Education Week 2008

Isaac and I went to Education Week at BYU with some friends from our ward. We went with Ann Mason and her son Scott, and Tyler Wagner. We had a great week together. We stayed in two of Ann's camping trailers on BYU's campus. Ann and I stayed with her parents in her sisters trailer and the boys stayed in Ann's trailer. In the mornings we got up and went and showered at the Provo Recreation Center. Made several friends who were there every morning with us. Heidi brought Chandler down and we enjoyed spending time with them as well. The classes were great. I learned many wonderful things and am now going back through my notes to see what things are most important for me to incorporate in my life. I don't remember which presenter said, "Are these just feel good thoughts or are you going to apply what you learn and improve your life", but this thought has stuck with me. So I am taking the time to evaluate all that I learned and making a plan to start making little changes here and there to become a better person, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Isaac really liked John Bytheway and Brad Wilcox. We went bowling together and that was fun. Ann and I went to Pride and Prejudice the musical while the boys went to the youth dance. The play was fantastic. It was so good I had Shaun come down Friday night and go to the play with me. As I go through my notes I may add tidbits here and there. Overall it was a great week and I enjoyed the spiritual feast.

Hurricane Ike

I called Shaun's parents this morning and they are in the dark but doing well. They are currently serving in Silsbee, TX on their mission and are riding out the hurricane. Their last area was Orange, TX and I hear they are getting the worst of the storm surge. Mom and Dad have two sister missionaries staying with them they were evacuated from Port Arthur, TX. It is currently under about 12 feet of water. Sister Olsen and Sister Allgaier are from Utah and I called their parents and let them know their daughters are well. I also told them I was grateful they are there to help mom and dad. The weather service says there are currently 4 million people without power and could be a week before power is restored. So far all is well and we will keep you informed on how they are doing.

Grandma Bernice Hutchinson

My grandma was born September 5, 1919 and died just before her 89th birthday on August 24, 2008 of natural causes 7 years after her husband Howard Hutchinson passed away. I had the privilege of taking Zach out to see her in May before she passed away and I am so glad that I did. She was an example to me all the way to the end. I guess I got my motor mouth from my grandma because she is always talking to people. When I went to see her in the senior center she was always looking for ways to talk with everyone about the church. She loved writing to the missionaries and one of my favorite stories is when we were living in Illinois and Shaun was the Ward Mission Leader. We had the Elders and Sisters over for a meeting and I had one of my grandma's letters out and one of the Sister missionaries said, how do you know Sister Hutchinson? I said how do you know my grandma? She was from my grandmas' home ward and wrote to Jana (sorry, I can't remember her missionary name) weekly. I said, "Well you hear from her more than I do." She loved to write, I didn't get that from her, I'm more a talker. Can't get it all. She also loved to crochet. I think everyone she knew had at least a dozen afghans. I hear she had at least a truck load of yarn at her house at any given time. Don't ask for any because its an all or nothing deal and they keep finding more. She loved spending time with the other widows after my grandpa died and those that are left will sure miss her. She loved to help others it brought her great joy. They read a poem at her funeral that I really liked because it reminds me of her philosophy and I think it would be good for me as well. As far as I know it doesn't have a name and I don't know who the author is. But it goes as such:

Outside my window, a new day I see
And only I can determine
What kind of day it will be.
It can be busy and sunny, laughing and gay
Or boring and cold, unhappy and gray.
My own state of mind is the determining key
For I am only the person I let myself be.
I can be thoughtful and do all I can to help,
or be selfish and think just of myself.
I can enjoy what I do and make it seem fun
Or gripe and complain and make it hard on
someone.
I can be patient with those who may not
understand
or belittle and hurt them as much as I can.
But I have faith in myself
And believe what I say
And I personally intend to make
The best of each day.

Autotestcon Trade Show - Cherry on Top

I hadn't planned on going Thursday, because I had already been away from the kids too much, but what a blessing that I went on Thursday. It was truly a highlight for me. When I got there I was walking around the conference in half a daze when this gentleman asked if I wanted a water bottle that he couldn't take on the plane. We started talking and he said he from Indiana. I told him that I had served an LDS mission there and loved it. Then he said that he wanted to tour the Mormon sites before he went home. I spent the next hour answering all his questions about Mormons. Questions like why did we practice polygamy, do we still, view on divorce, lay ministry, eternal families, tithing, meeting blocks, prophets, chastity, and much more. I finally asked him if he would like Shaun and I to give him a tour of SLC after the conference. He accepted and my children were very gracious to let mom be gone one more night, and I hope the Lord understands why we didn't make it to Stake Temple Day. I went to tell Shaun and he said that the three gentleman whose both was across from ours were going to tour SLC after the conference as well, so them to go with us as well and they did. Shaun and I spent 6 hours answering non-stop questions from our friends, and if they weren't asking us questions they were asking the tour guides questions. Our friends in the picture are from left to right: Somnath from India, Mike from Indiana, Steve from Michigan, and Vinod from India. I can't even begin to express what a blessing these wonderful men are to me. All of those feelings I had toward the people on my mission came rushing back. That instant love you have for those you share the gospel with and the imense spirit you feel as you bear witness of God's truths to those who are seeking. I'm ready to sign up for my senior mission now. What a treat to feel our Savior's love for them all day. I haven't yearned for my mission days in a long time, but oh how I miss those days after yesterday. We went to the Lion House for a late lunch, then we went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg, Conference Center, temple square, and the geneaolgy library. We finally said goodbye as they went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal. I can give you a log of all that we saw, but its the feelings from my heart I wish I could share with you. My heart is full of gratitude for the Lord blessing us with such a wonderful day, and for the privilege if making friends with these wonderful men. They all offered us tours of their home towns, and I've been dreaming of reasons we should go to India. This truly is God's work and he blesses us beyond our limited capacities when we reach out to others. My heart is overflowing with emotions as I reflect on the wonderful day we had, but I am grateful the Lord allowed us to have this experience. They thanked us, but we got the better end of the deal. Anyone need us to travel to Michigan, Indiana or India for them?

Autotestcon Trade Show

This has been a wonderfully busy and crazy month for me. First I went to Idaho for a wedding reception in Boise, then I went to Education Week, then school started-a rocky one at that-, then I went to California for my Grandma Hutchinson's funeral, and then I helped Shaun and one of his clients at the Autotestcon Trade show at the Salt Palace and this weekend is Stake Conference and the Scout Jamboral which Shaun, Isaac and Zach are at right now while Rachel is at a birthday party. Anyway, there is much I want to write about each event but I'll start with the most recent and move backwards. Shaun has done some PCB work for Chuck at GEMS and he had a trade show here in SLC, and he asked Shaun to help him out. Chuck brought out his wife, Eva, and one of his employees, Jacob. They got here on Sunday, and we helped them get their both ready for the show. The show started on Tuesday. Tuesday was great and I came home with ALOT of trinkets for the kids. They invited Isaac to come up for part of the show on Wednesday and he had a great time. He got to play video games, guitar games, play army games, they let him try one of their remote control guns, he got to drive a virtual car, and the flight simulator. Then I brought Isaac home we changed clothes and went to a K12 meet our teacher day at the park, and it rained, but we love our teacher. Then we came home and I changed again and headed back to SLC, then we changed again and went to "This is the Place State Park" for a tradeshow dinner. The sunset was gorgeous!!! The food was excellent. The group was entertaining and many of the participants were intoxicated. We went with Chuck and Eva and we had the privilege to answer many of their questions about the church. Then we rode the train and walk down the main street. A wonderful evening. We had a great time this week with Chuck, Eva and Jacob and I think that this week was successful for them as well.