Dear Kids,
          I finally got some guys to come and grade our yard, but they did a terrible job. I was all excited the night before when we came home from Salt Lake and the backhoe was parked in our yard, and I was thrilled the next morning when it started chomping into our dirt and spreading it around. One guy worked the backhoe while the other one used a bobcat, but it wasn’t long before I saw that they didn’t really know what they were doing. They just moved dirt. No way did they get it level. They worked for six hours and said it was all they could do, because of the rocks. I told them the ground wasn’t level, and they said sorry. Their bid had been lower than I expected, so I paid them off and was actually glad to see the last of them. What can we do now? I guess Dad and I will finish off the yard gradually, leveling each section as we go, with a good old fashioned shovel and rake, and using the wheelbarrow to move the dirt where we want it. (And to move the rocks where we don’t want them.) What else can we do? Nobody else was willing to come and do it. I’ve been telling people how much I like working outside, and I would actually be disappointed if our yard were completely finished, but I was hoping to get a better start than this!
          Dad and I really enjoyed Carly and Levi’s sealing yesterday in the Salt Lake Temple. Several of my brothers and sisters were there, along with a few cousins. (Including Donna and Bevan, from our family.) It was especially nice having children come into the sealing room! The baby, August Gordon, is only a few weeks old, and he cried during the ceremony, but of course it didn’t matter. The sealing is valid, whatever!
          Don’t forget the Allen family reunion next week in Provo at Riverwoods Park! I’ll probably be calling everybody, to make sure nobody missed hearing about it. And don’t forget Paige’s baptism July 12. The nice thing about having a big family is that there’s always something coming up!
          I’m still enjoying the Spanish branch in Kamas. Today I had a lot on my plate: Dad and I went to church first at Elk Meadows, the local care center, where we were in charge of the music. Then I had to give the opening prayer in Sacrament Meeting (not a big deal if it had been in English) plus hand out a notice I made (in Spanish) to all the parents of the primary kids. Oh, yeah, I led the music, like always. I try to memorize the hymns in advance so I look like I know what I’m doing. Then I had to do sharing time in Primary. When I was ready to breathe a big sigh of relief, the branch president assigned me to be in charge of the branch’s float for the 24th of July parade. I told him that wasn’t really mt thing, and he said it wasn’t his, either. Of course I agreed to do it. The children’s parade is a big deal in a small town. It will be fun.
          Do I sound tired? I am. Off for a nap! Love, Mom