Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Family Update

Michelle was called as the Stake Primary President. It took several weeks for the stake presidency to get her counselors called, but she is now up and running. Unfortunately, she has had constant pain in her right arm for the past few months. Doctors think she has osteoarthritis. Steroids, surgery, and physical therapy are optional treatments. She will opt for the physical therapy first, and see if she can get the pain to subside. Some days she can't even pull her shirt on it is so bad. Other days she is OK with pain medication. Michelle will not teach in the classroom next year, but will be an instructional facilitator for the Tacoma School District. This is a type of teacher trainer/counselor position. She has been assigned to the Point Defiance elementary school, which is about 4 miles from our home. She is looking forward to the new challenge and excited not to have to do report cards, parent meetings, classroom discipline, etc.
Dani is working at the YMCA as a camp counselor. She is still bothered with severe back and other pain. The doctors now think that it may not be so much a kidney problem, but rather something else such as gall badder. They are running more tests. She still plans to attend WSU this fall.
Brady is currently at EFY in Provo. He is having a good time, and staying with his cousin Sean. Megan and Brian were very gracious hosts and Brady met some nice cute girls in their ward. Brady now believes that Utah is not such a bad place to live after all. After EFY he will stay with Grandma Blanchet (Emily will also be there) for a week, and then join the family at Snowbird for the last week of the month. The day after we return home from vacation, he will go on the scout high adventure white water rafting trip.
Nothing much has changed in Don's life, except that he was called as the Ward Executive Secretary. He is still working in Bonney Lake, doing cub scouts, and enjoying the summer off from seminary. He has the summer off from band, and is still on the Archery Board. Hasn't been to many shoots this summer, but will compete in the Washington Games July 19th in Archery.