Augst 24, 2008

Just wanted to update you on the activity of the Mason Petty family.

During the last part of July and the first part of August, Mason had his family reunion. It was a lot of fun. I will be putting up some pictures of the reunion. We all stayed at the Cedar Breaks Lodge in Brian Head, Utah. Each family had their own room with the exception of my sisters-in-law that are single--they stayed in the same suite that their parents reserved. All the rooms had been upgraded from when I worked there. Every room had kitchens so when we took turns cooking, we could cook in our own rooms if we wanted to. Mason, myself and our children, stayed in the main building where the pool is located. The rest of the family stayed in a different building. Clayton, my father-in-law, tried to make reservations where all of the family could be on the same level if not next door to one another but it didn't work out that way. Mason and I have the smallest family and the smallest suite while everyone else that is married, have bigger families and had to have the bigger suites. As it turned out, it just wasn't possible (for whatever reason the hotel gave Clayton) to have everyone in the same building and the same level. It was still really fun!!!

We played games, shared pictures, went to the cabin, the children decorated pillowcases, ate, visited, hiked, watched movies, and saw Clayton's presentation of the NRT (Neonatal Resuscitation) training which both Zonie and Clayton do together for their church mission. It is so neat and it is wonderful how many lives the church and my Parents-in-law are saving by serving this particular mission. The LDS church is opening up a new mission in Africa--Angola. There will be two sets of missionaries there and the Mission President has requested that Zonie and Clayton come to Angola and look after these missionaries. They still do not know if they are going or not. Elder Holland still has to approve it (it hasn't crossed his desk yet). If they do go, they will leave in March for 2 years. I hope that while they are there in Angola, they will still be allowed to continue to do their mission with the NRT. They are literally saving thousands of baby's lives because of this mission.

We finally got our vehicle fixed only to have it break again. We ended up having our vehicle towed from Vegas. They fixed it again but I think there's a leak in the radiator because the check engine light soon still keeps coming on. Besides, I saw a bunch of radiator fluid on the ground when I stopped by the Care Center for a moment to see my mother. My mom is doing better. She is off oxegen and is learning to do more for herself. My dad tells me that she will be coming home soon.

Jasmine started school a couple of weeks ago and she really loves it!!! Her teacher, Ms. Johnson, is focusing on becoming more responsible. Ms. Johnson give out the homework packets for the week on Monday. She can finish it any time durning the week but she has to turn it in on Friday. Ms. Johnson only reminds them once durning the week that the homework is due on Friday and says nothing else all week. The class also has a book report to do every month. She gives out the subject at the begining of the year and they are expected to have the report done by the end of the month--without prodding. I think that this will be really good for Jasmine.

This will have to be short. Ben is fussing. I will post some more later.

Love ya all,

Kathleen