Bells Palsey and Ed Week

A few days after we took our family picture, I had a weird thing happen to me. My right eye started to feel tired and droopy and my face started to tingle. My tongue and mouth also felt coated and kind of numb. Since I have never had this sensation, I started guessing what it could be. I guessed Bells Palsey which is kind of a paralisis of half of your face. It can be caused by a virus, but sometimes it just happens. It looks like a stroke, but is usually temporary. I went to the doctor where he confirmed that I had it and gave a few suggestions and an antibiotic. I had been planning on going to Education Week for over a year. I have an old and dear friend that I meet up with . This year her daughter and mine were able to come. I also invited my sisters and was so happy that my hilarious, pregnant sister Megan came. So, even though I didn't feel 100 percent, I really wanted to go. the tricky part was that my eye was sort of paralysed wide open. It wouldn't completely shut, so it sort of drove me crazy. I finally found some gel drops that would keep it lubricated for more than 30 seconds. Then I would wear a patch with a cotton ball under to keep it closed and give my eye a break every night. I also had a crooked smile, and included a bad picture of me to show how it looked. It was the most noticable when I ate and laughed, which we did a lot of. I am so glad that I had something inspiring and fun to do when it was at it's worst. The other thing that helped was that I went to a lot of youth classes with Katelyn and all that crying really lubricated my eye. I can't tell you how much going inspires me to be better. I went to this one youth class with a presenter that I remember as a youth. He was telling a story about Abraham and how valiant he was as a youth. It made me feel like I want to be like Abraham and I asked Kate if she felt the same way. She did and I felt so thankful for these teachers who play such a part in helping our youth choose the right and follow the Spirit. It was so fun to be with people I love too.

The Bells Palsey only lasted 1 1/2 weeks and was just gone. I'm very thankful that it was so short lived.

Tina's Pictures

 

 

 

 

Reunion

The Jones Reunion was a blast and although it was officially 2 days, it actually lasted about two weeks. Jenny, Jeff's sister planned it and did a fantastic job. Here are the details. The first morning started out with a fun run, that some people ran, some people raced, some people walked, strolled, you get the idea. We had a dutch oven breakfast at the park and the kids received ribbons for finishing the race. Most of the ribbons were 2nd place because the dollar store had an excess of 2nds.

Silly Olympics was next on the ticket. Each family came up with an activity and the kids went to whichever one they wanted. The activities included Nerf dart guns, Frisbee golf, a Polynesian Cultural Center stepping game, Olympic events while holding a glass of water, dragging people on blanket at record speed, bean bag toss and the pop a water balloon on your head or by sitting on it relay. They were all very fun, but the blanket drag went on and on people trying to beat each others record time.

 

 Kristen planned an extra activity which involved the water balloons that she had spent two days filling. As a result the traditional water fight began. I was so busy taking pictures that I wasn't in the fight and was tempted to join when I realized that I was completely dry and everyone else was completely soaked which would lead to me as everyone's target, so I opted out this year.

Jeff as his usual sweet self during a water fight.

GG and Stephanie nice and dry watching from inside.

The day ended with chocolate medals and another award ceremony.

Lastly Jeff rented a blow up screen and projector that was so fun. It was totally worth it.

The second day started off with a service project picking up pinecones at the cemetary. It was a great activity for all ages and interesting. Then we went to Freeman Park where my friend/ photographer, Tina took pictures. She did an excellent job. Everyone was pleased and she was really fast. These pictures aren't taken by her because I will need another blog to decide which ones to put on.

Lastly we brought the projecter inside with the screen and watched a recording of talents performed througout the week. It turned out great and the kids ended with a live performance of their "Thriller "routine. Then as a surprise Aunt Sissy sent a box of Marti Gras necklaces from New Orleans.