My sister, Elaine

I got news last night that Elaine passed away. It certainly wasn't expected this soon, but the way it happened was more merciful than it might have been...

I'm satisfied that she is happier than she's been in at least 4 years. She's had a long-awaited reunion with her three sons. And she's never been okay with Mom's passing. She's missed her so much, and couldn't understand how any of us could be at peace with it. I suspect that things have even gotten sorted out with Dad. :)

Graveside services will be held on Friday in Burley, as per her wishes. The family is giving her son, Denny, time to get home from Iraq to attend...

Final Round - City Council

Well, I hope it was the final round... I came home last night feeling pretty beat up. I had 5 friends/supporters attend the work session with me. We thought we had hammered out a fair contract. Both sides had made compromises and they conceded on the 3 issues I still had concerns about.

Then as they got to our part of the agenda during the city council meeting that followed, Lynn Durrant (friend, neighbor, and city councilwoman) made it clear that the contract the council had in their hands, was not the same as the one she had forwarded to me, which I had forwarded to those who were there with me. Reid Nelson and Bob and Judy Walton didn't stay for the 7:00 meeting, so I was there with 2 other piano teachers to start from square one again in our negotiations. In the end, I guess I have to be happy with my "victory." The city council vote was 3-2 in favor of the $100 price tag for a 4 hour event - NO cookies. :(

I remain amazed that the process was so difficult and prolonged. The mayor promised that the city will "watch" and re-evaluate in another year. I believe that they are not planning to make it any easier to retain the agreement that they voted on last night. But for now I am very glad to have a period at the end of the sentence.

Salem Days weekend

It's been a great weekend, having Rudy and Jaron home, and also Tressa, Kindy, Gregan, and Devon's family spending so much time here. Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed very much her birthday party. And the Salem Days pageant and fireworks were pretty great. I don't remember EVER sitting through Salem Days fireworks in pouring rain! But the loud claps and lightning strikes seemed almost choreographed to the rest of the show.

Thanks to all of you for your efforts to be here... I'm excited that I was able to get a ticket to Florida for October.

Kryn gets home from France 2 weeks from today! Keaton, I'm loving your happy mission reports!

The Church is still true... :)

Kindy has a blog!! AND I have a "Thought" for you :)

Check out Kindy's blog! You can access it from this blog if she doesn't send you an e-mail with her address before you get this...

And I've been conducting a little survey. I told Gregan AND Kindy that I have written to all of you each week for the past 4 years, principally to share a very profound "thought of the week" that will likely change your lives. (wink....)

Well, since I've been blogging, Gregan and Kindy admit that they didn't even know I'd included a thought each week... (growl...) When they get the e-mail alert that there has been a new post, they may or may not actually open up the blog. And even when they have done, they have not noticed the little thought. Like Gregan said, he's taking the bait without the hook... (sigh...)

Is there any hope? Or are my efforts totally in vain? :)

I still love you all.
And the Church IS still true! (thumb up...)
(I seriously need some emoticons on this site!!!!)