Family Dinners, New Calling, Activities, Wedding Plans

This week I put on three family dinners. It is something that I enjoy doing and which doesn't stress me out—so it was just enjoyable and fun for me. The first was the family dinner on Sunday associated with my birthday. The second was with Paul’s mom, Rae and Lynn and Erma and the third was one that was in the planning for quite a long time. It was a dinner that I hosted to meet Scott and Julie Bult, Jono’s parents. Erika, of course, had known them for a long time, and I had met Julie when we went to the caterer’s for a tasting of the menu that we were thinking of for the wedding reception. Neither Paul nor I had met Scott Bult. They were lovely and charming people and we had a great time. I served raclette—. It was the first time for the Bults and we all had a fun time with it. It was new for Jono, too and he loved it. He says a raclette machine is in his and Erika’s future. On Sunday I got some sad and disappointing news. I am in my favorite job in the church, Primary Music Leader, but I was asked to come in for an appointment on Sunday morning and in December I will taking on a new calling and will be released from my current one as Primary Music Leader. This was very bad news—because I was very happy in my present calling. I am going to be one of a revolving set of Gospel Doctrine teachers. I will only have to teach every three weeks or so—so that will give Paul and me a certain amount of flexibility to travel and go to the cabin and make other trips—like the one we have planned to New England in the spring. Paul teaches the high priest group on a rotation as well, so if our weeks are coordinated that will be nice—but I will really miss this calling and being with the children and enjoying primary. This is a sad moment for me. Tonight Paul and I are going out to dinner and then to a play at the Hale Center Theater. It is the theatre that is in the round and we are going to see Brigadoon. We will be meeting Mom and Dad there. It is the final hurrah for my birthday celebration. It was such a busy time the week of my birthday that we didn't try to schedule it until some of the other things that were going on had passed. Erika and I went shopping yesterday for dresses for the bridesmaids to wear. We picked out a skirt that we really liked only to find that it is on clearance and we will probably have a hard time finding enough of them for everyone. Isn’t that just the way things go? Plans and ideas are changing and being adapted regularly as we face the reality as opposed to the fantasy. But we are happy and pleased with the way that things are going and think that it will be a wonderful occasion no matter what happens. Two weeks ago Erika and Jono went to the Main Salt Lake Library for their engagement photo shoot. Yesterday we got the proofs from the photographer. And they are just lovely. There are so many lovely pictures. Erika looks beautiful and radiantly happy—Jono looks so handsome. The photographer did such a great job. I don’t know if you have ever been to the downtown library, it is a modern building with lots of steel and glass, lots of interesting architectural features and angular shapes. It has a very urban look to it with paving stones and tall structural partition. Erika and Jono had two different outfits—one set more dressy and formal and one more relaxed and casual. They looked darling in both of them. It has been fun to be more of a part of the wedding preparations—and I am trying to include Julie Bult in as much as possible because it is her event as well as my event. The library has significance since Erika is an English teacher. Peter’s birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year. This is the second time that I remember this happening since he was born. Kortney is putting on a surprise birthday party for him on Saturday, Paul and I and my parents are going. It should be a fun event—she is putting on a concert –inviting old high school friends to participate --for him—there will be an ice cream bar and treats. I am looking forward to it—it should a fine event. We are planning on Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad’s home. I offered to hold it at my house this year, but Mom said that she is up to it this year, but maybe not next year so we are off to grandmother’s house for thanksgiving—even though it is not over the river and through the woods.