Dear Richard
So I stand very repentant J We got your
letters yesterday, in the first week that I’ve missed writing to you (apart
from when we were on holiday…) How ironic is that! But it was SO awesome to
hear from you J Can I put in a request… When you write to
us next (and for Colleen too, I’m sure) can you write something special for
Josh and Hannah, and even draw a little stick figure drawing for them? Maybe
you next to a baptismal font or something J They would love
it!
I went to watch the David Glen Hatch piano concert, which was amazing!
Such amazing talent! But what was also awesome was that Bro Gerald came
with me. I visit teach Sis Marie, but she was sick so she couldn’t come as
well, so we got Bro Mack to take her ticket. And Bro Gerald and Bro Mack are
long time friends, but they’ve lost touch over the last few decades. But they
enjoyed seeing each other, and they exchanged numbers, and when I visited Sis
Marie this past week she said that they’ve all been arranging to get together.
So hopefully this will help to bring them back to the fold!
I lent the first book of the Kingdom and the Crown to one of the
ladies at work, and I had a chance to chat to her about it. She is just loving
it, and we had a really nice chat J
Work has been really busy. I finished off lecturing the second years, and
last week I didn’t lecture, but I had so much stuff to do anyway. I finally got
started with the writing for the new textbook that I’m a proper co-author on
covering group accounting. It was actually very cool to be creative like that
and to try and codify what I’ve been teaching. Very exciting process. But I’ve
still got quite a bit of writing to go!
We had our Helping Hands project at the complex where the Benjamins
live. I was only able to do a bit because of the kids, but all 3 kids helped a
bit, and in fact Josh stayed with Andrew when I took Hannah and Caleb to have
their sleep, and he helped right to the end. He’s getting so big! The project went
quite well, putting in a vegetable garden with seedlings, and some of the priesthood
also worked on the community centre they have there.
When we came home from visiting in Fish Hoek we saw that all the
lights were out in the area. Josh was the only one who was still awake, and
this was just an amazing adventure for him – lighting all the candles and
getting to bed with only torch and candlelight. Being a child can be so fun at
times!
Last Sunday was a good family day. Susan came to sacrament meeting,
and I chatted to her for the whole Sunday School time before she left. And then
in the afternoon we visited Mom and Dad. We’ve actually been seeing much more
of Mom and Dad recently, and it’s really great, and the kids are loving it of
course J
My BIG drama this week was that I had an accident… I was trying to get
into a parking space at work and I reversed into another car… So then I had all
sorts of admin to be getting that sorted out. And my car is better off than the
other one. It’s only my back bumper that will need to be replaced, but the
other car had the front bumper, lights and side front panel all damaged L So not cool!
That was the first thing Satan was allowed to hit us with. Then we had
out gate motor stopping working and we thought we’d lost a piece of wood for
the stand on our piano that Dad was going to fix for us… Andrew was feeling
particularly despondent, and Satan really does know our weaknesses! Andrew said
he woke up on Sunday morning and didn’t even feel like going to the bishopric
meeting. But I realised after he left that things are really getting going in the
ward, and so how better for Satan to put a halt to that than to get the bishop
down… And once we realised that and made the decision that of course he isn’t
going to win, then things started all coming right again J I found out almost immediately that Dad
had the piano stand, we found out that the gate motor probably wasn’t going to
be a big deal (it got fixed today at a very reasonable price) and we are
insured, so the car won’t be a huge thing, and it’s also going to be a same day
fix, instead of being without a car a couple of days, like I expected. Plus,
there are things like I’m unexpectedly getting a bit of a tax refund, and
Andrew got a Pick n Pay voucher as a small bonus, but enough for more than 1 of
our weekly shops. So already we are being blessed. But I really think that us
saying that we weren’t going to give in to the despondency was a big part of
the blessings starting to come. So amazing!
Josh and Hannah both went for a play date with their brother/sister
friends. When I fetched them I visited with their mom for quite a while. It’s
really nice to be starting to build relationships like that. And I know that
she thinks really highly of me – but what makes me different? Again, it’s the
gospel, and just trying to live right. I can’t imagine what my life would be
like without it!
We took the kids to Kirstenbosch on Saturday morning, and they had so
much fun! We had a picnic on that hill just to the left as you go into the
garden which is so perfect for rolling down. The grass was too wet to roll down
(next time) but we ran all over that lawn chasing guinea fowl. So much fun J
And then today is Andrew’s birthday. When I asked the kids what we should
get for him both Josh and Hannah said separately and completely independently
that we should get him chocolate and biltong! They do know their dad J But then Hannah wanted to get him a teddy
as well, and when Josh saw this toy horse he wanted to get that for him as
well! And I was getting some balls for the kids to play with at home, so we
decided to get a 4th one, which could also be for Andrew. So in
addition to a book and the smalls, he got a bunch of toys! And then Josh
especially was so excited to be playing with the horse that we ended up giving
Andrew the toy presents yesterday afternoon, instead of waiting for today… But
they all had good fun playing together. Andrew and I also went out for a really
nice supper on Saturday evening, with Cindy babysitting. We’re going to miss
her when she leaves! But not just because we lose a babysitter. It will be sad
to not have her with us anymore… I guess I’ll start sending her these letters
as well, so that she can see what’s happening with us.
Church yesterday was very powerful! Sacrament meeting was on the power
of daily personal scripture study, and what strong testimonies! Cindy, Grant and
Sam were the speakers, and we were definitely strengthened! I’ve asked Sam to
give me a copy of his notes, but I’m not sure if he’ll remember… Then I sat in
on the Priesthood lesson to evaluate the lesson given by Joseph. And what a
great lesson! I had heard that the Priesthood are reluctant to really discuss
the deeper stuff, but the lesson was on the talk Peace at Home by Elder Scott,
and they seemed very ready to have a really good discussion! So I was impressed
J But I’m going to be giving a lesson next
week for both the High Priests and Elders on how to prepare and present a
lesson, so that hopefully more of the Elders especially can feel more confident
in accepting assignments to teach. The High Priests are being split now, so I was
just with the Elders yesterday. But like I said, there really are good things
happening in our ward!
We look forward to our next letter from you! Have a good week J
Shelly
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