Loose ends to tie up and Zone Conference

Remember that old people luncheon in mid-February?  Here is a photo from the event. You can see Steve and me sitting at the back table.

Here are two photos taken at Stratton's robotics state-level competition

Steve and I attended the Eagle court of honor last Sunday night for these two brothers - Ethan and Dallin Lucas.  I teach cello to their younger brother, Erik.  Their dad is the Gospel Essentials teacher whose class we attend every Sunday.  Their mom is a good friend.  

It was a Zone Conference week and a vehicle inspection one on top of that.  I attended Friday's conference.  The photos are:   Steve (and Elder Brady) tackling some of the cleaning trash.  This was on Friday in Surprise with mild temperatures.  Imagine Steve on Tuesday up in Flagstaff.  It was quite chilly.  Thankfully, the predicted snow didn't happen until the evening! Me in the game "Never Have I Ever". Zones 7 and 8 singing the mission song (Steve and I in the back). Around the lunch table are me, Elder Thebaud, Sisters Tooley, Crowther, Christenson, and Hall and Brother and Sister Waldron of the mission presidency.  Steve presenting cleanest car awards.

Vehicle inspection zone conferences really alter our routine.  Steve has to leave extra early and he drives the mission van loaded with cleaning supplies so we don't do any of our exercising.  And, in the evening, Steve usually has to make Wal-mart runs to re-stock on cleaning supplies.  While it is tiring, zone conferences are so great because we get to see all the missionaries who are such terrific kids.  At the end of the week, we treated ourselves to dinner  - Culvers -  and a movie - we finally saw Greatest Showman which we just loved. 

Saturday was ..... good but exhausting.  That is because I drove all over the valley.  First, I drove Sue Hall, a fellow seamstress, to Goodyear for a Days for Girls meeting.  But, I didn't stay.  I then drove to east Mesa to visit my sister Jerri in the hospital.  She developed a urinary track infection that was not treated so it went into her kidney - the left one is very swollen - and ultimately caused a blood infection.  She has been in the hospital since Thursday and by the time I saw her, they had a drain in her side into her kidney and she had been on IV antibiotics for two days and she still looked pretty rough.  At least she was awake and coherent.  After my visit, I drove back to pick up Sue in Goodyear and then back up to Anthem.  I was driving for over three hours - in Phoenix traffic amid Phoenix drivers!  That makes it feel like five hours, at least!  I got home but not to rest but to rehearse the music for next week's stake Music In The Park event.  It is a string quartet comprised of me and three teen violinists playing What A Wonderful World and Concerning Hobbits.  Steve was my hero because he fixed dinner (cream of asparagus soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit cup, and a lovely garden salad).