As Easter Concludes....

I want to bear my testimony...

I am so grateful for the Saviour, his Atonement and the Resurrection.

There are not many days when I don't think about my parents.

I miss them constantly.

But, I KNOW that I will see them both again...what a glorious reunion that will be.

I will ask my dad to sing for me.  I will ask my mom to tell me the stories of her travels in Europe.  I will rejoice in being with them; such good, dear parents.

And, I feel so grateful for a Saviour who did this for me.

I am so grateful for Easter and all that it means.

Thank you, Heavenly Father.

The Clothesline

I was on the walking path behind the new home.

The big home.

The doctor's home.

Over the top of the high fence, I could see just the very tops of colorful items hanging.

"Oh my heck," I thought.  "That is just so awesome.  No one hangs their clothes out anymore."

Then, my mind conjured up the years I hung clothes out in most kinds of weather.  I remembered the crispness, the incredible feel of the sheets as we would climb into bed after they hung on the line in cold weather.  Ah, those by-gone days.

By this time, I was very close to their home and could see through the gate into their back yard.  I started laughing.

Those were NOT clothes lines, those were some kind of lines where colorful towels and swimming suits were hanging to dry after an afternoon swim in their huge pool.

I was right after all.....

No one hangs out clothes any more...just swim suits.

And, I'm still smiling!

The Budget Dilemma/Question

Okay, here's the deal...we have a budget.

It works well for us.  It's very helpful to track spending.  I enjoy the challenge of monitoring expenses and staying within the budge.

So, here's the question:

If we do not spend all the allotted money in one category, is it okay to use the money from column A to  spend in Column B?  But, then, that doesn't really honestly reflect what we spent in each category...

Let's say column A is gas, and our allowance is $100, but in a certain month, we don't drive a lot and only spend $45.

Column B might be gifts and I need more gift money one month.  So I take the extra $55 from gas and use for gifts.

But, the monthly total says we spent $100 for gas, when in reality we didn't.  But we DID stay within the total budget figures.  

It's confusing.

I need a personal accountant.

Trivia Tuesday

1.  Who started smoking at age 13 and quit in her 50's when she joined the church?
Sister F

2.  Who has a different purse and shoes to match every outfit?
Sister M

3.  Who has put 48,000 pictures on find-a-grave.com?
Max Turpin and yes, that's right - 48,000!

4.  Whose granddaughter has tourette's syndrome and she recently lost 100 pounds?
Elder L

5.  What zone leader discovered one of the sister missionaries in his zone had actually eloped before her mission?
Elder L

6. What sister missionary has had some of the most amazing experiences in family history?
Sister T

7.  What missionary had a lady tell her that the job lead the employment missionary had called to tell her about led to getting a job she loved?
MOI - and boy, did that feel good!?!?!?!??!

8.  What lady found an Easter dress at the DI for $3.80?  And, it's cute, too.
Sister A

9.  What missionary had a health scare last week?  And, this same missionary had her purse stolen RIGHT OUT of her shopping cart, when she glanced away for about three seconds....
Sister M

10.  Which missionaries only have one month left to serve?
Sister Taylor, and the Andersons; oh, they will be so missed.  Sister Taylor is 85, loves to golf and travel.  She can't wait to get to Star Valley on the golf course.  She is going on a big trip through Canada in June.  The Andersons are excited to conclude their mission; she is going to start a business in foot zoning...I have been the recipient of one of her sessions; awesome!

And, that is Tuesday trivia!

I love the people we serve with; it's such a blessing...oh, the stories they all have to tell!

Random Thoughts on Mission Monday

It just always amazes me what some people wear for a job interview; come on, people, it's not like you are going to the park to throw water balloons.  A little dressing up is required!  (Just a note, Doug's son went for an interview in shirt and tie; they hired him on the spot because he just looked sharp!)

I am still blown away by the people who tell me they are on probation or "Have a past!"...translation - felony on their record.  They can not escape it.  It is ALWAYS there to haunt them.  HOW do we get kids/people to NOT DO STUPID THINGS?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!

The nicest man on the planet has some of the biggest heartaches on the planet; he is good, pure and loves the Gospel.  He has adopted five children and had one of his own.  His birth child is strong in the Gospel and just a good person; his other five have caused him heartache beyond belief:

1 is in jail for armed robbery...when he gets out of jail, he is homeless and only contacts Doug when he needs something.  He has threatened their lives.

2. ran away from home with a man and lived in an abusive relationship for many years.  Is trying to get her life back together.

3.  is an air traffic controller in Maryland; has a stable life, but calls when she needs money.

4.  has emotional/social issues...probably will always need to live with the parents.

5.  has HIV, as well as his partner.  Will probably need Doug and wife to care for him as he becomes more and more ill.

Guy on the phone said he is planning to invest and reopen an old, run-down hotel and restaurant.  I wanted to say, ARE YOU CRAZY!?!??!?!??!?!??!?!?  But, I refrained myself.  What are people thinking?!?!?!?  There are a bazillion restaurants in this town...some go out of business every week.  This one is a dead horse.....what a waste of energy and money.  (I'll check back on this post in a year to see if I am not spot on.)

I always love coming home to our lovely home....clean (sort of), inviting, cheery, pleasant.  And, it makes me grateful for Mission Mondays.

Problems? I'll Take My Own, Thank You Very Much!

When I heard Lee's story, I was stunned at how incredibly vindictive and vengeful people can be....

Then, Keri told me about her decision; should she or shouldn't she...it is difficult for her to decide and so much is resting on it.

Roberta's story was literally like a soap opera; so complicated and terrifying and intriguing and challenging.

Joan's story was heartbreaking and tragic.

Sylvia's situation always makes me feel so sad for her.

Donna's tale of financial misfortune should be made into a movie; how could one man be so evil with old people's money?

Bob's health problems are dizzying, as well as his wife's cancer.

So, it's always a good reminder to just pack up my own bag and be grateful for my own struggles and challenges; they are minor compared to so many other's.

Janet and the Phone Call

I love to visit with Janet...she is so inspiring to me.

A few months ago, she had surgery on a large growth on her neck.  She had a ginormous scar with many stitches.  So, I've taken a couple of meals, visited her a few times, and called her yesterday.

She is still weak, but recovering.

BUT, she is still pure gold and thinking of others.  She invited her husband's children to a birthday celebration.  Her husband has dementia and it is getting much worse, but she wanted them to be a part of his birthday celebration, so she went shopping at Costco to buy food for the party.  It was a challenge for her to push the large cart by herself, but she did it, in preparation for the surprise birthday party for her husband.  She was excited.

"Janet," I said, "You are so thoughtful and good."

Then she said something that just thrilled me to the tip of my toes;

it's a powerful mantra:

"IT'S FUN TO BE MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY!"

What a true statement.  Making others happy certainly doesn't lessen our own happiness; it multiplies it.

Oh, Janet, you inspire me.  And, I always love talking with you!

Thank you for being my friend.