It's All About the Money

Stan's father worked hard his entire life.

When he died, he left a $400,000 estate to his wife.

But, his intent was that his three children would get the inheritance.  Two children badly needed it.  One did not really need the money, but would get her equal share anyway to make it all fair.

Stan's mother remarried, Mr. Olive - a good Mormon.

One day, Stan's wife, Dee, was going through some legal documents and could not find the Trust document that Stan's father had set up for his family.

She was startled, a little stunned, and very concerned.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Olive - without his wife or her family's consent - had invested all his wife's money with Mr. Strebeck.

And, upon further investigation - several months worth - it was learned that Mr. Strebeck was an accomplished SCAM, CROOK, THIEF, LIAR, CON ARTISTE, and so much more.

Every penny of the $400,000 was

GONE!

FOREVER!

http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/local/2015/06/16/strebeck-sent-prison/28841391/

It is a wretched story; heartbreaking on so many levels.

When Dee told me about it, she said, "It's not about the money, it's that he will not be able to scam or hurt anyone else!'

Stan, sitting close by, said,  "It IS about the money.  My father worked VERY hard for that money.  He was not well, was often in pain, but went to work every day to earn that and leave it to his children.  To have it STOLEN by a scoundrel is beyond comprehension.

"Oh, yes," he proclaimed.  "It IS all about the money!"

Sunday Night Visits

I love visiting people on Sunday nights.

I've heard some great, inspiring, compelling, funny, amazing stories over the years.

The visits won't be happening over the next few weeks as I will be tending grandchildren and staying at a KOA for several weeks starting in July.

But, recently, I've visited that dear wonderful Dr. Howe.

John was a veterinarian.  He loves animals - of all sizes and kinds.  He has a very tender heart towards them and told me some great stories of his experiences taking care of them in California, where he practiced until he was in his 80's.

He didn't want to retire, but he couldn't see well enough or hear well enough to continue his practice.

Last week he told me the story of his courtship with his wife, who has been dead for quite a few years.  He had a picture of her on his dresser, and she was stunningly beautiful.  It's easy to see where his lovely daughter, my relief society president, gets her good looks.

I often find it sad when old people are sort of ignored in a ward; they have so much to offer, but no one pays them any heed.  People walk by as if they aren't there.  No one asks them to contribute in classes.

It's very sad.

I'm grateful I learned from my father that older people have much to offer.

I see it often in my Sunday evening visits.

Library Lover

Okay, I admit it...

I do not like to pay taxes!

However, and it's a big however,

I'm grateful for the services we get with our tax dollars.

And, mostly that would be a L.I.B.R.A.R.Y.!

Honestly, I am always amazed that more people don't make use of their local libraries.

Actually, I don't use the physical building that much any more, either.

But, I download ebooks to listen to while I exercise.

And, every time I go to the big red brick building, I'm amazed more people aren't in there.

It's just such a great concept; free books, movies, music, books on tape, and more books.

Who could afford to buy all the books one reads in a lifetime...certainly not MOI!

I love libraries.

Washington County Library in St George, Utah...
it's newer, but built to look like the old style of buildings in this historic town.

In the early days of the internet, when we would travel, we always stopped by a local library to check our emails, etc., so that was another convenient thing about a library...free internet.

I'll say it again.

I LOVE Libraries.

Amen.

For several years, I took Margaret Emery to this library every two weeks or so.  I totally enjoyed taking her and realized how great a library is to any person on a very limited budget.  Or to anyone who wants to make use of an amazing service.

The Spendthrift

I don't know what to say to her.

I've tried to talk to her.

But, it's obvious, she doesn't care, doesn't listen, it doesn't matter to her?

Was I like this as a young lady?

How do you help someone who just spends, spends, spends?

Oh, well, whatever......

I have tried.

Worst Mother Ever

I didn't know what to say when Vonnie  A. declared:

"I was the worst mother ever!"

How do you counter that?

Whatever I would say, she would refute and tell me why she felt that way.

Her mind was made up.

She had specific examples of how she felt she had failed.

What makes women beat ourselves up?

Vonnie A. had been to visit a friend whose son was is the hospital.  The mother had stayed by his side for two days and nights. Vonnie A. said, "I was never there for my kids."

"And now, we don't communicate much, either."  She was downcast.

Our baptismal covenants say we are to bear one another's burdens.  But, sometimes it's very hard - not because we aren't willing, but because we don't know what to say, how to react, how to help.

And, so I listened politely to Vonnie A.

And, if I get points for having an aching heart, that would have been moi.

"Welcome Home!"

...she said as I worked out in the yard the day we returned home from our month-long stay abroad.

"I want to hear all about it!  You were in Germany, right?

"Well, Harvey and I went to Germany and I'll tell you those drivers over there are crazy and THE ROADS!  Can you believe going over 100 mph on the autobahn, and no one seems to care.  Why, I had to tell Harvey several times to watch what he was doing.  I'm sure I saved our lives at least three or four times."

"Yes, we....." I began....

"How did you like the food?  I'll tell you, you can never be guaranteed what you are eating in a foreign country.  When Harvey and I went to Nairobi, I didn't dare ask what the meat was!  They eat anything and everything.  I basically just stuck to a yam dish; that seemed pretty safe.  Did you eat much strange food?"

"Wel......."

"And the water situation!  I'm sure you know what I mean.  Why, when we were in Spain, they NEVER served water with a meal.  We had to pay for a glass of water!  Finally, Harvey and I just decided to drink our own water before we went into any restaurant.  And, they've never heard of ICE!

"Now, where did you say you stayed?"

"We actually st....."

"Travel is so challenging...when we went to Bolivia the tour guide had us changing hotels EVERY night.  It got to be such a pain.  I just wanted to stay in one place and shoot out from there, but he had some reason why we had to keep moving on.  It got very irritating, for sure.

"Oh, did you get to see any churches or old cathedrals or old palaces?  When we went to Rome, I just got sick of seeing churches.  After awhile, they all looked the same.  So, one day, I told Harvey I was just staying home to read my book about a girl traveling abroad; it was funny.

"Oh my goodness, look at the time, Harvey will be wanting dinner; he's very old fashioned that way...six o'clock and he wants his dinner on the table so he can watch his nightly news.

"Thanks for telling me ALL about your trip.  It sounds absolutely WONDerful!"

Any time, CD, any time!

The Vacation Blues

I'm sick.

I've had a cough since March 31.

It just kept getting worse, then worse.

Now, I'm struggling to breathe.

Every time I cough, it hurts my insides.

AND, here we are for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Germany.

It's a bummer, I'll tell you that!