Post Holiday Letdown

Today seems awfully slow and dragging. Many of the employees here are on vacation so my work is extremely slow. July seems to be a vacation month in Utah. Most of the General Authorities are on vacation. Today, we did have a surprise visit from E. Dickson and the Mission President. Mission Presidents (MP) don't get vacations. My Houston MP was released the end of June and I am sure is home by now. He is waiting until his son returns from his mission on the 16th of July to have their Sacrament Meeting report. We (our small Houston group) are planning on going to Provo for the Sacrament Meeting and a short luncheon afterwords. I have been on my mission almost 9 months. The time has passed by so quickly. I told Marissa, that her time pregnant would pass by very quickly too. I am sure she doesn't feel that way when she is miserable. This week she is going to Phoenix to spend a couple of days with her dear friend Sarah. She and Sarah have been friends since middle school, I think it is great to be able to keep a school chum that long. When I left high school, I never saw many of the people I knew again. At class reunions I would see many of my class mates, but not the special ones that were my friends.
Weekend before last we went to the Lavender Days south of Provo. Marissa and I ran in a 5K, I came in under one hour, I was amazed. Now Marissa wants me to do the 10K on 24th of July, I think I'll opt of the 5K and try to get in better shape and do a 15 minute mile rather than a 20 minute mile. Mason took pictures of Marissa and me at the finish line, maybe I can get him to give me one to post, so you will know for sure I was there. Anyway, it was fun and we were sure tired. Marissa did run and then walked back to where I was, we ran down hill, ha! ha! ha!. The same day that we ran the 5K, was the day of Sam's Golf Tourney. Chuck drove up from Silver with Jeff and Katie. They played and had a good time. Katie won a lime green golf bag. I don't know what the dollar amount was they made but I think there were about 25 teams. It was a very generous thing that gentleman did to help the kids. BY the way, I think they are doing better all the time. They are finally getting used to the schedule, and as you might guess, it is difficult to find reliable help on a consistent basis to come help with bath and dressing in the AM and PM. There is also someone to take him to therapy daily. Whitney has been staying there helping, this has been good as Ashley can get a good nights sleep occasionally. Whitney will wake up in the night and turn Sam so that Ashley can get some uninterrupted sleep. Their baby boy is so precious and is growing in leaps and bounds. He is so alert and so cute.
This past 4th we went over to Bruce and Vivienne's for a delayed birthday party. It is so fun to go there and see all of the little ones. They are all growing and learning new things. Marissa and Mason took turns holding Heather/Daves new baby boy Eli. He is still quite small, and they loved it. It is good practice for the two coming.
I was able to talk to Taylor, he was having dinner with LH and Jean. He is in Silver working again and staying w/Aunt Gertie. I was feeling bad because he would be alone on a holiday, so I was happy to hear he was with family. Helen had to work so her 4th was mostly tiring. She is doing well though and I am so pleased with her progress. Denise and George are still not quite sure what the future will bring for them as the restaurant thing didn't pan out, I am sure they will find something else. Not much exciting just a little lull. Tomorrow, Marissa and I are going to get a manicure for her birthday present. A manicure for me and a pedicure for her. I think I would prefer a massage as I awoke in the night with a cramp in my left foot, I couldn't remember when the last time I had a leg cramp. Poor Aunt Gertie, she was getting them nearly every night. Be Happy!!
Love,
Carroll
PS Karen, take care of yourself first, we can have a long blog later.....