had always planned on Dad retiring in 2016 and had saved and invested generously so that we were building up a nice retirement plan of our own. The last three years changed that situation so we plan to start rebuilding again as soon as Dad’s business picks up more and we can do more with our SendOutCards business. We are very hopeful. Our goal is still the 2016 retirement but we know we can’t do it with just the concrete business any longer.
Jack and Judy were on their children’s schedule so they never knew if they would be here or at someone else’s place for meals. I kind of felt like Grandma Bitter, trying to be prepared for everyone that needed a meal at a moment’s notice, which was kind of challenging at times since we eat so differently these days. The Hoaglands are planning on moving to San Antonio, Texas with Jenni and Rob’s family if they can sell their home. They learned of the Allan’s move from Denver the day they signed the papers on their new home there! They would like us to visit their part of Colorado before they leave this summer. We think it would be nice to visit, especially since it is a Southwest airport, but just need to find the time.
Speaking of visits, we had a nice one with Scott today. It was great to wake up to the sun shining. I think we are all very weary of rain, cold and clouds here. As we drove for the morning visit session Scott called on the phone! He doesn’t call much so that worked out perfectly to give him a heads up that we were arriving. It is not unusual to wait 30 to 40 minutes in the waiting room for them to get him there but we both arrived at the same time today. He mentioned the morning sunshine and said that his new cell allows him to look toward Mt. Hood on clear days. I think he said that he can’t actually see Mt. Hood but he knows it is there behind some trees. It is great that he gets some glimpses of the outdoors. He is training for a marathon on Katie’s birthday this month. He said they bring in other runners from outside the prison system since it is a qualifying marathon. I thought it would be cool if some of our family runners could plan that some year but, if you are on an inmate’s visiting list, you cannot join in the marathon.
Heidi is coming for a visit this week. She wanted to be in Oregon close to Scott’s birthday. She will be here over Easter Sunday so, although I hate to see her miss Easter with her family, it will be fun to have her here for Easter dinner. Hopefully, we can get Grandma and Katie here also. I leave that evening for Las Vegas for a week. Morty’s birthday present was a request that I go sit at the TV shop in his place while he goes on his trip to the Dominican Republic that last week in April. It is doubly good since that is also Aaron’s birthday so I will get to be there for that. Flying home standby on Saturday (Katie’s birthday) does not look good so I may need to stay until the following Monday. In which case, Dad may try and fly down to Las Vegas also for that weekend.
Katie came by today after her church. She has been in San Diego this past week for a friend’s wedding, Emma. It sounded wonderful and the weather sounded heavenly!
Morty was in Oakland this wee
k. He and Shawn went to a Portland Trailblazer versus Warrior basketball game. Shawn had bid on great seats at Gregory’s school’s auction. Aubrey was very nice to let Morty go in her place.
Jace Green came home from his mission to Lisbon, Portugal. He looks great. He was only able to stay home a few days since the BYU soccer team was leaving for a tour to Puerto Rico and surrounding countries. Since he was only home for Fast and Testimony Sunday, he bore his testimony. The first place he said that he wanted to go when he came home was the temple. He wanted his whole family in the temple so they did baptisms so Tanner could be involved. He was in Portugal when the Church announced that there would be a temple there. He said everyone was so thrilled. He bore a strong testimony of the temple and the fact that it was a great place to feel God on this earth.
Dad and I had a nice time at the temple last night. It is always great to be able to run into President Child when we go there. He has a lot of love for our family. It was a nice Saturday. Dad and I did our last long training walk for the half marathon walk for Risa Whitaker; it was 8 or 9 miles yesterday. That is this coming up Saturday at Hagg Lake. Lots of you have run or biked that route around the lake. It looks like it may just be good weather next week; yes! After our walk Dad was able to go finish the job he was on this week and then we headed to Lake Oswego for a conference on the family with sessions taught by professionals. There were a couple of marriage classes that looked good but we only attended one since they needed earlier than planned. But, it was nice to be able to see and talk with Pat Aanderud. Her husband died this year unexpectedly. I remember that he was Aaron’s Primary teacher when Joe left and he would take his son and Aaron out occasionally for ice cream. After class we used a dinner coupon at a fun place in Tualatin called Famous Dave’s BBQ. That place was crowded but go
od!
This week Dad was in charge of Pack Meeting in our back yard. He and his Webelos planned a campfire with marshmallows, obstacle course and hot dog feed. It was very successful even though it poured rain and even hailed during the day. Dad put plastic on the deck and put up one canopy but the rain stopped long enough for the meeting. It started raining as we were cleaning up and the last die hard marshmallow roasters were still around the fire.
Have a great week ahead. We are looking forward to a warm weather forecast. Good luck in all that you are doing this week. I love you, Mom
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