Stake Sunday School Presidency & Wives

Last night we hosted Kirt's new presidency and their wives for dinner. I planned Hawaiian Haystacks and made pink salad, cooked carrots with parsley and ginger butter(melted). Also made a Chocolate cake with cherries and had vanilla ice cream.
One of the counselors called to beg off as their child was ill with a fever that was rising.
We had Linda and Jack Hale and Jacky Joe and Margaret Smith and Kirt and I. We had a great time and laughed and visited and got to know each other. The meal started at 6 and they were all still here at 9:30- then since we all had to spring our clocks forward we said good bye, loaded the dishwasher and went up to bed.- but had to do the article for the back page of the Provident Times newsletter... I had done the front earlier in the day.

Kirt had a very full day before any of this started. He had to speak for 1+ hours to a class at the university, fix Charlene's lawn mower, take Dot and her car for a 25 minute drive and then get it smog tested, mowed the front and back lawns and was supposed to clean at the church, but forgot.

Feeding the Missionaries - Cincinnati Chili

We had the opportunity to feed the missionaries on Thursday night. Had the bright idea to invite another couple as well. Metz and Carol were glad to come. I tried out a recipe that Birke suggested. It was for Cincinnati Chili - which is served on top of spaghetti. Since I had never made it, and since it might have been too spicy for me I also made a large casserole of funeral potatoes. Wednesday night as I was making most of the food I also made a cake and a large jello with fruit. A few weeks ago when we had the missionaries the on from Kansas, Elder Genteman really like the jello.
The chili was really hot- even with sour cream I couldn't take it, but all the men ate with a gusto. We had a different missionary who was on splits with Elder G. and he said it was his first time ever eating homemade jello- he had only had the little jello cups from the store.
After the missionaries left we visited with our friends and then sent some leftovers home with them- some funeral potatoes for her and some chili for him.
I may be related to Elder G. He has a Bradshaw in his family and when I said that my grandfather's name was Douglas Bradshaw Fowler - Elder G said he mother's maiden name was Fowler- that is too much of a coincidence... and her father was Clark. I have a cousin name Clark, but it would not be him.

To Church with Kirt

It was Fast Sunday today so there was no ward conferences scheduled so Kirt got to come to church with me. I think it was only the 2nd time this year.
A young lady, Jaime, who was baptized this past summer likes to sit with us on the back row. I have been going to the gospel essentials class with her when Kirt is not there. She is a real sweetheart. Last week after church she and I sat on the bench opposite the library and I showed her how to make a loom hat, today she had it done and Merry helped her finish it.

We had a nice meal to break the fast - BBQ ribs, rice and broccoli. Kirt took a plate over to Dot, the elderly lady (80's) who lives across the street.

Inviting a Friend to Dinner

I went to Food Source and bought 2 large pork roasts - I also have to send food with Kirt tomorrow for his contribution to a Mexican feast- for Janie's birthday.
I did this on my lunch hour- had to make a rub with brown sugar and I used PC chipotle rub and rubbed it into the roast, put them in a pan and seared them for 15 minutes at 525 degrees.
Then I poured some orange soda over the whole roasts and turned the heat down and cooked them for a really long time. A really, really long time. It is done when you stick a fork in and the meat just shreds off.

Serve with flour tortillas, sour cream, cheese and salsa.

Invited G. M. to dinner tomorrow night. He and J. recently split up. I wanted to make something pretty tasty because he is such a chef and is always cooking for ward functions. I asked my co-worker Vanessa how to make carnitas. (she has made them and brought them in to work a few times - yum!)

Refinancing our Home

Interest rates are down, and we are in the process of refinancing with a lower interest rate- a 5 year loan. Our goal is still to have the house paid off when Kirt hits 65 so we can retire and go on a mission.


Our friends, John and Donna B. just left for a Perpetual Education Fund Mission in the Philippines.

Check out their blog- link is at top of this page on the right hand side.

Business Meeting in Clovis

Dad and I got to attend a PARMA meeting in Clovis on the afternoon of September 30 and all day October 1st. It was about Risk Management. I was a little worried to be gone so far from Shaunika, but kept my phone handy and she didn't go into labor.

The highlight of the trip was getting together with our good friends, Cathie and Cory Duersch. They were very close friends when we lived in Lancaster. We visited at their home and got caught up on all our kids and grand-kids, and reminisced about old times when Merika and Birke used to walk home from school with Beth, and all that entailed. Then we went out to eat. Cathie told me that their time in Lancaster was very difficult for them, and that it was our friendship that helped her through those dark days. I guess we never know when we can affect those around us just be being friendly.