#28 - Liv- Practiclly Perfect

Foster Guide Dog #28 is practically perfect in every way!  She has impeccable house manners.  When friends came over for dinner on Sunday night she was politely friendly.  I've heard her make two noises. 

On Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. when we were enjoying a rare morning sleeping in, I heard her make one soft little whine while stretching out to lick my foot.   I think she was saying, "8:00 is late enough.  Please I need to go out and I REALLY need my breakfast."

While on our morning walk, she growled at a dog.  Not good behavior for a guide dog...but not too problematic when you see that this is the dog she growled at!

 Liv quickly discovered that he was no threat at all! Our little Livvy Lou is going to be a great guide dog and make someone very happy!  Glad we have had her in our home for a short while!

Education Week 2016

I loved being at Education Week with some of my dearest friends.  I almost called them my 'oldest friends' but that is not the correct way to say it....'some of the friends I've known the longest' is more politically correct.  I've known them since we moved to Boise in 1988 - so almost 28 years.  So fun that even though we don't see each other often, we move right back into a comfortable friendship in a matter of minutes!

It was also great to spend time with my sister-in-laws Katherine and Tammy.  We enjoyed a delicious Sunday dinner with Tammy and Richard's 'Utah' kids and grand-kids.  It is always great to catch up with them.  We were blessed to add the Sheffields to our family when Tammy married Richard!  Thanks Tammy for everything from the ride to Provo to the great food to the interesting conversation to the ultra comfortable bed.

Katherine and I also went to quite a few classes together.  She is just a joy to be around!  I'm glad to be her 'sister'.   Over the years I have found that we have a lot in common, not just our traveling craziness!  We even picked quite a few of the same classes to attend.  There are almost 1000 classes to choose from!

Here is a quick recap of Education Week 2016 highlights:

• I took 70 pages of notes and 187 photos of presenter power-point slides.  Now I'm busy trying to put all that in some kind of order so I can find things easily.
• Went to 38 classes
•  I got a senior' discount on the ticket price this year!
• Although there are  26,000 people ages 14 and up on campus everyone is  amazingly polite, patient and friendly.
• Walking to one class I started visiting with a nice woman who happened to be beside me.  When she noticed from my name tag that I was from Lake Oswego, Oregon she told me that her son lived there.  Turns out her grandson was one of my seminary students last year.  She is from Florida and we just happened to be walking along together!  Small world huh?
• Learned so much from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk entitled "Bound by Ties".  Here are a few of my favorite quotes:  
• "We should be genuinely concerned over the assertion that the single most distinguishing feature of modern life is the rise of secularism with its attendant dismissal of, cynicism toward, or marked disenchantment with religion."   
•  "It is through people trying to be an influence for good, trying to live to a higher level of morality than they might otherwise have done, and trying to help hold the sociopolitical fabric of their community together that religion has a positive impact." 
• "Religion is, and always has been, an important part of the social fabric of a society and the moral state of one’s soul"
• Only made 6 general goals and 6 Relief Society goals
• Didn't eat a single mint brownie or have any ice cream or fudge while I was there. But I did eat 3 of the brownies I brought home as a gift for George! Don't worry, he got some too! In spite of my self control in the sweets department, I did gain a pound and a half!  Probably can attribute that to Chic-fillet!
• Thoroughly enjoyed the musical "South Pacific" one evening!  I am sure I must have seen it before but I couldn't remember the story.  I could however sing a couple of the songs...."I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair."
• First time we've ever stayed in the new BYU Heritage Dorms.  Nice with 3 bedrooms and two baths in a single unit.  We were locked out of the kitchen area which made things a a bit difficult.  In Helaman Halls, where we usually stay, each room has a small fridge. We adapted though!
• Had our traditional feast at the Brick Oven, which was called Heaps of Pizza when I was a BYU Student 100 years ago!
• Still have my favorite presenters - Michael Wilcox, Benjamin Knowlton, Michael Ballam
• But I added a couple of new ones to my 'favorites' list....Brent Top and C. Robert Line.  I'll definitely go to their classes next year!
• And yes I will be going back next year and hopefully many years after that! 
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