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| Leila Kuku and her family share their Sudanese/Ethiopian meal with me! Deng, Wal, and Julie |
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Dinner with the Kuku Family- North Omaha NE
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Fire at the apartments! It was a big one.
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| I had to park a block away, put the kids in the stroller and hiked up the hill. |
A little grandma from Burma was cooking on her deck with the hibachi grill and somehow she burned her whole place up and took half the neighbors apartment with her. she was crying and was sure she was going to jail.
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| Front of #27 |
Everyone is safe and out. There were 2 families in each apartment (not allowed) and they have been reassigned to 3 vacant apartments.
We did make the local news.
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| Back. shop and laundry room below the apartment |
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| Back |
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| Stairway from the front door |
oh my!
Omaha Happenings
We have been in Omaha for over a year and are getting pretty planted here. We live in low income housing.
We have a laundry on property with 10 washers and 10 dryers. A company owned the equipment and gave us 1/2 the income. We kicked them out (had to get a court order where I testified) and bought the old equipment from them. We were getting $300-400 a month (1/2 total). We lowered the price form 1.25/load to .75 and Kay spent tons of time fixing the equipment. We are bringing in $1600 a month now and the place is hopping.
The past week or so we have had a lot going on.
A couple of weeks ago the sacrament speaker got sick, at the beginning of Sacrament Meeting the branch president asked me to give a talk/testimony on Reverence. All during the sacrament, I prepared a talk, Kay kept whispering ideas to me (thank goodness) and I pulled off an 8 minute talk. The Trail Center director asked me for a copy of my talk. I said it was impromptu..... no written talk. I was wondering what he liked about it. He said he liked my personal examples of how I handled my children when they behaved badly in church (sorry kids, I tattled). It didn't offend, like most talks on reverence, but it gave lots of ideas. I talked about Rachael's family too.
I spoke at a baptism for Scott and Larry (8 year old) Kemp. I gave my usual talk on baptism. Taking upon us the name of Christ.
Sunday- I looked at the missionaries dinner calendar and except for the first Sunday of the month, they are usually free for dinner on Sundays. Two weeks ago we had them over with no notice for a clean--out- the- fridge- leftovers meal. This week they came over for waffles and scrambled eggs. We like to take them out every other week.
Kay and I went to the Kuku's house (Sudanese family) to do a Family Home evening before the son, Wal Khot was baptized the following week. Most families in the branch know about FHE but have never done it. We brought a treat and the family really enjoyed playing the game together. When we were explaining FHE, Deng, the 12 year old wise-guy son said he had a lesson, he went and got his priesthood manual and gave a lesson from his deacons quorum. We cut it short as FHE is short but it was good. We then talked to Wal about baptism and Kay practiced on him in the living room and went over everything he needed to know. Our goal is to do a Family Home Evening with one family a month. This was our second FHE.
Monday I met 4 Spanish speaking missionaries with my 3 friends at the zoo so we could get them all in (each member gets 1 guest) for free. We then stayed 30 minutes.
I have been searching for appliances for a unemployed family in the branch. They are renting a stove, fridge and microwave for $150/month. they were also doing laundry in the tub. I found them a washer dryer we had to get out of a basement that evening. It was an older house with basically a ladder for stairs but Kay did it... in a pouring rainstorm. We were soaked but happy.
I found a non functioning side by side steel refrigerator for $50. The freezer worked but not the fridge. Even I know that is a fan. We brought it home and plugged it in and it works. We will watch it closely, we have fans we can replace when necessary. It is 5 years old and about $1200. new. Good deal Janae.
Kay was asked by a young mother in the branch to make a display wall. She is a photographer and has a booth at the local bridal fair. He home teaches the family and likes a challenge. He looked on line and designed his own wall that breaks into 3 parts. She wants to come and paint it but Kay keeps doing it. We have been working on it in the laundry room this week.
Wednesday we had the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet. My assignments were skits and games so we did 2 skits and ran out of time and ended up playing only 1 game, I was fine with that as my games were games you can play with no props for Family Home Evening.
Thursday was my busy day. I picked up a lady who needed to go to Walmart and then I took her to the zoo for an hour. It was the first of the month and she had $50 to last her for food after her bills were paid and what did she buy? Cat food and cat litter..... of course she did, the money was gone! No food for her this month..
In the afternoon I took Jody to Dillards Clearance store in Iowa for a dress to wear for her first time at the temple, doing baptisms, that evening (she didn't own one). She shops in a different department than I do so I called several stores to see if they had those sizes and how many choices. We ended up getting her a $99. dress for under $5. Wahoo! I bought her some other discounted items to make 4 different outfits she could wear to church with some sandals (what was on clearance) and she was happy. I then went to Bennington to take Sean to his piano lesson, took him home and drove straight to Jody's house and tended her energetic children while they were at the temple. Jody's 7 year old daughter told her how beautiful she was.
On Fridays I take the 2 younger Chappell children while Rachael goes to her homeschool group. We usually go to the children's museum and leave in time to pick up Jenna from her friend's house, We get lunch and read stories until Rachael comes home. 19 month old Isaac and 3 year old Aaron love to sing so our car rides are pretty musical. If we are not all singing, Isaac sings by himself.
Saturday we went to Wal's house to lead his family to the Stake Center as they had never been there. No one was ready and his brother Deng said he "had plans" I told him to get his shoes on and he was going to the baptism! He did, but only he and mom went. We found shoes, socks and underwear. We left 30 min lag time and were there 15 min before it started. Because of another community event we were encouraged to participate in, there were only 4 adults other than us to support Wal. Kay baptized him and wasn't planning on it, but confirmed him too. the other 2 men joined in the circle and Wal's Wolf Scout leader happened to be there for a boy in his ward so that was cool to have him.
Sunday my music leader texted me to say she was sick so I did music and taught a primary class of 4 kids who seemed like 12. I think the only thing they learned is to say "amen" after a prayer. Well that is the end of my week! breathe.... I will be writing about our huge fire we had at the apartments yesterday. Janae
We have a laundry on property with 10 washers and 10 dryers. A company owned the equipment and gave us 1/2 the income. We kicked them out (had to get a court order where I testified) and bought the old equipment from them. We were getting $300-400 a month (1/2 total). We lowered the price form 1.25/load to .75 and Kay spent tons of time fixing the equipment. We are bringing in $1600 a month now and the place is hopping.
The past week or so we have had a lot going on.
A couple of weeks ago the sacrament speaker got sick, at the beginning of Sacrament Meeting the branch president asked me to give a talk/testimony on Reverence. All during the sacrament, I prepared a talk, Kay kept whispering ideas to me (thank goodness) and I pulled off an 8 minute talk. The Trail Center director asked me for a copy of my talk. I said it was impromptu..... no written talk. I was wondering what he liked about it. He said he liked my personal examples of how I handled my children when they behaved badly in church (sorry kids, I tattled). It didn't offend, like most talks on reverence, but it gave lots of ideas. I talked about Rachael's family too.
I spoke at a baptism for Scott and Larry (8 year old) Kemp. I gave my usual talk on baptism. Taking upon us the name of Christ.
Sunday- I looked at the missionaries dinner calendar and except for the first Sunday of the month, they are usually free for dinner on Sundays. Two weeks ago we had them over with no notice for a clean--out- the- fridge- leftovers meal. This week they came over for waffles and scrambled eggs. We like to take them out every other week.
Kay and I went to the Kuku's house (Sudanese family) to do a Family Home evening before the son, Wal Khot was baptized the following week. Most families in the branch know about FHE but have never done it. We brought a treat and the family really enjoyed playing the game together. When we were explaining FHE, Deng, the 12 year old wise-guy son said he had a lesson, he went and got his priesthood manual and gave a lesson from his deacons quorum. We cut it short as FHE is short but it was good. We then talked to Wal about baptism and Kay practiced on him in the living room and went over everything he needed to know. Our goal is to do a Family Home Evening with one family a month. This was our second FHE.
Monday I met 4 Spanish speaking missionaries with my 3 friends at the zoo so we could get them all in (each member gets 1 guest) for free. We then stayed 30 minutes.
I have been searching for appliances for a unemployed family in the branch. They are renting a stove, fridge and microwave for $150/month. they were also doing laundry in the tub. I found them a washer dryer we had to get out of a basement that evening. It was an older house with basically a ladder for stairs but Kay did it... in a pouring rainstorm. We were soaked but happy.
I found a non functioning side by side steel refrigerator for $50. The freezer worked but not the fridge. Even I know that is a fan. We brought it home and plugged it in and it works. We will watch it closely, we have fans we can replace when necessary. It is 5 years old and about $1200. new. Good deal Janae.
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| Scouts with Wal Kuku |
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| Scouts with Bobby Foster |
Thursday was my busy day. I picked up a lady who needed to go to Walmart and then I took her to the zoo for an hour. It was the first of the month and she had $50 to last her for food after her bills were paid and what did she buy? Cat food and cat litter..... of course she did, the money was gone! No food for her this month..
In the afternoon I took Jody to Dillards Clearance store in Iowa for a dress to wear for her first time at the temple, doing baptisms, that evening (she didn't own one). She shops in a different department than I do so I called several stores to see if they had those sizes and how many choices. We ended up getting her a $99. dress for under $5. Wahoo! I bought her some other discounted items to make 4 different outfits she could wear to church with some sandals (what was on clearance) and she was happy. I then went to Bennington to take Sean to his piano lesson, took him home and drove straight to Jody's house and tended her energetic children while they were at the temple. Jody's 7 year old daughter told her how beautiful she was.
On Fridays I take the 2 younger Chappell children while Rachael goes to her homeschool group. We usually go to the children's museum and leave in time to pick up Jenna from her friend's house, We get lunch and read stories until Rachael comes home. 19 month old Isaac and 3 year old Aaron love to sing so our car rides are pretty musical. If we are not all singing, Isaac sings by himself.
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| Kay Baptizes Wal Simon Kuku |
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| Leila (mom), Wal and Kay |
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| Wet Wal right after baptism |
Sunday my music leader texted me to say she was sick so I did music and taught a primary class of 4 kids who seemed like 12. I think the only thing they learned is to say "amen" after a prayer. Well that is the end of my week! breathe.... I will be writing about our huge fire we had at the apartments yesterday. Janae
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
32 Years and counting
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| willing to go with the girls..... oh yes... he pays! |
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| always curious- even when on a simple kayak trip |
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| sometimes I can even dress him up |
When I was growing up my dad always said I could marry anyone as long as the man I chose was a hard worker and had a Testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and things would be fine. He was right. I have been taken care of temporally beyond my wildest dreams and spiritually as well. Kay uses his Priesthood to bless our family. He is an excellent teacher in church and with our family. Kay has been a wonderful father to our children and was the calm when I was the storm many times dealing with them. They know their dad loves them. He is sometimes a better mom to them than I am. He loves to serve others and is always looking for ways to do things better. I Love my husband!!!! Last year we spent 2 1/2 weeks in Tahiti for our anniversary, Tonight we will do session at the Winter Quarters Temple and tomorrow we will take the missionaries out for our anniversary dinner. Today he is fixing a washer for someone and building a display for someone else.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Hilton Head SC and Savannah GA
Lauren returned home from her mission just in time to go on a trip with Kay, Janell and me.
Our Segway guide told us the only place Savannahians stand in line to eat is at Mrs Wilkes. They only serve lunch, cash only. The restaurant consists of two small rooms so we stood in a 40 minute “short” line until they were ready. The brought 8 of us in and filled a table. There were 25 serving dishes with typical southern comfort food. The servers wore tee shirts that said. “If the Colonel served Chicken this good, he would be a General” They were right. Yummy, yummy food!
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