Is it Chilly....Chili?

The temperatures are not much different these days than they were in December, yet I find that my heavy coat seems a little much for the short times I am outside.  Although when we have a ways to walk, I am still very grateful for it.  The thermometer is still in the high 30's and low 40's -- which I think is wonderful!  

Thursdays are enjoyable but intense.  We always come to the end of the day feeling as though we have been on a fast ride at an amusement park, and we need to stand still and let our heads clear.

We missed our Danish class on Tuesday because of the missionary zone conference.  Missing one day often leaves us much behind, and today was no exception.  Last week and this week we have been talking about our living spaces, and there is a lot of vocabulary to learn.  But I am so pleased to get to know these words and phrases.  

Our assignment for tomorrow is to write a brief summary of what is in the kitchen using the correct adjectives and phrases....which are difficult for me to wrap my mind around.  We learned the words that are the equivalent of "hanging," "sitting," "standing," lying," and "is" as they it apply to something you might find in your kitchen....such as "The refrigerator is in the kitchen."

It is interesting because a clock "sits" on the wall, and a built-in shelf "hangs" on the wall.  There are a lot of prepositions and conjunctions that elude me as far as proper usage, but I hope to catch on at some point!

We spend a lot of time in class and homework, but technically speaking, our days begin around 3 at the center and end around midnight....like tonight.  

We had Institute tonight.  I love the sounds as the YSAs being entering the center.  It is quiet as SK and I are preparing the meal and the tables, and then little by little, the sound picks up with voices and laughter and footsteps in the hall and then in the center.  As each comes into the center, they usually come into the kitchen to say hello and maybe visit for a minute or two. I so enjoy their smiles and their accounts of what is going on in their lives.  

Most of the time, one or two sets of missionaries come in to see if one of their investigators show up.  Often they do, and then the missionaries stay.  When they don't, the missionaries say goodbye and go off to find others to teach.  Tonight Sister Hadley and Sister Rogers came in.  They are two of the angels who helped me so much last week, and they are dear.  They are obedient and diligent and have touched many lives for good.

The meal....always a bit of a stress...was OK tonight.  I made chili.....and it had some spice to it.  I put sour cream, grated cheddar and tortilla chips out as toppings to tone down the spice for those who like it mild.  We filled one of the large pots with chili and by the time dinner was over, it was pretty well gone, as was nearly everything else.  

We made a green salad with strawberries, red onions, sunflower seeds, bacon bits and poppy seed dressing....and it was all eaten.  We also made chocolate crinkle cookies...which I made last Sunday to take to a branch dinner....and which were a great hit.  But tonight I could not regulate the oven in this kitchen, and out of 120 cookies, maybe 50 were actually good....but even the overdone ones went, so I guess you win some and you lose some.

But it is nice to see them all involved in conversations over dinner....and that is when I learn the most about individuals.  They will come and talk to me for 5 ,10, or 20 minutes and tell me what they have been doing and it is a choice time for me.  That is when I sit down and listen.  Later, we do dishes.  

I love these kids and pray for them.  I pray that they will find eternal companions who are well-grounded and strong in the faith and who will help them be strong.  

Now after being here nearly 5 months, it is fun to hear from the kids how much they enjoy SK playing CRUD with them.  Just in the last couple of weeks, several have approached me to say Aeldste Madsen is so fun! They really get a kick out of him.  He is natural with them, but always out to win....no pretenses there....he wants to be the victor!!!!  And often he is.  

Another meal done....time to start planning next week.  Costco where are you?