Ferron Utah Stake Reorganization

Obviously Mark and I don't belong to the Ferron Utah Stake since we live here on the Wasatch Front. But we were able to be in Ferron the day the stake was reorganized--and it was pretty cool.

My dad recently was called as a branch president at the nursing home there in Ferron. So he was invited along with all the bishops and high councilmen to "interview" for the job. That is not exactly what any of them would really want to do, because sane men don't seek to be the stake president. They are interviewed, however, to find the needs of the stake and to have recommends of possible candidates for the calling.

My dad kept saying he wasn't going to be called to the stake presidency. He was right. He wasn't called to the stake presidency.

However, the man that he had a good feeling about did get called as stake president. That man is the bishop of my parents' ward. He still is, since they didn't release him from the bishopric when they called and sustained him as stake president.

The first counselor was my old bishop, Bishop Worwood. And the second counselor is a man my oldest brother's age: 33/34. He is married to a girl that I grew up with. After they called and sustained him to the stake presidency, they immediately had to sustain (?) him to be advanced to the office of high priest. I don't think that happens very often.

It was a really good stake conference. Since we were missing ours here, I wanted to go to the adult meeting on Saturday night. They talked then and in the general session on Sunday about receiving revelation for making these stake presidency callings. They also talked a lot about how the people should sustain them--because the general authorities making the callings don't know the men either.

One good example one of the general authorities gave was about a man who came up to him after a new stake president was called. That man asked the GA why he wasn't called. The GA responded simply, "Well, are you worthy?" "Yes." "Then I don't know why." It's just how it goes sometimes.

Another interesting thing was that the power was out from about 5:45 in the morning until 11:00 when the general session was just starting. They had their youth session and their priesthood session there in the cold building with flashlights and lanterns. I was actually kind of looking forward to being there in a stake conference with the lights out.

The second counselor, the young guy, mentioned he was kind of disappointed the lights came back on too. He said he didn't want people to be shocked to see them sustaining deacons to the stake presidency. (Not only is he young, he looks even younger than he is.)

Overall, it was a really good conference. I'm sad we missed ours, but this one was a little bit more exciting.

Fiddler on the Roof and Honk

Mark and I went to Fiddler on the Roof at the Hale Center Theater on March 11. It was absolutely wonderful! WONDERFUL.

I went expecting to have a good time. I like Fiddler on the Roof. I own the DVD. I know the songs. Emery County community theater did it when I was growing up and Aunt Tanie was the Matchmaker. I really like it.

But, I had such a good, good time there. I tried very hard not to burst out singing with the cast. It was beautiful to have an actual fiddler as part of the cast. I fell in love with Tevye (don't worry Mark--not that kind of love). I was so glad that we went. It made me happy, angry, sad, giggly--so many emotions. And the dream was hilarious! Oh man.... I would go again if someone offered me a ticket.

The following night, Friday, March 12, Mark and I went to another play. This one was the Emery County community theater version of Honk. That's the story of the ugly duckling.

Let me just say--I had a good time. But the quality of performance, the quality of staging, and the quality of song was so vastly different it was hard not to compare the two. Especially since we saw them one right after the other.

My sister, two of my aunts, and one of my cousins were in Honk. They had such a good time. And I'm so glad they did. And I'm so glad I got to go see them perform. (Honestly, I think they were better than the mother and father duck, who were main performers.)

Cletus and Clareese Strike Again!

This time we were accompanied by Claud.

Cletus and Clareese were invited to host the Cub Scout's Blue and Gold Banquet on February 27th. Claud wore Cletus' old Cub Scout belt, though you can't see it in any of these pictures.

We had fun, though there were so many little (loud) kids that it was just chaos for a lot of it. We hope everyone else had fun too.

Mark's Surgery - Didn't Happen

So, Mark was probably going to have surgery. Thankfully, it didn't happen. That is good, right? Of course right.

Mark went in to visit with the surgeon on February 25. By that time, Mark was starting to feel better. The surgeon talked to us for quite a while. He poked around Mark's abdomen. And he talked to us truthfully about the situation.

He told Mark that since he was feeling better, he probably wouldn't need to have his gall bladder removed. He told us that it could have been a virus. He told us that yes, it probably was problems with the gall bladder--but not that the gall bladder was bad. It just could have been something, something that caused pain.

He sent Mark for some blood tests to rule out some other possibilities.

And, he told us that if Mark got worse again, even in the future, that we could just call him up and he'd be okay with scheduling a surgery for Mark.

So, no surgery for Mark.

Oh Poop!

Funny question: Is it bad that the first recognizable thing I've seen come through Zachary's system is newspaper? Hehehe...

Happy Valentine's Mark!

I didn't get Mark a "present" for Valentine's this year. Instead, I had him serenaded. Yes, I really did. I had a women's quartet come sing to him. It was brilliant (other than the fact Mark was sick and not very chipper).

I got an email from a friend from one of my Provo wards. She had posted an ad on KSL. She said her group was trying to earn some money for a trip they want to take. I thought to myself, "Self, that is a good idea!" So, I booked 'em.

They sang two songs, gave Mark a rose, and a Valentine's card. Totally worth the money.

I also got them on video--which I will post later. I happened to have the video camera set up...to video Zachary...hehehe!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU MARK HALES!

Gall Bladder Surgery

Mark has to have gall bladder surgery. He's going to have it removed. We're not sure when, but hopefully soon.

Almost four weeks ago Mark starting feeling yucky. It started with a feeling very much like heartburn. Maybe it was even. But, it has since moved down into his abdomen on the right side. It causes him pain, mostly when he cramps there. The cramps come and go. But they make him cough/gag. It's disgusting and uncomfortable to me--but it's nothing compared to how it is for Mark.

I made him finally go to a doctor last Monday. The doctor originally thought it was an ulcer. But the lab results came back for no ulcer but there were elevated markers (???) for his liver function. So on Friday Mark had an ultrasound. The ultrasound didn't show much unusual, other than some "sludge" in his gall bladder. Yes, "sludge" is the word. Ew, gross. Apparently sludge is the forerunner to gall stones. Not good.

Mark's doctor said that Mark could have his gall bladder removed, but he wasn't sure if it would help or not. That's really comforting to us.

Over the three day weekend, Mark was miserable (which made me miserable). It was really bad. The coughing/gagging was terrible. Mark was exhausted. No good. No good at all.

We asked Mark's doctor for a reference for a second opinion. He gave us a name for a gastroenterologist. But that doctor wasn't available for an appointment until APRIL! Mark called our insurance and found some other names. After making quite a few phone calls, he found one who could see Mark today. Hallelujah!

So anyway, the gastroenterologist today agreed that gall bladder removal would probably help a lot. He said with all the symptoms Mark has and with the blood and ultrasound results, he thinks gall bladder removal is the best option.

Mark will meet with the surgeon NEXT Wednesday. (He actually had to make an extra phone call to get an earlier appointment there too. He was originally scheduled for MARCH 5th. Sheesh!)

We'll let you know what happens next week. But, as of this afternoon, I feel so much better with the news and with everything. I've been really worried about Mark. I don't like having Mark sick.

Dear Zachary - 5 Months

Dear Zachary,

You are FIVE months old today! Five! Man, time is flying.

You have had a really good month. You have been creeping all over the floor lately. I learned that term today: "creeping." That means you are kind of crawling, but not exactly hands and knees. You really are all over the floor. Occasionally you get stuck because you don't always know how to back up.

One month ago you were rolling. But now you are really good at rolling: over both shoulders and both front to back and back to front.

You've been sitting for just over a week now. I think the longest I've seen you sit is about four minutes--today. That's pretty good in my book. We even got you on video two minutes straight a few days ago.

At church you are passed around to lots of people. Thank you for being such a good baby. All the ladies in the ward love your smiling face.

Two weeks ago I took you with me to stake young women basketball. A few things happened there. Your dad was there with me because he had a stake priesthood meeting. Since he was early, he was playing with the basketball in the gym. You totally busted up laughing. It was so the cutest and funniest. Tonight I went to basketball again and you busted up laughing again. You're totally going to enjoy sports.

The one bad thing that has happened this month happened just yesterday: YOU STARTED BITING ME. You got in trouble. We put you to bed before you passed out from the milk. But I gave you a whole bunch of times to redeem yourself, and you kept biting me! I hope you stop that. I don't appreciate it. Your dad has now nicknamed you "Chompers." Let's not keep that nickname, shall we?

I love watching you play with your toys. Sometimes you wrestle Woods (your teddy bear). And sometimes you throw all your toys off your high chair as fast as you can. Other times you just gnaw, gnaw, gnaw on your connecting rings.

You've been teething for two months now. But, no pearly whites yet. We go through bibs super fast because you soak them with your drool. I hope you stop biting me before your teeth break through.

You finally met your cousin two weeks ago. He's cute. But, I have to admit--you are cuter.

Anyway, it's been a good month. You are so smart. You are so cute. You are so funny. You are so wonderful. Thanks for choosing our family!

Love,

Your Mom