Spring Forward

Highlights from last week:

Sunday, I received a pot of gold from my Secret Sister :-)

Wednesday, I started the computer classes at the Loreauville Branch. It's a cute little library with pink walls!

Friday morning, I picked up my new glasses before work. I like them…
Friday night, I went to Stephanie's to do my laundry. I stayed for dinner and Josh and his daughter, Abby, joined us, as well as the Cotton's. (Josh is our Sunbeam Teacher in Primary). The house was crawling with people after the missionaries stopped by!

Finally, Saturday I was up at 4 am to go to Baton Rouge for a Genealogical Seminar. I went with Linda, our Parkview Branch Manager, to the Louisiana State Archives. It was so amazing!

Enjoy the rest of the week!
Lonnie

Happy Mardi Gras!

What a week! We had Sunday Dinner and Game Night at the Davis'. Then, Monday night we went to the Cotton's for dinner and Family Home Evening.

Tuesday was Mardi Gras and I had the day off. I went to get my hair cut, and then was planning on going to the Family Parade in Loreauville, but I ended up waiting 2 hours to get my hair done, and by the time I left, it was too late to drive to Loreauville! So, instead, I went home, made homemade pizza and watched a movie. It was a nice, relaxing day.

Wednesday, it was back to work and back to crazy! I had my last computer class in Lydia (I really enjoyed teaching in Lydia.) Next week, I begin teaching classes in Loreauville. On Friday, I finished the New York puzzle that I've been working on for the last month, and I also finished listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (I love listening to Jim Dale-he is amazing!)

I broke my glasses on Monday, so I made an eye doctor's appointment for this morning. My vision hasn't changed much and the doctor said I can go back to wearing contacts. I'm going to try a new brand for a week and see how it goes. I also found a cute pair of glasses to buy, so I'm happy! Finally, I ventured to Lafayette (braving the crazy traffic-I'm glad I don't live there!) and spent the afternoon wandering around the Mall of Acadiana (I hadn't been there before-it's nice-I like it!) and Barnes and Noble (I was tempted to buy so many books, but I just spent $400-on the eye doctor, new glasses, and new contacts-so I definitely don't need to be spending any more money!) Elyse, I thought of you when I got Chick-Fil-A for lunch.

Well, I better run. I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Love you all! Til later...Lonnie

Birthdays, Valentines, and Baptisms

What a week! It was full of fun and laughter. First, I had Family Home Evening on Monday. Then, on Tuesday we had Sisters' Club. It was Lisa's Birthday, so we went to Texas Roadhouse, her favorite restaurant, to celebrate. We had a blast, talking and laughing. We bought Lisa a cake and sang Happy Birthday to her.

The Birthday Girl


Tina and I at Texas Roadhouse, Stephanie and Jane goofing off

Wednesday was Kiara's 1st Birthday (Mike and Tina’s daughter). Stephanie made Kiara a cake and we all went to Franklin to celebrate together. After singing to her, we put the cake in front of her. At first, Kiara wasn't sure what she was supposed to do. Then, she reached out and discovered the frosting. We spent the rest of the night, doing silly and goofy things to get Kiara to laugh for the camera and she ended up with frosty all over her face (she looked like a clown) and in her hair. She eventually licked all of the frosting of the cake, but never touched the cake. Ah, to be a kid again! It was so much fun to watch her.

Whoever said that Friday the 13th is bad luck? It's always been a good day for me and this one was no exception. First, I got flowers while at work. They were so beautiful (and my kind of flowers, not roses, but fun, springy flowers like carnations and lilies). Then, I got my Federal Tax Refund! Yeah!!!

Friday night was also New Iberia's Mardi Gras Parade. I wanted to go to it, but we had a Primary Valentine's Activity at the same time. So, I picked up Lisa and we went to the Church, where we had pizza for dinner and then helped the kids make Valentine door hangers. Later, we took them, along with a bag of cookies, to the people at the nursing home next door. It was nice.

Lisa and I had quite an adventure getting home. We were driving down Main Street, when we got to a barricade and couldn't go any further. Apparently, the parade was still going on, so we had to find an alternate route to Lisa's. Well, Lisa gave me new directions and we started on our way. We turned off of Loreauville Road and came to a complete standstill. Apparently, there was an accident and a truck was turned blocking all lanes. There was no where for us to go. We were there for a half an hour, before a tow truck got through and got the truck out of the middle of the road. So, I finally got Lisa home and I was on my way to my apartment, when I got stuck in the middle of all the traffic leaving the parade! Needless to say, I didn't get home until almost an hour after we left the church (and the church is 5 minutes from my house!)

Saturday, I went with the Cotton's to Baton Rouge, where they had the Reflections of Christ photography exhibit set up at the Stake Center. The exhibit started at the Mesa Temple Visitor's Center and then was at the DC temple. Everyone was so excited because we are one of the first Stakes to get the exhibit. The photographer, Mark, came and did a fireside last Sunday, but I was unable to go. We watched a documentary on how the photos were created. It was so moving. And then, when we walked through and looked at the actual photos, knowing the background stories made them that much more meaningful. I especially liked all the black and white photos, of course (to me black and white is so dramatic). However, one of my favorite photos was actually in color. It was the depiction of Christ walking on the water (It was taken of Robert standing in a lake in Arizona). It was amazing! I, of course, want to buy the book, the DVD and the CD! (Special musical arrangements were written and recorded especially for each of the 25 pictures, including Come Thou Font of Every Blessing, I Need Thee Every Hour, and I Know that my Redeemer Lives). Speaking of music, the last night of the exhibit, the musicians and vocalists are coming and giving a concert. Now, that is something I would love to go to! It's on Thursday though and I have to work, so I don't know if I could get over to Baton Rouge in time for it. Anyway, when we got back, we went straight to the Davis for Dinner and Game Night. We ate ourselves sick and laughed ourselves silly. All in all, it was a perfect was to spend Valentine's Day-being reminded of the Savior and his perfect love for us and spending time with people I care about.

Sunday was another busy day. Stephanie and Jared had to talk in Church, so Rosie was with me. Then, I had to teach Nursery, because our teacher was gone. Finally, after Church, we had a baptism. It was neat to watch (I haven't been to a baptism since my cousin Taylor was baptized and that was a while ago!)

Lonnie

The end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one...

Hey Everyone!

Last weekend was a full weekend. On Saturday, I finally got my dinning room table. Jared and Stephanie came over in the morning and helped me put it together. I like it! Then, that afternoon Garth came over. The weather was perfect, so we decided to go to the park and walk around. I even got to swing on the swings! :-). That night, we went to Mike and Tina's for Game Night. We played "The Settlement", which I've played once a couple of years ago. Have any of you ever played it? It seems pretty complicated, until you get a hang of all the rules!

Sunday, Tina invited me over after church. We went for a drive and she gave me the grand tour of Franklin, which is a 1/2 an hour south of me. They have some beautiful antebellum homes. When Mike got home, we watched the Super Bowl and pigged out on chips and dip, and cookie dough! The game was okay (I was rooting for Arizona), but the commercials were boring this year. I did like all the movie trailers. It looks like there's some good stuff coming out in the next couple of months.

Monday, Stephanie invited Garth and I to dinner and Family Home Evening. The Cottons were also there, so we had a full house! Dinner was delicious (manicotti) and FHE was nice. We had a lesson and watched the DVD "Finding Faith in Christ."

Well, I lost a boyfriend and found a roommate all in one day (Wednesday). First the roommate-There is a girl that I work with at the library, named Candice, that I just absolutely love. She's so fun to be around-always happy and excited. She's been working at Main this week for Ms. Melva and I asked her where she lived and she said, "Coteau". Then, I asked if she had an apartment and she said that she had moved back in with her parents during the summer. Candice said, "Why, are you looking for a roommate?" and I said, "As a matter of fact, I am." She going to come look at the apartment tomorrow and we're going to see if it will work for both of us.

Now, the boyfriend-All I'm going to say is that after dating for 2 months, Garth and I broke up on Wednesday. If anyone needs details, you can call me. I feel good about the decision though-I'm content and at peace.

On that note...I love and miss you all! 'Til next time...

Lonnie

January's Flying By!

Hey, I hope everyone is doing well! Let's see, what have I been up to...

Last week, I started teaching computer classes again. This month, and next month, I'll be at the Lydia Library. It's a beautiful little library-I wouldn't mind working there! I also went to a Statewide Staff Training Day in Baton Rouge, with the Director and Assistant Director. It was a fun day and I learned a lot. They fed us po-boys for lunch (they were good, but not as good as Bon Creole's!)

I spent last weekend dog-sitting Chopper for Stephanie. Her and Rosie had to fly to Utah for a funeral and Jared had gone hunting. Garth came over and hung out on Saturday. We worked on the puzzle, watched a movie, and then, for dinner, I showed him how to make chicken pillows. We were laughing because I was making a mess, but they turned out great and Garth liked them.

I had Monday off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so I spent the day cleaning my apartment and then I went furniture shopping. Back in December, Elyse had said she wanted to buy me a dinning table for Christmas, but that I had to go pick out something I liked. Well, I just haven't had time to go look before now, so it's a belated present! I found a dinning room set that I liked and ordered it. It will come in next week.

Last night, we had a "Winter Fun" Branch Activity. We had dinner (everyone brought different kinds of soups and stews, I had homemade chili and a tortilla soup that were delicious!). Then, they had a bunch of different games-relay race to build a snowman, getting off an iceberg, and pictionary). I wasn't feeling well, so I didn't stay for all the games, but it was fun!

Well, I've gotta run. I love and miss you all!
Lonnie

Dogs, Football, and Stake Conference

Hey everyone, I hope you are all doing well! The past week was pretty quiet. I did go to the movies with the sisters in the Branch. We saw "Marley and Me." I laughed, I cried, I loved it! It made me want to go read all of his books…

The weekend before last was crazy. There was a PHI crash that killed 8 people flying out to the rigs. Then, the Jeanerette Branch of our library was robbed 3 times! On a good note, U. of Utah came down and played in the Sugar Bowl. We whipped Alabama's butt. Mike is a die hard Utes fans, so he and Tina went to New Orleans to see the game and they said it was a blast.

This past weekend was our Stake Conference. Saturday night, I drove over in the worst weather possible (I was driving blind the whole way!) for the Adult Session. It was wonderful. We watched a clip of "Reflections of the Savior", which is going to be on exhibit at our Stake Center in February. Set to "Come Thou Fount", it moved me. The talks were good and seemed just for me. Then, Sunday, we watched a broadcast from Salt Lake. Sis. Beck, Elder Holland, and President Uchtdorf spoke to us.

I've got to run-I hope you all have a great week!
Lonnie

Happy New Years!

Happy New Years! I had Wednesday and Thursday off of work. So, on Wednesday I went out to lunch and shopping with some friends. It was a quiet New Year’s Eve, and I ended up going to bed before midnight (I was just so tired!). New Year’s Day I spent relaxing and watching a "Bones" marathon with Stephanie, and then it was back to work on Friday!

I spent Saturday afternoon hanging out with Garth. We went and had pizza for lunch and then spent a couple of hours working on a panoramic puzzle of New York, New York. Then, we went to the Davis’ for Game Night. We played "Phase 10," which I haven't played since college, with Stephanie, Jared, Tina, Mike, and Grandpa Bill. It was fun!

Have a great week!
Lonnie