Let's Straighten Up The Workroom, Company's Coming

It's Friday, and it's 7:00 p.m. It's been nearly 13 hours since I woke up and got out of bed. Gloria was off to work early because Rick and Melissa weren't planning to be there today and she was responsible for administering the Advanced Placement Assessment Tests for those students who were registered to take them at the School Board Building. She wasn't looking forward to it very much at all.

I got dressed and took my medication by 6:45 and then finished getting dressed and freshening up in the bathroom. Then I started straightening things up in the sewing/computer room so that someone would have room to sleep in the bed. We went to Wal Mart last evening and purchased a new set of sheets and pillow cases for the full-size bed in there and Gloria washed and dried them so they could be put on the bed this morning. It is interesting to see how long that bed stays cleared off after someone has stayed at our house and slept in it. It's usually no longer than two or three days. It's like a large magnate that mysteriously attracts metal objects from its surroundings. Before we realize it, the bed is covered with fabric, books, papers, scissors, etc., etc. Then, when we expect company again, it's time to quickly do an emergency clean-up or clean-off drill. Oh well, why worry about it? It's just one of those things we live with in our little "cottage" in Carbon County.

I was checking out Michelle and Aaron's blog spot today and came across a picture of her and her sister-in-law in Las Vegas. While the doctors were in classes the wives were shopping for what looks like some booze in a bottle. What's up with this Michelle? That's quite the grin you have on your face. Did you enjoy it? I'll bet you did. Ha, ha. Just kidding.

"Here's to ya."

James called a little before 11:00 a.m. to tell me that he and the children were just leaving their house in Kaysville and were heading to Mel's house in American Fork to pick up some things the girls were sending to us. He said they would probably be here sometime around 1:00 p.m. At around 1:45, he called again and said they were running a little later than planned and were just leaving Mel's house and were heading for Price. I took a short nap from close to 2:00 to 2:40. By the time I got up and put my shirt on and combed my fly-away hair, it was time to medicate again. A little after 3:00, I called James on the cell phone and asked him where they were. He said they were in the front of our house waiting for the UPS driver to deliver a package to our door and then move his truck from in front of our driveway. While they were driving into the driveway and parking, I was thinking, "Who is sending Gloria a box by UPS from San Diego, CA?" I used Gloria's new Flip video camera to film the kids coming to the door and into the house to be welcomed by a loving Grandpa. And by 3:35 Gloria arrived to find and greet our anxiously awaited for guests.

As you might have imagined, Gloria began to work before she had hardly taken off her shoes and put on an apron. At 11:00 a.m. this morning, I had put the contents of two separate crock pots into their cookers sitting on the kitchen counter that she had prepared earlier this morning and placed in the fridge. They were to be used to prepare dinner for our neighbor across the street from us who's fiancee had died just this last Monday. After reading his obituary in the paper on Tuesday, Gloria spoke to her last night to offer her condolences and ask if we could bring her dinner tonight before the viewing at the funeral home. So, James and the girls were recruited to help prepare the making of a green lettuce salad with fresh strawberries (Sara), a delicious desert made from angel food cake squares, yogurt, and whipped cream with strawberry jello (I think) made by Laura, and the cutting up of chicken breasts for a pasta recipe of chicken and noodles in a creamy white sauce that was really tasty (Gloria and me). There was also some warmed green beans to go with it all. When it was all done, I filmed all five of them carrying everything across the street to the neighbor's house. After they returned, we all sat down and ate the very same menu that we had served our neighbors. And it was good to know that we had shared with someone who was probably feeling very sad and lonely today. That's what the Savior would have us do, I am sure.

James was pretty tired so he stretched out on the living room floor for a little nap. However, Gloria was too curious to let her package wait any longer. So, she opened it up to see what it was and who had sent it. James had guessed that it was from Nate and Macy. And he was right. It turned out to be a box of fresh, chocolate covered giant strawberries packed in dry ice to maintain their freshness. We each had our choice of brown or white chocolate and enjoyed every succulent morsel.

Before hitting the sack, the children watched a Disney movie on the video player (Pete's Dragon). Bradley can hardly wait to go swimming tomorrow at the swimming pool. James plans to drive to SLC to attend the Constitution Party Convention as a voting delegate.

That's about it for today. See you again tomorrow.

HAPPY TRIALS TO YOU, 'TIL WE MEET AGAIN. Love, Dad