I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it

A week of happy memories here and preparations for memories to be made elsewhere. Last Sunday we made a goodbye poster for Rosie Sargeant, our dear friend who moved to an assisted living center in Logan this week. It was a tender mercy to be asked to sub in Gwyn's class since her class, it turned out, were fantastic artists and colorers and had many sweet notes to write. We then took it to Sharing Time for all the Primary children and teachers to sign. 

Tuesday night Gwyn and Lia had Mother-Daughter book club discussing The Witch at Blackbird Pond. It's always a good time hanging with Gwyn. 

 

Gabriel loves to pick out Miriam's outfits and does a great job of it. This time he even matched her.

Wednesday the Joy School took the banner we had made for Rosie over for a send-off. Three very cute little four year old boys held up the sign and kind of sang 

We love you Rosie,

Oh yes we do,

We love you Rosie,

And we'll be true.

When you're not with us,

We're blue!

Oh, Rosie, we love you!

Mostly they tried to sing those last rhyming words. It was adorable.

Realizing that being a teacher of middle school and high school kids is perhaps the most thankless job on earth other than that of a petty corrections officer, we decided to thank them. Thursday we made a ton of cookies and cards for everyone's teachers. Gabriel's was a brilliant piece of artwork and penmanship.

Saturday morning we watched Elinor's second to last soccer game at 9. Katharine and Lia got on a Girls State Orientation Zoom call at 10 then drove straight to her cello recital in Cottonwood Heights which started at 12:00. 

While Justin and Miriam took Lia out on the town to secure Mother's Day presents (two books from Deseret Book and white sweat pants marked with a tiny rose so Lia could be reminded of Justin's undying love), Elisabeth was taking mission pictures.

Elisabeth had the adorable idea to invite the former Sister Collings to come join her photo shoot. Julia returned the favor by inviting the future Sister Collings to a Berlin/Hamburg Mission reunion that evening. Talk about a wonderful Mother's Day present!

Sunday morning Katharine took the culinary bull by the horns and crafted Ebelskivers for breakfast. The family arrived a little late to our 9 am church where Gwyn and Elinor sang like angels and Gabriel looked like one during the Primary's rendition of "A Child's Prayer," then Elisabeth, Katharine, Gwyn, Elinor and Lia made a subtle exit to head down to the hospital branch and provide their 10:30 am musical number, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" with Elisabeth on harp, Katharine on cello, Gwyn on violin, and Lia and Elinor singing. (There wasn't a microphone, so she needed some back up). Julia wrapped up teaching the Young Women lesson, grabbed her violin, and came to join us for the 11:30 meeting where Gwyn added her sweet voice to Elinor's and Lia jumped in on flute while Julia took over the violin part. It was the best mother's day present Lia ever could have asked for. Julia then drove all the girlies home while Lia listened to a conference talk from Elder Kearon, who it seems visited the hospital branch last week! Just trying to follow in the Brethren's footsteps. 

This week also marked the major events of: mission shopping for Elisabeth, including buying a baby harp to take on her mission (she bought it herself); securing plane tickets for Katharine, who will be attending a seminar at Princeton and a Debate and Leadership Institute in Philadelphia back-to-back weeks; general, busy, normal life.

Mother's Day was glorious, as usual, Lia reports! Best kiddos and husband ever!!!