Welcome to the Club!

I have had the privilege of welcoming Darcy to the Gates Season of Service Club!  It was so fun to have "new blood" to think about.  Well, in thinking about Darcy, I decided this post would not be complete with out a shout out to the missionaries in the world both because she is preparing to go and because she just lost many, but one specific "budy ol' pal" to the missionary force.

Bill's little sister Michelle and her husband Michael lived in Taiwan for a year.  Michael went on his mission to Taiwan.  Well, we have a cute new Taiwanese missionary serving in our ward.  So Char and I decided we should have this darling sister over and help Michael and Michelle make a Taiwanese dinner for her.

 Yummy....?

 Well, not so much!  But the cute sister missionary was so excited!

 I also decided I wanted to make them feel extra loved at Christmas time so I signed up for a second time in a week to have them over for Christmas Eve.  We did the Nativity then went to IHOP!  Good times!  Dad, the sisters and I thank you for picking up their tab!  ;)

My post would also not be complete w/o addressing the gimp!

I have a friend who broke both her ankles.  The first one when she was with me exercising and the second one b/c her boot was so large she broke her other foot trying to walk.  She needed lots of help and hated it!  She is a very active girl (the one who started our whole cul-de-sac workouts.)  But simple tasks such as grocery shopping became a pain and even simpler tasks like driving became impossible.  I tried to help where I could.  One day I picked her up and drove her and her daughter to the dentist office then went and picked up her other daughter from school and dropped her off at home then drove back to pick them up from the dentist and back to their home.  

Well, it is going to sound horrible, but when Hock got hurt, a bit of me was glad to be able to help another gimp for my secret service!  I heard Hock was having a tough time keeping things down.  So I made a batch of my White Chicken Chili that I think he loves and took it over.

The last thing I want to touch on is how Proud I am of Darcy. When she came out here to visit, we had such a good time.  She was happy and pleasant and we had a good time being with her.  While she was here, we went to a fireside put on by 2 of Joseph Smith's decedents.  It was a very informal thing and we got there and everyone was chatting and it was getting kind of loud.  Char came to me and said would one of your children be able to play a hymn to maybe quiet people down a bit?  Darcy stood up and said "I'll do it."  She got up and went and played prelude music.  I had no idea she could play the piano that well!  Well, when it was time to start...

This is a photo of the bishopric member asking her to play.  Sorry if this photo in the Chapel is contraband.  

The piano player that had been asked to play was no where to be found... I panicked when our bishopric member walked over to Darcy...and yep!  He asked her to accompany the opening song!  ACK!!!  She did it like a pro!!  It was such a inspiration to me!  I thought I really wish I could do that if I was needed to!  A lady in our ward sent out an email asking if anyone would be interested in taking adult lessons.  YEA!!  Perfect!  So I started taking lessons!  Well, last night I was able to accompany the family during our Nativity singing...kind of.  I did well on most of it.  But messed a tad bit up.  But I did it!  Now, I know this is really for myself but my desire is to be able to serve the way Darcy did when she was here when it is needed!  Love you Darcy!  Welcome to the Club!  It's good to have you!

Love you,

Mitzi