Week of Lasts

This has been a week of lasts, several things have come to an end this weekend and are definitely blog-worthy.

First off, and clearly the most important, is my hair.  Well, not so important as all that, but last Tuesday may very well have been the last time I use shampoo on my hair.  My next post explains it all.    http://nibletknows.blogspot.com/2013/02/to-poo-or-not-to-poo.html

Our biggest 'last' here revolves around Jim's callling as Stake president.  For 9 years he's been serving and today the new one takes his place. 
The word everyone has been using is Bittersweet.  And I guess it really is fitting.  There have been great blessings and perks from this.  The biggest being the opportunity to get to know SO MANY absolutely wonderful people in the stake.  More people know us than the reverse, it comes with its own version of fame.  I won't miss that part, but there are some aspects I'll miss.

I will NOT miss his being gone night after night.  Last Sunday was his last night of Temple recommend interviews.  That often had us adjusting Sunday evening family dinners.  He occasionally let his counselors take the night, but in reality there are many things only he can do as president, and certain interviews are included there. 

Last night was his last Saturday night session of stake conference.  It was a lovely evening, even if I had to get up and say a few words. I got to sit on the stand with the other wives (they asked us three to speak 5 minutes) and stare out over the whole filled hall at over 500 people.  And I know almost all those faces.... wonderful, wonderful people that we've come to love. I scanned the faces trying to determine WHO the next president was - he'd been called and he'd chosen his couselors... but we don't get to learn that until the big Reveal this morning.  I suppose I'll post this just after we get home so I can add in those names, for posterity's sake.

  Following Jim's remarks was a little hard, he gave a 15-minute farewell talk. It was very heartfelt and sincere, and not funny like he can usually do on a Saturday night.  People will long remember him showing off his shiny saxophone and clarinet, or the funny Steve Martin clip he showed from SNL, about staying out of debt.  (  http://www.hulu.com/#!watch/1389 )

Our other last this week - Elaine, Jim's sister, spent her last night here camped in our family room.  She moved out to an assisted living center.  She'd gotten too weak to climb our stairs, so she's been sleeping in our family room since September.  I took her to a place that has a CHEF on-site, and met some wonderful people.  She loved the idea she'll get tasty regular meals, especially coffee.  She hasn't ever mentioned it, but she's missed having her morning Joe.  We SO could have accomodated her had she said anything!   Anyway, she's finally in her own place, just 2 miles from where she goes to dialysis 3 times a week.  Hopefully she'll like it. 

So to celebrate all this, we are having a family get-together today with daughters and grandchildren and FOOD!!  In fact,this evening the whole nation is celebrating with a big televised extravaganza... This is the Sunday when all the big advertisers post their newest, most entertaining commercials - interspersed with some ball game.  We might turn it on to take a look. 

Ahhhh, Reeder just walked in after his last training meeting with our new Presidency.  Thomas Lowell Russon is president.  He chose Brian Ray  and James Glen Bennet as his counselors.  Perfect choice.

Having seen the workings of the stake all this last decade, and then meeting the men who selected the new president, and watching the process, I have absolutely no doubt they receive revelation and the Lord is at the head of it all.  To just KNOW things about people that no one could possibly know, to have multiple people know the same name at the same time.... it's really obvious this is the Lord's church and He is at its helm.   I'm grateful for this knowlege.



One last addition - Our Maggie had to be put to sleep the day after this change... http://nibletknows.blogspot.com/2013/02/in-tribute-to-maggie.html