Red Toyota Camry LE

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Dearest Family,

We traded in our blue Toyota Camry for a red 2007 Toyota Camry with 17,000 miles. John really loves the way the Camry handles. He would have preferred it in silver or white so the dirt wouldn't show but it is red--fun and sporty. We'll pick it up on Monday evening.

This has been a week with a lot of neighborhood interaction. Sunday evening Eva and Seigfried Klunker called all the neighbors over to their home to see a 20-year-old cactus which bloomed for only one day. It had nine flowers on it. Five blossoms were fading and 4 were opening. Monday evening John helped Victor, neighbor to the east, unload and put mulch around his trees and roses. Victor had a pick-up full of mulch so shared it with us so we now have mulch on most of the flower/garden areas.

Tuesday, there was a Neighborhood Watch meeting on the lawn of the Callie Meetinghouse which was well attended. JoAnn and Barry, the Georges, and Seigfried Klunker were there in addition to many active church members.

John had to have Dr. Pickett pull a molar. The tooth had been crowned, then had a root canal and a new crown last Oct., but his body was rejecting the tooth and eating at the roots, the infection in the tooth persisted even with antibiotics. John missed two days at the Training Center but is feeling much better now. John's scheduled student didn't come because his wife had emergency surgery so it worked out well for him to go get his tooth taken care of this week.

We had a severe dry lightning storm and heavy winds which caused many fires and wind damage. A limb about 6 inches in diameter was broken from our Globe willow tree and was hanging down in the pasture for the horses to eat. John started to climb up the tree to cut the limb off, then Victor offered to do it and John let him! The daytime temperatures dropped to the 70's so it has been much colder the last comple of days.

Friday night we attended the garden reception for Kim Brooks. It was nice to see her family. We talked with Terry Davis, his wife and two children.
Terry: I told my stake president that you're the best home teacher in the church.
John: Why?
Terry: He asked my why we chose to be married in the temple and are still active when my parents aren't active. I told him it was because of your example of coming faithfully every month for years.
Terry works at the State Capitol arranging video conferences for government officials. He also created the online virtual tour of the capitol. He often takes his bike to work. He asked specifically about every one of you.

Saturday night we attended the reception for Ryan White. All of his family was there except Chris who is in the Chicago area. It was held in South Jordan at the bride's brother's yard near Steve and Monique's home. Bishop John White performed both Kim's and Ryan's marriages.

We're looking forward to the new missionaries coming in next week for two weeks. I'll have a senior Elder and John will have a young elder. My student this past week was a convert from Chicago whose family came from Italy so it was very interesting to research. We found the information to do the temple work for several of her family. I suggested that we look up the information for Angelo Severino. She was reluctant--"He has Mafia ties and I've spent a lot of time looking for him with no success." Amazingly the information came up giving his birth and death, marriage, and a census showing him in his family at age 5. Not only did we find enough information to do his work but enough to do his entire birth family. When people are ready, they want to be found.

Mark went to Tucson, Arizona, to take his national medical board exam this week. He said it was the hardest test he has taken in his entire life but he is so happy to have it behind him. We were grateful that Phyllis and Joe came from California to help with the twins.

We hope you have a good week. As we attended the wedding receptions this week, we were so grateful that every one of you chose to be married in the temple. The lives you live are an inspiration and a comfort to us.

Love,
Mom and Dad Rogers