Celebrating Nieces' Birthdays, Helping Helen, Picking up Arno, Temple Trip, and Car Troubles

Tuesday through Thursday of this week we had a great time in Los Angeles picking up my father-in-law, Arno, at LAX from his stay with Arnie in Virginia for a month.

We arrived and gave Briana and Fiona gifts for their birthday. They had had their sleepover birthday party just the Friday before. We gave Fiona a color kindle that my sister, Briana, had given me (but not used widely because I have a different tablet that I read books off of). She had been using a basic Kindle that we let her borrow, but Sarah wanted back because she prefers that one. And so we surprised her with the newer Kindle. Her parents gave her some rules for it right off, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We got a little playset for Briana, that is comparable to the Calico Critters. She adored it and was playing with the little figurines and the house throughout our trip. 

We had told Fiona that we would take her to Target (since for her birthday she had gotten loads and loads of gift cards), and Briana was right there beside her in wanting to go. So, with their parents permission, we were off to go visit the neighborhood target. They each wanted to be separate from one another in their purchasing decisions, so one went with Sarah, and one went with me. Fiona went with Sarah and I was privileged to have Briana come with me.

The only difference is that Fiona had a lot more purchasing power, and Briana only had $20 to spend. But we deliberated amongst the item that we had gotten from the books, toys, and jewelry sections. I had told Briana, what about the office supplies, and she was like what, that sounds not that fun. But when Fiona showed her mom that she had gotten some really nice stationary items, and I had told her those were office supplies, there was definitely a miscommunication. Sarah told me that I should have said school supplies, and she might've understood. Anyways, it was pretty funny. In the end, Briana bought a locket, a toy white cat, and some pineapple mints (Icebreakers). Fiona got the stationary, a shirt, as well as a book.

While I was there I was able to start a game of Skunk (but not finish it, including Aoife and Orla) and of Rummy with Briana. She was actually really good at the game, but I came out on top. I really like hanging out with them and how comfortable they are with us as their Aunts and Uncles.

It was also a lot of fun to hang out with Jon Martin. We talked about Pokemon Cards and Magic: The Gathering. I heard some of his life experiences, like having won a level of Magic at home and being invited to participate in a tournament with his brother but not being able to because his parents had decided against it. I told him about my desires to collect Pokemon cards, as well as maybe even play some games. I told him about the Pokemon Trading Card game App. And how much I like it.

Sarah spent the next day mostly helping her Mom and Christina do necessary items of business that her mom needed help with. It has been a whole month since her accident and she is doing pretty well considering. In the days we were there she walked to the gate and back and then she also went to CVS pharmacy, got out in the parking  lot, and walked to the pharmacy at the back of the store and back. No small feat.

We were going to go to the temple before we picked up Arno, but ourh plans got foiled because they take a break midday and resume later on in the day, and that was about the time to pick up Sarah's dad. So we went to pick him up and got him at the exact time that he got off the plane. Sarah was extremely pleased to have made it at that exact time to show her dad how much she cares for him.

By the time we had picked up his luggage and had gotten a bite to eat, Sarah and I had a certain feeling, from the Holy Spirit, not to take the trip that night. We were also getting to the tired point of the day and we would've been home by 10ish had everything gone well.

Luckily, Arno helped us get a cheap hotel near LAX. On the way, Sarah and I saw a hotel that we were able to stay at early on in our marriage thanks to a friend and we took a picture of it. It's called the Westin.

We had decided that the next day we would go to the temple. So, Sarah and I went to the LA Temple and did sealings, as well as walked around the celestial room (so I could become more "familiar" with the feel of the LA temple). In the temple, Sarah bumped into many people that she knew and knew her family and especially Sarah's Mom. I also had the idea to do a Dedicatory Prayer to Sarah's Business (and mine) in the Celestial Room of the Temple. 

We also were able to read the next Psalm 2. I particularly liked verse 

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 

7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

They felt very applicable to us.

Our drive home after the temple was mostly uneventful. Except that when we got around the bend of the 101 right next to the small tunnel, our car started wigging out. It wouldn't shift gears and go above 55mph. So we stayed in the slow lane with blinkers on until we could get off, turn off the car, look at the transmission and start driving again. It did better from then on. But we took a road less traveled, and it wasn't the best idea. We were driving in mountainous roads, which was more than we could've expected from the 101. But we made it home alright.