January 2013

January 2013

OK, So since I am a year behind, I am writing just the highlights, and then posting for 2013 a monthly post.  In the meantime, I am writing for 2014 separately and will post them when I get this caught up.

A word of advice...don't let your blog get behind...just saying!

So, here goes:

January 6th church times changed back to the 9am slot.  I prefer that to 11am. I'm still teaching my class of 16-18 year olds, but the curriculum has changed to be the new program, Come Follow Me.  There is a topic for the month, and the lessons center around that topic in different aspects for Sunday School and YM/YW all month.  So for instance, the January topic is the Godhead, but the Sunday School is focusing on the Holy Ghost.  Great, 4 weeks of this and these kids are going to be bored stiff. I must keep my thinking cap on to spice this up a bit!

Cooper has taught some dance classes for Ms. Andee and seems to really enjoy the tiny Babies!  Those 3 yr olds just steal her heart!  I think she secretly loves it when they call her Ms. Cooper, and a real ballerina.  Feeds her ego!

Cymbre's headaches are starting to be really bad again, and we are trying to figure something out.  Dr. Gill is being wonderful in seeing her and trying medicines.  She's had a blessing that we will be able to figure this out, so hopefully we can make some progress for her soon.  Currently, she is missing lots of school while we try things to get rid of the headaches.  Say your prayers!

I had oral surgery on the 21st for a root canal that didn't work.  I was growing some pretzel shaped infection thing in my jaw and it was eating away at my bone.  So after seeing two specialists, and at the recommendation of the Endodontist I went to the Oral Surgeon, Dr. Bachoura, who says he can fix it, but we have to take care of the infection first.  So double antibiotics, and surgery scheduled.  Guy took me to the office, and waited while they fixed me, did a bone graft, and cleaned out all the infection in my jaw.  A heavy dose of steroids, and pain medicine, and he took me home.  The next morning when I woke up, my right side of my face was totally numb.  We called the Dr. and he said to come in...we went, and he said they probably stretched some nerves, and did some testing to see if I could feel him shocking me, and I could, so he told me it would take some time, but would wear off and be fine.  There is not way to know how long it will take.  GREAT!...Does he realize that I teach a class of 27 priests and laurels, and I can't talk without slobbering on myself?

We just got home, and the water heater guys came to replace both our water heaters.  So Guy was trying to feed me something to keep my blood sugar where it needed to be, and drugging me at the same time.  I was miserable, but that Vicodin is terrific stuff.  However, at the end of the day, the water heaters worked, and I was still drugged in the bed.  Guy slept on the couch with his phone alarm set to wake up and drug me again.  He's certainly a keeper!  And he's all mine....and no, I don't plan on sharing!

The 26th was the Jump Dance Convention, and the girls attended the Master Classes associated with that.  They really enjoy the tap guy, Mike Minery!  He challenges them, and they take the stuff back to Ms. Andee to use.

Our BIGGEST and MOST TREMENDOUS NEWS is that our Britni took her RN Boards, and she PASSED the FIRST TIME!!!  She is so excited, and we are so PROUD of her.  Here's a photo of her diploma!!

Cooper took some of her artwork to the Houston Rodeo art contest, and came home with a 2nd place ribbon and 2 medals, and a Rodeo Scholarship application.  She can't use the scholarship because she will not be attending a Texas College, but the awards made her day.  Her pictures were of her Mini Cooper car full of clowns, and a pickup truck, and some spoons.  Who knew Cooper could draw so well?

The girls are taking private ballet lessons to work on their skills as they are a bit more advanced than in the class, and Cooper wanted to push herself in preparation for college.  Ms. Emily has been great to give them privates.

Ms. Andee also gives them private Tap lessons.  They are the most advanced tap students at the studio, and they LOVE Ms. Andee.  She is a wonderful mentor for them.  They are so blessed to have her.

Cooper attended Priest Laurel conference and had a great time.  She loves the dances the most!  It also doesn't hurt that she dances every dance with a different boy!

Both the girls dyed their hair red.  Cooper's is darker, and Cymbre's is brighter.  It looks good on both of them.  People are called the "gingers" now.

We are trying to clean out some things that we haven't been using and organize things around here.  Seems like there is always organizing to do, and I never get to it as quickly as I would like.  The problem is I have too many other more fun things that get in the way.

We all went to the dentist for cleaning and stuff.

Second trip to the oral surgeon reveals that this numbness is going to last up to several months.  Tremendous!  I'm going to threaten my class if they laugh at me!

As for my Sunday School lessons this month:

The First Week it was How Does The Holy Ghost Help Me Learn?

We read several scriptures, and the object lessons was a paper sack with several objects that represent things the Holy Ghost can do for us.  

Q-tip - speaks in a still small voice that only you can hear
Lifesavers - He will warn you of danger
Band-Aid - Has healing power in your life
Ribbon to tie on finger - He will remind you of right from wrong, good from evil, truth from lies
Soap - Can cleanse and sanctify you through repentance
Candle/flashlight - He will inspire you and light your life path as you go through life and help you understand sacred things
Sock - He will guide your footsteps back to Heavenly Father
Small bottle of glue - He can strengthen your hold on the iron rod
Heart - He will let you know in your heart that God lives and that He loves you
Picture of Jesus Christ - The Holy Ghost can testify of Christ.  That He died for us so that we might gain eternal life


I just put it all in a small paper bag.

The second week was How Does The Holy Ghost Help Me Teach The Gospel?  The object lesson - a mirror with the quote "No amount of time in front of the mirror will make us as attractive as when we have the Holy Ghost with us.  The lesson talked about how the Holy Ghost helps us teach others about the gospel, and we discussed that people can see the Spirit in someone else's eyes.

The Third week was How Can I Learn To See Heavenly Father's Hand In All Things?  The lesson deals with recognizing the tender mercies of Heavenly Father in our daily lives.  Object Lesson was a piece of plain pound cake, no frosting, no decorations.  This represents life without recognizing the tender mercies of God in our lives.  Then a very fancy cupcake is the other side of the object lesson.  It represents our lives recognizing the tender mercies we receive daily, and the blessings we receive when we use those gifts from Heavenly Father to accomplish His purposes.

The handout was a fancy cupcake to eat!

The last two weeks I didn't teach because of my oral surgery, and my inability to control my face!

That's about it for January 2013