Two Weeks Ending April 5, 2014

Sunday (3/23) Ted’s student was gone so he joined us. I had to get my laptop to show a video since the DVD player at church doesn’t have a way to select all the videos. We talked about 3 Nephi 17-22, when Christ healed the sick and blessed the children. Those are amazing accounts and I really hope the students got something from them. One student turned in a notebook and told me he had everything up to date—that is wonderful. He is a senior and it would be really disappointing if he didn’t get a passing grade and receive a certificate at the seminary graduation. Two new men in the branch spoke in Sacrament Meeting—it was good. Also we are the only unit in the stake that has two sisters on missions right now. And we almost have a third missionary leaving.

We went to Tohlakai after the meeting. We were there to observe the seminary class and offer help. I was disappointed that one of my students no longer comes to church or seminary. She was doing so well. Another seems to have tuned out. The other two students are doing well. The entire time was spent on scripture mastery scriptures. The teachers have abbreviated some to make them easier for the kids. They are behind on the lessons, so I’m not sure how they’ll finish. I suggested they select one principle from the lesson that they focus on each week so they can get through the book.

Monday (3/24) we loaded the car. It’s a good thing I like to do puzzles, because it was definitely a puzzle trying to get everything into the car. We stopped at a trading post along the way to look around. There was a lot of petrified wood, some big enough for a small table top, that had been polished and finished. It was beautiful, but it cost anywhere from $1500 to $2100. 

Stop to see petrified wood

Our reason for going to Las Vegas was to help with our new grandson, so that was primarily what we did. We did not visit anyone or tell many that we were coming because our time was focused on helping our son’s family. Our sweet grandson is a beautiful baby and I enjoyed a lot of grandma time with him and his two older brothers. The time passed way too quickly and all too soon it was time to come back to New Mexico.

The night we arrived we had home evening with our son’s family. They asked me to share some things about missionary work. I felt prompted to get my Book of Mormon and talk with the boys about the visit of the Savior. It was a wonderful experience. I talked about the people hearing the voice and Christ coming. I talked about their feeling the wounds in His hands and side. I talked about His healing the sick and blessing the children. I asked the boys many times to imagine what it would have been like to be there. I also talked about our not having to touch His hands or have His hands on our heads to feel His love. I shared my testimony of the Savior and His love for us. I really hope they felt it because I felt a strong Spirit there.

Wednesday (4/2) after breakfast and some brief visiting, we kissed everyone goodbye and left for New Mexico. We had a good trip home. About the time we got into Arizona we started having light snow. There were winter weather warnings posted several times along the way. A couple of times it got fairly heavy, but it never stayed. We stopped on the way to see the Meteor Crater between Flagstaff and Holbrook. It was really windy, so the tours could not go outside. (They said the winds were around 60 mph. It had been around 90 mph a few days earlier and up to 120 mph on some occasions.) We went out to the observation point behind the building and it was really cold and windy. A girl told us not to go to the upper deck because she almost got blown away. I can believe it. It was almost dark when we got home, so we quickly unloaded the car. Our smoke/CO alarms were beeping in the house. Ted had unplugged the power and that triggered the CO alarm, but we’re not sure why the smoke alarm was beeping. We got everything put away then went to bed. We were exhausted.

Meteor Crater--1 mile across and the size of 20 football fields!

Thursday we found it had snowed during the night and there was a light covering on the ground. When we finished walking we found several large gravel trucks had stopped on the road, apparently waiting for a snow ploy or sand truck before going up the mountain to McGaffey. Just a note, we had left our winter coats in Vegas because it had been warm when we left here. Ironic!

The Relief Society president came by to get me for our quilting class. She told me she had given up on her quilt and had thrown it away. I was flabbergasted. I thought she was kidding and questioned her again and again, but she was adamant that it had frustrated her so much that she had thrown it away. It was gone. I told her we could have at least used the fabric in something else. I was ready to turn around and not come back—just walk out the door and stop the entire project. She then told me she’d had some difficulties, but she had finished it yesterday. She had it at the church to show me. It was really beautiful. She had turned the binding from the front to the back—I loved it. I took pictures, but I told her I nearly cried when she’d told me she’d quit. She was just so excited to be done. This is the lady whose teacher in high school had told her she’d never be able to sew. She had already picked out fabric to make a couple of throw quilts. Success!

Sister Leggett with her quilt--finally finished!

We discussed my idea to make flannel blankets and burp cloths for babies. We got out the flannel and cut some pieces. She sewed one together for a pattern. It turned out really cute. She was quite excited about the idea. I need to call the hospital to see if it is OK, but I think this would make a great project and maybe spark more interest.

In the evening I graded part of my student’s makeup work. I only did about half because it was so difficult. We had a call from the Zuni elders that they had 5 people at their institute class. They needed more books. Great!

Friday Ted had to get the car serviced in Gallup and was able to connect with our supervisor and get the manuals we need. I stayed at home and worked. I finished tying a small quilt then attended the Online Seminary teachers’ monthly meeting. Even though I am no longer teaching, they suggested I attend so I can stay up on what is happening in the system. It was a good meeting. I had a question on how to record work for my student that moved from online to home study so it gives him full credit. They are on two different schedules. It is very confusing. 

My finished quilt.

Saturday we went to Gallup to watch and listen to General Conference. It was wonderful. I really enjoyed listening to our leaders. Between sessions a family had bought pizza for the missionaries and invited us to join them. We enjoyed the food and visited with them during the break. In the evening Ted went to Priesthood Meeting and I cooked our mammoth squash. That’s one task that is done.