It's been a pretty good week.
First, at your suggestion, Sarah and I picked up Dad's tennis racket and several tennis balls. We still haven't played yet, but it's probably going to happen, seeing as how it is summer and the tennis courts are open all year round. That same day, I asked dad for a blessing...mostly because he's in Peru now and he's my dad and I need all the help I can get while he's gone. I have to find a job quick. Last day of work is June 6, the week after my birthday.
I had a pretty chill week subbing, as I was in the same class the whole week. Mrs. Raymondo has been out because she had treatment for breast cancer. She comes back tomorrow, and the kids are excited to have her back. She teaches the SDC class, and well, her group of kids, while they have their challenges, are actually super like-able. The first day I was in there, little Oscar (who is a rambunctious little kid) was like, you need a haircut Mr. G. I actually did cut my hair (not just because he suggested it) on Wednesday night. Thursday, the aides were like, we wonder what has gotten these kids all wriled up, and then they were like, it must be Mr. G's hair.
I am applying for a job in Arizona, and I need to get two letter of recommendations. I asked the SDC aide teacher Mrs. Ceja for one and boy did she pull through with the very complimentary letter the next day. I also asked for one from our Single's ward bishop, Bishop Ellsworth, and he also pulled through as well. Hopefully those, and the rest of the application will get me a job down there. News on that: same day that I got a blessing, Aunt Kerry texted saying the position at her school had been filled, but not to give up. So, I'm not giving up. I should have the application done sometime before the end of the week.
I taught the kids how to play cut the pie. They enjoyed it, for the most part, but when a kid got hurt, that was the last straw and I had them just do free time the last few minutes of PE. The first few days of PE, they did racing. Oscar is perhaps the fastest kid in the class, but he also is a big gloater, so, of course, I had to put him straight. I raced him (and the rest of the class that wanted to race) and beat him, soundly. However, that didn't really stop him from gloating and making fun a an emotional girl named Stephanie. That kid. He just doesn't stop. He raced to the fence and back like 20 times in the 4 days that I took them out for PE (one was a minimum day).
Another day, they had an entrepreneurship fair in which kids like the sixth graders made homemade crafts that they were selling. Examples of their labors, was like some stress balls made with balloons and special sand, tons and tons of slime (slime is the in thing with kids these days, don't ask me why), water bottles full of separate liquids that did not mix like water and oil (like lava lamps), etc. I actually didn't get to go since the aides took the kids who had brought money to the fair in the cafeteria. I just got all the backlash of kids that were prematurely playing with their toys or giving it to other kids. One such, was a girl named Halo that rides the bus, that hadn't purchased slime, but had slime all over her hands. Red slime, at the end of the day. The little T-K busriders all were engrossed in the slime others were bringing out of the day. I also noticed Sister Davies manning the cashier booth with the principal. Later, she asked me who's class I was subbing for.
We had our Stake Conference this weekend. For the leadership meeting they invited all of the members of the Ward Council and their counselors. So, I went to represent the young men's presidency. I think I was the only representative of our presidency. They talked about Ministering. Shared several videos. President Stacey was really good. I also had the chance to talk with Tyler Hudrlik, and his wife Sharon, after that meeting. If you don't remember, he was my 1st counselor when I was EQP, and later introduced me to Sarah, my wife. He now lives with his wife, kid and mother-in-law in Fontana, which was why he was there. It was good to talk to him and see how they were doing.
For date night, I surprised Sarah with an Oleander Young Women's girls camp fundraiser. Mom and dad came, too. They served enchiladas. But since we were the first ones there, they didn't really give us too much food, which backfired, because we were still hungry by the end of the night. And they wouldn't relent and give us seconds without paying for another meal. Fortunately, Sister Gardner gave us 2 of her family's plates secretively at the end of the night. We then went to Ontario Mills Mall where I looked at music instructional books. Sarah wanted to go to Old Navy. She got me the Flash shirt as an early birthday present. I'm wearing it right now. I love it with all my heart.
That said, this Tuesday is the Season Finale of the Flash. It's going to be a crazy episode, in that the Villain, the Thinker, seems to be arriving victorious, but you know, Flash will triumph in the end. I haven't really been watching the Arrow or Legends or Supergirl, so I'll have to catch up later, when it's on Netflix. That season finale, and the Final Finale of the Farewell season of The Middle is on Tuesday (which we'll watch probs on Wednesday) is coming up. My prediction that Sue and Axel were going to have a double wedding kinda went to pot. But, it's still good.
Sarah and I had our first class of the Self Reliance meetings today. Or I should say Autosuficiencia (such a hard word to pronounce which means self-reliance). We are teaching a ten-person class or so. One of the members is the bishop of the Sierra Ward. I really like him. He makes good, pertinent comments. The Personal Finance book in Spanish is very hard for me to understand. So, sometimes I feel like I'm behind on the conversation. But, today was only the first meeting, so I'm not too worried. Plus, I get to facilitate with my wife, who has a better grasp on the language and knows usually, what I'm trying to say. It was a very good first meeting and I look forward to the next 12 weeks.
Lastly, the youth had a hike up the foothills at Don Day park. I hadn't noticed that it was a combined activity until too late. I called Sarah and invited her to hike with us. So, we were waiting, and ultimately, the group of kids left without us. Fortunately, Brother Mondragon and Cabrera stayed behind. We started late and ended up getting lost, however, we got some good pictures. Sarah noticed the MONDRAGON name on their Nike caps and he gave us an explanation about where his name comes from. It was quite fun to be with them, even if we got lost on a partly arduous hike. Isaac Garcia kept on calling us while we were on our hike to see where we were. He then asked me to share a little bit about pioneers to the youth and leaders. I did my best with such the short notice and limited time I had to give the spiritual thought.
Well, I hope you are doing good, my brother. You are great. Don't forget that. We are praying for you over here on the WEST Coast. We love you. I love you. Send me a line, and nothing like ____----____-----_____ or anything like unto it.
Love you kiddo,
John
