The end of an era

My last day of teaching was Tuesday, May 26th.  No big deal...I just quietly finished out my teaching career.  It was a great run and now a whole different world awaits.  And, so far, I am loving this new life.

The rest of last week was kind of a hodgepodge of activities.  Yard work (of course!).  Lessons (naturally).  I got to teach cupcake decorating to the Young Women on Wednesday night.  The girls did a nice job.  

Friday kicked off a full weekend.  Steve, Melanie, and I drove to Kansas City and met Steven and Tamara for a session at the temple.

Then, we drove across town to the Plaza area for lunch at Buca do Beppo....Steven and Tamara's treat!  Even though it was an Italian restaurant, they had delicious gluten-free choices.

Here is the fountain in front of restaurant.  I had never been to the Plaza in the daytime and only maybe twice or three times ever.  It is very lovely.  We will have to go back soon.

We returned to Columbia in time for dinner at another restaurant....this time with the stake presidency and area seventy, Elder Hillier.  He was in town for stake conference.  We ate at Bleu.  Another delicious meal.  I had shrimp and grits.  Mmmmmm.  Saturday, while Steve was in stake leadership meetings all afternoon, I fixed food: gluten free pasta salad and raspberry brownies for the Sunday post-conference luncheon; chicken salad and cherry pie and a disastrous batch of gluten free rolls for Sunday evening dinner.  All while watching Hunger Games 3A.  Kind of ironic.

I was asked to speak in the Saturday evening session.....on family councils.   I really couldn't draw upon personal experience (ours were kind of disastrous) but I talked about how they COULD have been using the current ward council model.  And I pointed out family times that could serve as family councils (like the daily morning walks that Steve and I take).  I think it went over all right.  

Sunday session was really good.  Sarah and I sang in the stake choir - two numbers from the Easter cantata.