Today Lisa and the kids came over to spend the day, so David could do some more painting. In the afternoon, we went out to do some errands. I needed to go by the library, and the children love going to the library, so we spent maybe an hour hanging out there.
Then we went over to the Dollar Store. I wanted to pick up a couple of Valentine's decorations for my refreshment table. They also enjoy walking around the dollar store and especially looking in the toy section.
Our final stop was across the street at the Steak and Shake. They do a happy hour thing from 2 - 4 where some of the food is half off. We were ready for a snack, so we shared a plate of french fries, I had a milk shake, Ashby had a dish of ice cream, etc.
The scary part of the whole day was as we were entering the restaurant, Lisa slipped on some loose rocks that were on the sidewalk and fell. (This is why I do not like rocks in a shrubbery bed right next to a sidewalk - there are often loose rocks that get on the sidewalk!) She was holding Brooks and managed to twist herself somehow so that he ended up with just a scrape on his forehead. It could have been so much worse if he had gone headfirst into the sidewalk. In the process, she did a pretty good number on her knee - it is bruised and swelled, but hopefully no damage was done. Ashby and I were both scared by it. Ashby's first response was to move all those rocks back into the bed. She is so sensitive that it was all she could do not to cry when Brooks cried.
It all reminded me how much I love my daughter. She is a wonderful mother, wife, and daughter. It is scary to see something happening and be totally unable to do anything to stop it. I am glad that neither she nor Brooks were hurt anymore than they were. I do love Lisa!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
February 5th - Valentine's Day Countdown - RS sisters
Today was Sunday, so of course attending church was the main event of the day.
(I know, it is Super Bowl Sunday, which means exactly zero to me! My nod to the super bowl was to plan a little different meal than usual. Our Super Bowl dinner menu was pulled pork sandwiches, kielbasa chili, shell pasta salad, and cole slaw. It was actually all very good. It is always fun having the kids over for Sunday dinners.)
But back to church..........
Besides a very good testimony meeting, and a great lesson on the Book of Mormon in gospel doctrine, we had a wonderful Relief Society lesson. The other counselor, Sarah, taught it and I thought it was just what we needed. She talked about the purposes of Relief Society and how the RS is under the authority of the priesthood and patterned after the organization of the priesthood. She discussed many examples of that and what a blessing it is to the sisters, if we just understood it. The interesting thing is that the sisters themselves turned the discussion towards visiting teaching. Virtually every question that Sarah asked brought a response that somehow included visiting teaching.
I thought that was really interesting, because we are struggling with that right now and are trying several things to change their hearts so they will make visiting teaching a higher priority. The spirit in the lesson was really strong, and I know many sisters were really touched. Hopefully, they carry that feeling home and ponder it enough for it to prompt positive changes.
What all of that has to do with my Feelings of Love series here is that I realized how much I really love these sisters, individually and as a group. When someone who has no natural born sisters can say that her life is full of wonderful sisters - well, that is a feeling of love!
(I know, it is Super Bowl Sunday, which means exactly zero to me! My nod to the super bowl was to plan a little different meal than usual. Our Super Bowl dinner menu was pulled pork sandwiches, kielbasa chili, shell pasta salad, and cole slaw. It was actually all very good. It is always fun having the kids over for Sunday dinners.)
But back to church..........
Besides a very good testimony meeting, and a great lesson on the Book of Mormon in gospel doctrine, we had a wonderful Relief Society lesson. The other counselor, Sarah, taught it and I thought it was just what we needed. She talked about the purposes of Relief Society and how the RS is under the authority of the priesthood and patterned after the organization of the priesthood. She discussed many examples of that and what a blessing it is to the sisters, if we just understood it. The interesting thing is that the sisters themselves turned the discussion towards visiting teaching. Virtually every question that Sarah asked brought a response that somehow included visiting teaching.
I thought that was really interesting, because we are struggling with that right now and are trying several things to change their hearts so they will make visiting teaching a higher priority. The spirit in the lesson was really strong, and I know many sisters were really touched. Hopefully, they carry that feeling home and ponder it enough for it to prompt positive changes.
What all of that has to do with my Feelings of Love series here is that I realized how much I really love these sisters, individually and as a group. When someone who has no natural born sisters can say that her life is full of wonderful sisters - well, that is a feeling of love!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
February 4 - Valentine's Day Countdown - Bill
Today was a fairly normal Saturday - some laundry, some housework, etc. Then I spent my time working on the family history matching and listening to more of the stream from RootsTech 2012. Not too exciting, I must admit, but I liked it.
Bill went over to help David do some work on his front yard, so I was home alone all afternoon. I even managed to squeeze in a nap. When Bill came back, he suggested we go out to Del Rio for dinner. That is our favorite Mexican restaurant near us. So after getting cleaned up, that is what we did.
It was very crowded, but we somehow just managed to "thread the needle" and only waited a few minutes. Shortly after we were seated, the waiting line was enormous! They have live music on Saturday evenings, and sometimes it is quite good. Tonight's singer was OK, but not as good as some. Fortunately, we were seated far enough away that we could hear each other, so we were able to have a nice conversation.
It was a nice evening. I do love my husband. He works hard, and puts up with me, and even makes me feel special! Thanks, Bill!
Bill went over to help David do some work on his front yard, so I was home alone all afternoon. I even managed to squeeze in a nap. When Bill came back, he suggested we go out to Del Rio for dinner. That is our favorite Mexican restaurant near us. So after getting cleaned up, that is what we did.
It was very crowded, but we somehow just managed to "thread the needle" and only waited a few minutes. Shortly after we were seated, the waiting line was enormous! They have live music on Saturday evenings, and sometimes it is quite good. Tonight's singer was OK, but not as good as some. Fortunately, we were seated far enough away that we could hear each other, so we were able to have a nice conversation.
It was a nice evening. I do love my husband. He works hard, and puts up with me, and even makes me feel special! Thanks, Bill!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
February 3rd - Countdown to Valentine's Day - Ashby & Brooks
When thinking of love, it is understood that the grandchildren will show up somewhere! Maybe more than once!!!!! Today was the day.
Lisa called and they were looking for something to do to get out. So we met at the mall for lunch and playing. I got there first, so I was sitting at one of the tables by the play area. I saw Lisa, Ashby and Brooks come in and about the same time, Ashby looked up and saw me. She took off running, with arms outspread, a big smile on her face, and shouting, "Gamma." Needless to say, I grabbed her up and gave her plenty of hugs and kisses and got my share in return.
By the time Lisa and Brooks got to the table, Brooks was grinning and jumping around, trying to get out of the stroller. He got his share of hugs and kisses, too. There is nothing like being a grandma!
We went to the food court for lunch - Chik Filet today - and then got an ice cream cone to eat as we walked back down the mall to the play area. As we usually do, we stopped first at the coin operated vehicles, so they could ride some of them. Ashby is learning to check my pocket to see if there are any quarters, and today my pocket was full of them.
Our next stop was the play area. Brooks is walking all over the place now and he had more fun. He is captivated with the mall train, so he keeps trying to escape so he can see the train. He loves climbing through the little tunnels and walking through the playhouse. Ashby was into bouncing and running laps and finally she managed to climb up and jump off of everything. Both had a lot of fun.
We finished the mall time with a ride on the train. Well, I didn't ride the train, but the kids went with Lisa. I sat on the bench and waved every time they went by. Brooks couldn't stop smiling the whole time. He is currently obsessed with trains. One of his favorite toys at home is the Thomas the Train set we bought Ashby a year ago for Christmas.
Our final stop of the day was at the Dollar Store. Ashby wanted to ride in Grandma's car and we had quite the conversation on the way over. I made a comment about making sure I found the right place to turn. She then proceeded to explain to me that we needed to have a map!
So today's feelings of love are an easy one - anytime the grandchildren are around, I am totally immersed in love!
Lisa called and they were looking for something to do to get out. So we met at the mall for lunch and playing. I got there first, so I was sitting at one of the tables by the play area. I saw Lisa, Ashby and Brooks come in and about the same time, Ashby looked up and saw me. She took off running, with arms outspread, a big smile on her face, and shouting, "Gamma." Needless to say, I grabbed her up and gave her plenty of hugs and kisses and got my share in return.
By the time Lisa and Brooks got to the table, Brooks was grinning and jumping around, trying to get out of the stroller. He got his share of hugs and kisses, too. There is nothing like being a grandma!
We went to the food court for lunch - Chik Filet today - and then got an ice cream cone to eat as we walked back down the mall to the play area. As we usually do, we stopped first at the coin operated vehicles, so they could ride some of them. Ashby is learning to check my pocket to see if there are any quarters, and today my pocket was full of them.
Our next stop was the play area. Brooks is walking all over the place now and he had more fun. He is captivated with the mall train, so he keeps trying to escape so he can see the train. He loves climbing through the little tunnels and walking through the playhouse. Ashby was into bouncing and running laps and finally she managed to climb up and jump off of everything. Both had a lot of fun.
We finished the mall time with a ride on the train. Well, I didn't ride the train, but the kids went with Lisa. I sat on the bench and waved every time they went by. Brooks couldn't stop smiling the whole time. He is currently obsessed with trains. One of his favorite toys at home is the Thomas the Train set we bought Ashby a year ago for Christmas.
Our final stop of the day was at the Dollar Store. Ashby wanted to ride in Grandma's car and we had quite the conversation on the way over. I made a comment about making sure I found the right place to turn. She then proceeded to explain to me that we needed to have a map!
So today's feelings of love are an easy one - anytime the grandchildren are around, I am totally immersed in love!
Friday, February 3, 2012
February 2nd - Countdown to Valentine's Day - Expo Orphans
So, I went nowhere today - home all day and loved it! Of course, that means I didn't interact with many people, so I have had to give considerable thought to the "feelings of love" issue.
Besides a few household chores, changing sheets, couple of loads of laundry, and similar stuff, I spent most of the day working on family history. I am determined to get all these names matched to New.Familysearch so I can move on to some other things I enjoy doing a whole lot more. Today was also the first day of the RootsTech conference. Obviously, I am not in Utah, so I wasn't attending that.
Last fall, when I attended the local Family History Expo, I connected with four other women who had also come to the conference alone. We really hit it off and even gave ourselves a name, "The Expo Orphans." We exchanged emails and have touched base with each other every so often. They are all nice ladies and it has been fun. This morning one of them sent an email, reminding us that there was a link to get live streaming of some of the RootsTech presentations.
So, I spent the afternoon working on my family history and listening to genealogy classes. What a great day it turned out to be!
All of this is the long way around to say that I love my new friends. They have brought a new light into my life. It is fun to have other genealogy junkies to chat with. Here is the picture we took (so we would recognize each other when we all show up at the next conference - LOL!) Love you, Orphans!
Besides a few household chores, changing sheets, couple of loads of laundry, and similar stuff, I spent most of the day working on family history. I am determined to get all these names matched to New.Familysearch so I can move on to some other things I enjoy doing a whole lot more. Today was also the first day of the RootsTech conference. Obviously, I am not in Utah, so I wasn't attending that.
Last fall, when I attended the local Family History Expo, I connected with four other women who had also come to the conference alone. We really hit it off and even gave ourselves a name, "The Expo Orphans." We exchanged emails and have touched base with each other every so often. They are all nice ladies and it has been fun. This morning one of them sent an email, reminding us that there was a link to get live streaming of some of the RootsTech presentations.
So, I spent the afternoon working on my family history and listening to genealogy classes. What a great day it turned out to be!
All of this is the long way around to say that I love my new friends. They have brought a new light into my life. It is fun to have other genealogy junkies to chat with. Here is the picture we took (so we would recognize each other when we all show up at the next conference - LOL!) Love you, Orphans!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
February 1 - Countdown to Valentine's Day! RS Presidency
So, I have decided to try another journal for the next fourteen days - this time about love. I will try to see if I can find something that fills my heart with a feeling of love everyday.
Today I had a RS presidency meeting with three of the best people ever. I really love this calling, and I especially love the women I work with. We seem to be able to talk opening and freely and exchange ideas without negative feelings. Good brainstorming can lead to innovative ideas, and we seem to be good at it.
I love that they sincerely care about the sisters in our ward. As we discuss those with special needs, there is genuine concern about the individual and a desire to ease the problem, if we can. It is especially noticeable as we discuss the visiting teachers and their routes. It is a never ending shuffle to make sure that everyone is assigned as a visiting teacher and that everyone has a visiting teacher. We spend a lot of time trying to match the companions and the lists so that everyone will be blessed.
We are a diverse group, which makes it all the more enjoyable to work together. I am the granny, of course. Melanie, the president, is the parent of a teenager. She very much is guided by the spirit and sees things from that point of view. Her focus is on the sisters and their needs, and not so much on what I call the "fluff" - the pretty stuff that doesn't really change lives. Sarah is a young mother, who struggled with infertility for a long time and is really able to voice concerns for those who may have special struggles. She keeps us properly focused. Jennifer, the secretary, is also a young mother, with 3 children. She is from Paraguay originally and helps give us another perspective on things. She is an excellent secretary, and we keep her very busy. She is always happy and that certainly helps keep our meetings upbeat.
Individually, I admire each of them for their strong testimonies and the way they live their lives. I may be the oldest, in both earth years and church years, but there is still so much for me to learn from them. So I start the month of love feeling love for these very special friends.
Today I had a RS presidency meeting with three of the best people ever. I really love this calling, and I especially love the women I work with. We seem to be able to talk opening and freely and exchange ideas without negative feelings. Good brainstorming can lead to innovative ideas, and we seem to be good at it.
I love that they sincerely care about the sisters in our ward. As we discuss those with special needs, there is genuine concern about the individual and a desire to ease the problem, if we can. It is especially noticeable as we discuss the visiting teachers and their routes. It is a never ending shuffle to make sure that everyone is assigned as a visiting teacher and that everyone has a visiting teacher. We spend a lot of time trying to match the companions and the lists so that everyone will be blessed.
We are a diverse group, which makes it all the more enjoyable to work together. I am the granny, of course. Melanie, the president, is the parent of a teenager. She very much is guided by the spirit and sees things from that point of view. Her focus is on the sisters and their needs, and not so much on what I call the "fluff" - the pretty stuff that doesn't really change lives. Sarah is a young mother, who struggled with infertility for a long time and is really able to voice concerns for those who may have special struggles. She keeps us properly focused. Jennifer, the secretary, is also a young mother, with 3 children. She is from Paraguay originally and helps give us another perspective on things. She is an excellent secretary, and we keep her very busy. She is always happy and that certainly helps keep our meetings upbeat.
Individually, I admire each of them for their strong testimonies and the way they live their lives. I may be the oldest, in both earth years and church years, but there is still so much for me to learn from them. So I start the month of love feeling love for these very special friends.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
January 31st - End of Another Month!
I am thinking that this new year just started and now a whole month has passed - what is going on? Who made time speed up?
I did have a useful final day of the month. One of the sisters I visit teach went to the temple for the first time today. Her sister is getting married on Saturday, and they both went, along with the groom. I wanted to be there and it was very nice. I went early and did some sealings, too, so it was a very nice day at the temple.
In the evening, we had the first of our visiting teaching socials and interviews. It went really well. We had invited six companionships and the sisters they visit. As it turned out we had seven of the 12 visiting teachers come, plus several sisters. Considering the low turn out for visiting teaching things, we were very pleased. The sisters really enjoyed a chance to get to sit and chat with each other and, in some cases, make new friends.
So, a busy day, but very productive. Now if time would slow down a little, maybe another month wouldn't pass before I had a chance to take a breath!
I did have a useful final day of the month. One of the sisters I visit teach went to the temple for the first time today. Her sister is getting married on Saturday, and they both went, along with the groom. I wanted to be there and it was very nice. I went early and did some sealings, too, so it was a very nice day at the temple.
In the evening, we had the first of our visiting teaching socials and interviews. It went really well. We had invited six companionships and the sisters they visit. As it turned out we had seven of the 12 visiting teachers come, plus several sisters. Considering the low turn out for visiting teaching things, we were very pleased. The sisters really enjoyed a chance to get to sit and chat with each other and, in some cases, make new friends.
So, a busy day, but very productive. Now if time would slow down a little, maybe another month wouldn't pass before I had a chance to take a breath!
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