old...eh...long time friends!

Last week I had the extreme pleasure of having one of my dearest friends stay and visit with me.  Michelle Stevens Sundwall came to visit from the 15th-19th.  She also did me the great favor of helping teach a choral conducting class for the Stake Music training workshop I put on.  Of course she did a marvelous job and everyone was thoroughly impressed and well taught.  After the workshop we got changed and went to City Place - downtown Palm Beach. (for Salt Lake-ians it's our Gateway).  We went to Panera and MovieCo to see "Leap Year" - silly movie, fun date!  Sunday, I accompanied Michelle as she sang "O Holy Jesus".  Seriously gorgeous. I gained props for knowing someone that freakishly talented.  She then accompanied me as I sang "I Rejoice" for Gospel Doctrine class. I also taught the class, so it was a tad tacky that I sang too, but too bad. When was I going to get a chance to have my friend accompany me again? I think we talked the whole rest of the day. Dave was a peach getting dinner cleaned up so we could chit-chat.  The next morning we went to breakfast at JohnG's on the beach in Lake Worth (to die for cinnamon-almond french toast!). We walked on the pier with the fishermen and their dead fish catches all over the place. A creepy ending to our visit, but still fun!  It was a BLAST having her visit, but I was exhausted! I can't even remember what we talked and laughed about, but we barely took a breath from the time she arrived until she left.  Her husband Pete was a peach too! He took care of four of the five kids (one of which is only 4) and held down his practice while his partner (Dr. Dan Egan - another friend from high school) is down volunteering in Haiti. 
I freaked out a little before she came because I wanted everything to be perfect, but as soon as she got here, it was like always. She's my friend no matter what my house, kids, or butt looks like - or doesn't look like.  There is nothing like the gift of having a friend that has known your history since you were 8 yrs. old and will probably know your history forever. Girlfriends are essential - Best girlfriends are eternal!

starting over

  I made another a new goal to start writing again.  I think Sundays are best. I'll just try to remember stuff from the previous week.

  Two weeks ago was a little rough as we took Taylor in to get his Graves Disease taken care of by irradiating his thyroid gland.  Medications weren't working.  He still was only sleeping two hours at a time and he was down to 140 lbs. (he's 6'3")  We had to drive to Weston (an hour away), wait for an hour in the radiology waiting room, have a ten minute procedure, then drive an hour back - four times! ACK!! Actually, it was lovely having the time to chit chat with him about all kinds of things, but that waiting room was gross. The craziest part was that Taylor had to stay at least 5 ft. away from everyone, including the dog, for three days. He has to go back for more lab work in two weeks, but in Palm Beach, so that's not so bad.
  My sister Amy came last Sunday to visit with her son Pete. She was supposed to go on a cruise, but Duff (her husband) got a job working on a film and had to cancel.  Fortunately, she got the cruise money back, but not the flight. Pete's full name is the same as Duff's so he got to use the other ticket.  We hung out here Mon. and Tues. then went to Orlando Wed. - Sat.  She got free Disney tickets from a friend.  We went to Epcot, Hollywood studios and Wild Kingdom.  Pete was awesome - he'd ride a few rides, see a few shops and was ready to go. Because the tickets were free, no one felt obligated to "get their money's worth" and stay all day. LOVELY!!  There was some sadness however, even being at the "happiest place on earth". There was a massive earthquake that devastated Haiti. With so many dead and dying, it felt a little wrong to go on rides and eat over-priced food. Speaking of food, however, we were very good at trying to eat healthy and clean as our family is doing a biggest loser competition before our San Diego hamfam reunion in July. Dave came up on Fri. night, and we went to the temple on Sat. morning.  I really paid attention to the ceremony as I had to teach about the creation in Gospel Doctrine today. For our last night together, Amy and I went to see "Young Victoria" and had Japanese Bento boxes at Shingo's.  The movie was great and so was the food. The greatest part however, was the company.  I love that my sisters are my best friends and it is the best treat to have them visit me. Like all treats, it's never enough!