Only 12 days 'til Departure

Hi Family and Friends,  This week has been an increase in "no steps forward and several steps backward", but we are confident that we will soon be reversing things.  I had a wonderful break today with my friends, we spent 2 1/2 hours chatting, laughing and more laughing.  A few of us get together at least once a month and have breakfast, or lunch, or dinner, or even combine it all with a movie.  Sometimes we don't do anything except just be together and laugh until we hurt, in a good way.  I will miss all of them terribly but we will Skype, occasionally, on our "P-day".  Even though it won't be the same as being there in person, it will be something we can do to stay in touch and watch each other grow "old, fat and happier".  Our weather has cooled off a bit here in Arizona, so the transition to the heat and humidity in the Philippines will be more extreme than we thought.  This weekend is our last Stake Conference for two years, here at home in Arizona.  The weekend of the 21st we will be speaking in our Sacrament Meeting and I will be speaking in YW and Primary also that day.  Busy times right now and challenges galore, but we are on track and trying to move forward.  TTFN from DuMay