Sobering Milestones

Several weeks ago, we found out we need to sign our lease for the next year even though it doesn't come due until August.  In order to do that, we needed to know our release date for our mission  --July 5, 2015.  I honestly wanted to just sit down on the curb and cry.  That info sent us to the next step which was to calculate how long we have been on our mission -- 8 months today!  More tears.  How could one third of our mission already be over?  A major wake up call!  It honestly feels like we are just getting started.  Shouldn't they start counting time when you figure out your mission?  Don't get me wrong, I don't want to stay away from family and friends forever, I just thought I would be smarter and better faster.  We only have 4 more weeks until Spring Semester is over and I am starting to feel like a mother sending her children away wishing she could teach them just a few more things before they go off on their own.  Do you think they will mind if class time is bumped up to three hours each?

Sometimes we feel like we lose our identity because we are missionaries, but we are also CES and so we often serve two masters -- good thing they both have the same goal of bringing souls to Christ or we would be in trouble.  Anyway, the point is that Institute comes first and being a full time missionary comes second, so we often miss zone meetings, interviews, etc.  A lot of our study goes into our classes and not as much into Preach My Gospel.  So now, knowing the sands of time are adding up way too quickly, I have made some resolutions.

Take more pictures
Study Preach My Gospel and learn how to cross reference more scriptures
Write in my journal and on the blog more.
Pack each day more fully - Wear myself out in the service of the Lord everyday!
Express more gratitude for everything and to everyone -- call me on it if I don't tell you how much I appreciate you.
Memorize - I am not as good at this as I used to be--slow mind.

My Scriptures broke their back, I must have stepped on a crack 

These scriptures were new when we left on our mission.  I have made so many notes, etc, that I can hardly bear to send them back as defective, but I'm not sure I can fix them.  I feel like I have lost the 116 pages of my mission manuscript so to speak.  I am going through using a new triple to transfer some of the most important insights, plus I know that I can save some online.  Thank goodness for LDS accounts and icloud.

Some Great Things I have learned in the last 8 months are:
I love my family more than ever even if I don't see them or talk to them as often as I did at home.
To Love my Great Companion even more --it is more apparent every day why I married my awesome, great, kind, loving, wonderful, nice, funny, spiritual husband.
You can live a lot smaller and simpler than you think.
We still love antiques and making our space "homey"
You grow to love others you serve and the Gospel is the same everywhere even if they have different customs and ways of doing things.  Just so you know, I never say "that isn't the way we do it in Zion."  Like one Brother said, "I'm not the one with the accent, you are!"  Don't worry, I still sound like I'm from good old Utah.

Be Ye Knot Afraid

School colors for SHSU

Just wanted to share a little about our latest on campus activity --Survival Bracelets!  This took place on February 28th.  We had planned originally to hold this in January but a snow day for the university cancelled our plans.  We prepared for this event in several stages.  Our son, Joseph designed a t-shirt for the event. The students loved his ideas.  We also did a couple of trial runs on Friday Forums so that everyone would be able to help someone else make a bracelet.  We ordered lots of paracord and clasps in a variety of oranges and blues plus a variety of other colors.

Front Side of t-shirt

We thought we might do 50 bracelets if we were lucky.  We ended up doing over a hundred bracelets that day!

The event was supposed to go from 11-1pm.  We finally just had to turn people away at 3 pm and close down.  One of our students came up with the idea of a survey in order to track the students who attended.  The 

bracelets were free to whoever wanted to make one.  Some kids came back after classes to make a second and third one.  We gained a ton of referrals for the missionaries and have also made follow up calls to invite students to our classes.  

Learning how to make bracelets at Friday Forum

Teaching a student 

Back of the shirt

We couldn't cut cord fast enough!

The Campus TV station interviewed our students

The Monday before the event, I got a little nervous about having enough cord, so I made an 

emergency order.  It arrived at 11:15 the day of the event--not a moment too soon.  It was another 800 ft and 100 clasps.  At the end of the day, we had about 300 ft. total left.  

Neil and President Olson

Our Weekend in Houston

We had the opportunity a few weeks ago to spend a Friday night in Houston.  Neil dropped me off at the hotel so I could sew on a quilt for our granddaughter and he left for a Peanut Butter Factory assignment with some of our valiant Branch members.  They started at 8 pm and ended at midnight.  As usual, I was long asleep by the time he returned.  My back has been acting up, so I didn't want to risk taking myself out of commission by doing hard physical labor -- didn't want you thinking I am not doing my part, even if I'm not.

A sticky situation with a nutty group

We had good intentions the next morning.  We had a senior couples conference on Saturday which is why we decided to get a hotel room.  We had hoped to do some initiatory names at the temple, but by the time we found our way there, we were afraid it would take us too long to find our way to the conference since we didn't know where it was from the temple, so we just left for the conference.  Sometimes I totally hate Siri (can I just come right out and say that?) so after several attempts, I finally entered the address manually and it worked out fine.  It was the Saturday before Valentine's Day and President Pingree had us each tell what we love about our companions.  There were several single senior sisters who were also there.  It was such an outpouring of love as we shared insights, struggles, joys and growth and admiration.  One couple sang "I'm on the top of the world" from the Carpenters.  We received great instruction and had a wonderful time.

Senior Missionaries Rock!

Letting Go

The day we opened our mission call, the happiest person in our family next to Neil and me, was Maggie!  Maggie and Justin and their little family had just moved to Decatur, TX for a veterinary internship.  Even though Decatur is near Ft. Worth and just 3 1/2 hours away, it is out of our mission.  President Pingree has been so kind to let us go for some short visits.

I am sort of embarrassed by how many times we have been able to see the Gardners.  We stopped on our way to our mission.  I went for almost a week in November when Lily was born and then we both traveled there for Thanksgiving.  We also went for the baby blessing in February.

Our Sweet Lily

Gracie and Gunner with Lily

Gracie is a great big sister to Lily

The one second photo op

 Lily Jean on her blessing day!

We just returned last night from helping them pack up to move to St. George where Justin will begin practicing at a vet clinic.  It is an exciting time for them and we are so happy for them but I must admit we are a little sad for us.  

Our son, Tom, was also close by for some training classes for his work, so we also able to spend a night with him.

No more scorpions and snakes - Happy times and memories

It was so fun to be with Tom.  We went to a German Restaurant and reminisced about the change in roles.  We visited Tom for a day in Dresden on his mission and now we got to see him in Texas.  It is funny how these short visits are so energizing.  I thought we would feel homesick, but it just helps to reaffirm our feelings that we are in the right place at the right time.

Love this boy of ours!

Elder Dad, Tom and Sister Mom

How is it March Already?

For those of you who randomly check this blog, you probably think we are slackers!  Well, okay, we are, but to be honest, the time passes so quickly that we often have to stop and think what day of the week it is and more often, what day of the month is it?  I made my first slip up last week for our granddaughter, Maddie's birthday on the 25th!  Neil and I were sitting at dinner after a session at the temple and he said, "I can't believe Maddie will be 17 in a month(confusing her birthday with her mom's on the same day a month later).  I looked at him in panicked horror and asked what the date was and then weakly cried out--she was 17 yesterday.  Fortunately, Maddie is very forgiving and she did have a birthday card from us, so she freely forgave us.  Whew!

Eloise and Birthday Maddie - Such beautiful Girls

So. . . what has kept us so busy?  Cooking and Institute Classes.  We started off the new year with some great classes and even more participation.  I am teaching The Gospel and the Productive Life in connection with a cooking class.

Typical Class Goodies- Quick Breads

I also teach a Lunch with the Book of Mormon Class.  We were finding that a traditional class didn't really work into anyone's schedule, so at Sister Vann's suggestion, we offered this lunch class which also coincides with Bread Day.  It has been a huge success and brings about so much insightful discussion.  We just go around the table taking turns reading the assigned chapters and discussing them.  Neil is teaching Family History and mentoring one of our students who is student teaching the mission prep class.  We also have our Friday Forum and lunch.  Our enrollment is up significantly and we are feeling an increase in unity and desire to make the Institute program grow.  We attribute much of this to the organization of our Institute Council.  These students are on fire and so supportive.


We have had some great speakers at our Friday Forums and lunch is always a hit.  We continue to have about 25 or more each week.  It helps that we have District mtg. right before forum since that adds to our numbers.

I make them eat what they cook!

Friday Forum Goodness

Grettle and David Payne in the picture below have been so good to us.  Sister Payne is a great quilter and sold me my little Singer.  She came to speak to our students about Feasting on the Words of Christ.  She taught early morning Seminary for years and has written a ton of songs for all of the Scripture Mastery scriptures to help the students memorize them.  She also knit the sweaters they are wearing.  Another person I want to be like when I grow up!

With Good Will Doing Service

rice bags and baby quilts with the Sisters

teaching the sister missionaries to sew

Sister Seymour, Sister Hosking, Sister Gutierrez

I was looking for an appropriate scriptural reference for a title from the topical guide and was entertaining myself with phrases taken out of context that have nothing to do with what I wish to share but may make you smile.
"whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service", John 16:2,  "service unto them which by nature are no gods", Galatians 4:8; "with good will doing service", Eph 6:7; "could not make him that did the service perfect", Heb. 9:9;

The following scriptures are more in tune with my feelings of service and have given me more pause for reflection lately. . ."with good will doing service", Eph 6:7; "who then is willing to consecrate his service"? 1 Chr. 29:5; "I know they works, and charity and service", Rev 2:19; "thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God", 2 Nephi 2:3.

The Christmas vacation gave us an opportunity to render some random service.  It always amazes me how the Lord (I was going to say randomly, but I don't think it is very random) puts opportunities in our path to be answers to someone's prayers or needs.

I am so glad that I brought my sewing machines with me.  Hardly a week goes by that I don't have a project for someone.  I may open my own tailoring business when I get home!

Last minute substitute for 11 yr. olds in Primary

I had the chance to help one of the Beehives in the ward make a fleece jacket.  She is already taking sewing lessons, but her teacher thought the jacket may be too hard.  I was really flattered when she suggested to her parents that maybe I would help her.  We spent two afternoons sewing together and she was pretty proud of her efforts.  I see her wearing it all the time.  That is a happy feeling when you can make something others thought you couldn't do. 

Evelyn and her new coat

I have also been making baptism towels for the 8 yr. olds in the ward and also the new converts.  It is always touching to see how something so simple for me means so much to a new member.  

Our newest member at the Institute

Fried Ham, fried ham, cheese and bologna. . .

Birthday traditions are the best!  The title of the blog is a little ditty that my family always sang for birthdays and we have carried on the tradition with our children.  I love to hear my grandchildren sing the birthday song.  Some of them are probably wondering why the rest of the world doesn't know the song?  I can only answer that our family is extra special and it must be a secret code for "extra special".

My breakfast helpers

my little bird

Special time with Gracie at dance class

Thanks to Neil, Maggie and Justin and their family, I had a wonderful birthday celebration.  I was served a wonderful crepes breakfast in bed.  It has been a very long time since I had little children hovering around waiting for little bites of a birthday breakfast.  It brought back lots of happy memories. Gracie (7), confided to me that she mostly made the breakfast with only a little bit of help from Grandpa and her Mom.  I enjoyed their shocked faces when I mentioned that little tidbit.  I felt so spoiled all day long with lots of attention and calls from our kids and their families and my brothers and sisters.  It all made me feel a lot younger than I just turned old.  As one friend described it --$29.95 plus shipping and handling.