I can’t believe that I’ve missed the rest of January and all of February and half of March since I wrote! But I must write about this last Friday and Saturday. I went to Time Out for Women for the second time. The first time was four years ago. It was sooo good and inspiring. It is good for especially young women, I think, who are caught up in being good wives and mothers, who sometimes don’t take time for themselves, to go to things like this. It is also good for older moms and grandmas too. John Bytheway was the first speaker Friday night. He gave such a good talk. He talked about us all being marinated. He said that we become what our surroundings are and if we are marinated in evil and loud “music” and suggestive things, we become those things. Also he said if we are marinated or surrounded with good books, good music and good people we will also become good. He told of his thirteen year old daughter and her science project. She bought eight mice and put four in one cage with classical music and four in another cage with heavy metal music 24/7. She made a maze with card board and had them run it every day. The ones listening to the classical music got better and shorter times consistently. The others didn’t do half as well. The last night of the experiment, she made a gateway/tunnel that led from one cage to the other. The next morning all eight mice were on the side with the classical music. That said volumes.
Macy Robson was the musical artist who preformed Friday night. She told the story of her life thro’ song. She has an amazing voice. Altho’ I hadn’t heard any of her songs before, I thoroughly enjoyed her whole performance. She had grown up in Utah, attended BYU and performed with the BYU Young Ambassadors in Russia, got a degree in music education and performing arts and taught children from preschoolers to middle schoolers. She was married and divorced with no children. She is now married and the mother of two and the step mother of two. She was a joy to listen to.
Saturday we left my house at 7:40 in the morning (Shani picked me up both Friday and Saturday) and got to the Civic Auditorium/IF High School 30 minutes before the doors would open. The line was inside since it had been raining. It wound all the way down the long hall and all the way back up. There were a lot of women there!! The first thing was the musical presentation of Jerico Road. They are four young men who, I think of regular day jobs as well as sing. They look like they are in their 30’s. I had heard of them but not really heard them. I like the way they told us a little about themselves and their families as well as singing. They all have good voices but I liked the way they sounded when they all were singing best. In 2001 they were the Homeless men in Michael McLean’s Forgotten Carols. I don’t know if they are still doing that or not.
The first presenter was Mary Ellen Edmunds. She always does such a good job. She is so funny but spiritual too. She spoke on being good and really good we have to be. She stressed that we shouldn’t compare our good to anyone else’s good. She was a delight to listen to. Kris Belcher was supposed to be our next speaker but she was ill and Emily Watts was the next speaker. She is very funny also. She can really put her point across in spite of the humor. She talked about finishing what we start. Actually completing things even when they are very hard and we don’t think we can do them. She stressed that the Lord is always with us and is there to help us all of the time. We just need to recognize that He is there and waiting for us to ask.
Jerico Road sang again. Then we broke for lunch. We all seven of us (Karen, Shani, Brittany, Marva and her two daughters-in-law, Lanae and Stephanie, and I) piled into Lanae’s van and went to Wendy’s on Yellowstone. That was a good choice. We still had to wait in line for a while but not forever. We got back to the Civic Auditorium in good time.
The next speaker was Merrilee Boyack. She lives in Southern California. She states that her town has been burned out three different times and told of some of the service that she did to help those who had lost everything. She talked about the “power of the moment.” How you can take just five seconds and pay five people a compliment that can make their day and help yourself along the way too. How you can prepare yourself so that you can be ready to help someone when they really need it. She had a new definition for CPR—Caring Plus Response. She pointed out that no matter how much we care, if we don’t respond to do something to help that just the caring isn’t enough. She was very interesting to listen to also.
Our last speaker was Emily Freeman. She looks like a young mother but she has two missionaries out as well as two children still at home. She was an excellent speaker to end with. She talked about “making it thro’ the middle.” She states that when all is said and done and we’ve gotten thro’ our hard times we know what we have and it is good. But she said that it is getting thro’ the middle to the end is the very challenging part. She was so inspirational and left us all teary eyed and thankful we had been there.
It was all a truly good and amazing experience. I’m so thankful that I went. I was able to stand in line for 30-40 minutes without my back absolutely killing me. I enjoyed the company and saw many friends from my ward, FHC, and other places while I was there. It is truly an inspired program. I hope they don’t wait another four years for it to be in Idaho Falls again.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Entry for April 17, 2011
I can’t believe it has been four weeks since I’ve written. We’ve had a busy and good four weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed General Conference this year. It was so great and spiritual. Each talk seemed better than the last. I couldn’t pick a favorite. The Thursday after we went to Utah. It is too hard for us to go down and back in one day so we left Thursday and came back Saturday. Elder McK opened up for me and counted the money with Elder P and then the P took charge for me so we could be in Utah. We went to the Ks’ first and ate supper with them. We had a very nice visit with them. We also watch Tangled by Walt Disney productions. It is a cute show. I can see why it would appeal to the younger set. We got to M’s just barely ahead of him after he finished his second work. It was fun being there with them, especially with their little girls. They make life very interesting. We played a game of Pinochle after Abbie left for pre-school and before she, Kendra and Collin got home. Natasha stayed with a friend since we would be using her bed. She came and had supper with us so we did get to see her and visit with her for a little while. That evening we went to Titanic, the Musical. I had never heard of it before. C played the clarinet in the orchestra. The orchestra was awesome. I especially liked the way they quit playing all together. They would be playing crescendo and all of a sudden there would be silence. I felt for the director. My right arm ached in sympathy with her right arm. She waved her wand for a straight hour without respite in the first act. I enjoyed it and was glad we went. M went with us. We saw Tasha and her friends. T went the Monday before. Saturday morning Mama called and wanted us to visit with her a little before meeting up in SLC at Bonnie and David’s to go out to Sizzler to have dinner to celebrate Mama’s 92nd birthday. All of my living siblings and their spouses were there as well as my sister-in-law who had married my youngest brother. It was very enjoyable. I ordered the Malibou chicken and Karl got the salad bar. That was the way to do it. I was able to eat almost all of my chicken and half of my baked potato and a couple of nibbles from Karl’s plate. He had a couple of bites of my chicken. It snowed the whole time we were there at Sizzler. It was 3:30 or later when we left. The others were going back to Bonnie’s for dessert and to open the gifts. We opted not to go back there. It would have been 5:00 before we left if we had. We didn’t get home until 9:30 as it was. We stopped in North Salt Lake to pick up Kim’s Grace to bring her up here to stay with her other Grandparents. (We were able to spend some time with her Thursday afternoon and evening.) We were glad that we went except for the weather. The temps were colder down there than they were up here in Idaho. However, the wind wasn’t blowing so it was actually more pleasant most of the time. We woke up to snow each morning but it was melted by noon. We got into a bad storm on the way down. It actually snowed from Downy on but it didn’t start to stick to the roads until Ogden. Thro’ Ogden, Roy and Layton, it was horrendous. You could only see 1 ½ car lengths in head of you and there was solid traffice on either side as well as front and back. We ran into some snow on the way back too but it was mostly rain, all be it was heavy rain in spots. By the time we got to Tremonton, the rain had slowed considerably and by the time we got to Malad the roads were dry and we saw the first sunshine and blue skies all week. We had printed off the bulletin Thursday morning before we left. I was really thankful I had because I surely didn’t feel like doing it when we got back home.
The rest of the week was pretty normal. G did come over Thursday afternoon about 3:00. My sweetheart had often told me and others that he wasn’t really interested in the exhibit at the Museum of Idaho…the bodies exhibit. I wanted to see it and G said she would like to see it too. So we went there and my sweetheart went to exercise at Apple Athletic Club. G and I both thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit. It was graphic and I can see why some people would be squeamish but I found it very interesting and Grace said she did too. I was thankful for my medical background because I could explain things to her in a little more detail and we didn’t have to spend so much time reading all of the material. I noticed how much I had forgotten since taking Anat. & Phys. 39 years ago. (My that makes me seem old!) I still did remember quite a bit tho’. The museum closed at 5:00 so we came home and picked up Grandpa and then we drove to the FHC where I showed Grace around where we worked. Then we went to the Temple Visitors Center. We had been wanting to see the exhibit there of Mark Maybry on the life of Jesus Christ. He is so talented. At first glance they looked like paintings but they were photographs. It is something they way he was able to pose people to take their pictures. Grace said she enjoyed it too. They have a Christus there and they take you in and sit you down in front of it and then turn on a recording depicting the Savior speaking to us. I was sitting there looking up at Him as the recording started: “I am Jesus Christ...” a feeling of emotion swept over me like I have never experienced before. I knew He was speaking to me. It was a wonderful feeling. I could really feel His love for me. After the Visitor’s Center, we took Grace to Wendy’s for supper. The tickets for the museum were quite expensive but they had coupons for each one of them for a free softie with a combo. We had a very nice meal there. G’s other grandpa picked her up at our place about 9:30. I was tired after she left but was really glad we were able to spend that time with her. She was grateful and told us thank you many times.
Friday afternoon about 1:00, B and S picked us up on the way back from Rexburg and then stopped at K’s and we all got into her car and she drove us down to Grace to see my mother-in-law. B and S were here from Nebraska for her to start her second semester there at BYU-I. We had a very nice visit—all of us—down and back as well as a nice visit with my mil. We were glad we went. We got back here about 7:00. I was tired but happy. It was neat to spend time with two of my children, a granddaughter and my mil. Saturday was our day at the FHC. It was potluck both Wednesday and Saturday. We do the second Wednesday and the third Saturday and occasionally they fall in the same week. Yesterday morning, I was in Brother S’s computer tips class and the man at the desk came and asked me if I tho’t I could help a Spanish speaking couple with new.familysearch.org even tho’ they don’t know any English. They had an interpreter with them so that did help. I am grateful that I am as familiar with new.familysearch as I am because altho’ it was in Spanish and I don’t speak or read Spanish as a rule, I was able to help them. I learned that Buscar means Search. They needed to put some names into the program in order to do their work. There were brothers but no parents. I was sitting there wondering how we could put them in without the parents. I’m so grateful for the Holy Ghost who nudges my mind so I can help the patrons. He helped me remember that if I went into the parents & siblings (padres y hermanos) screen I would be able to do it. I worked with them for about 1 ½ hours. I had to leave and eat lunch because I had a class to teach at 1:00. But Sister Price helped them finish up and they had an FOR with seven people on it when they left. I was able to tell them that on Thursday afternoon one of our missionaries works who speaks Spanish. It was a very good feeling to be able to help them. One sister who came in for a class schedule ended up staying for my class and I think she will continue to come. I had two patrons and two missionaries. A small class but as long as people are learning, it is good.
Today, was our ward conference. The talks by the Bishop and President A. They were very good talks and Sunday School and RS were both very good as well. It has been a good day. I am kind of tired this afternoon after all my activities from Wednesday to today. I am so thankful that I can do things that many days in a row. Six years ago I wouldn’t have been able to do half of it if any of it. I have truly been blessed. We just completed our fourth year at the FHC and have begun our fifth. It is very rewarding work.
The rest of the week was pretty normal. G did come over Thursday afternoon about 3:00. My sweetheart had often told me and others that he wasn’t really interested in the exhibit at the Museum of Idaho…the bodies exhibit. I wanted to see it and G said she would like to see it too. So we went there and my sweetheart went to exercise at Apple Athletic Club. G and I both thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit. It was graphic and I can see why some people would be squeamish but I found it very interesting and Grace said she did too. I was thankful for my medical background because I could explain things to her in a little more detail and we didn’t have to spend so much time reading all of the material. I noticed how much I had forgotten since taking Anat. & Phys. 39 years ago. (My that makes me seem old!) I still did remember quite a bit tho’. The museum closed at 5:00 so we came home and picked up Grandpa and then we drove to the FHC where I showed Grace around where we worked. Then we went to the Temple Visitors Center. We had been wanting to see the exhibit there of Mark Maybry on the life of Jesus Christ. He is so talented. At first glance they looked like paintings but they were photographs. It is something they way he was able to pose people to take their pictures. Grace said she enjoyed it too. They have a Christus there and they take you in and sit you down in front of it and then turn on a recording depicting the Savior speaking to us. I was sitting there looking up at Him as the recording started: “I am Jesus Christ...” a feeling of emotion swept over me like I have never experienced before. I knew He was speaking to me. It was a wonderful feeling. I could really feel His love for me. After the Visitor’s Center, we took Grace to Wendy’s for supper. The tickets for the museum were quite expensive but they had coupons for each one of them for a free softie with a combo. We had a very nice meal there. G’s other grandpa picked her up at our place about 9:30. I was tired after she left but was really glad we were able to spend that time with her. She was grateful and told us thank you many times.
Friday afternoon about 1:00, B and S picked us up on the way back from Rexburg and then stopped at K’s and we all got into her car and she drove us down to Grace to see my mother-in-law. B and S were here from Nebraska for her to start her second semester there at BYU-I. We had a very nice visit—all of us—down and back as well as a nice visit with my mil. We were glad we went. We got back here about 7:00. I was tired but happy. It was neat to spend time with two of my children, a granddaughter and my mil. Saturday was our day at the FHC. It was potluck both Wednesday and Saturday. We do the second Wednesday and the third Saturday and occasionally they fall in the same week. Yesterday morning, I was in Brother S’s computer tips class and the man at the desk came and asked me if I tho’t I could help a Spanish speaking couple with new.familysearch.org even tho’ they don’t know any English. They had an interpreter with them so that did help. I am grateful that I am as familiar with new.familysearch as I am because altho’ it was in Spanish and I don’t speak or read Spanish as a rule, I was able to help them. I learned that Buscar means Search. They needed to put some names into the program in order to do their work. There were brothers but no parents. I was sitting there wondering how we could put them in without the parents. I’m so grateful for the Holy Ghost who nudges my mind so I can help the patrons. He helped me remember that if I went into the parents & siblings (padres y hermanos) screen I would be able to do it. I worked with them for about 1 ½ hours. I had to leave and eat lunch because I had a class to teach at 1:00. But Sister Price helped them finish up and they had an FOR with seven people on it when they left. I was able to tell them that on Thursday afternoon one of our missionaries works who speaks Spanish. It was a very good feeling to be able to help them. One sister who came in for a class schedule ended up staying for my class and I think she will continue to come. I had two patrons and two missionaries. A small class but as long as people are learning, it is good.
Today, was our ward conference. The talks by the Bishop and President A. They were very good talks and Sunday School and RS were both very good as well. It has been a good day. I am kind of tired this afternoon after all my activities from Wednesday to today. I am so thankful that I can do things that many days in a row. Six years ago I wouldn’t have been able to do half of it if any of it. I have truly been blessed. We just completed our fourth year at the FHC and have begun our fifth. It is very rewarding work.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Journal Entry for March 20, 2011
I can’t believe it’s been three weeks since I wrote. Last Tuesday, I had an implant put in the right bottom part of my jaw for a crown so I will have teeth to chew on on the right side of my mouth. I have been having to do all of my chewing on the left side. My dentist told me that if I lived as long as my mother, I my teeth would wear out. I found out that an implant is really more painful than having a tooth pulled. I didn’t go to the FHC at all Wednesday and yesterday I just went to teach my class. I have noticed that it is more painful if I talk a lot. I am still on pain pills but have cut down to one 5mg hydrocodone instead of two 7.5. So I am improving. I have a bruise on the right side of my chin that I can half way cover with make-up.
A week ago Wednesday was our RS birthday party. Wednesdays are usually slow after 5:00 pm so I was planning on going. Well, I didn’t get there. A woman came in in a little motorized scooter. She is big in politics in this area. She wanted my help in giving her children the benefit of all her research years ago. I gave her some ideas and told her what I had done: I take my flash drive with me when I go visit my children and plug it into their computer and transfer all the data. I gave her some ideas how to do that. What with new.familysearch now and the new programs, it won’t be hard to do at all. As she was preparing to leave, she asked my name and wrote it down and then gave me her card. Under her name was the term media assistant. I tho’t maybe she could help us get the work out about our open house we plan on having in the fall. The second time I was prompted I knew I should say something. So I asked her about it. She said, “That is my calling! That is what I do.” We talked about that for awhile. It was so neat. Consequently I didn’t get to my RS dinner but, I knew I was where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.
Today, M C C was blessed. Their meetings started at 1:00pm. Ours started at 11:00 am. Shani had called to invite us almost two weeks ago. I hadn’t tho’t about it all this week what with my tooth, etc. I had put it on my calendar but hadn’t looked at it for a few days. When we got to sacrament meeting, P C announced that the bishopric is in short supply. He was the only one there and he would be leaving so to put any contributions under the door to the bishop’s office. I tho’t, “I wonder where he is going…” Then I tho’t, “Oh, my goodness, it is M’s blessing today!” so we left after sacrament meeting, stopped at the house to get a couple of pain pill, (I was glad I had them) then went out to the Summit Park building to the Lincoln 6th Ward. It was a very nice meeting. M wasn’t the only baby blessed. A baby boy named Canyon was also blessed. S explained that they have so many babies in their ward that they bless babies every Sunday. But they can do no more than three at a time. In the circle was Papa Gray (Grandpa G) Grandpa C, Great grandpa R, Uncle W and maybe G J, K’s boyfriend, as well as the bishopric. I got to hold her both before she was blessed and also the rest of the sacrament meeting after she was blessed then a little again at the house. (Since I don’t get to see her very often, I’ll hold her any chance I get.) After sacrament meeting we went to the house for a luncheon. It was all very nice. Paul came later after he went back to the church to take care of things then came to the house to have something to eat. J with the help of his dad, has pretty much finished the family room and M’s bedroom in their basement. They have moved the TV downstairs and have a different couch in the living room. There is much more room in the living room now. It will double the area of their house I am sure. They did a very good job and it all looks so nice. All in all it was a good day.
A week ago Wednesday was our RS birthday party. Wednesdays are usually slow after 5:00 pm so I was planning on going. Well, I didn’t get there. A woman came in in a little motorized scooter. She is big in politics in this area. She wanted my help in giving her children the benefit of all her research years ago. I gave her some ideas and told her what I had done: I take my flash drive with me when I go visit my children and plug it into their computer and transfer all the data. I gave her some ideas how to do that. What with new.familysearch now and the new programs, it won’t be hard to do at all. As she was preparing to leave, she asked my name and wrote it down and then gave me her card. Under her name was the term media assistant. I tho’t maybe she could help us get the work out about our open house we plan on having in the fall. The second time I was prompted I knew I should say something. So I asked her about it. She said, “That is my calling! That is what I do.” We talked about that for awhile. It was so neat. Consequently I didn’t get to my RS dinner but, I knew I was where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.
Today, M C C was blessed. Their meetings started at 1:00pm. Ours started at 11:00 am. Shani had called to invite us almost two weeks ago. I hadn’t tho’t about it all this week what with my tooth, etc. I had put it on my calendar but hadn’t looked at it for a few days. When we got to sacrament meeting, P C announced that the bishopric is in short supply. He was the only one there and he would be leaving so to put any contributions under the door to the bishop’s office. I tho’t, “I wonder where he is going…” Then I tho’t, “Oh, my goodness, it is M’s blessing today!” so we left after sacrament meeting, stopped at the house to get a couple of pain pill, (I was glad I had them) then went out to the Summit Park building to the Lincoln 6th Ward. It was a very nice meeting. M wasn’t the only baby blessed. A baby boy named Canyon was also blessed. S explained that they have so many babies in their ward that they bless babies every Sunday. But they can do no more than three at a time. In the circle was Papa Gray (Grandpa G) Grandpa C, Great grandpa R, Uncle W and maybe G J, K’s boyfriend, as well as the bishopric. I got to hold her both before she was blessed and also the rest of the sacrament meeting after she was blessed then a little again at the house. (Since I don’t get to see her very often, I’ll hold her any chance I get.) After sacrament meeting we went to the house for a luncheon. It was all very nice. Paul came later after he went back to the church to take care of things then came to the house to have something to eat. J with the help of his dad, has pretty much finished the family room and M’s bedroom in their basement. They have moved the TV downstairs and have a different couch in the living room. There is much more room in the living room now. It will double the area of their house I am sure. They did a very good job and it all looks so nice. All in all it was a good day.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Entry for last week of January 2011
Last week was a wonderful week. We had the usual days at the FHC Wednesday and Saturday. Wednesday evening after we got home I found a message from Brother Paul Smith, Stake executive secretary, asking that I give him a call. He asked if I could help with Stake Conference. (I tho’t maybe he was asking me to speak) He said that Elder Holland had requested a handout with the agenda on it and the words of two of the verses of the songs we’d sing printed on it too and wanted to know if I could do something like I do for the bulletin each week. I told him I would be happy to if he would e-mail mail me the agenda. I started it first thing Thursday morning. It took a few hours. Altho’ Saturday’s agenda and songs would have fit on ½ a page back to back, the Sunday agenda was longer and wouldn’t have. I decided that rather than having a blank back that I should just put a picture and some quotes as I do for the bulletin. I took the theme from the songs that were chosen. They turned out pretty well even if I do say so myself. I was able to e-mail them to Brother Smith and he e-mailed them or took them on his thumb drive, I’m not sure which, to the printer. His brother, owns the printing company. They did them in color (the printer at the church is just black & white) and on good-quality paper. They really looked great!
Saturday was a very long day and a wonderful day. I asked the Lord to bless me so I could make it thro’ the nine hours at the FHC, what with being in charge and teaching my class, then also Stake conference that night. I had told my Sweetheart the night before that we should just stop at the Gangplank to eat supper then go right onto the church so we could get a good seat. He tho’t it was a good idea. So that’s what we did. We got to the church about 5:45 pm and the whole parking lot was full plus cars parked on the street! We looked at each other and tho’t, “Boy, people really came early tonight; it doesn’t even start until seven!” Well it was the Priesthood session still going. We got to listen to the last 15 minutes of it with about 50 other people standing in the foyer. Karl went in and sat in the cultural hall for the last 15 minutes. I leaned against the wall till it was over. Karl immediately went up to find us a seat. There were none. Men did leave to go get their wives but they left coats, books etc. to save their places while they left. I was just into the chapel trying to find him when I noticed President Andrus, our Stake President, walking toward me, just in front of me. I was aware of a man in front of him shaking the hand of a woman beside me. I looked and it was Elder Holland! He shook my hand too. After a few minutes I found Karl at the front of the chapel. He said that since there wasn’t a choir that we should sit in the choir seats. We decided we would sit in the seats that those who bless the sacrament sit in. When Elder Holland came up on the stand, he shook hands with both of us. I had prayed that morning that I would be able to shake his hand at least one of the days, Saturday or Sunday. And he shook my hand twice!! Elder Gary Walker of the Seventy also spoke. He loves missionary service! He told us of some of his experiences and told that someone had challenged them to write down 100 names and pray by name for each one of them and then told us what happened with his relationship with those people. He challenged us to pray about at least one person by name, but we could pray about more. I decided to pray for our neighbors, J & S M and J’s mother C B. Of course I couldn’t leave out their children so I include them too. And I decided to also pray for my hairdresser and her family. I was able to shake his hand after the meeting. He put his arm around me and when I told him I had already decided who to pray for, he gave me a squeeze and said, “Bless your heart.” He has the kindest eyes. The mission president and his wife also spoke. Elder Holland spoke for almost a full hour. It was wonderful to listen to him. He is so fervent in his testimony of the Savior and of the prophet, President Monson. When he reads from the scriptures, he does it with such intensity. My heart burned as he spoke to us. He told us he wasn’t going to speak from any text. That he was going to speak from his heart. He told us that no matter how bad times seemed to us that things would get better. He said his message was for the ones or even the one who may be having an extremely hard time and about ready to give up. It was a wonderful talk. The Spirit was so strong and the feeling so wonderful. We got home about 9:20 pm. I was tired but not as tired as I tho’t I would be. The Lord truly did bless me.
We had decided that we would get up Sunday morning like we did for Saturday mornings. I was ready to go about 7:40. We left about 7:50 am. There weren’t many cars in the parking lot yet. When we got in there we noticed that most of the seats in the chapel were reserved for the elderly and those who had tickets; and one half a section of the side for the youth choir. I told Karl that it must be an enormous choir. It was. But they sang beautifully. We sat in the row behind the last row of the chapel on soft, folding chairs. I tho’t maybe my back would really ache by the time we got out of there but I was blessed again and it didn’t. The temple President and Matron also were there Sunday morning and bore their testimonies. People came in at 8:30 thinking they could get a good seat, and the chapel was full. I guess a good seat includes the cultural hall, because it has two large screens, one on each side, so people can see the speakers better. Others who waited until 9:30 had to go to the multipurpose room or the primary room to find seating. They also broadcast it to the St. Leon Building. I hope they were able to feel the strong Spirit there also. Elder Walker spoke again. And Elder Holland told the youth that they must promise him to stay in the church for ten more years. He said, “You see, if you stay for ten more years, I will have you because it is between 12 and 22 that we lose our youth.” (I had already figured that out.) He ended up giving us an Apostolic Blessing. He started out by just blessing everyone there, then changed it to those in our families who weren’t there, then changed it to all those we pray for. I was thrilled with that. My tho’t was, “Does that include those we’ve chosen to pray for as we do Elder Walker’s challenge?” I decided it must. So all of my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, both of our mothers, our friends we pray for, all of them were included in that Apostolic Blessing.
I had a wonderful feeling as he pronounced it. It was a wonderful two days.
Monday, I was able to sleep in a little longer—till 7:30 or so. I had my 9:00 Directors’ meeting to go to. My chest kind of ached, so I could tell I was tired. I got home about 11:30 am because I had to find teachers for the 12:15 class for missionaries for February. I didn’t do much when I got home. I didn’t change my clothes because we had to go back to a zone conference by 4:45 that afternoon. I was thankful I went to that too. The speaker was President N of the Iona Stake. He gave a very good talk on the importance of families. He finished by 5:30. He could have gone on at least another 15 minutes. We do have to be out of the building by 6:00 pm. It was a good way to end the last three days. I definitely feel that I have been spiritually fed. I was tired by the time we got home. I was still tired this morning but have made two cards, written out checks after writing out the budget, fixed breakfast/brunch and now written in my journal today. I am going to try to make a batch of oatmeal cookies today. I got some mint chips before Christmas and haven’t used them yet. Oh, and I finished Maddy’s baby afghan yesterday too. So I haven’t been idle.
I almost forgot! M C C was born January 26, 2011. She weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz and was 21 inches tall. Has a lot of dark hair. She’s a beauty! Her proud parents are S & J C. Maddy as they will call her, is our great granddaughter. We haven’t seen her yet…I wanted to finish her baby afghan and take it with when we went. We’ll go either Thursday or Friday.
Saturday was a very long day and a wonderful day. I asked the Lord to bless me so I could make it thro’ the nine hours at the FHC, what with being in charge and teaching my class, then also Stake conference that night. I had told my Sweetheart the night before that we should just stop at the Gangplank to eat supper then go right onto the church so we could get a good seat. He tho’t it was a good idea. So that’s what we did. We got to the church about 5:45 pm and the whole parking lot was full plus cars parked on the street! We looked at each other and tho’t, “Boy, people really came early tonight; it doesn’t even start until seven!” Well it was the Priesthood session still going. We got to listen to the last 15 minutes of it with about 50 other people standing in the foyer. Karl went in and sat in the cultural hall for the last 15 minutes. I leaned against the wall till it was over. Karl immediately went up to find us a seat. There were none. Men did leave to go get their wives but they left coats, books etc. to save their places while they left. I was just into the chapel trying to find him when I noticed President Andrus, our Stake President, walking toward me, just in front of me. I was aware of a man in front of him shaking the hand of a woman beside me. I looked and it was Elder Holland! He shook my hand too. After a few minutes I found Karl at the front of the chapel. He said that since there wasn’t a choir that we should sit in the choir seats. We decided we would sit in the seats that those who bless the sacrament sit in. When Elder Holland came up on the stand, he shook hands with both of us. I had prayed that morning that I would be able to shake his hand at least one of the days, Saturday or Sunday. And he shook my hand twice!! Elder Gary Walker of the Seventy also spoke. He loves missionary service! He told us of some of his experiences and told that someone had challenged them to write down 100 names and pray by name for each one of them and then told us what happened with his relationship with those people. He challenged us to pray about at least one person by name, but we could pray about more. I decided to pray for our neighbors, J & S M and J’s mother C B. Of course I couldn’t leave out their children so I include them too. And I decided to also pray for my hairdresser and her family. I was able to shake his hand after the meeting. He put his arm around me and when I told him I had already decided who to pray for, he gave me a squeeze and said, “Bless your heart.” He has the kindest eyes. The mission president and his wife also spoke. Elder Holland spoke for almost a full hour. It was wonderful to listen to him. He is so fervent in his testimony of the Savior and of the prophet, President Monson. When he reads from the scriptures, he does it with such intensity. My heart burned as he spoke to us. He told us he wasn’t going to speak from any text. That he was going to speak from his heart. He told us that no matter how bad times seemed to us that things would get better. He said his message was for the ones or even the one who may be having an extremely hard time and about ready to give up. It was a wonderful talk. The Spirit was so strong and the feeling so wonderful. We got home about 9:20 pm. I was tired but not as tired as I tho’t I would be. The Lord truly did bless me.
We had decided that we would get up Sunday morning like we did for Saturday mornings. I was ready to go about 7:40. We left about 7:50 am. There weren’t many cars in the parking lot yet. When we got in there we noticed that most of the seats in the chapel were reserved for the elderly and those who had tickets; and one half a section of the side for the youth choir. I told Karl that it must be an enormous choir. It was. But they sang beautifully. We sat in the row behind the last row of the chapel on soft, folding chairs. I tho’t maybe my back would really ache by the time we got out of there but I was blessed again and it didn’t. The temple President and Matron also were there Sunday morning and bore their testimonies. People came in at 8:30 thinking they could get a good seat, and the chapel was full. I guess a good seat includes the cultural hall, because it has two large screens, one on each side, so people can see the speakers better. Others who waited until 9:30 had to go to the multipurpose room or the primary room to find seating. They also broadcast it to the St. Leon Building. I hope they were able to feel the strong Spirit there also. Elder Walker spoke again. And Elder Holland told the youth that they must promise him to stay in the church for ten more years. He said, “You see, if you stay for ten more years, I will have you because it is between 12 and 22 that we lose our youth.” (I had already figured that out.) He ended up giving us an Apostolic Blessing. He started out by just blessing everyone there, then changed it to those in our families who weren’t there, then changed it to all those we pray for. I was thrilled with that. My tho’t was, “Does that include those we’ve chosen to pray for as we do Elder Walker’s challenge?” I decided it must. So all of my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, both of our mothers, our friends we pray for, all of them were included in that Apostolic Blessing.
I had a wonderful feeling as he pronounced it. It was a wonderful two days.
Monday, I was able to sleep in a little longer—till 7:30 or so. I had my 9:00 Directors’ meeting to go to. My chest kind of ached, so I could tell I was tired. I got home about 11:30 am because I had to find teachers for the 12:15 class for missionaries for February. I didn’t do much when I got home. I didn’t change my clothes because we had to go back to a zone conference by 4:45 that afternoon. I was thankful I went to that too. The speaker was President N of the Iona Stake. He gave a very good talk on the importance of families. He finished by 5:30. He could have gone on at least another 15 minutes. We do have to be out of the building by 6:00 pm. It was a good way to end the last three days. I definitely feel that I have been spiritually fed. I was tired by the time we got home. I was still tired this morning but have made two cards, written out checks after writing out the budget, fixed breakfast/brunch and now written in my journal today. I am going to try to make a batch of oatmeal cookies today. I got some mint chips before Christmas and haven’t used them yet. Oh, and I finished Maddy’s baby afghan yesterday too. So I haven’t been idle.
I almost forgot! M C C was born January 26, 2011. She weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz and was 21 inches tall. Has a lot of dark hair. She’s a beauty! Her proud parents are S & J C. Maddy as they will call her, is our great granddaughter. We haven’t seen her yet…I wanted to finish her baby afghan and take it with when we went. We’ll go either Thursday or Friday.
Monday, January 10, 2011
First Week of 2011
It was good to get back to the FHC last Wednesday. We had more patrons than we’d seen for two or three months. I helped quite a few people. It was good to see the other missionaries and learn how their Christmases went. Saturday was a good day. We had 29 patrons!! That is an all time high for Saturday as far as I know since we started there anyway. We did have a total of 13 missionaries by the end of the day. Elder R has moved over to Saturday from Thursday for which I am very grateful. The B moved to Saturday afternoons and the P have moved to Saturdays too. That is five more missionaries than I would have had other wise. Those 13 were plenty to take care of the patrons. I taught the first PAF class of the series. I had two patrons there—plus three missionaries. I’m hoping that there will be a few more patrons there. There is one woman who came in Saturday afternoon who was interested in taking the class. I hope she does. (Time will tell.) She wants to learn more about PAF. My responsibilities as director went well and smoothly. I had quite some trouble with diarrhea right after prayer meeting. I am thankful I had a change of clothes in the car and was able to get thro’ prayer meeting and then my class without difficulty. There is a sister missionary that also has the same problem. I asked her if she had some anti-diarrhea pills with her. She replied, “Heck, yes!” She lent me two of them and I didn’t have anymore problem. I tho’t I had put two of them in my pocket but couldn’t find them. I found them beside my computer when I got home. I will have to be sure to have some with me at all times. If I carried my purse everywhere I would always have them with. I do usually have pockets in my clothes or at least I will put some in my coat pocket so I will always have them with me. I’m thankful that they work. I took some yesterday morning and didn’t have any trouble. I’m sure that the doctor would tell me that I have IBS or irritable bowl syndrome. But I’m not ready to be diagnosed with that yet. I’ve had problems with it since before my gastric by pass surgery. Dr. L told me it was pancriatic insufficiency. I go for a while with it then go for awhile without any trouble. Since we don’t go to church until 11:00 this year, I’m going to try to get up close to the same time as I did before and then spend that time writing in my journal and maybe, hopefully starting on my life story. After 67 years I should have something to write about. If I write weekly, then I will have more detail as well as the entries not being so long so that will be good.
Our Christmas Holiday
I have been remiss from writing in my journal. Since we are on a later Sunday schedule, I hope to do better. I also want to start writing my life’s story/history. We had a wonderful Christmas. My MIL’s neighbors went to spend Christmas with family and their family lives out highway 39 and so they go right past K’s house. So they dropped Mom off there Thursday evening. We arrived down there Christmas Eve Day just after 1:00 pm. S and J & children came and B, W and O were there too. Kmade prime rib…doing some of it in the oven and part of it outside on the grill. It was very good. He has done it every year and it gets better every year, since he found out that not everybody has clam chowder for Christmas Eve dinner. After wards, we had a short program with M (5 years old) passing out the bags with a nativity scene character in it and a strip to be read by that person. (Next year she will be able to read some of them.) Then we would sing a Christmas Carol. S, B and K all took turns playing the piano. I played He Sent His Son for the opening song and Let There Be Peace On Earth for the closing song. So we all did our share.
The next day J brought his lap top with the scenes he shot as his children were opening their gifts. He also shot scenes of the program the night before. While we were doing the closing song, K was holding 2½ year old P and they were playing with each others tongues and sticking them out at each other and trying to catch the other one’s tongue. It was hilarious. K came down to see what everyone was laughing about. She was appalled to see. She exclaimed, “I had no idea that we were being recorded!!” We had a lovely ham dinner on Christmas Day. Since J’s parents were down in Utah, they came back down late morning. B, W and O spent the night. K was there too. It was almost 8:00 before we got up. That was the latest we have ever slept. But then we can’t say we slept the whole time because O (she is 15 months old) woke us up twice with her crying. I’m not sure if it was a strange bed or what with her but…
We all went to Church the next day with K & K. They had very good meetings. At RS I noticed there was no one playing the piano so I volunteered my services. There hasn’t been too many years passed that I wouldn’t have dared do that because I was so out of practice. I’m thankful the Lord has blessed me with the opportunities to be in practice so I can do that. After the meetings, while I was putting my coat on a sister came up to me and told me that her sister was the one who usually played and they were out of town for Christmas. I tho’t she must have been so involved with getting ready for Christmas that she forgot to arrange for someone else to do it. When I told K about it, she stated that that was Mrs. P’s sister and she usually played for her. She hadn’t mentioned that when I was talking to her. It was later than five minutes to when I started playing so I guess the sister who usually did it was running late.
We left that afternoon to take Mom back to Grace. (She stated she really enjoyed being there. She just sat and watched quietly. Didn’t have a lot of interaction but she was glad to be there. We were also glad she didn’t have to spend Christmas alone.) We played Five Crowns, the three of us, (Karl complaining the whole time) and after we finished Mom said, “That was fun.” Karl rolled his eyes. We left the next morning after trying to clean the ugly hard water stains from Mom’s bathtub and toilet and having breakfast to head for Utah.
We arrived down at Mama’s a little after 3:00 pm. I had had a tooth pulled the Tuesday before and was running out of pain pills. Since K had gone to Smith’s to have the prescription filled I knew we could go to Smith’s down there and they could transfer the prescription. So I called M to see where a Smith’s in the area would be. I’m thankful he answers his cell at work. I had tried to call his home but it said that that wasn’t a working number. Thus calling M. I later learned that I had put in 501 instead of 801 as the area code. I was glad it hadn’t gone thro’.
We ended up staying with Mama three nights. We were going to stay with Kim one or two nights but Kimberly was soo sick and I didn’t want to get it besides no one wants company when they are feeling rotten. We did get to see K and the kids at C’s Eagle Court of Honor Wednesday evening; so we did get to see them, which was good. Monday evening we played Mormon Bridge. I still don’t know if I could remember the way to keep score. I guess the next time we play I will have to ask to keep score so Mama can guide me. My tho’t was “When she goes, no one will play again because no one will be able to remember how to keep score.” We watched Perry Mason before going to bed. I hadn’t seen that particular episode before, which is unusual.
I talked to C Tuesday morning to see if we could see them that evening. But R since he is bishop now spends his Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the church. I had a very nice visit with C but didn’t get to see R. We took Mama to Olive Garden Tuesday around 2:00 pm. We all had soup & salad. It was very good and we had such good service from our waitress. We really enjoyed ourselves there. We were even able to take home what we couldn’t finish which I didn’t know you could do under those circumstances. We had it later on for supper.
We left, all three of us, Wednesday afternoon, early, We exchanged gifts right after we got there. We had a lovely supper and then went to the Court of Honor. It was very nice. C had planned it well. He is the third Eagle Scout among our grandsons. M was one of the speakers. There were three plus the man conducting. I played the closing song and N led. There was a regular Idaho blizzard there that night. It took K more than an hour to go from his house to the church which usually would take 20 minutes. We were glad to see him but worried about him. We did notice on the was back to American Fork that the weather wasn’t as bad then as it had been going. The roads were slick but the wind and snow blowing wasn’t nearly so bad.
We were planning on leaving around 10:00 or so to go to M & T’s. . We had to wash the sheets and make the bed before we left (we didn’t have to but we wanted to do it so Mama wouldn’t have to). With that and packing the car and eating breakfast it was afternoon when we left to go to M’s. Both he and the children were disappointed that we didn’t get there earlier. I told him that I hoped he was smiling when he called and said he might as well have gone to work since we were getting there so late. T said he wasn’t. We did have time for a game of Pinochle with C sitting in for M on the last hand. We girls won that one which was a surprise since the first hand M was dealt a full family and a double Pinochle which is very rare. And both together being dealt is even rarer. We played two other games of Pinochle before we left to come home Saturday.
New Year’s Eve T had a party. She invited 8-10 people but only three showed up. The little girls were allowed to stay up and watch and play games with them too. They were soo excited about it. M, T, K and I set up the card table in the living room and played Five Crowns and Pinochle while we were waiting for the new year to come in. We were able to go to bed a little after 12:30 am. We left to come home around 11:30. It was a very nice stay there.
I called my mother before we left and she said, “Altho’ we didn’t do anything stupendous, it was a very nice visit. I’m glad you were here.” I felt the same way. It was good to be able to just visit and be with her. It’s been quite a while since I’ve spent that much time with her.
We stopped in SLC and visited with B and D for about 1½ hours. It was good to see them. We hadn’t seen each other since April at Mama’s birthday party. She is recovering nicely from her knee surgery. She is having the other one done on the 19th of this month.
We got to K’s almost 5:00. She was the only one there. We stayed about an hour, loading up our Christmas stuff and visiting about our trip. We got home at 7:00 pm. We found everything just fine. Our neighbors had cleaned off our driveway so we didn’t have to do that. The ground was all covered with snow. Altho’ they didn’t get the storms up here that we got down in Utah. After checking things out, I got started on my bulletin. Since it was Fast Sunday, we didn’t have too many things to do. I waited until the next morning to run it off and fold it since we are now on the 11-2 schedule.
The next day J brought his lap top with the scenes he shot as his children were opening their gifts. He also shot scenes of the program the night before. While we were doing the closing song, K was holding 2½ year old P and they were playing with each others tongues and sticking them out at each other and trying to catch the other one’s tongue. It was hilarious. K came down to see what everyone was laughing about. She was appalled to see. She exclaimed, “I had no idea that we were being recorded!!” We had a lovely ham dinner on Christmas Day. Since J’s parents were down in Utah, they came back down late morning. B, W and O spent the night. K was there too. It was almost 8:00 before we got up. That was the latest we have ever slept. But then we can’t say we slept the whole time because O (she is 15 months old) woke us up twice with her crying. I’m not sure if it was a strange bed or what with her but…
We all went to Church the next day with K & K. They had very good meetings. At RS I noticed there was no one playing the piano so I volunteered my services. There hasn’t been too many years passed that I wouldn’t have dared do that because I was so out of practice. I’m thankful the Lord has blessed me with the opportunities to be in practice so I can do that. After the meetings, while I was putting my coat on a sister came up to me and told me that her sister was the one who usually played and they were out of town for Christmas. I tho’t she must have been so involved with getting ready for Christmas that she forgot to arrange for someone else to do it. When I told K about it, she stated that that was Mrs. P’s sister and she usually played for her. She hadn’t mentioned that when I was talking to her. It was later than five minutes to when I started playing so I guess the sister who usually did it was running late.
We left that afternoon to take Mom back to Grace. (She stated she really enjoyed being there. She just sat and watched quietly. Didn’t have a lot of interaction but she was glad to be there. We were also glad she didn’t have to spend Christmas alone.) We played Five Crowns, the three of us, (Karl complaining the whole time) and after we finished Mom said, “That was fun.” Karl rolled his eyes. We left the next morning after trying to clean the ugly hard water stains from Mom’s bathtub and toilet and having breakfast to head for Utah.
We arrived down at Mama’s a little after 3:00 pm. I had had a tooth pulled the Tuesday before and was running out of pain pills. Since K had gone to Smith’s to have the prescription filled I knew we could go to Smith’s down there and they could transfer the prescription. So I called M to see where a Smith’s in the area would be. I’m thankful he answers his cell at work. I had tried to call his home but it said that that wasn’t a working number. Thus calling M. I later learned that I had put in 501 instead of 801 as the area code. I was glad it hadn’t gone thro’.
We ended up staying with Mama three nights. We were going to stay with Kim one or two nights but Kimberly was soo sick and I didn’t want to get it besides no one wants company when they are feeling rotten. We did get to see K and the kids at C’s Eagle Court of Honor Wednesday evening; so we did get to see them, which was good. Monday evening we played Mormon Bridge. I still don’t know if I could remember the way to keep score. I guess the next time we play I will have to ask to keep score so Mama can guide me. My tho’t was “When she goes, no one will play again because no one will be able to remember how to keep score.” We watched Perry Mason before going to bed. I hadn’t seen that particular episode before, which is unusual.
I talked to C Tuesday morning to see if we could see them that evening. But R since he is bishop now spends his Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the church. I had a very nice visit with C but didn’t get to see R. We took Mama to Olive Garden Tuesday around 2:00 pm. We all had soup & salad. It was very good and we had such good service from our waitress. We really enjoyed ourselves there. We were even able to take home what we couldn’t finish which I didn’t know you could do under those circumstances. We had it later on for supper.
We left, all three of us, Wednesday afternoon, early, We exchanged gifts right after we got there. We had a lovely supper and then went to the Court of Honor. It was very nice. C had planned it well. He is the third Eagle Scout among our grandsons. M was one of the speakers. There were three plus the man conducting. I played the closing song and N led. There was a regular Idaho blizzard there that night. It took K more than an hour to go from his house to the church which usually would take 20 minutes. We were glad to see him but worried about him. We did notice on the was back to American Fork that the weather wasn’t as bad then as it had been going. The roads were slick but the wind and snow blowing wasn’t nearly so bad.
We were planning on leaving around 10:00 or so to go to M & T’s. . We had to wash the sheets and make the bed before we left (we didn’t have to but we wanted to do it so Mama wouldn’t have to). With that and packing the car and eating breakfast it was afternoon when we left to go to M’s. Both he and the children were disappointed that we didn’t get there earlier. I told him that I hoped he was smiling when he called and said he might as well have gone to work since we were getting there so late. T said he wasn’t. We did have time for a game of Pinochle with C sitting in for M on the last hand. We girls won that one which was a surprise since the first hand M was dealt a full family and a double Pinochle which is very rare. And both together being dealt is even rarer. We played two other games of Pinochle before we left to come home Saturday.
New Year’s Eve T had a party. She invited 8-10 people but only three showed up. The little girls were allowed to stay up and watch and play games with them too. They were soo excited about it. M, T, K and I set up the card table in the living room and played Five Crowns and Pinochle while we were waiting for the new year to come in. We were able to go to bed a little after 12:30 am. We left to come home around 11:30. It was a very nice stay there.
I called my mother before we left and she said, “Altho’ we didn’t do anything stupendous, it was a very nice visit. I’m glad you were here.” I felt the same way. It was good to be able to just visit and be with her. It’s been quite a while since I’ve spent that much time with her.
We stopped in SLC and visited with B and D for about 1½ hours. It was good to see them. We hadn’t seen each other since April at Mama’s birthday party. She is recovering nicely from her knee surgery. She is having the other one done on the 19th of this month.
We got to K’s almost 5:00. She was the only one there. We stayed about an hour, loading up our Christmas stuff and visiting about our trip. We got home at 7:00 pm. We found everything just fine. Our neighbors had cleaned off our driveway so we didn’t have to do that. The ground was all covered with snow. Altho’ they didn’t get the storms up here that we got down in Utah. After checking things out, I got started on my bulletin. Since it was Fast Sunday, we didn’t have too many things to do. I waited until the next morning to run it off and fold it since we are now on the 11-2 schedule.
November 2010
Last Saturday at the FHC Elder Reed came in to help me because we are still so short of missionaries on Saturdays. Toward the end of the day he showed me a new website, roots.cs.byu.edu. It shows you how and who you are related to in the General Authorities and/or their wives. It is fascinating. I've always known that Karl was related to LeGrand Richards. Well, after I had registered and brought my line up, I found out that I am the 9th cousin of his 5 or 6 times removed, I can't remember. Karl is 2nd cousin once removed. Anyway, I got to thinking, if that is the case, then we should hook up back there somewhere. As I was looking at K's and seeing how he was related, I noticed he had some Jenneys in his line. So I got our PAF files out and our common ancestors are John and Sarah Carey Jenney. They are our 8th great-grandparents. Isn't that something? I just found this out a few minutes ago. And all this time we didn't know we were related. Elder Reed had made a comment that if a couple both have pioneer ancestry they will probably have a common ancestor somewhere, even if they have to go way back. I think it was the early 1600's or 1500's. I also I hook up with N S too. We have to go back to the 1500's for that one. The work is really going slow lately tho'. We had only four patrons last Saturday. The week before we had six and we were only open 1/2 a day that day.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
We have had a very busy week
This past week has been a very eventful and interesting week. Richard had called us late Sunday and told us that they were in Pocatello….had gotten there Saturday evening. We saw them Tuesday evening, meeting them at Arctic Circle. It was very nice seeing them. They bought us lunch. I especially enjoyed visiting with Duncan. The other children wanted to play on the toys. We had a very nice visit. He told me about his being the only deacon in his ward after his last friend moves out next month and that he is a home teaching companion with his dad now even tho’ he won’t turn even13 for a couple more weeks. It was soo good to see everyone. All of the children, of course, have grown. We were there about 2 ½ hours and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Wednesday we went to the FHC, of course. I got my hair colored that morning. I look and feel much better. All of the gray hair growing around my face makes me feel so blah. I feel much better (as well as look much better). I was able to help a few people. I left early because it was our Visiting Teachers Conference at 6:30 and they had a very nice luncheon with it. Almost all summer long there have only been 1 or 2 patrons come in after 5:00 so I decided I would ask permission to leave early so Karl and I drove over separately. When I asked Elder Hall if it was OK if I left (it was 6:20), he said “Of course, you can, you are your own boss now.” Referring to my being one of the directors now. I told him only on Saturday not on Wednesday.
Wednesday morning I had called Richard and asked him if he and his family would like to go to the zoo Thursday afternoon. He said they would discuss it and get back to me. He called around 10:00 am or so Thursday and told me that they would very much like to go. We met them there about 2:15. We had a lovely time while there. The weather was perfect…in the high 70’s. A year ago we had gone to the zoo with Michael and his family and it was in the high 80’s or low 90’s then. We didn’t see many animals other than the birds. All of the big animals except the Sloth Bears, were in their dens trying to keep out of the heat. This time we saw the snow leopards (two of them), the lions, the tiger (which roared for us for at least five full minutes), the red pandas as well as the farm yard animals and zebras and yak and llamas, and the monkey house too. It was a very delightful day. I did much better than I had tho’t I could. I only sat down three times in the 2 ½ hours we were there and it was close to an hour before I had to sit down the first time. I really am being blessed. Richard treated us to the new Hong Kong restaurant afterwards. We had never been there before. The food is like the Chinese Garden used to be before it changed ownership. We got home around 6:30. That was my birthday treat with Richard and their children.
Friday, Karen came up and took me to brunch at Perkins. We had a very enjoyable visit. We took our time and weren’t rushed. She had to be to an appointment by 12:30 so we drove separately. By the time I got home, Karl had gone to AAC to exercise and shower. I had a lovely visit on the phone with my mother and Bryan and my mother-in-law. All in all it was a very nice day. That afternoon I made a double batch of zucchini brownies. I took the larger pan to the FHC the next day and saved the smaller one for Sunday. That afternoon Karl found an envelope in our paper box with my name on it. It was a card that one of my visiting teacher had made and a pair of earrings that she also had made. I tho’t that was so sweet of her to do that. I really like the earrings. I also had 15 wishes on Facebook for my birthday and e-mails from my siblings and other two sons too. All in all it was a very nice day.
Saturday, we got to the FHC by 8:00 so I could open it up and get it ready for the day. The Butterworths got there shortly after so Brother B could help me count the money and put it in the till (or I help him). I was very busy helping the patrons and the missionaries all day long. I was so tired when we finished. We needed to go to Winco to get some things for the next day for dinner. Richard and family were coming to dinner after attending church with us . Believe me when I say: it is much different cooking for 11 than for two! But they all seemed to enjoy the food. And there weren’t as many leftovers as it looked like there would be…which is good. We were also supposed to stop and get gas in the Taurus after going to Winco but I was soo tired I forgot. So Sunday after finishing dinner we rested an hour or so then drove to Karen’s and so we had to use the Buick because the Taurus only had 57 miles worth of gas and it is at least 60 miles round trip from our house to Karen’s. We were on fumes with the Buick too by the time we got back but with the Lord’s help we made it and had enough fumes to drive to the gas station Monday morning. Bryan and Sara were there at Karen’s too. They had come from Nebraska the day before to take Sara up to BYU the next day.. Brittany and Wes and Olivia came over to do ice while we were there so we got to see them too. Olivia is sooo cute! And she rules the roost. She has a big sister, three brothers and a grandpa that jump at her every sound. She is 11 months old and already has them all well-trained. She is a very happy baby. We got home from Blackfoot about 8:00. And we were very tired again. While we were down there Richard was able to finally make the final arrangements for Elena and Ken’s baptism. The kink was thrown in because Ken is 21 years old and is a convert baptism while Elena is a child of record baptism. Richard & Téa said they called Bishop Hayes the end of June to start the ball rolling for the double baptism. When Bishop Hayes called the Idaho Pocatello Mission Office then, he was told that since it was a convert baptism that it was out of his jurisdiction. So he breathed a sigh of relief and figured he wouldn’t have to worry about it. The mission President in the Arizona Phoenix Mission told Richard and Ken that all they would need was the recommend stating that Ken had had all of the missionary discussions and the necessary interviews to be baptized and the bishop of the ward here would be able to take care of it. But then the Mission President here in Idaho said that since Ken was a convert baptism that Elders from our mission were required to be there. When Richard was able to contact the zone leaders, he was told that they were unavailable until after 6 pm. That was not acceptable because Ken’s grandparents were driving from Montana to be here for it and it is a 5½-6 hour drive and Brother Rydalch can’t see to drive after dark. Finally Sunday evening Richard was able to get contact the sister missionaries who got the info from him and then passed it on to the Elders, the district leaders. That was about 6:30 pm. Both Téa and Richard were just about sick to their stomachs over the anxiety about all of this. It was so nice for them to come up here to do this. It gets so hot this time of year in Buckeye and neither Téa’s mom nor I tolerate the heat well. It seems to me that if the two mission Presidents had communicated things may have gone more smoothly. Bishop Hayes was finally able to contact President Bach and he deligated the assignment of conducting the ceremony etc. to him. (Bishop Hayes).
Yesterday, I woke up about 6:45 and got up about 7:00. I made three cards, one for Elena, one for Ken and one for my sweetheart because it was our 48th wedding anniversary. (He wrote me a lovely letter for my birthday the day after it and it counted for our anniversary too) We left for the church about 10:20 because we had to go get gas for the Taurus and then drive cross town because the baptisms were held at the Idaho Falls West Stake Center and we live in the East Stake. There were quite a few people there. Karl said the opening prayer and was one of the witnesses and Grandpa Ryldach said the closing prayer and was one of the other witness. Just after we got there Bishop Hayes informed Richard that Grandma Rydalch was giving a talk on the Holy Ghost. That is the one Téa had prepared to give. So she had maybe ten minutes in all to think about what to say. She did very well. I played the piano. Richard had said I didn’t need to worry about music during the interlude when everyone was changing their clothes. But the bishop came and asked me if I could do it. So I did. As I played I thanked the Lord for preparing me to do it at the spur of the moment with my experience as piano player for the Relief Society as well as the FHC with the prelude music I played then. I have worked up a few pieces with substituting broken cords for the complete cords and it sounded good if I do say so myself. I shook hands with the Elders and they left immediately after helping to fold up the chairs while pictures were being taken. I was able to talk to the sister missionaries a little. Sister Kaveinga led the singing. She is of Tongan descent but if from Los Angeles as was the other sister. She had been out in the mission field 7 months while her companion was a “greenie” and had only been out five weeks. After the baptism we met at Chuck-a-rama for the luncheon afterwards. Téa’s mom and R & T treated us. Téa’s Dad was also there. It was good to see him again and get to visit a little with him. Karen was also at the baptism. We were pleased as was R&T that she was able to come because it is “Fair Week” and that is a very busy week because they keep their business going as well as spend almost all day at the fair supplying the food booths there with ice, and milk and cheese, etc. We got home from Chuck-a-rama by 3:00. Bryan had called about 1:30 to tell us that he was ready to leave Rexburg and would stop at Shani’s and then stop and see us. He got here around 4:00. We had a lovely visit with him. Showed him our “garden” and got a few pointers on it and pruning our peach tree. He also gave me some advice about the computer. He then took us out to eat at the new Hong Kong again for our anniversary. He dropped us off here at home about 7:40. We had a good meal there too. All in all it was a very good day.
I have been so tired by evening the last week that I am so thankful that I can be ready to go again after a good nights sleep. Thank goodness that I sleep well at night. The coming week will be similar in that we have busy things going every day. Will report that next week.
Wednesday we went to the FHC, of course. I got my hair colored that morning. I look and feel much better. All of the gray hair growing around my face makes me feel so blah. I feel much better (as well as look much better). I was able to help a few people. I left early because it was our Visiting Teachers Conference at 6:30 and they had a very nice luncheon with it. Almost all summer long there have only been 1 or 2 patrons come in after 5:00 so I decided I would ask permission to leave early so Karl and I drove over separately. When I asked Elder Hall if it was OK if I left (it was 6:20), he said “Of course, you can, you are your own boss now.” Referring to my being one of the directors now. I told him only on Saturday not on Wednesday.
Wednesday morning I had called Richard and asked him if he and his family would like to go to the zoo Thursday afternoon. He said they would discuss it and get back to me. He called around 10:00 am or so Thursday and told me that they would very much like to go. We met them there about 2:15. We had a lovely time while there. The weather was perfect…in the high 70’s. A year ago we had gone to the zoo with Michael and his family and it was in the high 80’s or low 90’s then. We didn’t see many animals other than the birds. All of the big animals except the Sloth Bears, were in their dens trying to keep out of the heat. This time we saw the snow leopards (two of them), the lions, the tiger (which roared for us for at least five full minutes), the red pandas as well as the farm yard animals and zebras and yak and llamas, and the monkey house too. It was a very delightful day. I did much better than I had tho’t I could. I only sat down three times in the 2 ½ hours we were there and it was close to an hour before I had to sit down the first time. I really am being blessed. Richard treated us to the new Hong Kong restaurant afterwards. We had never been there before. The food is like the Chinese Garden used to be before it changed ownership. We got home around 6:30. That was my birthday treat with Richard and their children.
Friday, Karen came up and took me to brunch at Perkins. We had a very enjoyable visit. We took our time and weren’t rushed. She had to be to an appointment by 12:30 so we drove separately. By the time I got home, Karl had gone to AAC to exercise and shower. I had a lovely visit on the phone with my mother and Bryan and my mother-in-law. All in all it was a very nice day. That afternoon I made a double batch of zucchini brownies. I took the larger pan to the FHC the next day and saved the smaller one for Sunday. That afternoon Karl found an envelope in our paper box with my name on it. It was a card that one of my visiting teacher had made and a pair of earrings that she also had made. I tho’t that was so sweet of her to do that. I really like the earrings. I also had 15 wishes on Facebook for my birthday and e-mails from my siblings and other two sons too. All in all it was a very nice day.
Saturday, we got to the FHC by 8:00 so I could open it up and get it ready for the day. The Butterworths got there shortly after so Brother B could help me count the money and put it in the till (or I help him). I was very busy helping the patrons and the missionaries all day long. I was so tired when we finished. We needed to go to Winco to get some things for the next day for dinner. Richard and family were coming to dinner after attending church with us . Believe me when I say: it is much different cooking for 11 than for two! But they all seemed to enjoy the food. And there weren’t as many leftovers as it looked like there would be…which is good. We were also supposed to stop and get gas in the Taurus after going to Winco but I was soo tired I forgot. So Sunday after finishing dinner we rested an hour or so then drove to Karen’s and so we had to use the Buick because the Taurus only had 57 miles worth of gas and it is at least 60 miles round trip from our house to Karen’s. We were on fumes with the Buick too by the time we got back but with the Lord’s help we made it and had enough fumes to drive to the gas station Monday morning. Bryan and Sara were there at Karen’s too. They had come from Nebraska the day before to take Sara up to BYU the next day.. Brittany and Wes and Olivia came over to do ice while we were there so we got to see them too. Olivia is sooo cute! And she rules the roost. She has a big sister, three brothers and a grandpa that jump at her every sound. She is 11 months old and already has them all well-trained. She is a very happy baby. We got home from Blackfoot about 8:00. And we were very tired again. While we were down there Richard was able to finally make the final arrangements for Elena and Ken’s baptism. The kink was thrown in because Ken is 21 years old and is a convert baptism while Elena is a child of record baptism. Richard & Téa said they called Bishop Hayes the end of June to start the ball rolling for the double baptism. When Bishop Hayes called the Idaho Pocatello Mission Office then, he was told that since it was a convert baptism that it was out of his jurisdiction. So he breathed a sigh of relief and figured he wouldn’t have to worry about it. The mission President in the Arizona Phoenix Mission told Richard and Ken that all they would need was the recommend stating that Ken had had all of the missionary discussions and the necessary interviews to be baptized and the bishop of the ward here would be able to take care of it. But then the Mission President here in Idaho said that since Ken was a convert baptism that Elders from our mission were required to be there. When Richard was able to contact the zone leaders, he was told that they were unavailable until after 6 pm. That was not acceptable because Ken’s grandparents were driving from Montana to be here for it and it is a 5½-6 hour drive and Brother Rydalch can’t see to drive after dark. Finally Sunday evening Richard was able to get contact the sister missionaries who got the info from him and then passed it on to the Elders, the district leaders. That was about 6:30 pm. Both Téa and Richard were just about sick to their stomachs over the anxiety about all of this. It was so nice for them to come up here to do this. It gets so hot this time of year in Buckeye and neither Téa’s mom nor I tolerate the heat well. It seems to me that if the two mission Presidents had communicated things may have gone more smoothly. Bishop Hayes was finally able to contact President Bach and he deligated the assignment of conducting the ceremony etc. to him. (Bishop Hayes).
Yesterday, I woke up about 6:45 and got up about 7:00. I made three cards, one for Elena, one for Ken and one for my sweetheart because it was our 48th wedding anniversary. (He wrote me a lovely letter for my birthday the day after it and it counted for our anniversary too) We left for the church about 10:20 because we had to go get gas for the Taurus and then drive cross town because the baptisms were held at the Idaho Falls West Stake Center and we live in the East Stake. There were quite a few people there. Karl said the opening prayer and was one of the witnesses and Grandpa Ryldach said the closing prayer and was one of the other witness. Just after we got there Bishop Hayes informed Richard that Grandma Rydalch was giving a talk on the Holy Ghost. That is the one Téa had prepared to give. So she had maybe ten minutes in all to think about what to say. She did very well. I played the piano. Richard had said I didn’t need to worry about music during the interlude when everyone was changing their clothes. But the bishop came and asked me if I could do it. So I did. As I played I thanked the Lord for preparing me to do it at the spur of the moment with my experience as piano player for the Relief Society as well as the FHC with the prelude music I played then. I have worked up a few pieces with substituting broken cords for the complete cords and it sounded good if I do say so myself. I shook hands with the Elders and they left immediately after helping to fold up the chairs while pictures were being taken. I was able to talk to the sister missionaries a little. Sister Kaveinga led the singing. She is of Tongan descent but if from Los Angeles as was the other sister. She had been out in the mission field 7 months while her companion was a “greenie” and had only been out five weeks. After the baptism we met at Chuck-a-rama for the luncheon afterwards. Téa’s mom and R & T treated us. Téa’s Dad was also there. It was good to see him again and get to visit a little with him. Karen was also at the baptism. We were pleased as was R&T that she was able to come because it is “Fair Week” and that is a very busy week because they keep their business going as well as spend almost all day at the fair supplying the food booths there with ice, and milk and cheese, etc. We got home from Chuck-a-rama by 3:00. Bryan had called about 1:30 to tell us that he was ready to leave Rexburg and would stop at Shani’s and then stop and see us. He got here around 4:00. We had a lovely visit with him. Showed him our “garden” and got a few pointers on it and pruning our peach tree. He also gave me some advice about the computer. He then took us out to eat at the new Hong Kong again for our anniversary. He dropped us off here at home about 7:40. We had a good meal there too. All in all it was a very good day.
I have been so tired by evening the last week that I am so thankful that I can be ready to go again after a good nights sleep. Thank goodness that I sleep well at night. The coming week will be similar in that we have busy things going every day. Will report that next week.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
The second week of August already!
It is hard to believe that it’s been five weeks since I wrote here. It has been busy what with the FHC and all. I attended my first director’s meeting last Monday. I and Sister Harenberg, who is the secretary, were the only women there. There is also a Sister Price who couldn’t be there but is also an assistant director. Sister Hendricks will also be there until the end of September. I am the only Supervisor who is a woman. I had my début at supervising yesterday. Things went well. We had to be there by 8:00 am to open the building. The Butterworths were there shortly after to count the money and put it in the till. The others started coming about 8:30-8:35; prayer meeting starts at 8:45. The supervisor is the one who conducts prayer meeting and who is generally in charge and makes decisions if any decisions beyond the individual ones need to be made. As my sweetheart was telling his mother last night, “that things went well and Renée just took everything in stride” my tho’t was, “It wasn’t so different, responsibility-wise as being a charge nurse at the hospital.” And I did a pretty good job at that (even if I do say so myself). I started two weeks earlier than I tho’t I would because the Caseaus were gone to California to a niece’s wedding. I’m thankful that Elder Lyon called Elder Reed to be the supervisor for Friday. I’m afraid it would have been too much to do both Friday and Saturday and go to church on Sunday too. Then there is the director’s meeting at 9:00 am on Monday morning too. I think this will work out really well.
Today for church I was able to wear my sandals with 1 ¼ inch heels--The first time since I’ve had surgery. My foot didn’t even swell too much. I’m thankful that the swelling is decreasing. There for a while I wondered if it would. We had good meetings—all three of them.
In Relief Society we talked about how we are a covenant people. Erin Nelson, the teacher, told us she tho’t how neat it is that altho’ people may not be born into the lineage of Abraham, that they may be adopted in and share all of the blessings as if they were born in that lineage. I made the comment that when someone in this life is adopted that the adopted name becomes the legal name and with what we believe with the sealing, then everything is as if they were actually born to those parents. She tho’t that I was trying to take away the neatness of it. Afterwards, I went up and tried to explain it to her. I told her that it is another way that our Heavenly Father has planned so that all people can take advantage of His plan, if they so chose even if they were not born in it. Then I was inspired to say, “It is just like the way we do the temple ordinances for our dead; those who haven’t heard the Gospel in this life and still need the work done, we do it for them.” I felt the Spirit bear witness to me as I said that as to the truthfulness of what I said. I wished that I had been inspired to say that during class so everyone there could have heard it too. (Because it was a new tho’t to me; I hadn’t made that connection before.)
Oh, by the way, I have lost the three pounds I gained plus one. I should be able to do even better when I start exercising more and get back to Silver Sneakers. I am determined to do that. We got our reports last week of our blood work when we went to the doctor July 27. my A1c is the same as last time, 7.3. I want to get it back down in the 6 range. I know I will have to exercise regularly to do that. Even a couple times a week will be better than what I’m doing now.
We also went to the temple a week ago Friday. We have been averaging once a month. Hopefully we can increase it to twice a month. We’ll see.
Entry for August 1, 2010
My goodness, it does get hot in Russia as well as cold. 40 degrees Celsius is equal to 104 Fahrenheit. Did you know that? That is hot. The hottest it has been here so far this summer is 98 degrees F. That was last weekend. Today it is 89 degrees F. Our house stays fairly cool until it starts cooling off last night then we face the fan out the front door and open the back door and windows and blow the hot air out the front and let the cool air come in the back. That works out pretty well. If it were 104 tho’ I don’t think it would work as well.
My foot is healing very well. I even wore my sandals to church today for the first time since I had the surgery June 25. My foot did swell and I came home and put on my nursing shoes so the swelling would go down. That is what I have worn for almost two weeks to keep the swelling down. I’m in no pain, which is very nice.
Grandpa fell while riding his bike a week ago. He was trying to bring home about 8 feet of chain link fence on it and ran into the curb and fell. He broke a blood vessel on his right shin. So he has a very colorful leg, ankle and foot now. It is starting to turn yellow now tho’ which means it is healing (an excerpt from a letter to Bryce.)
Today for church I was able to wear my sandals with 1 ¼ inch heels--The first time since I’ve had surgery. My foot didn’t even swell too much. I’m thankful that the swelling is decreasing. There for a while I wondered if it would. We had good meetings—all three of them.
In Relief Society we talked about how we are a covenant people. Erin Nelson, the teacher, told us she tho’t how neat it is that altho’ people may not be born into the lineage of Abraham, that they may be adopted in and share all of the blessings as if they were born in that lineage. I made the comment that when someone in this life is adopted that the adopted name becomes the legal name and with what we believe with the sealing, then everything is as if they were actually born to those parents. She tho’t that I was trying to take away the neatness of it. Afterwards, I went up and tried to explain it to her. I told her that it is another way that our Heavenly Father has planned so that all people can take advantage of His plan, if they so chose even if they were not born in it. Then I was inspired to say, “It is just like the way we do the temple ordinances for our dead; those who haven’t heard the Gospel in this life and still need the work done, we do it for them.” I felt the Spirit bear witness to me as I said that as to the truthfulness of what I said. I wished that I had been inspired to say that during class so everyone there could have heard it too. (Because it was a new tho’t to me; I hadn’t made that connection before.)
Oh, by the way, I have lost the three pounds I gained plus one. I should be able to do even better when I start exercising more and get back to Silver Sneakers. I am determined to do that. We got our reports last week of our blood work when we went to the doctor July 27. my A1c is the same as last time, 7.3. I want to get it back down in the 6 range. I know I will have to exercise regularly to do that. Even a couple times a week will be better than what I’m doing now.
We also went to the temple a week ago Friday. We have been averaging once a month. Hopefully we can increase it to twice a month. We’ll see.
Entry for August 1, 2010
My goodness, it does get hot in Russia as well as cold. 40 degrees Celsius is equal to 104 Fahrenheit. Did you know that? That is hot. The hottest it has been here so far this summer is 98 degrees F. That was last weekend. Today it is 89 degrees F. Our house stays fairly cool until it starts cooling off last night then we face the fan out the front door and open the back door and windows and blow the hot air out the front and let the cool air come in the back. That works out pretty well. If it were 104 tho’ I don’t think it would work as well.
My foot is healing very well. I even wore my sandals to church today for the first time since I had the surgery June 25. My foot did swell and I came home and put on my nursing shoes so the swelling would go down. That is what I have worn for almost two weeks to keep the swelling down. I’m in no pain, which is very nice.
Grandpa fell while riding his bike a week ago. He was trying to bring home about 8 feet of chain link fence on it and ran into the curb and fell. He broke a blood vessel on his right shin. So he has a very colorful leg, ankle and foot now. It is starting to turn yellow now tho’ which means it is healing (an excerpt from a letter to Bryce.)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
My Life the Last Five Weeks
It has been quite some time since I wrote. On June 25 I had a bunionectomy on my left foot. I’ve talked to people who’s bunions were excruciatingly painful and so was the surgery. Mine didn’t even ache until the weekend before the surgery. Up until then I was debating whether or not to cancel the surgery. I took the aching as a sing to have it. The bunion didn’t really bother me but my doctor, a podiatrist, told me that the fact that I have calluses on the protrusion that resulted in the bunion meant it was rubbing which means that I could get a diabetic ulcer. I have taken care of people with diabetic ulcers and know they are very hard to get rid of. So between that and the aching I decided to have it. My pain was easily controlled with the pain pills. I had to wear a special shoe for 3 ½ weeks. I couldn’t take a shower for 12 days….just spit bathes as I called them. I have been wearing a matched pair of shoes since last Tuesday. The doctor advised me to wear exercise type shoes (what we used to call tenny runners) because they would keep my foot from swelling. ( wondered about that because it is soo confining. But he was right. It swells less when I wear those shoes than when I don’t.) I have mostly done that wearing them to the FHC and to church. Yesterday we didn’t go the FHC because it was the 24th of July. We don’t celebrate the 24th on the 24th so it must have been a directive from SLC. Anyway, I had the surgery done then because we had a two week hiatus or vacation while the FHC was thoroughly cleaned. I spent the first week literally just sitting in my recliner with my left leg on two pillows with frozen peas & carrots or corn on my foot. The Sunday after, I went to just sacrament meeting. I used my wheelchair which caused a lot of attention. But with it I was able to keep my left leg up. I did most of the cooking fixing quick simple meals. But that was about all I did for two weeks. I wore my Cherokee sandel on my right foot. It was the shoe that had a little more than an inch sole to almost match the sole on my special shoe. But I wobbled. Altho’, I have been wearing a matched pair since Tuesday, I have noticed that I still don’t quite walk naturally as I did before.
I spent the 4th of July sitting in my chair. They celebrated on the 3rd here. Both days I spent in my chair. I couldn’t have gone anywhere to see the parade or fireworks and not have my leg hanging down. We watch Macy’s 4th of July, and the Boston Pops 4th of July. On the 5th we watched A Capitol 4th that I had recorded the evening before from PBS. They all were very good. Lovely music and beautiful fireworks. Of course, they aren’t nearly as pretty as in real life. As I was sitting in sacrament meeting that day, pondering our wonderful country and the many blessings I enjoy, the tho’t came to me: it really is appropriate to”celebrate” the 4th of July at church. There is no better place to worship our Heavenly Father and thank Him for the gifts of this country and our forefathers and what they did.
We returned to the FHC Wednesday July 7th. We took my wheel chair with me because I wasn’t sure how long I could sit with my foot down. I went about two and a half hours, then my sweetheart went out and got the wheel chair out of the car. I was glad that we had taken it. We took it Saturday also, but I was so busy helping others at the computer that I didn’t have a chance to use it. I wouldn’t have been nearly as effective if I had been in the w/c because I couldn’t have gotten close enough to the person I was helping and the computer. I also had my class to teach Saturday as well. And the w/c wouldn’t have worked there at all. By the time the class was over with, there was less than an hour left and we could go home. I haven’t used the w/c since.
On July 14, Elder Lyon, the director for the FHC came in. We usually don’t see him on Wednesday afternoon. He only works ½ day that day and usually is there in the morning. We don’t start our shift until 1:00 pm. Anyway, he was there then. And he came up to me and asked if I could visit with him for a few minutes. So went with him to his office. He started by asking me how my foot was and what I had done with it. He then asked me to be an assistant director taking the Caseau’s place after their mission ends August 19. So I won’t start until about the middle of August. There are eight assistant directors who help the director and supervise each of the shifts. They have weekly meetings, Monday morning at 9:00. He asked me if I tho’t I could do two days in a row. I told him that I have been very glad over the years that my days are split. I’m not to tell anyone. I have told my family but they all live away from here so that’s OK. He’ll probably announce it to the board tomorrow or maybe not till next week, but then for sure.
Thursday, Karl’s cousin called and told us that Uncle Lee had called her and told her that he was in Island Park for a family reunion and was getting married the next evening. We got to talking and decided since we didn’t have anything to do that evening and more importantly, we didn’t need to go to the FHC the next day, we would go. We didn’t know for sure how long it would take to drive there and had no idea where the church was. When we got to Island Park we stopped at the first gas station we saw. I had my missionary name tag on since I was in Sunday clothes. The young man asked if we were asking about the LDS church. I told him yes. I was surprised to learn there was one there. The last time we had been up there, we still had all of our children were home. In fact, Richard probably wasn’t born yet. And they didn’t have an LDS church there then. It was quite interesting. They had a notice on the door stating that they had sacrament meetings at 9:00 and 11:00 am and 9:00 pm. They were telling us that they had 2,000 people attending some of those meeting….it didn’t sound like a total for the day. It was good to see Uncle Lee and meet his new wife. They have been neighbors the last five years. Aunt Aileen died the beginning of this year. Uncle Lee explained that Carol was alone and he was alone and it just made sense to get married. She had only been baptized a month or so but after a year she had agreed to be sealed to him in the temple. They looked very happy. All of Uncle Lee’s children were there. It was good to talk to each one of them. We were made very much welcome. We didn’t get home until almost 11:00pm. The wedding didn’t start until 8:15. we found out it takes about an hour and a half—give or take—to drive up there or back from there.
Since we don’t get to go to the Famers’ Market on Saturday with our working at the FHC that day, we decided that we wanted to do that yesterday. Then my sweetheart took me to Perkins for brunch. We tried one of their new omelets. It was delicious. I had planned on going to the temple and maybe the visitors’ center too. Or one or the other. But with our going to Island Park the evening before we slept in late and ran out of energy too soon.
After my surgery, I didn’t even turn on my computer for a whole week. I still haven’t begun to catch up on my e-mail. I’ve been able to stay on top of my bulletins for which I am glad. We did it on Thursday, the week of my surgery and then Saturday the next week. I’m so thankful for a computer. I don’t know how I would be able to do this without it. And I can find applicable quotes, too, online on the topics the speakers speak on.
Oh, I just about forgot. Friday about 3:00 pm Fred, Karl’s youngest brother called and said he was at Home Depot parking lot and he’d like to see us if we could drive over. They were in the area to see their newest grandson. His son-in-law works there at HD. Fred had dropped him off that morning then left to go visit Mom in Grace and just gotten back an hour before his SIL would be thro’. We were able to watch the Blue Angels practicing for the air show they yesterday and this afternoon. It was great to see them instead of just hear them. They are so loud but since they travel faster than sound it is hard to tell where they are coming from and where they are. Besides, the houses and trees where we live, are so close together, we can’t get a good view here. But we did there. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them as we visited with Fred. There are six of them but only four fly together most of the time. They are extremely loud!! We also enjoyed talking to Fred and learning what all he’s been doing and what all of his children have been doing.
Well, that’s a summary of my life over the last five weeks or so. I have gained three pounds with my inactivity. I’ll have to start exercising and walking again and get those off.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
I Am So Thankful For My Ancestors
I had an interesting experience at the FHC yesterday. It was after teaching my PAF class and only an hour or so before closing. A young woman had come in stating she needed to make a Family Tree for a class that she and her husband are taking in preparation for becoming foster parents. She brought her own birth certificate and her mother’s death certificate. Her mother was born the same year I was, 1943 and her sire was born in 1936. (I say sire because she never met him; he is her birth father but that is all. Her mother never married him but married two or three other men.) They died 1998 and 2008 respectively. We were able to find them on the Social Security Death Index and therefore obtained their correct birth and death dates. That is all we were able to find. The young woman’s grandmother is still alive but not in good health. I believe the young woman stated her grandmother has Alzheimer’s. All we could come up with was herself, her mother and her grandmother. We looked on many different sites. The US census would have been a good source, except the last available one is the 1930 census. It was hard for me to imagine that that was all one could know about her ancestors. I compared it to my own life where my great-grandchildren have two great-great grandmothers still living. That is five living generations! It made me realize, again, just how blessed I am to know about my ancestors and many of their stories and experiences they experienced while on this earth. I am so thankful for my ancestors and the lives they lived and trials they endured so that I could be where I am today, living in the United States of America and be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If just one of them had lived their life differently, who’s to say where I would be this day.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
A Special Stake Conference
I worte this last week and forgot to post it.
We had a special Stake Conference today called by Elder Bruce Porter of the First Council of Seventy. We didn’t have a Saturday night meeting but they did have a special leadership meeting with 20 Stake Presidents and their bishops in attendance. Presiding was Elder Dallen H. Oakes, Elder Packer, son of President Packer and Elder Porter. Elder and Sister Porter were the only ones there today. It was a wonderful meeting. I could feel the Spirit so strongly. Dad sang in the choir. They were notified only ten days ago of this conference. I’m not quite sure why our Stake was chosen but they said we were chosen to have this conference.
President Heber Andrus talked first. He spoke of the importance of our continuing to read our scriptures, say our family prayers and have family home evenings. We are promised as we continue to do these things, we will be blessed with a more abundance attendance of the Holy Ghost which will keep us safe from the adversary.
President Manwaring spoke of faith and footings and how if both are square, strong and true so are we or our buildings. And President Kite told the story of the good Samaritan and talked about taking care of the poor and the needy whether it be poor in earthly things or in spirit that we need to be sensitive and help them return to strength.
President Andrus then called his daughter-in-law, the new Stake YW president, and the new Stake Primary president and a young man who was preparing to leave on a mission. He had his call because he had been thro’ the temple a week ago (up in Rexburg since ours is closed) but didn’t tell us where it he is going. They were all surprised by the call but all gave excellent talks.
After the intermediate hymn Sister Susan Porter spoke to us. She spoke of experiences they had walking where Jesus walked in the Holy Land. She said they were able to spend two weeks there a few months ago. She said that altho’ we can’t all go to the Holy Land, we can still walk how Jesus walked, talk as He walked meaning we can do the things he did: love others as He did, help others as He did, teach others as He did. It was a very good talk.
Elder Porter gave such a good talk. I believe that he has an article in the December Ensign that my Sweetheart read to me last Monday for our Family Home Evening. He spoke on many things and I could really feel the spirit. I can’t remember that much about it. I do remember that he said, ”Those who are experiencing guilt because of suffering abuse caused by someone else, need not feel guilty anymore. That the Savior took care of that for them.” Altho’ I haven’t experienced anything like that personally, I felt that there was someone there who needed to hear that. He spoke of many other things. I really could feel the Spirit. I know that he is a servant of the Father. I was able to meet him and shake my hand afterwards. As he shook my hand he called me Sister Robinson thanked me for “the service I am doing at the Family History Center. (of course I had my name tag on.) I tho’t, “That’s the least I can do.” I felt so spiritually fed after attending that meeting.
I’ve had two good weeks at the FHC. All three of my PAF classes have gone very well. There were 13 there the first two weeks and 16 there yesterday. I’m thankful that so many are interested in learning about it. I have also been able to help many of the patrons who have come in as well as some of the new missionaries. It feels so good to be able to help people. I’m very thankful for my calling as a FHC missionary and for the knowledge that has been given me and a good mind to help me remember the things I have learned so that I can help others. I really think that the fact I can do these things is a spiritual gift. I also know that this is what I am supposed to be doing at this time in my life. I’m thankful that my sweetheart supports me in this and goes with me. We have made some choice friends that we wouldn’t have met anywhere else.
We had a special Stake Conference today called by Elder Bruce Porter of the First Council of Seventy. We didn’t have a Saturday night meeting but they did have a special leadership meeting with 20 Stake Presidents and their bishops in attendance. Presiding was Elder Dallen H. Oakes, Elder Packer, son of President Packer and Elder Porter. Elder and Sister Porter were the only ones there today. It was a wonderful meeting. I could feel the Spirit so strongly. Dad sang in the choir. They were notified only ten days ago of this conference. I’m not quite sure why our Stake was chosen but they said we were chosen to have this conference.
President Heber Andrus talked first. He spoke of the importance of our continuing to read our scriptures, say our family prayers and have family home evenings. We are promised as we continue to do these things, we will be blessed with a more abundance attendance of the Holy Ghost which will keep us safe from the adversary.
President Manwaring spoke of faith and footings and how if both are square, strong and true so are we or our buildings. And President Kite told the story of the good Samaritan and talked about taking care of the poor and the needy whether it be poor in earthly things or in spirit that we need to be sensitive and help them return to strength.
President Andrus then called his daughter-in-law, the new Stake YW president, and the new Stake Primary president and a young man who was preparing to leave on a mission. He had his call because he had been thro’ the temple a week ago (up in Rexburg since ours is closed) but didn’t tell us where it he is going. They were all surprised by the call but all gave excellent talks.
After the intermediate hymn Sister Susan Porter spoke to us. She spoke of experiences they had walking where Jesus walked in the Holy Land. She said they were able to spend two weeks there a few months ago. She said that altho’ we can’t all go to the Holy Land, we can still walk how Jesus walked, talk as He walked meaning we can do the things he did: love others as He did, help others as He did, teach others as He did. It was a very good talk.
Elder Porter gave such a good talk. I believe that he has an article in the December Ensign that my Sweetheart read to me last Monday for our Family Home Evening. He spoke on many things and I could really feel the spirit. I can’t remember that much about it. I do remember that he said, ”Those who are experiencing guilt because of suffering abuse caused by someone else, need not feel guilty anymore. That the Savior took care of that for them.” Altho’ I haven’t experienced anything like that personally, I felt that there was someone there who needed to hear that. He spoke of many other things. I really could feel the Spirit. I know that he is a servant of the Father. I was able to meet him and shake my hand afterwards. As he shook my hand he called me Sister Robinson thanked me for “the service I am doing at the Family History Center. (of course I had my name tag on.) I tho’t, “That’s the least I can do.” I felt so spiritually fed after attending that meeting.
I’ve had two good weeks at the FHC. All three of my PAF classes have gone very well. There were 13 there the first two weeks and 16 there yesterday. I’m thankful that so many are interested in learning about it. I have also been able to help many of the patrons who have come in as well as some of the new missionaries. It feels so good to be able to help people. I’m very thankful for my calling as a FHC missionary and for the knowledge that has been given me and a good mind to help me remember the things I have learned so that I can help others. I really think that the fact I can do these things is a spiritual gift. I also know that this is what I am supposed to be doing at this time in my life. I’m thankful that my sweetheart supports me in this and goes with me. We have made some choice friends that we wouldn’t have met anywhere else.
How Do You Hold Onto An Angel?
Monday, I learned that my niece had her baby and it only lived three short hours. My heart literally aches for her, her husband and her parents. My mother’s parents have 200 descendants and this is the first and only baby that has died shortly after birth in those descendants. It is such a sad thing. My tho’t has been that she only needed to receive her body to go on in her eternal progression. Understanding that helps but does not take away the pain. I was wondering the other day if my father, who died forty years ago, was there to greet her. As I wondered this, the Spirit whispered to me that he may have been but the Savior was there to greet her with open arms for sure. I am copying two documents that my brother sent me. The first is written by the father of the baby and the second by my brother:
Colette’s Story
January 26, 2010
There are many and yet no words that I can say that does our hearts justice. The last few days have held many colors of emotion. In this small time our family has lived a lifetime.
We have felt the excitement of a new spirit knocking at our door. The whirlwind of change as she joined us in the delivery room. The pride felt of knowing our family is +1. This was a daughter of our god making herself known. The sudden energy of compassion poured out around us from the resourceful and intelligent staff. The loving power and awarmth of the priesthood. The dizzying amount of technological advancements beeping around us. The capability to say, “I love you”, over long distances. The painful reluctance and humble concession to our Heavenly Father’s will. A tender snuggle from one so small. The tears of strangers now shared as a untied family. The thunderous unyielding efforts to reunite mother with daughter. The peaceful feel of a daughter returned home. The piercing heartbeat of a unbreakable bond.
Our Heavenly Father has blessed us, not only with another one of his daughters, but one who cared to make herself known. One so strong in spirit that she, communicated with a two year old using gentle nudges from a tummy, bring a smile to her older brother’s face in just single thought, unite mother and father closer than ever before, bring complete strangers together with strength of spirit and conviction. She delivered our Heavenly Father’s tender mercy and love with a single, self-sustained breath.
She shared her simple testimony with us and now, I as her earthly father share this part of my heart and the testimony of my love for our Savior. I testify of the simple truth of our Heavenly Father’s perfect plan, and with a heavy heart, relay how grateful I am for the blessings that come from an Eternal Family. I encourage all who read this to take this little girl’s humble example and share your life’s testimony. Have no fear even until your last breath! I have learned that without words you have the power to change hearts and strengthen many!
With humble gratitude I leave you this testimony in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dusty
How Do You Hold on to an Angel?
By Roy C Wendel
As I write these words, my heart is breaking. After a brief three-hours in mortality, my precious, sweet, perfect little granddaughter, Colette Eliza Chadwick returned home to a loving and understanding Heavely Father. This all happened on Sunday, January 24, 2010.
I awoke early Monday morning, sobbing in my bed. later that day I went downstairs and wrote three questions on a pad of paper.
1. How do you hold an Angel?
2. How many tars does it take to heal a broken heart?
3. Who helped her home?
When I woke up this morning, Tuesday, January 26th the answers came to me through the warm comfort of the spirit.
Angels come and go in our lives all of the time. Some stay for a while and some do not. Colette is one of those angels! She came-she only needed a physical body to complete her salvation and become perfect. She drew one unassisted breathe into her small undeveloped lungs. That was all she needed to be perfected. So I ask the question again- How do you hold onto an angel? The answer I received was swift and clear-“You don’t hold on to an angel- Angels hold onto you!”
Broken hearts are hard to heal. It seems that a heart breaks all at once. One moment it is whole- the next it is shattered. Like a piece of crystal thrown against a brick wall-it seems impossible to reassemble! As I lay in bed crying I was asking this question, “How many tears will it take to heal a broken heart?” again the answer was swift and sure-“it takes a million gazillion tears to heal a broken heart—but they are not all yours!” tears have been shed by family, friends, and most importantly by our Savior. We have been surrounded by love, supported by faith, and taught a great lesson by an angel who lived such a short time. Yes, there will be lots of tears-but no one will be shedding them alone!
I once had the privilege of helping the primary present a depiction of the plan of salvation to the children. They went from pre-mortal life to mortality then on to immortality. At each stage I was able to talk with them and explain what was going to happen. I felt impressed to say to each of them, “Don’t worry, although you don’t know exactly what is going to happen, there will be someone there who knows you and loves you and they will help you along.” This morning I was wondering about Colette. I was reflecting on my third question, “Who was there to help her home?” once again the answer was plan and perhaps more than comforting. It was just two words that came into my mind—“I AM” the great I AM—the creator and Savior of the universe, the keeper of the gate who employeth no servant there, it was He who received Colette, it was He who gave me comfort and understanding.
Now the real work begins. We have a member of our family who is perfected and waiting for the rest of us. It is my prayer that we will each do what we know we need to do to make sure that this little, sweet, perfect, Colette Eliza Chadwick is not alone.
Remember—you don’t hold an angel—an angel holds on to you!
Colette’s Story
January 26, 2010
There are many and yet no words that I can say that does our hearts justice. The last few days have held many colors of emotion. In this small time our family has lived a lifetime.
We have felt the excitement of a new spirit knocking at our door. The whirlwind of change as she joined us in the delivery room. The pride felt of knowing our family is +1. This was a daughter of our god making herself known. The sudden energy of compassion poured out around us from the resourceful and intelligent staff. The loving power and awarmth of the priesthood. The dizzying amount of technological advancements beeping around us. The capability to say, “I love you”, over long distances. The painful reluctance and humble concession to our Heavenly Father’s will. A tender snuggle from one so small. The tears of strangers now shared as a untied family. The thunderous unyielding efforts to reunite mother with daughter. The peaceful feel of a daughter returned home. The piercing heartbeat of a unbreakable bond.
Our Heavenly Father has blessed us, not only with another one of his daughters, but one who cared to make herself known. One so strong in spirit that she, communicated with a two year old using gentle nudges from a tummy, bring a smile to her older brother’s face in just single thought, unite mother and father closer than ever before, bring complete strangers together with strength of spirit and conviction. She delivered our Heavenly Father’s tender mercy and love with a single, self-sustained breath.
She shared her simple testimony with us and now, I as her earthly father share this part of my heart and the testimony of my love for our Savior. I testify of the simple truth of our Heavenly Father’s perfect plan, and with a heavy heart, relay how grateful I am for the blessings that come from an Eternal Family. I encourage all who read this to take this little girl’s humble example and share your life’s testimony. Have no fear even until your last breath! I have learned that without words you have the power to change hearts and strengthen many!
With humble gratitude I leave you this testimony in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dusty
How Do You Hold on to an Angel?
By Roy C Wendel
As I write these words, my heart is breaking. After a brief three-hours in mortality, my precious, sweet, perfect little granddaughter, Colette Eliza Chadwick returned home to a loving and understanding Heavely Father. This all happened on Sunday, January 24, 2010.
I awoke early Monday morning, sobbing in my bed. later that day I went downstairs and wrote three questions on a pad of paper.
1. How do you hold an Angel?
2. How many tars does it take to heal a broken heart?
3. Who helped her home?
When I woke up this morning, Tuesday, January 26th the answers came to me through the warm comfort of the spirit.
Angels come and go in our lives all of the time. Some stay for a while and some do not. Colette is one of those angels! She came-she only needed a physical body to complete her salvation and become perfect. She drew one unassisted breathe into her small undeveloped lungs. That was all she needed to be perfected. So I ask the question again- How do you hold onto an angel? The answer I received was swift and clear-“You don’t hold on to an angel- Angels hold onto you!”
Broken hearts are hard to heal. It seems that a heart breaks all at once. One moment it is whole- the next it is shattered. Like a piece of crystal thrown against a brick wall-it seems impossible to reassemble! As I lay in bed crying I was asking this question, “How many tears will it take to heal a broken heart?” again the answer was swift and sure-“it takes a million gazillion tears to heal a broken heart—but they are not all yours!” tears have been shed by family, friends, and most importantly by our Savior. We have been surrounded by love, supported by faith, and taught a great lesson by an angel who lived such a short time. Yes, there will be lots of tears-but no one will be shedding them alone!
I once had the privilege of helping the primary present a depiction of the plan of salvation to the children. They went from pre-mortal life to mortality then on to immortality. At each stage I was able to talk with them and explain what was going to happen. I felt impressed to say to each of them, “Don’t worry, although you don’t know exactly what is going to happen, there will be someone there who knows you and loves you and they will help you along.” This morning I was wondering about Colette. I was reflecting on my third question, “Who was there to help her home?” once again the answer was plan and perhaps more than comforting. It was just two words that came into my mind—“I AM” the great I AM—the creator and Savior of the universe, the keeper of the gate who employeth no servant there, it was He who received Colette, it was He who gave me comfort and understanding.
Now the real work begins. We have a member of our family who is perfected and waiting for the rest of us. It is my prayer that we will each do what we know we need to do to make sure that this little, sweet, perfect, Colette Eliza Chadwick is not alone.
Remember—you don’t hold an angel—an angel holds on to you!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
A New Year Already!
My, the time has flown. It is a new year and I missed the whole month of December writing here. It was a very busy month, baking, getting ready for Christmas as well as working at the FHC twice a week. We had a very nice Christmas. It was different in that Christmas Eve we had only Karen & Kent’s neighbor, Bob there plus, Karen and Kent, Kylie, my mother-in-law, my sweetheart and myself. Bob just stayed for the meal and left. The rest of us had our program. It was the smallest number yet for the program. We took turns reading the scriptures that told of Christ’s birth on both continents. Kylie and I took turns playing the piano as the others sang the Christmas carols. Karl and Kylie sand a duet of “Star Bright”. Their voices blend sooo nicely. Karl sang “O Holy Night” accapelo and of course we sang “He sent His Son” and “Let There Be Peace On Earth” accompanied by myself. It was all very nice. Mom’s neighbor was coming up to IF so brought her as far as Blackfoot. She said she had been invited to Christmas dinner at Paul’s but she was soo glad to be there with us for the Christmas Eve part as well as all day Christmas day.
We left about 2:00 the day after Christmas to take her home. We stayed with her until Monday morning when we headed for Utah to see our two sons and their families and my mother. Sunday afternoon, Paul and ElDene came over and a little later their oldest son, Kevin came over with his girlfriend, Jessica. We had a delightful visit with all of them. After they left the three of us played Rumicube, two games. It was fun. We left about 10:00 the next morning for Utah. I had talked to Kim and Bryan and Téa and Mama Saturday night. Found out that our gifts for Richard, Téa and family hadn’t gotten there. Téa had called earlier in the week saying they weren’t there yet. I discovered that I had the wrong house number on it….7654 instead of 1654. I guess I can’t read my own writing. I have corrected the address for sure. They had blizzard in Nebraska. Bryan said that in the six years that they have lived there, he hasn’t seen drifts that high before. They had about 21 inches with 40 mph winds.
Kim said it would be best if we waited to come to his house because he had to work until 9:00 pm Monday. He would be off Tuesday and Wednesday. So we stayed with Mama Monday night. That was good too. you get a different kind of visit when you stay over night instead of just visiting for a couple of hours. The same when staying with our children. it is just different when we wake up at their house instead of just stopping in for a few hours. We had a delightful time with Kim, Kimberly and their children. We played games and watched a couple of movies. I had given Karl “Ever Strong” the story of the Highland Rugby Team (SLC) and “One Good Man”. I took them both with us. Everyone seemed to enjoy watching them. we went shopping with the Kim's Wednesday afternoon then left for Michael & Tanya’s just before 5:00. We had a delightful time visiting with them too. Their two little girls are sooo cute and make you feel so welcome and loved. The others do too but…We also enjoyed Tasha and Collin too.
We spent New Year’s Eve with Michael & Tanya. We were able to play a couple of good games of Pinochle while we were there. The men got double pinochle again. But the women did too. we have been keeping track who gets it and when the last five+ years and the men get it three to one of the women getting it. We kept telling them that and they didn’t believe it so now we keep track. We left about 10:00 or so New Year’s Day (we have found that that is a good time to travel…not as much traffic as other days) and stopped at Karen & Kent’s to pick up the stuff we left there from Christmas and got home about 4:30 or so New Year’s Day. Saturday, I did the wash, made out the budget, paid the bills, etc. and quickly put the bulletin together and ran it off and folded them….all with Karl’s help.
Sunday was our first Sunday meeting at 9:00. it will be nice having a part of a day after church. Monday, I took down all of the Christmas decorations and Karl took them down stairs. It was pretty much an all day job for me. Tuesday, we went to Silver Sneakers exercise class and worked on the bulletin, Wednesday, the FHC, Thursday, Silver Sneakers, and worked on the bulletin, Friday, ran off the bulletin and got them folded and went to the temple and Saturday the FHC again where I taught my first PAF class in the series. I didn’t expect hardly anyone there. I had told a few patrons about it as they came in but didn’t really expect anyone to come. I knew that there would be one new missionary couple, so I knew there would be maybe five there. I thought I was being optimistic by printing off seven handouts. There were 16 people there!!! I was soo pleasantly surprised. It went very well and all seemed to enjoy it. All in all it was a very full week. I’ve decided that I need to keep going to Silver Sneakers. I hadn’t been to Apple Athletic Club for at least four months maybe five. Karl has kept going at least twice a week all that time but I had other things to keep me busy. I decided that I need to do it for me tho’. My blood sugars have been better and I feel better and my abs stay in much better. I need to do this!! So last weeks schedule will probably be close to last week. If I can get to Apple Athletic Club at least two times if possible three times a week, I will be much healthier. I have the bulletin pretty much down now if people will get me the material I need to put in it by Thursday evening, then I think it is a plan that will work. Time will tell.
We left about 2:00 the day after Christmas to take her home. We stayed with her until Monday morning when we headed for Utah to see our two sons and their families and my mother. Sunday afternoon, Paul and ElDene came over and a little later their oldest son, Kevin came over with his girlfriend, Jessica. We had a delightful visit with all of them. After they left the three of us played Rumicube, two games. It was fun. We left about 10:00 the next morning for Utah. I had talked to Kim and Bryan and Téa and Mama Saturday night. Found out that our gifts for Richard, Téa and family hadn’t gotten there. Téa had called earlier in the week saying they weren’t there yet. I discovered that I had the wrong house number on it….7654 instead of 1654. I guess I can’t read my own writing. I have corrected the address for sure. They had blizzard in Nebraska. Bryan said that in the six years that they have lived there, he hasn’t seen drifts that high before. They had about 21 inches with 40 mph winds.
Kim said it would be best if we waited to come to his house because he had to work until 9:00 pm Monday. He would be off Tuesday and Wednesday. So we stayed with Mama Monday night. That was good too. you get a different kind of visit when you stay over night instead of just visiting for a couple of hours. The same when staying with our children. it is just different when we wake up at their house instead of just stopping in for a few hours. We had a delightful time with Kim, Kimberly and their children. We played games and watched a couple of movies. I had given Karl “Ever Strong” the story of the Highland Rugby Team (SLC) and “One Good Man”. I took them both with us. Everyone seemed to enjoy watching them. we went shopping with the Kim's Wednesday afternoon then left for Michael & Tanya’s just before 5:00. We had a delightful time visiting with them too. Their two little girls are sooo cute and make you feel so welcome and loved. The others do too but…We also enjoyed Tasha and Collin too.
We spent New Year’s Eve with Michael & Tanya. We were able to play a couple of good games of Pinochle while we were there. The men got double pinochle again. But the women did too. we have been keeping track who gets it and when the last five+ years and the men get it three to one of the women getting it. We kept telling them that and they didn’t believe it so now we keep track. We left about 10:00 or so New Year’s Day (we have found that that is a good time to travel…not as much traffic as other days) and stopped at Karen & Kent’s to pick up the stuff we left there from Christmas and got home about 4:30 or so New Year’s Day. Saturday, I did the wash, made out the budget, paid the bills, etc. and quickly put the bulletin together and ran it off and folded them….all with Karl’s help.
Sunday was our first Sunday meeting at 9:00. it will be nice having a part of a day after church. Monday, I took down all of the Christmas decorations and Karl took them down stairs. It was pretty much an all day job for me. Tuesday, we went to Silver Sneakers exercise class and worked on the bulletin, Wednesday, the FHC, Thursday, Silver Sneakers, and worked on the bulletin, Friday, ran off the bulletin and got them folded and went to the temple and Saturday the FHC again where I taught my first PAF class in the series. I didn’t expect hardly anyone there. I had told a few patrons about it as they came in but didn’t really expect anyone to come. I knew that there would be one new missionary couple, so I knew there would be maybe five there. I thought I was being optimistic by printing off seven handouts. There were 16 people there!!! I was soo pleasantly surprised. It went very well and all seemed to enjoy it. All in all it was a very full week. I’ve decided that I need to keep going to Silver Sneakers. I hadn’t been to Apple Athletic Club for at least four months maybe five. Karl has kept going at least twice a week all that time but I had other things to keep me busy. I decided that I need to do it for me tho’. My blood sugars have been better and I feel better and my abs stay in much better. I need to do this!! So last weeks schedule will probably be close to last week. If I can get to Apple Athletic Club at least two times if possible three times a week, I will be much healthier. I have the bulletin pretty much down now if people will get me the material I need to put in it by Thursday evening, then I think it is a plan that will work. Time will tell.
Friday, November 27, 2009
I Have Many Things to be Thankful For
About three weeks ago a niece challenged us to write something every day that we are thankful for. I took the challenge and will record the results here.
#1. Today I am thankful for life itself.
#2. Today I am thankful to be alive in this day and age.
#3. I'm so thankful to be a member of the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
#4. I'm thankful for my parents and the things they taught me and the examples they set for me to follow.
#5. I am thankful for the men & women in and have been in the armed forces, those who fight to keep our freedoms in tact.
#6. I'm thankful for my children and the way they are teaching their children. And I am sooo grateful for my grandchildren and now great grandchildren.
#7. I'm thankful for my calling as a Family History Missionary and the knowledge I have gained from being at the Family History Center.
#8. I'm thankful for the love that I feel from others and my many friends.
#9. I am thankful for a nice warm home on these cold winter days & nights.
# 10. I'm thankful for my knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and older brother, Jesus Christ.
#11. I'm thankful for finding ancestors last night at the FHC who fought in the Revolutionary War. After reading the "Prelude to Glory" series, I know that they didn't get the 2 lbs. 10 shillings that the papers said they did. They really went thro' a lot so we could have such a wonderful country.
#12. I'm thankful to live here in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
#13. I'm thankful for a sweet, helpful husband
#14. I'm thankful to still have my mother with us. She is 90 years old. I enjoy talking to her on the phone.
#15. I'm thankful to still have my mother-in-law with us. She is 93 years old. Both she and my mother are in good enough health that they still live alone
#16. I am thankful for many friends all over the world, right now.
#18. I'm thankful for a good mind and that I learn quickly.
#19. I'm thankful for tiny babies. They help remind us of a loving Heavenly Father whose presence they so recently left. (I was able to take care of my great-granddaughter, Olivia, while her mother and grandmother went shopping--taking advantage of the Black Friday specials.)
#20. I’m thankful to have modern day prophets to lead us in the ways our Heavenly Father wants us to go and help us be prepared when disasters & trials strike.
I have so many more blessings than even these. They are really too many to innumerate. Everything I have and am I owe to my loving Heavenly Father. I know all good things come from Him.
#1. Today I am thankful for life itself.
#2. Today I am thankful to be alive in this day and age.
#3. I'm so thankful to be a member of the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
#4. I'm thankful for my parents and the things they taught me and the examples they set for me to follow.
#5. I am thankful for the men & women in and have been in the armed forces, those who fight to keep our freedoms in tact.
#6. I'm thankful for my children and the way they are teaching their children. And I am sooo grateful for my grandchildren and now great grandchildren.
#7. I'm thankful for my calling as a Family History Missionary and the knowledge I have gained from being at the Family History Center.
#8. I'm thankful for the love that I feel from others and my many friends.
#9. I am thankful for a nice warm home on these cold winter days & nights.
# 10. I'm thankful for my knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and older brother, Jesus Christ.
#11. I'm thankful for finding ancestors last night at the FHC who fought in the Revolutionary War. After reading the "Prelude to Glory" series, I know that they didn't get the 2 lbs. 10 shillings that the papers said they did. They really went thro' a lot so we could have such a wonderful country.
#12. I'm thankful to live here in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
#13. I'm thankful for a sweet, helpful husband
#14. I'm thankful to still have my mother with us. She is 90 years old. I enjoy talking to her on the phone.
#15. I'm thankful to still have my mother-in-law with us. She is 93 years old. Both she and my mother are in good enough health that they still live alone
#16. I am thankful for many friends all over the world, right now.
#18. I'm thankful for a good mind and that I learn quickly.
#19. I'm thankful for tiny babies. They help remind us of a loving Heavenly Father whose presence they so recently left. (I was able to take care of my great-granddaughter, Olivia, while her mother and grandmother went shopping--taking advantage of the Black Friday specials.)
#20. I’m thankful to have modern day prophets to lead us in the ways our Heavenly Father wants us to go and help us be prepared when disasters & trials strike.
I have so many more blessings than even these. They are really too many to innumerate. Everything I have and am I owe to my loving Heavenly Father. I know all good things come from Him.
Monday, November 09, 2009
For November 9, 2009
I have received many compliments on the bulletin each week. I think the members of my ward are enjoying how I am doing it. I try to find a picture and quotes to support the topic that is being discussed in Sacrament meeting. So far it hasn’t been too hard. I hope it will continue to be fairly easy to find material for the different topics that can be discussed in Sacrament meeting. This last week I had quite a “headache” over it tho’. I liked to put in five *’s between the sections of it and as Bryan put it WORD is trying to “help” me by recognizing I want some separation there and puts a line across the page of black squares. It looks really ugly compared to the neat ***** that I have been putting in. No matter what I did I couldn’t get rid of them. I did the bulletin twice and just about finished it then that black line showed up. I called K and B. It was K’s birthday and it was good to talk to him but he busy with his family. Bryan was at the temple so I had to wait for him to get home. I sent the bulletin to both B and K. I had to go to gmail.com because my Outlook wasn’t working that day. That also was very frustrating. I usually like to get the bulletin all printed and folded and everything by Friday afternoon so I don’t have to worry about it Saturday along with working at the FHC for 8+ hours. But I finished it about 10:00 Friday night. As we were coming home after working at the FHC then having stopped at the church to print them off and fold them, I noticed that I had last week’s birthdays on instead of this week’s. (That was because I started over from last week’s bulletin and forgot to change them.) After the initial program for Sacrament meeting, I ended up typing in almost everything else from scratch. And I forgot to check on the birthdays. I may just have to leave out the little *’s altho’ I really like how they work.
I finished reading a really good book yesterday. It is “The Incredible Ways of Women” by Barbara Barrington Jones. It is her story as well as the stories of many other LDS women who have experienced great challenges and still “landed on their feet” to coin a phrase. She had many faith promoting experiences in there. It was given to me by my mil for Christmas last year.
Last week we went to see the neurologist for my husband. He has been having something-like seizures a few times over the last 18 months or so. Not often enough to really worry about it a lot but to still be concerned. The doctor said he that altho’ he could have seizures, he didn’t think so but we needed a sleep deprived EEG and and MRI of his brain. The EEG was last Friday morning at 5:30. I figured that if we were awake then, the earlier the better. We got home again about 7:45 and I was in bed by 8:00. The tech told us that he didn’t have to go to sleep, just his brain did. That is the first time I had heard that. He said he didn’t feel like he went to sleep but hopefully his brain did so that we got good results from the test. The tech said that there would be about 300 pages of brain waves for the neurologist to manually read and measure. My tho’t was “no wonder they are so expensive!” My sweetheart will have the MRI tomorrow. We have a follow up appointment November 30, the Monday after Thanksgiving.
The work at the FHC is going well. I’ve been keeping quite busy with helping the patrons. I’ve even had enough time to be able to help my Sweetheart to get things on his PAF and get them straightened out. We are now putting the PID #’s from the newFamilySearch on our PAF files. We use the FamilyInsight Program to do this, using the Full Synchronization part. We are also updating our records from nFS as we do this.
I’m thankful for both of my callings as a Family History missionary and also the Bulletin Editor. I do really enjoy both.
I finished reading a really good book yesterday. It is “The Incredible Ways of Women” by Barbara Barrington Jones. It is her story as well as the stories of many other LDS women who have experienced great challenges and still “landed on their feet” to coin a phrase. She had many faith promoting experiences in there. It was given to me by my mil for Christmas last year.
Last week we went to see the neurologist for my husband. He has been having something-like seizures a few times over the last 18 months or so. Not often enough to really worry about it a lot but to still be concerned. The doctor said he that altho’ he could have seizures, he didn’t think so but we needed a sleep deprived EEG and and MRI of his brain. The EEG was last Friday morning at 5:30. I figured that if we were awake then, the earlier the better. We got home again about 7:45 and I was in bed by 8:00. The tech told us that he didn’t have to go to sleep, just his brain did. That is the first time I had heard that. He said he didn’t feel like he went to sleep but hopefully his brain did so that we got good results from the test. The tech said that there would be about 300 pages of brain waves for the neurologist to manually read and measure. My tho’t was “no wonder they are so expensive!” My sweetheart will have the MRI tomorrow. We have a follow up appointment November 30, the Monday after Thanksgiving.
The work at the FHC is going well. I’ve been keeping quite busy with helping the patrons. I’ve even had enough time to be able to help my Sweetheart to get things on his PAF and get them straightened out. We are now putting the PID #’s from the newFamilySearch on our PAF files. We use the FamilyInsight Program to do this, using the Full Synchronization part. We are also updating our records from nFS as we do this.
I’m thankful for both of my callings as a Family History missionary and also the Bulletin Editor. I do really enjoy both.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The month of September has passed
It has been about five weeks since I wrote. Since then we have been to Nebraska and back, seen Bryan, Sandy and whole family, had another great-granddaughter, sent a third grandchild to the MTC, taught three PAF classes, been released as Service Missionaries and re-set apart and sustained as Bulletin Editor for the Kearney 1st Ward. My it sounds like we’ve been busy .
We had a wonderful trip to Nebraska to visit B & S and to welcome C home from the Chile, Concepcion, South Mission and see B before he left on his to the Russia, Samara Mission. We heard many things about Chile. We went to church with them and enjoyed listening to both C and B talk. We went to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. That is a very unique place. It was a lot of fun. 3-year old Jason didn’t like the camels. I guess they were too big for him. They were very friendly tho’. C tried to get him to pet them but he cried and said he wanted to go home. We really hadn’t been there that long yet. I walked over next to C and altho’ C was holding J he leaned over and threw his arms around my neck and cried, “I want to go home.” We decided to look at the goats instead. They weren’t as big as intimidating. Bryan helped me out with WORD and showed my how to set up a page and do column break etc. I’m thankful he did. I still have a lot to learn but I think it will be something that I enjoy. I hope the ward members will cooperate with me and get things to me by Thursday evening so I can put it together and print it on Friday. It has to be Friday because we work at the FHC Saturday and I don’t feeling doing much once I get home from there.
C took us to the Airport October 1; we were there shortly after 7 a.m. B was home finishing packing the van so they could leave for Utah and Idaho as soon as he got back. They were taking some of J’s stuff to her that wouldn’t fit in her car when she went back to BYU. They also had a young woman from their ward with them that they dropped off in Brigham City. Then they headed up to Idaho to K’s. they got there about 2 a.m. That was a very long day for them. We got in IF and home about 2 :45. We were an hour and a half later because of a longer stop over in Denver than we had anticipated. I had a hair appointment at 4:00 and then did some shopping after unpacking my suitcases. By the time I got home from that I just collapsed in my chair. I was really tired. I went to bed earlier that night than in a long time. Bryan, Chris and Bryce were here shortly after 10:00 the next morning. They and Karl cleaned off the carport and took stuff to the dump for us. Sandy came about noon and helped me get started on my kitchen. They also helped get stuff out of the living room we are no longer using. Both the living room and carport and kitchen too look so much better. We’ve been doing a little bit here and there every day to keep things cleaned up and looking better and even doing more. I’m very thankful to them for doing that for us.
We were re-set apart as Service Missionaries as I said. The bishop gave us both a beautiful blessing along with the setting apart. I’m thankful that my health has been such I have been able to do this and will be able to do this. I was also released as RS pianist before I was sustained as bulletin editor. So now I will have to consciously play the piano a couple of times a week so I can still play effectively at the FHC for our prayer meetings. I’m very grateful for the knowledge I have acquired during the last 2½ years. My testimony of Family History has grown so much. I’m thankful for a good mind and Spiritual Gifts that I wasn’t really aware of before we started there. I am more sensitive to knowing when the Spirit is prompting me than I was before we started our mission. I have gained so much since we first started our mission. We have also made some very choice friends that we wouldn’t know otherwise. Some of them have even more health challenges than we do but are still constant and faithful workers.
We went to the doctor’s on September 11 for our quarterly evaluation. Dr. L ordered an UA for K. It had been awhile since he had one. It turned out that it showed gross hematuria. (lots of blood). The doctor called the Monday before we left for Omaha and said he needed to see Karl very soon. That it was considered cancer until it was ruled out. K had not been feeling well for about two or three weeks about two or three weeks before this. I asked if it could be one of his kidney stones moving. He said he didn’t know but didn’t think so. Well, he had a CTKUB (CT scan of his kidney uteter and bladder) on October 5. it showed that he now has a kidney stone in his uteter. I’m sure that that is what caused the blood in his urine. It also showed some fluid in each kidney as well as two or three stones in each kidney. We told Dr. L that we knew about the stones but had been told they were too large to move. He also has a large gall stone that isn’t causing him any trouble. The CT scan also showed masses in each kidney. In the right one was a hard mass….neither are very large. So he had an ultra sound last Thursday. Both the radiologist and Dr. L said that cancer can’t be ruled out but we are to wait another three months and do another one and see if it has grown any. Depending on whether it has or not will determine what we do next about it.
The kidney stone doesn’t seem to be moving now but will cause him much discomfort when it does. I hope it is at a time that won’t inconvience him too much when it does decide to move.
As for weather is concerned: it was in the 80’s when we left for Omaha. It was cooler there than here while we were there but still very pleasant. I took my jacket with me and the only time I used it was when we went from the airport here in IF to the car to come home. It was in the 40’s with the wind blowing. All last week it was like that! 20 degrees below the norm. we are to get back up into the 60’s this week. This has been such a weird summer; we only had two weeks of autumn, then winter. We have had snow fall two or three times now. It really makes one wonder what kind of winter we will have. I hope it isn’t too cold. I don’t mind the snow too much. But I do the cold.
We had a wonderful trip to Nebraska to visit B & S and to welcome C home from the Chile, Concepcion, South Mission and see B before he left on his to the Russia, Samara Mission. We heard many things about Chile. We went to church with them and enjoyed listening to both C and B talk. We went to Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. That is a very unique place. It was a lot of fun. 3-year old Jason didn’t like the camels. I guess they were too big for him. They were very friendly tho’. C tried to get him to pet them but he cried and said he wanted to go home. We really hadn’t been there that long yet. I walked over next to C and altho’ C was holding J he leaned over and threw his arms around my neck and cried, “I want to go home.” We decided to look at the goats instead. They weren’t as big as intimidating. Bryan helped me out with WORD and showed my how to set up a page and do column break etc. I’m thankful he did. I still have a lot to learn but I think it will be something that I enjoy. I hope the ward members will cooperate with me and get things to me by Thursday evening so I can put it together and print it on Friday. It has to be Friday because we work at the FHC Saturday and I don’t feeling doing much once I get home from there.
C took us to the Airport October 1; we were there shortly after 7 a.m. B was home finishing packing the van so they could leave for Utah and Idaho as soon as he got back. They were taking some of J’s stuff to her that wouldn’t fit in her car when she went back to BYU. They also had a young woman from their ward with them that they dropped off in Brigham City. Then they headed up to Idaho to K’s. they got there about 2 a.m. That was a very long day for them. We got in IF and home about 2 :45. We were an hour and a half later because of a longer stop over in Denver than we had anticipated. I had a hair appointment at 4:00 and then did some shopping after unpacking my suitcases. By the time I got home from that I just collapsed in my chair. I was really tired. I went to bed earlier that night than in a long time. Bryan, Chris and Bryce were here shortly after 10:00 the next morning. They and Karl cleaned off the carport and took stuff to the dump for us. Sandy came about noon and helped me get started on my kitchen. They also helped get stuff out of the living room we are no longer using. Both the living room and carport and kitchen too look so much better. We’ve been doing a little bit here and there every day to keep things cleaned up and looking better and even doing more. I’m very thankful to them for doing that for us.
We were re-set apart as Service Missionaries as I said. The bishop gave us both a beautiful blessing along with the setting apart. I’m thankful that my health has been such I have been able to do this and will be able to do this. I was also released as RS pianist before I was sustained as bulletin editor. So now I will have to consciously play the piano a couple of times a week so I can still play effectively at the FHC for our prayer meetings. I’m very grateful for the knowledge I have acquired during the last 2½ years. My testimony of Family History has grown so much. I’m thankful for a good mind and Spiritual Gifts that I wasn’t really aware of before we started there. I am more sensitive to knowing when the Spirit is prompting me than I was before we started our mission. I have gained so much since we first started our mission. We have also made some very choice friends that we wouldn’t know otherwise. Some of them have even more health challenges than we do but are still constant and faithful workers.
We went to the doctor’s on September 11 for our quarterly evaluation. Dr. L ordered an UA for K. It had been awhile since he had one. It turned out that it showed gross hematuria. (lots of blood). The doctor called the Monday before we left for Omaha and said he needed to see Karl very soon. That it was considered cancer until it was ruled out. K had not been feeling well for about two or three weeks about two or three weeks before this. I asked if it could be one of his kidney stones moving. He said he didn’t know but didn’t think so. Well, he had a CTKUB (CT scan of his kidney uteter and bladder) on October 5. it showed that he now has a kidney stone in his uteter. I’m sure that that is what caused the blood in his urine. It also showed some fluid in each kidney as well as two or three stones in each kidney. We told Dr. L that we knew about the stones but had been told they were too large to move. He also has a large gall stone that isn’t causing him any trouble. The CT scan also showed masses in each kidney. In the right one was a hard mass….neither are very large. So he had an ultra sound last Thursday. Both the radiologist and Dr. L said that cancer can’t be ruled out but we are to wait another three months and do another one and see if it has grown any. Depending on whether it has or not will determine what we do next about it.
The kidney stone doesn’t seem to be moving now but will cause him much discomfort when it does. I hope it is at a time that won’t inconvience him too much when it does decide to move.
As for weather is concerned: it was in the 80’s when we left for Omaha. It was cooler there than here while we were there but still very pleasant. I took my jacket with me and the only time I used it was when we went from the airport here in IF to the car to come home. It was in the 40’s with the wind blowing. All last week it was like that! 20 degrees below the norm. we are to get back up into the 60’s this week. This has been such a weird summer; we only had two weeks of autumn, then winter. We have had snow fall two or three times now. It really makes one wonder what kind of winter we will have. I hope it isn’t too cold. I don’t mind the snow too much. But I do the cold.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Labor Day Weekend 2009
We had such a wonderful weekend this Labor Day weekend. Our #2 son and his family (except for oldest daughter who had to stay home to work) came to visit us. His almost 16 year old son and five-year-old daughter and three-year-old daughter and wife were here with us from Saturday before 10:00am to yesterday a little after 4:00pm.
It was soo nice having them here. We got our Pinochle game in Saturday evening. The women actually won that one!! It really isn’t very often that that happens. If T hadn’t had a headache, we would have let the men try to win. It is soo much fun playing with them. They all went to church with us Sunday. The little girls weren’t feeling well, fighting colds, so Tanya took them home and the rest of us stayed. I enjoyed church.
Yesterday, we went to the zoo. It has been three or four years since we went there. it was so much fun watching the little girls as they exclaimed over all the animals. I got very tired but was really glad that I was there. I fixed breakfast so my back was already bothering me but I persisted. I’m glad I did. As we were getting out of the van, the primary president in our ward, a very sweet young woman, greeted us. They were in line ahead of us to go to the zoo. She turned around and gave T two guest tickets for the zoo. That was sooo sweet of her. She’s one of our favorite people anyway. We got quite a few pictures there at the zoo; both of the animals and the girls. Even got one of C too.
Afterwards, M took us to Frontier Pies for lunch. We will go back. The meals were priced very reasonably and the food was very good. After we got back to the house, they loaded the van with their things and while M rested for a few minutes, the little girls and I watch videos. They didn’t get to see the last one they wanted to and they cried because they didn’t want to leave. It was over a video but I’m glad they didn’t want to leave because they hadn’t been here for only an hour or so and K was ready to go home. I was really tired after they left and can still feel it today but am sooo glad they came.
Last Thursday, we met with President M, first counselor in the Stake Presidency. He handed us our certificates of honorable release from our missions as of October 9, 2009 and then a letter calling us to serve at the FHC for the next 30 months starting October 11, 2009. I’m thankful that that is all taken care of. So we will be officially released one day only. I’m thankful that my health is good enough to be able to do this work. Our whole stake now has access to newFamilySearch as of yesterday. It is an exciting time to be on board with this new program coming out in our area. I’m so thankful for the Lord’s blessings that we have been able to do this. My health has considerably improved since we started. Altho’ I do get tired, I can do this and am so thankful that I can. It is definitely the work of the Lord and part of His Plan. I’m thankful to be alive at this time when the Church has been restored and with the technology that we have today. It makes family history/genealogy so much easier. I’m thankful for the wonderful children and grandchildren that He has blessed me/us with. They are such good people and I’m thankful to have each one of them as my friend as well as child or grandchild. I’m thankful that they are trying to live the Gospel the best they can. I’m thankful for my heritage; for what my ancestors went thro’ that I was able to be born into the Church and in this great land. I am sooo blessed!
It was soo nice having them here. We got our Pinochle game in Saturday evening. The women actually won that one!! It really isn’t very often that that happens. If T hadn’t had a headache, we would have let the men try to win. It is soo much fun playing with them. They all went to church with us Sunday. The little girls weren’t feeling well, fighting colds, so Tanya took them home and the rest of us stayed. I enjoyed church.
Yesterday, we went to the zoo. It has been three or four years since we went there. it was so much fun watching the little girls as they exclaimed over all the animals. I got very tired but was really glad that I was there. I fixed breakfast so my back was already bothering me but I persisted. I’m glad I did. As we were getting out of the van, the primary president in our ward, a very sweet young woman, greeted us. They were in line ahead of us to go to the zoo. She turned around and gave T two guest tickets for the zoo. That was sooo sweet of her. She’s one of our favorite people anyway. We got quite a few pictures there at the zoo; both of the animals and the girls. Even got one of C too.
Afterwards, M took us to Frontier Pies for lunch. We will go back. The meals were priced very reasonably and the food was very good. After we got back to the house, they loaded the van with their things and while M rested for a few minutes, the little girls and I watch videos. They didn’t get to see the last one they wanted to and they cried because they didn’t want to leave. It was over a video but I’m glad they didn’t want to leave because they hadn’t been here for only an hour or so and K was ready to go home. I was really tired after they left and can still feel it today but am sooo glad they came.
Last Thursday, we met with President M, first counselor in the Stake Presidency. He handed us our certificates of honorable release from our missions as of October 9, 2009 and then a letter calling us to serve at the FHC for the next 30 months starting October 11, 2009. I’m thankful that that is all taken care of. So we will be officially released one day only. I’m thankful that my health is good enough to be able to do this work. Our whole stake now has access to newFamilySearch as of yesterday. It is an exciting time to be on board with this new program coming out in our area. I’m so thankful for the Lord’s blessings that we have been able to do this. My health has considerably improved since we started. Altho’ I do get tired, I can do this and am so thankful that I can. It is definitely the work of the Lord and part of His Plan. I’m thankful to be alive at this time when the Church has been restored and with the technology that we have today. It makes family history/genealogy so much easier. I’m thankful for the wonderful children and grandchildren that He has blessed me/us with. They are such good people and I’m thankful to have each one of them as my friend as well as child or grandchild. I’m thankful that they are trying to live the Gospel the best they can. I’m thankful for my heritage; for what my ancestors went thro’ that I was able to be born into the Church and in this great land. I am sooo blessed!
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
The newFamilySearch is getting closer
I don’t know where July went. We had a wonderful 4th when we went to spend the afternoon and evening with the Stanfields. That was very enjoyable and the fireworks were spectacular! We went back to the FHC the Wednesday after and have been going every Wednesday and Saturday since. There has been a big push on getting ready and teaching the family history consultants in our temple district the newFamilySearch. It is rewarding helping others to learn. We now have to convert temple ready submission disks to FOR’s or Family Ordinance Request forms before patrons can have their family names printed off. That means that the temple no longer accepts the floppy disks as they have in the past. I converted two last Saturday. This change just took place on July 28 so it is brand new. The first one that came in was a big file and the program didn’t do what I expected it to. When you click on “see now” it’s supposed to take you to the next screen that asks you if you want to print now. It was such a large file, that it wouldn’t progress. I asked Elder Mondock if he could help me. I know that he knows a lot about computers as well as the newFamilySearch program. Karl told me later that he was on another computer working thro’ different things trying to figure it out then came over and told me how to do it. I just had to go back to the Home page and click on GEDCOMs I have added. Then it brought up the print screen and we were able to print. There were two different submissions on that floppy and it even gave me the option to go right on and print the second one too. About an hour later another young man came over from the temple with a floppy and the Sister at the desk came and got me again. I am very glad to do it but I told two of the sisters that they might as well watch so they will know how to do it too. Because until everyone in our temple district has access to the nFS, we will be converting the floppies to FOR’s. Anyway, as I was going thro’ the second one, the same thing happened as the first one I did. I couldn’t remember how I go to the screen that said GEDCOMs I have added and as I sat there wondering I felt the Spirit nudge me to click on the back arrow. And that is where I found it…on the Home page. I will not forget again. I felt really good because I recognized the touch of the Spirit in my mind. It is a neat feeling.
The first part of the month we went to Utah to a family reunion for the F Roland and Afton Christensen Robinson family. We stayed with Mama that time. It was good to be able to visit with her and spend some time with her. The last few times we’ve been down, I’ve seen her but it isn’t quite the same as when you are there long enough to actually visit too. She spoke in sacrament meeting that Sunday and we went to it. She did very well. I’m glad we were able to be there for that. I met a couple of her neighbors because we sat in the Chipman Village row. After she talked we left for Lehi because Tanya was teaching RS and I wanted to be there. She did such a good job. I’m very glad that we made the effort to go there too. Who knows when we can be there again when she teachs. We went back and had dinner with Mama. She was soo exhausted that she slept a good part of the afternoon away. She said she hadn’t been able to sleep well since she was asked to speak. She started out her talk by saying:
Listen to the announcement I am going to make.
You must denounce your belief in Joseph Smith and his doctrine and teachings or we will burn you house, barn and crops down around you.
She went on to say that they told her Great-great grandfather (my third great grandfather), Cyril Call that when he lived outside Nauvoo. He told them that he knew Joseph Smith was a prophet and that what he taught was truth and that he couldn’t deny any of it. He and his family, his sick wife whom they pulled out of the house on a mattress, hid in the corn fields watching all of their possessions go up in flames until my great-great grandfather, their second child came from Nauvoo, found them and took them home with him. They still had minor children in their home. They had eleven children. I have a great appreciation for my ancestors and what they went thro’ to belong to the Church and further the work of the Lord.
The reunion was very nice. Both Michael and his two little girls and Kim and his family were there besides Karl and me. All of Karl’s siblings were there except Fred who lives in Oregon. Gene & Dot were in charge of it this year. Six of their nine children were there. None of Stan & Kathy’s were there nor Paul & ElDene’s nor Jewel’s altho’ Jewel brought some of her grandchildren. It was good to see Kent there too. It had been awhile since we had seen him. The next one is planned for the last week of June 2011.
The first part of the month we went to Utah to a family reunion for the F Roland and Afton Christensen Robinson family. We stayed with Mama that time. It was good to be able to visit with her and spend some time with her. The last few times we’ve been down, I’ve seen her but it isn’t quite the same as when you are there long enough to actually visit too. She spoke in sacrament meeting that Sunday and we went to it. She did very well. I’m glad we were able to be there for that. I met a couple of her neighbors because we sat in the Chipman Village row. After she talked we left for Lehi because Tanya was teaching RS and I wanted to be there. She did such a good job. I’m very glad that we made the effort to go there too. Who knows when we can be there again when she teachs. We went back and had dinner with Mama. She was soo exhausted that she slept a good part of the afternoon away. She said she hadn’t been able to sleep well since she was asked to speak. She started out her talk by saying:
Listen to the announcement I am going to make.
You must denounce your belief in Joseph Smith and his doctrine and teachings or we will burn you house, barn and crops down around you.
She went on to say that they told her Great-great grandfather (my third great grandfather), Cyril Call that when he lived outside Nauvoo. He told them that he knew Joseph Smith was a prophet and that what he taught was truth and that he couldn’t deny any of it. He and his family, his sick wife whom they pulled out of the house on a mattress, hid in the corn fields watching all of their possessions go up in flames until my great-great grandfather, their second child came from Nauvoo, found them and took them home with him. They still had minor children in their home. They had eleven children. I have a great appreciation for my ancestors and what they went thro’ to belong to the Church and further the work of the Lord.
The reunion was very nice. Both Michael and his two little girls and Kim and his family were there besides Karl and me. All of Karl’s siblings were there except Fred who lives in Oregon. Gene & Dot were in charge of it this year. Six of their nine children were there. None of Stan & Kathy’s were there nor Paul & ElDene’s nor Jewel’s altho’ Jewel brought some of her grandchildren. It was good to see Kent there too. It had been awhile since we had seen him. The next one is planned for the last week of June 2011.
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