9.2.18

This past week has had so many emotions. 

Last night my dad wasn’t doing well. He hasn’t been well for a while, but refused to go to the doctor. He was so bad last night that he couldn’t get out of bed. Ray and I went to Elma to be with him. We had to have the ambulance called for him. He is now at St. Pete’s and doing a little better. They said he’s in kidney failure. Right now we are waiting on more tests to see what else is wrong. 

Ray and I are becoming a little too familiar with this hospital. 

My mom has been in here 3 times the last month. We joked, at least we know the cafeteria has really good sandwiches...  and the most important good news.. my mom is doing so much better! The medication they are giving her has helped shrink her spleen. They are hopeful that she won’t need surgery. She was talking and joking around, she hasn’t done that for about a month. What a relief and blessing!

I got a job at Mt. View. I had a temporary job at Horizons for a few weeks hopefully to go permanent, but this sounds better. I will miss teaching preschool and going to all the different schools. I went to two days of training this week at Mt. View and the staff there seem very nice. Couldn’t get a closer school to work at! My hours will be 8:15-3:15, which is really great, too! I start Wednesday and will work normal school days. I’m relieved that my dad is doing better, I was stressing out that I might have to call off my first day of work. 

I had a couple of tender mercies with getting this job. I had interviewed for a temporary position at both Horizons and Mt view and they didn’t want me in those positions because the wanted me permanent. But when they called to tell me that I didn’t get the job, the assistant principal let me know to look for the job that I have now and apply if I was interested. That was so nice. After I came home from my interview I went out to the van and it wouldn’t start. It wouldn’t start until we got the battery replaced. I was so thankful that Heavenly Father kept us safe and if the battery had to die, it was exactly at the right time. (Right when we got some “extra” money, too) I used to (and sometimes still) fight it with being upset at those kinds of things, but I once had a friend that taught me a wonderful lesson. She said what if your car (or whatever the problem is) is going to die and the timing is night right for you.. it will cause major strain and the angels are holding it together for you until you can afford it or be able to do it. I have felt this many times in my life. What a blessing. 

Saturday we took advantage of all the sales for the holiday weekend and went mission shopping for Keagan. It’s getting closer and closer!

We took him to this cute old fashioned suit shop in Chahalis that had a CTR clothing in it and they give special discounts to future missionaries. We had fun spending the day with him and went to one of his favorite places for lunch- the quesadilla factor in Centralia. Not only is it his favorite food, but it’s so fun in there with the arcade games and pool table.

We got to see Aurora this week, too! Don’t get to see her as often now that’s she’s older. 

She gives us the funniest faces. She had just put lipstick on. She loves it!


Love ya!
Sis shoop

Sent from my iPhone

8.26.18

This letter will be shorter because my phone has been crazy and it keeps deleting. 

It was great to be able to take Keagan up to the temple Thursday before it closes for a couple of months. What a special and awesome experience! The only sad thing was that my mom and Thom couldn’t come because she ended up in the hospital again. Hopefully they’ve figured this out and she’ll be getting better soon. 

It was a beautiful day and one of he only days recently that we haven’t had smoky skies and air from all the fires around. 

We were able to have Keagan’s girlfriend Makayla’s parents and grandma come with us, too.

I don’t know what I would of done without my dear friend Sandy and Daren there. That was such a blessing to me, especially with out my mom. There were many tender feelings and blessings that day!

Adam and Em Falter got to do baptisms while we were doing our session. So fun to have them there, too!

 And Kelly Grubbs got to come with us, too! That was so nice to have him there with us, too. He has been a close friend of our family for a long time.  And our bishop and and Keagan's ym president.

I can’t believe he didn’t want me to kiss him.. he lets Makayla kiss him on the cheek all the time...




And today Daneah showed up to visit! 



Love you all!
Sis Shoop 

8.18.18

Not much news this week on my mom. She has been to a few doctor appointments and has had tests done. They say that she needs her spleen out. That surgery takes 6-8 weeks to recover afterwards. I looked it up on google and it says sometimes people need their spleen removed because of problems with their blood. 

I love going on adventures. Sometimes it’s an adventure getting Ray on board, but then about 90% of the time or maybe even more he has a good time. He’s funny! I love going to the beach and Washington has so many that I’ve been trying to find new to us to go to and that are close ish. I found Saltar’s Point in Steilacoom. It’s a cute little beach that you go over a Walker’s bridge over the railroad tracks and down some really really steep stairs. It’s very cute and a beautiful beach. I also love standing on the bridge as the train goes below us. It is a definite place to return to.  

It’s been really Smokey lately from all the wild fires around and it was hazy that day!

I also go to go out to the Nelson property with the young women. It is so nice of the Nelsons to share their property. And it is beautiful and peaceful!





They had a blast going on the swing and getting wet. 

This week was also the garden party in Barbara Johnston’s backyard. This has been a tradition of our ward’s Relief Society ever since I’ve been in the ward (around 25 years). It hasn’t always been in her backyard, but we’ve always had it in the summer. I stole some pictures from the rs Facebook page..





I was able to get a non active Sister to go with me, too. She loved it. 

I’m so grateful for our beautiful earth that we live in!

8.12.18

We had stake conference this weekend. As always it was so good. I love it when you feel the spirit so strong that you almost feel like you’re floating. Elder Hallstrom of the seventy. I was privileged to go to the 4:00 meeting on Saturday, too. It was for all the ward council members. He taught us a lot about ministering and how that was a divine program and what a miracle it was. He showed us the videos on Ministering and invited to watch them all and as often as we need. https://www.lds.org/ministering/resources-for-ministering?lang=eng

 He e came around and shook hands Sunday morning. Ray mentioned that Keagan had his mission call. He chatted with Keagan a couple of minutes and pointed to his beard and asked him if he was milking it... 

Earlier this week we were able to go to the temple with the youth. It was stake temple day for the youth. Each ward was assigned a time. We had the 3:00 time. The temple president told us we set a new bar - record for youth baptisms that day. 1200, the precious record was from last year when Lacey stake went.. 1000. In our ward, we only had one Laurel be able to go, so for the majority of the time I got to hand out towels when they came out. That is one of my favorite jobs. I get to see their facial expressions and be right there. There were a couple of brothers that got to baptize their sisters. That was very sweet. And one funny.. one of the boys baptized for a Daniel Boone and he almost started giggling. I love the spirit of the temple. 

My mom has been sick lately. Last week she was in the hospital for a couple of days and this week she had to go back. For a few years she has had problems with her blood. Her red cells have a hard time replenishing. What has happened in the past is that she gets run down, sick with a cold and then ends up needling a blood transfusion.  She has been to many doctor appointments and they couldn’t figure out what was wrong. She got frustrated and gave up because she was tired of all the appointments and run around. It was a couple of years ago that she was last really sick and in the hospital with a blood transfusion. This time has been a lot worse. 

A normal person has 12-14 (I don’t the measurement) of hemoglobin in their blood. She only had 4 when she went into the hospital. She had to have 3 units of blood. She got up to a 9 and they let her go home. The next week she still wasn’t feeling well and went to a dr appointment and they sent her back to the hospital because it went back down to a 6, it had to be at least a 7 for her not be in the hospital. She ended up with 3 more units at her 2nd stay. 

They have some more appointments set up for her next week to try to figure this out. 

It kind of acts like Leukemia, but doesn’t have all the characteristics. It’s been sad watching her be so weak and in the hospital. Hopefully we’ll get some answers soon. And be able to get her well. Please pray for her. 

Tonight we also had the Erickson family come visit us. They’re here on vacation. It was such a fun visit. We really miss them. He just got called as bishop again in his new ward last week. :)

Love you all,

Sis Shoop

Melissa’s pic

8.5.18

This week we celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. We were lucky and got to get away for a couple of days. We went to Coeur d’Lane Idaho. The lake is beautiful over there. We could see it out our living room and balcony window. 

We took a detour and went and saw the Spokane temple. I wish we would of had time to go in. Isn’t it amazing that whatever temple you visit you can feel the spirit and feel peace. Even on the grounds. I love it. Like all temples, it was beautiful! It’s one of the small temples and there is a stake center across the parking lot, I think the stake center is bigger. 

On our way home, we stopped and saw Adam Cichoski. We see him often, but hardly ever get his picture. I think it’s because we see him so often. It’s nice!

We decided to take a different route home and go through Yakima and White pass. I’m glad we did. There was no traffic and it was a scenic route.

My young women did great sharing things that gave them peace. I’m happy to be around them. 

Here is the video for the song for the theme this year. 

https://youtu.be/R46J-GjbRWA

Have a great week!

Love ya,

Sis Shoop

from my iPhone

7.29.18

A fun story to share with you about Melissa and Chaz first. 

Melissa loved Disneyland. She wants to go any chance she gets. She has been there a couple of times with just friends. Chaz is not a fan. He hates long lines and lots of people- basically Disneyland. 

Last week Melissa and Chaz went to California. Before they left Melissa was talking to me and telling me how much she wanted to go to Disney and she wondered if she could get Chaz to go. She said she doubted it, but maybe.. She talked to me about this for 10 mins or more. 

Monday, I get this picture with no explanation.

At first I thought it was just a cute picture of them. Then, I looked at the background. Do you see it? Mickey Mouse? They were at Disneyland. He totally surprised her for a birthday present. Good job Chaz! 
And then the Hills family just barely moved to California. The Hills family was Melissa’s young woman president and she babysat for her often. She LOVES this family. They have been out of the country for several years and this is only the second time she has seen them in the past few years. 
Melissa and Chaz got to stay with them! And see her good friend Daneah who lives in San Diego. Melissa was glowing she was so happy!!!



Poor Keagan. His week wasn’t as great. He got his bottom wisdom teeth pulled. He has been miserable, but not too grumpy. He’s been out of it a lot. I won’t post his pics.. that might make him grumpy. 

I got to go up to girls camp on Friday with some other of our ward leaders. It was hot! But it was fun seeing all of our girls. We had 19 that went this year! Which is so amazing considering we only had maybe 10 before we changed boundaries. It looked like they were all having fun!



Tonight we had the missionary fireside. They have a couple of returned missionaries speak and a couple getting ready to go out. Keagan was asked to speak and we were hoping he would be up to it considering he just had his oral surgery. He’s still a bit puffy, but he did a good job. He said that he shouldn’t of done choir practice today. That hurt. 
Next week I’m teaching all the young women. Our theme this year for mutual is Peace in Christ. I love this theme. Ive challenges them to think of an experience that has given them peace in Christ and how they can rely on that experience to help them when school starts or times get rough. I’m excited to hear about their experiences!
Love you all!
Have a good week!
Sent from my iPhone

7.22.18

Today was such a good day. The only thing that would of made it better would be to have Melissa, Chaz, and Hazel here. Happy Birthday Melissa!

Keagan was sustained an Elder today in sacrament and received that priesthood tonight. Brother Moore came over from the high council and Ray was able to do it. What a wonderful spirit that was here. It was pretty amazing. 

Earlier today, Adam Cichoski (he served in our ward as a missionary 4 years ago) and his mom and Dad were here and came to our ward. They came over after church for dinner. It was fun to visit with them and especially that live in Las Vegas. They’re not in Keagan’s mission , but close to the border. 

My mom and Thom came over shortly afterwards. The Cichoski’s left and Makayla and her dad came over for Keagan.

After Keagan received the priesthood, a newer couple in our ward came over and needed a blessing. Ray gave the first blessing and Keagan gave his first blessing right after. It was so amazing. The spirit was so strong. That boy- man amazes me. He was definitely listening to the spirit. I cried more during that blessing than when he was being ordained. It was beautiful and sweet. 

So, we had a good night feeling the spirit and good company. Lots of laughs and some tears.

Keagan went to trek this week and had such a good experience. He’s been telling us some good stories! There was a ma that got stung 25 times! She had a blessing and Keagan told us how everyone was so quiet and Reverent and she then she was ok. 

Before trek, nice and clean


After, dirty and very smelly

Earlier this week I got to help rescue a friend. She had a couple of flat tires and I got to go pick her up an hour or so away. I felt bad that it happened to her, but it was such a fun adventure spending time with her and having dinner together.  I teased her that this is not what I had in mind when I asked in my prayers to be able to help someone that day. ;)

 To climb into my friends truck, I couldn’t reach and there was no stool, Ray found some bricks for me to step on to climb into the truck. Lol!

Washington is beautiful!

 Hazel loves lipstick. Haha

I don’t have a finished picture yet, but we finally painted our bedroom! We’ve lived here 13 years I think and never painted, always wanted to and have, had that yellow and a green paint swatch on our walls for a few years..
It looks beautiful now. 

Heavenly Father is so good to us. We are blessed and loved. 

Have a great week! 
Love ya lots,
Sis Shoop