What a week it has been...I'm sure you've heard news from Mom and Dad about our new little nephew Cohen. I can't wait to meet the little guy. We are planning on going up for the baby blessing, so we have something to look forward to. According to Granny, Mom and Dad were bushed, as they made the Rexburg to Hurricane trip in one day, and today they made it back. So many hours in two days on the road, as they were on the road for 7 long hours today.
We had the Sisters over today for an impromptu dinner with them. We solely spoke Spanish as to help the new Greenie Hermana Hawkes. It is always nice having the missionaries over, as they invite the spirit into our home. They shared the Mormon Message "None were With Him" video in Spanish.
Well, I spent all of the weekdays preparing for a NES test in Special Education. I took it on Thursday. I needed 220; I got a 204. I'm going to retake it sometime this week, probably Thursday or Friday. I have ordered Test Prep materials and will probably be ordering sample tests. The hardest part is that the test costs $95, each time you take it. I have a good feeling about this next time that I take it. Prayers would help, of course. I'm going to spend every second at home this week to studying for the test. I wasn't as devastated. Of course, the initial shock was a bit much, so I had to drown out my sorrows with a torta from a mexican restaurant. But really, I got over it quick. In studying for it this week, I'm going to look for the procedures that a Special Ed teacher takes FIRST in different situations, as there were a lot of those questions. Also, the preparation that I did with Study.com, only worked so much. They didn't prepare me as much as I had hoped. And I spent a long time studying from that material. Sarah had the idea to take a practice test the day before the actual test I took, and it was an eyeopener. I hope not to be shocked with the coming test that I take this week.
So yeah, we are making plans to move to Arizona. The details aren't set in stone yet. We did think about going to Arizona at the end of this week, and staying with Aunt Kerry for a night...but we'll see what happens. Apartments are definitely a lot cheaper there. What it costs for us to have a 1BR house here, is what it costs there to have a 2BR house. We are unsure of where we are going to live just yet, and trying to make spirit-guided decisions about what Spanish Ward to be in there. We are thinking about calling the mission president of Mesa Arizona and asking him which wards need us most, as he suggests.
We got to do Baptisms for the Dead with our ward on Thursday. There were many people there, including the Mondragons. I had the opportunity to do confirmations, in Spanish. It was definitely a learning experience. There were times I messed up and had to start over. A couple of times, I forgot to say Church of Jesus Christ. Instead, I said Church of Latter-day Saints (all in Spanish, of course). It was definitely a time well spent at the temple. I always enjoy going there. There is so much that the spirit teaches while we are there.
Afterwards, Sarah and I decided to go to Jimmy John's, as Sarah has been craving those sandwiches for the longest time. It was my first time I think. But we found this whole center that is well hidden in the Redlands area. There were even movie theaters and lots of restaurants and stores. I was amazed, because they had Bahama Bucks. I had to share the amazing drink I had gotten there before. However, Sarah didn't like it as much, and we were sharing. The sandwiches at Jimmy John's were so good, though.
Yesterday was Natalie Young and Luke's wedding reception. We went to it. It was a good time, in that we saw old friends, and new ones, and in between. I got to reconnect with the Harris' and the Bishop of the single's ward, Bishop Ellsworth. The chicken garlic pasta was the greatest thing there. Not to mention, Sister Young told us that we could take home as much food that was leftover as we wanted. And there was a lot. So of course, we took her up on her offer at the end of the reception. The food was good, the cake was good, and I think I missed out on chocolate fountains. I saw a returned missionary, Jeremias Platero...Diego Salas, Scott McDermott and Rachel Wheeler, and of course, we said hi to the newlyweds.
That, and we were proud to announce to everyone in attendance, that we were celebrating our 6 month-a-versary at the party. It was definitely perfect, being able to celebrate at a function that we were celebrating as well. For our anniversary, I got the idea to make a heart out of post-it notes with 50 things I love about Sarah and stick them to our bathroom mirror. Funny thing, I decided to do it Friday night, after Sarah fell asleep. By the time I was done (it took me some time), I went to lay down next to Sarah. Well, when I moved the bed, it woke her up. Well, she went to the bathroom, and was so surprised to see it. Fortunately it was after 12 midnight, and I told her HAPPY 6 MONTHS! Another Funny thing, is that she didn't fully realize that it was the shape of a heart until after she had gone to work the next day. Haha. Fun times.
Sarah and I went to pick up dad from the airport on Monday. It was my first time driving into LAX on my very own (with Sarah's help). She knew how to get there as well, as she knows the LA freeways like the back of her hand. We tried to guess what type of shirt dad would be wearing and what color the background of the walkway would be. I introduced Sarah to it, as she had never been to Tom Bradley International airport arrivals. Needless to say, dad was wearing a button down white shirt with stripes.
Earlier that day, we went to Sarah's mom's house in Torrance and visited with her sister Lisa and my nephew and niece Adina and Julius. Lisa asked me for a blessing, as their family is going through hard times right now. Adina was feeling sick, so I also blessed her, and after the blessing she felt much better. Julius read us a Sponge Bob book that he really likes. It was good being there for their family in their time of need, and just building relationships with my family.
I went to help Sarah's dad do some stuff on Wednesday, I also helped him do his laundry. Since he is older, he has a harder time carrying things and standing up for long periods of time. So, it was good to help him out. We invited him to date night with us on Friday. We watched Ant-Man, in honor of the sequel coming out this next friday: Ant-man and the Wasp. We will be watching it sometime soon, for sure.
Well, I'm out of news for the week. It's been a good, crazy week. Oh yeah! Dad got me a BLACK Peruvian Jersey, as we watched the Peru vs. Australia game and went to eat breakfast burritos at Nogales Burgers. It was quite the time.
Wimbledon starts tomorrow. Crazy as well. And Argentina and Spain are out for the count in the World Cup.
Well, have a great P-day, and we love you!
John
