Akela's Trail

Other than Ike, Akela's Trail is a big part of our life right now. Gene and I are the co-chairs of our local Boy Scouts of America council's annual training event for Cub Scout leaders and parents.

In other councils, this event is called Cub Scout Leader Pow Wow, but we've changed the name in our council to help us all focus on what we're doing - trying to be the best Akelas (think of The Jungle Book) to our Cub Scouts. There are many loose ends to tie up in the next month before the big day on November 1st.... but we're getting excited and are hoping to have more than 800 people from the greater Houston area join us for the day.

Some folks think I'm nuts since my Cub Scout is now many years older than Cub Scouts... but remember, I have four daughters and I'm all for having the Scouting program be the best that it can be!

Tomorrow - Back to Seminary!

Power was finally restored to our church building Thursday or Friday and that meant a couple things. No more meetings in the dark... and that also means... back to 5:40am seminary for my two oldest children. So, tomorrow the early schedule kicks in again. That's OK - it's good to hear all of the conversation in the carpool as we head to school.

Let's hope everyone gets a really good night's sleep!

Sacrament Meeting in the dark

Our family experienced something new this afternoon... Sacrament meeting by electric lantern and flashlight. Actually, being in the dark wasn't bad, but after a bit it was pretty warm in the chapel. I wondered if any of the Bishopric or Stake Presidency there would take off their coats, but they didn't. That's probably why they were glistening in the light. :)

During Sacrament meeting, Bishop Randy Thorn was released as bishop of the Humble Ward and his 1st counselor, Darrell Call is now our new bishop. Randy and Janet will be moving this week and so it was time for him to be released. Jared Brown is 1st counselor and Judson Wooters is 2nd counselor.

At dinner this afternoon we realized that Bishop Call is bishop #7 that we've had since we moved to Humble in 1998. We've had Bishop Blickenstaff, Bishop Mouton, Bishop Hansen, Bishop Smith, Bishop Chapman, Bishop Thorn and now Bishop Call...

As ever, the gospel is true and the work will move forward.

Aftermath of Hurricane Ike

Ike visited almost a week ago... a week ago (Sept 12th) kids were out of school, Gene was out of work and we were all preparing to "hunker down". A week later, kids are still out of school (as the majority of Atascocita does not currently have power), Gene's back at work (his downtown office never lost power) and we're helping with the mess that Ike left behind. Our yard debris is cleaned up and waiting for the solid waste folks to come and get it. Conrad, Karen and Gene have all helped in debris removal and Conrad even helped at the Humble POD (Point of Distribution for ice, water and MREs) most of the day yesterday. He was planning on going back today, but the Humble POD closed this morning.

School won't be up and running until Thursday, September 25th. The date for school reopening fluctuates almost daily as most of our district waits for power to the campuses.

The Houston Temple is closed, our Cub Activity Day was cancelled and lots of lives are just in survival mode without power. Sounds like we'll have Church on Sunday even if we don't have power... it will be good to see ward members and see how everyone has been doing.