Sunday, July 20, 2014

Dear Kids,
          I’m wearing cowboy boots to church today, in honor of Pioneer Day. I don’t know how it will go over in the Spanish branch. It was always OK in our regular ward, because there are so many cowboys and farmers. The boots will also help me advertise the children’s parade on Thursday. Our "float" is a hay wagon being pulled by a tractor. I asked the kids to dress like cowboys or pioneers, so that should be easy. Our primary meets together with Kamas 1st ward, and their float has a "beach party" theme. Those kids are supposed to wear bright colors and sun glasses. How does that go with Pioneer Day? Some of the Kamas 1st kids want to cross over and be cowboys. I don’t blame them.
          This week, our "River Bluffs" rock was delivered by Delta Stone. It looks really cool. The delivery guy helped us set it in place (it weighs 1700 pounds), and after that we brought out the two metal deer that Oreo hates so much. He hoped we would throw them over the edge of the hill, but we anchored them by the stone with deep stakes and metal cables. I think they’re secure enough. The neighbors have been very interested. Some of them have actually stopped in their vehicles to look at the deer. They’re very life-like. But not enough to fool the real deer, who cross our property without giving them a second glance.
          Dad and I are looking forward to helping Paul and Stefanie move next weekend. We’re going to Logan Friday morning to help them load the truck, and we’ll be staying overnight at the Riebens.’ Saturday morning we’ll all leave early for the drive to St. George. We’ll probably get there in the early afternoon, help them unload, and stay over that night. Sunday morning we’ll drive home. It sounds like a lot of fun to me. Dad and I haven’t been south for a long time. Paul is looking forward to his new job. Last week I wrote that it wasn’t exactly the kind of work he wanted, but he says that it is. 
          Donna has sent out the info for the family reunion, and it sounds like we’ll have a great time. There’s no stoppin’ the fun!
          Lots of love, Mom

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Dear Kids,
          We really enjoyed Paige’s baptism yesterday! It was a beautiful day, and so many of our family (and James’s family) were there! We also enjoyed the after party: ice cream sundaes! I wanted to hike up the hill across from Nora’s house, but it was pretty hot, and besides, Dad and I needed to make stops at Walmart and Home Depot on our way home. And we wanted to get back to working on our yard while there was still some daylight left. We have trenches dug in the front yard, and tomorrow Donna is coming to show us how we should install the sprinkler pipe and heads. It’s all different from the way I’ve done it before! Hopefully, having the advice of a professional will give us a very professional-looking yard, but I’m estimating at least two years, and maybe three, before we’re done.
          Most of you have probably heard that Paul has taken a job in St. George. It’s not exactly the kind of work he wanted, but hey, it’s a job! They didn’t string him along, like other firms have done. They actually offered him a job, and he accepted. He and Stefanie are moving on July 25th, and Dad has been enlisted to drive the big moving truck. Naturally he’s excited about that. I’m going along in our Sienna, to help haul things, and to bring Dad back home. It should be lots of fun.
          I’m still enjoying the Spanish branch, but here’s something you don’t experience every day: I was asked to be a visiting teacher, and I talked to my new partner about it. She said she was glad to have me, because her former partner is in jail. I had already heard something about that–a fiasco involving car insurance fraud. They were buying old cars, insuring them from four or five different companies, crashing them, and collecting all the money. The husband, Diego, was the mastermind, but evidently his wife was in on it, too. She used to teach Gospel Doctrine, besides being a visiting teacher, and I really enjoyed her lessons. How does that work?
          We hope you’re all enjoying summer, which is going by way too fast!
           Lots of love, Mom

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Dear Kids,
          Most of you probably heard the sad news that Miss Strassburg passed away. Sharon called me on the morning of the 4th of July and said she had just died that morning. There was a facebook page that said she was really sick, and anybody who wanted to send her a note or a letter needed to do it right away. I’m hardly ever online so I didn’t know about that. She had such a great impact for good on all you kids! Even when she was talking about leaving Westlake, she said she wouldn’t go until all the Ackerson kids had moved on. I’m glad you all had the chance to know her.
          Paige’s baptism is next Saturday, July 12, at 2:20 pm at Nora and James’s church, 2050 North Main in Centerville. There will be an after-party at the house. It will be a great occasion! I always look forward to these events, and going to your homes afterwards to visit and look around your neighborhoods, and (at Nora’s house) hike up the hill. Our neighborhood is still so desolate, that it gives me hope to see other places that have grass and trees and flowers.
          We’ve been working really hard in our yard, but you can’t see much change. Hopefully our River Bluffs stone will be delivered this week. We have two metal deer to set next to it (as if there weren’t already enough deer in the area) and I’ll soon be digging trenches for sprinkler pipe. Eventually we’ll have grass and flowers, but it’s very discouraging right now.
          My senior citizen piano class in Heber filled up so fast that I’ve added a second class the hour before. There are already two people signed up for it. It’s funny that Heber valley, for all its small population, has so many people that are devoted to music. Donna says there are seven piano teachers in her ward. And there are lots of people who always wanted to play the piano, but never had the chance for lessons. So it’s a great place to teach seniors.
          As you can see, we’re doin’ great and lovin’ it. We hope you are, too! Love, Mom