Friday Favorites

There was a lot going on this last week, but even on the busiest weeks it good to take time and look back at the good things that happened.

Josh started his first college class last week. He wasn't too happy about posing for a "first day of school" picture, but, I've had a "first day picture" every year since kindergarten, so I need a complete set! His seasonal job with UPS ended on the January 15, and the job he thought he had turned out not to be what he thought, so he is still looking for work. The good news is that he had a job interview with a really great company yesterday and he said the interview went well, so we are hoping and praying he will be employed again soon.

I was able to go to the temple Thursday afternoon and came out of that place feeling my burdens lightened and my heart made joyful! I do love the temple!

Went to Costco last week and got a big back of these. Josh says they are just crunchy air, and he's probably right, but right now they are my "low cal" snack of choice.

I enjoyed these veggie straws instead of chips with my homemade cheese burger. They are much lighter than chips, and not as greasy.

I cooked a pork roast in root beer (NOT diet) in my crock pot for Sunday dinner. After cooking, I added some barbecue sauce for scrumptious pulled pork. It was delicious and we have been eating left-over pulled pork sandwiches all week.

I borrowed this book from a friend at school to get some ideas and motivation for my on-going goal of purging and downsizing. Honestly, the book is kind of boring, but it did motivate me to spend some of my Monday holiday (Martin Luther King Day) going through hand-me-down books in the garage. I ended up getting rid of five boxes of books! I love books, but these were some that were given to me that I thought I might have some classroom use for, but did not. It is time for them to be read and enjoyed by others! I do love one thing that the author of the tidying up book says, if a possession does not bring you joy, get rid of it! I agree. The books in the garage were not bringing me any joy, so there was no reason to keep them and off they went to Goodwill!

We've had rain this past week (you can see our wet driveway), and more is expected over the weekend. It's also been chilly enough for jackets, which is a nice change here in the Arizona desert.

I have been enjoying teaching and working with the eight and nine-year-old children at church in Primary (Children's church). The leaders always have such fun and creative ways of teaching the children the gospel. Here they are clapping the rhythm to a song with paper plates.

Last week was also our Activity Day. Twice a month, I meet with the girls to have a lesson and some sort of craft or activity to reinforce Gospel Principles.

This week's activity was making and personalizing journals. The girls loved being creative. It was messy, but a lot of fun!

Finally, I am looking forward to the Presidential Inauguration. Although I am not going to say I am overly excited about or confident in the new president, I am willing to have an open mind and give him a chance. Honestly, some things Mr. Trump has done do not set right with me, but he was constitutionally elected president. I do love my country, and I am grateful for the constitution that allows us a voice in who leads us and what they do. I plan to let my students watch the inauguration because I think it is an important historical event no matter who is taking the oath of office. I hope Mr. Trump is a truly great President because, if he does well, we will all benefit in the end!