Week Ending March 15, 2014

Sunday seminary was a little frustrating. One student never did come—his dad had to work so he didn’t have a ride. Two others were 20 minutes late. I was about to clean everything up and go read somewhere. We had to skip parts of the lesson due to time. I gave the students small squares of fabric to pin on to remind them of the covenants they’ve made. One of the big challenges the Nephites had during the years prior to the coming of Christ was they kept forgetting the blessings of the Lord. I told the kids it was their own personal Title of Liberty. I put one on as well.

Sacrament Meeting had about 70 people in attendance—a large group. One family had several members visiting because they were blessing a baby. The grandparents are in our branch. It was good. A lady gave a really good talk, sharing a touching personal experience and likening it to living the gospel. In Sunday School we gave our departing missionary the last Temple Prep lesson. She shared her testimony. She’ll be a good missionary. She is really a choice young woman and will do a great job.

In Relief Society the president asked about the patch on my blouse. I stood up and told the sisters about the seminary lesson and helping the kids remember their covenants. I told them it is our personal Title of Liberty. I said I had some extras if anyone wanted one. They all took them. I had the exact number for the ladies that were there. I taught the lesson and I had hoped the sisters would participate more. One sister and I seemed to do most of the talking. I appreciated her comments because she is one that I am never really sure how she feels about me. She told me after class she enjoyed the lesson.

After Relief Society I took pictures for the lady I was helping with her website. She asked a sister to bring some of her fleece scarves to photograph. She brought a couple of scarves she’d made of fabric. I put the photos on her flash drive so she’ll have them for her project. Some ladies hung around and visited while we were shooting. It was kind of fun.

Monday we attended home evening with the young adults. Pres. and Sister Batt were just pulling out of the parking lot when we arrived. They were trying to visit a new couple that just arrived. We decided it would probably be easier to show them the way than try to tell them so we led them there. We took the opportunity to meet the Kellys before heading back to the stake center. They were just finishing up the thought and getting ready to play Werewolf again. We played a couple of rounds with them then left to get home and get to bed because of our early rise on Tuesday.

Tuesday we were up at 4 am to get to Thoreau for a 6 am seminary class. The teacher did a great job. She is extremely animated. She has 3 kids from a family in her class who are also very vocal, so it was a lively class. The other three kids didn’t say much. I suggested she mix them up so the siblings weren’t next to each other. I’m not sure it would change anything, but it would make for better grouping for exercises.  Afterward we visited with a lady from Sitka, Alaska. Her family is participating in a Run Across America to ban GMO products and seeds. It was freezing cold with a brisk wind so I’m glad I wasn’t doing the run.

When we got home I worked on seminary. I put some thoughts together for my lesson Sunday. I was really tired, but I didn’t want to take a nap because I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

Wednesday we were up early again to attend seminary in Gallup. When we got there only two students were there—the girl who comes early and the boy who rides with the teacher. The rest of the kids started wandering in about 15 minutes late until there were 11 total in attendance. They talked about contention. At the end he invited us to comment. I stood up and said they needed to figure out how they were going to handle contention when it comes because it will come and they can’t afford to lose the Holy Ghost. They were really dead, so I’m not sure if they don’t want to talk or they are half asleep.

I spent the rest of the day reviewing my seminary lesson and doing things around the house. We went to the senior center for lunch and visiting. The lady who told me last week she was a member, came over to say hi when we arrived and made a point of telling us goodbye when she left. I think she feels a kinship with us now that we know she is a member.

Thursday we went to the church to exercise—first time in three days and it felt good. I prepared my stuff for the quilting class then drove back to the church. I took the food into the church and unlocked the front door, but I left the car door open. When I came back outside the car door was shut. I had a strong impression not to go back into the building. I stood by the car waiting for someone else to come so we could go in together. I didn’t have the phone so I couldn’t call anyone. I finally gave up waiting just before 10 and decided to get Ted to come to the church with me.  When we got back to the church, we walked all through the building and checked all the rooms but we didn’t find anything. Ted wouldn’t leave until someone else came. I got some batting for my quilt. We took the food out and Ted put the tables away. It was nearly 10:20. I went back inside to write a note and just as we came out the president drove up. We told her we were just leaving. Her husband had delayed her just as she was ready to leave, as usual. I felt bad leaving, but it was time.

At home I laid out the pieces of batting—none was big enough by itself, so I had to piece it. Since I had several weird pieces, I laid them on top of each other until it was almost uniform thickness and about the right size. I then sewed the pieces together. At first I was kneeling on the floor, but after lunch we cleared the table off and I worked on the table. That worked much better. I cut a sheet and pressed it for the backing and pinned the layers together. It is now ready to sew. This took much longer than I would have liked, but it is partly because of the way I did it. I always seem to complicate things so they take too long. I would like to get it done soon so I can give it to a man that has been very sweet to us and I’d like to thank him for his friendship.

Friday I worked on seminary a bit. I spent most of the morning making cookies for the missionary’s “get together” after church Sunday. I made two kinds and it took until mid-afternoon. I also juiced a bunch of lemons we had. There were 15-20 of them and it had to be done by hand, so my hand hurt at the end of the process. The lemon juice also made me painfully aware of every cut and scratch I had on my hands.

Saturday we were up early to pick up a couple for the temple. It was foggy in patches so it seemed a little spooky on our trip there. The session was good. Our missionary’s parents, her mom’s foster parents and sister were there, along with the other couple and us. There was really a good spirit in the session. After we finished the session we were able to visit a little as we waited for the missionary. She’d had a really good experience and felt the Spirit so strongly. I am glad. We visited a little more then left to do other things.

The man we were with was going to do his parents’ sealing and then be sealed to them himself. The man in charge visited with him for a bit and our friend shared some thoughts about his family. He and his wife were proxies for his parents’ sealing then Ted was proxy for his father while he was sealed to his parents. At the end, I was proxy for the man’s mom being sealed to her parents. It was very emotional during the ordinance and I wasn’t sure the man was going to make it. He is such a tough bird that he doesn’t want to let on that he is really soft inside. It was a very spiritual event and I’m grateful to have been part of it. The interesting thing is that his dentures were being redone and they didn’t turn out correctly. Otherwise, he would have been on his annual bike trip and the sealings would still be waiting. I think the Lord may have had a hand in it.

Costco's Bagpipe Player

We stopped for a couple of errands. In Costco we had the opportunity to hear a man play the bagpipes. I wonder if they thought bagpipes were associated with St Patrick’s Day. On the way home the wind had come up and was blowing quite hard. There was a lot of dirt in the air and the wind shook the car so I know it was difficult to keep it on the road at times. I was just grateful we were not in one of the big trucks that passed us. Several times we were pelted with rocks and dirt and tumbleweeds. I was glad the car survived. It was a good day and with a good spirit throughout.