Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Dear Elder Nielsen,

Another crazy week in the books. These weeks are blowing by too quickly. Monday, Summer had her Track Meet banquet and she received her varsity letter in track. So she lettered in Soccer and track as a freshman. Not too bad.  Krenka does a good job of getting us in and out.

On Tuesday, that Mexican family was suppose to come in and visit with me, but they called and postponed until next week. So I will have to ask them if they want to hear the discussions this week.

Wednesday, I had to go to a meeting at the church for our Aaronic Priesthood encampment that we are having in June.  I took Thursday and Friday off so I could work in the basement, but I still am not getting too much done. I need help down there and I don't get too much help from your mother. She had book club on Thursday, so I helped her get the house clean and then on Friday she went out for a couple of hours visiting teaching. So we keep getting curve balls thrown at us. On Friday and Sat. I cut a whole in the garage ceiling to get access into the attic to put support for that shelf that you and I built before your mission. The left side is pulling out as there are no studs up there in that area.  After I got the whole cut out, I got up there, and I can't see or get access to the area where the shelf attaches. So I do not know what I am going to do.

Saturday, I went and helped the Doug and Corine Sills move out to Spring Creek for 3 hours. I was sweating like a pig. I did not plan on going as we were meeting at 9:30 am, but we got the robo call reminding us of the move at 10 am, so I figured there were not too many people that showed up. They are struggling right now with church activity, so I went over to show my support for them.

We also had a service activity on Thursday night Young men spreading new bark around the church, but we only had 4 young men show up. And they are as lazy as an old tired dog. I did most the work myself. We are lucky we had brother hirst and a few other adults or we would have been there all night.

But Saturday, we were going and working all day long. I was dead tired around 8 pm at night. 

Sunday we had our fast and testimony meeting. It was good. I helped Nick Mierins with the shut ins. Then we had the sister missionaries over for dinner. They are very sweet sisters.  We told them we would have to have them over for dinner when you get home, and one of them said, oh no, I don't want to be giving the spiritual thought in front of an AP.

I went to the Dentist office for teeth cleaning on Monday and I visited with that lady for about 1.5 hours in a very natural way about the church and you on your mission etc. She said that her and her husband saw 2 missionaries crossing the street in front of them in Reno, and she said to her husband, " I think every young man should serve a mission or go into the military."  Little does she know how true she is.  We had a great discussion about the Book of Mormon, families, etc. I scheduled you and Amber an appointment with her the day after you get home. I thought we could tag team this effort. Mom has an appointment with her this week.  I was hoping the 3 of you could seal the deal on what I started.

The Simons dropped Maybelle  their dog off for the 3 day weekend, so we are watching her for 3 days.

Keep working hard, sprinting to the finish line. We love you and pray for your continued success. 

Have a super week!!

Love,

Dad

Dearest Elder Nielsen,

 I see you have sent your letter already; Dad was doing family history and he took too long to turn over the computer to me so that I could type  my letter!  That spirit of Elijah always gets him.  Hopefully, you will get this email before you are done with your session.  

Monday, was Summer's track banquet.  There were a lot of kids that went out for track this year, but despite that it only lasted about an hour and a half.  Krenka puts on a very efficient banquet--we do a one clap for each kid as they are introduced and given their award.  Summer lettered in track, so since she already had a varsity letter from soccer, she got this cute little pin of a foot with wings on it.  (Hermes, the greek god)  They had a dessert buffet, which I always find kind of contradictory to an athletic banquet.  I showed my civil disobedience and brought a cracker and cheese tray.

We had our first Pack Mtg. this past week, since I have been in my calling.  I guess we used to be combined with the 5th ward in cub scouts, before I was put in, but now we are just with our ward.  We did a little carnival and each boy was in charge of a different activity.  I made cupcakes to do a cake walk.  When we arrived at the church, the power was out, and the only lights in the gym were the auxiliary/emergency ones in the gym.  It was dim, but not too dark.  We opened up all the doors so that the light from the foyers could shine in.  We carried on and it was actually a very well attended activity.  We had one scout get his Arrow of Light Award.  Ha Ha, luckily people had cell phone lights so that we could shine them on the kids getting their awards.

There had been complaints of the "Mormon kids"  driving and racing each other like crazy people through the college parking lot, following seminary.  So, knowing that Dad was from the church, the people from the college went to him, so that he could take care of the issue.  He had intended to call each seminary teacher and have them announce to the classes the problem, but he kind of forgot, so he just stopped in after basketball wednesday morning.  He popped in to the Sr., Jr. and Sophmore classes wearing his basketball clothes with a bib of sweat soaking his t-shirt and sporting his crusty ball cap.  He came home and he told me he had done that, and I said, "You went like that?"  He said, "Ya, I was on my way home from basketball".  You know what he looks like when he walks in having played bball.  I said," well I'm sure you got their attention." I heard that the more senses involved, the better you are able to engage kids-- so, there's sight, hearing and stink.

I hosted my bookclub meeting on thursday.  I was going to do it outside, since we had been having nice weather, but the day turned out to be only 70 degrees and kind of breezy, so the last minute I decided to have it inside.  Dad took off that day, so we jumped into gear and whipped the house into shape, (that means we took a lot of piles of stuff to our bedroom)

I made quiche, spinach salad, cantaloupe slices, and strawberry parfaits for dessert. Everyone liked it .

Saturday, I got up at 5:30, did the papers, went on a walk with Sadie Goulding, then went nonstop until about 11:00pm.  I painted a little more in the girls room, vac and washed the van and the bug.  Did some yard work, put Summer and Carly to work picking up pine needles.  Adelaide and I cleaned her room as  well.  I was sure tired that night.  

We had the Sister Missionaries for dinner.  They got their first taste of deer meat.  I made a roast and all the fixin's  We had fast sunday today, because next week, is our stk. conf.  Carly made the one-hour rolls and they turned out super good!  She may be challenging you for best roll maker.  It all tasted really good, but everything always tastes better on fast sunday.  Well, that is about it kiddo, hope you have a wonderful week.  I will send  those recipes ASAP. 

Love you lots, Mom

PS  Brendan Smith got engaged.  He is marrying a Polynesian girl he met at BYU-Hawaii.