Run Around

This week was fun and exhausting and exciting and interesting and frustrating. It was the run around.
Some of my personal highlights this week include the family and work things below.

I watched my son act in the musical, "The Music Man", which was really fun. He got to be on stage and dance and sing with the rest of them and seemed to enjoy himself.
I picked up my commission, which was exciting. It is a large certificate with the seal of the United States and signed by the President and the Secretary of State with a sharpie that officially acknowledges my nomination by the President, confirmation by the Senate, and appointment as an officer.

I was also happy this week to watch with my family the start of another series of the Amazing Race. We really enjoy watching that show. It comes on Sunday nights, but we like to watch it for our activity after Family Home Evening on Monday nights. On an interesting side note, my son pointed out that the latest episode last week was in Chile where they had a serious and terrible earthquake this weekend.
I also submitted my bids this week on any Russian-speaking posts that come open near the time my next assignment finishes in 2 years. We'll see what happens with that. It is possible I will know my assignment beyond my next one before even leaving for my next assignment.
This week I had the satisfaction of doing more of the Sunday School lesson for the Young Single Adults. Usually, my wife does more of the actual teaching part of it since she is so good at it, but since she was planning on being out of town, I was it. She helped me and it seemed to go well. It's enjoyable to teach this class.

Another cool thing I did this week was use my Google Voice number to call my parents. I go on to my account on the internet, put in my parent's number, the phone I specified rings and when I pick it up it dials their number, all for free. I love it. I can make and receive calls and text messages and voice mails on it. What an amazing technology!
I am also happy to say that despite the frustration of learning a new language it is coming little by little. I did okay in my 1/2 hour conversation with my teacher on Friday despite having little sleep the night before and am able to understand a decent amount of familiar texts like the Book of Mormon.
I titled this the "Run Around" because of all of the running around and craziness of the week with my son's musical practice and performances, my wife preparing to go out of town, sickness and redoing plans, running downtown for things, etc. It just seemed a little crazier than usual, but maybe the snowstorm of a couple weeks ago has conditioned me to feel like anything that is not standing still seems crazy. Who knows.
Still loving life and having fun.

The outline of the week:
Monday - Indonesian, Amazing Race started again
Tuesday - Indonesian, area studies on Islam, falling asleep, found out someone else is planning on doing a presentation that is similar to the one I was planning on doing, pick up son from late practice for musical at school again, Olympics, studying
Wednesday - Indonesian, Admin day, went to main state, dropped off DVD on Timor-Leste to the "desk" at headquarters, chatted with the head of the "desk", picked up my commission, submitting my bid list for my assignment 2 1/2 years from now that should be Russian speaking, preparing lesson for Sunday, wife planning on last minute flight to visit siblings for weekend, Olympics, studying.
Thursday - Indonesian, wife went to son's play, lesson for Sunday, Olympics, studying.
Friday - Crazy night because daughter sick in the middle of the night, wife didn't make it on scheduled flight to visit siblings for weekend because daughter and son couldn't go to school and I couldn't miss work, trying to reschedule all day with no luck, family going to son's play together and having fun anyway, brother texting me in Indonesian from Google translate, one-on-one conversation in Indonesian with teacher.
Saturday - family visit to temple visitor's center, went on temple session, last performance of musical and the "after-party"
Sunday - slow start, Sunday kid craziness, lesson on The Family: A Proclamation to the World to YSA's, getting beat playing Alhambra by son. Reading Book of Mormon in Indonesian and understanding a good amount, calling my parents from my Google phone number.