How is it March Already?

For those of you who randomly check this blog, you probably think we are slackers!  Well, okay, we are, but to be honest, the time passes so quickly that we often have to stop and think what day of the week it is and more often, what day of the month is it?  I made my first slip up last week for our granddaughter, Maddie's birthday on the 25th!  Neil and I were sitting at dinner after a session at the temple and he said, "I can't believe Maddie will be 17 in a month(confusing her birthday with her mom's on the same day a month later).  I looked at him in panicked horror and asked what the date was and then weakly cried out--she was 17 yesterday.  Fortunately, Maddie is very forgiving and she did have a birthday card from us, so she freely forgave us.  Whew!

Eloise and Birthday Maddie - Such beautiful Girls

So. . . what has kept us so busy?  Cooking and Institute Classes.  We started off the new year with some great classes and even more participation.  I am teaching The Gospel and the Productive Life in connection with a cooking class.

Typical Class Goodies- Quick Breads

I also teach a Lunch with the Book of Mormon Class.  We were finding that a traditional class didn't really work into anyone's schedule, so at Sister Vann's suggestion, we offered this lunch class which also coincides with Bread Day.  It has been a huge success and brings about so much insightful discussion.  We just go around the table taking turns reading the assigned chapters and discussing them.  Neil is teaching Family History and mentoring one of our students who is student teaching the mission prep class.  We also have our Friday Forum and lunch.  Our enrollment is up significantly and we are feeling an increase in unity and desire to make the Institute program grow.  We attribute much of this to the organization of our Institute Council.  These students are on fire and so supportive.


We have had some great speakers at our Friday Forums and lunch is always a hit.  We continue to have about 25 or more each week.  It helps that we have District mtg. right before forum since that adds to our numbers.

I make them eat what they cook!

Friday Forum Goodness

Grettle and David Payne in the picture below have been so good to us.  Sister Payne is a great quilter and sold me my little Singer.  She came to speak to our students about Feasting on the Words of Christ.  She taught early morning Seminary for years and has written a ton of songs for all of the Scripture Mastery scriptures to help the students memorize them.  She also knit the sweaters they are wearing.  Another person I want to be like when I grow up!