School's out FOREVER!

A temple was announced for our area a few years ago, but there has been strong community pushback. Members of the church were asked to wear navy at the vote in support of the temple. We were among 2700 who showed up. It was passed unanimously.

Sybil created a shirt indicating it was her "Last day of school!!"

Everyone had an end-of-school trip.

Elijah's group just got back from Cali yesterday 

and then had one of about a million graduation parties immediately after.

Iris and a group went to St George

Sybil flew to AZ to have a few days with grandparents and her favorite cousins:

I went to Louisiana to drive Claire and her belongings back home and hung out with people I love while there. As we were talking about Elijah's mission, Hector Sr told me that in school they taught a poem about Cuba and Puerto Rico; that they are two wings from the same bird. As I was leaving to drive to Natchitoches, he said in Spanish, "You don't know how happy it makes me that you came to visit." I sat in the car with tears running down my cheeks thinking of how grateful I am for him. He's 96 now and at that age, you never know when it will be your last goodbye.

I also got a snowball with Katie, helped Hector pick up a lawn mower from Sams, got Rally's fries with Abbi, and snuck in a hug to Scharlotte. I had a nice talk with Marguerite the morning I drove up.

Natchitoches holds a memory around every corner. Claire and I drive around campus, while speaking about memories we had in different places, even though she claimed this was a cheese activity. That weekend, she stayed at her BFF's house. Her family had become Claire's foster family while she was away and I wanted her to soak up every last minute with them. Speaking to the graduation commencement speaker and his wife, who were administrator when I attended, listening to the "amens," "yes Lords," and "that's right" in sacrament meeting, jogging through my old haunts and climbing stadium stairs,  

seeing the magnolia and cypress trees curl into the water,

sitting on a wrought iron bench on Front Street on a sleepy Sunday morning, seeing a prayer group along my jogging path and then a prayer circle after a dance performance, trying to interpret my way through a thick Cajun accent...

I told David I was the wrong one to pick up Claire because I'm the weak link, the one who doesn't want to sever ties with this town that I fall in love with every time I go back.

Claire said she would have stayed if we consented, 

but I must say that I love my girl more than I love the town. 

Claire drove almost the whole way home because she has to get in her permit driving hours.

It was a bit scary with a new driver driving through Dallas traffic and construction. 

A few days after we got home, we welcomed family who came to celebrate Elijah's graduation and ordination to elder. First stop: baptisms at the temple:

Playing cards

We were only allowed 10 tickets for the graduation:

Graduates!

Elijah and Grace

There were 746 in Elijah's graduating class. 

As Elijah filed out of the stadium, we got as close as we could from the stands. 

David screamed, "You did it! I didn't think you could, but you did it!"

I wasn't able to get any pictures of Elijah in his cap and gown, but these are from his 

Grad walk at school that David attended while I was in Louisiana.

Elijah's ordination was beautiful. Our home was full of people we love 

and David's blessing was strong and spiritual.

 

Spring to Summer

David's huge news is that he got promoted to MD. This stands for Managing Director, but when he needs to give medical advice, MD magically changes to Medical Doctor. His office threw him a surprise party, complete with a mariachi band. All of his co-workers said something they like about David; a few were emotional. I said I appreciate his muscles.

Sybil living it up for her birthday party:

Nothing matches batter than a bathing suit with socks, fake champaign, and a bent sunhat.

The birthday celebration lasted all day, beginning with a trip to Build-a-Bear.

They all chose matching bears and one accessory, gave them a name, a heart, a birth certificate and treated them like their babies for the rest of the day. On Mother's Day, Sybil claimed she needed presents because of her baby, Ronaldo Ronaldino, who speaks duck language.

Decorating cookies. Most of them were heavily saturated in green dye.

Iris and her Babushka

Iris' end of the year performances: LVYO

She auditioned and made it into the Philharmonic orchestra (the highest level) for next year.

Her last middle school performance

My parents were in town because of a minor surgery I was having.

She was also able to go with her school orchestra to perform and do a workshop with Disney composers.

She recreated a scene from her young childhood. It's posted in the blog, but I'm too lazy to find it.

This is my official selfie headshot for the FNP program I will be starting full-time in the Fall.

I'm taking the Public Policy class this summer and although I'm enjoying the content, I'm slightly regretting taking it since it I'm already feeling slightly overwhelmed with summer activities. 

It's a sleepy Sunday morning with about 15 people sleeping in our house plus 6 in hotels and more on the way for Elijah's ordination this afternoon and his graduation a few days ago.

AND....Claire is 16 today!!

and she's finally home, in her home, with me and us, and not at boarding school!

That's a pic from her prom.

Easter weekend and more

Andrew and Vincent came to visit Easter weekend. Of course we had to go to Black Tap in the Venetian for our diabetes shakes. 

Making a home for bugs. 

The next morning, Sybil woke up and said, "Mom, they are sleeping on their backs!"

Calico Basin hike. Claire was in town for her Spring break.

Dying eggs

Temple visit

We had leftover pie and Claire decided to celebrated herself. I can't remember what she said the occasion was.

Iris is famous!!!

Her quiz club team made is to the semifinals which were broadcast to the entire universe.

Iris answered a question correctly about Passover, probably because David has been wearing a Star of David for months now as an act of solidarity with his brethren. David's righteousness permeates all.

All of the participants had to note one interesting facts about themselves. 

Most put violin or karate, etc. Iris put her rim-to-rim hike.

And they won the Finals a few weeks later!!!

On the way to General Conference, meeting up with uncle Jon:

This kid lately has been wanting to shave her head. 

She's been adamant about it for a few months but she is most adamant when she sees people's reactions to her announcement. 

The seniors in our ward were all invited to go to General Conference. They got special seating and then we all had lunch in the church office building with the General Authorities.

A couple of weeks previously, at the Red Cliffs temple dedication, we met and spent some time with the newly called apostle, Elder Kearon. At conference, Elijah was walking through the conference center and Elder Kearon saw him and yelled “Elijah!”

Afterwards, Elijah came to me, beaming with a big smile, saying, “I just saw elder Kearon and he remembered me and my name!" Pretty awesome that an apostle who meets so many people every day remembered Elijah. Makes you remember they really are representatives of Christ and if they can remember, how much our Father and Christ remember us.