The Sunday Visits

Three Visits;

Two heartwarming, one sorrowful.

RAH and I love to visit Dr. Howe.  He has such great stories to tell and he has a wonderful memory about his youth.

I asked him to share a Christmas memory from his childhood growing up on a farm.  Two days before Christmas, his family went shopping in town where he and his brothers saw a Flexible Flyer (sled) in a store window.  They so badly wanted that sled, but it had a big SOLD sign on it...which caused them a great deal of disappointment.  Imagine their surprise on Christmas morning, when they were the ones who got that SOLD sled - they had hours of fun on that sled, so it was great memory for John indeed and a fun story for us.

DC had struggled with some relationships in her ward, particularly after a lady came to her home and accused her of being dishonest.  After that, it was hard for DC to even go to Relief Society.  But, as she is serving a local mission, she felt like she needed to clean her inner vessel.  So, she said, "This is my problem....I need to not let this bother me any more."  She said one day, the bitter , sad feelings were just no longer there.  She, once again, loves being with the sisters and being in Relief Society.  WOW, inspiring.

Visiting with JM was sorrowful; it brought tears to her eyes as she told me her complex story.  She married in the temple, had two wonderful children, but along the way, her husband developed addictions....he no longer wanted to attend church, be a part of the family, contribute to the well-being of the family.  He has just isolated himself from his wonderful wife, son, and daughter. JM is going to school so that she can take care of her family.  It was a sad story, but she looked me in the eye and said, "You are the first person to even ask me my situation.  No one else has even shown an interest."

Why are we so indifferent to the sorrows and cares of others?!?!??!

I do love the Sunday visits, even if some are sorrowful....

EVERYONE has a story to tell.

And, I love to hear them.

Familysearch.org....

a Love/Despair Relationship!

First of all, I love familysearch.org.

But, it can be so incredibly frustrating....

take this as an example:

Totally erroneous....Dorothy Elizabeth South is NOT the mother of Sharon Tidwell; she was divorced from Frank Alton at the time of Sharon's birth.

It is things like this that leave people frustrated and just wanting to give in and give up!

People come in and change the records and it's just so frustrating.....I recently decided to not even worry about making changes or combing.

I'll just add pictures and let that be my contribution to Familysearch.org...

Time to Give An Accounting!

Goals for 2015:

No French fries.....achieved.
Continue to keep gas tank filled up at 1/2; achieved.
Scriptures every day; achieved, even if only a verse or two, I did it.

Goals for 2014:

Keep gas at 1/2....achieved (Mostly, if it didn't happen, it was because Allen was driving and in     charge, but when I was driving, I did it.)
Scriptures Every day; I am pretty sure I achieved this.

Goals for 2013:

Try a new recipe once a week...failed big time!  Didn't make it much past March on that one.
Scriptures every day...missed a day in March; felt like it was a total failure, but then I kept reading and am quite sure I achieved it....

So, now, it's a new year...what's on tap for this year?!?!?!??!

GOALS FOR 2016:

1.  Keep gas at 1/2 - a continuation....

2.  Scriptures daily - a continuation....

3.  Have desk cleared off each evening.... (inspired by James Clarke, a former student, and winner of one of Utah's top business men of the year....he asks that of his employees...it seems like a good thing to come to a clean desk each morning.)

4.  Lose 10 pounds....this will be so hard; I've been trying and I just can't do it....so, that means I must cut back on sweets.

5.  Not buy soda for me.  I will take a drink of Allen's occasionally, if we are eating out together, but I won't be buying any for me.

6.  Most importantly, MAKE MY PRAYERS MORE MEANINGFUL, PERSONAL, AND CONNECTIVE.

And, there you have it.

Let's hear it for NEW YEARS!

Journaling - A MUST!

I recently read a post that I had written after our 2013 Thanksgiving celebration

Our entire family was here and it was grand.

But, you see, I couldn't remember many of the details or things that we did.

So, looking back at that entry was such a joy.

There were pictures of most of what we had done, menus of what we had eaten, and more pictures.

It was a very significant event that year because Kristi told us about her engagement, Jenni and Brent surprised us by showing up at our front door,  and it was just a great time of laughter, food, fun, and joy.

I love it when our family can get together.

But, I forget so much of what happens.

And, that is just one reason why I think journaling is so important.

Death of a Personality

When Bill and Barbara moved in, they were both heavy drinkers and smokers.

Which was fine; just different in our neighborhood.

But, they were the best neighbors we've ever had.

When Bill cooked too much food, he brought us some plates of food, or some of his wonderful pea soup.  When the Bountiful Basket orders came, Barbara always bought us some fruits and vegetables saying they could never eat all of it.

Barbara sent cards for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, thank you, etc.

She gave me all her magazines, of which she took quite a few.

She would call if she saw our lights left on, or when we got home, she'd call to say welcome back.  She'd call to see if we were home and wonder if things were alright because she hadn't seen us for a few days.

She gave us some gifts, a shirt, a robe, a blanket because I was always cold.  Her thoughtfulness was just incredible, truly.

Bill would offer to help with any project Allen was working on...Allen didn't use his help, but he always offered.

They had four little dogs and my granddaughters from Virginia loved to go visit Bill and Barbara and see those dogs.

Eventually, they both stopped smoking and Bill has totally stopped drinking.  Sad to say, all their dogs are now gone, and Barbara misses them dearly as they slept on her bed each night.

But, sadder still; Barbara has dementia....no more cards, letters, calls.  No more quick visits to say hello or bring something by.  No more phone calls to check on us.

No more Barbara as we once knew her.

I don't care about the food, the gifts, the cards, or the calls.

But, I do care that she is not the same person she used to be.

And, that is just hard to see.

Her body is there, but not the personality I once knew....

so, I will be grateful and remember the way she used to be, before the illness robbed her of who she really is.

On Getting Offended

It's so easy to get offended.

In church, we are given talks over and over about

LETTING THE OFFENSE GO!

I have been offended.  It just happens.

But, what happens AFTER the offense is really the significant thing.

I've tried to be forgiving.

I think I have forgiven two of the most egregious offenses.

I know it's hard.

But, last night, we heard a story of a lady in our ward who was offended, and hasn't spoken to her neighbor for six years.  In fact, has been openly rude to her neighbor.

To me, hearing the story, it sounded so trivial and STUPID, but that's the way offenses are....most of the time, at least.

I want to remember this story, not because I care to remember who and why, but just how silly it is to carry a grudge for so long and under such ridiculous circumstances.

I want to be able to just let go.

When Someone You Love Dies.....

I don't even know how to act or react.

I don't know how to feel, other than forsaken lonely scared fearful regretful sorrowful.

About a week ago on a long drive, mu husband asked me about my best friends.

I mentioned about four or five people in my life; rare and choice.

And, today, I learned that one of those dear, favorite women had died.

How could it have happened that I was just reviewing her life a week ago, and then she's gone....why didn't I call her to tell her how much she had meant to me?  Why hadn't I kept in better touch?

Distance is no excuse to keep people apart.  I MUST DO BETTER.

Loni,  Judi was diagnosed with cancer again about two months ago. Friday night she passed away from that cancer. Sorry for the bad news. The funeral date has not been set yet. Keep checking on line at the Ekersell funeral home in Rigby, Idaho.

I am beyond heartbroken ....

And, now is where - again - I realize how significant the plan of salvation truly is.

Oh, dear Judi, I WILL see you again and then I will tell you how significant you are to me....how much your friendship meant, how you always inspired me, how I will treasure even more the lovely items you gave me over the years.

Oh, dear Judi Butikofer.....can you feel my love soaring thru the heavens?