Released

I was released from teaching Primary on Sunday. I have very mixed feelings because I will miss my class, a lot! On the other hand I was called to be the Laurel Advisor so I will be working with Makenzie. I'm a little scared because I haven't worked in Young Women's for 19 years, besides Girls Camp, but that doesn't involve teaching. Hopefully I can adjust my teaching style to 16 and 17 year olds from my 6 and 7 year olds.

Here is a picture of me with my class, only 5 of the 8 were there. This is the best I could do since I was taking it with my phone.

Last One

Yes, our youngest, Jacob got his driver's permit today. I think my heart skipped a few beats on the way home and I even held back a tear or two. When did he get so old? When did I get so old?

Let me out!

Poor Charlie, she was banned to the garage yesterday while Dale and Matthew were mixing and pouring cement.

We had a beautiful sunset that night!

Happy 62nd Anniversary

My parents celebrate 62 years of marriage today. I posted a picture of them with me and wished them a Happy Anniversary on Facebook. I just had to share what one of their friends wrote,

" I have to make a second post....I have known the Brinks for many years and they have blessed my life in many ways. Betty and I taught a religion class to the youth of our church so 5 days a week at around 5:30 AM Betty and I said good morning and spent an hour with kids that we loved who loved us. Some days there would be a few who would just be out of it that morning, tired, bored, just wanting to sleep some more and honestly there were mornings when I would have liked to just declare a sleep day and lay my head on a table and snore. Betty was always there, smiling, up lifting and being an amazing teacher. I fell in love with this wonderful lady and in all the years dear Betty has always been my friend, has always had my respect and I continue to love my dear friend. I have been blessed to serve in my church with Bob for years. I have knelt in prayer with him. We have cried together when some of the work we were doing brought tears of joy and tears of sorrow. Bob was the wise man that could make sense of something and with just a few words would instruct me and I would learn. He always had a group of kids around him and I finally learned that they were there because he always had a treat in his jacket pocket and after I watched I found out the treat was a bonus because they really loved him. I sat next to him and he had his scripture setting on the table and I saw a name embossed on the cover only it was not Bob it was Harry Buffalo. There was a great story about the name and why it was on his scripture. I love Bob he was always been a hero to me. I respect him and am so grateful we share a friendship that will be with us forever. I have come to know some of their children and see in their lives the strength of parents that love their children and who are now building strong families of their own. I value their love and feel it a great and wonderful privilege to share friendship with them. May God bless you Betty and Bob thank you for blessing my life."  Theron John

Theron, I couldn't have said it any better!

Happy 62nd Anniversary and many more!

Sunday Funnies

We were singing, "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today" in church Sunday and there is a line in the 2nd verse that says, "And Jesus listening can hear, the songs I cannot sing." I turned to Dale and said this could be our family motto since we don't sing very well and at the same time Matthew was telling Jacob the same thing.

Here are 2 statements from the closing prayer in my Primary class:
 "Please bless the baby bird that died that "my sister" accidentally left outside" The sister has a name, but I won't share it to protect her :)

"Bless our teacher when she dies that she will be happy"
Glad he wants me to be happy, I guess.

Day 7...Headed Home

Our flight wasn't leaving until 5 pm but we had to check out of the hotel at noon. We drove around some and then ate at Big Kahuna's pizza again since it is by the airport. We dropped our car off and waited for 2 1/2 hours at the airport. in the terminal we were sitting by a family who talked non-stop and I was hoping they weren't by us on the plane, lucky us, they were two rows behind me in the next aisle. The mother and daughter talked and talked for 5 1/2 hours of the 7 1/2 hour flight. I could hear them over the volume in my headset. Thank goodness they didn't go on to Houston!! We made it to Dallas about 5:30 am Monday morning. We flew out at 7 am and we landed in Houston a little after 8 am. We were tired! Everyone came home and took a nap except for me, I jumped right into the 8 loads of laundry. It was a vacation we will never forget and I am very grateful that we had the means and opportunity to go!

Some of the scenery while driving around

Jacob the tourist outside of Big Kahuna's Pizza 

What would we have done without electronics, especially smart phones

Jacob ready to catch the tram in Dallas to get to another terminal

After a 7 1/2 hour flight, they all needed to charge up their phones

Hawaii Day 6 Sunset

We really weren't on the right side of the island to see the sunset and it also sets early there, but we did our best to get a picture of it setting before we left. We drove down to the west side of Waikiki and then walked out some to get a better view. It was a little cloudy so you couldn't see the sun. We waited and waited and just when we were going to leave, the sky lit up in brilliant oranges. Glad we didn't miss that!

Diamond Head as seen when we were walking to our spot

This is where the opening scene of Gilligan's Island was shot

I think they were throwing things at a crab

The guys patiently waiting

Honolulu 

Honolulu at night

I took this with my cell phone. Can you see the cruise ship out there.
I just really like this picture.