Second year Day 358 - Friday December 6, 2013

Late this afternoon, Bridgett and I went in to see the Christmas Creche display at the stake center.  Stephany wasn't feeling well enough to go.  They have spent hours preparing for the event, and then it's so COLD outside, I'm worried about attendance.  It's been below zero all week, and its supposed to be like -13 tonight!  I hate it went its this cold!  I shouldn't say hate, that's a strong word....I really, really don't like it!  Anyway, went we got out of the car the wind was blowing so hard, and it was SO cold!  We hustled inside and looked around for Mark and luckily found him quickly.  We made a somewhat quick inspection of the creches, but we did run into a few old friends and stop to talk.  First we saw Dick and Diane Denney.  Diane is a school teacher and teaches 2nd grade.  When Bridgett was in second grade, she asked me every night about public school and what it was like.  At length, Mark and I talked about it, and then asked Bridgett if she wanted to see what it was like.  I asked Diane if she could visit her class, and she consented.  Bridgett, being the social gal that she is, loved it!  She came home and begged to go to public school.  There were only two months left before summer, and so we talked and told her that she could go, but would need to finish out the year.  She agreed and so off she went to school.  She had fun at first, being the new girl, etc.  Then she started asking what we were doing at home school, and asking me to wait for her to get home before we did anything fun.  In the end, she really didn't enjoy it that much and wanted to quit, but as we'd agreed, we finished up the year.  I felt bad sending her when she wanted to be home, but Mark and I felt that if she didn't finish it out, by the next year or so she'd be asking to go again.  She needed to really find out what it was like and then make a choice.  And so, in the end, she decided that she loved homeschooling and didn't want to do public school again.  Of course, that was no reflection on Diane!  Bridgett didn't immediately recognize Diane.  I whispered that she was a second grade school teacher and a look of memory flashed across her face.  Did I go to her class?  Yes!  Next, we ran into Steve Perrone.  Bridgett immediately recognized him and excitedly gave him a hug.  A few minutes later, we stopped to talk to Debbie Perrone.  By this time Steve caught up to her as well.  Bridgett saw Debbie and I could see that she recognized her, but couldn't remember her name.  Steve said, she's with me, Bridgett!  Suddenly she said Debbie!  I said do you remember their kids.  A few weeks ago when Steve was at church, Bridgett remembered all of the kids names.  Tonight she couldn't remember right away, so I prompted her saying Jon.....and then she said and Lindsay and Melissa!  Right!  In her defense, Bridgett was in a very visually stimulating environment, it was the end of the day and she was tired, and also, she's had a long week with all of the headaches.  So, she was a little slow remembering.  Lastly, we ran into Muriel Reed.  I got involved in a conversation with her and so Mark and Bridgett walked a little bit.  When I was done talking, I caught up to them.  By this time, Bridgett was walking very slow, and was so tired out and ready to leave.  Mark helped us to the car and I drove her home and she went right to bed!