5.17.15

Hi Everyone!

Pictures explanation first: My Mother’s day gifts. Bro. Shoop contacted Lauren Pace (Falter) to draw/paint those pictures for me. (Melissa gave him the idea). He is usually not to good at surprising me, but he pulled it off and surprised me! I love them. At first I wasn’t too sure of the faceless people.. but then I look in the mirror and see wrinkles.. and pimples (I never thought that when you were an adult 40+ years that you would still be getting pimples...) they faceless pictures aren’t soo bad! 

In preschool, we had had day. I had all the children bring hats and try on this lovely hat we have at our house. I have so many hats. It is a fun preschool day! Me, in the big Sombrero (that we got at goodwill.. I love it!)

And Transfer mtg, saying goodbye to Elder Oliphant. It was a very bittersweet goodbye.

Transfer mtg was Tuesday. “Only” 7 missionaries went home this time. The last few meetings that we went to there were 20+ going home. They have all the departing missionaries give their testimonies, so these meetings can get very long! 3+ hours. I thought since there were only 7 going home that this one would be shorter. It was, but it was still long for only 7 missionaries. 2 Hours. They had more musical numbers than usual. And they have these little skit things they do to welcome the new missionaries in.. they seem like they are getting more elaborate and lengthy... In fact, Sis. Blotter, the mission president’s wife, said,” I’m not sure if we have raised the bar or lowered the bar..” The testimonies and musical numbers were great! And I did get teary eyed! I have loved being around Elder Oliphant so much! He is one of the few that I have the opportunity to stay in contact with quite a while. We got to know him pretty well while he served in our area for 6 months, but then we got to still see him on occasion in other areas at various missionary events. Because he played the violin & borrowed Melissa’s violin, we got to see him and talk to him more often. Then, the last 2 transfers he has been in Lacey 3rd ward and we have got to see him more often. I think we became even closer to him while he was in Lacey 3. It has been a great experience!

I got to “talk” (Facebook message) with him last night. He is doing well! I was messaging him and then a couple of my other rms. It just made me feel so blessed by these Young men that have served in our area. They call me “Mama Shoop” And last night (and often), I was just feeling almost overwhelmed by the love I have for them & the love I feel from them & all of you serving missions. All of you are so awesome! I’m very proud of you serving the Lord by being obedient and serving a mission!

This week I subbed in a developmentally delayed preschool class. It is fun.. but sure busy. These kids need constant gentle reminders. I’m exhausted at the end of those days. Sometimes when they are naughty, I have a hard time not laughing. There was this petite little girl at the sensory table...  The sensory table had dry beans in it and then some toys and plastic insects. She would pick up the insects and very loudly say, “What the heck!?” She would say it over and over and over... Well one time, she said the other way.. you know .. not heck.. and I had to stifle my laugh!!! Oh my goodness! So, she says it once and I just ignore her, she goes on with the “What the heck” over and over, and then says the other way.. H.e...(trying to keep it rated G for you missionaries...) So, I just say to her, we say, “What the heck” and she just nods, and says “What the heck” and I don’t hear the other again. Wheww..  I’m glad that was an easy correction! haha

The Houskeepers came home from their mission in Florida recently. They spoke today. They did a great job. It was very interesting, too. I hope that Ray and I can go on a mission when we are older! All the older couples that go that I’ve heard about sound great. Don’t get me wrong, they sound like a lot of work, but great, too.

Keagan is done with driver’s ed! Can you believe it?! I can’t! So, now if he wants to or we want him to, he could get his license on his 16th bday, July 15. (He prob. won’t) He’s really glad it is over!

Dance festival is in a couple of weeks. He has been busy with that. He is in one of the “specialty” dances, the swing dance, so it he has been having practice every Saturday for quite a while. This past Saturday he had dance practices from 9-11:30 and 12-2! They perform Sat., May 30th at St. Martin’s college. It will be fun to watch! There are 5 stakes involved, Lacey, Lakewood, Centralia, Elma, and Olympia.

I hope you have a great week!

Love you!

Sis Shoop