Tuesday Night "Treat"

Tonight we had a "treat" at the MTC--we got to hear from Elder and Sister Nelson at the weekly Tuesday night devotional. Elders from our branch were assigned to do the ushering, so we had to be in the auditorium a little bit early. While we were sitting and waiting, we kept watching the big screen to see who was going to speak. Usually they put a picture of the speaker up on the big screen along with various announcements before the fireside. That's how you know who's speaking by whose picture is up there. But tonight there were only announcements, no picture. So we were wondering who it would be. I said to Steven, "If it's an apostle, everyone will come unglued." Sure enough, when the picture of Elder Nelson finally popped up on the screen, it sent quite a buzz through everyone assembled. Anyway, it was a very nice meeting. Sis. Nelson (formerly Wendy Watson) had not been scheduled to speak because she had spent all night last night flying home from Hawaii; but when Elder Nelson stood up to speak, he had her come stand by him and told what a blessing she was in the life of him and his family, and then he said he wanted everyone to be able to hear from her, so he told her, "Here Wendy, whatever." She gave a nice talk and told about three words she had seen on a barn which she thought constituted good advice for life. The three words were: "Not Even Once." She told the missionaries that they can all be good missionaries if they commit to not doing anything they know they shouldn't "not even once." Then Elder Nelson had more advice and encouragement for the missionaries. He reminded them to "please be obedient." He said that a mission is an exercise in "obedience training." He went on to say that one of the purposes of life is to learn to obey your parents and your Heavenly Parents. "If you do," he said, "you'll be happy." We met with the missionaries in District A afterward and, again, they all seemed to draw from the talks something that was important for them.

Steven and I had dinner in the cafeteria before the devotional, with no friends joining us tonight. I talked to Yevon Romney earlier in the day and she said she was going to our ward Enrichment Night tonight instead of the devotional. I bet she'll be sad she missed Elder and Sis. Nelson. I know I was glad to be there.

Earlier today, I had my yearly physical exam. For the last five years, I've been going to Dr. Bigler for that, but this year when I called to make my appointment they said he had retired. (Retired? He's only two years old than were are. Actually, I found out he's doing administrative work at the hospital.) So I thought I better go back to Dr. Stacey for my exam since he's the one who used to do my physicals. He said I seem pretty healthy. So that's good news. After that, I went over to the Barrett's to stay with Riley and Sidney while Lindy took Camden to get her last cavity filled. We had some lunch before Lindy and Camden left; then Riley, Sidney and I went down to the playroom for some more delicious food prepared by Riley. Sidney enjoyed "eating" the food as well as dismanteling everything in sight. Then they went down for their naps. Riley said, "I'm SO tired." So she went to bed, and then I gave Sidney her bottle and she went right down after that. It was a lot of fun. Camden came home shortly afterward, and she had been so brave that Lindy had gotten her a smoothie at Jamba Juice (correction: Hogi Yogi) which they shared with me. Yum!